Comfort food. A cheesy bake of red lentils and cauliflower. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Heat some olive oil in a pan and gently fry a chopped onion, a chopped carrot and the same amount of chopped celery until softened. Add 1-2 cloves of minced garlic and cook briefly before adding 1 cup of…… Continue reading red lentil and cauliflower gratin
Category: vegetarian dishes
beet greens, sweet potato, lentils and coconut
Here’s a fabulous way to eat those beet greens and stems that often go to waste. Truly delicious! In a large, heavy pot heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat. Add 1 finely diced brown onion and sauté until translucent and soft. Add 1 teaspoon of chilli flakes and ¾ of a teaspoon…… Continue reading beet greens, sweet potato, lentils and coconut
fioretto cauliflower curry
Fioretto cauliflower (Chinese cauliflower, flowering cauliflower, sprouting cauliflower) is a hybrid of white cauliflower and broccoli. It has a more open growth habit than cauliflower with long light green stems and smaller, less dense florets. The stems retain a firmer texture and the flavour is sweet and nutty. I used it in this delicious mild…… Continue reading fioretto cauliflower curry
egg curry + moong and red lentil dhal
Here’s a quick recipe for hard-boiled eggs from Madhur Jaffrey’s ILLUSTRATED INDIAN COOKERY. Perfect with rice or paratha or as an addition to a larger Indian meal. First hard-boil 6-8 eggs. Peel and halve them and set aside. To make the sauce, heat some oil over medium heat in a frypan and add 1 finely…… Continue reading egg curry + moong and red lentil dhal
sticky sesame cauliflower
Sticky and spicy, these cauliflower bites make a perfect vegetarian starter or side. Preheat your oven to 220ºC (425ºF). In a large bowl combine ½ a cup of all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons of cornflour (cornstarch), ½ a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, ½ a teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. Whisk well while…… Continue reading sticky sesame cauliflower
spicy tofu stir fry
Firm tofu lends itself to frying and is a perfect vehicle for a tasty sauce. Cut a 400g (14 oz) block of tofu into flat squares, dry them with a paper towel and dredge with a little cornflour (cornstarch). Heat some peanut or other neutral vegetable oil in a frypan and fry the tofu over…… Continue reading spicy tofu stir fry
buckwheat crêpes with mushroom, spinach and goat cheese
Buckwheat flour pancakes are popular in a number of countries including Eastern Europe, Korea and Canada. In France, buckwheat crêpes are usually made with a savoury filling. To make the batter, slowly add 1 cup of milk to 1 cup of buckwheat flour making sure there are no lumps. Add 2 eggs and ½ a teaspoon…… Continue reading buckwheat crêpes with mushroom, spinach and goat cheese
impossible quiche
Impossible pie is so named because it’s impossibly easy. It’s origin is unknown but in the 1970s and 80s it became one of the most successful food marketing strategies in the U.S. for both General Mills (Betty Crocker) and General Foods (now Kraft General Foods). It can be adapted to any kind of pie, savoury…… Continue reading impossible quiche
sweet potato and red lentil patties
Ugly delicious! Eat these patties as they are or enjoy them on a burger bun with all the trimmings. Tomato sauce (ketchup) is a must and (for those who like it spicy) Sriracha sauce as well. Peel 1 large or 2-3 small sweet potatoes, chop them into large pieces and steam them until soft. Take…… Continue reading sweet potato and red lentil patties
buckwheat and mushrooms
Buckwheat is a popular grain in the Slavic countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. Here it’s paired with dried porcini (cep) mushrooms in a deliciously nutty and flavourful casserole. Soak 55g (2 oz) of porcini mushrooms in 2 cups of warm water for 2 hours. Now preheat your oven to 190ºC…… Continue reading buckwheat and mushrooms
michelle picker cooks 