Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon Dill Dressing
Tuesday, January 10, 2023With distinctively nutty mâche, delightfully sharp and bitter radicchio, sweet mandarin, rich smoked sockeye salmon and creamy, herby lemon dressing, this keto-friendly, gluten-free salad is chock-full of fresh flavours, crunchy and juicy textures, and essential nutrients. I have also added some leftover trout caviar to the salad, but it's completely optional. Instead of mâche, you can also use arugula, baby beet greens, spinach or simply a mesclun mix.
Keto Cucumber Sandwiches with Goat Cheese and Black Olive
Sunday, January 08, 2023Looking for easy, healthy, delicious, keto-friendly and gluten free snack or lunch ideas? These breadless cucumber sandwiches have got you covered. I have cut the cucumber horizontally, but you can simply slice it into rounds. Due to the high water content, cucumbers are a real slimming treat. 100 grams of cucumber provide just 12 kilocalories. In addition, cucumbers contain the potassium, iron, zinc and fluorine and some vitamin C. And with the fresh, creamy Chavroux goat cheese, there is also satiating protein between the slices. If you don't like olives, sundried tomatoes would be a great alternative.
Lupin Salad with Black Olives and Tomatoes
Friday, January 06, 2023Lupin (aka lupine or lupini) are a legume enjoyed in the Mediterranean region and they’re also very well known in Middle Eastern countries like Jordan and Egypt. They are high in protein, fibre, potassium, magnesium and many other minerals and vitamins. Around the same size as fava beans, these yellow legumes have a sweet, nutty flavor and firm, hearty texture. They are a nutritional powerhouse with nearly double the amount of protein that's in chickpeas.
Discover the delights of lupin beans in this colourful, nourishing salad. High in protein, lupin beans and boiled eggs together, make this meal deliciously healthy and filling. You can add or substitute other beans or legumes such as white beans, chickpeas, and French lentils, but keep the boiled eggs for nutritional balance.
Omek Houria - Tunisian Mashed Carrot Salad
Wednesday, January 04, 2023Omek Houria is a Tunisian salad made with mashed vegetables, usually carrots, but zucchini or squash are equally good, and tossed with a harissa caraway dressing. The salad is usually garnished with boiled eggs, Feta, olives, capers or tuna. Spicy harissa, fresh cilantro, lemon juice and caraway seeds add an extra, wonderful layer of flavour, depth, and complexity to this simple salad that is traditionally served as an appetizer, but can equally well be an ideal accompaniment to any grilled meat or pan fried fish.
Avocado Salad with Garlicky Anchovy Vinaigrette
Monday, January 02, 2023The tangy, garlicky anchovy dressing is fantastic with creamy, buttery avocado, crispy red lettuce and tender red radish cress. The dressing really brings the boring lettuce salad to life and it packs full of flavours. Plus it just takes 15 minutes to prepare. If desired, add some prawns or smoked salmon for the protein boost.
German Cheese and Leek Soup
Saturday, December 31, 2022Cheese spread, aka Schmelzkäse in Germany, and crème fraîche add a comforting creaminess to this indulgent cheesy leek soup recipe. It's a very popular soup in cold winter days here in Germany and traditionally, this German cheese leek soup (Käse-Lauch-Suppe) is prepared with ground meat. I had chosen to leave it out as I had a huge porterhouse as the main. However, you can top the soup with some crispy bacon bites and croutons for the crunchiness or simply serve it with some warm bread or rye crackers.
Cheese spread or processed cheese (Schmelzkäse in German) is made from ripe semi-hard cheese or fresh cheese (at least 50 %) with the addition of other milk products, such as butter or cream. It thickens sauces and soups and gives the dishes a fine, savoury note. Processed cheese is also perfect for gratin. It usually has a longer shelf life.
Baked Mushrooms with Goat Cheese, Jamón Ibérico and Truffle
Thursday, December 29, 2022Easy baked mushrooms with goat cheese would make the perfect starter for any dinner party! Ready in 20 minutes - each mushroom is flavoured with pesto sauce, then top with a slice of soft goat cheese, Jamón Ibérico ham, and pine nuts, baked until cheese warm and gooey, then served with shaved black truffle and some salad leaves. This recipe can be swapped with other cheeses like blue cheese or cream cheese and Jamón Ibérico can be replaced with prosciutto.
Pomegranate Molasses and Honey glazed Meatballs
Tuesday, December 27, 2022These meatballs are soft, tender and so flavourful, but what really brings them to life and sets them apart from other meatball recipes is the use of pomegranate molasses. Pomegranate molasses is a syrup of boiled pomegranate juice, and has a fruity sweetness that's countered by a lovely, sharp tart flavour. It's most commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine and often used to enhance savoury dishes, esp. red meat and game, with fruity flavours.
Ras el Hanout Spiced Mixed Nuts
Saturday, December 24, 2022Ras el hanout, literally translated as “head of shop,” is a spice mixture used in North African cooking. The mixture usually consists of over a dozen spices, in different proportions. Common ingredients include cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, dry ginger, chili peppers, coriander seed, peppercorn, sweet and hot paprika, fenugreek, and dry turmeric. I bought the spice blend in a local supermarket, but it's super easy to make your own. Here is a simplified recipe if you want to try it.
The spice blend gives extra oomph to this simple homemade nut mix. The nuts are delicious and provide the perfect balance of healthy fats, protein, and fiber that help beat in-between meal blahs and also great as a homemade gift too. I have used a mixture of pecans, walnuts, cashews and almonds, but any other nut combination would work too.
Roasted Salmon with Capers and Dill
Thursday, December 22, 2022This healthy baked salmon is the easy and tasty way to feed a crowd. It's more hands-off than cooking salmon on the stovetop--everything is oven-baked in foil, making prep and cleanup a breeze and it delivers a perfect medium-cooked fillet that’s tender and flaky. Salmon is terrific with just a sprinkle of fresh herbs (thyme,tarragon, parsley or dill) and a wedge of lemon squeezed over top as you serve it with any of your favorite veggies or salad.
I added a bed of lemon slices to infuse the fish with a citrusy freshness. If you prefer a crispy skin, then try this Garam Masala Pan Seared Salmon recipe!
Smoked Salmon Black Radish Bites with Caviar
Wednesday, December 21, 2022Roasted Carrots with Pumpkin Seed Pesto and Yoghurt
Sunday, December 18, 2022Use baby carrots or heirloom carrots if you could find them. Adding pesto is an easy way to elevate the flavour of this humble root vegetable. It makes a perfect side dish or even a lunch. Swap the yoghurt for a dairy-free alternative if you have a dairy sensitivity. Leftover pesto is perfect on some pasta or served as a dip.