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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: Roasted cauliflower and capsicum salad with fish
Roasted vegetable salads are a great addition to your repertoire when you get bored of the same raw ingredients and/or when you want a meal that feels more substantial. This roasted cauliflower and capsicum salad with fish is the perfect Mediterranean-inspired weeknight lunch. Yes, there is a bit of work involved in roasting vegetables but in many cases the results are totally worth it. In addition, using canned fish saves you a lot of effort and potentially money. Lately, I have been using Sole Mare mackerel in olive oil (pictured below) or Sirena tuna in extra virgin olive oil (which comes in 2-serve glass jars). You can sub any other…
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Recipe: Chicken Caesar salad for one
This chicken Caesar salad for one is a great weekday lunch you can put together in very little time. It also scales well to share with your partner or family. Caesar salad is not the most nutritious salad when it comes to veggies as the only one is cos lettuce. Feel free to substitute your favourite salad leaves, preferably on the sturdy side, such as radicchio or massaged kale. To save time, I use ready-made mayonnaise, which I usually make with cold pressed walnut or macadamia oil. If can also use pre-boiled eggs to save some more time. For the toasted “croutons” you can use any kind of bread you…
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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: Low carb silverbeet and ricotta pie
This low carb silverbeet and ricotta pie is a spin on “pastel de acelga” (a.k.a. “torta Pascualina” in Argentina and Uruguay). It’s great for brunch or any other time of the day. In Perú, “pastel de acelga” is commonly found in bakeries and cafes, from the humblest to the fanciest. The filling commonly features bread, milk and Parmesan cheese. I prefer to use ricotta for better texture and flavour. I used an almond meal crust to make it both low-carb and gluten-free but you can use your favourite savoury pie crust recipe or pre-made pie crust.
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Recipe: Green shakshuka
Green shakshuka is a tasty variation to the traditional tomato-based Middle Eastern breakfast dish. It is a great way to get a few serves of vegetables during the first half of the day. The beauty of green shakshuka is that you can use any green vegetables and herbs you have in hand. In that sense, it’s a lot more customisable than the original version, in my opinion. This recipe is gluten-free and low-carb. It can be made dairy free by omitting the cheese or using a plant-based one. Serve it with your choice of bread. I used some outstanding gluten-free pita from Nonie’s Food.
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Recipe: Grown-up radicchio salad
I call this grown-up radicchio salad because radicchio is not for everyone. As a general rule, children are more sensitive to the bitter taste, so grown-ups are more likely to appreciate bitter leaves in their meal. This salad is all about contrast and complement. The sweetness of the sultanas mellow down the radicchio’s bitterness. The saltiness of the cheese and the prosciutto counter-balance the sweetness. Finally, the different textures, from the crunchiness of the radicchio to the bite of the pine nuts and the softness of the boiled eggs, complement each other. If you want to up your grown-up game, go ahead and soak the sultanas in pisco or grappa…
