IF YOU WERE anywhere near the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin city last weekend, you probably felt the buzz in the air from Taste of Dublin. 

The foodie festival ran for five days, with masterclasses, live demonstrations, pop-up restaurants and food markets taking place. 

“Taste of Dublin was an amazing event to see, meet and learn from chefs and local businesses,” says lifestyle blogger and Dyson ambassador Niamh O’Sullivan. “It taught me to appreciate our wonderful local produce here in Dublin.”

If you missed Taste this year, however, fear not, because we spoke to Niamh O’Sullivan about her top cooking hacks from the festival – from tidying as you go to swapping out  ingredients.

Keep a bowl out for food scraps 

It can be easy to forget about the cleanup when you’re in chef-mode, but tidying as you go can only improve the process, says Niamh. “A clean and efficient space is very important to me. It makes the cooking process more enjoyable and allows you to appreciate the meal more afterwards, especially when you don’t have to worry about all the washing up.

“I like to keep a bowl or food waste bin nearby to easily dispose of scraps. It’s essential to not only keep your countertops clean, but can be great for your garden and the environment.” 

Use your time wisely

While you might be tempted to scroll on your phone or turn on the TV while your delicious dish is cooking away, Niamh says these few minutes are the ideal time to get the space ready for guests, or just make sure you have a pleasant environment to eat in. “It’s easy to clean as you go while a dish is bubbling away on the stove,” she says. “It’s great to vacuum while you wait too so your space is clean for when you sit down to your meal.”

Niamh, who tried out the new Dyson Omni-glide™ vacuum cleaner on stage at Taste as well as the brand’s Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde, also said the experience made her more attentive to the issue of air quality as part of a clean and healthy home. “It was fascinating to watch the Dyson Hot + Cool Formaldehyde Purifier spike while I was preparing the dishes,” she said, “and learn how the technology purifies our air and can capture dust, bacteria and allergens.”

Lifestyle blogger and Dyson ambassador Niamh O'Sullivan. Dyson Dyson

Alter recipes to make them your own

Whether you follow recipes word-for-word or guess measurements as you go along, there’s a lot to be said for altering recipes to add your own personal touch. “I like to look at recipe books and blogs for inspiration, but enjoy adding my own twists and experimenting to create new dishes,” says Niamh. 

By doing this, you might create something even better. “Don’t be afraid to experiment. Be daring and try new flavours and ingredients.” 

Impress with local ingredients

Switching a few ingredients for those that are sourced locally is an easy way to take any dish to the next level, says Niamh. At her demonstration with Dyson, she put together a family favourite homemade chicken korma, using ingredients from Irish producers where possible. 

“Local ingredients will reward your dishes with better flavours and dinner party guests love to know that produce has been sourced or grown nearby,” she says.

Niamh’s homemade chicken korma

Ingredients: 

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 tsp of coriander
• 2 tsp of cumin
• 1 tbsp of turmeric
• 1 inch of grated ginger
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 onion
• 1 tbsp of tomato purée
• 2 tbsp of ground almonds
• 250 ml of chicken stock
• 2 tbsp of creme fraiche/sour cream
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• Salt & pepper to season
• Rice, fresh coriander, flaked almonds, mango chutney and natural yogurt to serve

 Method: 

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion and garlic for a few minutes on a medium heat until the onion softens. 
• Add in all of the spices and ginger and fry for four minutes. Watch them to make sure they don’t burn. Reduce the heat if necessary.
• Add the chicken and make sure it is coated fully in the spices. Fry for another four minutes.
• Add the tomato purée, ground almonds, stock and creme fraiche, and bring to simmer. Cook for 15 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened. Taste and add seasoning. 

Keep your cooking space clean and efficient with Dyson technology, including the Dyson Omni-glide™ vacuum cleaner, especially made for hard floors and Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool Formaldehyde, which reduces 99.97% of pollutants and odours. Visit Dyson.ie to learn more about Dyson technology and how to keep a hygienic home, with the digital expert team available to answer your questions.