 |
| Nick
and Inga during first brainstorm session |
A couple of months ago, we heard there was
to be a show during our local Kilkenny Arts Festival, and this show was to
feature quite a large group of crafts people from the area called MADE. Nick doesn’t usually have time to join into
such nice events but this year, as it was the 50th anniversary of an
organization promoting Irish design (Kilkenny Design Workshops), he decided to
meet the challenge. And to make the
effort appropriate, he and Susan decided to make it a team effort: they began a
collaborative project with Inga Reed, a fabulous jeweler living in Kilkenny.
Inge’s dream idea and wish was for Nick to
create some charming, small pots for her to use when she enjoys her
dukkah. Her what? Yes, we all asked: what on earth is dukkah? Inga,
being completely offhand, replied that Oh, you know, that Morrocan seed mixture
that you dump your bread in….
So, Nick got to work on creating Inga’s
dream and Susan got to work on DUKKAH!
Various versions and recipes exist and it
is such a simple concept, that you can make it as complicated and as personal
as you wish. It isn’t even Morrocan per
se, but considered more of an Egyptian delicacy. Dukkah is made from:
 |
| The Dukkah in its own pot with friend oil pot nearby. |
Nuts,
8 parts (usually hazelnuts, shelled
and lightly roasted)
Sesame
seeds, 8 parts
Cumin
seed, 1 part
Coriander
seed, 1 part
Fennel
seed (I part, and optional)
White
peppercorns 1 part
You could also add some chili flakes if
you’re that sort of person, and definitely add salt to taste. The process is to pan roast all the seeds lightly
and then bung them into a food processor with the nuts for a short amount of
time. My hint would be to use a heavy
iron skillet and do smallish batches, turning constantly so they don’t burn.
Dukkah, thank you Inga, is one of the most
delicious treats ever! Take your
favorite bread, dump it into good olive oil, than head over to the dukkah and
dip away. Heaven.
 |
Fresh Dukkah pots out of the
kiln, on the way to Inga.
|
Well, two months on, it’s all coming
together and it has been a beautiful and delicious trip! Even the dukkah. And so, when the exhibition opens next week,
everyone will be able to see Nick’s tiny, exquisite engine turned, basalt
dishes, surmounted by Inga’s intriguing silver work. A truly cooperative effort
from two talented people who would never usually do such items. When
svelte and beautiful Inga is asked at the exhibition why the dishes are
so tiny, I’m sure she’ll say because ‘dukkah is sooo fattening!’
