Delicious Dhal Recipe

Some days you can’t beat a delicious Dhal for lunch! I love Dhal as it is so easy to prepare and it’s a great Ayurveda recipe for reducing pitta, which is something I’m usually in need of. Pitta dosha is known as your inner fire, it controls your digestion, metabolism and energy production. Therefore, during the summer months pitta dosha can be high due to a number of things including the warmer weather.

So getting back to the dhal recipe I’m loving my new Instant Pot (for those of you’ve who have never heard of it, it’s a 7-in-1 cooking gadget that does slow cooking as well as pressure cooking, as well as lots of other things) and playing around with recipes. This Dhal took just 30 minutes to cook. This dhal recipe will work equally well in a normal pan or a slow cooker it will just take longer for the lentils to soften.

Not only is this Dhal vegan and gluten-free it is packed full of protein so will keep you full for hours.

Ingredients for the Dhal:

Serves 4

  • 1 onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2tbsp coconut oil
  • 2tsp turmeric
  • 1tsp cumin seeds
  • 2tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1tsp ground cumin
  • 1tsp ground coriander 
  • 2tsp curry powder
  • 160g Moong Dhal
  • 700ml water
  • 2 large handfuls spinach
  • 1 small handful fresh coriander

Method:

  1. Chop the garlic and onions and grate the ginger
  2. If using an Instant Pot set it to the sauté function and add the coconut oil. If using a pan heat the coconut oil in the pan
  3. Add the onions, garlic and ginger and fry until softened
  4. Add the cumin seeds, ginger, cumin, coriander and curry powder and stir for a few minutes until the flavour of the spices is released
  5. Add the moong dhal and water, stir well. If using the Instant Pot set to manual pressure cooking for 10 minutes and left it to release for 10 minutes. If using a pan, reduce the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes (check with the cooking instructions on the Moong Dhal packet)
  6. Stir in the spinach, lemon and coriander and left it for a few minutes on keep warm setting (instant pot) or on a low heat (pan) to cook the spinach
  7. Serve with rice or chapati

If you’ve enjoyed this recipe why not check out my other lunch ideas and add a comment below.

Warm Grain Salad – Vegan

I’ve recently embarked on an Ayurvedic journey, looking at tweaking my diet and yoga practice to balance my doshas. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian holistic healing system that focuses on bringing your body, mind and spirit into balance in order to maintain and promote good health. Since having my daughter my health has been better than it has been for a long time, however, the underlying fatigue is hard to manage when I can’t guarantee the length and quality of my sleep in the same way I used to. I therefore felt that it was time to make some changes and get a fresh pair of eyes to look at my body as a whole. As a result of this I am currently working on eating a pitta reducing diet, I am making these changes slowly as I’m fitting it around being a mum and so it’s not as simple as throwing myself into it full throttle. It’s been a fantastic chance for me to experience what my clients do when they have a consultation with me. Why they ask the questions they do and what additional support I can offer.

Anyway, enough of me waffling on. Changing the way I eat has given me an excuse to play around with some new recipes and this recipe makes a delicious lunch or evening meal. For the grains I used a bought mix of different grains, but you can use whatever you have in the house.

Ingredients:

Serves 2

  • 125g mixed grains
  • 1 tsp vegetable stock powder
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1tsp ground coriander
  • ÂĽ tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 courgettes
  • 4 large handfuls of spinach
  • 2 spring onions

Dressing:

  • 1 avocado
  • Juice of 1 lime

Method:

  1. Cook your choice of grains in stock as per the instructions on the packet
  2. Whilst the grains are cooking dry roast the seeds in a frying pan until they are lightly toasted, then set to one side
  3. To make the dressing blitz the avocado and lime with a hand blender and set aside
  4. 5 minutes before the grains are finished going heat 1 tbsp of coconut oil in a frying pan, add the cumin, coriander and turmeric and heat for about a minute stirring constantly
  5. Slice the courgettes and add fry them in the spices until they are tender
  6. Slice the spring onions and add them to the frying pan
  7. Add the spinach to the frying pan and allow to wilt
  8. Drain the grains and stir the dressing through them, serve with the greens and enjoy

Veggie Chilli

I’m not a big fan of meat replacement products as they are often highly processed, however sometimes it is good to use them if you are cooking a vegetarian dish for meat eaters. This recipe can be made without the meat replacement as it is packed full of goodness from the beans. Some meat replacements are not vegan so leave out if you are making this as a vegan dish. You can use any beans you like but kidney beans are particularly good as they absorb lots of flavour.

Kidney beans are a great source of cholesterol lowering fibre. The high fibre content also makes them a great option for diabetics as they help to prevent blood sugar spikes after eating a meal. Kidney beans are a great source of protein too.

If that’s not enough to persuade you to eat more kidney beans then how about the fact they contain high levels of vitamins and minerals including molybdenum, folate, copper, magnesium, iron and potassium.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

  • 1 tsp rapeseed oil
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 chilli (to taste)
  • 200g mushrooms
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 courgette
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • ÂĽ tsp marmite
  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 1 tin kidney beans
  • 1 tin black eyed beans
  • 200g quorn mince (optional)

Method:

  1. Slice the onion, finely chop the garlic and chilli
  2. Heat the oil in a pan and then add the onion, garlic and chilli. Cook until the onion softens
  3. Slice the mushrooms, carrots and courgette and add to the pan and stir well
  4. Cut the pepper into chunks and add to the pan
  5. Add the cumin powder, marmite, tomato puree and tin tomatoes. Stir well and reduce the heat and simmer
  6. Drain the beans before adding to the pan along with the quorn mince. Stir well and simmer for about 15 minutes

Chicken & Sweet Potato Coconut Curry

As the cold weather draws in, this curry is a great comfort food. Sweet potatoes are packed full of nutrients, they are an excellent sources of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, manganese, iron and Vitamin B6 to name but a few.

Vitamin C is fantastic for boosting the immune system, which is ideal as the colder weather sets in. Sweet potatoes also contain iron which helps to boost energy levels and as a slow release carbohydrate they help to maintain blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full for longer.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1 onion
  • 2 large cloves garlic
  • 1” piece fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tbsp turmeric
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 2 tsp Thai red curry paste
  • 500g Chicken
  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 250g mushrooms
  • 1 tin coconut milk
  • 10 cardamom pods
  • 100g spinach

Method:

  1. Slice the onion, finely chop the garlic and grate the ginger
  2. Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan, add the garlic and onions and fry until softened
  3. Add a splash of water and the ginger, cumin, turmeric, cardamom pods, tomato puree and Thai red curry paste to the pan and stir well
  4. Cut the chicken, sweet potato and mushrooms into bite sized pieces, then add to the pan. Stir well to coat with the sauce
  5. Add the tin of coconut milk and simmer until the chicken and sweet potato are cooked
  6. Chop the coriander and then add the spinach and coriander and cook until the spinach has wilted
  7. Serve with brown rice if desired

Chicken Fajitas with Guacamole and Salsa – Dairy-free

This recipe is so easy to make. One of the great things about it is you can leave the chicken to marinate in advance or if you don’t have time you can just leave it to marinate whilst you prepare the rest of the dish.

Smoked paprika is made from a combination of dried sweet peppers and dried chilli peppers, the colour varies depending on the type of peppers used. Paprika is rich in Vitamin C and carotenoids, it is rich in beta-carotene which is converted into Vitamin A in the body which plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin, preventing wrinkles and promoting a brighter complexion.

Paprika contains high levels of iron; 1 tsp contains 6% of men’s and 3% of women’s recommended daily intake of iron.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

  • 3 chicken breasts, diced
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 3 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 yellow pepper
  • 1 red pepper
  • 300g mushrooms
  • 1 onion
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 8 wholemeal wraps

For the Guacamole:

  • 1 avocado
  • 1 lime
  • 6 cherry tomatoes

For the Salsa:

  • 20 cherry tomatoes
  • 6” cucumber
  • 10 basil leaves
  • ½ lime

Method:

  1. Place the chicken into a bowl, add the cumin and paprika stir well and cover. Set aside to marinate (depending on how much time you have this can be a few hours or just the amount of time it takes to prepare the other ingredients)
  2. To make the guacamole remove the skin and pip of the avocado and place in a blender with the tomatoes and the juice of 1 lime. Blend until combined and then set aside
  3. To make the salsa chop the tomatoes into quarters, dice the cucumber and then add both to a bowl with the juice of ½ a lime. Finely chop the basil, add to the bowl and stir well
  4. Slice the peppers, mushrooms and onions
  5. Put the coconut oil into a wok and heat
  6. Add the onions and chicken stirring regularly
  7. When the chicken is sealed (about 5 minutes) add the mushrooms and peppers and cook until the chicken is cooked through
  8. Place a wrap on to a plate, add some of the chicken and pepper mixture, top with guacamole and salsa and then roll into a wrap
  9. Serve 2 wraps per person

Vegan Pesto

This recipe is a great way to make the most of seasonal ingredients. The addition of wild garlic leaves gives it a great colour and flavour; however it works just as well with a garlic clove. This dairy-free pesto works well with both pasta and salmon.

Ingredients:

  • 40g cashew nuts, pine nuts or almonds
  • A small handful of wild garlic leaves (or 1 clove garlic)
  • 2 large handfuls of spinach
  • 1 small handful of basil
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Olive oil

Method:

  1. Put the nuts and garlic into a hand blender and blend until they are roughly chopped.
  2. Add all the other ingredients except the olive oil and blend.
  3. Add a little bit of olive oil at a time so that there is just enough to make a paste consistency.
  4. Optional extra: add a couple of tbsp. of tomato puree to make a tomato pesto, great on pizzas!

Prawn Pho – Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free

One of my favourite dishes when I go to a Vietnamese restaurant is Pho is a hearty, healthy broth packed full of delicious ingredients. This is my take on a prawn pho, the prawns can easily be replaced with chicken or tofu if you prefer. If I make it with chicken I use homemade chicken stock to add extra goodness.

This recipe uses cloves which are often an ingredient that get bought for a particular recipe, like ham at Christmas, and then sit in the cupboard for the rest of the year. However there are many health benefits to cloves they have anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic and analgesic properties. Due to these properties they are commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Ingredients:               

Serves 6

  • 7 whole cloves
  • 4 star anaise
  • ½ cinnamon stick
  • 6 black pepper corns
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1” fresh ginger, grated
  • ½ red chilli (to taste)
  • 2 pints vegetable stock
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp soya sauce
  • ½ packet rice noodles
  • ½ packet mushrooms
  • 1 packet of baby corn
  • ½ packet green beans
  • 2 packets cooked prawns
  • 2 spring onions
  • 2 limes
  • Small handful of fresh coriander
  • Small handful of fresh mint

Method:

  1. Put the star anise, cinnamon, black peppercorns and cloves in a dry frying pan and heat until the aromas of the spices begins to release
  2. Put the spices in a pestle and mortar and roughly grind up, then wrap them in a muslin cloth and secure
  3. Place the stock in a large pan and add the spice parcel, ginger, garlic and half of the chilli, simmer for minimum of 10 minutes to allow the flavours to merge
  4. Slice the mushrooms and chop the baby corn and green beans in half and then add them to the stock along with the rice noodles, fish sauce and soya sauce
  5. Simmer until the noodles are cooked
  6. Divide the prawns between the bowls and then place the pho on top
  7. Add slices spring onions, fresh coriander, mint and squeeze with lime to serve

 

NB if you don’t have muslin you can place the spices directly in the pan and simmer for at least 10 minutes and then strained the stock before adding the remaining ingredients.

Quick and Easy, Baked Salmon, New Potatoes and Vegetables (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)

I love this dish, it is so quick and easy to do when you get in from work and it is packed full of omega 3 fatty acids which are essential to your overall health.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 are two types of fat that are essential for human health, the body cannot create them, and we must consume them. However, most people don’t consume enough omega 3 and too much omega 6, the ideal ratio is 1:1 of omega 6:omega 3 research shows that many people consume a ratio of between 20:1 and 50:1.

Eating enough omega 3 has been linked to helping prevent or ease symptoms of the following health conditions: coronary heart disease and stroke, essential fatty acid deficiency in unborn babies (retinal and brain development), lupus, nephropathy, osteoporosis, cancer, Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to this Omega 3 can support general brain health including memory loss and osteoporosis.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

  • 750g new potatoes, halved
  • 2 red onions, quartered
  • 4 salmon fillets
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled (no need to chop)
  • 250g cherry tomatoes
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 220g green beans

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to gas 6/200C
  2. Place the new potatoes in a pan of boiling water and cook for about 10 minutes, until tender. Then drain and shake
  3. Place the potatoes, onion, garlic, rosemary and 1 tbsp of oil into a roasting tin, stir well and roast for 20 minutes
  4. Remove from the oven and add the cherry tomatoes and salmon fillets, sprinkle with the zest of the lemon, then cut the lemon into quarters and squeeze over the ingredients, before placing the lemon wedges in the baking dish. Drizzle with 1 tbsp oil and a cooked sprinkle of black pepper. Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes, until the salmon is cooked and the potatoes are cooked
  5. Cut the broccoli into 2” florets, remove the ends of the green beans and cut in half. Steam the broccoli and green beans for 5 minutes
  6. Serve the salmon dish with the greens and enjoy

Polenta Bread Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free

This week I’m in Norway staying with a lovely yoga teacher called Vild from Allmenningen Yoga. Last night we made polenta bread and served it with a homemade ratatouille. Polenta bread isn’t the texture or taste of normal bread so you wouldn’t have it with jam but it is great with soup or main meals.

Polenta dates back to the 1700s in Italy where it was a staple food which was very cheap. Polenta is made from corn which means it is a low carbohydrate food rich in Vitamins A and C, it is a good source of caroteinoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Therefore it can help to prevent cancer and heart disease. Polenta is gluten-free.

Ingredients:             

  • 300g polenta
  • 
Polenta Bread
  • 1 litre vegetable stock
  • 5 sundried tomatoes
  • 10 black olives
  • ½ tsp milled black pepper (to taste)
  • ½ tsp chilli flakes (to taste)

Method:

  • Pre heat the oven to 180C/gas 4
  • Place the polenta in a large bowl and add the hot stock, black pepper and chilli flakes, stir well and leave for 5 minutes
  • Chop up the sundried tomatoes and cut the olives in half
  • Add the olives and sundried tomatoes to the polenta, stir well
  • Pour the polenta into a lined cake tin and ensure it is evenly spread out
  • Bake in the oven for approximately 45 minutes, until a crust has formed on the top
  • Remove from the oven and it can be eaten straight away or left to cool. The polenta will become hard once it cools

Chicken and tomato curry – dairy-free and gluten-free

This curry came about when I realised I didn’t have the spices I needed for my usual curry so I thought I’d experiment a bit. It’s a great one if you don’t have much time, you can throw it together and then leave it to cook whilst the rice cooks. The heat from the chilli makes it a lovely dish to warm you up as the colder evenings draw in. If you’d like to make a vegetarian version simply swap the chicken for chickpeas.

Tomatoes are a fantastic source of Vitamin C as well as lypocene. Lypocene is part of the cartenoid group of antioxidants. Lypocene can help to prevent and treat a number of conditions including cancer, diabetes, cataracts, osteoporosis and heart disease.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

  • ÂĽ tsp fennel seeds
  • Chicken and Tomato Curry
  • 3 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 1 green chilli (adjust depending how hot you like it)
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1” piece ginger
  • 2 onions
  • 200g mushrooms
  • 1 courgette
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 350g skin and boneless chicken
  • 1 tsp fenugreek leaves
  • Small handful of fresh coriander

Method:

  1. Chop the garlic and chilli finely, grate the ginger and dice the onion
  2. Place in a pan with a splash of water and cook the onions out
  3. Add the cumin seeds, cumin powder and curry powder. Stir the spices to coat the onion and add more water if needed so it doesn’t stick to the pan
  4. Cut the chicken into cubes and then add to the pan, stir frequently and add more water if the chicken starts to stick, cook until sealed on all sides
  5. Chop the mushrooms into chunks and add to the pan stirring to coat with the spices
  6. Chop the courgette and peppers into chunks and add to the pan
  7. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and the juice from the lemon
  8. Reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked
  9. Add the chopped fresh coriander and fenugreek seeds and stir well

Serve with brown rice