The notepad: Samar Husain

Samar Husain, the co-founder of Kublai’s Kitchen in Islamabad, shares her favourite ingredients that she loves to cook with

Mustard



I love the sharp, tart taste of mustard and use it often in different marinades for chicken or beef. A teaspoon of mustard packs a punch of flavour, making it a great option for low-calorie weekday meals.

Garlic



For me, garlic is essential in almost every single thing I make. It’s one of those basic ingredients often taken for granted, but so many cuisines would be incomplete without it. My ultimate favourite is a piece of hot, fresh, crunchy garlic bread, however it’s never just a single piece!

Palm sugar



Palm sugar is a natural non-refined sugar that is rich in nutrients, need I say more? It’s a great alternative in desserts because of its caramel-ish flavour, but I use it more in Asian cooking when I’m looking for the perfect balance between sweet and salty.

Truffles



Truffles are more about the scent than the actual taste. The rich, heavy aroma of truffles adds an amazing dimension, when used right. I use thinly sliced truffles to enhance simple vegetarian dishes such as light pastas, salads and cheese pizza.

Zucchini



Zucchini is such a versatile and fun vegetable! It’s mild flavor and crunchy texture make it the perfect ingredient to use as a healthy substitute in so many dishes. Some of my favourites include zucchini noodles (or zoodles), zucchini chips, and zucchini bread.