Vegetarian and Vegan Meals
These recipes are so delicious even non-vegetarians will be happy!
Baked Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Chickpeas
I love the intense sweetness that sweet potatoes develop when they are roasted in their skins. One sweet potato provides about six times your daily vitamin A needs! Topped with spiced chickpeas, a tahini lemon sauce and a tomato salsa this is almost a complete meal - just add green salad. Missing ingredients? Substitute other spices, hummus instead of tahini, a can of mexe beans instead of roasted chickpeas.
Beetroot, Lentil , Orange and Feta Salad
Personally I could eat this as my main meal, but it is equally good as a side dish or salad.
Brown Rice, Tomato and Lentil Soup
Fantastic after rugby on a Friday night, fantastic for lunch on a cold winter’s day, and even better reheated on the next day!
Breakfast
Tired of cornflakes? Find some exciting and healthy breakfast options here
Banana Chia Bread
Cake for breakfast is not ideal but for a treat or a swift brekkie on the go with a cup of coffee this one is not too bad at all.
Zucchini Halloumi Cakes
For a savoury breakfast that's healthier than bacon and eggs, try making these little fellows. Serve with some roasted cherry tomatoes and a piece of wholemeal toast.
Blueberry and Apple Overnight Oats
Busy mornings? Prepare two or three servings of overnight oats at a time and top with your favourite fruit, chopped nuts, seeds or a cooked fruit puree.
Home Made Muesli
I love making my own muesli. It has exactly the ingredients that I want in it and no added oils, sugars etc. Customize this to create your own favourite mix.
Fish and Seafood
Many people tell me they don't know how to cook fish,
so use these recipes and be inspired!
Thai Fish Cakes
A great way to use a cheaper fish fillet to make something very authentically Thai tasting. Great for finger food fare too.
Steamed Ginger Salmon with Bok Choy and Sesame
Thank you Belinda Jeffrey for this absolutely gorgeous recipe. I have simplified the method slightly, but it is SO yummy!
Salmon in a Light Fragrant Broth
Quick and easy dinner. Add noodles to make it more filling.The vegetables can be varied. Fennel or shredded kale would go well.
Salmon Skewers with Chimmichurra
Salmon is one of the richest sources of omega three fatty acids, and if you can get wild caught rather than farmed, thats even better. Any leftover chimmichurra can be served with meat, or whatever else takes your fancy.
Snacks, Sides and Misc
These recipes are so delicious even non-vegetarians will be happy!
Tomato Olive Vinaigrette
This is adapted from a Delia Smith recipe and is excellent on grilled fish but there is no reason why you can't use it with chicken too, or even on corn cakes.
Bliss Balls
Because there is no baking involved here, there's a fair amount of licence to change ingredients according to what you have and what you like. Ground almonds can be expensive so oats could also be used, but then the balls won't be gluten free anymore.
Vegetable Pilau Rice
A Madhur Jaffrey recipe, changed just a little bit. One of my favourite rice dishes, and it will be a great accompaniment for almost anything. I like to eat it with dahl. If you added some chickpeas or lentils for extra protein this could even be the main event.
Chimmichurra
A sauce, a dip, a salsa? What to call chimmichurra? Of South American descent, this excellent blend of green herbs with a little chilli kick is really good served with fish, seafood (I love it on prawns!) or roast beef. You can use as a marinade, or just serve alongside the cooked meat/fish.
Cambodian Lettuce Wraps
Recipe by Robin Wright in ‘Share’ cookbook. This is an absolute winner for 'nibbles' with drinks. All your friends will want the recipe - guaranteed!
Main Courses
These recipes are so delicious even non-vegetarians will be happy!
Pulled Pork Ponzu Noodles
This was a quickly made dish using some leftovers of pulled pork. You could just as easily use cooked chicken strips, pieces of fish, prawns, squid or tofu/tempeh. My recipe for ponzu sauce comes from Genius Kitchen.
Pork and Veal Koftas
If you can't buy pork and veal mince, just buy pork mince and beef mince separately and then combine them. The mixture freezes well either cooked or uncooked, so make a batch.
Chicken with Olives, Capers and Figs
Adapted from a Maggie Beer recipe. You could make lots of substitutions on this recipe and it will still be delicious.
Desserts
These recipes are so delicious even non-vegetarians will be happy!
Chocolate Chilli Mousse
You would never guess that this mousse is made from Tofu. Tofu is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals especially calcium. Tofu can also help lower cholesterol and is great for pre/menopausal women suffering from hot flushes due to its phytoestrogen content. Thanks to Carolyn English of Preventative Nutrition for this recipe.
Chocolate Orange Almond Cake
I found this recipe on the back of a packet of almond meal years ago!
Red Wine Spiced Poached Pears
Pears are one of my favourite fruits and in Winter they are cheap! They are one of the most fibrous fruits too - 5.5g fibre per medium pear! Poach a half dozen for an elegant dessert. (Here I was feeding a crowd but you could halve the quantities.)
Home Baking
These recipes are so delicious even non-vegetarians will be happy!
Coffee Nut Cake
This gluten free cake is light and apparently humble but it is delicious with the coffee zabaglione, making it a sophisticated dessert or morning tea treat.
Chilli Corn Bread
This would be so good with a Mexican bean stew, a tagine or even just with some strong flavoured cheese.
Banana Chia Bread
Chia seeds are high in protein and also anti-inflammatory omega threes. Add to that the olive oil instead of butter, the bananas and the pecan nuts and this is not a bad cake!
Chocolate Beetroot Cake
Beetroot in a cake?? Yes, it adds moistness and a deep colour. Well, you eat carrot cake don't you?!
Apple Date and Pecan Slice
Plenty of fibre in this one which is good as a dessert too if served warm. recipe adapted from one in Annabel Karmel's 'Small Helpings'