--- The Cook Up with Adam Liaw airs weeknights on SBS Food at 7.00pm. Episodes will be made available after broadcast . ---
What do you think of when you hear the phrase 'parcels of joy'? Dumplings? Filled pastries? Biscuits with surprises inside? Everyone's answer might be different but it's a phrase with an uplifting, happy (and delicious) ring to it, and when we saw it was the title of an episode of The Cook Up with Adam Liaw, we knew one thing for sure - all the recipes featured would make us smile. We were not wrong! And it got us thinking about other delightful 'parcels of joy' from the SBS Food archives.
Beginner’s dumplings (Zhong dumplings)
This is the recipe Adam shares in the episode: a Sichuan classic that delivers "full-throttle dumpling joy". The dumplings are filled with spiced minced pork and served with a sweet, aromatic soy sauce boasting the flavours of ginger, cassia and star anise, plus sesame seeds and a drizzling of chilli oil.
Beginner’s dumplings (Zhong dumplings) Source: Kitti Gould
Albanian cheese triangles
Folded and filled pastry triangles are a staple in countless countries. This example, a recipe from Albania, is a lovely project for anyone looking for the satisfaction of DIY: a simple homemade dough, rolled thin and filled with a mixture of salty cheese, milk and egg.
Albanian cheese triangles (byrek) Source: Jennifer May
Middle Eastern lamb parcels
Still, with the pastry parcels, we now turn to filo, which makes deliciously flaky parcels - such as these, filled with lamb with fragrant spices and a touch of pomegranate molasses.
Middle Eastern lamb parcels Source: Souvlaki for the Soul
Butter chicken naan bread parcels
There's something about homemade bread, right? Well, why not use that and add to it the magnificence of butter chicken. If you've made a big batch of butter chicken and have leftovers, this is a great way to use it up - easy homemade bread that is filled and then pan-fried in a little ghee until golden.
Butter chicken naan bread parcels Source: Richo's Bar Snacks
Spinach, feta and pine nut parcels
If you've got a little more time on your hand, a yeasted bread also makes a great 'parcel' - such as this spinach, feta and pine nut triangle recipe from Paul Hollywood.
Spinach, feta and pine nut parcels Source: Paul Hollywood Pies and Puds
Crab, celeriac and apple lettuce cups
Feeling like a fresh parcel of joy? That's what Steve Simpson delivers on The Cook Up with this recipe, where the combination of blue swimmer crab in a creamy mayo dressing, crunchy apple and celeriac, and crisp lettuce leaves is light and refreshing.
Crab, celeriac and apple lettuce cups Source: Kitti Gould
Prawn betel leaf wraps (miang kham)
Is it the vibrant colours on display? Is it the fun of making your own little parcel? Or the flavour bomb in your mouth? It's all three, we reckon, that make these a leading example of the 'parcels of joy' idea. Get in there and embrace the DIY parcel deliciousness.
Prawn betel leaf wraps Source: Brett Stevens
Sweet pastry fingers with ashta cream (znoud el sett)
Moving on to the sweeter side of parcel joy, there's a world of sticky pastries, including these crisp, golden Lebanese pastry fingers, filled with clotted cream and drenched with fragrant syrup.
Sweet pastry fingers with ashta cream (znoud el sett) Source: Alan Benson
Filled cookies (3 ways)
Sweet genius Anna Polyviou shared this recipe on the 'Parcels of Joy' episode. The same dough is used three ways; to make cookies filled with Nutella, cookies filled with Biscoff and a cookie with tiny cookies (mini Oreos) inside.
Filled cookies (3 ways) Source: Kitti Gould
