School Holidays Cooking Program - Workshop 3
Workshop 3: Stocks & Simmering (Thursday) ENTREE - Fried or Steamed Wontons (2 pax) INGREDIENTS METHOD 12 Wonton wrappers 60g chicken or...
Continue Reading →

Chicken empanadas are popular across Latin America, with each country offering its own variation. These baked empanadas are filled with a savoury chicken sofrito mixture and are perfect as a snack, entrée, or party dish.
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Serves: 2 (Makes 8 small empanadas)
Ingredients
For the Dough
Short crust (Pre made)
GF Puff Pastry(option)
For the Filling
250g chicken thigh (or breast), Cooked and Shreded
(Replace with finely chopped mushrooms for vegetarian option)
1 cup frozen corn kernels
80g sofrito
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp salt (to taste)
½ tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Egg Wash
1 egg, beaten
Method
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat.
Add sofrito and corn cook for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
Add shreded chicken, jus and cook until just done.
Stir in tomato paste, cumin, paprika, salt, olives, and coriander.
Cook until mixture thickens and most liquid evaporates.
Cool completely before assembling.
Assemble & Bake
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Cut into 10–12cm circles.
Place 1–2 tbsp filling in the centre of each circle.
Fold into a half-moon shape and press edges to seal (crimp with a fork).
Brush with egg wash.
Bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve warm with guasacaca or a fresh salsa.
Sofrito is a flavourful base that forms the foundation of many Latin American dishes. It is best cooked low and slow. Across the region it is known by different names: hogao in Colombia, aderezo in Peru, and refrito in Ecuador - each with slight variations in ingredients.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients
2 medium onions, finely diced (350g)
1 small tomato, finely diced
1 small red capsicum, finely diced (60g)
1 small green capsicum, finely diced (60g) or 1½ bullhorn chillies
¼ habanero chilli (or ají dulce), finely diced
2 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper (to taste)
¼ tsp ground cumin
1 pinch pimentón (smoked paprika)
2 cloves garlic, minced
Method
Heat a pan over low heat and add the olive oil.
Once warm, add the onion and sauté gently for 3–4 minutes. Keep the heat low to slowly sweat the onions without browning.
Add the capsicum and cook for another 3–4 minutes until softened.
Add the garlic, tomato, spices, and salt.
Cook for 4–7 more minutes, or until all vegetables are very soft and fragrant.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients
250g beef brisket, simmered until tender (approx. 2 hours)
80g sofrito
15g tomato paste
¼ tsp salt
Method
Shred the cooked beef.
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat.
Simmer 20–30 minutes until reduced and flavourful. Adjust salt to taste.
Leche de Tigre (Serves 6)
100g fish trimmings
120g lime juice
100g fish stock
40g ice
15g red onion
10g ginger
8g coriander
½ Thai bird’s eye chilli (or ⅓ habanero)
1 tsp salt
Pinch MSG (optional)
Blend until smooth, strain, and chill.
Ceviche (Serves 2)
180g kingfish, diced (3cm cubes)
10g red onion, thinly sliced
¼ habanero, deseeded and finely diced
Juice of ⅓ lime
4 tbsp leche de tigre
¼ tsp salt
½ clove garlic, minced
3 sprigs coriander, minced
Mix gently and rest 5–10 minutes until fish turns opaque.
Serve with:
Baked purple sweet potato
Boiled corn
Cos lettuce leaves
Ingredients
¼ brown onion, finely diced (40g)
¼ green capsicum, finely diced (30g)
2 avocados (335g)
30ml olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning.
Pabellón Criollo is Venezuela’s national dish. It is a comforting and balanced plate consisting of carne mechada (shredded beef), caraotas negras (black beans), white rice, and sweet fried plantain. The combination represents the cultural blending of the country’s heritage.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients
Carne Mechada
250g beef brisket, simmered until tender and shredded
80g sofrito
15g tomato paste
¼ tsp salt
Caraotas Negras
To soak
400g black turtle beans
1L cold water
1 tsp baking soda
To cook:
1.2L water
2 tsp salt
½ brown onion
½ capscicum
¼ habanero
Rice
150g jasmine or long-grain rice
300ml water
½ tsp salt
Sweet Plantain
1 ripe plantain (yellow with black spots)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Method
1. Prepare the Rice
Rinse rice until water runs clear.
Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat.
Cover and cook for 12–15 minutes.
Rest for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
2. Prepare the Carne Mechada
In a saucepan over low heat, combine shredded beef, sofrito, tomato paste, and salt.
Simmer for 20–30 minutes until reduced and flavourful.
Adjust seasoning if necessary.
3. Heat the Black Beans
Warm cooked black beans gently in a saucepan.
Add a little cooking liquid if needed for moisture.
Season to taste.
4. Fry the Plantain
Peel and slice the ripe plantain diagonally into 1cm pieces.
Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
Fry plantain slices until golden and caramelised on both sides.
Drain on paper towel.
To Serve
On a large plate, arrange:
Rice on one side
Carne mechada opposite
Black beans beside the rice
Fried plantain alongside
Serve immediately.
Workshop 3: Stocks & Simmering (Thursday) ENTREE - Fried or Steamed Wontons (2 pax) INGREDIENTS METHOD 12 Wonton wrappers 60g chicken or...
Continue Reading →Workshop 2: Pan Cooking (Wednesday) ENTREE - Pan Frittata (Zucchini, Spinach, Ham, Cheese) (2 pax) I NGREDIENTS METHOD 3 large eggs 1 tbsp milk...
Continue Reading →Workshop 1: Kitchen Foundations (Tuesday) ENTREE - Vietnamese Corn Chicken Soup (2 pax) INGREDIENTS METHOD 120g...
Continue Reading →TRES LECHES (Serves 2) Ingredients Sponge 1 large egg (60g) 30g sugar 30g flour Tres Leches Mix 100g condensed milk 100ml evaporated...
Continue Reading →Brendan Pang – ASIAN COMFORTS Brendan Pang is an Australian cook, author and content creator renowned for his vibrant, flavour-rich dishes that draw deeply from his Chinese-Mauritian...
Continue Reading →WARRIGAL CREAMY PIPI’S INGREDIENTS 500g kg Pipi 3 garlic cloves crushed ¼ cup warrigal puree ½ tsp...
Continue Reading →
🍖Beef Suya (West African Spiced Street food, originated from the Hausa people in Northern Nigeria) 2 servings Ingredients ●200g beef (BBQ steak or top side steak,...
Continue Reading →
🥓Cơm Tấm - Broken Rice with Pork & Pickled Vegetables Traditionally a breakfast dish, com tam has become hugely popular throughout Vietnam and abroad. ‘Tam’ refers to the...
Continue Reading →Menu Pita Bread - Khubz Toum - Tahini-Garlic Sauce Hummous - Chickpea and Tahini Dip Lamb Kuwarma - Spiced Lamb with Hummous Batinjan Bil Toum - Roast Eggplant with...
Continue Reading →
Menu Rempah - Spice Paste Sambal - Chilli and Tamarind Condiment Laksa Soup- Coconut Curry Soup with Noodles Ayam Goreng - Malaysian Fried Chicken ...
Continue Reading →Menu 🥗 Warrigal Greens Verde with Yam Chips 🐟 Native Spice Fish Balls with Macadamia Labneh 🍛 Coconut Keens Curry Chicken 🐊 Crocodile Schnitzel with Slaw 🥗...
Continue Reading →Tasty Wednesdays Chinese 🍣 Huoguo- Chinese Hotpot Serves: 2 Prep Time: 20 minutes Active time: 20 minutes INGREDIENTS (Chicken Meatballs) ...
Continue Reading →
🥣 Miso Shiru- Miso Soup Miso soup is a fundamental aspect of Japanese cuisine. It’s traditionally eaten as an accompaniment with any meal of the day. This particular...
Continue Reading →
© Brendan Pang 2024 Confidential Information 🥟 Grandmere’s Pork and Prawn Wontons - 2 Ways Serves: 2 Total Time: 1 hour Active...
Continue Reading →
🥣 Miso Shiru- Miso Soup Miso soup is a fundamental aspect of Japanese cuisine. It’s traditionally eaten as an accompaniment with any meal of the day. This particular...
Continue Reading →
🥘 Jamon, manchego pintxo- Ham and cheese toast Pinxtos are a specialty of Basque country. Little slices of bread are topped with a variety of different toppings. Try to buy a...
Continue Reading →
🥟 Tortilla de Maiz- Corn There is nothing quite like making fresh corn tortillas. It’s surprisingly easy as long as you have the right tools. A tortilla press is...
Continue Reading →🥓Cơm Tấm - Broken Rice with Pork & Pickled Vegetables Traditionally a breakfast dish, com tam has become hugely popular throughout Vietnam and abroad. ‘Tam’ refers to the...
Continue Reading →🍜Pad Thai - Stir-Fried Rice Noodles Pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand and is a beloved street food snack. A combination of tangy tamarind, sweet palm...
Continue Reading →Social Cooking Party Korean 🐔 Yangnyeom - KFC Korean Fried Chicken 🍲Bulgogi - Simmered Beef Slices 🌶Banchan- Assorted Pickles and Kimchis ...
Continue Reading →Taste of Vietnamese Cooking Goi Ga- Vietnamese Chicken Salad Chả Giò -Spring Rolls Phở Gà - Rice Noodles+ Aromatic Chicken Stock Nước Chấm - Fish Sauce Dressing...
Continue Reading →Flavours of Latin America 🥘 Adobo/ Sofrito Sofrito is a flavourful base that is a foundation for so many Latin American dishes. It’s best cooked low, and slow. Known...
Continue Reading →Chinese Steam Boat Master Class Chinese hot pot is a warm, comforting, and social meal to have with close-knit family or friends. Learn how to make hot pot at home!...
Continue Reading →Malaysian Cooking Master Class Date & Sessions: Sunday, 26 March 2023 MENU PAPAYA & MANGO SALAD Thai style salad with...
Continue Reading →High Tea Menu 1 🥪 Tea Sandwiches Afternoon tea sandwich tips: Getting ahead of the game with your sweet selection is a good idea, but don't assemble your sandwiches too...
Continue Reading →Sri Lankan Cooking Master Class 🍘 Roasted Curry Powder Makes: 180g INGREDIENTS 45g coriander seeds 30g fennel seeds 30g white...
Continue Reading →Social Cooking Party- Vietnamese 🐟 Nước Chấm - Fish Sauce Dressing This sweet, savoury and sour dressing is an absolutely essential part...
Continue Reading →Social Cooking Class- Thai 🌶 Phrik Nam Plaa - Fish Sauce Dressing This fish sauce dressing is a staple of Thai cuisine. It can be used as a salad dressing,...
Continue Reading →Social Cooking Party- Japanese 🐟 Dashi Stock - Bonito and Kelp Stock Dashi stock is a fundamental component of Japanese cuisine. It has a light,...
Continue Reading →Social Cooking Class- Chinese 🥒Pai Huang Gua- Sichuan Pickled Cucumbers These Sichuan style cucumbers have a lot of depth and flavour from the combination of...
Continue Reading →Social Cooking Class - Japanese 🐟 Dashi Stock - Bonito and Kelp Stock Dashi stock is a fundamental component of Japanese cuisine. It has a...
Continue Reading →Parents and Kids Cooking Class - Japanese 🍣Makizushi- Sushi Rolls These sushi rolls can be made with any type of seasonal raw fish, and vegetables. A...
Continue Reading →Thai Parents and Kids Cooking Class 🐔Kaeng Kari Kai - Yellow Chicken Curry This curry paste is an integral part of Thai cuisine. It is used as a flavourful...
Continue Reading →Parents and Kids Cooking Class - Chinese 🍜 Hokkien Mee- Stir Fried Noodles with Bok Choy Serves 2 Total time: 30 minutes ...
Continue Reading →ITALIAN COOKING Cotoletta Milanese - Chicken Cutlet Salsa di Pomodoro (Simple Tomato Sauce) Parpadelle al Ouovo (Egg Pasta) Tiramisu (‘Pick me...
Continue Reading →Moon Cake Making Class With the Mid-Autumn Festival fast approaching, it's time to start making preparations! This year, why not take your celebrations to the next...
Continue Reading →JAPANESE COOKING Okonomiyaki- Savoury Pancake Makizushi - Sushi Rolls- aka shiso, cucumber, salmon or kingfish Miso Shiru- Miso soup 🍣Makizushi- Sushi Rolls These...
Continue Reading →Thai Cooking Kaeng- Thai curry paste Nam Tok- 'waterfall' beef salad Kaeng Khiao Wan-Thai green curry 🐔 Kaeng Kari Kai - Yellow Chicken...
Continue Reading →Parents and Kids Cooking Class - Vietnamese 🐟 Nước Chấm - Fish Sauce Dressing This sweet, savoury and sour dressing is an absolutely essential...
Continue Reading →Chinese Cooking Hun Tun Tang- Wonton Soup Hokkien Mee- Stir-Fried Noodles with Bok Choy Gong Bao Jiding- Kung Pao Chicken 🥟 Shanghai Hun Tun Shanghai...
Continue Reading →🍘 Pita Bread Serves: Makes 3 pieces Total time: 1.5 hours Active time: 20 minutes INGREDIENTS 185g plain flour 100ml water (room temperature) 15...
Continue Reading →Japanese Cooking Master Class Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Makizushi- Sushi Rolls with Seasonal Fish and Vegetables Miso Shiru - Seasonal Miso Soup Seasonal Tempura -...
Continue Reading →Pizza Making Party 🍕 Neapolitan Pizza Dough In Italy, Neapolitan pizza is a protected cultural heritage item. For a pizza to be considered authentic, it should conform to a...
Continue Reading →STREET FOOD JAPAN Apr, Aug, Dec *all menus are subject to seasonal change Inarizushi- Tofu Pockets with Salmon Okonomiyaki- Savoury Bacon and Cabbage Pancake Enoki-Niku Maki- Beef...
Continue Reading →STREET FOOD CHINA Mar, Jul, Nov *all menus are subject to seasonal change Chonqing - Fried Chicken with Sichaun Chillis Pai Huang Gua- Sichaun Pickled Cucumbers Hun Tun...
Continue Reading →STREET FOOD THAILAND Jan, May, Sep *all menus are subject to seasonal change Gai Tod Nam Pla- Fried Chicken Pad Thai- Stir-Fried Noodles Nam Tok Sen-...
Continue Reading →STREET FOOD VIETNAM Feb, Jun, Oct *all menus are subject to seasonal change Bun Bo Lá lốt- Beef Wrapped in Betel Leaves with Rice Noodles Nước Chấm- Fish Sauce Dressing...
Continue Reading →Cooking with Australian Ingredients Master Class Smoked Kangaroo Tenderloin or Lamb Racks with Taro and Beurre Rouge Murray Cod or Barramundi Steamed in Banana Leaf Damper...
Continue Reading →INDIAN COOKING Apr Aug Dec Aloo Bajji Pakora | Potato Fritters Oralu Chitranna | Kerala Festival Rice Malai Kofta- Cashew and Tomato Curry with Potatao and Tofu Balls Kurma | Mixed...
Continue Reading →KOREAN COOKING Feb Jun-Oct Oi-Baek-Kimchi- White Cucumber Kimchi Tteokbokki- Spicy Rice Cakes with Seasonal Vegetables Yachae Twigim- Mixed Fried Vegetables Gimbap- Vegan...
Continue Reading →🍘Yaki Ganmodoki- Fried Tofu Cakes 🍚 Chirashi Sushi- Colourful Sushi Rice 🍜 Tantan Ramen - Chilli Oil and Sesame Noodles with Ground Pork 🍜 Tantan Ramen...
Continue Reading →Vegan Cooking Master Class Vietnamese VIETNAMESE COOKING Mar Jul Nov Nuoc Cham- Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce Banh It Tran- Steamed Rice and Mungbean Dumplings Goi...
Continue Reading →Italian Cooking Master Class Melanzane Alla Involtini Parmigiana - Eggplant and Ricotta Cooked with Tomato Sauce Pappardelle - Fresh Egg Pasta Ragu Al Genovese -Stewed Beef Chuck Pork...
Continue Reading →Mexican Cooking Master Class Tacos de Guisado- Stewed Beef Tortillas- Corn Flatbread Salsa Rojo + Salsa Verde Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Sauces Ceviche con Tostadas -Lightly Cured Seasonal...
Continue Reading →Chinese Cooking Master Class ALL MENUS SUBJECT TO SEASONAL CHANGE Chao Shou- Sichaun Wontons Chilli and Sesame Oil Sauce Yuxiang Qiezi- Sichaun Eggplant Mapo Tofu - Tofu with...
Continue Reading →Dumpling Party Jiaozi Dumpling Dough GF Dumpling Dough Pork, chicken or vegetarian fillings Dumpling Dipping Sauces Miso Soup 🥟 Jiaozi Dumpling Dough These are...
Continue Reading →Thai Cooking Master Class Phrik Nam Plaa- Fish Sauce Dressing Kaeng Khiao Wan - Green Curry Paste or Kaeng Phet- Red Curry Paste Tod Man Khao Pod - Fried Corn Fritters Som Tam - Green Papaya...
Continue Reading →Spanish Cooking Master Class SAMPLE MENU: (MENUS SUBJECT TO SEASONAL CHANGE) Croquetas De Jamon/ De Bacalao- Ham and Cheese Croquettes, or Salt Cod Croquettes Paella...
Continue Reading →Korean Cooking Master Class Kimchi- Fermented Cabbage Korean Style Spicy Chicken Haejanggguk - Beef, Cabbage and Spice Paste Stew Tteokbokki - Stewed Rice Cakes ...
Continue Reading →Indian Cooking Master Class Chicken Tikka Masala Naan- Festival Bread Mint Raita- Cucumber Yoghurt Palak Paneer - Cottage Cheese and Spinach Curry Authentic Spiced Basmati Rice...
Continue Reading →Vietnamese Cooking Class Master Nước Chấm - Fish Sauce Dressing Cha Gio - Vietnamese Spring Rolls Gỏi đu đủ - Green Mango/Papaya Salad Chả Cá Thăng Long...
Continue Reading →Japanese Cooking Master Class I Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Tataki Ponzu- Seasonal Fish with Citrus Soy Sauce Ramen- Alkaline Noodle Dashi- Seafood Stock Kara-age - Fried...
Continue Reading →Indonesian Cooking Master Class Bumbu Merah- Fragrant Spice Paste Kecap Kachang- Peanut Sauce with Sweet Soy Sauce Ayam Satay- Grilled Turmeric Chicken Skewers Rendang Daging Sedap- Beef...
Continue Reading →