Hetty Lui McKinnon grew up surrounded by an abundance of fresh produce, thanks to her father, a Chinese immigrant who worked in Australia’s wholesale fruit and vegetable business. Her childhood memories are filled with the vibrant colors and scents of fruits and vegetables.
Tragically, McKinnon’s father passed away when she was just 15. The grief was overwhelming, and for many years, she avoided confronting the pain. However, she found solace in cooking dishes that reminded her of her father. This culinary journey helped her cope with the loss.
“The pain of losing someone never truly goes away. It becomes part of your soul,” McKinnon reflects. “Cooking allowed me to think about his life and his legacy with courage.”
In 2021, McKinnon published the popular cookbook “To Asia, With Love.” Recently, she released her new book “Tenderheart: A Book About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds.” Writing “Tenderheart” forced her to process many of the emotions surrounding her father’s death.
Celebrating Heritage Through Food
McKinnon’s recipes are deeply rooted in her Cantonese upbringing, with a particular focus on vegetable-based dishes. She finds a sense of connection to her heritage through cooking and wants to pass this connection on to her children.
“Living in the West, it’s easy to lose touch with intergenerational history,” she says. “I wanted to give my children a taste of their grandfather’s legacy.”
Recipes from ‘Tenderheart’
Fennel and Gnocchi Salad with Fennel Frond Pesto
This salad features double fennel—a combination of crunchy raw fennel and fennel frond pesto. Tossed with crispy pan-fried gnocchi, this dish layers anise flavors harmoniously. The recipe is versatile; you can add roasted broccoli or cauliflower, leafy greens like spinach or watercress, or even substitute stuffed pasta for the gnocchi.
Ingredients
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb 10 oz (750 g) gnocchi
- Sea salt and black pepper
- 2 baby fennel bulbs or 1 regular fennel bulb, finely sliced
- ¾–1 cup Fennel Frond Pesto
- Handful of grated parmesan, pecorino, or cheddar
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle in olive oil, add gnocchi, and season with salt. Pan-fry for 3–4 minutes until golden.
- Transfer to a serving plate, add fennel and pesto, and toss to coat. Top with grated cheese.
Fennel Frond Pesto
Transform fennel fronds into a mellow, anise-flavored pesto. This recipe includes toasted pumpkin seeds for added nuttiness and sweetness.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups fennel fronds
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
- Sea salt
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ¾ oz (50 g) hard cheese, finely grated
Instructions
- Blend fennel fronds, garlic, and pumpkin seeds. Add salt and olive oil, and blend into a coarse paste.
- Stir in the cheese. Adjust salt to taste.
Exploring More Recipes
Miso-Maple Sugar Snap Pea, Turnip, and Strawberry Salad
This salad balances the crunch of lightly pan-fried sugar snap peas with the sweetness of strawberries and a miso-maple dressing. It’s an adaptable dish that can be prepared with or without quinoa.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white or mixed quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable stock or water
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb sugar snap peas, trimmed
- Sea salt and black pepper
- 2 small turnips, finely shaved
- 5 oz strawberries, hulled and quartered
- Handful of mint leaves
Miso-Maple Vinaigrette
- 4 tsp white miso
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 tsp maple syrup
- 4 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, grated
Instructions
- Cook quinoa in stock or water. Set aside.
- Whisk vinaigrette ingredients until smooth.
- Pan-fry sugar snap peas, season, and toss with vinaigrette.
- Combine quinoa, peas, turnips, strawberries, and mint. Toss with remaining vinaigrette.
Ginger and Cilantro Noodle Pancake
This creative dish uses instant ramen noodles, flavored with a vibrant ginger-cilantro oil, and pan-fried until crispy. It’s a versatile and quick recipe born out of quarantine creativity.
Ingredients
- 3 packages instant ramen noodles, soaked in warm water
- 5 tsp soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Handful of cilantro leaves
- 1-inch piece of ginger, julienned
Ginger-Cilantro Oil
- 3-inch piece of ginger, chopped
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ⅓ cup neutral oil
Instructions
- Prepare ginger-cilantro oil by heating oil and pouring over ginger and cilantro.
- Drain noodles, mix with most of the ginger-cilantro oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame seeds.
- Pan-fry noodles until crispy on both sides.
- Serve with remaining ginger-cilantro oil, cilantro leaves, and ginger strips.
Reflections
McKinnon’s “Tenderheart” offers a heartfelt journey through recipes that celebrate family bonds and heritage. Her culinary creations are a testament to the enduring power of food in preserving memories and connecting generations.
For more insights and recipes, explore “Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds” by Hetty Lui McKinnon.