• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Spice Adventuress

Food and Stories......without Borders

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Let’s Work Together
  • Portfolio
  • Travel
  • Restaurants
Home » Journal » My Favourite Recipes of 2016

My Favourite Recipes of 2016

December 27, 2016 by Dhanya Samuel 2 Comments

What a spectacular year it has been!
So many highs personally and professionally, 2016 has been a memorable year for me. And as we draw to a close, I wanted to share some of my favourite recipes with all of you. While I have enjoyed cooking and writing about every recipe here, there are definitely some favourites. Some of these are personal success stories in terms of a technique or ingredient while others tell personal stories. So sit back and enjoy a pictorial tribute to my top recipes from 2016.
And wishing each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year….Cheers!
The ‘Indian’ Cosmopolitan – a Rooh Afza Cocktail

The ‘Indian’ Cosmopolitan – a Rooh Afza Cocktail! - thespiceadventuress.com

Breaking all rules with this cocktail……my tribute to Rooh Afza, an extremely popular fruit concentrate in many parts of Asia. The beautiful vibrant colour and the refreshing headiness this drink offers make it perfect for our long summer days.


Mushroom & Sundried Tomato Hummus Toasties
Mushroom & Sundried Tomato Hummus Toasties - a delightful vegetarian canape for the festive season - thespiceadventuress.com

This was the surprise recipe of the year. An experiment with flavours which worked magic on the tastebuds, these toasties are super quick and make the perfect canapé for any party.


Spiced Kangaroo Triangles
Spiced Kangaroo Triangles - a delicious party snack with roo mince - thespiceadventuress.com

Kangaroo meat remains a judgemental topic but I am of the opinion that if sustainably sourced, it has an apt place on the dinner table, especially in Australia. But yes, sustainably sourced is a phrase I would stress on. And if you share my beliefs, then these spiced kangaroo triangles are simply delicious and one I enjoyed creating.


Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls (with Sweet n’ Spicy Dipping Sauce)
Vietnamese Prawns Spring Rolls - The ultimate party snack for kids and adults alike - thespiceadventuress.com
Baked Oysters with Garlic, Curry Leaf and Kashmiri Chilli
Baked Oysters with Garlic, Curry Leaf and Kashmiri Chilli - Soft, plump and juicy oysters are oven baked with a garlic and curry leaf butter emulsion, coriander leaves and Kashmiri chilli powder - thespiceadventuress.com

An attempt at showcasing the subtlety of Indian flavours. There is a myth that Indian food means robust flavours but these oysters will tell you otherwise. A must have this festive season.


Hashbrown Muffins with Ham, Cheese and Sundried Tomatoes
Hashbrown Muffins with Ham, Cheese and Sundried Tomatoes - a savoury kid friendly snack perfect for lunch boxes and parties alike - thespiceadventuress.com

A recipe that got me featured for the second time in Bank of Melbourne’s #socialfeeds cookbook 2016! These savoury muffins are so easy to make and works magic on a brunch table or for a children’s party or perhaps simply as an afternoon treat. Don’t miss to give it a try…


Potato, Cauliflower and Leek Soup with Crispy Bacon and Shallots
Potato, Cauliflower and Leek Soup with Crispy Bacon and Shallots - Comfort in a bowl - thespiceadventuress.com

This one’s ideal for the harsh winters that will be here in the blink of an eye. Creamy, lush and delicious especially with those crispy bits of bacon and shallots. Heaven in a bowl!


Kashmiri Rista…..Sandwiched!
Kashmiri Rista - a traditional meatball preparation from Kashmir in a new format - thespiceadventuress.com

This recipe was all about showcasing traditional Indian flavours in a global style. Rista is an extremely popular meatball recipe from Kashmir, a delicacy that is held in much reverence. But instead of the curry format, I have used it to create a submarine sandwich proving how sturdy yet flexible Indian flavours are.


Mexican Prawn Tacos with Mango Salsa
Mexican Prawn Tacos with Mango Salsa - easy and delicious - thespiceadventuress.com

We are huge on tacos; little morsels of deliciousness that are so utterly satisfying. And these Mexican prawn tacos are one of the best you will ever have, if I may say so myself.


Grilled Chicken Skewers with Fresh Herbs and Chillies
Herby and delicious - Grilled Chicken Skewers (with Fresh Herbs and Chillies) - thespiceadventuress.com

A hailstorm followed by loads of fresh herbs is what led to this recipe. But it turned out so damn delicious that I am secretly grateful to the storm for wrecking my urban herb garden.


Filipino style Grilled Barramundi
Filipino style Grilled Barramundi - an Indian interpretation of a traditional Filipino dish - thespiceadventuress.com

Fish with eggs was not a flavour combination I thought would work till I tried out my version of a Filipino classic. Amazing is the verdict!


Massaman Curry
Massaman Curry - a sweet, spicy and highly aromatic curry from Thailand - thespiceadventuress.com

This one takes a bit of time to get to the table but the effort is so worth it. The famous ‘Chin Chin’ recipe that will give you much delicious comfort during the colder months.


Cambodian (Khmer) Chicken Samlâ Curry
Cambodian (Khmer) Chicken Samla Curry - deliciously creamy, highly aromatic and fragrant chicken curry - thespiceadventuress.com

This is the first time I tried out a Khmer dish and what a delicious experience it was. This creamy, lush and flavourful chicken curry didn’t take too long to become one of our favourite curries ever.


Vegetable Stir fry with Gochujang
Vegetable Stir Fry with Gochujang (Korean Chilli Paste) - thespiceadventuress.com

And my biggest discovery of 2016….gochujang! Love at first taste folks; if you haven’t tried out this magic condiment, then please make it your resolution for 2017.


Tim Tam Vanilla Icecream Cake
Tim Tam Vanilla Icecream Cake - a super simple and delicious summer dessert - thespiceadventuress.com

Developing this recipe was an eye opener too regarding palm oil and its salient presence in our foods. Do spare a moment to read the article if you haven’t already and a delicious summery icecream cake is the bonus.


Chocolate Fudge Cake with Milk Chocolate Buttercream and Fresh Strawberries
Chocolate Fudge Cake with Milk Chocolate and Fresh Strawberries - the most delicious way to say 'I love you' this Valentine's Day - thespiceadventuress.com

This one’s from Valentine’s Day, a dedication to my love story and to all the beautiful readers of my blog. Lush and decadent, this chocolate fudge cake also got featured on Bon Appétit.


 
 

Previous Post: « Chilli Prawn Fried Rice
Next Post: The ‘Green’ Mojito »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. PriyaPandian

    December 27, 2016 at 10:02 am

    Wonderful recipes and great looking pics 🙂

    Reply
    • vanyadhanya

      December 27, 2016 at 12:51 pm

      Thanks so much Priya…hope you had a good year too.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Find A Recipe

NEVER MISS A RECIPE!

Sign up for new recipes, tips, techniques to make cooking more fun. Also find inspiration to plan your next holiday or the best restaurants to dine out.

Hi, I am Dhanya. The Spice Adventuress is my alter ego. Through her, I fulfill my desire to put my thoughts into words, explore my restless creative soul and express it through food and photography.

Read My Journey


© 2025 • The Spice Adventuress • Privacy Policy • Disclosure Policy