Sweet & Spicy Broccoli Soup

The perfect balance of sweet and spicy; a flavourful and warming soup.

Ingredients:

• 375g broccoli, roughly chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 650ml vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp chilli flakes

Method:

1. On medium heat, start by frying the garlic in the sesame oil for a couple of minutes.
2. Add the chilli flakes and fry for another minute.
3. Add the broccoli and the soy sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes.
4. Pour in the vegetable stock, mix well, cover and leave to cook for 20 minutes.
5. Using a hand blender blitz the soup until smooth.
6. Drizzle in the golden syrup, mix and serve.

Enjoy ☺️

Curried Black Rice & Lentils

I love mixing things up in the kitchen and getting all experimental. It’s the best form of cooking and just makes the ‘eating’ part even more enjoyable when the recipe works to perfection. I haven’t used much black rice in my recipes before so I thoroughly enjoyed incorporating this delicious ingredient, I hope you all enjoy it too!

Ingredients:

• 100g red split lentils
• 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 1 medium sized shallot, roughly chopped
• 1 can (400g) coconut milk
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 100g black rice
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 300ml vegetable stock
• 1/2 tsp medium curry powder
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp lime juice

Method:

1. Start by frying the garlic and shallot together in the oil until translucent.
2. Add the tomato purée and fry for a minute.
3. Sprinkle over all of the seasonings and add the lentils and keep frying for 2-3 minutes.
4. Then add the rice and pour in the coconut milk and vegetable stock; mix thoroughly.
5. Cover and drop the heat to medium low and cook for 35-40 minutes or until the rice is cooked through. Be aware to stir occasionally as the lentils will stick to the pan.
6. Just before serving drizzle over the lime juice and mix.

Enjoy!

Mini Banana & Pecan Tartlets

I’d be lying if I said that I had a sweet tooth. I’m definitely more of a savoury flavour kinda gal. Having said that, when I fancy something sweet I devour it and satisfy those delicious cravings. With this particular recipe, as they are mini they are like little treats if you just need a quick sugar fix and they take hardly any time to bake; I know right, winning recipe right here! To make my tartlets I used the rim of one of my mugs, I know, we have to work with what we’ve got but trust me it worked just as well as using a cookie cutter. Depending on the size of your cutter of choice you may need to bake your tartlets either slightly less or more than I have suggested, keep a cheeky eye on the oven so that they don’t under or over bake.

Makes 6 tartlets

Ingredients:

• 1/2 sheet ready rolled puff pastry
• 1 banana
• 1 handful pecans
• 1/2 tsp golden syrup
• Granulated sugar
• Milk

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
2. Using your cutter, cut out your tartlets, remove any off cuts and place on a baking tray. (Use the baking paper the pastry comes packed in.)
3. In a bowl, mush the banana using the back of a fork, crush the pecans into small pieces. Combine in the same bowl along with the golden syrup.
4. Scoop out (approximately) a teaspoon worth of the mixture and place into the centre of the pastry leaving a small border. Repeat on all pieces of pastry.
5. Take a little milk and brush the borders of the pastry gently. Finally, sprinkle a little granulated sugar on top of the milk.
6. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the borders have risen and are golden.

Best served warm with a cup of tea.

Tomato and Pea Stew

Happy New Year Friends!! A new year has begun and we can start afresh.

Starting off with Veganuary, a simple and quick tomato and pea stew, full of flavour and simple to make.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 3 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 1 can peeled plum tomatoes
• 1 cup peas
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• Black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Method:

1. On medium heat, fry the shallot and garlic together in the olive oil until soft and lightly browned.
2. Add the tomatoes and use the back of a tablespoon to gently break up the tomatoes and release its juices.
3. When it starts to boil, add the stock and the seasonings; continuously stir until the stock has fully dissolved.
4. As the mixture boils add the peas and stir thoroughly. Leave to cook for 5-10 minutes.

Best served hot and with a portion of rice.

Prawn Curry

Okay, I can’t even begin to tell you how damn delicious this curry is, it’s just pure, next level yumminess. Do excuse me while I just grab another serving…

What can I say, it looks good, it tastes good, what more could you want? I love the colours, it looks so vibrant and just so delicious. So simple and easy to make, the cooking time is short so you’ll have your meal ready in no time. I love the lime juice as it adds an extra ‘oomph’ and zestiness to the silky sauce and balances the sweetness of the coconut beautifully.

Serves 3

Ingredients:

• 165g raw king prawns
• 3 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 inch piece of ginger, grated
• 3 tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium shallot, finely chopped
• 1 can (400ml) coconut milk
• 1 lime
• 1/2 tsp medium curry powder
• 1 small red chilli, sliced into thin rings (seeds included)
• Salt
• Pepper

Method:

1. In a pan, fry the shallot, garlic and ginger in the olive oil until soft and lightly browned.
2. Season with salt and pepper, then add the fresh chilli and tomatoes and fry for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the curry powder and pour in the coconut milk and give it a good stir.
4. Leave to simmer on medium heat for 10-12 minutes; stirring occasionally.
5. Taste and season with salt if necessary. Then squeeze the juice of half a time and simmer for a further 2 minutes.
6. Add the prawns and cook for 4-5 minutes or until pink and cooked through.

Best served hot and with rice.

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

A tasty pick me up; rich in flavour and spiced with goodness; a carnival favourite for everyone. Enjoy them as a starter or side dish, and accompany with the dips from my previous post https://isaporidelmondo.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/plantain-chips-and-dips/

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into fries
• Olive Oil
• Maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt
• Pepper

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 7.
2. Once you have chopped the sweet potato, give it a rinse and pat down with paper towels, when dry put into a bowl.
3. Season the fries with the cayenne, paprika and season with salt and pepper; mix thoroughly with your hands.
4. Transfer the fries onto a baking tray, spacing them out evenly.
5. Drizzle on a little olive oil and maple syrup. Just as a little side note, the more drizzle the more likely the fries will soften, so if you fancy a crispier crunch apply sparingly.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes (rotate occasionally) or until crispy.

Best served hot

Black Bean and Tomato Salad

Given the considerably warm weather we have been having, this recipe is exactly what you need. Fantastic to have just as a light lunch if you’re not up to cooking (I don’t blame you!) The juice from the fresh tomatoes really brings this dish to life, lots of flavours, really light and takes little time to prepare.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 can (400g) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 finely chopped fresh tomatoes
• Lime
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• A small handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• Salt
• Pepper

Method:

1. Firstly, start by making the marinade for the salad. In a bowl, put the juice of half a lime, the paprika, cumin, oil, season with salt and pepper and give it a mix.
2. In a separate bowl had all the remaining prepped ingredients.
3. Drizzle on the marinade and give it a good mix. Taste and season again with salt and pepper if needed.

Enjoy 🙂

Lemon and Herb Chicken

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1 lemon
• 2 sprigs of thyme
• 3 sage leaves
• 2 cloves of chopped garlic
• 1tsp garlic granules
• 1tsp dried oregano
• Salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 100ml white wine
• 1tbsp plain flour
• 2tbsp olive oil
• 1tsp butter

Method

1. In a bowl put the chicken, grate the zest of the lemon, oregano, garlic granules, pepper, a sprinkling of salt and mix. Then add a heaped tablespoon of plain flour and mix again. Cover with cling film and leave to marinate for at least 20 minutes.
2. Pour the olive oil into a frying pan and fry the chicken on medium heat for 5-10 minutes, flipping occasionally until the meat has browned.
3. Remove the chicken from the pan.
4. Add the fresh garlic, sage, thyme, butter, wine and the juice of half a lemon and leave to cook for 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat.
5. Put the chicken back in the pan and cover. Simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Flip the chicken every now and then and add a splash of water if the sauce looks too dry.

Best served hot and with some roast potatoes and salad.

 

Quick and Easy Sausage Pasta