🤤 Mini parmis are the new chicken nuggets

Plus: our guide to perfectly salted food (every single time)

February 15, 2025

It’s been a big week at Tasty (which generally means lots of dishes lol). We had our extremely chaotic but super fun TikTok LIVE with Froomes! Plus, I’ve been in the kitchen cooking til the cows home…

Keep an eye on our socials, because next week we’ll be releasing our first instalment of our Boost Juice Cocktails series with queen of the kitchen, Lauren Dunn, from MAFS. (Banana lovers, it’s your week, so stay tuned).

We’ve also got a hack coming which includes the perfect way to use up leftover pasta. I see that Tupperware container in the back of your fridge with plain pasta in it 👀 Do something with it.

Ok, it’s time for me to go make myself some miso noodle soup, so I’ll be off now. It’s raining and I need soup in front of me immediately when this happens. 

Salt 101
How To Perfectly Salt Your Food

Kosher Is A Safe Bet

Kosher salt is ideal for cooking, providing even flavour. Table salt is best used for adding to food at the table. When substituting table salt for kosher, use less. Coarse salt is perfect for finishing dishes or baked goods.

Sprinkle Salt High

It helps evenly distribute the seasoning and makes sure you don't accidentally over-season one area and under-season another. This is especially helpful for items like steak that benefit from an even layer of seasoning.

Pre-Season Proteins

Pre-seasoning your proteins a few hours in advance gives the salt enough time to penetrate the meat and season it in the centre. Salt also breaks down some of the proteins that make meat tough, as well as helping the meat stay moist via reverse osmosis.

Cold Foods Need More Salt

Hot foods are easier to taste than cold ones, so you might have to compensate with extra seasoning in cold dishes. One example is salad. Try adding a pinch of coarse salt along with the dressing — this small touch can make a significant difference in taste.

DIY Chili’s Triple Dipper

This week we’ve got everything you need to recreate the viral Chili’s Triple Dipper at home – but this time, we’ve made it Aussie. We’re starting strong with the classic mozzarella bricks (that cheese pull is epic, btw 👀). But instead of the usual Nashville hot sauce, we're getting all Aussie with a hot honey Vegemite glaze. Then, we've swapped out those Southwestern egg rolls for Vegemite and cheese spring rolls – the perfect brunch snack, especially dipped in avocado ranch. And finally, because why not, we're serving up chicken nugget parmi bites with marinara sauce. Seriously, this is next-level deliciousness.

Fried Mozzarella Bricks

Crispy fried mozzarella bricks in a hot Vegemite sauce served with ranch dressing 🤤 Check out the full recipe video here!

INGREDIENTS ✍️

For the fried mozzarella:

  • 1 block of mozzarella cheese 

  • 2 eggs, whisked  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour  

  • 2 cups breadcrumbs  

  • 1 tsp salt  

  • 1 tsp cracked black pepper  

  • 1 tsp onion powder 

  • 1 tsp garlic powder  

  • 1 tsp paprika  

  • Cooking oil spray 

For the hot honey Vegemite sauce:

  • 125g butter, melted  

  • 2 tbsp Vegemite  

  • 1 tbsp honey  

  • 1 tsp garlic powder  

  • 2 tbsp hot sauce  

  • Ranch dressing  

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise 

  • 1/2 cup sour cream 

  • 2  tbsp buttermilk 

  • 1 tbsp pickle juice 

  • 1/2 tbsp dried parsley 

  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder 

  • 1/2 tsp onion powder 

  • 1/2 tsp salt 

  • 1/4 tsp pepper

METHOD ✍️

  1. Cut the block of mozzarella cheese into 3cm thick slices.  

  2. Place the eggs, flour and breadcrumbs with the spices in separate bowls.  

  3. Coat the mozzarella slices in the flour, then coat in the egg wash, then cover in the breadcrumb mixture.  

  4. Place in the freezer for 1 hour.  

  5. During this time make the ranch dressing, by blending up all the ingredients until combined, and the hot honey Vegemite marinade by whisking all the ingredients together.

  6. When you’re ready to cook the mozzarella sticks, place them into an airfryer and liberally spray cooking oil all over both sides.  

  7. Cook at 200 degrees, for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.  

  8. Toss the fried mozzarella in the hot honey and Vegemite marinade until all coated.  

  9. Dip, pull and enjoy!

Chicken Parmi Bites

When life gives you chicken nuggets, add cheese and marinara and make a parmi 😍 Watch the full recipe video here!

INGREDIENTS ✍️

  • Frozen chicken nuggets  

  • Block of cheddar cheese, cut into little squares  

  • Basil leaves

  • Store bought marinara sauce (tomato sugo of choice) 

  • Cooking oil spray

  • Grated parmesan (to serve)

METHOD ✍️

  1. Place the frozen chicken nuggets in an airfryer, spacing them out evenly.  

  2. Cook at 180 degrees for 10 minutes, flipping them over before adding the squares of cheddar on top, plus the basil leaves.  

  3. Cook for a further 10 minutes.  

  4. During this time, heat the marinara sauce on the stove.  

  5. Serve with grated parmesan and enjoy!

Vegemite & Cheese Spring Rolls

These Vegemite and cheese spring rolls dipped in avocado ranch sauce could be your next favourite brunch snack 😋  You can see the full recipe video here!

INGREDIENTS ✍️

For the spring rolls:

  • Spring roll wrappers, room temp  

  • 1 tbsp of Vegemite per spring roll (this is up to you how much you use!) 

  • Cheddar, cut into 6cm battons   

  • Gruyere cheese, cut into 6cm battons   

  • Mozzarella, cut into 6cm battons   

  • Cooking oil spray 

For the avocado ranch sauce:

  • 1 avocado  

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise 

  • 1/2 cup sour cream   

  • Juice of half a lemon  

  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar  

  • 1 tbsp chives, chopped  

  • 1/2 tbsp dried parsley 

  • 1 tsp dried dill

  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder 

  • 1/2 tsp onion powder 

  • 1/2 tsp salt 

  • 1/4 tsp pepper 

METHOD ✍️

  1. Spread the vegemite all over the spring roll.

  2. Place the 3 cheeses, 1 of each into the centre above a corner. Fold the corner over the cheeses, rolling once. Then take one corner from the side and bring it to the centre and then the other. Continue to roll up. Secure the top corner with Vegemite.  

  3. Repeat this with the amount of spring rolls you want to make.

  4. Place them in an airfryer and spray with the cooking oil spray all over. Cook at 200 degrees for 7 minutes, flipping them half way through.  

  5. To make the avocado ranch, mix together all the ingredients until combined.