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Recipe: Smoky eggplant dip
This smoky eggplant dip is essentially a shortcut version of one of my favourite dips ever: baba ghanoush. Specially formulated for those days when you don’t have the time or equipment to make the real deal. Instead of imparting a smoky flavour by actually charring the eggplant, this recipe relies on smoked paprika and smoked salt, two of my favourite ingredients. This dip is gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, vegetarian and vegan. You can enjoy it with veggie sticks or crackers (such as Carman’s or Olina’s) or as a sauce to serve with Middle Eastern fare.
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Product review: Denada ice cream
Denada ice cream is another healthier treat alternative for those following a low carbohydrate or keto diet. Some flavours are also vegan. Denada ice cream Denada ice cream comes in colourful 475ml tubs. They contain (mostly) natural ingredients and no added sugars. They are sweetened with xylitol and are low in carbohydrates and sugar and gluten-free. A couple of their flavours are also dairy-free and vegan. There are currently 8 flavours which you can find in Coles and other smaller supermarkets (such as IGA and Foodworks) and health food shops. Check Denada’s website at the bottom of this page for more information about stockists. Not sure if this is the…
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Recipe: Roasted zucchini hummus
Roasted zucchini hummus is another alternative recipe for those looking for a lower carb version than the traditional one made with chickpeas. It’s a great way to use up surplus zucchini. Similar to the cauliflower hummus I posted a while ago, this recipe is gluten-free, vegan, keto and low-carb. As a bonus, this roasted zucchini hummus is also low in FODMAPs. You can eat enjoy roasted zucchini hummus as a dip or as a proper meal with optional toppings (there’s a list of suggestions below). This recipe is lower in protein than the traditional chickpea-based version, so make sure you are eating some protein with it.
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Product review: Olina’s Simply Seed crackers
Olina’s Simply Seed crackers are a new addition to the line of gluten-free line of crackers under the Olina’s Bakehouse brand. These are a great snack for people following a gluten-free and/or low-carb diet. Olina’s Simply Seed crackers Each box contains a plastic tray wrapped in a non-resealable plastic bag. Each pack contains four 20g servings. The currently available flavours are Original, Cracked Pepper, Rosemary, and Herb & Garlic. Similar to Carman’s crackers, Olina’s Simply Seed crackers are gluten-free, vegan, low-carb and low in sugar. They have a good amount of dietary fibre. You can find these crackers at major supermarkets. They are a little more expensive than similar products…
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Product review: Carman’s Super Seed & Grain crackers
Carman’s Super Seed & Grain crackers have been a favourite healthy snack in my household for a while. Because they are gluten-free, vegan, low in FODMAPs and carbohydrates, they are a great alternative for a variety of people. Carman’s Super Seed & Grain crackers Each box contains a re-sealable plastic container with 21 crackers. The suggested serving size is 27g or 7 crackers. The currently available flavours are Rosemary & Sea Salt, Pepita & Poppy Seed, Seven Seeds & Cracked Pepper. As mentioned at the top, these crackers are gluten-free, vegan and low-carb. They are also certified low FODMAP by Monash University which means one serve of the crackers is…
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Product review: Bounce keto low carb bars
Bounce keto low carb bars are a snack alternative for health-conscious active individuals following a keto or low carb diet. Bounce This Australian company started out selling single serve packaged protein balls and now has a wider range of products targeted to active populations. Other product ranges include the aforementioned protein balls (whey and plant-based), brekkie bars and milkshake powders for kids. Bounce keto low carb bars These bars are gluten free, vegan, low in sugar, high in fibre and have some protein (but not a lot). They are also free of artificial flavours, sweeteners and other additives. The fat content comes from nuts and MCT oil (from coconut). Bounce…
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Product review: Macro rigatoni with hemp
Macro rigatoni with hemp is a version of this short tubular pasta made with rice and hemp flour, making it higher in protein and gluten-free. Macro rigatoni with hemp This is part of the pasta range made by Macro, Woolworths’ brand of organic products. The pasta is vegan and gluten-free and comes in 200g packages with 2 serves per pack. Rigatoni are small tubes larger in diameter but shorter in length than penne. They have ridges and straight edges. This type of pasta works well with chunky sauces as the bits and pieces can stick to the ridges and get into the tubes. It is also good for cheesy baked…
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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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Product review: Zero Food
Zero Food is an Australian company from Victoria that sells black and red rice-based pizza crust and toasties, in addition to black, red and brown rice. Zero Food Zero Food products include toasties (black rice and red rice protein, pizza crusts (black rice and red rice protein) and rice (black, red and brown). All Zero Food products are certified organic and GMO free. They are also vegan, gluten-free, low FODMAP, high in fibre, low in fat and salt and do not contain added sugars. As their name implies, the red rice protein toasties and pizza crusts are also high in plant-based protein. Red and black rice are great alternatives to…
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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.
