Zingtastic Greens

Kale and I are still getting used to each other, wheras sprouts and I are old friends. This sentiment is not shared by everyone, in fact my own Gentleman Caller once referred to sprouts as the "devil's testicles". I couldn't be having that! Here is the recipe which changed his mind; Zingtastic Sprout and Kale Sautée Sensation.

Shred your sprouts, kale and chop the sugarsnap beans, roughly a handful of each per person. Into a frying pan add, 2tbs nut oil (toasted sesame, walnut, peanut), 2tbs grated ginger and 1-2 crushed garlic cloves. Once they're nice and hot, try to ignore the fact that it looks like mucus, then add a good dash of soy sauce and 1tbs sesame seeds.

Time to add your veg to the pan, turn down the heat and fry them until they're browned and softening which will be about 8 minutes. Now add a squeeze of lemon juice and enjoy!

And there you go, sprouts are no longer the preserve of a select, taste deficient few! The Gentleman Caller declared them "the best sprouts" he'd ever eaten. Result!

 

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Broccoli Curry Salad

I don't do well with 'main dish' dinners, I think it's one of the reasons I love Spain so much - I really appreciate their tapas culture. So given my penchant for nibbling I was rather disappointed when I realised that my labor intensive Beef Biryani (hat tip to the Hairy Bikers, delicious) was just such a meal. I needed a side dish...stat! Like nearly everything I cook it needed to be quick and necessitate hardly any washing up, I serve you Broccoli Curry Salad with Raita Dressing.

Into a pot of boiling water put a handful of french beans, after 2/3 minutes add some broccoli florets. While they're boiling away toast some caraway seeds in a dry frying pan over a low heat. Drain the greens and grate in a carrot then toss in your seeds and sprinkle over some chilli flakes.

In a seperate dish mix the zest and juice of half a lime, 1/4 of a diced cucumber, 2tbsp natural yogurt, 1tbsp chopped parsley and a small pinch of ground cumin.

Gosh that looks like a lot...mostly it's just mixing things! The yogurt and cucumber keep it cool while the caraway and cumin add enough flavour to make it a delicious side to a curry main dish. I suspect this would be nice with most garden veg, I'm thinking mangetout, petit pois, sugar snap peas and maybe mint?

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Emergency Feeds; Kale Crisps

Nom nom nom nom nom...these crisps are so addictive and I PROMISE they are NOT as disgusting or as 'trendy' as they sound and they will feel like crisps in your mouth! Kale is definitely a food that will love you back, it's full of iron, magnesium, fibre, Vitamin C and even Omega 3! You go Kale, you go! The problem with Kale is that I kinda resent the piety that glowing hipsters have given it with all that green juice they drink, cause most of the time, that stuff looks and tastes like ditch water! I also resent the soggy spoonfuls of slop that my Granny used to dump on to my plate on Sunday. So yeah, Kale has had a pretty hard time. BUT here is something delicious that you can do with Kale that does not result in ditch green juice or the Creature From The Green Lagoon these are the PERFECT emergency feed! Takes 12 minutes tops.
In a shallow bowl put 2tbsp of olive oil, if you are eco friendly (hurray) pop into your garden and get 3 large kale leaves which you will now rinse, dry, remove the stalk from and cut into Doritos size pieces, the rest of you...open a bag of prepared kale (boo hiss). Toss the kale in the oil and lay the little green don't-wannabe-Doritos on a baking tray. Sprinkle them with sea salt and some black pepper.
Put them in the oven for 10 minutes at 150c. These WILL burn if they have a chance, the lower the heat and the longer they cook the better, once they start to brown get them out of there.
These are gorgeous (and addictive) like this but if you fancy more flavour then before you put them in the oven sprinkle them with...
1. Garam Masala - a surprisingly nice Indian twist.
2. Parmesan and Lemon Zest - slightly decadent but Oh. So. Good.
3. Paprika and Garlic Powder - olé, suddenly we're in Spain!
4. Soy Sauce and Ginger - mix these into the oil, no need to tha me yet!

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Emergency Clean Cuisine

I have been terribly guilty of not listening to my own advice lately in that have been hideously underprepared for all my meals! It makes life soooo much harder! Too many times I've raced into the kitchen after work and immediately commenced eating everything within reach! Tonight was almost one of those nights but thankfully this gorgeous seafood cocktail rescued me!

Remove the prawns from the freezer and let them defrost. In a small own bowl mix a tablespoon of seafood dressing (or three parts creme fraiche to one part ketchup) with the zest and juice of half a lemon, to this add your cooked crab meat and let it sit. Slice up an avocado, a fennel bulb and a head of baby gem lettuce and toss it with leaves of your choosing (spinach and watercress for me). Now that your prawns are defrosted quickly grill them and while they're hot add them to your crab meat. Arrange everything on a plate (and if it's really an emergency) DEVOUR it!

So this might be less clean than I like thanks to jarred sauce, but sometimes, I have to cut myself some slack or I'll end up at the drive-thru again (true story) and I'm ok with that! This is delicious and a great balance of lean protein, healthy fats and green carbs so I'm willing to let the tablespoon of decadence slide!

 

 

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Brilliant Brussels

Brussel sprouts are the highlight of every Christmas for me! Yes, they even trump presents (no pun intended). So I was naturally horrified when the Gentleman referred to them as "the devil's testicales." Whaaaaat?! How dare he insult these shrivelled globes of glory. I promptly set about changing his mind, this is the recipe that won him round.

Chop your sprouts in half, keeping any of the outer leaves that fall off. In a pan warm some coconut oil over a low heat, you'll need enough to well cover your sprouts. To the pan add 2tbs of grated ginger, 1 crushed garlic clove and 0.5tsp of ground coriander. Heat it nice and gently for about 5 minutes. Taste it and decide if its tangy enough, keep in mind that sprouts are strong little blighters so you might need more ginger and coriander (depending on how much you want to camouflage them!) Toss your sprouts into the pan and let them soak up the mixture. Transfer the whole lot to a baking tray and roast them on a high heat for 15-20 minutes, leave them alone except for a rattle halfway through. I like to sprinkle over the loose leaves 5 minutes before they're ready, they crisp up wonderfully!

Successfully disguised sprouts!

 

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Ginger chicken and broccoli

This is very similar to my Spicy Steak...for a reason! It's delicious, oh so nutritious and even quicker!

In a small bowl, mix 3tbs soy sauce, 2tbs each of sesame oil and white wine vinegar, 1 crushed garlic clove and 1/2tsp each of ground ginger and ground coriander. Pour it over your cubed chicken fillets and let it marinate for a few minutes.

When you can't wait any longer (I'm not the only one who cooks like this?) fry your chicken. Its nice to add 1tsp of marinated ginger now. After about 5 minutes add the broccoli florets, when they're bright green it's time for the shredded pok choi and chopped coriander. Scatter with sesame seeds just before you serve.

See, told you it was quick! I didn't even get to finish my rosé! Packed with lean protein thanks to chicken, carbs and fibre from the greens and the anitoxidants in the coriander this is the ultimate dish for banishing the last of the weekend bulge.

Despite the sentiments of the rest of the world I actually love a good Monday! Fill a week with them and I'd be the most productive, motivated and healthiest person on the planet! I try to start every week like I mean to go on (clean, lean and green), sadly these idealist intentions waver and weather over the course of the week so that by 7pm Sunday I'll be at the cheese counter with a basket full of wine and deli meats! But oh well! For now, for Monday (if not forever) I'm eating clean, training lean and feeling great! Happy Monday everyone!

 

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Hearty, healthy salad

This is a perfect salad for a quick packed lunch. The ingredients hold really well and taste better with time!

Start by rinsing a half can of puy lentils. Next chop up the tomatoes, some yellow pepper, a few baby corns (real name anyone?), a good chunk of cucumber, some feta cheese, half an avocado and a small amount of red onion. Toss this with your greens (your choice but something neutral like spinach or beets lets the other flavours out). You need a good bunch or parsley in here too; adds a surprising bite.

Now drizzle on the dressing, a basic one like equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar is perfect. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and maybe some salt.

I love the balance of protein, fats and vegetables in this recipe, it really fills you up for the afternoon! Enjoy!

 

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Quick spicy steak

Yummy! Spicy steak with enough greens to fill a garden! Not only that. It's delicious and ready in minutes.

Start by cutting your sirloin steaks into strips. Then leave them to marinate in toasted sesame oil, soy sauce (2:1), spring onions (4) and dried chilli flakes (1tsp), the longer the better obviously, but 15mins is plenty if you're rushing. In the meantime, chop your broccoli and top/tail your beans (mangetout/sugarsnap peas/runners) and blanch them. While that's going on rinse and chop your greens (spinach/pok choi/beet/kale).

You're on the last leg now. Fry up your steak, adding your broccolli and beans just before it's done and your greens a few seconds before you take it off the heat.

Yummy! As always the quantities are vague, so taste as you go and mix it up!

 

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