Helen Goh
Columnist
Helen Goh is a chef and regular Good Weekend columnist.
Helen Goh’s gluten-free mushroom, tarragon and parmesan clafoutis
This savoury adaptation of the French country dessert is like a crustless quiche.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh
Pear, ginger and molasses cake
Molasses and coffee bring out the spice, while the caramelised pears provide a sweet, buttery counterpoint.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh
Helen Goh’s very apple-y hand pies
Using two varieties of apples adds wonderful flavour and texture to these turnovers, while apple cider vinegar makes the fruit somehow taste more of itself.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh
Flourless chocolate crater cake
This cake’s central “crater” is a perfect cavity for holding a deliciously flavoured, softly whipped cream.
- 30 mins - 1 hr
- Helen Goh
Quince, cinnamon and ginger cake
Quinces are mostly inedible when uncooked. In this cake, they’re diced just small enough to soften in the time it takes the batter to cook.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh
Savoury tabbouleh quick bread with whipped feta
Soaked for just a few minutes, bulgur wheat lends its characteristic nutty and chewy texture to this savoury quick bread. The addition of a good amount of chopped parsley, lemon juice and olive oil to brighten the flavours gave me the idea that this was a kind of tabbouleh in loaf form. Together with the whipped feta spread and a simple salad of sliced tomatoes, torn mint leaves, olive oil and salt and pepper served alongside, it makes a lovely light lunch.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh
Thin zucchini tart with basil and mint
At an agriturismo in Umbria last summer, we were served a zucchini tart that was both light and satisfying. When I asked about the herbs in it, the chef – with the lyrical name of Sunshine Manitoba – proudly told me how it was made. Here's my re-creation of it. Sunshine used a herb called nepitella, a kind of wild mint. I've added some basil, but dill would also work very well.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh
Mulled wine fruit tart
This rich fruit tart, with its festive flavours of mulled wine, can be served as dessert with cream or vanilla ice-cream, or in small slices alongside cheese after dinner. The recipe is long but worth it, I promise, and very manageable when the components are made ahead of time.
- 2 hrs +
- Helen Goh
Banana cake with cream cheese icing and miso caramel
Don't feel you need to make the whole shebang here. Even without the cream cheese icing, this cake makes a great snack. Topped with the icing while still in the baking tray, the cake is a portable treat. For the full monty, swirl the miso caramel on top, as pictured, to add a distinctly luscious (and interesting) note.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh
Helen Goh's Boston cream cupcakes with coconut custard
A Boston cream pie is a classic American cake (yes, not a pie at all) filled with custard and covered in chocolate glaze. I have made it here as little cupcakes filled with an easy and delicious coconut custard. The idea to use custard powder in the filling came originally from the need to ration my stash of eggs because of recent shortages of baking ingredients. I now prefer it to the original version with fresh eggs.
- 1-2 hrs
- Helen Goh