Carrot, Cumin & Coriander Soup with Bulgur Wheat

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Its definitely soup season, I woke to -5 deg this morning….very cold.   Using up some leftovers in my fridge, mainly carrot and onion I decided to make a warming soup. This was delicious and hit the spot right. I used my steampot, so steaming the vegetables made this even more nutritious and flavorsome.

 

Makes 3 Servings

4 large carrots

1 large onion

500ml Vegetable Stock

60g Bulgur Wheat

1 tsp garlic granules

1 1/2 tsp Cumin

1 1/2 tsp dried coriander

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

  1. Chop up the onion & carrots into chunks and place in the steam pot with 200ml of the vegetable stock and cook on steam setting for 8 minutes.                                  20191118_130805
  2. Remove steam pot lid and add in the rest of the stock then blitz with a hand blender until well blended and smooth.                                                      20191118_132702
  3. Stir in the spices/herbs and bulgur wheat and cook on microwave at 750w for 3 minutes.                                                                                                20191118_133322
  4. Remove and stir. Season and serve.

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20191118_134019 you can of course make a big batch and freezer for later.

 

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

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It’s Halloween Season, my favourite time of the year, beautiful crisp air, colourful leaves on the trees, dark cosy nights, everything spooky and weird, and amazing food flavours around. To be honest this is my first time with Pumpkin, I’ve never cooked it before myself, I thought I would try steam cooking it for more flavour and making a creamy soup as it was a really cold day here today. Was delicious.

Makes 1 large portion

250g chopped pumpkin

30g sliced leek

30ml double cream

300ml vegetable stock

30g Bulgur Wheat

Salt & pepper to taste

  1. Place the pumpkin and leeks with 100ml of the stock into the bottom of the steam pot and cook on dynamic steam for 8 minutes. Otherwise, place stock in a pan with pumpkin & leeks, & additional 100ml stock then bring to boil, reduce slightly & cook covered until soft.
  2. Remove lid and pour in the rest of the stock and the cream, season with salt & pepper and blend with a hand blender until smooth.
  3. If using pot its the same method as above.
  4. Add in the Bulgur Wheat to the creamed soup and cook on microwave 900w for 3 minutes.
  5. Or simmer in pan for 5 – 7 minutes.
  6. Remove from microwave/pan and serve with some toasted pumpkin seeds and a drizzle of olive oil.
  7. You can also add in some toasted croutons if you like.

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Filipino Chicken Curry

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I recently purchased the new High Protein Handbook No. 5 from Scott Baptie, and this little recipe was my first one I tried, I have to say it was super tasty and very nutritious too.

 

Serves 2

1 tsp coconut oil

2 Chicken Breasts – chopped into chunks

1 sweet potato – chopped into chunks

1 onion – chopped

1 tsp dried garlic granules

1 tsp ginger

1 red pepper, chopped into chunks

1 tbsp curry powder

1 tsp paprika

1 tbsp fish sauce

200ml coconut milk

1 tsp chilli powder

Salt & pepper to taste

 

  1. Melt the coconut oil in a pan, season the chicken and add to the pan to brown then removed with a slotted spoon.
  2. Add the onion, pepper, sweet potato, garlic and ginger and brown.
  3. Add the chicken back to the pan and add the fish sauce, paprika, curry powder, chilli and coconut milk, reduce to a low simmer and cook covered for about 1-2 hours.
  4. Remove lid, turn heat up slightly and allow to cook uncovered for about 20-30 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
  5. Serve on its own or with some steamed wholemeal rice.

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Steamed Cod & Spicy Butternut Squash Curry

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Oh yum!  A lovely little healthy warming dish on a very, very cold day today.

 

Makes 2 servings

2 x cod loins

Salt

Rainbow Pepper

2 tsps Parsley

Butternut Squash – chopped into cubes

1 onion – finely chopped

1 clove garlic – crushed

1 tsp dried chillies (or 1 red chilli chopped)

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp dried coriander

1 tsp turmeric

1 400g can chopped tomatoes

2 tbsp water

100g spinach

 

  1. Season the cod loins with salt, pepper & 1 tsp parsley each. Steam cook for 6 minutes in Steam pot or steam oven.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and fry the onion with the garlic for a few minutes, add in the chilli, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, coriander, 2 tbsp water & tin tomatoes, bring to a boil then reduce and simmer and cover for 20 minutes or until butternut squash has softened.
  3. Remove lid and place spinach into pan, do this in 2 batches, it will wilt down in a few seconds, simmer on low for a further 5 minutes.
  4. Serve with the steamed cod. Lovely healthy quick mid week meal.

 

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Avocado, Spinach & Pea Mash – served with steamed teriyaki salmon

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My healthier eating continues this month. I got some lovely bits of Scottish Salmon recently so came up with this idea of a healthier mash using whatever I had in my fridge. It was delicious. Best bit, it only took 6 minutes to cook and put together.

 

Makes enough mash for 2-3 people

80g baby spinach

1 avocado

50g garden peas – cooked

juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp Sea Salt

Garlic clove – minced

1 tsp coriander – dried

1 tsp olive oil

(optional if you like spice, add in 1 tsp chilli flakes)

 

  1. Place everything into a blender and mix until just combined.
  2. Serve. Simple as that!

I steam cooked some salmon that I marinated in Teriyaki Sauce overnight. Yum!

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Steamed Wild Rice with Butternut Squash, Chestnuts & Pancetta

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This dish is so yummy with a little kick. Perfect for Christmas dining as you can make as much as you need. I do love 1 pot meals.

Makes about 4 large portions or 8 smaller side portions.

1 x Butternut Squash – cubed

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chilli flakes

100g cooked chestnuts, quartered

½ small pack sage leaves, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

8 slices of pancetta – chopped

2 shallots, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

150g basmati & wild rice mix

300ml veg stock

Parmesan to serve

  1. Heat oven to 200 deg.
  2. Toss the squash with 1⁄2 tbsp of oil, chilli flakes and some seasoning on a large roasting tray. Roast for 15 mins, then add the shallots, garlic, chestnuts and nestle the sage and pancetta around the squash so that they touch the baking sheet.
  3. Return to the oven for 10-15 mins until the pancetta and sage are crisp. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  4. In the Steam pot place the Rice with the 300ml stock and steam for 20 mins on rice setting.  Or you can use a pan on the hob, bring to boil the stock , add rice, cover, reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.
  5. Remove steam pot and add the ingredients to rice and mix through to warm through.
  6. Serve with grated parmesan.

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Carrot, Courgette & Ginger Seabass Salad.

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Oh yummy! Nice little healthy quick mid week meal.

I do love a good gadgets, and I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer with Grater attachment and also my Steam Pot for steam cooking in my microwave combi oven.

 

Serves 2

250g SeaBass

1 Carrot

1 Courgette

6 Spring onions, sliced diagonally

small piece of ginger, grated

Small bunch or fresh coriander, chopped

1 juice of Lime

3 tbsp olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

 

  1. Season the seabass and place into the steampot and cook on Sensor steam for 8 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, place the attachment onto your mixer (if you have a spiralizer that would work too) and shred the carrot & courgette into a bowl.
  3. Slice the spring onions diagonally into small pieces and place into bowl with the grated ginger, coriander, lime juice and 3tbsp olive oil. Mix together.
  4. Slice the sea bass and allow to cool then mix through the vegetable mix. Serve.

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Sweet Chilli Salmon with Zingy Basmati, Quinoa and veg salad

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I got this little Jamie Olive cook book recently and have been trying out some recipes, which I have to say have been delicious. Tonight, I thought I would take my inspiration from Mr. JO but put my own twist to this. I have to say it was rather tasty…..Mmmmmm.

Using a combination of my Crisper plate and my steam pot, this little dish was made in under 20 minutes. Quick and easy meals.

 

Serves 2

80g Basmati & quinoa rice (I used Tilda)

2 x Scottish Salmon Fillets

4 tsp sweet chilli sauce (I always use Blue Dragon, I find they are the best)

2 tbsp sesame seeds

3 spring onions

1 fresh red chilli

60g sugar snap peas

2 carrots

4 springs of fresh coriander

2 tsp toasted sesame oil

1 lime (juice only)

80g smoked beetroot

1/2 cucumber

 

 

  1. Place the basmati rice into the steam pot with 200ml water and cover, cook on the Automatic rice setting on microwave for 18 minutes. Remove and keep warm (keep lid on till other food is ready)                                                                                       20180529_175113
  2. Meanwhile, rub the sweet chilli sauce into the salmon then sprinkle the sesame seeds over making sure they stick by pressing slightly.
  3. Finely slice the spring onions, sugar snap peas, chilli then julienne the carrot, cucumber, beetroot using a julienne peeler (if not you can coarsely grate). Place all into a bowl with the coriander.                                                                                     20180529_161951
  4. Place the salmon (skin side down) onto the crisper plate and cook on dynamic crisp setting for 7 minutes or until slightly crispy and cooked.
  5. Pour the basmati rice into the salad bowl and mix through with the toasted sesame oil, lime juice and 2 tsp of sweet chilli sauce.                                                             20180529_175433
  6. Serve up the salad and place the salmon when ready on top. Amazing, Tasty little dish. Yummy!

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Red Pepper Chicken with Crispy Potatoes & Steamed Vegetables

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Don’t you just love quick and easy cooking? Sometimes, especially on bank holiday Mondays when your relaxed, you just don’t feel like cooking but still want something healthy, nutritious, flavoursome with hardly any washing up? Oh yes, you’ve guessed it……out comes the little Crisper plate, this little dish is so easy and quick with perfect results. I also used my new Steam pot too for extra nutrition. I just love Gadgets that work for me.

 

Makes 2 servings.

For the Crisper Plate:-

2 Chicken Breasts – cut into large bite size pieces

2-3 potatoes – cut into bite size chunks (skin on)

2-3 sweet peppers – cut into wedges

1 red onion – cut into wedges

Handful of plum tomatoes

Salt & Pepper

Red Pepper Chilli flakes

Garlic & Parsley seasoning

 

  1. Pre-heat the Crisper plate for 2 minutes on Dynamic Crisp
  2. Place all above ingredients (except the tomatoes) into a bowl or food bag and drizzle with a little oil, shake to coat chicken, potatoes and veg.                      20180402_181839
  3. Place onto the Crisper plate and cook for 12-15 minutes (depends on thickness of potatoes and chicken or how crispy you like it)
  4. After 6 minutes, add in the plum tomatoes and cook.                                          20180402_183113_001
  5. Serve…..Yummy!

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For the Steamed Vegetables:-

Your choice of vegetables, I choose broccoli, asparagus and spinach.

Place broccoli and asparagus onto the steam pot grid and fill the pot with 200ml water. Place into the oven and select sensor steam, cook for 5 minutes.

2 minutes before cooking is due to finish, place the spinach in the pot and continue to cook.

 

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Steamed Chicken Meatballs with Peanuts on Spinach

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So delicious! If you love peanut butter, you will love this.

With my new Hotpoint oven came a Steam pot so I’ve been trying to experiment with steam cooking, not only is it more nutritious but also so much more healthier. First, since food is cooked by direct contact between steam as well as the movement of the hot vapor through the food, no fat is needed to conduct the heat.  This makes steaming a lower-calorie, low fat cooking method.  Food stays moist, too, since it is being bathed in water vapor.  Also, since water soluble nutrients (namely Vitamins C and B) don’t leach out into vapor, steaming preserves up to 50% more nutrients than other moist heat cooking methods.

Just because steaming is a healthy way to cook doesn’t mean it has to be bland. There are many ways of adding extra flavor to steamed food during the cooking process. You can bring extra flavor to your food by adding all sorts of complementary herbs and spices to your cooking liquid. Further up the flavor by substituting stock, fruit juice or wine for water. The additional flavors will permeate the food as the steam cooks them.

 

Makes 9

2 Chicken Breasts

1 shallot

1 tsp garlic granules or 1 garlic clove

1 leek

40g whole peanuts

1 tsp salt & pepper

350ml chicken stock

1 tbsp peanut butter

spinach

1 tsp peanut oil

 

  1. Slice the Leek, using a bit with the green on
  2. Peel and slice the shallots
  3. Shell and peel peanuts (if not predone), blitz in a blender until fine  20180311_113325
  4. Cut the chicken into small pieces and season
  5. Add chicken, leek, shallots, garlic and seasoning to the peanuts in blender and blitz together.                                                                                                                                                20180311_113736
  6. With your hands roll into meatballs and place on a greased baking tray, then refrigerate for about 1 hour.                                                                             20180311_114223
  7. Pour the chicken stock into the steam pot and then place the meatballs onto the grid and place in pot, cover with lid. Set steam time to 10 minutes.
  8. 2 minutes before ready place the spinach in the pot also.

     

  9. When ready remove the chicken stock from the pot and place in a pan on hob. Reduce by half and then emulsify 1 tbsp peanut butter and 1 tsp peanut oil until sauce thickens. (about 1-2 minutes)                                                                           20180311_143128
  10. Serve meatballs on the bed a spinach and pour sauce over. Yummy!

 

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One Pot Chicken & Chorizo Paella

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I love one pot meals, easy and hardly no washing up, if your sink looks like this after making a meal, then you need this in your life.                                                                                download (7)

Sometimes I just want something quick and this little Steampot s-l1000that came with my  Hotpoint  Combi oven is great for this, you just put everything in and cook.

 

Serves 2

150g Long grain and wild rice (you can just use long grain)

2 Chicken Breasts – cubed

300ml Chicken Stock

2 tbsp Smoked paprika

1 tbsp dried chillies

1 tin of garden peas (drained)

1 red pepper – chopped

1 white onion – sliced

Chopped Chorizo (my favourite is Picante)

Pinch of Saffron

 

  1. Coat Chicken in the paprika
  2. Place everything into the steam pot and place lid on
  3. Cook on the Automatic Rice Setting for 18 minutes. 20171007_195049
  4. Perfectly cooked paella, the rice is amazing.

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Steamed Chinese Chicken & Rice

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I got a Steam Pot with my Hotpoint Combi oven, so I decided to try something different to the normal fish and vegetables. Steam cooking is such a healthy way to cook as it keeps all the nutrients, moisture and structure in the food.

 

For the Chicken:-

2 Chicken Breasts – season with salt & pepper & crushed spiced red pepper (or chilli)

  1. Place 200ml of water into the steam pot and place the grid in the pot.
  2. Place the chicken breasts onto the grid plate and put on the lid.
  3. Select Steam Cooking and steam for 10 minutes.

Result:- perfect succulent juicy chicken

 

For the Rice:-

150g of Long grain and wild rice (approx 75g per person)

300ml of Chicken Stock

  1. Place the rice into the steam pot (remove the grid)
  2. Pour the stock into the rice and cover with the lid
  3. Cook on the rice setting for 18 minutes

Result:- perfectly cooked rice

 

I slightly cheated and bought some ready made Chow mein sauce which I heated up in a pan for a few minutes and poured over chicken and rice…..so yummy!

Serve with a Fortune Cookie! (For a bit of fun!)