NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Delaney Mes: Back to the salad days

Delaney Mes
By Delaney Mes
Spy.co.nz·
1 Oct, 2017 01:15 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Halloumi, radicchio, watermelon, blackberry, poppy-seed and basil salad

Halloumi, radicchio, watermelon, blackberry, poppy-seed and basil salad

Last summer I was faced with the challenge of wrangling chefs and spreadsheets to put together the NZ Restaurant Cookbook, out today. It was a privilege to be asked to manage such a project, and a thrill to contact chefs I admire, and ask them to contribute to the book.

What has eventuated is a snapshot of what dining in New Zealand is like today.

Regional spread was the main driver in picking who to include - it was an almost impossible task to choose just 50.

There's an enormous amount of talent and passion in the kitchens across the country, with many of the chefs I spoke to having done stints overseas before returning home.

We have is some of the best produce in the world, and restaurateurs are increasingly growing kitchen gardens, foraging, and forging relationships with farmers. People want to know where their food is coming from, and chefs want to tell them.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Many chefs also wanted to showcase their sense of place with recipes using our seafood.

There are also influences evident from around the world, a nod to our multicultural country, and the book is richer for it.

These are two of my favourites for spring, chosen for their bright colours and fresh flavours.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

This is also my last column for the Herald on Sunday - it's been an enjoyable three-and-a-half years.

You can keep up with my recipes and ramblings on my website delaneymes.com and my Instagram page @delaneymes.

Thanks for reading.

Halloumi, radicchio, watermelon, blackberry, poppy-seed and basil salad

Serves 4 as entree or side; or 2 as a salad

Discover more

Lifestyle

Sunday brunching at home

09 Sep 11:00 PM
Lifestyle

New ideas for classic chicken

17 Sep 04:40 AM
Lifestyle

Delaney Mes' best breakfast smoothies

24 Sep 03:30 AM

10g poppy seeds
2 round slices watermelon 2cm thick, cut from the centre
1 large head of radicchio "Palla Rossa"
250g good-quality halloumi
200g blackberries
50g picked basil leaves
Zest of 1 lemon
Maldon sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil, for cooking and dressing

Toast the poppy seeds in a small, dry frying pan set over a medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes; this will really bring out their flavour. Set aside to cool.

Remove any pips from the watermelon slices without ruining the flesh.

Cut each watermelon round evenly into eighths, then cut off the white flesh and green skin.

You will end up with 16 triangular pieces of pink watermelon. Place in the refrigerator to chill.

Prepare radicchio by tearing off the outer leaves then using a small paring knife to take out the centre core at the bottom.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Separate the leaves, wash and dry.

Slice halloumi into 1-1.5cm slices.

Place radicchio, watermelon, blackberries, basil, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

Heat a heavy-based frying pan to medium-hot with enough olive oil to fry the halloumi. Once hot, start cooking the slices of halloumi until soft in the centre and golden on both sides.

This should take 2-4 minutes.

Once halloumi is cooked, dress the ingredients in the bowl with olive oil and start assembling the platter by layering everything randomly and sprinkling over the poppy seeds as you go.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chef's note: Radicchio "Palla Rossa" grows in tight round heads, "palla" meaning ball and "rossa" meaning red in Italian. This is the most commonly available radicchio in New Zealand.

Blueberry chia jam and labneh tart

Blueberry chia jam and labneh tart
Blueberry chia jam and labneh tart

Serves 4 -6

LABNEH
1 dessertspoon liquid honey, or to taste (optional)
1 litre natural, unsweetened yoghurt

BLUEBERRY CHIA JAM
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 Tbsp liquid honey, or more, to taste
1 Tbsp chia seeds

BASE
200g dried pears
¾ cup walnuts
¾ cup pecans
½ cup sunflower seeds
3 Tbsp coconut oil

TO FINISH
1 cup fresh blueberries
50g very dark chocolate (optional)

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Make the labneh a day in advance. Line a sieve with muslin cloth and set it over a deep pot. Mix honey (if using) through yoghurt then pour into the muslin-lined sieve. Cover, then place sieve and pot in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning you will have a thick, creamy labneh.

Discard the liquid in the pot.

To make the jam, put blueberries in a heavy-based saucepan over a low heat and let them release their juice; pressing with a fork will help this happen. Stir blueberries to start with.

Once the juice is released, let them simmer away for about 10 minutes or until the liquid has reduced and become syrupy. Add honey and simmer for another few minutes, then remove from heat and mix in chia seeds.

Leave to cool down for 2 hours; the jam will get thicker.

To make the base, place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until they form a fine crumb.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Line a 23cm × 50cm loose-bottom tart tin with baking paper and press in base mixture.

Spread mixture evenly over the bottom and up the sides. Place in the refrigerator to set for two hours.

Once jam has cooled and base has set, spread jam evenly over the base then spoon labneh over the top to fill the tart. Finish with a sprinkling of fresh blueberries and refrigerate until ready to serve.

If you happen to be feeling wild, you could grate dark chocolate over the top.

Recipe © Pipi Cafe. Extract reproduced with permission from New Zealand Restaurant Cookbook by Delaney Mes; RRP $50. Published by Penguin NZ. Photography © Liz Clarkson, 2017.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

01 Jul 08:00 PM
Premium
Lifestyle

Why Prada's latest sandal sparked a debate on cultural credit

01 Jul 07:00 PM
Premium
Lifestyle

'Firefighting mode': Seven things that can make ADHD much worse

01 Jul 06:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

01 Jul 08:00 PM

Spinach, mesclun and other salad greens are currently in limited supply.

Premium
Why Prada's latest sandal sparked a debate on cultural credit

Why Prada's latest sandal sparked a debate on cultural credit

01 Jul 07:00 PM
Premium
'Firefighting mode': Seven things that can make ADHD much worse

'Firefighting mode': Seven things that can make ADHD much worse

01 Jul 06:00 PM
South Australia bans soy milk, rice cake ads in junk food crackdown

South Australia bans soy milk, rice cake ads in junk food crackdown

01 Jul 07:44 AM
Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno
sponsored

Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP