See the recipe Prawn toast was always one of my favourite starters when I ate meat. There a a few alternatives doing the rounds on the internet but they don’t use what I consider to be one of the better fishy substitutes – Palm hearts! Using this gets the closest to that unmistakeable texture while the seasonings make for a crispy and fragrant dish that’s just unforgettable! Typically most prawn toast recipes call for them to be fried as the finishing touch and you can do that here if you’d prefer. Personally, I much prefer using the airfryer. The toast turns crisp and yummy with a golden brown top, all…
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Black Bean and Butternut Squash Empanadas (Vegan & Gluten Free)
The weather in good old blighty is a little confusing at the moment. While we sign about white Christmas’s and bleak midwinters, the weather seems convinced it’s mid September. Damp, a little chilly, but certainly not cold with no chance of snow or ice. Never mind, our Christmas preparations continue on apace. In the weeks leading up to Christmas I always to like to make food that completely contrasts with Christmas dinner just so you’re completely invested in the feast on the day. Even better, is food that I make make easily or even reheat from the freezer, leaving plenty of time for Christmas prep. These empanadas are perfect –…
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Crunchy Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Salad (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Before I went vegan, tuna sandwiches were a big favourite of mine. Never home made, these shop bought sandwiches were my go to choice whenever I didn’t have to see anyone too soon afterwards – not wanting to subject anyone to my fishy/onion breath! This vegan version of one of my favourite snack, has a surprisingly similar texture from the chickpeas (just go with me on this – you won’t believe me till you try it!), and such a similar taste from the seasonings. It’ll only take 10 minutes to make and, while it works better if made the night before so the flavours can meld, you can eat it…
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Vegan Meatball Subs
I had planned for today’s post to be something completely different but last night’s dinner was so well received I thought I’d bump it up the queue. Most of my burger recipes use a binder of some description to help keep them together but due to cupboard shortages last night was an attempt to build a vegan meatball without a binder. Thankfully, I think I can say this black bean based attempt was a complete success! They’re only a little delicate and not crumbly, with bags of flavour. Seved with a really simple spicy tomates sauce, it makes for an easy and slightly different dinner option. I do have to…
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Spicy Asian Style Cauliflower Bites
Cauliflower is one of those veggies that have been through a massive ‘glow-up’ over the past few years. Once thought of as a bland, uninspiring veg that tends to be boiled to death, it’s now become a stable for many once you realise how flexible it truly is. My sister makes pizza bases with it, others I know make cauliflower ‘wings’, often for a tasty side I’ll roast it. Seriously it seems we’ve all been missing a trick by boiling it all these years. These cauliflower bite are a little salty, a little sweet, with a flash of chilli and crunch. What’s more they’re baked rather than fried so they’re…
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Banh Xeo – Vietnamese Pancakes
A lot of my food isn’t really know for its cultural authenticity. I’ll take inspiration from the original sure, but very rarely does it stay true to that original recipe, and so it is here. A quick look around at your typical Banh Xeo filling will tell you that prawns and pork typically make the cut, make it vegetables only and the general consensus seems to be that this is fit for a very light lunch or a starter only but I think we can fix that. The filling for my pancakes is a salad of rice noodles, thinly sliced vegetables, some pickled vegetables, add in some aubergines that are…
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Peanut Butter Rice Crispie Treats
We’ve started social distancing with both of us in the house working from home. Unfortunately I realised mid last week that we didn’t have anything sweet in the house that I could eat. I’ve raided our cupboard basics to make something that’s both easy to make and satisfying for your sweet cravings – if not totally moreish! If you’re looking for a kitchen activity that you can do with the kids to keep them entertained while at home then this is ideal. Its is really very simple, uses minimal equipment, and very forgiving if you don’t quite get the amounts right. There is some stove action and hot syrup involved…
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Red Lentil and Harissa Koftas
Traditional koftas are the wonderfully flavorful, heavily spiced and lesser known middle eastern cousins of the meatball. If I’m going to give you any piece of advice for these, please make sure your harissa is fresh, this wonderful spice paste is your main source of flavour in these little balls of joy but the older it gets the more the flavour fades away. This is my vegan version and just like any ‘meatball’, they’re incredibly flexible but I’ve always enjoyed eating with my hands so my favorite way to serve them is family style, with a pile of gluten free pita breads, rocket and fresh herbs like mint and parsley,…
