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Recipe: Tacu tacu (Peruvian rice and beans)
Every developing country has a traditional rice and beans dish. In Perú we call it “tacu tacu” and it involves a little more than just rice plus beans on a plate. If eaten by itself, tacu tacu is gluten-free and vegan. However, tacu tacu is normally eaten as a side dish or with some add-on toppings. Common toppings include a fried egg, a fried egg + fried plantains (“a lo pobre” or poor style), a fried egg + fried plantains + steak, grilled or fried fish, seafood sauce, etc. I prefer to serve it with some protein and a salad and have included a list of traditional topping ideas in…
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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: Vegan zucchini soup with corn and coriander
Another soup for me to use up one of my least favourite vegetables: zucchini. This time I came up with a vegan zucchini soup with corn and coriander based on the flavour of Peruvian green tamales. As with my zucchini and leek soup, this one is vegan (therefore automatically dairy-free), gluten-free and low in calories. It is also low in protein so I recommend adding some protein or eating it as a side dish.
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Recipe: Vegan zucchini and leek soup
I have a confession to make: I don’t like zucchini. I can eat it, but it’s not my favourite vegetable. I find it has to be either roasted or sautéed in olive oil for me to like it. This vegan zucchini and leek soup has enough flavour to make me actually want to eat zucchini all day long. This soup is vegan (therefore automatically dairy-free), gluten-free and low in calories. It is also low in protein so I recommend adding some protein or eating it as a side dish. If you’re not vegan, feel free to add some grated hard cheese such as Parmesan or Pecorino for added flavour.
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Recipe: Vegan mash
If you love mashed potatoes but can’t or won’t eat dairy, this vegan mash recipe is for you. Even if you’re partial to traditional mash, you should give this version a go. People wanting to veganise the classic potato mash, which often contains butter, cream and/or milk, will use margarine and non-dairy milk instead. However, there is a better (read: healthier and tastier) way of doing it! A good vegetable stock (homemade or otherwise) and extra virgin olive oil add a ton of flavour and a silky texture to the mash. I used Dutch cream potatoes but you can use your favourite potatoes for this recipe. If you’re looking for…
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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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Product review: Orgran Sugar-Free Cereal
Orgran Sugar-Free Cereal is a good alternative for those looking for a mostly allergen-free breakfast cereal alternative, which is, in addition, free of added sugar. The brand Orgran is a brand of gluten-free products founded back in the 1980s. Their range include baking and cooking ingredients, biscuits, breakfast products, crispbreads, dessert mixes, pasta and snacks. Orgran Sugar-Free Cereal The breakfast range of Orgran products include 2 sugar-free cereals: matcha & coconut and acai & coconut. Both are free of dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs, nuts, soy, yeast and, of course, sugar. They do not contain GMOs or MSG and are, in addition, kosher. These cereals come in 200g boxes, with a…
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Oat milk comeback
Oat milk is back! I probably tried it for the first time 10-15 years ago. The oat milk comeback is evident now that coffee shops have it on display and/or announce it on the blackboard. Oat milk comeback evidence I used the trusty Google Trends to check how interest in oat milk has changed over the past 5 years. Worldwide, interest has increased in the past few years. The first peak in the graph below is from January 2018, with another big peak in January 2019. In Australia, however, there are a lot more peaks and valleys, the first of which in the past 5 years happened on January 2015.…
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Dairy-free yoghurt
Is “dairy-free yoghurt” an oxymoron? If you’re of the opinion that nut/legume milk is not milk, then maybe you think dairy-free yoghurt cannot be called yoghurt. However, if you think that the bacteria defines the food, then yeah, making yoghurt out of soy/almond/coconut milk qualifies as yoghurt. Lastly, if you prefer looking at nutritional content, you might be against this nomenclature. Read on and find out. What is yoghurt According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, yoghurt (or yogurt) is “a fermented slightly acid often flavored semisolid food made of milk and milk solids to which cultures of two bacteria (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) have been added”. (1) Oxford dictionary…
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Recipe: Zucchini & carrot brownies
Wondering how you can consume 5 serves of vegetables? Do you want to sneak more veggies into your kids’ diet? Although these zucchini & carrot brownies are a once-in-a-while treat, they are a certainly a healthier alternative to regular dessert. The texture of these brownies is on the soft, cake-y side due to the coconut flour. If you prefer denser brownies, keep your eyes peeled for upcoming recipes.
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