MasterChef star’s hot cooking tips

Former MasterChef contestant Courtney Roulston is hoping the Sydney Swans go one better this year as the team prepares for the AFL season opener.[Substitute images]

Taste confidential

FORMER MasterChef contestant and Sydney Swans cook Courtney Roulston is hoping the team goes one better this year as the team prepares for the AFL season opener at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

The Blacktown-born, Kellyville-raised former club manager rose to fame after competing in Series 2 of MasterChef in 2010 and now makes meals a couple of times a week for all 45 players, plus about 15 coaches and support staff.

“They are always hungry, whether they have trained or not,” says Roulston has been the team cook for several years now and also teaches many of the Swans new recruits cooking skills.

“From a cook’s point of view, I make sure I give them something tasty but there is a nutrition element. It’s not MasterChef and pork belly. But I’m sure the boys would want me to give that to them,” she says.

Swans fans Sophie King and partner Courtney Roulston fire up before the 2014 AFL Grand Final match between the Hawks and Swans at the MCG last year. Picture: Nathan Dyer

The pre-match focus is on carbs and lighter post-match meals includes lots of proteins. Hopefully the meals will get them over the line in 2015, after last year’s Grand Final loss. Her salad recipes will feature in Roulston’s new book, The Salad Kitchen, to be released before Mother’s Day.

For Swans Academy recruits, it is often their first time out of home, so cooking skills are not in the same league as their football skills, so Roulston holds classes.

Former MasterChef contestant Courtney Roulston cooking lunch for Sydney Swans players who have their first home game on Saturday. Picture: Bob Barker.

“We’ve had six already, and the boys will get together one of the afternoons they are free and we run a little cooking class. I run them through some basic dishes,” she says.

“It might be how to cook a steak, how to cook a pasta sauce, how to make five different dishes out of that pasta sauce and then the boys basically cook themselves dinner and we sit down and have a meal.

“Somewhere along the line they really need to know how to cook, whether they want to or not.”

Originally published as MasterChef star’s hot cooking tips