Ramen may never have gone completely out of style but it certainly seems to be going through something of a renaissance in the west. Noodles are so important in Japan that they famously managed to create space worthy ramen back in 2005 when other space foods were still being eaten with a straw. I can’t even begin to be an expert myself, as a white girl living in London who’s never even been to Japan but it’ll often be the first thing I order if available. Tasty noodles floating in a deeply flavourful broth, paired with beautiful toppings. The problem, as with many dishes like it, is two fold for…
-
-
Leek & Potato Soup – Three Ways (Vegan & Gluten Free)
There are few things more comforting during cold, damp weather than a bowl of steaming hot soup. A few simple ingredients, cooked together to make something special. The best soups are ones you can throw together with a few kitchen basics and come out with something everyone will love. Leek and potato soup is one of those French classics that everyone has heard of. It’s incredibly simple and only a needs a few simple touches to make it a success that anyone can make. Lets a look at some of the important points here; Leeks – I’m not always a great fan of leeks since they’re so difficult to clean.…
-
Marinara Sauce (Kitchen Basics)
I have a somewhat paranoid method of managing my kitchen. With my various health conditions, I’ve had many periods where I’ve been too ill to make dinner so I tend towards making sure I’ve always got backup. This takes many forms from piles of leftovers in the freezer, to recipes so easy I can make them when ill. My marinara is part of this. Every now and then I’ll make up a big batch then save in individual portions. Want to make some pizzas, pull together some easy pasta, or have a sauce ready for (vegan) meatballs? Then you’ve already got a lot of the heavy lifting done. I’ve given…
-
Beetroot Wellington with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce (Vegan, Gluten Free)
This recipe started out life very differently. I was working on a new Beet Burger recipe (don’t worry – you’ll see it this week, it’s amazing!) and had a shock of inspiration. Big meals like Christmas and Thanksgiving can be tricky for vegans as there are few big, dramatic centrepieces to build a fancy roast meal around. A lot of those that do exist are impressions of meat, like vegan friendly roast turkey. Now I have no problem with these dishes, but I wanted a dish that was both vegan and gluten free while elevating vegetables to the centrepiece. My trial beet burger was meaty and interesting enough that it…
-
South Indian Garlic Chilli Vegan Curry
In the last few months, Kenny has taken some time to meditate on his views and from an omnivore to a vegetarian. He was never a big meat eater so it wasn’t a huge change. But this leaves him with a slight problem, what does he eat if we go out for dinner or gets takeout? With his wheat allergy his choices are already limited but add in his new vegetarian dietary choice and getting takeout has become a little tricky. This isn’t a new problem in some respects, he hasn’t been able to get his favourite curry since he moved to London. The Glasgow food scene has a lot…
-
Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup with Gnocchi Dumplings (Vegan, GF, NF)
When storm Francis hit a few weeks ago, cravings for bad weather food started. Foods like a warming soup, something comforting to sip while the winds rage outside. While the weather has now recovered, the soup that I came up with at the time is a great recipe and one I’ll keep coming back to as the weather gets colder. Roasting your peppers and tomatoes deepens the flavours. It’s not difficult, and takes very little effort but the massive flavour boost you get in return makes it so worth while. The tomatoes will emerge from the oven as little umami bombs of flavour while the peppers will add depth and…
-
Korean Inspired Jackfruit Tacos (Vegan & Gluten Free)
The secret to cooking in a heatwave is to bring out the slow cooker. Since a lot of the dishes typically made in the slow cooker are thought of as cold weather food, I know a lot of you won’t think of it but it’s perfect. You won’t need to heat up the kitchen by turning on the oven and most of the work can be done early in the day when the day’s heat is at it’s lowest. It’s ideal! The inspiration for this recipe came from Korean Bolgogi Beef. Literally translated as ‘fire meat’, Bulgogi was popularised by refugees from Pyongan and is generally cooked on a BBQ.…
-
Lincolnshire Sausages (Vegan, Gluten Free & Soy Free!)
The heatwave has arrived and I can almost guarantee what most of you will want to do in this weather – haul out the barbecue! It’s the classic British answer to hot, weather. Do what you can to make the most of the heat while it lasts, cook outside with friends, get sunburnt and maybe even a little drunk. It’s even a perfect idea as the COVID rules relax because you can obey the lockdown rules and still be social. If you’re vegan you might be struggling to think of how you can enjoy what is typically a very meat focused event. But don’t worry, I’ve got you. Alongside your…
-
Vegan Lasagne (Vegan & Gluten Free)
A good lasagne is a labour of love and one of those dishes that is greater than the sum of it’s parts. Everything needed is basics I tend to always have in the house. It’s not difficult and all it needs is plenty of time to turn into a rich, filling, tasty, comforting dish that will feed a crowd with ease. This recipe features a rich lentil bolognese and creamy bechamal – you won’t miss the meat here! I always make a huge batch in a large roasting tin so we can freeze the leftovers as it freezes so well. What’s more, even though it can take a while a…
-
Mum’s Roast Potatoes – Kitchen Basics
It’s been a long, difficult week and the weather really hasn’t helped with grey skies and near constant rain. So I reached for on of my favourite comfort foods, roast potatoes. I grew up eating the perfect roast potatoes but it was only once I moved out and started cooking for friends that I realised just how good mum’s roast potatoes really were. If I wanted to impress someone, roast potatoes would often feature in dinner, the first time I cooked for Kenny I’m pretty sure they were there. The perfect roast potato is crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, a little salty, and with the perfect balance…
