FOOD PAIRING: NORI SEAWEED

References: ºThe Art and Science of Foodpairing: 10,000 Flavour Matches That Will Transform the Way You Eat – Peter Coucquyt, Bernard Lahousse, Johan Langenbick
ºThe Flavour Thesaurus – Niki Segnit

Simple supper ideas for peas

Peas should be the star ingredient. Sweet and mellow jewels.

 

Peas are spring’s favourite bouncy balls. There are many dishes to create during the season using peas as the star ingredient.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Shrimp, radishes and peas in a parsley-infused olive oil
  • Simple peas with shallots, olive oil  and mint
  • Pea soup with crispy bacon on top – Blend together Chicken stock, peas, onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Pasta with peas and parmesan
  • Pasta with peas and a coriander spinach sauce made with lemon juice, cashews, garlic powder and salt.
  • Crab or white fish cakes with peas and tomatoes.
  • Peas with jamón serrano and thinly sliced onions

How are you cooking your peas?

Many ways to radishes

Pretty raw red radishes are crunchy and hot but cooked or pickled become very versatile.

Radishes are in season! Spring has sprung and radishes are here to give our dishes crunch and freshness.

They can be used in many different ways:

  • Lentil, avocado, radish, and watermelon salad? Add some red onion and some feta cheese and drizzle a Dijon mustard, honey, and lemon juice dressing.
  • Avocado toast with sliced radishes, raw spinach and freshly cracked pepper.
  • Roasted potatoes and radishes with lamb chops. Add some pepper and rosemary
  • Pico de Gallo with Radishes. Chop tomato, onion, and fresh coriander. Slice very thinly the radishes and mix all together with lime juice and salt.
  • Add radishes to your stock – chicken. beef or veggie stock.
  • White bean,  radish and pesto salad. Add a lemony dressing on top.

 

JALAPEÑO PAIRINGS

Natives from Mexico. They have a medium-high spiciness.

They can be used fresh, raw, broiled or pickled.

JALAPEÑO PAIRINGS:

VEGETABLES:

  • Ancho Chiles
  • Arugula
  • Butternut Squash
  • Cabbage
  • Corn
  • Green onion
  • Green Bell Peppers
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Poblano Peppers
  • Radishes
  • Red onion
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Tomatillos
  • Scallions
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Zucchinis

FRUITS:

  • Avocado
  • Lime
  • Mangoes
  • Peach
  • Pineapple
  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon

HERBS & SPICES:

  • Allspice
  • Cardamom
  • Chili Powder
  • Coriander/cilantro
  • Cumin
  • Curry Powder
  • Garlic
  • Oregano
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Turmeric

NUTS & SEEDS: 

  • Cashews
  • Peanuts
  • Pumpkin Seeds

MEAT & DAIRY:

  • Brisket
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Chicken
  • Chorizo
  • Ground Meat
  • Monterey Jack Cheese
  • Pork
  • Sour Cream
  • Turkey

FISH & SHELLFISH:

  • Anchovies
  • Clams
  • Crab
  • Scallops
  • Shrimp
  • White fish

OTHER:

  • Brown Rice
  • Black Bean
  • Corn Tortillas
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Fish Sauce
  • Flour tortillas
  • Olive Oil
  • Peanut Butter
  • Pinto Beans
  • Quinoa
  • Sesame Oil
  • Tofu

 

Mushroom, corn tacos

Tacos – a wonderfully messy and nourishing indulgence, made vegan.

This is one recipe that you can assemble with leftovers from the week.m

The most important thing is to season every layer properly. First, cook the mushrooms with chopped onions and salt. I like to cook them to the point they are golden and crispy.

Then cook the spinach with chopped onion and garlic, ones cooked make a cashew sauce and mix it in the spinach.

Cook the corn in the oven. If you have it available, buy the corn raw, wash it and spread it with a mix of olive oil, garlic granules, lime juice and salt.  Bake until golden.

Make the beans prior, if you can’t you can use from a jar, but rinse them first and then season and heat them with chopped onion, and little bit of salt.

Raw Red onion in lime juice is a perfect addition of crunch and acidity to your tacos, and of course, chopped coriander.

Assemble your tacos with all the toppings and enjoy!

 

Cilantro, avocado sauce

This silky, unctuous, creamy sauce can be used in pasta dishes, as a dip, or as a salad dressing.

 

You simply have to blend all the ingredients together, adjusting the quantity of water depending on the thickness of the sauce you need.

 

 

Vegan Creamy Spinach Sauce

A One-pot wonder. A vibrant, fresh and exciting bowl of pasta. Perfect for these summer days.

 

Place a medium saucepan over medium heat, and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the garlic and onion, and cook, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring throughout, until wilted, about 2 minutes.

Add the spinach mixture to a high-speed blender with the the avocado,  lemon  juice, extra virgin olive oil and water, and blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt to taste.

IT can be topped with pomegranate seeds, toasted almonds, toasted hazelnuts, crunchy chicpkeas, fresh coriander…

CREATIVE IDEAS TO USE THIS SAUCE:

  1. Over a bowl of rice with green beans.
  2. Mix with the pasta of your choice.
  3. It can be turned into a soup by adding vegetable stock.
  4. If you leave it thicker it can be used as a dip for your crisps or fresh veggies.
  5. Used as a salsa in a “Huevos Rancheros” type of breakfast.
  6. Poured over roasted chicken or turkey.

What other ways do you imagine you could use this sauce with?

Garlic Pasta

A truly delicious garlic pasta dish for a cold spring’s night.

 

Cook your favourite pasta according to the instructions.

In the meantime, roast 4 garlic heads in the oven at 200ºC for 30-40 minutes.

Soak the cashews in hot water for at least 30 minutes and steam the potatoes.

Once everything is cooked, in a blender add the garlic cloves, potatoes, cashews, lime juice, salt and parsley.  Add water or pasta water until you get the desired consistency. It has to be creamy, not too thick nor too thin.

Coat the pasta with the sauce and enjoy

Tomato and Red Pepper Spaghetti

The easiest, super flavourful and healthiest tomato sauce for pasta.

 

Cook the pasta following packet directions.

In a pan, heat up some oil and add the chopped onion and garlic while the oil is still warm, once cooked add the chopped tomato, sun-dried tomatoes,  and red pepper, add a splash of water and let simmer until soft and cooked. If you need more water just keep on adding until you feel it is the right amount and you will get the right consistency you like.

Turn the heat off and add the chopped basil leaves, season with salt and mix everything in.
Let cool for a bit and put the sauce in a blender. Blend until desired consistency.

Pour over the spaghetti and serve.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Cashew Cheese Sauce

For now, cooking is all about comfort. Feed your soul

TO MAKE THE GNOCCHI:

  1. Steam your sweet potatoes. Once cool enough, remove the skin and pass them through a potato masher
  2. Combine the salt and 2 cups of flour. Flour a work surface and pour your flour mixture onto the surface. Make a well in the middle of the flour.
  3. Add the sweet potato mash into the well.
  4. Flour your hands and begin working the sweet potato into the flour. Continue to work the mixture until it’s fully combined. You don’t want the dough to be sticky so keep adding flour until you get a nice dry dough.
  5. Once fully combined, roll the dough into a ball and cut it into eight even pieces. Roll each piece into a long log that’s about 1/2 an inch thick. Cut pieces the gnocchi into 1-inch pieces. Gently toss each piece into flour to ensure that it’s dry and not sticky at any edges.
  6. Heat a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the gnocchi and let cook for a couple of minutes. Once the gnocchi floats to the surface of the water, let it boil for 30 more seconds and then remove it from the water using a slotted spoon.

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

Blend the cashews, arrowroot, onion powder, garlic powder, lemon juice, paprika, sea salt and water until smooth. Pour into a small saucepan and whisk on medium-high heat until it gets thick. Add the sauce to the cooked gnocchi

Veggie Spring Rolls

A meatless recipe that I have enjoyed at home lately and thought you might like it too.

 

To make the spring rolls, fill a bowl or pan big enough to fit the rice paper with warm water. Soak the rice paper in the water for about 30 seconds – until pliable but not soggy. Place the rice paper on a work surface, put a sixth of the filling onto the wrapper and roll up like a fat sausage. Wet the edges of the wrapper, press to seal. Repeat with other wrappers and the rest of the mixture

To serve, leave the rolls whole or cut them in half with a sharp knife. Sprinkle with sesame seeds (if using) and serve with the dipping sauce.

Roasted Beets and Garlic Pasta Sauce

The sweetness of beetroots will lift spirits at your table

 

Roast the 3 heads of garlic  in a preheated oven (200C.) Peel and discard the papery outer layers of the whole garlic bulb.

Leave intact the skins of the individual cloves of garlic. Cut 1/4 to a 1/2 inch from the top of cloves. This exposes the individual cloves of garlic.

Drizzle a couple teaspoons of olive oil over each exposed head, using your fingers to rub the olive oil over all the cut, exposed garlic cloves.

Cover the bulb with aluminum foil.

In the same baking tray add the beets, drizzled with oil and salt.

Bake at 200C for 30-40 minutes, or until the cloves are lightly browned and feel soft when pressed and the beets are roasted.

Once cooled, press the garlic cloves to release the paste and add them to a blender. Add the beets, lime/lemon juice, olive oil, salt and yoghurt.

If you want a lactose-free, or vegan version, substitute the yoghurt with boiled potatoes and water to thin it out to creamy consistency

Blend and adjust to taste. Add to your favourite pasta