Hetty Lui McKinnon, renowned for her innovative vegetable-based recipes, draws much of her inspiration from her father, a Chinese immigrant who worked in Australia’s wholesale fruit and vegetable business. Her childhood was filled with the vibrant colors and fresh scents of fruits and vegetables, thanks to her father’s occupation.
A Legacy of Loss and Healing
When McKinnon was 15, her father passed away, leaving a profound void in her life. For years, she struggled to confront her grief. However, cooking became a source of comfort, allowing her to reconnect with her father’s memory.
“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 released the acclaimed cookbook “To Asia, With Love.” Recently, she published “Tenderheart: A Book About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds,” a deeply personal project that helped her process the emotions surrounding her father’s death.
Honoring Heritage Through Cooking
McKinnon’s recipes are heavily influenced by her Cantonese upbringing, focusing primarily on vegetable-centric dishes. Through cooking, she maintains a connection to her heritage and aims to pass this legacy 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.”
Highlighted Recipes from ‘Tenderheart’
Fennel and Gnocchi Salad with Fennel Frond Pesto
This salad combines crunchy raw fennel with a flavorful fennel frond pesto, mixed with crispy pan-fried gnocchi. The dish is versatile, allowing for additions like roasted broccoli, cauliflower, or leafy greens.
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, add olive oil, gnocchi, and 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:
- 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 and adjust salt to taste.
Miso-Maple Sugar Snap Pea, Turnip, and Strawberry Salad
This salad offers a balance of pan-fried sugar snap peas, sweet strawberries, and a miso-maple dressing, with an option to add 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 dish features instant ramen noodles mixed with ginger-cilantro oil and pan-fried until crispy, showcasing McKinnon’s creativity during quarantine.
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.
Reflecting on Heritage
“Tenderheart” is a heartfelt exploration of family bonds and heritage through the medium of food. McKinnon’s culinary creations are a testament to the enduring power of food in preserving memories and connecting generations.
For more recipes and stories, delve into “Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds” by Hetty Lui McKinnon.