Easiest gazpacho

This one can be made in volume, and never disappoints.  And did I mention how healthy it is?

Mix together in a good blender the following until pureed:

• around 600g large tomatoes
• 2 large teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 red or orange pepper (paprika)
• 1 onion
• 1 large clove garlic or two if you want it garlicky
• juice of 1 lime
• handful of fresh basil leaves
• around 400 ml water
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon good balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• Optional: you can add a small bunch of fresh mint to the blender and Worcestershire sauce to taste when serving.

A great variation for ginger lovers:  reduce garlic and add two inches of fresh ginger, to taste.

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Asparagus and lentil salad with Grana Padano

Create a salad bed of hand cut lettuce, shredded beetroot, thinly sliced tomatoes and any other green salad you might have in your refrigerator. Cover with cooked bacon pieces (to taste) and a small tin of lentils – if you don’t want to cook lentils from scratch. Season with good quality bought or home made Ceaser salad dressing.

In the meantime wash and chop in 2 or 3 cm long pieces a bunch of green asparagus and stir fry for about 6 minutes with soya pieces and some sea salt to taste. When ready,  arrange on  the salad whilst still very warm. Sprinkle heavily with grated Grana Padano and ground pepper.

 

Tasty classic minestrone

Nothing screams winter and new-year-healthy-culinary-resolution more than minestrone.  This is my all time favourite, easy to make in bulk and keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days – these measures makes loads:

Cook the following gently for 8-10 minutes or until soft:

• 30g butter (optional)
• 5 tbl olive oil
• 4 chopped carrots
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2-3 chopped cloves garlic
• 125g chopped thick bacon

I cheat with the above and buy a 500g bag of mixed chopped onions and carrots – makes this recipe super fast.

Add the following, bring to the boil and cook gently for 20 mins:

• 2 tinned 400g can chopped tomatoes – or use the fresh equivalent
• 2+ litres of chicken stock

Add and the following and continue cooking gently  for another 15 mins:

• 400g of shredded cabbage – I use the Chinese cabbage version, easier to chop and tastier!
• 100g of cut spaghetti or any other leftover uncooked pasta you might have
• salt to taste

At the end add the following and heat/cook for another 5 mins.

• approx 250g cooked broad or French beans – from a tin or jar, should you wish
• approx 200g cooked petits pois beans

Serve sprinkled with lots of fresh ground black pepper and grated cheese of your choice.

Quick and healthy beetroot soup

In a soup pan fry the following for 3 mins in some sunflower oil:

• 2 red onions, chopped
• 3 small thinly sliced carrots
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp turmeric powder

Then add:

• 1 thinly sliced bell-pepper

Cook/fry for another 3 mins, possibly adding a bit of water to ease the cooking, and then add:

• 1 litre chicken/vegetable stock
• salt to taste
• 4 pre-cooked packaged beetroots sliced 2 ways

Cook for another 4 minutes, then smooth using a hand blender, add a tin of lentils and cook for another 4 mins.  Decorate with sprouts (optional).

Broccoli pesto

Not your typical pesto as you can eat lots and lots of it on its own and you will be healthier for that, however it is also great as a side.

Blend the following in a blender/food processor:

• 1 broccoli head (circa 550g) cut in small florets, cooked/steamed and drained.
• 50 g roasted pine nuts
• 7 tbs olive oil
• juice from lemon and some of its zest
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tbs linseed (optional)
• 1 or 2 garlic cloves, to taste

Serve lots with chicken or fish or serve as a healthy dip.

For the roasted vegetables cut 4 chicory sprouts lengthwise into quarters, sprinkle with olive oil, sea-salt and pepper and fresh thyme.  Half an aubergine, cut small squares in it without cutting the skin, drizzle with olive oil, sea-salt and pepper and oregano.  Roast all at 200oC for 40 mins or until done.

 

Delicious lettuce soup (as unlikely as that sounds)

Fry the following until soft in 2 tbs olive oil:

• 1 chopped red/onion
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
• 3 chopped garlic cloves
• 1 red paprika (optional)

Then add:

• 1 iceberg lettuce, sliced
• 2 tsp mixed dried (italian) herbs
• 500 ml chicken stock (from one cube)
• salt and pepper to taste

and cook for around 10 mins until done.  Add:

• 1 tbs lemon juice
• some milk/cream to taste

and liquidise with a mini-blender.  Yes it is that easy – but tastes great.

Serve with fresh brown bread.

 

Spicy quick chicken a’ l’arrabiata.

 

Mix together:

• 5 tbs olive oil
• 1 tbs dried origano
• 1 tsp hot paprika powder (to taste)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp chicken spice (optional)
• juice of one lemon
• 150 ml white wine (optional)

pour the above over 4 chicken breasts or thighs and bake in a 230 oC oven for 45/50 mins.  Nothing could be easier or tastier!

Tip: serve with roasted pumpkin as in above.

 

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.

Quick and tasty broccoli muffins

Mix the following in a blender, pour into paper cupcake cups and bake at 200oC for 40 mins or until beautifully golden brown.  I thought this would make a great healthy and fun variation on the broccoli patties by baking rather than frying them.

• 2 boiled (or shh… microwaved) potatoes
• 300g steamed broccoli
• 100 g grated cheese of your choice
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 1.5 tsp sea salt
• fresh ground pepper to taste
• 2 beaten eggs
• 6 tbs ground flaxseed – for a great healthy twist

Serve with fresh green salad and a side mix of half ketchup, half mayo – although I found the muffins tasty enough not to require the latter.

Probably the easiest but tastiest salad dressing you could make

Put in a blender, or just cut into small pieces and mix thoroughly, the following:

8 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1.5 tsp sea salt

1 bunch fresh mint

1 bunch fresh coriander (you can also use parsley if coriander is not your thing)

some flaxseed (optional)

3 or 4 spring onions

juice of one lemon

You can spread the above on a normal green salad, or delicious on a bed of grilled aubergines or courgettes.