Smoked Paprika Prawns Cucumber Bites with Green Goddess Cream
Sunday, September 10, 2023Fig Salad with Arugula and Serrano
Monday, September 04, 2023This simple and delicious autumn salad is chock-full of lovely ingredients including fresh figs, Serrano ham, toasted pinenuts, and a homemade shallot vinaigrette. Parma and Prosciutto ham are both good substitutes for Serrano, or replace the ham with cheese (freshly grated Parmesan, blue cheese or Feta) if you prefer. To make this more substantial, you could serve some quinoa or sourdough bread with it.
Mirabelle Jam with Bourbon Vanilla
Sunday, August 27, 2023This is a classic jam recipe from the Lorraine in the North East of France. It’s made with Mirabelle plums, which are small, sweet plums with a yellow to rosy pink skin, and so good spread on hot buttered toast, bagels, crackers or croissants.
All the ingredients are first mixed in a non-reactive saucepan and allow them to mascerate overnight and let the flavours develop and the sugar draw out the flavour of the plums. You can do this for two hours if you’re tight in time. To ensure a firmer set, I personally prefer to use the freshly pressed lemon juice instead of commerical pectin. But you can for sure use preserving sugar or extra pectin.
The easiest way to test if your jam has reached the setting point is by having a sugar thermometer clipped to the side of your saucepan, with the end dipped in the boiling jam mixture. Once the boiling mixture has reached the correct temperature ( 105C/220F) then your jam should set. For an alternate method, just pop a saucer into the freezer to chill at the beginning of your cooking time. Put a teaspoon of jam onto the chilled saucer for 1 minute. Drag your finger lightly over the jam. If it wrinkles, it has reached setting point and ready for bottle. If it doesn't, keep cooking and test it every 5 minutes. This recipe makes four 400 g-jars of jam.
Greek Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Dill Dressing
Wednesday, August 23, 2023Blackberry Vinegar
Monday, August 21, 2023This blackberry vinegar recipe is easy to make and the perfect addition to a summer salad or use it like a cordial with hot water and a teaspoon of honey for the ultimate sore throat remedy. It's extremely cheap to make using blackberries you've picked yourself. Blackberries are easy to identify and are plentiful, so it's really easy to grab yourself a handful.
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- Add the vinegar and blackberries to a large stainless steel saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool completely.
- Place the vinegar in a covered, airtight container and allow to sit at room temperature for 2 weeks.
- Strain the vinegar in a fine mesh strainer and discard the blackberries. Store the vinegar in sterilized bottles. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
Apricot Salad with Roquefort and Honey Thyme Vinaigrette
Sunday, August 13, 2023This delightfuly and complex midsummer salad hits all the taste notes by using endive for the bitterness, tri-coloured lettuce for freshness, Roquefort, one of the most-prized French blue cheese for the saltiness, fersh apricots and honey for the sweetness and lemon for the tartness. Perfect to serve as a delicious meal or as a side dish. Roquefort, a world-famous blue cheese with pungent smell and a sharp tang, is traditionally made of sheep's milk. If you find this "King of Cheeses" is too strong for your taste, use other types of blue cheese or creamy tangy Lesbos Feta.
Whipped Feta with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Saturday, August 05, 2023It makes an impressive, delicious appetizer, side or snack that couldn’t be easier to make. The combination of warm, sweet, juicy tomatoes and creamy, salty, tangy whipped feta dip is just sensational. I used some locally grown tri-coloured cherry tomatoes from our farmer market (it's even better if you grew them), but conventional red cherry tomatoes will work just fine.
Crispy Goat Cheese and Arugula Salad
Sunday, July 30, 2023Decadent pork rind-crusted goat cheese on a bed of arugula (any baby green will work though) and cherry tomatoes tossed in a light honey vinaigrette, scattered with candied pecans.
Slicing the fresh goat cheese can get a little messy, if it crumbles, just press the rounds back into the correct shape before coating with beaten egg and pork rind. The goat cheese cooked in airfryer will come out perfectly crunchy on the outside and warm, creamy on the inside.
Checkerboard Salad with Cantaloupe, Cucumber and Feta
Wednesday, June 28, 2023Bursting with fresh, summer flavours, this light and refreshing cantaloupe salad recipe is simply perfect for hot summer days when the melons are at their best. With salty briny feta, sweet juicy cantaloupe, crunchy juicy cucumber, and a citrusy dressing made with mint & lime, it's the perfect mix of savory and sweet. Serve it as a side dish at a barbecue or picnic.
Not only was it visually delightful and appealing, but it was so delicious that you would want to come back for more. You can also use bamboo skewers to thread them together with some fresh mint leaves.
Crispy Halloumi with Zaalouk
Saturday, June 24, 2023Zaalouk is a popular Moroccan cooked salad or dip with eggplants and tomatoes seasoned with paprika, cumin, garlic, and herbs. It's versatile, delicious with bold flavours and can be served warm or cold. Traditionally, zaalouk is served with crispy bread or flatbread, but to keep it low carb, I have paired it with some crispy, pan-fried Greek halloumi that works perfectly with the flavours of the well spiced eggplants and tomatoes.
Keto Airfried Za'atar Pickles with Bloody Mary Sauce
Monday, June 12, 2023These keto airfried pickles are so crunchy, cheesy, seriously addictive and low carb! They are breaded with a keto coating seasoned with za'atar--a Middle Eastern spice blend, and airfried to perfection in just 20 minutes. If you don't have an airfryer (you should get one), then fry them in ghee (or oil if you prefer) until golden brown and crispy. They are the tastiest party snack or appetizer served with a Bloody Mary sauce or a spicy ranch dressing. Like any fried food, these pickles taste best right after they’ve been fried. If you happen to have leftovers, simply store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat them in the airfryer or oven at 180C/350F for 5 minutes.
Sumac Roasted Eggplants with Smoky Tahini Sauce
Saturday, June 10, 2023If you are interested in Middle Eastern food, then you will for sure enjoy this sumac roasted eggplants with pomegranate, pinenuts and smoky tahini sauce. This roasted eggplant recipe goes perfectly well with couscous, lentils or other wholegrains, and it is keto-friendly, gluten-free and dairy-free. If you can't find those long slender eggplants, just use regular one.