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plus, recipes for a prosperous Chinese New Year
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If there is an ingredient that embodies the spirit of summer more than watermelon, I'm yet to encounter it. Juicy and cooling, it is everything on hot days when you can't be bothered cooking. Our contributing chef Lennox Hastie has the same thought, this week preparing a grilled watermelon salad that takes the fruit to the next level. As Lennox writes: "Watermelons are the quintessential summer coolers, their crisp flesh and hydrating juices made for picnics and the beach. Cubed and chilled, it is perfect as it is. But there is a lot more to these fruits than their refreshing sweetness. On the grill, the sugars caramelise, the flesh softens like a cross between a roasted pepper and a meaty tomato and the smoky char adds a layer of complexity that is almost savoury." Enjoy his refreshing recipes that star melons this week.

It is lunar new year which is always a great excuse to eat Asian food. Melbourne-based Diana Chan this week presents a noodle dish that her Malaysian mother always made for lunar new year. It is easy and tasty, as are Diana's other two dishes, both cooked in the wok. Delicious.

Happy eating.

Elizabeth Meryment
The Weekend Australian Magazine
Recipes
SUMMER COOKING
The ingredient that takes Lennox Hastie back to childhood
Pair this with crumbled salty feta and a handful of herbs, and suddenly you’ve taken a familiar backyard staple and transformed it into something different.
LENNOX HASTIE
USE YOUR MELON
Rockmelon like you’ve never seen it before
Blend it into a chilled soup with a splash of white verjuice and a peppery oil, and the result is an elegant starter that sings of hot days and cool breezes.
By LENNOX HASTIE
CHINESE NEW YEAR
The Chinese New Year dish to boost longevity and prosperity
As the name suggests, long life noodles signify longevity in life, as well as prosperity and good luck for the year ahead.
By DIANA CHAN
WOK STARS
The tastiest salt-and-pepper tofu recipe yet
This is the perfect combination of a crispy, fragrant crust and pillowy soft-centred tofu seasoned with a five-spice mix.
By DIANA CHAN
WOK COOKING
This full-flavoured Malaysian chicken casserole is big winner
In this popular casserole dish from Malaysia, chicken pieces are cooked with lots of aromatics, which impart a beautiful flavour.
By DIANA CHAN
Wine

Cellar director John Lehmann selects three Western Australian shirazes, for a super six saving of $74. Details here.

The mystery wine you must try this summer
It’s a white wine born in the south of France that’s running hot in the UK. It’s made for sunny afternoons, especially with fresh seafood, and the time to try it is now.
By JOHN LEHMANN, TOM SMITHIES
One of the best-kept secrets in Australian wine revealed
In an age when so much wine is rushed to market in order to quickly claw back costs, the Umamu offerings are a rare treat.
By NICK RYAN
From the archive
FRESH RECIPES
14 zucchini recipes for all your summer meals
Zucchini is the secret superstar ingredient that brings a fresh touch to any dish – whether you’re looking for a light salad, a healthy snack, or a comforting dinner.
By GISELLE BUETI AND STEPHANIE SEKULOVSKA
Journeys
The spectacular part of Australia you should see in summer
I could sit here all afternoon and just watch the show. So I do. It’s simply mesmerising.
By RICKY FRENCH
P.S

You are probably eating too much salt. At least that is the advice of the WHO who this week advised switching to low-sodium options to improve heart health. “Basically, everyone in the world eats way more salt than they should, and salt causes high blood pressure and high blood pressure is the single biggest modifiable risk factor for premature deaths and disability in the whole world,” says Bruce Neal, professor of medicine at the University of NSW and a director at the George Institute for Global Health. Will you cut your salt intake? Maybe it's something to consider. Read more about it here.