Pea/ mint puree

Fresh peas are in season now!

Pea/ mint puree

Ingrediënten:

250 gram fresh or frozen peas

some fresh mint

1-2 small garlic gloves, grated

Zest of a 1/2 a lemon

salt and pepper

Preparation

Put all the ingredients in a magimix to make puree. Season withe the zest of lemon and salt and pepper.


Brussels Sprouts and Lemon Risotto

Brussels Sprouts are an incredibly versatile vegetable. These 'mini cabbages' lend themselves to a variety of cooking methods and dishes. Here we have incorporated them into a risotto with a zing of lemon.

Serves 2

Ingredients
200g risotto rice
1 shallot
500g Brussels sprouts
1 lemon
1 small bunch flat leaf parsley
75g grated Parmesan
1 organic vegetable stock cube
6 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

Method
Preheat an oven to 200° C. Finely chop the shallot and halve the sprouts if they’re large, otherwise, leave them whole. Grate the zest of the lemon and finely chop the parsley. Dissolve the stock cube in 800 ml hot water and keep warm in a pot.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat with 3 tablespoons olive oil and fry the sprouts for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Heat the same frying pan over medium heat with 3 tablespoons olive oil and sweat the shallot for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stock to the pan. Bring to the boil and transfer to a roasting dish. Cover with aluminium foil and place in the oven for 30-35 minutes.

Halfway through the cooking time, stir half the sprouts through the risotto. Cover with the foil and return to the oven for about 15 minutes.

Reheat the remaining sprouts. When the risotto is cooked, season with salt and pepper. Add lemon zest, lemon juice to taste, the parsley and half the Parmesan and stir through.

Spoon the risotto into 2 bowls and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan and sprouts over. Serve straight away.

Please note that oven temperatures and dish sizes can vary. This may influence the cooking time.

 

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
200gr risotto rijst
1 sjalot
500gr  spruitjes
1 citroen
1 klein bosje bladpeterselie
75gr geraspte Parmezaan
1 biologisch groentebouillon blokje
6 eetlepels olijfolie
zout en peper

Bereiding
Verwarm de oven voor op 200° C. Snijd de sjalot fijn en snijd de spruitjes in tweeën als ze groot zijn anders laat ze zoals ze zijn. Rasp de schil van de citroen en hak de peterselie fijn. Los het bouillonblokje op in 800 ml warm water en houd deze warm in een pan.

Verwarm een koekenpan op medium hoog vuur met 3 eetlepels olijfolie en bak de spruitjes goudbruin in ongeveer 5 minuten. Breng op smaak met zout en peper en zet opzij.

Verwarm dezelfde koekenpan op medium vuur met 3 eetlepels olijfolie en smoor de ui zachtjes voor 5 minuten. Voeg de rijst en bouillon toe. Breng aan de kook en doe het risottomengsel in de ovenschaal. Dek af met alufolie en zet de schaal in de oven voor ongeveer 30-35 minuten.

Roer halverwege de kooktijd de 1/2 van de spruitjes door de risotto. Dek weer af en zet terug in de oven voor 15 minuten.

Verwarm de andere helft spruitjes. Als de risotto gaar is breng het dan op smaak met zout en peper. Voeg citroenrasp, citroensap naar smaak, peterselie en de helft van de Parmezaan toe aan de risotto. Warm de resterende spruitjes op.

Lepel de risotto in twee kommen en bestrooi met de resterende Parmezaan en spruitjes. Server direct.


Warm Quinoa Salad with ‘Smokey’ Halloumi

Quinoa is full of protein and contains all 22 amino acids that we require. It's incredibly healthy and so tasty when prepared this way.

English

Serves 2

Ingredients
1 red onion
200g roasted red peppers
200g quinoa
1 organic vegetable stock cube
1 small bunch flat leaf parsley
1 lemon
250g pack halloumi
1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
7 tablespoons olive oil
pinch of sugar
salt and pepper

Method
Finley slice the red onion into thin half rings. Slice the red pepper into thick strips. Dissolve the stock cube in 500 ml hot water. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion and red pepper to the pan and sweat for 3 minutes. Add the quinoa and the stock to the pot, bring to the boil, cover with a lid and simmer gently for about 15 minutes.

Grate the zest from the lemon into a bowl. Mix together the grated zest, salt, pepper, a pinch of sugar and 4 tablespoons olive oil. Add lemon juice to taste. Finely chop the parsley and add half of it to the dressing. Stir the remaining parsley through the cooked quinoa.

Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Cut the halloumi into 6 slices and sprinkle with the smoked paprika. Grease the grill pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil and grill the halloumi on both sides until golden brown.

Divide the quinoa between 2 plates. Lay on the grilled halloumi and spoon over the dressing.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
1  rode ui
200g geroosterde paprika
200g quinoa
1 biologisch groenten bouillonblokje
1 bosje bladpeterselie
1 citroen
250g halloumi
1 theelepel zoet gerookte paprikapoeder
7 eetlepels olijfolie
snufje suiker
zout en peper

Bereiding
Snijd de rode ui in dunne ringen. Snijd de geroosterde paprika in dikke repen. Los het bouillonblokje op in 500 ml warm water. Verwarm 2 eetlepels olijfolie in een pan op medium vuur. Voeg de ui en paprika toe aan de pan, smoor voor 3 minuten. Voeg de quinoa en de bouillon toe aan de pan, breng aan de kook, dek af en kook zachtjes voor ongeveer 15 minuten.

Rasp de schil van de citroen in een kom. Meng de rasp met zout, peper, een snufje suiker en 4 eetlepels olijfolie. Voeg citroensap naar smaak toe. Hak de peterselie fijn en voeg de helft toe aan de dressing. Meng de resterende peterselie door de gekookte quinoa.

Verwarm een grillpan op medium vuur. Snijd de halloumi in 6 plakjes en bestrooi met de gerookte paprikapoeder. Bestrijk de grillpan met 1 eetlepel olijfolie en grill de halloumi aan beide kanten goudbruin.

Verdeel de quinoa over 2 borden. Leg de gegrilde halloumi er bovenop en lepel de dressing er omheen.

 


Haloumi, Courgette and Mint Salad

A light, yet sustaining salad full of zingy flavours.

English

Serves 2

Ingredients
2 courgettes
1 small bunch mint
100g spinach
300g halloumi
sprinkle of chilli flakes
1 lemon
2 tablespoons balsamic syrup
6 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

Method
Coarsely grate the courgette. Pick the mint leaves off the stalks and cut into thin strips.

Mix the grated courgette, mint, spinach, salt and pepper carefully in a bowl. Slice the halloumi.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Brush the halloumi with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with the chilli flakes. Place the halloumi and half a lemon (cut side down) in the pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil and fry the halloumi for 1 -2 minutes on each side and until the lemon flesh has caramelized.

Check the seasoning of the courgette salad and stir in 4 tablespoons olive oil. Transfer to a serving plate and top with the halloumi. Drizzle with 2 tablespoon olive oil, the balsamic syrup and a squeeze of caramelized lemon juice.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
2 courgette
1 klein bosje munt
100g spinazieblaadjes
300g haloumi
mespuntje chilivlokken
1 citroen
2 eetlepels bakje balsamico stroop
6 eetlepels olijfolie
zout en peper

Bereiding
Rasp de courgette grof. Pluk de muntblaadjes en snijd ze in dunne reepjes.

Meng de geraspte courgette, munt, spinazie, zout, peper voorzichtig om in een kom. Snijd de haloumi in plakjes.

Verwarm een anti-aanbakpan op matig hoog vuur. Bestrijk de haloumi met 1 eetlepel olijfolie en bestrooi met chilivlokken. Leg de haloumi en halve citroen (op de snijkant) in de pan met 1 eetlepel olijfolie en bak de haloumi 1 tot 2 minuten aan elke kant, of tot het goudbruin is en het vruchtvlees van de citroen is gekarameliseerd.

Meng de courgettesalade met zout en peper, 4 eetlepels olijfolie en plaats de courgettesalade op het bord en leg de haloumi erop. Besprenkel met 1 eetlepel olijfolie, de balsamicostroop en knijp een paar citroendruppels er overheen.

 


Spaghetti with Tuna, Lemon and Rocket

A dish that you can literally throw together with ingredients you most probably already have in your store cupboard.

English

Serves 2

Ingredients
200g spaghetti
1 tin tuna in olive oil
1 lemon
1 red chilli pepper
1 clove garlic
3 spring onions
75g rocket
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

Method
Bring a pot of salted water to the boil. Add the spaghetti and cook for about 8 minutes.

Drain the oil from the tuna and place the tuna in a bowl. Grate the zest from the lemon and add to the tuna with lemon juice to taste and ½ the garlic clove which has been finely chopped.

Finely slice the spring onions and finely chop the chilli pepper. Add to the tuna and season with salt and pepper and the olive oil. Stir to combine.

Before draining the pasta, save a cup of the pasta cooking water.

Stir the pasta together with the tuna mixture. Add the reserved pasta cooking water, a tablespoon at a time, until the pasta becomes ‘creamy’. Carefully stir half the rocket through the spaghetti.

Divide the pasta between 2 plates. Top with the remaining rocket and drizzle with some extra olive oil.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
200g spaghetti
1 blik tonijn in olijfolie
1 citroen
1 rood pepertje
1 teentje knoflook
3 lente uien
75g rucola
3 eetlepels olijfolie
zout en peper

Bereiding
Breng een pan water met zout aan de kook. Voeg de spaghetti toe en kook in ongeveer 8 minuten.

Giet de olie van de tonijn af en doe de tonijn in een kom. Rasp de schil van de citroen en voeg samen met wat citroensap en een ½ fijngesneden knoflookteentje aan de tonijn toe.

Snijd de lente uien fijn, doe deze ook bij de tonijn met het fijngesneden pepertje, wat zout en olijfolie. Meng alles door elkaar.

Voordat je de pasta afgiet, bewaar een kopje van het kookwater.

Meng de pasta in een kom met de tonijn en meng het goed door elkaar. Voeg steeds een eetlepel van het kookwater toe totdat de pasta ‘romig’ wordt. Meng de helft van de rucola er voorzichtig doorheen.

Verdeel over 2 borden. Maak af met resterende rucola en wat olijfolie.


Fish in Parmesan Crust with Courgette and Spinach Salad

A really light and satisfying dinner using only just a few basic ingredients.

Serves 2

English

Ingredients
60g finely grated Parmesan
2 plaice fillets of 150g each (or other white fish)
1 egg
1 red chilli
1 lemon
2 courgettes
75g baby spinach
3 tablespoons sunflower oil
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons flour salt and pepper

Method

Finely chop the red chilli. Using a vegetable peeler, pull thin ribbons from the courgette, making sure to stop once you reach the seeds. Place the courgette ribbons in a bowl.

Place 4 tablespoons flour on to a plate and mix salt and pepper through. Crack an egg on another plate and beat to loosen. Plaice the grated Parmesan on a third plate.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat with 3 tablespoons sunflower oil. Dust the fish through the flour, then dip in the egg and finally in the Parmesan. Fry the fish on both sides until golden.

Dress the courgette with 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice and chilli to taste, salt and pepper. Mix through the spinach. Divide the salad between 2 plates, lay the fish on the side and serve.

Nederlands

voor 2 personen

Ingrediënten
60g fijn geraspte Parmezaan
2 scholfilets a 150g per stuk (of een andere witvis)
1 ei
1 rode chilipeper
1 citroen
2 courgettes
75g jonge spinazie
3 eetlepels zonnebloemolie
2 eetlepels olijfolie
4 eetlepels bloem
zout en peper

Bereiding

Snijd de rode chilipeper fijn. Trek met een dunschiller lange slierten van de courgettes totdat je bij de zaadjes komt en doe ze in een kom.

Doe 4 eetlepels bloem op een bord en meng er wat zout en peper doorheen. Breek het ei in een ander bord en klop het los. Doe de geraspte Parmezaan op een derde bord.

Verwarm een koekenpan op medium vuur met 3 eetlepels zonnebloemolie. Haal de vis door de bloem, vervolgens door het ei en daarna door de Parmezaan. Bak de vis, aan elke kant goudbruin.

Maak de courgette aan met 2 eetlepels olijfolie, citroensap en chilipeper naar smaak, zout en peper. Meng de spinazie erdoorheen. Verdeel over 2 borden, leg de vis er naast en serveer.


Lemon Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing

This recipe for lemon cupcakes is one that we have adapted from Martha Stewart. It produces light, tender cupcakes with a fragrant lemony flavour. Makes about 24 cupcakes.

Ingredients
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
220g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups caster sugar
4 large eggs
finely grated zest of 2 lemons and 2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup natural yoghurt
1/2 cup milk

Buttercream Icing
150g butter, softened
300g icing sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Chopped chocolate or other decorations to garnish. Our favourite is to use different flavours from Tony's Chocolonely.

Method

Preheat an oven to 160C. Line a muffin or cupcake tin with paper cases. Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated. Beat in the lemon zest and vanilla. Add the flour mixture in batches, alternating with the yoghurt, milk and lemon juice. Beat until just combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake cases, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake for about 25 minutes, rotating the tins halfway until the cakes are golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Transfer to wire racks and cool completely before icing. The cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container of frozen.

For the buttercream, beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add half of the icing sugar and beat until smooth.

Add the remaining icing sugar and one tablespoon of the milk and vanilla extract and beat the mixture until creamy and smooth. Beat in the remaining milk, if necessary, to loosen the mixture.

Spread the icing over the cupcakes using a knife or small palette knife. Top with the chopped chocolate or other decorations of your choice.

 


Hummus

Hummus is an amazing dish. It's cheap to make, full of protein, healthy, vegan and can be taken in all directions with the addition of different spices and herbs.

Here is the definitive basic recipe for hummus.

Serves 6

Ingredients
250g dried chickpeas
10g baking soda
2 cloves garlic, crushed
275g raw tahini
the juice of 1-1,5 lemons
1 teaspoon salt
1 sprig flat leaf parsley
selection of toasted seeds -we used equal quantities pine nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds
olive oil

Method
Soak the chickpeas for a minimum of 12 hours in water with 5g of the baking soda. Drain off the water and bring the chickpeas to a boil with fresh water and the remaining 5g baking soda. Ensure that the chickpeas are covered with at least a 3cm layer of water. Once boiling, cover with a lid and simmer over a low heat. The chickpeas are ready when they start to fall apart, about 45 minutes but don't be alarmed if it takes double the amount of time.

Drain the chickpeas but make sure you save all the cooking water. Allow to cool slightly and blend the chickpeas in a food processor. Add the garlic, raw tahini, and the juice of 1 lemon. Blend for at least 10 minutes in the food processor. Add small amounts of the reserved cooking liquid to thin the hummus. Make sure to leave it a little thicker than the creamy puree it will eventually become.

Season with about 1 teaspoon salt and a little extra lemon if necessary. Only when the hummus is perfectly seasoned, then you can thin it down for the last time with some of the reserved cooking liquid.

If you're not going to eat the hummus immediately, store covered in the refrigerator. Taste the hummus before your serve it. It will most likely need a little extra salt and lemon juice and a touch of the cooking liquid to get the right consistency.

Smear the hummus with the rounded part of a spoon neatly on to a plate. Make crator in the middle. The trick is to hold the spoon still while your turn the plate. Garnish the hummus with parsley leaves, the toasted seeds and olive oil.

You can also garnish with cooked chickpeas, parsley and paprika powder, slow cooked pulled beef or hard cooked eggs.


Madeleines

Matcha (green tea) Madeleines

Makes about 12

Ingredients
100g caster sugar
100g flour
1 egg
Lemon zest and juice of ½ lemon
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon matcha powder
100g butter and some extra for greasing the tin

Method
1 Preheat oven to 200 C˚. Melt the butter in a small pan and grease the baking tin. Sprinkle lightly with some flour, shaking off the excess. Mix the dry ingredients together.
2 Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Fold the dry ingredients carefully carefully through the beaten eggs followed by the melted butter. Let stand for 15 minutes.
3 Fill each mold in the Madeleine baking tin ¾ full with the batter. Bake in the oven for 8-9 minutes or until cooked through. Leave them to cool for 1 minute in the tin and then gently remove. Put them on a rack to cool and sprinkle with icing sugar.


Rhubarb Lemonade

For 8 glasses

For the Rhubarb Syrup

1,2 kg rhubarb, peeled and diced
480 g castor sugar
450 ml water

For the Rhubarb Lemonade

sparkling water
lemon slices
mint leaves

Method

To prepare the rhubarb lemonade first combine the rhubarb, sugar, and water in a large saucepan.

Cook over a medium heat, stirring frequently for 20-25 minutes until the rhubarb is soft and the syrup has slightly thickened.

Strain the syrup through a fine sieve lined with muslin or cheesecloth, sat over a bowl.

Press the rhubarb against the side of the sieve with the back of a spoon to extract as much syrup as possible.

Pour the rhubarb syrup into a jar, seal well, and chill until ready to serve.

To Serve

Pour 50 ml of rhubarb syrup into serving glasses.

Top up with chilled sparkling water, stir briefly, and garnish the rhubarb lemonade with lemon slices and mint leaves before serving.