Brendon The Smiling Chef

Hi I'm Brendon D'Souza • Sharing delicious recipes and reviews with lovers of food • Winner: The Chef - Menu Log Food Lover Blog Awards 2015 www.brendonthesmilingchef.com [email protected]

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  You could make this delicious Indian burger in minutes thanks to SpiceVine’s delicious marinades.

There’s no denying that burgers are one of the easiest and tastiest meals that you could make and eat. In the past burgers may have been seen as “junk food”, but I genuinely think that’s a thing of the past. The recent #BurgerPorn craze that swept Sydney by storm from about 2012-2015 saw a wave of gourmet burger chains popping up all over our city, as well as burger festivals like the annual Burgerpalooza festival by Hashtag Burgers.

Looking through my archives I’ve got some great vegetarian burger recipes like my Chickpea Burgers with Cucumber and Avocado or The Ultimate Tofu Schnitzel Burger for a healthier take on the classics. I’ve also been super keen make a burger that reflects my own Indian heritage, and thanks to my friends at SpiceVine, I can share with you a delicious and easy spicy beef burger recipe with you!

SpiceVine marinades are a harmonious blend of fresh herbs and quality spices prepared to maintain their natural, vibrant flavours with minimal processing and no additives – thank goodness! Made in Sydney’s North-Shore, the multiple award-winning SpiceVine range includes marinades, stir-fry pastes, simmer sauces and relishes. Since being gifted with a selection of Spice Vine marinades a few weeks ago, I’ve really enjoyed being able to add a squeeze of flavour to my burgers, bbq’s and more! The Mirch Masala blend used in this recipe is a modern take on Harissa and is a fiery blend of dry red chillies, vinegar and roasted spices that’s perfect for these burgers. It actually reminds me a little of the masala blend used in some of the Goan dishes Mum makes. Order yours today via the link here.

Scroll down for my super easy Mirch Masala Burger recipe below.

Delicious SpiceVine Mirch Masala.

Love that bright red colour.

Mix it well using clean hands.

Divide into four.

Squash tight.

Flatten using your palms.

Ready to cook.

Mirch Masala Burgers with SpiceVine

Prep time 15 mins | Cooking time 20 mins | Serves 4

Ingredients:

500g lean beef mince

1/2 pouch SpiceVine Mirch Masala marinade

150g rocket and baby spinach salad mix

2 ripe tomatoes, sliced

1 large red onion, finely sliced into rings

Cucumber raita (see recipe here)

4 brioche burger buns, split and toasted (I used La Fournee Doree Brioche Burger Rolls)

Method:

Combine the beef mince with the SpiceVine Mirch Masala marinade using clean hands. Divide the mixture into 4 and form into burgers by making a large ball shape, then flattening into a disk using your palms.

Heat a frying pan over a medium heat until it starts to smoke. This will ensure that the burgers form a nice crust on the outside – be sure to use your kitchen’s ventilation fan, or you could event use a barbecue. Add the patties, two at a time, and cook for 3-4 minutes until they form a golden crust. Flip with a spatula and cook on the other side. Do the same for the remaining patties.

To assemble the burgers place the brioche bases onto a serving plate and top with a burger, sliced tomato, onion and the spinach and rocket salad. Finally, dollop the raita onto the salad mix and top with the burger lids.

Enjoy!

My other adventures with SpiceVine.

I’ve had so much fun with SpiceVine that I even made some more delicious meals using some of their other marinades, just like these chicken drumsticks with SpiceVine‘s Chilli-Lime Smash, and lamb chops with Spice Medley Marinade – this one has a delicious nutty flavour thanks to the ground lentils in the mix.

SpiceVine‘s Chilli-Lime Smash.

Chilli-Lime Smash Drumsticks.

  SpiceVine‘s Spice Medley.

  Happy Cooking and Keep Smiling,

Brendon

While you’re here why not ‘like’ my Facebook or follow me on Instagram and keep up-to-date with all my foodie adventures like this one below:

Getting super excited for #valentinesday tomorrow!! It's also #ashwednesday so I'll be kicking the day off with Mass with the family before enjoying some fun at @wework with my friends. Stay tuned for more…Thanks for the photo @augustemily!

A post shared by Sydney • Food • Life • Travel (@brendonthesmilingchef) on Feb 13, 2018 at 2:30am PST

*Note: Brendon The Smiling Chef was gifted with a selection of SpiceVine marinades for this post. All words, thoughts and opinions are my own.

  SpiceVine invited me to try their delicious marinades and here are the results! You could make this delicious Indian burger in minutes thanks to SpiceVine's delicious marinades. There's no denying that burgers are one of the easiest and tastiest meals that you could make and eat.

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This simple blend of cucumbers, yoghurt and herbs add a burst of freshness to curries, bbq meats and more!

I cannot lie, I cringe every time I hear someone pronounce raita as “ray-ta”. Don’t know why, I just do. Maybe it’s because I grew up calling this simple blend of cucumbers, yoghurt and herbs and spices “rye-ta” as many other Indians do. But then again, I know I’m guilty of saying “pie-ella” instead of “pie-yay-yah”. Thankfully, I learnt a number of years ago that the hearty French salad is actually pronouced “niece-waas” and not “nick-oise” and I’m always conscious of “chore-eeth-o” for the spicy Spanish sausage. Pitch Perfect‘s Adam Devine created this hilarious video with Bon Appétit to educate the world on the correct pronunciation of many foods we love:

But I digress. The main point here is that raita is actually super easy to make and at it’s core, only requires 2-3 ingredients – fresh and crisp cucumbers, creamy greek yoghurt and a pinch of something tasty like fresh herbs, chillies, garlic, cumin or whatever you have in your pantry. I love using Lebanese cucumbers for my raita because they are just so juicy and flavoursome. Some recipes will tell you to wring out the moisture from the cucumber flesh, but really, #AintNobodyGotTimeForThat, so I choose to keep my recipe nice and simple.

I’m using SpiceVine‘s Coriander Zing Marinade to add a burst of flavour and natural bright green colour to my Raita*. This multiple award-winning range of fresh marinades contain all-natural ingredients, are gluten-free and made right here in Sydney so you know they’re going to be tasty. Order yours here.

It starts with some yoghurt.

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Chop Lebanese cucumbers into 1cm cubes.

Give it a mix.

Prep Time 15 mins | Cooking Time 0 mins | Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

1 cup Greek Yoghurt

2 tbsp SpiceVine Coriander Zing Marinade

2 medium Lebanese cucumbers

Method:

Place the yogurt in a mixing bowl and add the SpiceVine Coriander Zing marinade. Stir to combine.

Finely dice the cucumbers and stir through the yoghurt. I didn’t find I needed to add any seasonings but feel free to do so. Place into an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

Brendon’s Tips:

I prefer using Lebanese cucumbers for raita because they are so flavoursome and juicy.

You could also flavour your raita with chilli powder, fresh chillies, garlic, finely chopped mint or cumin powder if you prefer.

Raita is a great accompaniment to many Indian Sub-Continental, Arabic and Greek Dishes and also tastes great with bbq meats and burgers.

  Happy Cooking and Keep Smiling,

Brendon

While you’re here why not ‘like’ my Facebook or follow me on Instagram and keep up-to-date with all my foodie adventures like this one below:

Part 2 #thisisme @thegreatestshowman

A post shared by Sydney • Food • Life • Travel (@brendonthesmilingchef) on Jan 22, 2018 at 3:38am PST

*Note: Brendon The Smiling Chef was gifted with a selection of SpiceVine marinades for this post. All words, thoughts and opinions are my own.

This simple blend of cucumbers, yoghurt and herbs add a burst of freshness to curries, bbq meats and more! This simple blend of cucumbers, yoghurt and herbs add a burst of freshness to curries, bbq meats and more!

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MakMak moves to Surry Hills in time for Christmas.

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One of Sydney’s favourite macaron bakeries is moving to Surry Hills. Keep reading to find out how you could win a Macaron Prize Pack worth $50!

MakMak Macarons, Sydney’s leading macaron and dessert company, has shifted its headquarters to Surry Hills after six years on King Street, Newtown. The new outlet will have its Grand Opening on Monday 18th December 2017 at 11am.

Located at 272…

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Easy Summer Berry Christmas Pudding.

Can't get enough of this #prettyinpink Summer Berry Pudding? Get the recipe here:

Support Brendon The Smiling Chef this Christmas. Dearest reader, as we journey towards the season of Christmas I’d like to say a big thank you for taking the time out of your day to visit my blog! If you’d like to support my work you can do so by clicking the button to the side. Many thanks for your generous contribution and keep smiling! A$5.00 Turn a British classic into an Aussie favourite…

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Sticky Balsamic Chicken Drumsticks and my rant about the importance of home cooking.

Just 5 ingredients and you could have sticky balsamic chicken in minutes!

5 ingredients is all it takes to make this saucy, sticky weeknight feast! You know it’s almost Summer in Sydney when your denim coat is no longer necessary first thing in the morning and the sleeves of your red cotton shirt are rolled up to the elbow. An increase in daylight hours means I want to pack more into my day and get the most from it. I simply cannot do without a lunchtime wander in…

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Chef’s Palate takes all the hard work out of dinner time so you can spend more time doing what you love!

*Although I was treated to two delicious samples of the Chef’s Palate meal kits, my thoughts and opinions remain my own.

Ever since I started my new job I have to admit I’ve found I need to be even more organised when it comes to staying on top of meal times. This is where a meal kit like Chef’s Palate comes to the rescue.

You can choose from Chef’s Palate’s delicious, nutritionally balanced meals, such as Seared Tofu with Broccoli Steak, Mushrooms, Cherry Tomato, Spinach and Chimichurri Sauce and a #nomnom Bacon Cheeseburger with Rosemary Fries. Each meal kit is prepared with love, by Chef Alex James and his team.

Dinner is literally in the bag thanks to @chefspalate! Cannot wait to try out this Bacon Double Cheese and Beef Burger tonight. Stay tuned to see how it goes!! #whatsinthebag #chefspalate #burger

A post shared by Sydney Food Blog + Photography (@brendonthesmilingchef) on Aug 29, 2017 at 2:20pm PDT

Delivery.

My order arrived to my workplace in a large cardboard box. Each kit was packed in individual paper bags and the ingredients were individually packed and portioned in vacuum-sealed bags. This prevents oxidation and ensures the ingredients stay fresher for longer. The perishable items – burger patties, tofu etc. – were wrapped in insulated material and an ice pack was included to ensure it remained fresh.

Prepping the ingredients for the Pan-seared Tofu, Mushrooms & Broccoli Steaks dish.

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The finished dish.

Cook.

Cooking the meals as easy as following the simple, step-by-step recipe cards included with the kits. These feature Chef Alex’s handy hints for food prep, such as notes on how to de-seed chillies, as well as Food Stylist and Photographer (and my friend) Sophie Benbow’s mouth-watering photography which illustrates how to serve each of the meals. The cards also detail the time it will take for hands on prep, cooking time and total kitchen time and there’s even a nutritional guide for each meal. Sure, there’s a little slicing, dicing, stirring and frying involved, but it means that you can say you cooked the dish from start to finish, from scratch.

Prepping the ingredients for the burger.

You can’t have a cheeseburger without the pickle.

Order up.

The Verdict.

I was thoroughly satisfied with the results. In my vegetarian option, the tofu browned up really nicely and was a great base for a herby Chimichurri sauce. I loved the idea of slicing broccoli into “steaks”, or thin slices, and pan-frying them until golden and crispy.

Making the cheeseburger was a breeze. By frying the bacon first I could use the residual pan-juices to cook the patties and onions before assembling the burger.

Although you’ll most-likely use your Chef’s Palate meal on the day your order is delivered, there may be instances where you store your kit for a couple of days before use. This was the case for me as I tested the kits out a few days after they were delivered. The ingredients were still in very good condition. The potatoes however, included in the kit for the burger, became too sweet after storing them in the fridge. It’s probably a good idea to keep any root vegetables at room temperature until you are ready to use them to prevent the starches from developing a sweet, sugary flavour.

Besides this small hitch, I was very impressed by the quality of the ingredients. Vegetables were crisp and tender and proteins were of a very high quality. I was able to quickly throw together the meals in about 25 minutes on average which is no doubt super helpful to anyone leading a busier lifestyle. The kits take the guess-work out of weekday cooking meaning that you can spend more time cooking and enjoying a delicious meal with you family and friends.

Order now.

Place your order by visiting the Chef’s Palate website here.

Happy Cooking and Keep Smiling,

Brendon

While you’re here why not ‘like’ my Facebook or follow me on Instagram and keep up-to-date with all my adventures like this one below:

Cannonball – @leamichele written by @siathisisacting

A post shared by Sydney Food Blog + Photography (@brendonthesmilingchef) on Sep 23, 2017 at 12:22am PDT

This new meal kit could save you hours in the kitchen each night! Chef's Palate takes all the hard work out of dinner time so you can spend more time doing what you love!

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BBQ Cola Pork Ribs

Craving bbq pork ribs? Check out my easy recipe today!

Get ready for some finger-lickin’ goodness!

There’s no denying the beauty of BBQ pork ribs and I have a tasty and super easy recipe that will have you licking your lips and tucking into tender, meaty ribs in no time. The secret is a bottle of cola which is used in the basting process. Let’s get cooking!

🐷🍖🍳Sticky BBQ cola pork ribs anyone? Let me know if you'd like to see more videos like…

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BBQ Cola Pork Ribs

Craving bbq pork ribs? Check out my easy recipe today!

Get ready for some finger-lickin’ goodness!

There’s no denying the beauty of BBQ pork ribs and I have a tasty and super easy recipe that will have you licking your lips and tucking into tender, meaty ribs in no time. The secret is a bottle of cola which is used in the basting process. Let’s get cooking!

🐷🍖🍳Sticky BBQ cola pork ribs anyone? Let me know if you'd like to see more videos like…

View On WordPress

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BBQ Cola Pork Ribs

Craving bbq pork ribs? Check out my easy recipe today!

Get ready for some finger-lickin’ goodness!

There’s no denying the beauty of BBQ pork ribs and I have a tasty and super easy recipe that will have you licking your lips and tucking into tender, meaty ribs in no time. The secret is a bottle of cola which is used in the basting process. Let’s get cooking!

🐷🍖🍳Sticky BBQ cola pork ribs anyone? Let me know if you'd like to see more videos like…

View On WordPress

[brendonthesmilingchef]

New dessert inspired range pairs creamy Greek yoghurt with a side of crave-worthy crunch.

When you were a kid, the best thing about sitting in a trolley while your mum pushed you past the yoghurt isle was that you could finally reach for that elusive tub of chocolate or vanilla custard. You know the one. It came in a square tub with two compartments – one for obey gooey which chocolate custard and the other packed to the brim with choc chips, toasted peanuts or even Cocoa Pops. The best part was peeling away the foil and licking it clean before flipping the choccies into the custard and swirling it all around with the tiny plastic spoon. Chobani are bringing back your favourite childhood memories with their brand new range – Flip – with 10 crave-worthy flavours that will surely satisfy.

Guess what??? My amazing friends at @chobaniau just launched their brand new Chobani Flip range. Their turning snacking upside down with 10 delicious new flavours including Peanut Butter Dream, Salted Caramel Crunch and Chocolate Haze Craze – all paired with @chobani's creamy, protein-rich Greek Yoghurt! Cannot wait to get stuck into these tasty treats!! 📽 @augustemily

A post shared by Sydney Food Blog + Photography (@brendonthesmilingchef) on Jul 31, 2017 at 5:12am PDT

My friends at Chobani surprised me one afternoon with a ginormous Chobani Flip packed with each of the new yoghurt flavours and some bonus goodies – gotta love the golden spoon!

I cannot lie, I’m a sucker for Chobani’s Greek Style yoghurt made using low-fat milk that is strained until deliciously thick and creamy. “Flip” makes it even better with quality mix-ins including honey roasted peanuts, chewy caramel bits, salted pretzel and dark chocolate pieces.

  My favourite pots would have to be the Nutty for ‘Nana’ (Banana), Peanut Butter Dream and Key Lime Crumble. I was really impressed by the variety included in this range, which also features: Almond Coco Loco, Salted Caramel Crunch, Mint Chocolate Chip, Peanut Caramel Satisfaction, Apple Crisp Twist, Chocolate Haze Craze and Strawberry Shortcake. Visit your local supermarket and grab one for just $2.99 today!

To find out more about Chobani’s great range and visit their Instagram!

Happy Cooking and Keep Smiling,

Brendon

While you’re here why not ‘like’ my Facebook or follow me on Instagram and keep up-to-date with all my foodie adventures like this one below:

There's so many wonderful things you can do with #avocadotoast! Turning @bakersdelight baguette slices into delicious Sunday brekkie treats with @plumpton.marketplace. A special Sunday Shoutout to all my friends running the @city2surf this morning!!

A post shared by Sydney Food Blog + Photography (@brendonthesmilingchef) on Aug 12, 2017 at 4:23pm PDT

Chobani turns snacking upside down! New dessert pairs greek yoghurt + crave-worthy crunch! New dessert inspired range pairs creamy Greek yoghurt with a side of crave-worthy crunch. When you were a kid, the best thing about sitting in a trolley while your mum pushed you past the yoghurt isle was that you could finally reach for that elusive tub of chocolate or vanilla custard.

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Creamy Mac’n’Cheese with Spinach and Parsley

The ultimate comfort food dish with a healthy twist - Mac'n'cheese with Spinach and Parsley!

The ultimate comfort food just got healthier!

There’s nothing better than tucking into a bowl of steaming hot, cheesy goodness in the form of Mac’n’cheese. The American snack was one of my favourite after-school treats and as a child I’d help Mum to stir the pasta in the pot before adding milk, cheese and more. I’ve added some of my favourite greens to the mix for the ultimate comfort food dish…

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Regiment – Sydney CBD

Five Senses coffee, decadent pastries and delightful breakfasts at gorgeous new Sydney CBD cafe!

A brand new job meant that I was on the hunt for my new local cafe and thankfully I didn’t have far to look. The cafe I found was not only right under my doorstep, it just happened to be one of the hottest new venues to hit the CBD.

Named “A Coffee Palace” by Broadsheet Sydney, Regiment could be on…

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How I took Mobile Photography #UpAGear with Samsung Galaxy S7

How I took Mobile Photography #UpAGear with Samsung Galaxy S7

Celebrating the launch of my latest Photography Series with Samsung Australia.

Hi Foodies, hope you’re all having a great week so far! Two weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to present my mobile photography series Cooking for a Cause with OzHarvest at Samsung Australia‘s #UpAGear Photography Showcase. Held at award-winning cocktail bar This Must Be The Place the showcase celebrated the…

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Dreaming about these crispy, golden corn fritters from @poachedinc which I had the absolute pleasure of photographing last week at @easy_lane_windsorrsl's Sunset Festival. Love your work Eddie! (at Windsor Rsl)

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Hi #foodies, hope you're well. I know, I know, I've been extremely sporiadic with my posts these last few weeks. To tell you the truth I've been busy with a couple of new and exciting projects which I cannot wait to share with you all. In addition to cooking and styling some colourful #ChristmasRecipes, which I'll be sharing very soon, I've been doing a lot of street photography in and around Melbourne. You can check out all my photos at @my_omd_and_me. If you've been following my #instagramstories you may have seen a few of my singing videos and more. For the past 10 years or so I've sung in a number of choirs and with groups of friends for fun. It's something that I've kept secret for quite a while now and I decided that this was the year that I'd do something with it. So auditioned for a musical called Dogfight with @blackouttheatrecompany and somehow found myself playing both a Marine and a Lounge Singer and have made friends with bunch of super talented people who continue to inspire me each day. Keep up-to-date with my musical journey @bdsings. At times like these I'm always inspired by the words of @NIKE. I think what I've learnt is that it's never too late to follow your dreams. No matter how busy or tough life gets, if you want something, just do it! Anyways, that's it for my little schpiel for now but stay tuned for more exciting updates very soon!

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Saturday morning trip to the markets @vicmarket (at Queen Victoria Market)

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Bring on the Summer Festivals starting with @easy_lane_windsorrsl's Sunset Festival! Lovin these gorgeous corn fritters with avocado feta and delicious nachos with a rich chilli! (at Windsor Rsl)