Vegetable Paella with Spicy Tomato Sauce (v)

I'm not sure this is authentically paella because it uses easy cook short grain rice. But it's easy and quick to make and is the first recipe/rice combo I have found that actually works without producing a claggy sticky mess or under cooked rice. It's also vegan and a brilliant way to boost your veg intake. It's based on a Rose Elliott recipe for Red Beans with Brown Rice and Vegetables in her fabulous New Complete Vegetarian Cookbook (p246).

For 4 portions you need
Paella
2 onions, chopped
4 tbsp olive oil
350g easy cook short grain rice
1 tsp tumeric
850ml veg stock
salt and pepper
A mix of vegetables e.g. we used 1 large carrot, diced, 2 sticks celery, sliced, and a pack of stir fry tenderstem broccoli, baby sweet corn, mange tout and pak choi.
1 can drained kidney beans

Spicy Tomato Sauce
1 can tomatoes
1 clove garlic
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
1 tsp dried chilli flakes

Start by sauteeing the onion, carrots and celery in the oil, covered. I like to use a large lidded non stick frying pan for this recipe.

After about 10 mins add the rice and garlic and stir well. Add the stock and beans and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and leave to simmer for 10 mins. Stir then add the broccoli and corn and cover again for a further 5 mins. Check the rice is done and if it is, add the remaining veg and take off the heat and leave covered to steam for a final 5 mins.

For the sauce put everything in a pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Puree in the pan with a stick blender and leave to one side.

Serve the finished rice with the tomato sauce. Leftovers are delicious cold or used as a stuffing for peppers etc.

Roasted Asparagus, Halloumi and Potatoes

It's finally the UK asparagus season again, hooray! I love asparagus, and particularly like it roasted. This recipe is an adaptation of one in Three Good Things by the Whipping Tool.

For 2 portions you need
1 bunch asparagus
2-3 potatoes, cut into bite sized chunks
4 garlic cloves, left whole and unpeeled
1 pack haloumi, cut into large chunks
2 large handfuls of sprouting broccoli
Juice 1 lemon
1 thai chilli, sliced
olive oil
Salt and pepper

Begin by tossing the cubed potato in oil with salt and pepper. Bash the whole garlic cloves and place with the potatoes on a roasting tin. Place in a hot oven and roast for 30 mins until the potatoes start to brown.

Snap the asparagus off at their woody bases and cut into inch long sections. Trim the broccoli and cut into similar size lengths to the asparagus.

Once the potatoes have had their 30 mins and are browning, add the veggies and cheese to the tray and roast for a further 10-15 mins until the cheese is browned and the veggies are cooked.

Toss in a bowl with the chilli and lemon juice and then scoff like no tomorrow. It's very good cold the next day too, assuming there is any left!

Broccoli with Rice Noodles (v)

It's the start of a new term and I am on a new regime again. To blog again, now the horror of being really ill is behind me, and to revive my go-to recipes again and cook more interesting things with vegetables. The River Cottage Veg Everyday book gave me inspiration for broccoli.

For 2-3 people you need
One large head broccoli
Handful rice noodles
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tsp soya sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
freshly ground pepper
3 spring onions, finely sliced
2 tbsp sesame seeds

Cook the broccoli and noodles in boiling water for about 5 mins. Drain and leave to steam for a few minutes to get rid of any excess water.

Gently toast the sesame seeds until lightly golden.

Place everything in a large bowl and toss to mix. Scoff.

Dark Sweet and Sour Vegetables with Sesame Cashews and Noodles (v)

This is very quick and easy to prepare and tastes lovely. A brilliant healthy mid week supper for all the family. The recipe is based on a Lorraine Pascale one in Fast, Fresh and Easy Food.

For 3-4 people you need
2 onions, chopped into big chunks
2 carrots, peeled and sliced thin
1 head broccoli cut into florets
425g tin pineapple in juice
5 tbsp tomato ketchup
5 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp soya sauce
1-2 tsp agarve nectar (according to your taste)
2 tbsp raw cashew nuts
2 tsp sesame oil
3 nests of noodles
fresh coriander for garnish

Beging by placing everything apart from the cashews, sesame oil, noodles and coriander into a pan. Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer and cover with a lid. Cook on a low heat for 5 mins until the veggies are al dente. Remove the lid and increase the heat to reduce the sauce slightly.

Toast the cashews in a pan until lightly toasted. Toss through the sesame oil.

Boil the noodles for 1-2 mins until cooked. Serve garnished with the coriander. Yummy.

Noodles with Vegetables and Peanut Chilli Sauce (v)

I thought I didn't like kale, but last weeks veg box showed me that it can be really nice. So this week, when another culinary nemesis, chard, arrived, I thought I would do the same. However, I have decided I really, really, _really_ don't like chard. The rest of this recipe is nice tho, and if you like chard I'm sure you'll find it delicious.

For one person you need
1 bundle noodles
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1/2 head broccoli, sliced into small florets
2 leaves chard, sliced
1 small onion, sliced

Dressing
1 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
1 small clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp chilli flakes (or a whole chilli, sliced)
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp dark soya sauce
pinch sugar
juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon or lime

Place the noodles in a pan and cover with boiling water. Cook for 1-2 mins then add the veggies and cook for a further 1-2 mins until the noodles are tender and the veggies al dente.

Meanwhile mix all the dressing ingredients together. Drain the pan and dress the noodles in the hot pan. Eat.

Quinoa with Broccoli and Tofu (v)

I had lunch with my lovely lovely friend today and made this for us to share :) It was pronounced delicious. Result ;-)

For 4-6 portions (depending on greed) you need:
1 cup white quinoa
2 cups water
1 tsp vegan stock powder
1 packet tenderstem broccoli, trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
1 tbsp dark soya sauce
1 tbsp mirin
1 tsp rice wine vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
6 spring onions, trimmed and sliced
1 packet smoked and marinated tofu (taifun is best imho)

Place the quinoa, water and stock in a lidded pan. Bring to the boil and cook for about 8 mins. Add the broccoli and turn off the heat (keep covered). Leave to steam for a further 15 mins. Add everything else and scoff. Simples. Delish.

Pasta with Chickpeas, Tomatoes and Broccoli (v)

This was suggested to me by @DixxyD and mighty fine it is too. It's a recipe from Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Express (p92) which I have tweaked slightly by adding tenderstem broccoli to it. It's lovely hot but the leftovers are equally nice cold the next day for lunch.

For 4-6 people you need:
1 tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
2 fat cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
1tsp vegan stock powder
splash red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
1 pack tenderstem broccoli, trimmed, washed and cut in to bite sized chunks
325g wholewheat pasta

Fry the onion in the oil for about 10 mins till softened and lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for a further 1-2 mins. Add the tomatoes and bring to the boil. Add everything else apart from the broccoli and pasta and cook for 10 mins or so till thickened. Season to taste.

Meanwhile cook the pasta, steaming the broccoli over the pasta for the last 5 mins. Add the broccoli to the sauce, then drain and pasta and add this too. Mix well and serve.

Sweet and Sour Thai Style Vegetables (v)

My moogi made this for me and Lex tonight and it was deeeeeelicious.

For 4-6 portions you need:
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 red pepper, cut in to chunks
1 tin pineapple, cut into chunks (reserve the juice)
1/2 head chinese leaf, finely shredded
1/2 pack baby corn, cut into bite sized pieces

2 tbsp soya sauce (mushroom soya sauce is the best one to use apparently but I don't think the world will stop turning if you use dark or light soya sauce...)
reserved pineapple juice
4 tbsp tomato ketchup

Place everything in a wok with a lid and heat. Cook for 5-10 mins, covered, till the veggies are tender. Serve with jasmine rice.

Bottom of the Fridge Soup (v)

This is made from the veggies left in the vegetable draw at the end of the week. The ones you can't be bothered to use in anything else but don't want to throw out either.




For 4-6 portions you need:
1 onion, roughly chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1/2 head cauliflower and brocolli, cut into rough florets
750ml vegetable stock
1 tbsp oil
Nutritional yeast and dried, fried onions to serve

Begin by sweating the vegetables in the oil for about 10 mins. Add the stock and simmer for 10 mins until tender. Blitz and then serve with nutritional yeast and dried, fried onions on the top. Add some grated cheese if you're not vegan if you want.

Mixed Vegetable Curry with Chickpeas (v)

This is a proper, pseudo-takeaway curry with vegetables i.e. a rich sauce, lots of different vegetables and chickpeas. Yum.

For 4 portions you need:
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
250g button mushrooms
1/2 head cauliflower, cut into bite sized florets
1/2 head broccoli, ditto cauli
2 large handfuls salad potatoes, cut into thick slices and par boiled till tender (about 10 mins)
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 carrots, peeled and sliced into pieces about the thickness of a £1 coin
1/2 jar minara curry paste
1-2 chillies, sliced (depending on heat preference!)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
125ml boiling water
Roti to serve

Fry the onion in the oil for 5mins or so. Add the carrots, garlic and curry paste and cook out for another 5mins or so. Add everything else, aside from the roti, and cook till the vegetable are tender. Add the potatoes part way through once they have cooked enough.

Cheat's Curry with Random Ingredients (v)

I love the Shana brand of ready meal packet curries. They are authentic Indian curries which are probably dreadful on the ethical scale as they'll be air freighted :/ but they are as good as a takeaway on a night where you have no time. Last night was one of those nights...

For one person you need:
1 packet Shana Madras curry sauce
1 leftover cooked vegan sausage, cut into slices
1 cup random cooked vegetables (I had broccoli, brussels sprouts, frozen peas and sweetcorn)

Place the sauce in a pan and add everything else along with a dash of water. Heat. Serve with oven chips (waaaaay classy bird. That's me :D). Dinner in 10 mins.

Cauliflower and Broccoli Risotto

This is a variation on the usual risotto bianco.

For 4-6 portions you need:
For 4-6 portions you need:
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
50g butter
2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for the squash
250g risotto rice
1 litre veggie stock
125ml white wine
salt and pepper
100g Parmesan, grated
1/2 head cauliflower
1 small head broccoli

Fry the onion in the oil and butter till soft and translucent. Add the garlic and rice and cook for a further 2-3 mins till the rice is lightly toasted. Add the wine and bubble off. Add the broccoli stalk (finely chopped) and then add the stock a ladle at a time till all absorbed and the rice is plumed up and delicious. About 10 ins before the end add the cauli and broccoli florets. Season and stir through a touch more butter. Serve with parmesan.

Romanesco and Brassica Soup with Blue Cheese

OK cauliflower and broccoli then...

For 1-2 portions you need:
1/2 head each leftover cooked cauli and broccoli
1 onion, diced
small knob butter
500ml stock
salt and pepper
1/8 cup crumbled blue cheese

Sautee the onion in the butter till golden. Add the cauli and broccoli and stock and cook out till hot. Blitz to a puree and then stir in the cheese. Quick and delicious.

Tofu and Green Vegetable Stir Fry (v)

A quick, easy and very very non french dinner to welcome us home :)

For 3 people you need:

1 cup rice, cooked
1 pack stirfry veggies (I used M&S tender veg stir fry)
1 pack tenderstem broccoli, stems sliced, heads left whole
1 packet marinated tofu
1 jar wagamama teryaki sauce
1 onion, sliced

Boil the rice. Meanwhile stirfry the onion and broccoli stems in a little oil for 4-5 mins. Add everything else and cover with a lid to steam the veggies. Serve with the rice. Sigh with contentment that you are no longer confined to cheese, cheese, more cheese and eggs :)

Spicy Hairy Hippy Salad (v)

A far too good for you dish but one that actually has some taste too..!

For each portion use a combo of:
carrot batons
bean sprouts
shredded chinese leaf
raw cauli and brocolli florets
spring onions
cucumber
courgette
chopped corriander leaves
white cabbage
red cabbage
alfafa sprouts
sprouted lentils and chick peas
handful red skinned peanuts

Dress the veggies with a dressing made from 1 spoon crunchy peanut butter, 2 spoons sweet chilli sauce, small spoonful soya sauce and same amount of white wine vinager/Chinese vinegar. Feel a healthy glow from within after consuming :)

Bangers and Mash (v)

I love traditional English food, and this is a fab meal for those who want to enjoy all the tradition with none of the slaughter.

For 4 portions you need:
1 pack vegan sausages (we usually have Linda McCartney)
3 baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 cauli, cut into florets
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
2 tbsp vegan marg
100ml soya milk
1/2 pint vegan gravy
salt and pepper

Begin by boiling the potatoes until tender. Drain and mash with the vegan marg and milk. Season to taste. Meanwhile roast the sausages till done and steam the veggies. Make up the gravy. Serve with mustard or cranberry sauce and sigh with contentment when stuffed full.

Vegetable Rice with Fennel and Smoked Paprika (v)

This was a dinner of two halves; me and N enjoyed it whilst Lex declared it horrible. He did at least eat the carrots and broccoli but wouldn't touch the rice... Moral of that story? L does not like smoked paprika!

For 4 portions you need:
50ml sweet sherry
50ml brandy
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp fennel seeds
2 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 head broccoli, cut into smallish florets
3 tomatoes, skinned and chopped into small pieces
2 carrots, sliced
1 yellow pepper, diced
250g paella rice
600ml stock
salt and pepper
lemon wedges, to serve
4 tbsp flaked almonds

Find your paella pan. Begin by sauteeing the onion and carrots in the olive oil. Keep the lid on to retain the steam. After about 10 mins add the smoked paprika, fennel seeds, broccoli and garlic. Sautee for another 2-3 mins. Then add the sherry and brandy, turn the heat up high and reduce the liquid by about half. Add the rice, stock, pepper and tomatoes. Bring to the boil then simmer with a lid on for about 15 mins. Stir frequently to stop it from sticking. Check the rice and cook for a few mins more if not quite done. Season to taste and serve scattered with the almonds and with a lemon wedge on the side. Yummy.

Leftover Roast Dinner Soup (v)

This is a cinch to make and tastes lovely. All you need to do is make extra of the veggies and potatoes, lob them into a pan with some stock and blitz. See, told you it was easy.

For 4 or so portions you need:
Leftover veggies (I used roast spuds, cauli, broccoli and carrots)
1 onion, diced
2 tbsp oil
1 litre vegetable stock

Begin by sauteeing the onion in the oil for about 5 mins. Then add the veggies and stock. Bring to the boil, cook out for 2-3 mins to heat everything through, then blitz to a smooth puree with a stick blender. Add some more stock/soya milk if it's too thick. Serve with nutritional yeast. Feel frugal.

Thai Green Curry (v)

I have neglected my poor blog recently due to being away at too many conferences and in too much of a giddy spin now the news of my NTFs success is public (it's a hard life yada yada yada...). This was a quick, post conference dish to throw together and a nice tasty one too :)

For 6 portions you need:
1 pack marinated tofu chunks
1 onion
2/3 tub green thai curry paste (the small tub, natch)
1/2 cauli cut into florets
2 small head broccoli cut into florets
2 carrots, sliced
1 pack baby corn, cut into thirds
2 tins cocnut milk
1 pack coconut cream
fresh corriander, chopped

Begin by sauteeing the onion in 1 tbsp oil. Then add the curry paste and cook out. Add the veggies and coconut milk and cream and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 mins. Add the tofu, heat through and serve in bowls with lashings of rice. Simple.

Quinoa Salad with Greens (v)

A variation on the puy lentil and quinoa salad, but different enough to warrant its own entry. This is another vegan salad that makes a perfect lunch :)

For 2 portions you need:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1 leek, finely shredded
2 tsp vegan stock powder
2 tbsp each of mirin and soya sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1/2 packet purple sprouting broccoli
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 pack marinated tofu chunks/ 1/2 pack marinated tofu block

Begin by placing the leek, quinoa, stock and water in a pan and bringing to the boil. Cook, covered, for 10mins, add the broccoli and then turn off the heat and leave to steam for 20 mins. Add the remaining ingredients before placing into tubs for lunch the next day.