Muhammara Roasted Red Pepper Walnut Dip
Sunday, November 29, 2020A traditional Middle Eastern red pepper and walnut dip, this Muhammara recipe is easy and quick to make. Originating from Syria, muhammara tastes deliciously spicy, nutty, tangy and pairs perfectly well with fresh flatbread or any of your favourite bread. If you’re short on time, you can use jarred roasted red peppers instead. Muhammara can be made in advance as it keeps well in the fridge for a few days and the flavour develops even better after storing a day in the fridge, but be sure to bring the dip to room temperature before serving.
Muhammara | Flour Tortillas |
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Roasted Purple Carrots with Cilantro Yoghurt and Pistachios
Wednesday, November 25, 2020I love how coriander, garlic, chilli pepper and roasted pistachios add aroma, texture and flavour to this otherwise simple roasted vegetable recipe. The combination of tangy Greek yoghurt and sweet carrot is just perfect. It makes a feast of a light lunch or if you are looking for a more substantial meal, toss it with some whole grains or grilled meat. It is simple to make, and you can use other root vegetables too, like parsnips, rutabagas or beets. It would be great to sprinkle some dukkah (a Middle Eastern spice blend made with toasted nuts, seeds and fragrant spices) over too.
Cilantro Yoghurt | |
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- Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Place carrots, garlic and thyme on a baking tray. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with coriander, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast until the carrots are tender, about 30 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yoghurt, chopped cilantro, and lemon juice. Stir well to combine and add salt to taste.
- Spread the prepared yoghurt on a platter and arrange roasted carrots on top. Scatter chopped pistachios, chilli pepper flakes and fresh herbs on top, and finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Pineapple, Matcha, and Puffed Teff Granola Wedges
Monday, November 23, 2020Give your granola bars a nutritious boost with matcha- a fine green tea powder, packed with antioxidants. These granola wedges are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free. Substitute your favorite dried fruit, nuts and/or seeds for the pumpkin seeds and/or dried pineapple in these granola bars. Puffed teff can be substituted with quinoa or amaranth pops too.
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- Preheat oven to 160C/320F. Combine rolled oats and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the oats are lightly toasted and have a nutty aroma. Remove and set aside to cool.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the maple syrup, almond butter, coconut oil, and vanilla paste. Whisk to combine.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled oats and pumpkin seeds with the dried pineapple, puffed teff, sea salt, and matcha powder. Pour the almond butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir quickly to mix.
- Spread the mix into an 9-10 inch springform pan lined with plastic wrap or baking paper. Press down the mixture firmly. Place in the fridge for a couple hours to firm up, then remove from fridge and slice into wedges. Keep leftovers in the fridge for up two weeks.
Flower Pot Whole Spelt and Rye Bread with Hazelnuts and Quark
Saturday, November 21, 2020These are some fun, totally foolproof, yeast-free and delicious bread to bake in a flower pot, which I have adapted from this Quark-Nussbrote found on eatsmarter. The dough is prepared with a mix of whole spelt and rye flour with Quark (a type of German fresh cheese), spices and whole hazelnuts that would result a rustic, hearty bread packed with nutrition and flavour with slightly denser and chewy texture.
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- Whisk together the spelt, rye flours, and baking powder together with all the spices in a mixing bowl. Now add in olive oil, 160 ml of the milk, eggs, and sea salt. Use a hand mixer fitted with dough hooks to beat all the ingredients until a smooth dough forms.
- Turn the dough out on a lightly floured work surface and knead in the hazelnuts. Cut out two portions of dough, each weighs about 150 grams. Shape each into a ball and place each into a small greased or parchment-lined flower pot. Shape the rest of the dough into a ball and place into a large grease or parchment-lined flower pot. Brush the top with the rest of the milk.
- Fill an oven-safe bowl with water and place it at the bottom of your oven. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F fan forced.
- Bake the small ones for 30 minutes and the large one for 60-70 minutes until nicely golden brown. Remove and cool briefly. Turn out the bread and cool on a wire rack completely before slicing.
Chickpea Flour Hummus with Olives and Pine Nuts
Wednesday, November 18, 2020A silky smooth, flavourful and healthy hummus that is so easy and fast to make. The secret is to use chickpea flour (also known as gram flour or besan) instead of whole chickpeas. Hummus made with the whole cooked chickpeas is great, but if you want ultra silky, light as air texture, and don't want to go to all the bother of peeling the skin off chickpeas, then chickpea flour is the answer. The dip will generally keep for up to 5 days in the fridge.
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- In a medium saucepan, mix together the chickpea flour and water until lump free and well-combined. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cook on medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook another 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly. Let cool.
- Transfer the chickpea paste into the pitcher of your immersion blender. Add the garlic, tahini, lemon juice, cumin and hot sauce. Blend until smooth. Season with salt. If the mixture is too thick, add a little olive oil.
- Scrape into a bowl and cover a thin layer of olive oil. Sprinkle some olives, pine nuts and parsley over. Serve with flatbread, crackers or vegetable sticks.