We joined up with friends for a picnic at the weekend. I would normally have taken the tabbouleh but I needed to provide a couple of gluten-free recipes. We also had a load of home-grown baby tomatoes and a couple home-grown courgettes, gifted by a neighbour. And quinoa is of course GF, so I made this. What I particularly loved is that it allows the true flavour of the home-grown produce to sing.
Tabbouleh
As I write, it’s the start of a weekend that promises to be properly summery. I’m sure many BBQs are being planned (including ours). In which case, I can thoroughly recommend this glorious tabbouleh. It uses very few ingredients and is one of those recipes that is so much more than the sum of its…
Sorrel and lentil soup
Last year, in lockdown 1, I bought a selection of home-propogated plants from a friend. One of these was sorrel, which I was told would add architecture to the border. This weekend, I needed to cut it back (you can see how vigorous it is from the first photo). So I thought I’d also have…
Nigella’s vegan spag bol
Friends have started sending me recipe recommendations. This one came to me at the end of Veganuary. No matter, because we still seem to be vegan at the moment. I’ve been on the lookout for a deep-flavoured vegan/vegetarian bolognaise recipe for a while. This one is full of smoky, mushroomy overtones. It’s a gorgeous recipe…
Vegan sourdough-starter brownies
New year, new project: sourdough! I’m right at the beginning of my sourdough journey of testing, trying, perfecting. I know that there are questions I need answers to. I also know that there are questions I don’t yet know I need the answers to! From what I can gather, it’s a long journey and fraught…
Rick Stein’s Greek vegetable briam
We’ve been hooked on “Rick Stein’s Cornwall” recently. I often try to vegetarianise his non-vegetable recipes anyway, because his food always looks so fresh and straightforward. Yesterday’s episode, however, featured a gorgeous recipe that showcases vegetables purely and simply. I made it this evening. It’s wonderful! https://www.rickstein.com/recipe-cornish-briam-from-rick-steins-cornwall/ Don’t be put off by its rustic appearance.
Lentil and lemon soup
A great starter soup for #veganuary, this is so quick to make, so effortless and so nutritious. And delicious – the addition of lemon juice just at the end makes it lighter than you’d expect. Ingredients (serves 4) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 150g red lentils, washed…
St Stephen’s Day pancakes
We’re big fans of pancakes anyway and this might become a new Boxing Day tradition – a lazy brunch of pancakes and Christmassy apple and raisin compote. I was inspired by a baked apple recipe in a new cookbook and the fact that the girl didn’t emerge until just before midday. And the fact that…
Courgette caponata
I’d never bothered with caponata, partly because it’s usually based on aubergine, which I don’t mind but other members of the family are less keen on, and partly because aubergine usually involves enormous quantities of olive oil. Also, I never knew what to have it with. But earlier in the summer, I was researching ideas…
Olive, almond and parsley tapenade
I made this more as a dressing on a harissa-spiced chickpea and lentil salad (with halloumi). But it’s my new favourite thing and great with thin toast, oat cakes, rice cakes, crudités… and it improves with time. Ingredients 250g green or black olives, depending on your preference – I used olives in brine, drained 1…
The Veg Isle 