Category Archives: Main Course

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

Vegetable Medley with Marinated Baked Salmon

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09 Baked Salmon with Vegetable Medley DSC_8355

A light and beautiful dish. Use any vegetables that you can turn into spaghetti strands.

1 kilo fresh salmon, skinned and boned, cut into pieces

Marinade:
100 ml gluten free soy sauce
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated

2 large carrots
3 large parsnips
1 zucchini

oil to sauté in
Salt and pepper

 

  1. Combine the marinade, place salmon pieces in a plastic freezer bag, pour the marinade on top. Refrigerate 1 hour.
  2. Heat oven to 150 C. Remove the Salmon pieces from the marinade and bake for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Using a spiralizer/spiral slicer, create spaghetti like noodles out of the vegetables.
  4. Sauté the spaghetti in the oil. To remove excess oil, place for a moment on paper towels.
  5. Season

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs with Tricolore Pepper Salad and Walnut Cabbage

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These meatballs are so rich and full of flavour so they don’t need anything else than a salad or two to go with them. In this recipe I have combined the meatballs with a pepper salad, a walnut cabbage salad and a honey chili sauce.

The Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

To make the perfect meatballs, you need a binder. Here I have substituted the traditional breadcrumbs/egg mix for some Chia seeds. The Chia seeds provides the binding agent through the gel it will form with the liquid. Chia also ensures moist and delicious meatballs. Some people use mashed potatoes instead but please try the Chia, it is well worth it!

Serves 4

500 g ground beef
1 garlic clove, crushed
½ grated yellow onion
Fresh coriander, chopped
1 cm ginger, grated
2 tbsp gluten free soy sauce
2 tbsp chia seeds

Glaze:
50 ml gluten free soy sauce
1 teaspoon of rice vinegar
1 tbsp honey

  1. Mix all the meatball ingredients together. Let sit in the refrigerate for 30 minutes in order to let the Chia seeds swell and form the gel.
  2. Heat the oven to 225 C. Line an oven sheet with greased baking parchment.
  3. Form small balls and place on baking sheet.
  4. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes until cooked through.
  5. Combine the ingredients for the glaze.
  6. Pour the glaze in a (non-stick) frying pan and fry the meatballs a few minutes.
Tricolor Pepper Salad

1 orange pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
Juice from ½ lemon
Salt and black pepper

  1. Half and slice the peppers very finely using the fine blade on a food processor or a mandolin.
  2. Mix in a bowl. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper.
Walnut Cabbage

200 g red cabbage
20 ml red wine vinegar
60 ml walnut oil
40 g walnut halves

  1. Discard the outer leaves. Quarter the cabbage and cut off root.
  2. Taking a few leaves at the time, cut the cabbage into very fine strips. Place in bowl.
  3. Heat the vinegar and pour over cabbage. Add the oil. Cover bowl with cling film and shake to cover evenly. Let sit to soften a few minutes.
  4. Toast the walnuts.
  5. Mix the walnuts into the cabbage just before serving.
Honey Chili Sauce

150 ml greek yoghurt
2 tsp crushed chilli
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients.

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.

Chilli Crab Cakes

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Chilli Crab Cakes
These crab cakes are great on their own or you may want to add a chilli sauce. In that case I would recommend my home made version, more flavours that the bottled kind and less sweet.

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

Serves 4

2 eggs, whisked
75 ml Quinoa flakes
1 tbsp psyllium husk

500 g crabmeat
Fresh coriander, chopped
½ stalk of lemongrass, chopped
½ medium sized red onion, chopped
½ lime, zest
1 red chilli fruit, chopped
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp sesame oil

Chilli flakes, salt and pepper
Rapeseed or olive oil to fry

  1. Combine eggs, quinoa and psyllium husk, set aside for 10 minutes.
  2. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Add the egg mixture to the crab mixture and form small patties/crab cakes.
  4. Heat some oil in a pan and fry the cakes until golden on both sides turning one time only.

Serve on top of spinach leaves with a sprinkle of chilli flakes on top

Balsamic Chicken with Fruity Quinoa

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The soy sauce creates a quite salty chicken dish which is really delicious together with the fruity quinoa. Perfect on a hot summer day!

Serve as part of a menu together with:
Starter: Stuffed Marinated Courgette Rolls
Dessert: Frozen Coffee Banana After Dinner Drink

Serves 4

500 g chicken fillets diagonally cut into 2 cm strips
75 ml gluten free soy sauce
4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2-3 tbsp oil, to sauté
1/3 green pepper, finely diced for decorations

300 ml Quinoa (white)
600 ml vegetable stock
1 finely diced leek
3 tomatoes, finely diced (seeds removed)
1 ripe Mango, finely diced
1,5 tbsp olive oil
2,5 tbsp red wine vinegar
3 tbsp hot mango chutney
Salt and pepper
chilli flakes

Chicken:

  1. Marinate the chicken in the soy and vinegar mix for 30 minutes or longer
  2. Gently sauté the chicken in the oil, while saving the marinade for later.
  3. When the chicken is browned, add the marinade and let simmer until done.

Quinoa:

  1. Boil the Quinoa in the vegetable stock according to instructions on package
  2. When done, combine the oil and vinegar with the Quinoa in a bowl.
  3. Add the finely diced vegetables and fruit and season with salt and pepper.

08 Verbier Chicken and Quinoa-8029

Assembly:

  1. Using ring molds, arrange the quinoa on serving plates and sprinkle with chilli flakes.
  2. Add the chicken with some finely chopped green pepper on top.

Poached Sea Trout with Champagne Sauce and Quinoa with Herbs and Semi-Dried Tomatoes

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Fairly straight forward but still with complex tastes. Make sure not to boil the fish, the liquid should be just below boiling point.

Serves 6

750 ml dry white wine
2 sticks celery, finely sliced
1 small bulb fennel, trimmed and finely sliced
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 lemons, finely sliced, pips removed
1 bunch tarragon, 12 leaves finely chopped and remaining leaves stripped
1 tbsp salted capers, rinsed
1 kg side of sea trout, skin-on and pin-boned

1 egg yolk
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
250 ml sunflower oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
white pepper
80 ml champagne

6 plum tomatoes, quartered
olive oil
300 ml quinoa
70 g pumpkin seeds, roasted
40 g flaked almonds, roasted
large handful mint, finely chopped
large handful basil, finely chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees, and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Place tomatoes on the tray, season and sprinkle with some oil. Roast for 2 hours, or until semi-dried and just starting to brown around the edges.
2. Boil quinoa according to instructions on the package. Set aside until needed.
3. Prepare the poaching liquid: Pour the wine and 2.5 litres water into a large roasting tin, then add the celery, fennel, peppercorns, lemon slices, whole tarragon leaves and capers. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Add the fish (skin-side down) to the poaching liquid, and simmer for 5 minutes, spooning the liquid over the fish now and then. Turn off the heat and leave the fish in the liquid for a further 10 minutes.
5. Make the sauce by placing egg yolk, vinegar, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in the bowl of a food processor. Mix on high speed, adding the oil in a thin stream. You should end up with a thick glossy mayonnaise. Add the mustard, some white pepper and the finely chopped tarragon leaves and mix. Pour in the champagne and mix.
6. Mix quinoa with chopped mint and basil, pumpkin seeds, almonds and the semi-dried tomatoes. Season well and mix to combine.
7. To serve, carefully remove the poached fish using two spatulas and place on a serving platter. Scatter chopped thyme over the fish and grind over some pepper. Serve together with the sauce and the quinoa.

Wild Rice with Chanterelles and Chorizo

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In this recipe, the Chorizo provides a little heat (depending on what kind you choose to use) and the tomatoes a hint of sweetness. The Parmesan cheese allows the molded shape to stay together on the plate. If you can’t find fresh chanterelles, use a mix of any other fresh mushroom you like. A delicious, quick and easy dish! May also be served as an accompanying dish for very hungry guests, goes well with baked, fresh salmon.

Serve as part of a menu together with
Starter: Smoked Salmon Salad with Lime
Dessert: Chilled Strawberry Coconut Dessert Soup

Serves 4

300 ml Wild Rice
300 ml white wine
350 ml chicken broth

½ leek, finely sliced
400 g fresh chanterelles (or any other mixed mushrooms such as Chestnut mushrooms, Portobello mushrooms…)
150 g Chorizo, diced
5 sundried, marinated tomatoes, cut into fine strips
250 g fresh baby leaf spinach, shredded
4-5 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and black pepper
Olive oil for frying

  1. Boil the rice a few minutes shorter than the time indicated on the package.
  2. In the oil, sauté leek and mushrooms on low to medium heat until most of the water has evaporated.
  3. Stir in the chorizo and the sundried tomatoes. Sauté until hot.
  4. Add the spinach, stir until wilted.
  5. Take off heat and add the cheese.
  6. Add the rice and mix well.
  7. Season with some salt, if needed.
  8. To serve; use a small bowl covered with cling film. Press the rice firmly into the bowl. Turn out onto a plate (put the plate on top of the bowl and then turn over), remove the bowl and cling film and sprinkle some black pepper on top and over the plate.

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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.

Cognac BBQ Marinade

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This marinade will bring lots of flavour to, as well as tenderize, the meat of your choice.

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

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 ½ tbsp maple syrup
5 tbsp Cognac
3 tbsp of Gluten Free Soy Sauce
A few drops of Tabasco (optional)
1 tbsp concentrated tomato puree
1 garlic clove, crushed
½ cm of fresh ginger, finely grated
100 ml olive oil

  1. Combine all the ingredients, pour over meat in a plastic bag. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, turning the bag over from time to time.
  2. Before grilling, allow the meat to return to room temperature. Dry off the meat with a paper towel.
  3. During the grilling, baste with the excess marinade.

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.

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Chicken and Aubergine Skewers with Pistachio Dukkah and Orange and Feta Sallad

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This Morocco-inspired meal will please everyone at the table, and much of it can be prepared a day ahead! Roll the sticky skewers in the dukkah for the perfect taste sensation!

Serve with:
Starter: Crackers with Glazed Onion and Blue Cheese
Dessert: Warm Mango with Ginger and Honey

Serves 4

500 g chicken breast, cut into 3 cm cubes
2 large aubergines, cut into 3 cm cubes

marinade:
3 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp ground cumin
4 tbsp + 2 tbsp clear honey
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon, zest and juice
salt and pepper

dukkah:
2 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp coriander seeds
50 g peeled pistachios
1 tsp ground paprika
1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
salt

Sallad:
quinoa
4 oranges, zest from 2, segments from 4
1 lemon, zest and juice
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp harissa
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground coriander
2 sallad onion, finely chopped
400 g feta cheese
50 ml chopped mint
100 g baby spinach
1. Mix the ingredients to the marinade and divide between two bowls. Add the chicken and aubergine to the bowls and let marinade in the fridge for 24 hours.
2. To make the dukkah roast sesame seeds, cumin seeds and coriander seeds in a dry pan until they start giving off a scent. In the meantime, mix the pistachios until coarsely ground and add to a bowl. Mix the roasted seeds in the mixer and add to the pistachios. Incorporate the rest of the spices and mix well.
3. Boil the quinoa according to instructions on the package. Zest 2 of the oranges and peel to cut segments of the flesh. Keep the juice that forms. Mix quinoa with orange juice and zest, lemon juice and zest, olive oil, harissa and spices. Let cool. Until here you can prepare a day in ahead.
4. Soak the wooden skewers in warm water for 20 minutes. Heat the oven to 220 degrees. Add the chicken and the aubergines to the skewers separately. Bake the aubergine skewers in the oven for 30 minutes, turning them around after half the time. Pan fry the chicken skewers to give colour on all sides, then add to the tray in the oven during the last 5-10 minutes.
5. Add the remaining ingredients to the sallad including the segmented oranges and mix.
6. Serve the sallad room tempered and the skewers with the dukkah to sprinkle generously on top.