Roasted Cauliflower Guacamole tacos

Roasted-crunchy cauliflower is mouthwatering, it is sexy and playful.

The idea behind this dish is to mix a now-classic with an old-time favourite: Mexican tacos.

Adding mashed avocado, even guacamole, crunchy chickpeas, fresh cilantro and a dollop of fresh cream or even greek yoghurt ( unsweetened, of course), to the fantastic roasted cauliflower is an epic meal that you will love to make. It is exciting to make and to eat.

You can either cut the cauliflower in steaks and then break apart, or do it as I like it, cut the florets into tiny florets, so the beautiful rub enters all of the cauliflower.

I like making a rub with turmeric, ground cumin, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and a squeeze of lime juice, you can even add a drizzle of maple syrup to the mix to make it exciting.

Roast in the oven at 200ºC for 20-30 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Quinoa Bowl with Garlic Tahini Dressing

Nectarines are the heart and soul of this bowl .

 

To assemble the bowl, start by adding the quinoa. Add the rest of the ingredients and pour over your dressing.

DRESSING:

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour over your Quinoa Bowl and enjoy.

 

CREATIVE COOKING TIP:

Add fresh and seasonal fruits to your salads, they will uplift them. The acidity and sweetness of most fruits like nectarines, apples, and strawberries, go very well together with leafy greens and grains.

Spiced Tempura Vegetables

Crispy crunchy fried delights, making eating vegetables bright and fun.

In a heavy-bottomed pot, add about 2 inches of oil from the bottom of the pot. Heat the oil to 180 °C degrees.

Dry Ingredients:

In a mixing bowl, add the flour and half of the potato starch and mix thoroughly. Add the paprika and mix again
Set aside the other half of potato starch to coat your ingredients right before dipping it into the batter.

Wet Ingredients:

In another bowl, add the egg and mix in the cold water. You can add a bigger bowl underneath with water with ice cubes to keep the batter cold.
Mix together the flour mix and wet ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl, and beat lightly. There is no need to beat out any lumps.

Coat and fry Ingredients:

Coat the vegetables in a light layer of potato starch.
 Cover the vegetables thoroughly with the batter. Carefully lower the battered vegetables into the hot oil.
The vegetables cook fairly quickly so make sure to watch these carefully. Turn the vegetables every so often so they cook properly. Remove the cooked vegetables. The cooked batter should barely colour. Place them over paper towels on a cooling rack.

Make the mayonnaise: 

Remove the leaves from the parsley, finely chop them, then add them to a mixing bowl with the capers, then stir them into the parsley together with the mayonnaise and the juice of 1 lemon.
Accompany them with lemon juice, and some Maldon salt.

Ricotta, Tomato and Basil Toast

A very cheap,  and cheerful appetizer. Simple ingredients, fantastic flavour.

 

Toast the desired slices of bread.
Spread the Ricotta on the toast.

Slice the cherry tomatoes into 4 or 6 pieces, add them on top of the Ricotta, and sprinkle some basil leaves on top.

Season with Maldon salt and add a drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Finish your toast with a few drops of lemon juice on top.

 

Beet Hummus

Beet hummus – a dazzling appetizer that will please everyone.

Drain the cooked chickpeas and add them to a blender with the garlic cloves, lime juice,  olive oil, sesame seeds or tahini, salt, and the cooked beetroot.

Blend until everything is smooth. Add ice-cold water if needed. (it will make it smoother)

Super delicious hot dogs

A refreshing delicious take on the fast-food favourite.

 

Heat up a pan with a drizzle of oil. Fry the sausages until golden brown and crisp.

Finely chop the onion and tomato.

Grab 2  hot dog buns and add the cheese. Heat them in the microwave for 15 seconds. This will heat up the buns and melt the cheese.

Spread some mustard, chipotle, and mayonnaise on the bread. Add the sausages, and top with ketchup and the cilantro-less “pico de gallo.”

Enjoy

  • Other toppings might include cornichons and red onion.

Leek and potato Soup

Even in the freezing weather there is enough edible treasure around if you know where to look.

 

In a pot add water, the potatoes (chopped), leek (sliced), onion, and salt. Bring to boil and let simmer until cooked.

Add the ingredients to a blender, adding the broth bit by bit calculating the amount needed for the desired velvety texture. If it’s too thick add more water.

Add the black pepper, stir and enjoy.

 

Turn the soup into the main course, adding roasted vegetables or bits of meat.  You could add mushrooms, fried in butter till their edges turned gold, sausages, croutons, bit sof bacon…

Shrimp Tostadas

A classic Mexican dish. A fresh, vibrant and fabulous dish.

We use pre-cooked shrimp. Marinate them in a simple sauce made with lime juice, chopped cilantro and a pinch of salt. Blend it all together and throw in the shrimp, the red onions and the radishes.

Grab a tostada, spread some mayo. Add the shrimp, avocado, red onion on top and radishes on top.

You can add some drops of Valentina sauce or Salsa Verde on top.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Sweet Sour Sauce

Little gems of crunchiness with a delicious sauce on top.

 

Clean and cut in half the Brussel Sprouts.  Place them in an oven-safe pan and drizzle with olive oil and salt in a pre-heated oven at 200ºC

While the Brussel Sprouts are roasting make the sauce by mixing the coconut aminos, honey and lime together. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed.

Once the Brussel Sprouts are roasted ( around 25 minutes,) take them out of the oven and drizzle with the sauce on top.
You can add some Parmesan shavings on top.

Cheese Board

Valentine’s day is fast approaching, and cheese lovers will understand the importance of a good cheeseboard on this day.

I am adding 2 recipe ideas. One in the ingredients list and one below:

Grab 2 of your favourite cheeses. Ideally 1 soft and 1 strong. My choices are, most of the times, either brie or goats cheese; and manchego or cheddar.

Place 2 stalks of black grapes, because grapes and cheese pair very well together.
Buy a beautiful fig jam. Buy a good quality jam, it makes all the difference.
Choose your favourite nuts, either walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, etc. you could do a mix of some or simply choose one type.
Add some pretzels and toasted baguettes

Salad bowl

A lighter lunch,  with amazing ingredients that is super refreshing .

In a bowl place the greens of your choice, the grain of your choice, chickpeas and add the vegetables. Once done, drizzle with the dressing.

It is important to have all the ingredients previously cooked.

 

 

Veggie Spring Rolls

A meatless recipe that I have enjoyed at home lately and thought you might like it too.

 

To make the spring rolls, fill a bowl or pan big enough to fit the rice paper with warm water. Soak the rice paper in the water for about 30 seconds – until pliable but not soggy. Place the rice paper on a work surface, put a sixth of the filling onto the wrapper and roll up like a fat sausage. Wet the edges of the wrapper, press to seal. Repeat with other wrappers and the rest of the mixture

To serve, leave the rolls whole or cut them in half with a sharp knife. Sprinkle with sesame seeds (if using) and serve with the dipping sauce.