Secrets from a masterclass hosted by Masterchef Australia Chef Gary Mehigan in Mumbai

You always get a feeling of being let in on a trade secret, of getting a sneak through the proverbial back door when you watch Chef Gary Mehigan hosting his popular masterclass on television. Even when you're well aware that a million others are watching the very same class, privy to the same tips you've just manically jotted down, giggling at the same witticism Mehigan has passed self-deprecatingly. So imagine our delight at being offered precious words of advice face-to-face, the jocular chef standing behind the kitchen counter a mere two feet away.

Gary Mehigan plates up Salmon Rilettes with Little Toasts during the Tourism Victoria event u00a0at Grand Hyatt

The Melbourne-based chef, jet-lagged from his flight, exhausted from a demanding trip to South Africa, is all set to get down to business. Which, as we soon realise, involves a lot of belly-rubbing and finger-licking. "Always taste your food. Don't worry about using your fingers. If you've already dunked one in, use another. Remember you have five of them," he says in all seriousness; all part of the charm.

Gary Mehigan, who loves cooking with fresh produce, shows off Asparagus with Goat's Curd and Green Olive Tapenade. Pics/Shadab Khan

Even while he offers his recipes, all inspired by European cooking, Mehigan is quick to suggest that alterations are always welcome. "Think of recipes as roadmaps. If you don't have an ingredient, don't fret. Try and replace it with something else," he continues, as he gives a toss to the smoked salmon, dill, crème fraîche, and shallots he's using to prepare a canapé. "I love using fresh produce.

But when it comes to veggies like broadbeans and peas, I'd just as willingly use frozen stuff. With peas, for instance, when you buy them fresh they're sweet and lovely. But keep them for a while and they dry up. When fresh peas are processed and frozen they're able to retain their flavour," he adds while he purees broadbeans and peas for a second canape.

Sharing recipes, claims Mehigan, is one of the greatest things about being a chef. "There's not a single recipe I wouldn't share with the world; they're all meant to be shared. It's amazing when you can walk into a restaurant, enjoy the food and get the recipe from the chef. You can always play around with the recipe, make it your own, and that's not plagiarising," he adds.

Roast chicken, which the chef claims as one of his all-time favourites, is on the menu too. "The chicken, which I've stuffed with thyme, garlic, and lemon, must be roasted on the crown for the perfect result," he says pointing to the still-attached chicken breasts. "To plate up, I'm going to slice the filleted chicken breast, which is the tenderest part of the chicken.

I think that's my most tender part too," he says, giving his ribs a poke. "I just love using the rotisserie; there's something caveman-like about the technique, isn't there? And I think that's something Indians love too -- the tandoor," he says. But his concept of Indian food is limited to the nut-heavy North Indian food, he admits. "In Melbourne, we are still missing a truly good South Indian restaurant. Know any good Indian chefs?" he concludes with a question.u00a0

Ingredients
>> One sourdough baguette, thickly sliced
>>u00a080g unsalted butter, melted
>>u00a0One 200 g salmon fillet, skin removed and pin-boned, then cut into five-mm dice
>>u00a0½ shallot, finely diced
>>u00a0Finely grated zest and juice of ½ lemon
>>u00a0100g smoked salmon, cut into five-mm dice
>>u00a080g crème fraiche or sour cream
>>u00a02 tbsps finely chopped chives

Method
>>u00a0Preheat a fan-forced oven to 180°C
>>u00a0Brush the bread lightly with melted butter, then bake on a baking tray for eight minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Set aside
>>u00a0Mix the salmon, shallot, lemon zest, juice and a pinch of pepper. Leave to stand for five minutes
>>u00a0Mix in the smoked salmon, crème fraiche and chives
>>u00a0Place a tablespoonful of the salmon mixture onto each of the little toasts and serve with glasses of champagne

Tip: You can make a great salmon mousse by blending smokedsalmon, crème fraiche and a good squeeze of lemon juice in a food processor until smooth, then chill the mixture in the fridge.

Asparagus with goat's curd and green olive tapenade
Serves 2 as a starter
Ingredients
>>u00a0Table salt
>>u00a01 bunch green asparagus
>>u00a01 bunch white asparagus
>>u00a0Ice cubes
>>u00a01 tsp honey
>>u00a01 tsp Dijon mustard
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
>>u00a060 ml extra virgin olive oil
>>u00a0Sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
>>u00a01 small clove garlic, peeled, halved
>>u00a01 small ficelle baguette or 2 dinner rolls, sliced into 2 mm-thick ovals
>>u00a050g castor sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
>>u00a025 ml hot water
>>u00a050g walnuts
>>u00a01/3 cup soft fresh goat's curd
>>u00a0½ baby basil sprigs nasturtium leaves (optional), to serve

For Green Olive Tapenade
>>u00a0140g pitted green olives
>>u00a0u00a02 tsps salted capers, rinsed
>>u00a0u00a02 white anchovy fillets (these are anchovy fillets that have been marinated in vinegar)
>>u00a0u00a02 tbsps extra virgin olive oil

Method
>>u00a0For the green olive tapenade, place the olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil in a food processor and blend until smooth. Makes 125 ml. Leftover tapenade can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to seven days
>>u00a0Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with a good pinch of salt
>>u00a0Pre-heat a fan-forced oven to 180° C
>>u00a0Trim the asparagus by removing the woody ends (approx 2 cm). Use the tip of a small knife to remove the little spurs up towards the head of the asparagus. Place a handful of ice in a bowl and cover with 250ml water to refresh the asparagus, then set aside ×Carefully remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the iced water. Leave to cool thoroughly, then remove from the ice water, drain and set aside on paper towel
>>u00a0Mix the honey and mustard in a small bowl, then add the lemon zest and juice. Mix well and slowly whisk in 40 ml of extra virgin olive oil, adding it one drop at a time. Add a pinch of salt and a twist of pepper and set aside.
>>u00a0Rub the garlic clove onto the slice of bread and place on a baking tray, then drizzle or brush with the remaining olive oil. Bake for four to five minutes or until light-golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside
>>u00a0Mix the sugar and hot water in a bowl to form a thick paste (slurry). Place the walnuts in the sugar mixture and stir to coat evenly, then drain. Place the drained walnuts on a baking tray lined with baking paper, then sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake for 10 minutes, stirring or moving around once or twice; they should become shiny and sugary. Remove from the oven and leave to cool
>>u00a0Cut the asparagus into four cm lengths, reserving the tips, then toss with a little of the honey mustard vinaigrette
>>u00a0To serve, spread the tapenade liberally onto a serving plate or dish and top with the asparagus. Spread the goat's curd on the toasted bread and arrange around the asparagus. Sprinkle with the candied walnuts and drizzle with a little of the vinaigrette. Toss the baby basil with a little vinaigrette and scatter carefully on top of the asparagus salad, then add nasturtium leaves, if using. Serve immediately