So simple but so good! Mashed sweet potato is enlivened with the warming notes of ginger and cumin, doused with tangy lemon juice and dotted with bursts of green peas. A wonderful side dish for Indian inspired meals….
Protein-Packed Dosa
Hands up if you love dosa! These Indian crepes/pancakes are wonderfully savoury & light, and while I struggle to achieve the same epic thin crispiness as the South Indian street vendors, my smaller version is protein-rich, tangy & oh-so versatile….
Turlu Turlu – Epic Turkish Roast Veges
Turlu turlu is a traditional Turkish dish, similar to ratatouille but spiked with warming cinnamon & smoked paprika. I know that roasting vegetables in the heat of summer can seem crazy, but believe me, this luscious medley is worth it. Fresh summer produce is coated with olive oil, dusted with spices & roasted until soft, meeting a tantalising mixture of salty olives, tomatoes & beans at the end of cooking. The result is a satisfyingly savoury symphony of flavour & texture….
Miso Sesame Aubergine
It’s mid-summer here in New Zealand & I’ve been having a wild affair with aubergines. Such a versatile vegetable! (er, fruit, actually…) This dish highlights the softness & texture of the mighty eggplant, plus its ability to absorb flavour: hearty chunks are fried until tender, then liberally anointed with a salty umami miso-based sauce….
Salty Garlicky Pepper Boats
I love cooked capsicum but I’m not so fond of them raw. I love how grilling or baking them intensifies the natural sweetness & transports the texture to velvety smooth. These mouthfuls are deliciously oily & salty, such a lovely colourful savoury platter to share….
Soft Springy Little Tortillas
Tortillas are traditionally made with wheat or corn, but this recipe uses a soft, structurally cohesive combination of kumara/sweet potato and tapioca. The starchiness of both ingredients results in a slightly chewy, springy, flexible little wrap, that holds together beautifully when encasing fillings. They’re light & lovely to eat….
Chunky Chickpea Curry
Quick to assemble, this is a deliciously chunky & nourishing one-pot-wonder. It’s also a fairly flexible recipe – if you’ve run out of chickpeas, try another tinned bean (in the photo, I’ve used chickpeas & organic adzukis) Once, I swapped the carrot for some cooked broccoli, since that was what needed eating in the fridge, and it was lovely. If you’ve got cooked veges ready to go, this curry can be whipped up pretty quickly….
Lentil Olive ‘Bolognese’
Chunky, nourishing & packed with vegetables! Load up your favourite pasta with this savoury, satisfying, protein-rich, meat-free ‘sauce’. Traditionally, a bolognese is simmered for a long time, but by using tinned lentils, we can speed up the cooking time while retaining a hearty flavour profile….
Winter Sauerkraut Slaw
This is a stupidly simple raw salad, where sauerkraut shines as the star of the plate. Juicy & tangy, the ‘kraut acts as the salad dressing too, giving frisk & freshness to the raw finely chopped vegetables. Good for your gut & happy on your palate, this side salad can easily be doubled for a crowd….
Ginger Miso Rice with Tofu Steaks
Absolute comfort food. Inspired by a Peter Chaplin brown rice recipe, I’ve been making this hearty, nourishing dish for over 15 years – and I never tire of it. If your rice is pre-cooked, it’s pretty quick to make. The tofu is juicy & delicious, with a teriyaki-style finish….