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Recipe: Roasted fennel and lentil salad with radishes and citrusy dressing
Roasted fennel and lentil salad with radishes and citrusy dressing is a great dish for lunch or dinner. Its protein and fibre content will satisfy your appetite without packing on too much energy. This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free and can be made vegan by omitting the eggs. Just make sure you are having enough protein in your day. This salad is also a great source of fibre. Lentils contain haem (plant-based) iron, which is less bioavailable than haem (animal-based) iron. Its absorption is enhanced if you have vitamin C or haem iron in the same meal, hence the lemon juice in the dressing. Other citrus options such as orange…
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Recipe: Warm roasted Brussel sprouts and baby beetroot salad
Warm roasted Brussel sprouts and baby beetroot salad is a great way to have vegetables in your first meal of the day. It is great for brunch but you can also eat if for lunch or dinner. This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. I use great quality pastured bacon from Feather and Bone but you can omit it if you don’t eat pork. Other sources of extra protein that would work well are leftover chicken, canned or cooked lentils or chickpeas. I like a sprinkle of dukkah (a Middle Eastern mix of nuts/seeds, herbs and spices) but feel free to substitute your favourite flavour/crunch toppings or omit completely. Salt and…
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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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Recipe: Salpicón de pollo (Peruvian chicken salad)
Salpicón de pollo is a salad with chicken, cooked vegetables and mayonnaise commonly found in many Latin American countries. In Perú it’s often served as an entrée but it makes a wonderful main meal particularly during warmer months. This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. It keeps well in the fridge for a few days, especially if you dress it just before eating. On that note, I recommend you make your own mayonnaise (it’s super easy!) because most commercial ones are made with less-than-ideal ingredients.
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Recipe: Fig salad with broad beans and Pecorino
Figs are in season! This fig salad with broad beans and Pecorino brings the best of the Mediterranean cuisine to your table. Perfect for a summer lunch or BBQ. Some notes on ingredients: you can find fresh broad beans in some markets but it’s easier to find them in the frozen section of your supermarket. Pecorino is an Italian sheep milk cheese that I love due to its sharp, salty taste. You can substitute Parmesan if you prefer. This recipe is gluten-free and can be made vegan if you omit the cheese. However, I think the Pecorino really complements the flavour of ripe figs. Serve this salad as a side…
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Recipe: Roasted beetroot, goat’s cheese and pistachio salad
Call it classic or call it cliche, beetroot and goat’s cheese are meant to be together. This roasted beetroot, goat’s cheese and pistachio salad is great for sharing or eaten as a main meal with a little extra protein. Good options include eggs (your way), lentils, tuna, salmon (smoked or canned) and grilled chicken. If you don’t have the time or patience to roast the beetroot, you can use the pre-packed cooked variety.
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Recipe: Smokey poached salmon and potato salad
This is another recipe featuring one of the wonderful sustainable Saltverk Icelandic sea salts. Once again, I relied on the internet to tell me which foods are common in Iceland and put a bunch of them together in dish that is easy to make, healthy and delicious. If you have never poached fish before, I encourage to give it a try. The trick is to use a flavourful sauce or dressing to make the fish shine. I used Spud Lite potatoes for this recipe for a slighter lower carb meal, but you can use whichever potatoes you can get your hands on.
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Recipe: Christmas sides
If you feel like trying different sides this Christmas, give these a go. They make an appearance every single year at my family table on Christmas Eve dinner but I don’t think they are very popular on this side of the world (particularly our take on Russian-style salad!). This year I dry-brined a small turkey following Serious Eats’ Quick and Dirty Guide to Brining Chicken or Turkey. I seasoned it with a Peruvian-style marinade featuring ají panca, garlic, vinegar, spices and brown ale. The recipes below pair well with turkey, pork and chicken. Enjoy!
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Recipe: Ensalada de palmitos y palta (hearts of palm and avocado salad)
I make variations of this ensalada de palmitos y palta every time I cook a Peruvian-themed meal. What makes it Peruvian? The avocado, palmitos, botija olives and the fact that is seasoned with lime juice and olive oil. Serve as a side for pretty much anything. Ensalada de palmitos y palta (hearts of palm and avocado salad) Yield: 4-6 servings as a side dish Ingredients 1/2 head of lettuce, leaves torn 1 avocado, cubed 3 radishes, sliced 5 cherry tomatoes, quartered 2 palmitos (hearts of palm), sliced 10 black olives (preferably botija) juice of 1 lime olive oil salt to taste Directions Prep ingredients and place in a salad bowl.…
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Recipe: Huevo a la rusa (Russian-style egg salad)
Despite its name, huevo a la rusa is a Peruvian classic. So much so that I’ve been told it’s called “huevos a la peruana” (Peruvian-style eggs) in Chile. It is basically a spin-off of the traditional Russian Olivier salad, with the addition of eggs and golf sauce. It’s always served as an entrée, usually in “menú” (affordable set menu) eateries. Huevo a la rusa (Russian-style egg salad) Yield: 3 servings Ingredients 3 eggs 3 medium potatoes 1 large carrot 1 cup peas 3 tablespoons mayonnaise (preferably homemade) 1 tablespoon ketchup (preferably homemade) lettuce leaves salt and pepper to taste Directions Boil or steam the eggs to your liking (I steam…
