Appetizer
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Recipe: Smoky eggplant dip
This smoky eggplant dip is essentially a shortcut version of one of my favourite dips ever: baba ghanoush. Specially formulated for those days when you don’t have the time or equipment to make the real deal. Instead of imparting a smoky flavour by actually charring the eggplant, this recipe relies on smoked paprika and smoked salt, two of my favourite ingredients. This dip is gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, vegetarian and vegan. You can enjoy it with veggie sticks or crackers (such as Carman’s or Olina’s) or as a sauce to serve with Middle Eastern fare.
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Recipe: Roasted zucchini hummus
Roasted zucchini hummus is another alternative recipe for those looking for a lower carb version than the traditional one made with chickpeas. It’s a great way to use up surplus zucchini. Similar to the cauliflower hummus I posted a while ago, this recipe is gluten-free, vegan, keto and low-carb. As a bonus, this roasted zucchini hummus is also low in FODMAPs. You can eat enjoy roasted zucchini hummus as a dip or as a proper meal with optional toppings (there’s a list of suggestions below). This recipe is lower in protein than the traditional chickpea-based version, so make sure you are eating some protein with it.
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Recipe: Cauliflower hummus
Cauliflower is popular in paleo, gluten-free, keto and low-carb circles thanks to its ability to substitute starchier or gluten-containing foods. Besides rice, mash and pizza you can also use this cruciferous vegetable to make cauliflower hummus. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan and low-carb. Unfortunately, it’s high in FODMAPs so if you avoid legumes to prevent bloating this recipe might not be much of an improvement. You can eat enjoy cauliflower hummus as a dip but in the Middle East is eaten as a meal with optional toppings (there’s a list of suggestions below). This recipe is lower in protein than the traditional chickpea-based version, so make sure you are eating…
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Recipe: Easy guacamole
Guacamole is one of the easiest and tastiest ways of consuming avocado. It can be eaten as a dip (with corn chips, crackers or vegetable sticks), as a topping for chilli, tacos or salads, on toast, in burritos, wraps, burgers, etc. There are many ways of making guacamole and, in general, I think you should make it however you like. Having said that, I do follow a few rules: Use lime, never lemon Any kind of onion can be used: red, brown, green, eschalots. Just make sure it’s finely chopped. Never use garlic The tomato is optional, particularly if you’re sharing with people with food sensitivities Black pepper is optional…
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Recipe: Black sesame baba ganoush
Black sesame baba ganoush is also (see my recipe for black sesame hummus) my kind of dip. Tasty, healthy, black. It looks scary enough for people to avoid it, so there’s always more for me. Make it for Halloween or any other day. Black sesame seeds are widely used in Chinese medicine. Science suggests they may lower blood pressure and protect against oxidative stress (1). They may also reduce total cholesterol and LDL levels as well as protect cardiovascular, liver and kidney function, among other positive outcomes. Scientists have found at least 20 metabolites that are higher in black sesame seeds than in the white variety and might be responsible…
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Recipe: Black sesame hummus
Black sesame hummus is my kind of dip. Tasty, healthy, black. It looks scary enough for people to avoid it, so there’s always more for me. Make it for Halloween or any other day. Black sesame seeds are widely used in Chinese medicine. Science suggests they may lower blood pressure and protect against oxidative stress (1). They may also reduce total cholesterol and LDL levels as well as protect cardiovascular, liver and kidney function, among other positive outcomes. Scientists have found at least 20 metabolites that are higher in black sesame seeds than in the white variety and might be responsible for their health benefits (2). Hummus is also pretty…
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Recipe: 2-ingredient devilled eggs
Devilled eggs are one of those foods that look very retro but come and go in waves. According to Wikipedia, they date back to ancient Rome (!) Devilled eggs are hard-boiled eggs that are cut in half. The yolks are mixed with binding agents such as mayonnaise and placed back into the egg white cavities. They are mostly a party food but are also wonderful for picnics, as a snack or as part of a meal when paired with veggies. If you can get your hands on good quality spicy mayonnaise (such as Primal Kitchen chipotle lime mayo), you only need a couple of ingredients to make magic happen. This…
