3-minute walnut pesto

This pesto is so tasty but easy to make you will wonder why you ever bought a ready made version.

Mix in a blender to a nice pesto paste:

• 100g walnuts
• 1 tbs ground flaxseed (optional)
• 100 ml olive oil
• 1 tsp sea salt
• juice of half a lemon
• ground pepper to taste
• 1 clove garlic
• 60g rucola

Serve with your favourite pasta on a bed of rucola.  Here I have combined with wholemeal ravioli, alfalfa sprouts and sautéed mushrooms.

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Quick and tasty broad bean dip

Broad beans can be bought for next to nothing in a dry form, soaked overnight and cooked slowly for 1 and a half hours on medium heat in lots of slightly salted water.  There is no need to peel the beans but just just quickly pure’ with a hand blender together with the following:

• 3 cloves garlic,
• 100 ml olive oil
• 80 ml lemon juice
• 2 tsps sea salt
• 2 tsps ground cumin
• 2 tsps paprika powder

Add some of the cooking liquid to taste (and consistency).

The recipe is for 300g beans in dry form.

The cooking of the beans takes more than an hour, but the rest cannot be easier or quicker.  Makes loads, so again great if you have friends over.

Delicious and easy hummus

Hummus is so delicious and easy to make that I often wonder why I ever buy it ready made.  Here goes:

• 700 ml drained tinned or bottled chick peas
• 2 level tsps sea salt or lo-salt, to taste
• 2 cloves garlic
• 300 ml tahini – use less first and then add according to taste
• 80 ml lemon juice – use a bit more according to taste
• cayenne pepper and olive oil for garnish

Blend, using a hand blender, the chick peas, salt and garlic.  Once it is a smooth paste add the tahini and lemon juice and extra water to get the right consistency.  Adjust the tahini, lemon juice and salt to taste.

Serve sprinkled with cayenne pepper and olive oil.  This recipe makes loads, so perfect if you have friends over.

Tip: an alternative to tahini is ground cumin.