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Recipe Blog

LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE BE THY FOOD

My wish for you is to Live Better, Strive Harder, Be Bolder, Dream Bigger, Climb Higher and Seek Greater.
My vision is to help people create food that is delicious, easy to make and high in nutrition,
so that food once more becomes a vehicle to fuel your body, mind and soul.

Rose Almond Delight (Gluten Free, Vegan)

By , June 19, 2021

‘The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives a rose”

This is another beautiful recipe from Divya Alters book, ‘how to eat for how you feel’. It is full of fragrant and calming rose and cardamom and grounding agar and almond. It is meant to serve as a cooling dessert in the summer and early fall. 

Rose water has been used for centuries to promote radiance and youth from the inside and outside. It can be a mood lifter when you are feeling depressed or tired and used topically to hydrate and tone skin.

Agar is a seaweed used as a vegan gelatine substitute and is rich in minerals and soothing to the stomach. 

The almonds will keep you satiated and nourished, and the cardamom will settle your nervous system.

Even Mr B, who doesn’t like cardamom or rose, liked this refreshing take on dessert. He noted it as an Ayurvedic panna cotta. 

Ingredients

Serving: 8-10 pieces

  • 3 tbsp. agar agar flakes
  • ¾ cup raw almonds, soaked overnight, rinsed, drained 
  • ¾ cup raw cane sugar (optional)
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom powder
  • 2 tbsp. rose water (food grade)
  • 1 tsp. dried rose petals (for decoration)

Method

  • In a small pot, soak the agar flakes in 1 cup of filtered water for 20 minutes
  • In the meantime, place the almonds in a heatproof bowl and cover them with 1.5 cups of hot water for 10 seconds, drain immediately and rinse. Meditate while taking the skins off, the ‘jackets’ should come off quite easily
  • Place the peeled almonds in a blender with 1.25 cups of filtered water and blend till smooth
  • Bring the soaked agar flakes to a boil, stir constantly for 5-7 minutes until the flakes have dissolved completely and turned into a gelatinous liquid. Add the sugar, if using and stir to dissolve. Turn off the heat and set aside for a minute
  • Add the blended almonds, cardamom and rose water to the hot agar-sugar mixture and mix well
  • Pour out into individual ramekins or an 8-inch dish (1-inch high). Refrigerate for at least an hour
  • Cut into 2-inch pieces to serve and top with rose petals 

*Notes: I halved the sugar from the original recipe. My grandma also made a version of this with no sugar and pistachios instead of almonds

Buckwheat Cake (Gluten Free, Vegan)

By , June 12, 2021

‘Ayurveda does not preach some staid chastity or morality of abstinence that prevents you from, enjoying this world and it’s pleasures while you are journeying through it. Ayurveda actually validates it by recognizing it as a rooted instinct that needs expression – a healthy one’ 

For the last month, I have been interning as a Chef at New York’s premier Ayurvedic restaurant. The restaurant serves flavourful Globally inspired food, using ingredients to enhance its taste and healing aspects. As a member of the team, I also received a copy of the Chef/Owner, Divya Alter’s book, ‘what to eat for how you feel’, which has some amazing recipes in it, including this one, which I have adapted slightly.

This cake is gluten free, dairy free and tastes like deep dark chocolate without there being a drop of cocoa. It is made of buckwheat flour, a highly nutritious pseudo grain that many consider to be a superfood. It is a good source of fibre, protein and energy. It also has a good amount of calcium, magnesium, iron and vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, folate, vitamin K and B-6. It is a complex carbohydrate, has a low GI and keeps you fuller for longer.

From an Ayurvedic perspective buckwheat is astringent, pungent, sweet, heating and slightly heavy. It is used in the treatment of diabetes, excess weight, heart disease, dull Agni and Kapha mucous conditions. In macrobiotic terms it, ‘activates yang reserves’ supporting your bodies sustainable energy from deep within.  

Mr. B loved it and ate it for breakfast, thinking it was a chocolate cake 🙂

Ingredients

Serving: 6-8 pieces

  • 1 cup/130g buckwheat flour
  • ½ cup coconut sugar
  • 2 tbsp. arrowroot flour
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon powder
  • ½ tsp. cardamom powder
  • ¼ tsp. baking soda
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • ½ cup chopped dates
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • Handful of slivered almonds (for decoration)

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 375F and grease a 9-inch cake tin with coconut oil
  • In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients from the buckwheat flour to the baking soda
  • In a food processor, combine the coconut oil, dates and applesauce and process to a puree, then add the almond milk and pulse to mix
  • Add the wet mixture to the dry and stir to combine
  • Spread the batter into the cake tin, smoothing out the top with the back of a spoon
  • Sprinkle on the slivered almonds
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle
  • Let the cake cool down, before taking it out of the pan

Sesame, ginger glazed tempeh (Gluten Free, Vegan)

By , June 5, 2021

‘The belly rules the mind’

This is a great week-day dish, made in less than 15 minutes. It’s also a good way to get veggies onto your family plate or use up leftover veggies in the fridge.

The tempeh supplies 50g of protein in just those 8oz, with extra protein coming from the edamame too. This protein powerhouse also brings 15% of your daily iron needs, 9g of fibre and probiotics. If you like the minimise your soy intake, you can also get tempeh made of wonderful wholegrains like brown rice, chickpeas, millet. 

Mr B loves tempeh and it is keeps him full. It’s a great variation to tofu, given it is a whole food and has the added benefit from the fibre it provides, making it low GI and keeping you fuller for longer.

Ingredients

Serving: 3-4 portions

  • 8oz tempeh, cubed
  • 2 inches ginger, grated
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp. sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp. rice vinegar
  • 4 tbsp. tamari or coconut aminos
  • 3 tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp. cornstarch or kudzu
  • 1 tbsp. peanut butter
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 2 cups green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup edamame

Method

  • Blend the garlic, ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, tamari, maple syrup, cornstarch, peanut butter together until a smooth sauce is formed. Set to the side.
  • Heat a large pan with 2 tbsp. olive oil. Cook the tempeh, flipping so it browns on all sides. C. 5 minutes.
  • Add 2 tbsp. of the prepared sauce and toss to glaze. Remove from the pan.
  • Add the remaining spoon on olive oil and cook the green beans and edamame. You can add any other veggies you like. Cook until starting to become tender, c. 5 minutes.
  • Add the rest of the sauce and the tempeh back to the pan. Cook until well combined.
  • Serve with rice, noodles or quinoa.

High Protein, Lentil Omelette (Gluten Free, Vegan)

By , May 29, 2021

Photo taken from Instagram video

‘What nicer thing can you do for someone than make them breakfast?’

This is a high protein, low fat, high fibre, nutrient dense breakfast. 

You can vary the filling and spices, just like an egg omelette and serve it with sides. The turmeric not only provides antioxidants but also the colour of an omelette and if you choose to add the black salt, you’ll get the eggy taste and smell too (as well as extra vitamins and minerals.

It’s a great dish for on the go and is easy to batch and freeze for later days. Mr B likes it for brunch, and it keeps him full all day.

If you like this recipe, check out my mung frittata recipe also.

Ingredients

Serving: 2 large omelettes

  • ½ cup Chana lentils, soaked overnight
  • ½ cup yellow mung lentils, soaked overnight
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ tsp. turmeric
  • ½ tsp. ground cumin
  • ½ tsp. ground coriander
  • ¼ tsp. Asafoetida/Hing powder
  • 1 tsp. salt (or black salt if you want eggy flavor)
  • 3 cups shredded vegetables of your choice
  • 1 tbsp. fresh cilantro
  • 1 tbsp. fresh mint
  • Coconut oil for cooking

Method

  • Drain and wash the soaked lentils and place them in a blender. Cover with water, c. 1-inch above the lentils and blend for a minute or until smooth
  • Add the spices and pulse
  • Pour into a bowl and add the veggies and herbs
  • Heat coconut oil on a medium flame in a non-stick pan
  • Pour half the batter in and smooth down with a spatula
  • Cover for a minute with the lid on, remove lid and cook further until the edges are crispy and the middle is starting to set, flip pancake and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, till cooked through
  • You can eat this straight out of the pan, or keep warm/further cook in the oven

Cardamom and Golden Raisin Scones (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

By , May 23, 2021

‘The smell and taste of things remain poised a long time, like souls, ready to remind us…’

I am immediately comforted by anything that has the fragrance of cardamom. 

This is not surprising, as Cardamom has a sweet and soothing aroma. It is a natural calmative, helping to settle the nervous system, as well as a powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial. It is no surprise then, that I use cardamom in as many recipes as I can.

I adapted this recipe from the Noglu cookbook. Noglu is the best gluten free café I have found, with branches in Paris, Tokyo and New York. I wanted to learn how to make gluten free baked goods, which don’t taste to different to their gluten-based counterparts. To do this, it seems it is best to adapt the gluten free flour mix to what you are trying to achieve. From the patisseries I have tasted, Noglu seems to have mastered this and so this is where I started. 

The result is a light scone, with a crispy exterior and light interior. 

I added a little everything bagel spice to some for Mr B, who ate these from breakfast and as an afternoon snack. 

Ingredients

Serving: 10-12

  • 230g rice flour
  • 175g cornstarch 
  • 75g almond meal
  • 3 tbsp. guar gum
  • 2 tbsp. baking powder
  • 100g organic cane sugar
  • 1 tbsp. cardamom powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 150g vegan butter, cut into small cubes
  • 100g golden raisins
  • 3 eggs, 2 for mix, 1 for glaze
  • 250ml almond creamer

Method

  • Mix all the dry ingredients together. Make sure they are combined well.
  • Add the butter and mix into the dry ingredient mix till it resembles breadcrumbs.
  • Add the raisins to the mixture and stir.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk 2 eggs and the creamer. Gently combine this into the dry mixture. It should come together like a soft dough. Do not overwork the dough. If it is too dry add a little more creamer and if too wet, add a little more rice flour.
  • Turn out the dough onto a floured surface, cut out scones using a cookie cutter.
  • Place on a lined baking tray. Brush the tops of the scones with the 3rdbeaten egg. 
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top and bottom.
  • Cool on a cooling rack. Eat on its own or serve with vegan butter and chia jam.  

Basil Seed and Mango Pudding (GF, Vegan)

By , May 15, 2021

‘A healthy outside, starts from a healthy inside’

Basil seeds have been used for thousands of years, with this king of super foods having been revered for its health promoting properties. Most people know about Chia but haven’t heard of basil seeds. They are more widely used in India, China, Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine in which they are believed to be an adaptogen that cleanses the body of toxins and boosts energy and clarity of mind. 

Basil Seeds can be likened to Chia Seeds but have slightly different health properties. Basil seeds are twice as high in fibre (8g per tablespoon), potassium, calcium, iron and have less fat. Chia seeds have fewer carbs, but with more fibre per serving, basil seeds actually have lower net carbs. They are an anti-inflammatory and prebiotic and can help repopulate your microbiome. 

I like the brand Zen Basil. It is a woman owned company based in California and started by Shakira Niazi, originally a refugee from Afghanistan. 3% of net sales goes to support safe water projects. 

Ingredients

Serving: 1-2

  • 3 tbsp. Basil Seeds
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • ¼ tbsp. maple syrup
  • ½ tsp. vanilla extract
  •  ½ cup pureed alphonso mango

Method

  • Mix the basil seeds with the almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Leave to set in the fridge 
  • Top with pureed mango or choice of other toppings
  • Will last in the fridge for up to a week. Can be eaten for breakfast, as a snack or for dessert.

Cashew Coconut Laddus (Gluten Free, Vegan)

By , May 8, 2021

‘There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hours dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea’

This is a great snack that will keep you full from teatime till supper time, as it’s high in fibre, protein and releases energy slowly. It is also nutrient dense, with copper, potassium and magnesium from the cashews and medium chain triglycerides from the coconut. 

I adapted the recipe from an energy ball recipe from nutrition stripped, switching in rice syrup instead of maple syrup to lower the glycaemic index and adding cardamom to add another element of natural sweetness. With the adaptions, this tastes a little like an Indian Ladoo. A sweet Indian mithai, used for celebrations and festivals. 

This recipe is good for Pitta and Kapha, as it is cooling and grounding. It is good for Kapha due to the high protein and fibre but not in excess, as I had to explain to Mr B, who tried to eat them like they were M&M’s, a few at a time. 

Ingredients

Serving: 12 pieces

  • 1 cup cashews
  • 10 dates, soaked in hot water
  • 2 Tbsp. nut butter
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. cardamom 
  • 2 Tbsp. rice syrup
  • 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut 
  • 1 tsp. melted coconut oil

Method

  • Place the cashews in a blender and pulse till crumbed
  • Soak and the dates to soften and drain the water
  • Add all ingredients to a blender and combine
  • Roll into small balls, a tablespoons worth each and place in the freezer to firm up for 5-10 minutes
  • Can be stored in the fridge or frozen for later use 

Tuscan Pasta Sauce (Gluten Free, Vegan)

By , May 2, 2021

‘La cucina piccolo fal la casa grande (A small kitchen makes the house big)’

This recipe is a wonderfully simple, vegetable forward pasta sauce. It was featured in Stanley Tucci’s new CNN series, searching for Italy, where he calls it, Penne alla Salsa Maria, after the neighbour who taught his mum the recipe.

The recipe starts with a classic Italian soffritto (similar to the French mirepoix), a combination of equal portions celery, onion and carrots. This allows you to add flavour and sneak extra veggies into your pasta sauce, which is a win-win in my book. I add in copious amounts of immune boosting garlic, but you can adjust to your taste. Adding in a tomato passata or pasta sauce next to save time, or if you are in the height of tomato season, pureeing freshly picked tomatoes. Finish with fresh basil and red pepper flakes, if like Mr B, you like a little kick. 

Ingredients

Serving: 2-4

  • 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • 2 sticks celery, small dice
  • 2 carrots, small dice
  • 1 onion, small dice
  • 6 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • Jar of passata/pasta sauce or 8 plum tomatoes, pureed
  • ½-1 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 10-12 basil leaves, roughly torn
  • Vegan/vegetarian parmesan (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method

  • Heat the oil over a low flame and add the onions, carrot and celery with salt. Sweat until the vegetables are soft. 
  • Add the garlic for 30 seconds and mix well to combine
  • Add the tomatoes and let mixture cook down for 5-10 minutes
  • Season to taste and serve with fresh basil on GF Pasta

Cardamom Almond Cake (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)

By , April 24, 2021

‘Love is…serving someone else your last piece of cake’

Today you get two recipes for one, cardamom cake and blueberry, hemp smoothie. Both naturally high in protein and both great for breakfast. 

The cake is vegetarian as it has eggs in it, but you can replace the eggs with apple sauce or flax eggs to make it vegan. The cake is dense due to the flours being used a little like a pound cake. 

I like using Cardamom as a nerve tonic and think it serves well in desserts to counteract the stimulation from the sugar. Mr B is a chilled soul and so doesn’t need or have an affinity for cardamom. However, it was subtle enough in this dish for him to have his cake and eat it. 

Cardamom and almonds are grounding and so great for Vata, the sweetness is good for Pitta. 

Ingredients

Serving: 1, 9-inch loaf

  • 1 cup almond meal
  • 1 cup brown rice flour
  • 2 tsp. cardamom
  • 1 tsp. GF baking powder
  • ½ tsp. GF baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 3 tbsp. almond milk
  • ½ cup almond yogurt
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp. oil

Method

  • Preheat an oven to 350F and lightly grease the loaf pan (I used coconut oil)
  • Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl
  • Add all the wet ingredients into a blender and blend for 30 seconds
  • Mix to combine
  • Pour into the pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
  • Allow to cool before removing from the pan

Blueberry, hemp smoothie (Vegan)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 5 basil leaves (optional)
  • 1 tbsp. almond butter
  • 2 tbsp. bee pollen
  • 2 tbsp. hemp hearts
  • 1 handful spinach
  • Water or unsweetened almond milk, as needed

Method

  • Put all the ingredients in a blend them until smooth and creamy

Orange Almond Cake (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)

By , April 18, 2021

‘To improve your zest for life, fill it with vitamin C’s – Courage, Cheerfulness, Confidence, Creativity’

This recipe is from Claudia Roden as featured in her book, ‘Middle Eastern Recipes’ in 1968. Roden explains that it was popular among Sephardic Jews who brought it to the Middle East in the 15thcentury. The cake has since become a classic in cuisines from Spain to Iran.

Whilst the recipe looks like it takes time to make, it is actually very hands off. You need to boil the oranges for an hour, and then blend everything together. Boiling the oranges rather than using the zest or raw juice, gives a far superior flavour and makes for a sweet aroma.  

The cake is flour free and so gluten free if you use gluten free baking powder. It’s high in protein, vitamins and minerals, due to the egg and almonds. 

After reading a lot of comments on the various versions of this recipe, it looks like you can substitute the sugar if you’d prefer. Maple syrup, honey and sucanat seemed to have been used with success. 

Whilst Mr B has a sweet tooth, even he agreed I could take down the sugar content to make it more like a typical genoise and a good on the go breakfast treat. 

Ingredients

Serving: 1, 9-inch cake

  • 2 organic oranges
  • 6 organic, free range eggs
  • 250g blanched almonds, ground
  • 250g organic cane sugar
  • 1 tsp GF baking powder
  • ½ tsp coconut oil

Method

  • Boil the oranges, covered for an hour or until they are soft inside
  • Drain and once cooled, remove skin and seeds and blend till smooth
  • Preheat an oven to 190C/370F. Oil and flour a baking tin with GF flour, this will help the cake come out clean at the end
  • Add the eggs to a bowl and whisk. Add the ground almonds, sugar, baking powder, blended oranges and mix well to combine
  • Place in an oven for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean*

*This recipe produces a moist cake with as the author notes, a texture in-between a cake and a pudding. If you want to firm it up, cook a little longer. The more you cook it, the more it will caramelize and brown due to the orange, so that is your trade off.