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Cooking

RED LENTIL CURRY

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I have been making this for years and it’s so easy I wanted to share it. I have tweaked and changed the original recipe and now find this is the quickest, cheapest and tastiest option. Suitable for freezing too.

Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon rapeseed oil
2 onions, finely chopped
10g fresh grated ginger or 2 teaspoons of minced ginger
10g grated garlic or 2 teaspoons of chopped garlic
200g dried red lentils
300ml vegetable stock
1 teaspoon chilli powder (leave out if you want a milder version or for children)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 tin of chopped tomatoes (400g)
1 tin of coconut milk (400g)

METHOD
Heat the rapeseed oil in a large pan and add the onions. Then cook on a medium heat until softened and translucent.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Then add the spices and mix with the onions, then add the lentils and mix until coated.
Add the chopped tomatoes, coconut milk and vegetable stock and stir.
Reduce to heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the mixture looks like it is getting too thick then add some more water. You know it’s ready when the lentils have softened and the curry is a thick consistency.
Serve with rice, couscous, quinoa, naan bread, poppadoms or even potato wedges. A dollop of yoghurt and some coriander go well too.

SCRAMBLED TOFU

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I know so many people want to cook tofu but don’t know how. So here’s a really simple and quick way to use it which works for breakfast on toast with baked beans or lunch with a salad or in a wrap. This will also keep in the fridge for 3 days.

INGREDIENTS
1 x 280g pack of firm tofu (plain of smoked)
1 x tomato
Spinach or greens of some sort
1 teaspoon of chopped garlic
1 x teaspoon rapeseed oil
Mixed herbs
2 x tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Salt & black pepper

METHOD
Roughly chop the tomato and shred the spinach or greens. Thickly slice the tofu.
Heat a frying pan over a medium heat with 1 teaspoon of rapeseed oil. Lightly fry the garlic for 1-2 minutes.
Add the tomato and mix, cook gently for 1 minute.
Turn the heat to low.
Crumble the tofu into the pan and stir.
Season with mixed herbs, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes over a low heat.
Stir through the spinach or greens.

WHOLE BAKED CAULIFLOWER

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A few weeks ago we had a cauliflower to use. The BBQ was on so I took a chance and it worked.

INGREDIENTS
1 x cauliflower
Chilli oil
Garlic
Salt & pepper

METHOD
Place the cauliflower in a large roasting tray.
Marinade with some chilli oil and pre chopped garlic, then season with salt and pepper.
Bake at 200C for around 45 minutes. (Also works in an oven).

Either break up and serve warm or chop, keep in the fridge and use in salads/wraps throughout the week. When I baked this one in the oven I had some bulbs of garlic in the fridge so threw them in too.

MUMS CREAMY CHICKEN RISOTTO

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Mum is a lover of really easy meals. And being a mum myself I now know why. This isn’t like the traditional risotto you have to continuously stir, it’s adapted so you can out the lid on and come back when it’s pretty much done.

INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp rapeseed oil
2 medium chicken breasts (roughly 500g)
1 onion
350g arborio rice
1 packet of chicken flavoured cup of soup
1/2 a chicken stock cube
4 cups of boiling water (1L)
1/2 cup of frozen peas (100g)
1/2 cup of single cream
Black pepper
Dried mixed herbs
Parmesan cheese

METHOD
Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat.
Brown the chicken and onion with some black pepper and dried mixed herbs.
Add the rice and stir for 1 minute.
Add the cup of soup mix, stock cube and water. Stir.
Turn down the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking.
Add the peas and cream and cook uncovered for a further 5 minutes. If the risotto is starting to stick, loosen with a dash of extra water.
Serve with a sprinkle of black pepper and grated parmesan cheese.