Vegetarian Week
Vegetarian Week
It’s National Vegetarian week, so I’m bringing you some of my favourite vegetarian recipes.
Over the last 5 years, people have become a lot more conscious of their meat intake and recent studies have shown that a third of UK consumers have deliberately reduced the amount of meat they eat or removed it from their diet entirely. This is not only helping the environment, but also doing wonders for our health. I’m not going to get all preachy about how people should stop eating meat altogether as I am a meat-eater myself. As long as you are buying good quality meat which is entirely organic then, in my opinion, there really is no negative health implications.
I am not anti-meat, but I am 1000% pro vegetables! There are so many incredible vegetarian recipes and the flavour combinations you can play around with are endless. The different techniques of cooking, grilling or roasting vegetables - all providing different textures.
Now the weather is getting a little warmer I am distancing myself from cooking curries, tagines or stews - these tend to be my usual vegetarian go-too dishes. Instead, here are a few lighter recipes, all offering something a little different in terms of textures, flavours and cooking processes.
Ratatouille
This is a real show stopper and tastes utterly amazing. The rich tomato base and perfectly roasted vegetables truly are a match made in heaven. Admittedly it takes a bit of time to assemble this dish, but it's actually incredibly therapeutic, and I can ensure you it's 100% worth it!
You can also add a little mozzarella for the last 10 minutes of roasting, so it melts over the vegetables and then finish it off with a drizzle of pesto - serve it with some fresh soughdough and WOW!
Honey Grilled Halloumi Salad with Mint and Pomegranate Salad
Halloumi has to be one of the best things on the planet, and it makes for the most amazing salads. Halloumi is not only delicious but is a great vegetarian option as it’s high in protein. It is also an excellent source of calcium, providing 70% of the adult recommended daily allowance in one portion.
This salad not only looks so pretty, but the balance of flavours is perfect. The honey halloumi caramelises and creates an amazing crunch and really lifts the saltness of the cheese. The perfect salad to serve at a BBQ, or even just by itself. It is simply delicious.
Shakshuka
Eggs are such an amazing ingredient because they literally lend themselves to any meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have tweaked this recipe so many times to get the balance of flavours just right. It has such richness of flavour in the sauce, which perfectly balances the creamy, runny egg yolks. I also add aubergines to the sauce as I feel it not only helps create the most amazing texture - but also provides another layer of flavour.
This is also amazing to serve with homemade flatbread - super easy to make, found on ‘sides’ on my website.
Black Rice Asian Salad
This fusion inspired superfood salad contains so much goodness. You will be not only be wowed by the flavour, texture and presentation, but you will also feel amazing after eating it too. Now if that hasn't sold you, I'm not sure what will. The sweetness of the pepper and potato, against the creaminess of the cashews and freshness of the broccoli all lift with some zingy lime and a hint of spice.
I am loving cooking with black rice at the minute. I love the nutty flavoured and the fact it has a little more of a bite to it that regular rice. It is a lot more nutritious than normal rice too - the purple colour comes from a compound called anthocyanin, which is the same compound responsible for blueberries colour, and has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects.
