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Recipe: Easy seco de cordero (Peruvian lamb coriander stew)
Easy seco de cordero is a weeknight-friendly version of the classic Peruvian lamb and coriander stew, which happens to be one of my favourite Peruvian dishes. What makes it easy is the use of ground lamb instead of stew cuts that must be cooked low and slow. This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. Seco is traditionally served with rice plus beans, potatoes or yuca (cassava). The starches help soak up the sauce. Feel free to serve it with cauliflower rice or your choice of vegetables and/or salad for a lower-carb version. Top with some salsa criolla for added freshness. If you don’t have ají amarillo paste, you can sub other…
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Recipe: Salsa criolla (Peruvian pickled onions)
Salsa criolla (Peruvian pickled onions) is an essential accompaniment to all sorts of dishes, such as tamales, arroz con pollo, chicharrón, seco and papa rellena. Of course you don’t need to make Peruvian food to enjoy salsa criolla. You can pair it up with any rich and/or dish that is on the dry side and could use some a bit of juicy tangy zing. If you have time, prepare the onions several hours before using them. They keep well in the fridge for 3-5 days.
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Gluten free sliced bread
If you follow a gluten free diet for health or preference reasons, you might know that good gluten free sliced bread is hard to find. This applies to taste, texture and, most importantly, nutrition. Brands Some of the most popular sliced bread brands offer gluten free options, including the big supermarket brands. Examples include Helgas, Abbott’s Village, Woolworths and Coles. A little harder to find are Genius Gluten Free, Well & Good, Venerdi, Deeks and Naturis. Ingredients While regular bread can be made with 3-4 ingredients (flour, water, salt and yeast – which you can omit as a deliberate ingredient if making sourdough), gluten free bread is not easy to…
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Product review: PBCo protein shakes
PBCo, formerly known as The Protein Bread Co, specialises on high protein, low carb products. Their PBCo protein shakes are a good alternative to similar powders in the market that contain sugar or artificial ingredients. PBCo protein shakes These protein shakes come in three flavours (banana, chocolate and vanilla) in 500g resealable bags, which equals 14.3 servings. Each serve contains 23g of protein that come from whey protein concentrate. The shakes are gluten free, low carb and contain vitamins and enzymes making them more digestible. They have no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners (they’re sweetened with stevia). Ingredients Banana: Australian whey protein concentrate, vitamin blend (calcium carbonate, whey protein isolate,…
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Recipe: Niçoise salad
Niçoise salad, or salade niçoise is a classic French dish quite popular worldwide. It originated in the city of Nice, in the Southeast coast of the country. There are several ways of making niçoise salad and I won’t claim mine is the right one (especially because I’ve never been to France!!). My recipe is simple, cheap, nutritious and delicious. Salade niçoise is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, high in protein and moderate in carbohydrates. It’s also pretty filling thanks to the protein, fibre and healthy fats including omega-3 from the tuna and monounsaturated fats from the olives and extra virgin olive oil.
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Recipe: Miso bolognese
Miso bolognese is an example of fusion cuisine done well, if I may say so. Miso is just another way of adding umami to the classic pasta sauce. This recipe is gluten-free if you use suitable pasta. I used red miso paste but you can use any colour. I use Feather and Bone’s organic beef mince with organs for added nutrition but plain ground beef, pork, veal, turkey or a combination would work well. You may serve this sauce with your favourite pasta (gluten-free such as this one or this one, or otherwise) or pasta substitute, such as zucchini “noodles” (zoodles), konjac noodles, steamed vegetables, etc.
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Product review: Rokeby Farms probiotic milk
Rokeby Farms is a dairy food company based in Melbourne, Victoria. Their product Rokeby Farms probiotic milk is made the traditional Swedish way. Rokeby Farms probiotic milk Like Filmjölk, this product is made with fresh cow’s milk and fermented slowly. The manufacturer claims it contains 15 live and active cultures and 50+ billion bacteria per serve. The benefits of this product are similar to those of other fermented milk drinks. It is a good source of protein and calcium and helps with digestion and gut health. Fermented dairy foods contain little lactose as most of it is digested by the bacteria. Therefore, this product may be suitable for some people…
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Recipe: Sweet potato frittata with kale and feta
This sweet potato frittata with kale and feta is perfect for make-ahead breakfasts or as a light meal any time of the day. It keeps well for 4-5 days in the fridge and can be frozen for later consumption, too. I used goat’s feta, which pairs great with the sweetness of sweet potato. Traditional feta made from sheep and goat’s milk would work great, too, as would regular cow’s milk feta. This recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian. It has a decent amount of protein (22.9g per serve) and the 28.4g of carbs from the sweet potato are lower GI and come packed with micronutrients (see potatoes vs sweet potatoes for…
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Recipe: Fig salad with broad beans and Pecorino
Figs are in season! This fig salad with broad beans and Pecorino brings the best of the Mediterranean cuisine to your table. Perfect for a summer lunch or BBQ. Some notes on ingredients: you can find fresh broad beans in some markets but it’s easier to find them in the frozen section of your supermarket. Pecorino is an Italian sheep milk cheese that I love due to its sharp, salty taste. You can substitute Parmesan if you prefer. This recipe is gluten-free and can be made vegan if you omit the cheese. However, I think the Pecorino really complements the flavour of ripe figs. Serve this salad as a side…
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Product review: Slendier konjac pasta and rice
As its name implies, Slendier is a brand of food products designed to help with weight loss. Slendier konjac pasta and rice come in different styles to suit your culinary needs. What is konjac? The dictionary tells us konjac is “the swollen underground stem of a herb that grows in parts of Asia and is often used for adding fibre to food, or the herb itself.” (1) Konjac is very low in carbohydrates and very high in a type of fibre called glucomannan, which is linked to several health benefits, including appetite control and digestive health. Slendier konjac range All Slendier konjac pasta and rice style products come in 2-serve…
