Lamb racks are one of many meals that can be cooked in a pizza oven. Photo / New Zealand Woman's Weekly
The executive chef of Dine by Peter Gordon at Sky City answers your cuisine questions.
Lamb racks are one of many meals that can be cooked in a pizza oven.I have recently built a wood-fired pizza oven at home. Apart from delicious pizzas, what else can you cook in them, and do you know of any books that specialise in this type of cooking?
- Guy
Roast veggies, roast fish, lamb racks, pork belly, beef fillet and chicken breasts - anything can be cooked in pizza ovens. The River Cafe cookbooks might offer suggestions - their wood-burning oven is a beautiful site to behold. See their website at rivercafe.co.uk.
You recently replied to a reader's question by saying a large turkey should be left to rest after cooking for 30 mins before serving, and a steak for five mins. But how do you keep the food hot for serving?
- Barbara Rotherham
Cover the turkey with two layers of foil and a tea towel tucked into the platter or dish it's resting on. For the steak, a pot lid or foil will do the trick - but do keep the steak somewhere warm, the turkey is large enough to retain heat.
A couple of weeks back you provided advice from a reader having difficulty making fish cakes. I have a similar problem with potato cakes in that the amount of moisture in the potatoes from the supermarket is so high that any attempt at potato cakes results in a sticky mush. I end up adding copious amounts of flour, but then that is about all one can taste. Adding an egg just makes things worse. Any advice?
- J.M. McKinley
Bake the unpeeled potatoes whole, leave to cool a little, then scoop out the flesh and mash with herbs, thinly sliced onions, seasoning, and a little flour. Roll in balls, press flat, coat in flour. Place in the fridge, covered, to chill a few hours. Alternately, peel and coarsely grate them, then squeeze out excess moisture between your hands. Add a little flour and seasoning, press flattish. Fry in a smallish heavy-based pan with 4mm of oil over a medium heat until golden and cooked through.
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