All Blog Posts (751)

Cactus Jack: 7 Char-grilled Vegetables in 7 Days

Day 1: Strips of red pepper (2 large Bell peppers) marinated in Spanish spices (paprika, chilli powder, chipotle) and paint on the olive oil. Blister for 10-15 minutes, air-fried. Salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Day 2. 1 large potato, cut finely. Air-fry in a crust of garlic granules firstly then dip the other side in nutritional yeast for the last 5 minutes of grilling. It takes 10-15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro. Salt and…

The most recent bourguignons I have cooked were all served with mashed potatoes and carrots on the side. Most recent bourguignons of mine was a delicious fried tempeh triangles bourguignon and one of the originals was white chestnut ball bourguignon. I use two varieties of mushrooms for contrast e.g., Portobello and button mushrooms. Shitake or button mushrooms if you choose to. The herb most associated with bourguignon is thyme. The red wine is vegan friendly. Guar bulks up. Tapioca has the…

For Us. For extra length. Allspice-Pimiento. To make your paella even better add in 1/2 cup of sliced pimiento stuffed green olives. Spanish peppers are called Padron peppers. I like Bullhorn peppers for paella dishes too.  A pinch of Cayenne pepper can be added for extra heat. Allspice berry is the Spanish name for pimento. Chillies are hot peppers, red peppers and green peppers. They belong to the Capsicum species and F. Solanaceae. F means Family. Pimenton is paprika. Pimienta is Pepper…

A Posset of Flowering Courgettes with a faux Tune Mousse

A light batter consists of 2 cups of plain flour and enough filtered water to make a light runny batter, add a pinch of salt. Whisk until the batter is smooth.

Prepare the flowering tops of the Courgette by washing and trimming each individually. Dip one at a time into the batter. To avoid any run-off lift the spoon with the Courgette on over the prep dish. Dip one at a time into the hot oil with a clotted spoon. After 5…

Stuffed Zucchini

Serves 4

Preheat air-oven to 200C.

Take 4 large Zucchini. Prepare by washing the Zucchini and taking out any dark spots on the surface of the Zucchini. Trim by topping and tailing then cut each Zucchini in half widthways. Using a vegetable knife gut the insides. Discard the insides. You can use an apple-corer for this.  This has created the cavity to stuff your Zucchini.

Prepare the vegetable stuffing. Choose any seasonal vegetables that can be…

Cassava and Jap (Kabocha squash) Pumpkin Stew

Serves 2 

Ingredients: 4 frozen rounds of Cassava found at speciality shops

1 medium Jap (Kabocha squash) Pumpkin, washed, peeled and dry air-oven roasted

2 medium Tomatoes, chopped

2 red Onions, peeled and diced

Olive or Grapeseed oil, 2-3 tbsp

10-15 fresh Curry leaves

1/2 tsp chilli and garlic paste

1/2 tsp ginger paste

1/2 tsp dried flaked chillies

1/2 tsp cumin…

Potato Song

1 large Potato, scrubbed and peeled, as big as you can

1-2 drops or a splash of Hickory (dependant on the manufacturer)

Serano chilli pepper

2 rashers of streaky plant bacon per serve

2 handfuls of green Beans each, top and tailed

4 medium country mushrooms, washed and trim the stock

4 cloves garlic, crushed

Plant butter

2-3 tbsp Grapeseed or Olive Oil for roasting

Salt and lemon pepper to taste

In a…

Here is a salsa for you. This one has cumin in it. Makes 4 cups. 

2 C Tomatoes

1/2 C Cucumbers, diced 

1/2 C Onions, diced

1 teaspoon Garlic, minced

1 green Capsicum 

1 teaspoon of  ground cumin

1 splash of rice vinegar

Freshly chopped cilantro

 Lime juice and zest

1/2 teaspoon cayenne or Tabasco sauce

Salt to taste.

Mix the tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, cumin and garlic together. Season with…

Some Marinades

The Marinades are important to vegan cooking. Here are some of mine. Also, some pointers on marinades include: Where soy is mentioned, coconut aminos seasoning can substitute. There are some food items that suit marinades including tofu, pears and mushrooms for their ability to ‘suck up’ ,as it were, the liquid marinade. There are 20 minute marinades through to overnight (in the fridge) marinades. The longer the better for a more intense flavour some say although 20…

Air-Ovened 'Stand Up Little Soldiers' Zucchini Roll-Ups

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 large Zucchini, wash and peel. I use a large Y-vegetable peeler

Grapeseed or Olive oil

My Spice mix today is:

Thyme, dried

Cumin, powdered

Pepper (white), to taste

Salt, to taste

Cayenne, powdered

Garlic paste or garlic granules

Sumac, ground spice

Dukka, store-bought

Wedges of lemon to serve. Pomegranate molasses to…

Chinese Fried Rice vegan-style

Serves 3

1 ½ C brown rice, cooked rice

3 Tomatoes, medium

1 bunch of baby scallions, washed, trimmed and cut on the diagonal

1 fresh red chilli, cut on the diagonal

I can of baby corn, drained

2-3 cloves garlic, sliced

1 tsp garlic paste

1 tsp of ginger paste

1 tsp chilli paste

1 tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp onion powder

1 tsp onion seeds

Salt and pepper, to…

4 Roast Red Spanish Peppers and Beetroot Salsa – the Red Salsa

6 ‘witches hat down’ Spanish peppers

6 baby Beets, whole, cooked and cut in half

Serrano pepper

1 Red Spanish Onion, diced

Olive oil or Grapeseed oil

A splash of rice vinegar

½ tsp Cayenne powder

½ tsp Red Pepper powder

Salt and pepper to taste

½ bunch of fresh coriander, chopped to garnish

With a roasting pan air-oven 220C the 6 ‘witches hat down’…

Seasonal Farmers Market Harvest fresh produce stew with fresh garlic

Cherry Tomato, Portabello Mushrooms and Cauliflower

Chanterelles, Carrot, Celery and Leek

a la Mexicana hot chilli

Sweet Potato, spiced masala potato and baby spinach

Taro, butter mushrooms and root vegetables

Kale, Courgette, Mushrooms and Aubergine

Bell Peppers, Tomato and Mushrooms

Feisty Aubergine, Mushrooms and Potato sambal

Mixed Vegetable stew including…

Salsa 3: Tart Granny Smith green Apple, Tomato and English Cucumber and Mango.Lime.

My Go-To Salsa

Salsa 1

Ingredients:

6 Granny Smith or tart Green Apples, washed, cut into quarters and thinly sliced

1 large Red Onion, washed and diced

1 bag of Red Seedless Grapes, a handful

A splash of rice vinegar, to taste

1 teaspoon Date Sugar Powder or any sugar

2 small limes, juice and zest

1 small pinch of Cayenne powder to…

On A Chilly Evening Lentil And Coconut Stew

Serves 4

4 cans brown Lentils

2 large tomatoes, chopped

1 red Chilli, cut on the diagonal

8 Cobettes Corn, previously air-ovened for the kernals

3 tbsps fresh Coconut, grated

2 teaspoons Chipotle powder or 2 Chipotles in Adobo sauce

1 tsp dried Thyme

1 tsp dried Coriander leaf

1 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Turmeric

1 tsp red Chilli paste

1 tsp Garlic paste

2 tsp…

This is a formula on salsa. It is not unlike what 'Do Re Mi' is to music. The base ingredients in salsa are what notes are to song. e.g., Red Onion, Cilantro and Lemon or Lime quarters are the base and that is what we build on. All salsas should be chilled.

Choose 2 from this category

Vegetables and Fruits for the salsa:

Tomato, English Cucumber, Capsicum;all colours, Red Chillies, Green Chillies, Habanero, Serrano, Jalapeno, Mango, Pineapple, Spring Onion, Shallots, Red…

1.Tacos, vegan allsorts of plant-based tacos served with sweet potato fries.

2. Enchilada

3. Mexi Chilli Bowl

4. Mexican Street Corn with lime and cilantro
5. Macho Nachos and Nachos Fruit Salad with dusting powder
6. All the mojos
7. Vegetables with Mexican Molcajete sauce
8. a la Mexicana casserole with ezpozate and Mexican oregano
9. Almond Tortilla with Spanish rice, avocado and trimmings, Tortilla served…

Pimento-stuffed Herby Olives, Baby Scallions and Tomato Salsa

2 large tomatoes per person

1 bunch of baby Scallions, 5 per person, finely chopped like you would chives or left ás is’ after top and tailing them

3 slices long red fresh Chilli, cut on the diagonal

2 cloves of grated fresh Garlic, crushed

¼ bunch of Coriander, finely chopped up

A splash of Rice vinegar

½ teaspoon of Chipotle powder or Paprika for a smoky effect

1 small…

This delicious salsa with capers is with a difference. 

One Tomato Salsa with Capers: 4 large tomatoes; diced, 4 cloves garlic; chopped, 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 4 tbsp flat leaf parsley, 1-2 tsps capers, drained, 1 tbsp lemon juice and zest, 1/4 tsp salt to taste. 

Trade-name Bellini's Tomatoes are also recommended for this salsa.

VIXENs FIX-INs

 Make your own burritos DIY with family and friends. This Mexican feast is for all!

NEXT LEVEL BURRITOS: include

VEGETABLES: Iceberg lettuce, strips of red capsicum, green capsicum, orange and yellow capsicum, slaw with carrot, sprouts.

BEANS: Black beans, Red Kidney beans, Lentils, Chickpeas, White beans.

THE BEEF: A selection of plant-based meat or meat-less 'meatballs', plant-based streaky bacon, marinated and BBQ-ed tempeh, TVP spicy…