Tag Archives: meal

Healthy Veggie Omelette

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

Healthy Veggie OmeletteI normally think of an Omelette as something for  breakfast, but with the addition of more vegetables it can also be a great light meal or lunch. While this variation uses zucchini and spinach, you can pretty much use any vegetables you like to use up what you have left over in your fridge.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 100ml coconut milk
  • 1 red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • handful of mushrooms, chopped
  • handful of cherry tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 carrot, finely chopped
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 Tbsp dried Italian herbs (thyme, oregano, mix)
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • large pinch of ground paprika
  • 150gr baby spinach
  • handful of cashew nuts, roasted and chopped
  • large pinch of dried chilli flakes
  • coconut oil to cook
  • Pan that can be placed in the oven (no plastic handle)

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit)
  2. Beat the eggs and coconut milk together in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Add all of the chopped vegetables (mushrooms, tomatoes and carrot) to the pan, and fry on a medium heat for a couple of minutes until softened.
  4. Add salt and pepper, Italian herbs, oregano and paprika and stir well.
  5. Add the spinach and toss until slightly wilted.
  6. Sprinkle over the cashew nuts
  7. Add the egg mixture and sprinkle the chilli powder over the top. Fry until it starts to set.
  8. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 5-10 minutes until the egg is set through. You can check by inserting a fork into the Omelette, it should come out clean when it is cooked through.
  9. Serve with a simple lettuce salad.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Hozier – Take me to Church

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

Prawns in Chilli Garlic Oil

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

Prawns in chilli garlic oil

Sometimes you really don’t feel like cooking, but that doesn’t mean that you want to eat boring. Or at least we don’t. We had a bag of frozen prawns in the freezer, enough in the fridge to make a salad, and sweet potatoes. 

The garlic, chilli oil that the prawns are cooked in takes a fragrance from the chilli and garlic, but does not become spicy. Using large sized chillies also makes sure that it is not hot from the chilli either. 

Ingredients

  • 20-25 large prawns, shelled, de-veined, but with tails still on
  • 3 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 large red chillies, cut into small rounds
  • 5 large garlic cloves, peeled but left whole
  • large handful of fresh coriander, chopped
  • pinch of sea salt
  • a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in the frying pan over a moderate heat. Add the garlic and fry until they start to brown
  2. Add the chilli and fry for a couple of minutes more.
  3. Scoop out the garlic and discard it. Add the prawns to the pan.
  4. Season with a pinch of sea salt and a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper.
  5. Fry the prawns until they have changed colour from grey to red, and have started to gain a golden colour.
  6. Add the coriander to the pan and stir quickly before removing the pan from the oven.
  7. Transfer to a bowl and serve.
  8. Makes a good meat dish alongside a meal salad and sweet potato chips

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Neil Young, Promise of the Real – A Rock Star Bucks a Coffee Shop

Chicken Shawarma Lettuce Wraps

Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , ,

chicken shawarma lettuce wraps

This is a meal designed to be shared, and constructed at the table. It is messy, it is fun, and it is delicious and nutritious. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion, sliced
  • 1 tsp za’atar
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into strips approximately 4cm by 1cm
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tsp Lebanese seven spices powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp chilli flakes

Parsnip and Red Carrot Hummus

  • 1 large parsnip, boiled until soft
  • 5 purple carrots
  • 2 spring onions
  • 1 Tbsp tahini
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 2 tsp cumin powder
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • olive oil

To serve

  • large, firm lettuce leaves (such as romaine lettuce)
  • handful of pomegranate seeds
  • handful of pine nuts (dry toasted)

Directions

  1. For the chicken – Fry onions until soft in a little coconut oil over a moderate temperature. Add za’atar and fry for 1 minute more. Add chicken strips and cook until done. Remove from the oven and put aside. Place into a bowl to serve.
  2. For the hummus – put all of the ingredients into a blender including 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Blend until you have a smooth consistency. You may need to add some more olive oil to get to a thick, but spreadable consistency (about the same consistency as smooth peanut butter). Remove from the blender and place in a bowl to serve. Sprinkle with a little olive oil to serve if you like.
  3. For the pine nuts – heat a clean pan to a moderate / high temperature. Add the pine nuts to the pan (without any oil). Stir continuously for 3-5 minutes until the pine nuts are a golden brown colour. Remove from the pan and add to a bowl.
  4. This is designed as a meal that is assembled by everyone at the table.
  5. Start with romaine or other strong leafed lettuce leaves. Top with hummus, followed by the chicken mixture, and sprinkle with the pine nuts and pomegranate seeds to complete.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: The Woolshed Sessions – The Woolshed Sessions

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

 

Stuffed Courgettes with Minced Lamb

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

Stuffed courgette with lamb mince

While this recipe reads like a side dish, if you use large enough courgettes, it can also be the main dish. Add a simple lettuce for a full meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 green courgette (zucchini)
  • 1 yellow courgette (zucchini)
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely
  • 2 slices parma ham, chopped
  • 500g minced lamb
  • 100g mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 red chilli, finely chopped, seeds discarded.
  • 1/2 Tbsp Lebanese seven spice powder
  • salt and pepper
  • handful of fresh mint
  • handful of fresh oregano
  • handful of pine nuts
  • coconut oil

Directions

  1. Scoop the meat of the courgette. Place it into a tea towel and squeeze out the excess moisture. 
  2. Heat a frying pan with a little coconut oil. Fry the onion and garlic over a moderate heat until it is golden brown and fragrant. 
  3. Add the parma ham and cook for a couple of minutes until crispy. 
  4. Add the minced lamb to the pan and cook it until it is all brown – about 5 minutes. 
  5. Add the mushrooms and chopped courgette meat (removed from the courgettes) to the pan and cook them through – about 5 minutes. 
  6. Add the Lebanese seven spice powder, salt and pepper to the pan and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant. 
  7. Fill the courgettes with the mince mixture, top with the pine nuts, and place on an oven tray, and cook in the oven at 180 degrees C for 8-10 minutes until the courgettes have softened.
  8. Garnish the filled courgettes with the pine nuts, fresh herbs and a little freshly ground black pepper.
  9. Serve with a simple salad to make a complete meal. 

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Damien Jurado – Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son

 

 

 

 

 

Turnip and Pumkin hash with Chorizo

Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , ,

Turnip and pumkin hash with chorizo

This is a variation of the Sweet Potato Hash with Fried Egg and Avocado. Instead of using sweet potatoes it used turnip and pumpkin with Chorizo for a light meal that is full of flavours. 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 turnip, grated and with excess liquid squeezed out
  • 150g pumpkin, grated and with excess liquid squeezed out
  • 5 spring onions, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 100g quality chorizo, chopped
  • 3 mushrooms, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
  • 1/2 Tbsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp salt
  • black pepper
  • salad leaves
  • avocado
  • 1 fried egg, sunny side up
  • avocado or olive oil
  • ghee for cooking

Directions

  1. Place the turnip in a tea towel and wring strongly to remove the excess water.
  2. Place the grated pumpkin in a tea towel and wring strongly to remove the excess water.
  3. Combine the turnip, grated pumpkin, spring onions, garlic, chorizo, spices, salt and pepper in a bowl and stir to combine.
  4. Add a little ghee in a pan and add enough of the turnip and pumpkin mixture to the pan to cover the bottom. Stir fry 1 minute and then cover and cook for 5-10 minutes until the bottom becomes crispy.
  5. In the meantime fry an egg
  6. When the hash is ready transfer to a plate.
  7. Place an egg on top. Serve with avocado and salad leaves.
  8. Sprinkle with a little olive or avocado oil and garnish with a sprinkle of extra salt and pepper.

About Chorizo
Chorizo (Spanish) or chouriço (Portuguese) is a term originating in the Iberian Peninsula encompassing several types of pork sausages. Chorizo can be a fresh sausage, in which case it must be cooked before eating. In Europe, it is more frequently a fermented, cured,smoked sausage, in which case it is often sliced and eaten without cooking, and can be added as an ingredient to add flavour to other dishes. Chorizo gets its distinctive smokiness and deep red color from dried smoked red peppers.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams

 

 

 

 

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

SaveSave

SaveSave

Vietnamese Crepes with Prawns

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

Vietnamese prawn crepes

Vietnamese cooking is delicious, fresh and full of flavour. This recipe is great either for breakfast or for lunch.

Ingredients

  • 100g rice flour
  • 200ml coconut milk
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 200ml water
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • 1 red chilli, finely chopped
  • pinch of himalayan rock salt
  • 3cm ginger, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 onion or large shallot, finely chopped
  • 12 large prawns, shelled and deveined
  • 1 carrot, julienned (finely sliced into sticks)
  • 1 cucumber, julienned (finely sliced into sticks)
  • large handful fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • few drops hot sesame oil
  • 2 eggs, beaten

Directions

  1. Mix flour, coconut milk, turmeric, water, spring onions, chilli, ginger, garlic, and salt in a bowl.
  2. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry the onion until golden brown.
  3. Add 3 prawns and a few tbsps of egg and stir to scramble the eggs and cook the shrimp.
  4. Pour a thin layer of batter into the pan and top with a handful of carrot. Cover and let cook for 2-3 minutes until cooked through.
  5. Remove the lid and cook for 1.5 minutes more.
  6. Top with pepper, salt, a handful of cucumber, a handful of coriander, and a few drops of hot sesame oil to garnish. When the crepe is crispy remove from the pan and fold in half.
  7. Cook the remaining crepes according to the above instructions one by one.
  8. Serve with a little salad leaves for breakfast or lunch.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Future Islands – Singles

Fig Salad with Grilled Salmon

Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , ,

Fig salad with grilled salmon

A super easy and quick lunch or light dinner this recipe brings out the flavours of the mediterranean with moorish figs and crisp toasted pine nuts. The addition of salmon fillets is an optional way to complete it for a full meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 bag of salad leaves
  • Olive oil
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper
  • Handful of toasted pine nuts
  • 5 ripe figs, halved
  • 2 Salmon fillets
  • Coconut oil

Directions

  1. Wash the salad and place in a bowl.
  2. Add a splash of olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar and mix with the salad.
  3. Add the toasted pine nuts and a little sea salt.
  4. Cut the figs in half and dip the flat side in a little bowl of balsamic vinegar.
  5. Heat a little coconut oil in a frying pan and fry the figs for a couple of minutes flat side down.
  6. When the figs start to caramelise, take them out of the pan, cut the halves in 3 parts and add them to the salad.
  7. Season the salmon with sea salt and black pepper and fry skin side down first for a couple of minutes. When the fillets are halfway cooked, turn them over and cook the other side a little shorter than the skin side.
  8. Serve the salmon with the salad.

About Figs
Figs are the fruit of the ficus tree, which is part of the mulberry family (Moraceae). Figs have a unique, sweet taste and a soft, chewy texture. They are filled with slightly crunchy, edible seeds. Their natural sweetness meant that, before the days of refined sugars, they were often used as a sweetener.

Figs are native to the Middle East and Mediterranean and are one of the world’s oldest trees. The fig tree can be traced back to the earliest historical documents and features prominently in the Bible.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: St South – Slacks