Tag Archives: ham

Rucola, Spinach, Asparagus Salad

Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , , , ,

Rucola, spinach, asparagus salad

The focus of our food philosophy is on prioritizing vegetables and fruit over other food groups, and making sure that we are feeding our bodies nutrient rich food. Living in the eternal heat that is Singapore has resulted in us eating a lot of salads, and having a salad for lunch is a great kick starter for the amount of vegetables that we are eating in a day.

This salad has become one of our favourites. Using both rucola and baby spinach leaves adds some interest to the lettuce base, while the beans or asparagus add a little more substance to the meal. The sesame seeds finish it off attractively, while also adding essential nutrients. You could also consider adding pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or pine nuts to the garnish, especially if you remove the parma ham to make it a vegetarian or vegan salad.

Ingredients

  • 150g rucola leaves
  • 150g baby spinach leaves
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • a few slices of parma ham (Prosciutto) (optional)
  • 75g green beans or small asparagus
  • coarse sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp black sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp white sesame seeds

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit)
  2. Lay the parma ham out on a sheet of baking paper on a baking tray. Cook in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until crispy
  3. Cook the beans or asparagus in a pot of boiling water that is lightly salted for 2-5 minutes until only just cooked. Remove from the pot and quickly wash under running water to cool them down and prevent further cooking.
  4. Wash the rucola and spinach leaves and place them in a salad bowl
  5. Spread the onion and beans or asparagus over the rucola and spinach
  6. Combine the sea salt, black pepper, olive oil and vinegar in a glass and stir well to combine. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad, and toss the leaves to coat them all.
  7. Stir the black and white sesame seeds together in a small glass or bowl to mix them up
  8. Spread the crispy parma ham over the salad, and top with a sprinkling of the sesame seeds to garnish.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Roadkill Ghost Choir – In Tongues

Rice Cakes with Avocado Spread, Parma Ham, and Eggs

Breakfast, Snacks, , , , , , , , , , ,

Rice crackers with guacamole, parma ham and boiled egg

When we stopped eating bread we had a gap to fill – those mid afternoon hunger moments, or a quick lunch or breakfast. This recipe has become one of our fall back ones. The avocado spread will keep in the fridge for a couple of days, so you can use it more than once.

Ingredients

Avocado spread

  • 2 Avocados, peeled and seed removed. Roughly chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • handful fresh coriander
  • 1 large green chilli, stalk and seeds removed
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • a couple of turns of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
  • sumac

Directions

  1. Put all the “avocado spread” ingredients except the sumac in the blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. Add to a bowl and sprinkle over the sumac.
  3. Cook the eggs in boiling water for 6 minutes until softly boiled, but no longer runny.  (You can choose to cook a little longer or shorter according to your personal preference).
  4. Spread a generous amount of the avocado spread over the rice crackers.
  5. Top with a slice of parma ham.
  6. Peel the eggs and slice into 5mm slices. Place 1 egg on each of the rice crackers.
  7. Serve with some freshly ground pepper, and a little sprinkle of sea salt.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: French for Rabbits – Spirits

 

Sweet Potato Rosti with Fried Egg and Avocado

Breakfast, Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sweet potato hash with fried egg, avocado and parmaham

This sweet potato (kumara) rosti has become a firm favorite in our home as a light meal for either lunch or breakfast. It is substantial enough to be filling, but easy enough to make that it has become one of our “tried and true” fall back recipes when we don’t really feel like deciding what to cook. Let’s face it, we all have those moment sometimes.

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes peeled and grated
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp pimenton / smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • ghee to cook
  • 4 eggs
  • slices of parma ham or bacon
  • fresh mint, chopped
  • 3 spring onions, chopped
  • few fresh thyme sprigs
  • olive oil or avocado oil to garnish
  • 1 fresh avocado, sliced, chopped in chunks
  • rocket leaves
  • A pan that can also be put into the oven to grill

Directions

  1. Heat the grill to 220 degrees celsius (circo-roast on our oven – uses top and bottom element)
  2. Place the grated sweet potato in a tea towel and wring strongly to remove the excess water.
  3. Combine the sweet potato, onions, garlic, paprika, dried herbs, salt and pepper in a bowl and stir to combine. Add two of the eggs and stir to combine.
  4. Cook the parma ham in the oven at 200C for 10 minutes until crispy.
  5. Add a little ghee in a pan and add enough of the sweet potato mixture to the pan to cover the bottom. Press down the rosti to form a cake with the back of a spoon. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the edges start to appear golden.
  6. Place the pan in the oven under the grill and cook for around 8 minutes until the top becomes crispy
  7. In the meantime fry an egg
  8. When the sweet potato is ready transfer to a plate. Place an egg on top, sprinkle with fresh herbs, spring onion, avocado, and the parma ham. Sprinkle with a little olive or avocado oil.
  9. Serve with a sprinkle of extra salt and pepper and some rocket leaves.

About Sweet Potatoes:
The sweet potato is an edible tuberous root that is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown, purple, and beige. It is only distantly related to the potato and does not belong to the nightshade family. Its flesh ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple. Sweet potato varieties with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red, pink or orange flesh.

The origin and domestication of sweet potato is thought to be in either Central America or South America. In Central America, sweet potatoes were domesticated at least 5,000 years ago. In South America, Peruvian sweet potato remnants dating as far back as 8000 BC have been found. In New Zealand the sweet potato is known by the Maori name of Kumara, while in parts of North America it is referred to as “yams” although Sweet potatoes are botanically quite distinct from yams.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Marissa Nadler – July

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Kale Chips with Parma Ham, Cumin and Sea Salt

Snacks, , , , ,

Kale chips with parmaham, cumin and sea salt-2

Kale is a superfood, but one I always found a little “super freaky”. It was something that health nuts ate, until we experimented with it, and made these chips. Now we even have our son snacking on kale chips.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven on 170 degrees Celsius.
  2. Cut the stalks from the kale leaves and tear the leaves into bite size pieces.
  3. Place half the the leaves on a baking try.
  4. Sprinkle with half the cumin, some sea salt and half the parma ham.
  5. Before you put the kale into the oven, sprinkle with a splash of coconut oil.
  6. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, turning the leaves every so often to bake them evenly.
  7. When the first batch is done, transfer into a large bowl and bake the second batch.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: William Fitzsimmons – Gold in the shadow