Breakfast
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Recipe: Overnight oats
Overnight oats are a very popular breakfast because it cuts down on prep time. They are made by soaking oats in a liquid (usually milk) overnight. Overnight oats are superior to traditional porridge because: More than a recipe, this is a template you can follow to make overnight oats based on ratios. I like using milk and yoghurt as the wet ingredients and a ratio of 1:1:1 oats to milk to yoghurt. The recipe calls for 1/3-1/2 cup of each. If you are a smaller individual or have a smaller appetite, go with 1/3 cup. Ingredient recommendations About the toppings My personal preferences I normally make my overnight oats with…
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Recipe: Tahini pomegranate protein shake
This tahini pomegranate protein shake is a great post-workout drink, breakfast or snack for those keen on trying new flavour combinations. As written, this recipe is not super sweet. If you have a sweet tooth, feel free to use sweetened protein powder (e.g. vanilla) or add your preferred sweetener to taste. This recipe is gluten-free and can be made dairy-free depending on the protein powder you use. The nutritional information is based on True Protein whey protein isolate.
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Recipe: Coffee tahini protein smoothie
Coffee protein smoothies are my favourite quick meal after morning workouts. While shaking protein powder into coffee is the quickest version, this coffee tahini protein smoothie is probably the tastiest. This recipe is gluten-free and can be made dairy-free based on the protein powder. I use True Protein WPI French Vanilla. I love how it tastes when mixed with coffee but you could use other flavours in this shake, for example: chocolate, salted caramel or natural. You can also mix 1/2 scoop of natural with 1/2 scoop of flavoured for a less sweet shake. Besides being a great post-workout shake, you can enjoy this drink as breakfast if smoothies are…
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Recipe: Beetroot and orange 3 ways
This is a choose-your-own-adventure recipe for a drink you can make when you have an orange and cooked beetroot on hand. Either way, the result is vibrant in colour, packed with nutrients and full of flavour. You can use packed cooked beetroot or leftover unseasoned cooked beetroot if you have it in the fridge. Option #1 is an any time/pre-workout version. It is a good source of carbohydrates and fluid. Option #2 is a breakfast/post-workout version. Besides the carbs and fluid, it contains protein to aid with satiety, muscle maintenance and/or post-exercise recovery. You can choose any unflavoured/natural protein powder, either whey or plant based. Option #3 is an alcoholic…
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Recipe: Sweet potato hash with chorizo and kale
This sweet potato hash with chorizo and kale recipe is great for a weekend brunch, especially if you enjoy a little bit of spice. This recipe can be gluten-free and dairy-free, depending on the chorizo and toast you have. There are different types of chorizo, but the most common ones are Mexican (usually fresh) and Spanish (usually cured). Both types work for this recipe. The beauty of using chorizo is that you don’t need any extra fat nor herbs or spices, just a pinch of salt and pepper on top of the eggs. If you don’t want to use chorizo, try these substitutions: Note that you will need to add…
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Recipe: Sweet potato, chickpea and haloumi bowl
Wondering how you can eat more vegetables? Try this gluten-free vegetarian sweet potato, chickpea and haloumi bowl for breakfast or brunch. If you are short on time, you can streamline this recipe using any or all of the suggestions below: This recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian. It can be made lactose-free by using a lactose-free cheese. It can be made vegan by omitting the eggs and the haloumi (or using a non-dairy cheese). If you are vegan, I recommend you use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of (or in addition to) the pomegranate molasses or balsamic vinegar. This will enhance the absorption of the iron present in the baby spinach…
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Recipe: Shortcut shakshuka
Shakshuka is one of the greatest gifts of Middle Eastern cuisine to the world. This shortcut shakshuka uses a couple of “cheat” ingredients to make it as quick as it possible without sacrificing taste. In case you don’t know, shakshuka is a breakfast dish of eggs cooked in a chunky tomato-based sauce. Common ingredients in the sauce, besides tomatoes, include onions and capsicum. There are also green shakshukas made, obviously, with green vegetables and herbs. These are often less saucy and more hash-like. Besides eggs, there are many other toppings or add-ins such as cheese, sausages, chickpeas, mushrooms, lentils, eggplant, fresh herbs, and a big etcetera. Shakshuka is usually eaten…
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Recipe: Mexican baked beans with eggs
These Mexican baked beans with eggs are an easy and affordable breakfast, brunch or anytime vegetarian meal. Using canned tomatoes and beans make this recipe quick, convenient and affordable. If you don’t have pinto beans you can substitute black or red kidney beans. Speaking of convenience, I use a ready-made spice mix (Mexican spice mix from Spice and Co) but you can use another brand, just look for Mexican or taco seasoning. If you can’t find any or prefer to make your own, the ingredients in the spice mix I use are: paprika, chipotle chilli, chillies, cumin, coriander, oregano, onion, garlic, cinnamon, sea salt and pepper. This recipe has a…
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Recipe: Grilled vegetable and pesto frittata
This grilled vegetable and pesto frittata highlights the versatility of the mighty frittata when it comes to ingredients, eating occasion and cooking technique. I made the entire recipe in a Weber gas BBQ and a BBQ pan, but you can use an oven and oven-safe pan or baking dish instead. While this frittata takes more time to make than the ones that use uncooked or pre-cooked vegetables, the result is definitely worth it, in particular if you enjoy Mediterranean flavours. Having said that, you can cook the vegetables in advance or use leftover vegetables from another meal. You can also use store-bought pesto but I have not found any that…
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Recipe: Gluten-free banana bread
Much like brownies, there are different kinds of banana bread. Some people like them dense; while some enjoy the cakey, airy variety. This gluten-free banana bread falls in the second category and is great either fresh or toasted. Besides being gluten-free, this banana bread does not contain any added sugar. The riper the bananas you use, the sweeter the bread will be. Having said that, if you are used to commercial banana breads, you might want to add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey on top prior to eating. Of course, toppings are optional, we usually enjoy ours with butter but peanut butter is also a great option. If…
