Cocktail Tomato Cups with Pesto Bocconcini
Monday, May 02, 2011A deliciously simple, colourful salad with bite-size balls of fresh mozzarella, homemade ramsons pesto and rocket leaves that can be made in a jiffy. They are ideal as a great finger food or a side salad for barbecue meat.
- 15 Cocktail tomatoes
- 15 Bocconcini Mozzarella balls
- 3 tbsp Ramsons pesto
- 1 tsp Lemon peel, grated
- Salt and freshly mulled black pepper
- Rocket leaves to serve
- Cut a thin slice off the top of each cocktail tomato. Scoop out and discard pulp. Sprinkle the cups with a bit of salt and drain.
- Drain the bocconcini and place them in a bowl. Add in ramsons pesto, lemon peel and freshly mulled black pepper to taste. Mix well.
- Arrange the rocket leaves on a serving plate. Fill the tomato cups with prepared bocconcini and place them on the serving plate.
Egg Salad with Wholewheat Croutons and Salsa Verde
Sunday, May 01, 2011This spring salad is really a WINNER. So simple and quick to prepare with easy to obtain ingredients and so delicious. I use salsa verde for the salad as I have some ready in the fridge, but a herb vinaigrette, or honey and mustard dressing would be great as well.
| Salsa Verde | Salad |
|---|---|
|
|
- Put olive oil, the herbs, capers, garlic, mustard, anchovies, lemon zest, and the lemon juice in a food processor. Blend until well mixed. Season with salt and pepper. Chill until ready for use.
- Place the eggs in a small pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer uncovered for 5-8 minutes, depending on the desired doneness. Drain, rinse in cold water until cold enough to handle.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add in diced bread and toast until they are lightly browned and crunchy.
- Divide the baby greens and cherry radish wedges into two serving plates. Peel eggs. Coat each with chopped parsley and slice into half. Arrange them on the serving plates. Spoon some prepared salsa verde over and scatter the croutons over. Drizzle with a bit of balsamic cream if desired.
Looking for more healthy salad recipes, check out Best Health today.
Ramsons Pesto with Wholewheat Spaghetti
Tuesday, April 26, 2011Ramsons is also known as "wild garlic" due to its pungent garlic odour, or "bear's garlic" as the brown bears after hibernation, seek it out to cleanse their system. Ramsons has similar medicinal properties to those of the garlic. It is therefore especially valuable for a spring cleaning and waste removal course of treatment. They can be used as salad, as a vegetable, in soup, or as an ingredient for pesto in lieu of basil.
| Ramsons Pesto | |
|---|---|
|
|
- Add only enough chopped almonds to the skillet so they lie in a single layer. Turn heat on to medium and toast, stirring occasionally until the nuts are fragrant. Remove from heat and cool.
- Rinse, dry and chop the ramsons. In a food processor, pulse toasted almonds and ramsons a few times. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on, stopping to scrape down sides of container. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If you have a mortar and pestle, do use them to pound the ingredients.
- To store the pesto, simply place them in a jar and allow the oil to rise to the top. If it doesn't add a little oil to seal the top. It will keep fresh in the refrigerator for about a week.
- Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain in colander and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add in pesto (about 1/2 cup) and gently toss to coat thoroughly. If pesto is too thick, you can add a tablespoon of the pasta water to thin it a little.
- When pesto is mixed in, add cherry tomatoes, bocconcini if used, baby greens and season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Roasted Zucchini Pesto
Sunday, February 27, 2011If you love pesto and are interested in something different, then this zucchini pesto is the ONE for you. I have used roasted zucchini, which adds extra complexity to the sauce, but you sure can use the raw one instead. Serve them with rye crackers or some toasted country bread.
- 500 g Zucchini
- 2 Garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp Ground almonds
- 2 tbsp Fresh basil, chopped
- 30 g Parmesan, grated
- 5 tbsp Olive oil
- 2 tsp Lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Cut the zucchini into half lengthways. Grease a baking pan with a little of olive oil, and place the zucchini, cut side down, in the pan. Brush the zucchini with half tablespoon of olive oil. Roast zucchini for 15 minutes.
- Cut the zucchini into small pieces and place them in a blender with garlic cloves, almond, and basil. Pulse unti the mixture is blended. Add in grated Parmesan and olive oil. Season the mixture with lemon juice, salt and black pepper. Serve with rye crackers.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Pistachio Pesto
Thursday, December 02, 2010Brussels sprouts, great food source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid and dietary fibre, make the perfect holiday side dish. Simply season them with salt, pepper, garlic powder and tossed with olive oil, then roast until beautifully carmelized. And the leftover can be quickly turned into a delicious pasta for lunch!
Recipe adapted from Steamy Kitchen
| For Brussels Sprouts | Cranberry Pistachio Pesto |
|---|---|
|
|
- Preheat oven to 200C/400F. To trim Brussels sprouts, first cut off the stem end and remove any loose or wilted leaves. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half, lengthwise. Place them in a bowl, and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add the olive oil and toss until thoroughly coated.
- Transfer to a shallow baking dish large enough to hold the sprouts in single layer. Roast until the sprouts are browned on the outside and tender on the inside, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes.
- Place the pistachios, cranberries, roasted garlic and flat parsley into a food processor and process until very finely chopped. While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve the roasted Brussels sprouts with the cranberry pistachio pesto.
Wholewheat Penne with Arugula Pesto
Saturday, November 20, 2010The distinct peppery tang and earthy flavour of arugula make this pesto especially rich, robust and utterly delicious! Besides using it for the pasta, I also used it to make one wholewheat pizza with lots of black olives, and tomatoes.
- 200 g Wholewheat penne
- 3 cup Baby arugula leaves
- 3-5 Garlic cloves, sliced
- 40 g Walnuts, toasted
- 2 tbsp Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 70 ml Olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt and the pasta to the boiling water and stir. Boil gently uncovered, stirring occasionally. Follow package directions and cook until al dente stage, chewy but not hard.
- Meanwhile, combine arugula, garlic slices, walnuts and Parmesan cheese in a food processor. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in olive oil and process until evenly blended. Season pesto well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
- Drain pasta and return to the pot. Add arugula pesto and toss well. Serve immediately. The pesto will keep about 1 week in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Celery Pesto Rocket and Tomato Pizza
Friday, October 01, 2010Top the homemade pizza crust with celery pesto, some of your favourite veggies, bacon, and cheese/es, and you have got a satisfying and totally delicious meal. Bon appetite!!!
| Celery Pesto | Dough | Topping |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
- To make the pesto, place almond slices, celery leaves, Parmesan and salt in a food processor, then whiz to a paste. With the motor running, slowly add the oil until combined. Cover and set aside.
- Combine the flour, garlic salt and instant dried yeast in a mixing bowl. Add in the warm water and olive oil. Stir at slow speed until all the ingredients combined. Increase the speed to the medium, and knead until the dough is smooth. Remove and shape the dough into a ball.
- Grease the mixing bowl with a little olive oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a plastic wrap and allow it to rest for an hour until it doubles in size. Preheat the oven to 220C/440F. When the dough is double its original size, punch it down to release the air bubbles. On a lightly floured work surface, cut the dough into two equal pieces. Shape each into a thin round layer, about 12 inches in diameter.
- Spread two tablespoons of the celery pesto on each dough, then arrange mozzarella, Parmesan on top followed by torn bacon and sliced tomatoes. Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes until the crust is light brown.
Avocado Dip / 牛油果蘸酱
Monday, August 02, 2010Avocados are loaded with many nutrients (nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid.)and labeled as the most nutritious of all fruits. Its rich supply of vitamins and minerals also makes the diet more wholesome and satisfying.
This avocado dip is very quick and easy to make. It should be prepared just before serving so that it doesn't discolour.
- 1 Ripe avocado, halved, pit removed
- 1 tbsp Lime juice
- 3 Cherry tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 Red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Parsley, finely chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Halve the avocado and remove the pit. Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado flesh and place in a bowl. Reserve the shells for serving.
- Add the lime juice in bowl and smash together. Stir in diced tomatoes, onion and parsley. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Divide the dip into two reserved avocado shells. Serve with crackers or taco chips.

White Radish in Szechuan Hot Bean Paste
Wednesday, July 07, 2010"Szechuan Hot Bean Sauce" or "Szechuan Dou Ban Jiang" is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soya beans, salt, and various spices. It is used particularly in Szechuan cuisine and regarded as "the soul of the Szechuan kitchen". One well known variety is called "Pixian Dou Ban Jiang" (郫县豆瓣酱), named after the town of Pixian, Szechuan. You can also use the paste to make spicy tofu dishes, or serve as a great accompaniment to the rice and noodles.
- 600 g White radish
- 1 tbsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Vegetable bouillon
- 1 tbsp Sesame oil
- 2 tbsp Szechuan hot bean paste
- Peel and slice the white radish into thin strips. Place them in a large bowl, and rub all sides of the radish with the salt. Sit in the fridge for 3 hours to draw the water. Remove and squeeze the excess water.
- Add in the rest of condiments and mix until combined. Transfer the mass into a clean dry glass and screw it tightly. Chill overnight.
White Radish in Szechuan Hot Bean Paste
Zucchini Cheese Spread served with Artisan Bread
Tuesday, June 08, 2010This zucchini cheese spread is extremely easy to make. Spread it on your favourite artisan bread or use as a sandwich filler or serve it in place of hummus.
- 150 g Zucchini
- 1 clove Garlic
- 150 g Fresh cheese
©angiesrecipes
- 1 tbsp Parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- Lemon zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Rinse, dry and finely grate the zucchini. Mince the garlic.
- Place the fresh cheese, grated zucchini, parsley, olive oil, minced garlic, and lemon zest together in a bowl. Mix well. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Now it is ready to spread on your favorite artisan bread.
Zucchini Cheese Spread Served With Artisan Bread
Sourdough Bread Dumplings With Curry Gravy
Sunday, May 02, 2010| Sourdough Bread Dumplings | Curry Gravy |
|---|---|
|
|

- Dice the sourdough bread into small cubes and place them in a large bowl. Bring the milk to a boil and pour into the cubed bread. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes. Slice the shallot and fry until golden crispy. Mix the fried shallot and the rest of the ingredients into the bread milk mixture until well blended.
- Form 16 small dumplings or 10 large dumplings out of the mixture. The dumplings should be firm but still sticky, so that they won’t fall apart while boiling. In a very large pan bring salted water to the boil. Place the dumplings in the scalding water and simmer for 20 minutes. Dumplings are done when they float.
- Peel onions, cut them into halves and microwave with a cup of water for 10 minutes. Remove the onions halves and puree them in your blender. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a skillet. Stir in minced garlic and ginger until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add in coriander, curry, cumin, turmeric, chilli, garam masala, chopped green chillies and onion puree. Stir fry for about 10 minutes.
- Add tomato puree and yoghurt to the pan. Mix well and add milk to get a medium thick soup consistency. Add sugar and salt to taste. Simmer gently for at least 30 minutes. Reduce to a thick but pourable applesauce texture. If it starts to get too dry, add more milk. Add in the bread dumplings and sprinkle the parsley over.


