Pan Seared Tofu with Avocado Cashew Sauce
Monday, October 13, 2014A simple sauce of avocado, tomato, cashew nuts, parsley and lime juice is served over pan-seared seasoned tofu for a light main course. It’s easy to make, yummy to eat, and your family won’t believe it is vegan. The crisp tofu is good on its own, but if tofu is not your cup of tea, chicken breast will do too.
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- Cut each block of tofu in half diagonally, then cut each into two triangles. Well season the tofu triangles with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a skillet until hot. Cook tofu, in 2 batches, for 1 minute each side or until crisp and golden, then drain on paper towel.
- In a bowl, add in finely chopped avocado, tomatoes, parsley, cashew nuts, and lime juice. Mix well, then season with salt and pepper.
- Place tofu triangles, overlapping, on a serving plate. Spoon some avocado sauce over.
Vegan Freekeh Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Wednesday, October 08, 2014Crunchy peanut butter, almond milk and overripe bananas give this quick freekeh bread extra texture, flavour, and sweetness. A small amount of chopped roasted peanuts offers delightfully surprising crunch and richness. It's easy to prepare and makes a delicious breakfast treat or snack.
Vegan Freekeh Peanut Butter Banana Bread
adapted from Red Online
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- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a 28x10-cm loaf tin with baking parchment. Whisk together the ground freekeh and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.
- Split the vanilla pod in half lengthways and scrape out the seeds. Reserve the pod for another use. Put the bananas in a separate bowl and add the vanilla milk, vanilla seeds, peanut butter, melted coconut oil and cinnamon. Using a hand blender, combine the ingredients until they form a smooth batter.
- Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and fold gently to combine. Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the top. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to four days.
Gluten Free Pumpkin Protein Oat Bars with Applesauce
Friday, October 03, 2014These soft, moist pumpkin bars are packed with protein and have all the fantastic Fall flavours. There is NO PROCESSED SUGAR, and they are also naturally gluten-free. Warm speculaas spice balances really well with the pumpkin and pumpkin seeds add extra crunch as well as healthy Omega-3 Fats. They would make a great filling breakfast on-the-go or a post workout snack. If you don't use agave syrup, just substitute with 70 grams of honey or maple syrup.
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- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Grease a 15x26-cm baking pan with a little coconut oil.
- Whisk together the pumpkin puree, applesauce, egg whites, agave syrup, vanilla extract, speculaas spice mix, baking powder, baking soda, salt and protein powder.
- Add in rolled oats and pepita, stir well. Pour the batter in the prepared baking pan, level with spatula and bake for 40 minutes or until a wood skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven, let cool for 10 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack to cool to room temperature. Cut with a serrated knife into 8 or 10 bars.
Freekeh Pumpkin Streusel Cake
Monday, September 29, 2014This tender, moist coffee cake is made with healthy freekeh flour, pumpkin puree and Speculaas spice. The hazelnut streusel topping gives the cake a very delicious crunchy.
Apart from bursting with an amazing combination of flavours, this crumble coffee cake is also very versatile. It works great as a weekend breakfast with a steaming cup of tea or with a large dollop of whipped cream as the afternoon coffee accompaniment.
Instead of honey that original recipe has called for, I have used homemade pistachio syrup that Evelyne from Cheap Ethnic Eatz sent me a couple of months ago. With the fresh homemade pistachio syrup, this cake is definitely a winner. Thanks, Evelyne!
Streusel | Cake |
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- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Grease a 20-cm springform pan or line with a parchment paper.
- For the crumble topping, place all of the crumble ingredients into a large bowl. Rub the butter into the nuts until crumbly. Set aside.
- Combine freekeh flour, baking soda, salt, spice mix and dried cranberries in a large bowl. Stir well with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture.
- Combine the pumpkin puree, yogurt, pistachio syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract and eg whites in another bowl. Add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist.
- Spoon batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with streusel topping. Bake for about 1 hour or until a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.
Black Quinoa Pumpkin Salad with Avocado Sour Cream Dressing
Wednesday, September 24, 2014This protein-packed quinoa salad embodies the flavors of autumn, but it's great served any time of the year. This salad is packed with spicy roasted pumpkins, black quinoa and red onions, and finished with a creamy herby avocado dressing. Great warm or cold, as a meatless main or side dish!
Black Quinoa Pumpkin Salad with Avocado Sour Cream Dressing
inspired from this and thisAvocado Sour Cream Dressing | Salad |
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- Place all ingredients for the dressing in a food processor and blend until smooth. Chill until ready to serve.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Put the pumpkin, chilli flakes, garlic, ginger, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss until well coated. Spread evenly in a roasting tray lined with baking paper), then roast for 30 minutes, or until the pumpkin is just cooked through but still firm.
- Rinse quinoa in a fine sieve until water runs clear, drain and transfer to a medium saucepan. Add water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until water has absorbed. Set aside to cool and fluff with a fork.
- Combine the pumpkin, red onion and black quinoa in a large serving plate. Garnish with parsley and serve with avocado dressing.
Fresh Fig Freekeh Chai Bread (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Vegan)
Friday, September 19, 2014Freekeh (green spelt), chai, coconut oil and fresh figs come together in this moist, rustic whole grain quick bread that's easy to make and very delicious. You can make this in a muffin form and top each with a sliced fig or nuts.
Fresh Fig Freekeh Chai Bread (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Vegan)
inspired by this
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- Place chai mix in a large cup. Pour the freshly boiled water directly over the mix and brew approximately 5 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper. Whisk the ground freekeh, baking powder, salt and raw sugar.
- In another mixing bowl, stir together the brewed chai and coconut oil until well combined. Add in flour mixture and whisk until the batter is smooth. Fold in chopped fresh figs.
- Pour the batter into the prepare baking pan. Place the fig slices on the top of the batter and press them down gently. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar if desired.
Spelt Streusel Apple Bread
Monday, September 15, 2014This apple spelt bread is very delicious, moist, and so easy to make. Buttermilk is the secret to the tender, moist texture of this quick bread. There's no sugar in the batter--only in the streusel topping. Back in July, I was one of the 4 lucky winners for a NuStevia giveaway at kristi’s blog, Mother Rimmy's Cooking Light Done Right and received a set of stevia products from NuNaturals to try. For those who ain't fans of artificial sweeteners, replace the stevia powder with 150-200 grams of sugar.
The bread is prepared with spelt bread flour and filled with Granny Smith apples and cinnamon and is topped with a raw brown sugar and almond streusel. Warm from the oven, this cakey bread makes a perfect after-school snack and it freezes well, too.
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- Whisk together the spelt bread flour, baking soda and salt. Peel and chop the apple. Cream butter and white stevia powder in a mixing bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Fold in chopped apples. Divide the thick batter into 7 greased mini rectangular baking cups.
- For topping, combine the flour, almonds, raw sugar and cinnamon powder. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle each with some streusel topping. Bake at 190C/375F for 30 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
Beetroot Salsa filled Avocado
Wednesday, September 10, 2014This tasty and flavourful salsa comes together quickly because it calls for nutrient-packed vacuum packed precooked beets. I love it over avocado, but it's also an excellent way to jazz up white fish or grilled chicken.
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- Make the salsa by mixing together the beetroot, tomato, onion and parsley. Add the lime juice, olive oil, and season to taste with chilli salt and black pepper.
- Arrange the avocados on serving plates and spoon a little of the salsa into the middle of each avocado halves. Place any spare salsa into a small dish and serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
Tomato Wraps with Pumpkin and Feta
Saturday, September 06, 2014This is a nice simple and very delicious wrap, served warm or cold. The combination of naturally sweet pan-roasted hokkaido pumpkin, salty Feta cheese, herby homemade dried tomato and mixed greens creates a colourful and flavoursome wrap that makes a quick and tasty lunch for two.
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- Cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out all the seeds, then cut into thin wedges. Heat the oil in a large skillet until hot. Add in pumpkin wedges and cook for 15 minutes until tender yet firm. Season with salt and pepper.
- Thinly slice the dried tomatoes. Puree feta and Quark together.
- Place the tortillas in a dry pan over medium heat and cook them for about 30 seconds on each side.
- Spread 50 grams of cheese mix evenly onto each tortilla to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with pumpkin wedges, salad leaves and dried tomato slices . Roll up and enjoy.