Category Archives: Main Course Vegetables

Spinach Soup

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1601 Spinach Soup -1110A wonderful soup with a distinct wine taste. Take care in choosing the wine.

2 shallots, chopped
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp cooking oil
400g frozen spinach
250 ml vegetable (or chicken) stock
150 ml wine (white or rosé)
4-5 drops of tabasco
Salt
Black pepper
3 tbsp crème fraiche

A few fresh spinach leaves for decoration

  1. Sauté the shallots in the butter/oil. Add the frozen spinach and fry until thawed.
  2. Add the stock and wine. And let simmer a few minutes. The longer it simmers, the more liquid evaporates and the taste of the wine becomes stronger.
  3. Remove from heat and process with a hand held blender.
  4. Return to heat. Taste. Add more water/stock if needed.
  5. Add a few drops of Tabasco, salt and black pepper. Simmer a few minutes. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.
  6. Stir in the crème fraiche and bring to a boil.
  7. Shred the spinach leaves, sprinkle over soup.

Aubergine Parmigiana

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160106 Parmigiana Starter-0946

A good Parmigiana should be made with a great roasted tomato sauce and lots of cheese! This one is a favourite!

Serves 6
3 medium aubergines, sliced lengthwise about 1 cm thick
Olive oil
400 ml tomato sauce
4 eggs
80 g parmesan cheese, grated
200 g mozzarella, thinly sliced
Fresh basil
Salt and pepper
Tomato Sauce:
1 red pepper, cut into pieces
4 (0.5 kilo) large tomatoes, cut into pieces
1 red onion, cut into 6-8 pieces
1 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
5 basil leaves, shredded
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Spinach leaves
 

  1. Oven at 200 C
  2. Place all vegetables for the tomato sauce on an oven tray, sprinkle the garlic, vinegar and oil on top. Roast 30 minutes. When done (soft and slightly charred), let cool, place in blender and mix until semi-smooth.
  3. Sauté the aubergine slices in oil over high heat. Place on paper towels to absorb some of the oil.
  4. Cover the bottom of a casserole dish with ½ of the tomatoe sauce
  5. Whisk one egg and pour on top
  6. Place a layer of aubergines and sprinkle some salt on top
  7. Pour remaining sauce on the aubergines
  8. Spread ½ of the parmesan cheese on the sauce and all of the mozzarella
  9. Put some of the basil on the mozzarella
  10. Layer the remaining aubergines on top
  11. Spread the remaining parmesan on the aubergines
  12. Whisk 3 eggs and pour on top
  13. Place some basil leaves on the dish and place in the oven. Bake 20 minutes.
  14. Serve on a bed of spinach leaves, with some ham or with some gluten free bread.

Potato and Parsnip Bake with Ham

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151125 Potato and Parsnip Bake-0745

A straightforward, easy recipe, but oh so tasty! Guests tell me it is possibly the best potato casserole they’ve had!

6 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 parsnip, thinly sliced
250 ml single cream
100-200 ml Gruyere cheese, grated
Salt and pepper
A few tablespoons of butter

Sliced cooked ham
Cucumber
Mango
Herbs
151125 Ham for potato and parsnip bake-9392

  1. Oven at 180C
  2. Grease a casserole
  3. Layer potato, parsnip, salt and pepper and a bit of cheese.
  4. Continue layering with a last layer of potato.
  5. Finish by pouring the cream and placing a few knobs of butter on top.
  6. In oven 50-60 minutes.
  7. Serve with ham, decorated with cucumber, mango and herbs.

Marvellous Midday Muffins

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151118 lunch EggMuffins0623

 
This recipe was part of a great brunch my daughter served me a while back.
 
Serves 4 – makes 12 small muffins

8 mild sweet piquante peppers
6 mushrooms
3 shallots
Fresh spinach, a handful
8 eggs
20 pecan nuts, chopped
 
4 slices prosciutto ham
 

  1. Oven at 200C
  2. Chop peppers, mushrooms, shallots and spinach and place in greased muffin tins.
  3. Pour whisked eggs on top (fill up to max 2/3 of the tins)
  4. Top with the pecans.
  5. Bake in oven 12-15 minutes or until slightly browned.
  6. Place one muffin on the serving plate, the ham on top and then the other two muffins on top.

Cauliflower Spiced Rice with Tomato and Cinnamon Chutney

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Cauliflower rice DSC_8795

To get the best result for the rice, make sure you use a large enough frying pan so that the cauliflower can be fried in a thin layer. The chutney recipe is simple but delicious. The cinnamon provides an interesting, different flavour but don’t forget to discard it after about 15 minutes as it will overpower all other flavours otherwise. Can be served with marinated tofu (see previous recipes) or maybe a few pices of grilled halloumi cheese.

“Rice”:
Cauliflower, 1 medium size head (about 1 kilo)
2 red onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tbsp ginger, finely grated
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

150 g Cashews
Chili flakes
1 tbsp honey

Parsley, chopped

  1. In a food processor, blitz the cauliflower crowns (the stalks and hard core removed) into small, grain like pieces.
  2. Using a large pan and some olive oil, fry onion until soft, add garlic and then ginger.
  3. Turn up heat – add the blitzed cauliflower rice and fry over high heat , constantly stirring, until slightly coloured. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. In separate pan, toast the cashews, when done add honey and chili flakes.
  5. Combine all plus the chopped parsley.

Chutney:
12 tomatoes (1 kilo), quartered
1 onion, halved and sliced
50 ml red wine vinegar
1 tbsp honey
1 cinnamon stick
chili flakes

  1. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and let simmer on low heat for 40 minutes.
  2. After 15 minutes, discard the cinnamon stick.

This chutney may be served hot or cold.

Grilled Halloumi: IMG_7661

Rosemary Courgette Spaghetti

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I love making dishes with Courgette Spaghetti. There are so many possibilities. This version is not so spicy in order not to take anything away from the crabcakes. For this recipe, you need a “spiralizer” or a mandoline (with blades to make “juliennes”).

Serve as part of a dinner with:
Starter – Fresh and Fruity Vegetable Starter
Main course – Together with Chilli Crab Cakes and Home Made Chilli Sauce
Dessert – Sweet and Sour Sauce with Strawberries and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Serves 4
2 large courgettes
1 stalk of fresh rosemary
1 clove of garlic
olive oil
Chilli flakes, salt and pepper

1. Using a spiralizer, create long, spaghetti like, strands of courgette. Take care not to make them too long. Cut with scissors now and then, if needed.
2. Start by infusing the olive oil. Heat the oil in a pan and add the rosemary and the peeled, whole garlic clove. Sauté for a few minutes.
3. Saving the flavoured oil, discard the rosemary and garlic and place the courgette spaghetti in the hot pan. Fry on high heat for a few minutes, drain on paper towels, season with salt and pepper and serve with some sprinkled chili flakes on top.

Buckwheat Corn Fritters with Sweet Chilli Sauce

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Accompanied by a tangy, sweet chilly sauce these little fritters are perfect on your BBQ buffet. Make them very small and you have a great finger food! Can be made dairy free by omitting the cheese (or substitute with dairy free mozzarella style “cheese”).

Serve as part of a BBQ buffet together with:
Nutty Guacamole Pie, Cognac BBQ Marinade, Spicy Plum Chutney, Marinated Tofu and Berry Crumble Yogurt.

Cornfritters
225 g canned Sweet Corn
50 g buckwheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
¼ tsp chilli powder
50 g grated cheese
1 tsp cornflour mixed into a little cold water
Salt
Rape seed or cornflower oil

  1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. Heat enough oil to cover the bottom of a (non-stick) pan
  3. Drop a spoonful of mixture into the pan and cook over medium heat both sides until browned.

Sweet Chilli Sauce
The limejuice and the bell pepper provides some sweetness in this sauce but you may also add 50 ml sugar or 20 ml honey.

1 red chilli, for a milder sauce, remove the seeds
2 garlic cloves
1/2 red bell pepper
50 ml rice vinegar
50 ml limejuice
200 ml water
A pinch of salt

1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with a little water

1. Combine all ingredients (except the cornstarch) in a food processor and blend together.
2. Transfer into sauce pan and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the cornstarch/water mix and stir while boiling for another minute.
4. Cool and refrigerate.

Nutty Guacamole Pie

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A most amazing pie!! Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for this recipe. I found it in a magazine many years ago and have been making it, with slight variations, for years. It is the perfect summer dish – you may add any of your favourite vegetable to it! You may use salted, roasted cashews but then you must omit the salt in the recipe.

Serve as part of a BBQ buffet together with:
Buckwheat Corn Fritters with Sweet and Spicy Chilli Sauce, Cognac BBQ Marinade, Spicy Plum Chutney, Marinated Tofu and Berry Crumble Yogurt.

The Crust:
1 sweet potato, peeled
2 carrots
1 red apple
300 ml roasted cashews
½ lemon, juiced
½ tsp of salt

Guacamole:
½ red onion
1 ripe tomato
2 ripe avocados, stone removed
1 small garlic clove, crushed
A pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and black pepper

Garnish:
Tomatoes
Rocket salad
Red onion, sliced
Flat leaf parsley, shredded
Roasted macadamia, pine or pecans nuts

  1. Set oven to 175C
  2. Cut all vegetables for the crust in smaller pieces and place in a food processor together with the cashews. Process until smooth. Add the lemon juice. Place in pie dish. Bake in over for about 45 minutes. Let cool.
  3. Process all ingredients for the Guacamole in a blender. Spread on top of cooled crust.
  4. Add the garnish.

Enjoy!

The crust can be prepared in advance. The guacamole may also be made a day ahead but make sure to place some tight fitting cling film on top to prevent the avocado from discolouring.

Spicy Plum Chutney

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A great condiment on the BBQ! A pinch of added sugar will bring out the flavour (but, personally, I seldom cook with sugar).

Serve as part of a BBQ buffet together with:
Buckwheat Corn Fritters with Sweet and Spicy Chilli Sauce, Nutty Guacamole Pie, Cognac BBQ Marinade, Marinated Tofu and Berry Crumble Yogurt.

2 onions, sliced
300 g red plums, stones removed and quartered
2 medium sized courgettes, sliced
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp flat leaf parsley, shredded
Salt and black pepper

1-2 tbsp olive oil to sauté in

Sauté onions, plums and courgettes. When soft, add remaining ingredients and let simmer in sauté pan 7-8 minutes or until until everything is soft and the flavours well blended. Serve hot or cold.

Grilled Marinated Tofu

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This recipe I developed for a fun, different tofu flavor when my vegetarian niece came to visit. If you can find really firm tofu, then this recipe is for your BBQ. If you’re worried the tofu might crumble, then use a frying pan, preferably a griddle pan that gives that attractive grill pattern on the food.

This marinade is also great with fresh salmon.

Serve as part of a BBQ buffet together with:
Buckwheat Corn Fritters with Sweet and Spicy Chilli Sauce, Nutty Guacamole Pie, Cognac BBQ Marinade, Spicy Plum Chutney and Berry Crumble Yogurt.

400g of firm tofu

1 lime, grated peel
2 limes, juice
2 cm ginger, grated
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 small garlic clove, crushed
1 lemon grass stalk, crushed and chopped
4 tbsp gluten free soy sauce

Coriander leaves, chopped

  1. Combine all ingredients for the marinade.
  2. Gently squeeze the tofu to remove some of the moisture. Cut into desired serving sizes.
  3. To allow the marinade to penetrate the tofu, insert a fork in a few places (not too many or the tofu might crumble). Place the tofu in a clear plastic bag and pour the marinade on top. Set aside, refrigerated, for a few hours.
  4. Take the tofu out of the fridge 20 minutes before using. BBQ or fry the tofu.

Perfect Pizza

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A rustic, delicious pizza – it does not taste nor look gluten free!
Gluten free pizza is sometimes hard, crumbly and stale. This recipe overcomes all that. You will have a dough that is elastic and easy to handle and a ready pizza with a thin beautiful crust. Try spinning it the air to make it even thinner – I’m afraid I have not yet mastered the spinning technique myself though…
If you are fortunate enough to have a pizza stone – use it! The crust will turn out even better!

Serve as part of a Children’s Party Menu with:
Churros, Chocolate Maple Sauce, Very Blueberry Scones, Banana Choco Bread and Grandma’s Chocolate Balls.

200 ml water, 37C

Up to 50 ml additional water
20 g fresh yeast (or 7g dry used as per the manufacturers advice)
1 tbsp Psyllium Husk
50 ml olive oil
1 tsp salt
350 g gluten free flour (not self rising)
1 tsp baking powder

Tomato sauce:
6 plum tomatoes, halved
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1,5 tbsp oregano
fresh basil
2 tbsp olive oil
salt

Pizza toppings:
2-3 tbsp tomato puree
Sliced ham
Grated cheese

The sauce:
1. Set the oven to 200C
2. Place the tomatoes in shallow casserole, sprinkle the other sauce ingredients on top. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes.
3. When done, let cool slightly, then puree in food processor. Set to cool further.

The pizza dough:
1. Keep the oven at 200C. Make sure you have heat from above and below.
2. Dissolve the yeast and Psyllium Husk into 200 ml water. Let stand 10 minutes to form a gel.
3. Add the oil and the salt. Stir carefully.
4. Add the baking powder to the flour.
5. In a stand mixer (or in a bowl using the dough hooks of an electric mixer), pour in the yeast mixture and gradually add the flour mix. Work the dough for about 10 minutes. If the dough is too hard, add a few drops of the additional water, but do this slowly – just a few drops at the time. Work the dough a few more minutes so that the extra water is well mixed in.
6. Cover with a cloth and let rest for 30 minutes.
7. Roll out the dough very thinly with a rolling pin . If sticky, sprinkle some flour on the pin.

Assembly:
1. Spread tomato paste on the pizza. Fold up 2 cm of dough all around the pizza to make a small “wall”
2. Spoon the tomato sauce on top.
3. Sprinkle with ham and then the cheese.
4. Place in oven on a baking sheet for about 15 minutes.

Pizza making7229

Summer Salad with Basil and Walnut Dressing

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A light and fruity summer salad with a beautiful, creamy dressing. Please choose small strawberries with lots of sweetness and taste.

Serve as part of a menu with:
– Main course: Caribbean Corn fed Chicken with Avocado Wild Rice and Red Pepper Vinaigrette
– Dessert: Chocolate Rum Cake with Chocolate Crème Anglaise

Serves 4

10-15 mini asparagus
2 avocados, in quartered and sliced
2 spring onions, chopped
10-15 halved cherry tomatoes
10-15 quartered small strawberries
5-8 walnuts in pieces
8 gem lettuce (2 on each plate)

Dressing:
25 g walnuts
20 g basil leaves
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon
4 tbsp crème fraiche
Salt and pepper

  1. Mix all salad ingredients, except the lettuce, in a bowl.
  2. Mix the dressing in a blender until smooth.
  3. On a serving plate, place two pieces of lettuce, put the salad on top and drizzle with the dressing.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

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For a while now I have been trying to figure out the perfect recipe for a cauliflower crusted pizza. This one is a winner. I used a pizza stone, which I highly recommend you to get. It gives the perfect crust and is easy to work with. You can find pizza stones in most kitchenware stores. However, if you do not have the time to purchase or the space in the kitchen, you can do without it. Just put the pizza with the parchment paper on a baking tray.
I have given some options on topping for your pizza, but not the specific amount. You know best how you like your pizza, so experiment! To avoid eating all the topping in the kitchen prepare some dates with blue cheese and parma ham to have available while cooking. Finish off your dinner with a fresh fruit salad with cinnamon-star anis sirup and homemade vanilla ice-cream.

Serves 2

For the crust:
1 medium sized cauliflower
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
20 g shredded parmesan cheese
20 g shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
salt and pepper

For the tomato sauce:
1/2 yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 canned tomatoes
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp caster sugar
salt and pepper

Optional topping:
mozarella, spiced
parmesan, grated
slices of parma ham
baby asparagus, blanched
green beans, blanched
fresh basil, chiffonade
ruccola
pine nuts, roasted
balsamic vinegar

1. Pre-heat the pizza stone in the oven at 230 C. Make sure to put in the stone when the oven is cold, otherwise the stone may crack. For the best result, heat up the pizza stone for 40 minutes before baking the crust.
2. Wash and dry the cauliflower. Cut off the florets and steam for 7 minutes, or until tender. For the steaming process, place a steaming rack in a pot and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pot, not touching the rack. Bring the water to the boil, add the florets and let steam with lid on.
3. Prepare the tomato sauce by frying onion and garlic in oil in a pan until soft. Add the tomato paste and fry for another minute. Pour in the canned tomato and dried basil, and let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Pulse the steamed cauliflower florets in a food processor for 30 seconds, until you get a powder. Wrap up the powder in a dish towel and twist to squeeze out as much liquid as possible (this will make the crust hold together better). Put into a bowl, add the remaining ingredients for the pizza crust and mix well.
5. Using your hands, form the dough into a crust on the parchment paper. Slide the crust onto the hot pizza stone and bake in the oven for 11 minutes, or until it starts to turn golden brown. photo 5 6. Taste the tomato sauce and add sugar, salt and peppar. Taste and season more if needed.
7. Once the crust is ready take it out. Add the tomato sauce, mozzarella slices and grated parmesan. Place back into the oven for another 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
8. Remove the pizza from the oven, add the slices of parma ham, the vegetables, basil, ruccola, pine nuts and balsamic vinegar. Voila!

Roasted Balsamic Tomato Soup

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Roasted tomatoes provide a great base for a soup. The balsamic vinegar gives sweetness while the harissa paste provides some heat. For a Sunday menu, why not serve an appetizer of Stuffed Mushrooms, followed by the Roasted Balsamic Tomato Soup together with Oat and Raisin Rolls and with a sweet ending of Raspberry Pie with Crème Anglais.

Serves 4

12 medium size tomatoes, skinnedRoasted tomatoe soup IMG_4858
3 tbsp olive oil
1-2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Fresh basil, shredded
2-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
300 ml vegetable broth
2 tsp harissa paste
Salt and black pepper (if needed)
Parmesan cheese and basil to garnish

  1. To skin the tomatoes, cut small cross at one end of the tomatoe and let simmer in water for a minute. The skin will curl up and can thereafter easily be removed.
  2. Quarter the tomatoes and place on oven tray. Sprinkle with basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Let roast in 180C oven for 30 minutes.
  3. Place in a pot and add a bit of the stock. With a hand held food processor, puree the tomatoe mixture. Add the remaining stock and the harissa paste. Let simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. If needed, add some black pepper.
  4. Serve with basil and Parmesan shavings on top.