Menestrón is the Peruvian version of minestrone soup, brought to the country by Italian migrants. What makes this soup Peruvian is the addition of native ingredients, such as potato and cassava. This is a pesto-based version of minestrone (as opposed to tomato-based). In addition to the traditional basil and Parmesan, this pesto features spinach and […]
Tag: Gluten-free
Recipe: Chile verde pork ribs with Mexican slaw
I first tried chile verde in a Mexican restaurant in Sydney that no longer exists. I loved it, mainly because it reminded me of Peruvian seco. Unlike the most common chilli con carne, the sauce in chile verde is made with tomatillos, green chillies and coriander. It is normally made with pork shoulder but I […]
Recipe: Morcilla and eggs with broccolini and braised fennel
Morcilla is a type of blood sausage that is popular in Spain and its former colonies. In Perú, it is mostly enjoyed in a bread roll, but I like to pair it more interesting accompaniments. Hence, I created this brunch recipe: morcilla and eggs with broccolini and braised fennel. A couple of good morcilla brands […]
Recipe: Smashed potatoes with roasted garlic chimichurri
These smashed potatoes and roasted garlic chimichurri are great as a side dish, as part of a grazing table or on their own as a snack. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. The secret to golden, crunchy potatoes is to cook them twice and smash them in between. I used Spud Lite lower carb […]
5 misconceptions about gluten
These days gluten is a mainstream word, although there is still a sizeable percentage of the population who don’t know what it is. More concerning, perhaps, is having wrong information about it. Below are 5 misconceptions about gluten that you will probably come across. 1. Gluten-free = healthy This is one of the most common […]
Recipe: Easy pulpo al olivo
Pulpo al olivo is a typical Peruvian dish made with octopus and olive mayonnaise. It is often eaten as an entrée or appetizer. This recipe is called easy pulpo al olivo because I’ve included a couple of shortcuts. The invention of this dish is attributed to Peruvian-Japanese chef Rosita Yimura. My lazy version involves no […]
Product review: Hahn Ultra Crisp beer
One of the major beer manufacturers has launched a new brew: Hahn Ultra Crisp beer. This beer is not only gluten-free but also has lower carbohydrates than other brews. Win-win! Hahn Ultra Crisp As per the label, this beer is lower carb than regular beer, 99% sugar free, preservative free and gluten-free. As you may […]
Recipe: My mum’s tuna croquettes
Another mum recipe! Tuna croquettes (“croquetas de atún”) was a weeknight dish that was on a semi-regular rotation at our house. I always looked forward to the next time we’d have them. Mum served the croquettes with a lot of rice and some veggies: green beans, peas and carrots that were first blanched in water […]
Recipe: My mum’s arroz chaufa (Peruvian fried rice)
Chaufa comes from chao fan, which apparently means “fried rice” in Chinese (not sure if in Mandarin, Cantonese or both). So yeah, arroz chaufa = “fried rice rice”. Arroz chaufa in Perú is very popular (as we have a large Cantonese community) and it comes in many varieties: chicken, pork, chicken + pork, chicken + […]
Product review: Gluten-free Vegemite
Vegemite is one of the most iconic Australian foods. The spread, made from brewer’s yeast extract, is finally available in a gluten-free version. ‘Pure Vegetable Extract’ was developed in the early 1920s. The product went through a few name changes and a rough start due to the already established popularity of Marmite, the British version. […]