Category Archives: Food Blog

10 Minute storecupboard Miso Ginger Rice Noodle Bowl

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This is barely a recipe but I wanted to jot it down so I remember for next time, should I unexpectedly run out of food (again). And maybe this has happened to you too…
This is my go-to dinner when the fridge is empty and I am too tired to go to the store.
It’s very basic, made in a jiffy and good to have on hand just in case.
It does require some pantry items which I hope you have, like chili paste, rice noodles, soy sauce, miso etc…any veggies laying around in the back of your fridge will do.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups water
  • 4 eggs (or any other protein you may have)
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1 small/medium onion, peeled and chopped fine
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled, minced
  • 1 tsp. ginger, peeled, grated
  • 1.5 tbsp. soy sauce , more to taste
  • 2 tbsp. miso paste (I used white)
  • 2 tsp. Mae Pranom Thai chili paste (contains shrimp+tamarind)
  • 200 gr/7 oz. thick rice noodles
  • chili flakes
  • cilantro if you have it, which I didn’t…
  • 1 cup Broccoli florets or any other veggies
  • Lao gan ma crispy chili oil for drizzling on top. (The best chili oil in the history of mankind.)
  • 1 tsp. Sesame oil for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat a large pan or pot with a medium high rim, you’re cooking everything in here so you need the room for stock etc…
Put the kettle on for 2 cups of boiling water.
Place 2 to 4 eggs depending on appetite in a small pan cover with cold water, place on stove and bring to a boil, cook for 5 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and peel, set aside. Meanwhile…
Heat 2 tablespoons coconut oil to medium heat,
Add 1 small finely chopped onion, 3 minced garlic and one teaspoon minced ginger.
Cook for 4 minutes, add 2 tbsp. Miso paste, 2 teaspoons shrimp chili paste and a pinch of chili flakes.
Add 2 cup of boiling water, add the rice noodles* and the broccoli, cook for 4 minutes on low heat. Turn off the heat and add some sesame oil.
Season with soy sauce.
Divide into two bowls, add boiled eggs cut in half and drizzle with crispy chili oil. If you have it, use cilantro, sesame seeds, chives or any other toppings you may have lying around. Enjoy!

Gluten-free Yeast-free Bread

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This Gluten free and yeast free bread is nice and soft and has a lovely crispy crust.
Not only is it gluten free and yeast free, but it has one of my favourite ingredients in it….OATS!
Yes Oats, as an everyday “baked Oatmeal” eater, you can probably imagine how happy this bread makes me.
Since there’s no yeast, there is also no waiting for the bread to rise. The kneading is minimal, which I now do in the electric mixer, so while I enjoy my mid-morning coffee my bread is basically making and baking itself.

I believe the true magic ingredient in this bread to be the ground psyllium husk. It binds the bread beautifully and makes it so soft, and it has a substantial amount of beneficial fibre making it in my humble opinion the best bread ever! The original idea comes from Ela Vegan, and since reading her recipe for gluten free bread, I’ve done a fair amount of research about adding psyllium to bread recipes. And there seem to be many many people using psyllium in gluten free bread as a binder. So after testing and baking a few weeks, here is my version and we love it, simply because it’s so easy, quick, delicious and healthy.
I hope you agree, why not give it a try?

Prep time : 10 min
Cooking time : 60 min
Makes : 1 loaf

INGREDIENTS:

• 30 gr. Psyllium husk powder
• 425 ml. hand warm water
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. regular vinegar
• 100 gr. (gluten free) Oat flour
• 150 gr. Brown rice flour
• 45 gr. White rice flour
• 45 gr. Tapioca
• 50 gr. Seeds of choice (sunflower seeds, hemp, sesame…)
• 2 tsp. Baking powder
• ½ tsp. Baking soda
• 1 egg,  beaten for brushing loaf

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Pre heat the oven to 180 C. / 350 F.
2. In the bowl of your mixer add the water, salt and vinegar. Stir to combine and sprinkle the psyllium husk powder over the water. With the hook attachment in place, run the mixer for a minute or so until well combined. Let it sit for 10 minutes until a jelly forms.
3. In a large bowl combine the flours with baking powder, baking soda and seeds, set one tablespoon of seeds aside for sprinkling on top of the loaf. .
4. Turn the mixer on to the lowest setting and pour in the flour mixture.
5. Mix until combined. It will not turn into a normal dough ball like what you are used to, but instead remain more crumbled.
6. Transfer the dough onto a counter top that you have dusted lightly with tapioca flour, knead slightly and shape into a loaf. Brush with egg and sprinkle with the remaining seeds.
7. Place the loaf on a lined baking tin and place in the middle of the oven.
8. Bake for 60 minutes until golden on top. And when tapped with your fingers, it will sound hollow. Alternatively you may insert a wooden skewer, it should come out dry.
9. Remove from the oven once fully baked and let it cool completely before cutting.
10. This bread will keep well wrapped or in a Tupperware for a few days. You can also freeze this loaf.

Enjoy!

If you make this Gluten free and yeast free bread , be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you and if you love it, pin it. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! @thecookingspoonblog or hashtag it #thecookingspoonblog

Peach Halloumi Summer Salad with Sweet Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

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Ripe Sweet summer Peaches and crispy Halloumi, a salty, sweet and tangy element in every single bite. The sweet lemon Basil Vinaigrette just brings the whole salad to WOW level. Make this at your next Barbeque, so you can grill the Halloumi on there too or make it in a griddle pan in the convenience of your kitchen. 

Either way this salad is always good, as a side, lunch or as a dinner on it’s own. And make double the dressing, because it’s delicious on everything, grilled chicken, fish, sandwiches…..

As always, the salad ingredients are all optional and inter-changeable. Use what you have on hand, and leave out what you don’t like


Prep time : 10 minutes
Cooking time : 2 minutes
Serves : 4 as a side, 2 as a light meal

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 large bags of prepared salad mix, about 10-14 oz. / 300-400 gr.
  • 1 block Halloumi, drained and patted dry
  • 1 or two ripe peaches, pealed and cut into wedges
  • 1 or two Avocados
  • 1 cucumber, peeled
  • 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 3 Spring onions
  • 1/4 cup whole Basil leafs
  • micro greens


SWEET LEMON BASIL VINAIGRETTE:

  • a handful Basil
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 2 tbsp. Honey
  • 1 shallot finely minced
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste



INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Get out a large serving platter, plate or salad dish and place all the lettuce leaves in the bowl.
  2. Place all the ingredients for the dressing in blender and blend for a minute to combine everything well.  Set aside until ready to use.
  3. Heat a small frying pan and toast the pine nuts, keep an eye on them since they burn quickly.
  4. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and again each half in half. Then cut into thick slices, so you end up with thick quarters. Arrange on top of the lettuce leafs.
  5. Cut the avocado in half and scoop out pieces using a small spoon and place on the salad.
  6. Arrange the red cabbage over the greens.
  7. Arrange the peaches over the greens.
  8. Slice the spring onions and sprinkle over the salad.
  9. Arrange micro greens on top of salad, if using. 
  10. Heat a griddle pan until hot. Slice the Halloumi into 1/4″ slices (1/2 cm) and place on the dry griddle pan and grill each side for one minute. Alternatively, grill on the barbeque.
  11. Place on top of the salad as soon as them come out of the pan.
  12. Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the salad and serve straight away with plenty of the sweet lemon basil vinaigrette. 


Enjoy!!

Elotes and Pineapple Salad , Ensalada de Elotes con Piña

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This is our favorite Summer Salad, Elotes Salad or Mexican Street corn Salad with pineapple. It’s basically Mexican Street Corn that you can eat with a spoon rather than digging into a whole corn on the cob covered with Cotija, paprika etc…which can be a challenge, except that I have added some grilled pineapple.
This is a great salad to serve at your next Barbeque, or as we like to do, add it to Tacos and even pile it high on Burgers. So SO good!
It’s very simple, you start by grilling corn and fresh pineapple and once they are cooled you cut off the kernels carefully with a sharp knife, then toss together with the pineapple chunks in a simple dressing.

Prep time : 15 min
Cooking time : 10 min
Serves : 6

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 ears of Corn
  • 1/3- 1/2 of a fresh pineapple, peeled and sliced thick-ish (see note*)
  • 2 scallions, sliced
  • 1 small red onion, peeled and chopped fine
  • 1 small red chili pepper, deseeded and chopped fine
  • ½ cup crumbled Cotija cheese (see note**)
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro, more for on top

Dressing:

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup crème fraiche
  • Juice of 1 lime, or more according to taste
  • A few dashes of Tabasco ( or Franks hot sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, more for on top
  • Salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat (an outdoor) grill or grill pan to medium heat. Clean your corn if necessary and rub all over with a little oil. Place on the grill and cook for about 10 minutes, turning every few minutes. Do the same with the Pineapple slices. Remove them once cooked from the grill and let them cool.
Meanwhile mix mayonnaise, crème fraiche, lime juice, tabasco and paprika together in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Cut the kernels off the cob, and cut the pineapple slices into bite-size pieces
Get out a pretty bowl and combine everything… the corn, pineapple, onion, scallions, chili peppers, Cotija cheese, cilantro, and dressing. Reserve some cilantro and Cotija to sprinkle on top.

Enjoy!

* Any left-over Pineapple is great grilled and then served with ice-cream as a dessert.
** If you can’t find Cotija, I think that Feta resembles it most, it has a similar texture and taste.

If you make this Elotes salad, be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you and if you love it, pin it. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! @thecookingspoonblog or hashtag it #thecookingspoonblog