See the recipe Tomato soup is the ideal comfort food. As we head into February, weather predictions are that we’re going to hit minus temperatures again here in London. So, when you come home from this cold, an easy but comforting tomato soup is just what you need to warm you up. There are probably as many recipes for tomato soup as there are fish in the sea at this point, and I’m sure everyone will claim theirs is the best. Recipes will vary wildly from using cream, spices, to using a vegetable base such as carrots and celery. Some people only use fresh tomatoes while others will swear that…
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Pumpkin Soup with Sage & Walnut Pesto (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Here in London, it’s cold and raining, winter is continuing strong through February so it’s ideal weather for soup. Warming and soothing, it’s a dash I’d typically reach for during colder weather and it’s healthy too! I don’t see a lot of pumpkin over here. It’s a very American veg that has been slowly creeping over along with the ever-popular pumpkin spice everything. I’ve been working out what to do with it and this soup has been incredibly popular. Paired with some delightfully autumnal sage and walnut pesto, this soup is incredibly easy but will warm you through after a cold day. Leftovers This soup will store in the fridge…
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Spicy Miso Ramen with Marinated Tofu (Vegan & Gluten Free)
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…
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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.…
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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…
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Moroccan Lentil Soup (Vegan & Gluten Free)
When I’ve had a difficult week I start to crave something nutritious and comforting and this lentil soup is both those things. It may not be sexy but it’s easy to make and just so heart warming. With a complex mix of spices and warming harissa, the deep flavours of this soup will make you think it must have been a deep labour of love. In reality, you will have spent very little time chopping some vegetables and standing over the pot, the soup will look after it’s self and bless your kitchen with amazing smells. The perfect soup for a bad day or even just a mediocre one! Enjoy…
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Fijian Dhal Soup (Vegan, GF, NF)
I picked up this recipe when we visited Fiji a few years ago. While it was part of a truly wonderful holiday, the cooks there struggled with the concept of veganism. Around the repetitive meals and a few not so tasty dinners, this soup became a favourite for both me and Kenny, despite being before he went vegetarian. Totally tasty, I begged the chef for his recipe not even half way through our stay. I’ve made some tweaks since then to make this my own and it makes for a quick, cheap and easy meal. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a great backup to have in your pocket for…
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Fragrant Coconut Soup with Black Pepper Sweet Potato
I want to be completely up front here – the Black Pepper Sweet Potato in this dish is completely inspired by the Black Pepper Tofu in Yotam Ottolenghi’s brilliant book Plenty (you can find the recipe on his site here)- go buy it, read it and cook many tasty things. We weren’t able to make the original dish as written for a number of reasons but mainly because Kenny hates tofu with a passion, and I was trying to completely avoid soy at the time. Instead I’ve gradually built it out to work with sweet potatoes. The coconut soup then grew from this as I wanted something that would counterbalance…
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Slow Cooker Lasagne Soup
Lasagne soup was completely foreign to me until recently thanks to some browsing on social media. It seems to be an american invention but what a great idea it is! All the elements of a great lasagne but with almost none of the work since, in my version, most of the cooking is done in the slow cooker. I like to serve mine with an easy homemade vegan ricotta which serves as a great counterpoint to the rich tomato sauce. This recipe works great for a crowd, uses mostly pantry stables, and is really quite hands off so is ideal for these days were so many people are working from…
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Slow Cooker Potato and Corn Chowder
I’ve had a slow cooker ever since I left university, I’d like to say I’ve had one since before they were cool but lets be honest, I don’t think slow cookers ever have been cool. They are however amazingly useful. After university I landed a job working in the city which, as a rule, meant long hours and a long commute. My slow cooker meant that there were days I could come home to a delicious smell and a meal waiting for me. While I was ill and my endo was flaring, the slow cooker was equally invaluable as it meant on bad days I could shuffle down stairs, throw…
