Category Archives: Gluten-Free

Gluten Free Vegan Pizza Recipe

As a vegan, one thing I miss is pizza! I made this tasty gluten free vegan pizza recipe using cashew nuts to make the vegan mozzarella and meaty mushrooms instead of ham. If you don’t want to make the pizza bases you can buy ready made gluten free pizza bases in the shops.

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Makes 2 small pizzas

Pizza Base Ingredients

300g gluten free white bread flour

1/2tsp sea salt

1tsp quick yeast

1tbsp sugar

1tbsp ground flaxseed or gram flour + 3tbsp warm water

2tbsp olive oil

1tsp vinegar

200ml warm water

Topping Ingredients

1tbsp olive oil

1/2 red onion

1/2 red or green pepper

3 mushrooms

5 black olives

1 garlic clove

1tsp oregano

1tsp basil

1/4tsp sea salt

1/4tsp black pepper

8tbsp tomato passata

Vegan Mozzarella Ingredients

30g cashew nuts

200ml almond milk

1tbsp tapioca starch

1/4tsp salt

1tsp lemon juice

1tsp nutritional yeast (optional)

Instructions

Soak the cashew nuts in water over night.

Preheat the fan oven to 200C.

Firstly to make the pizza dough, put the flour, salt, yeast and sugar into the food processor and mix. Place the flaxseed, water, vinegar and olive oil into a bowl and mix. Add the liquid into the food processor with the motor running until the dough forms a ball.

Now take out the dough and leave it to rise in a covered bowl in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Next cut the dough in half and put one half aside. Place the dough on a sheet of baking paper. Roll the dough with a rolling pin to form a 2mm thick pizza base. Place onto a baking tray. Repeat with the other half of the dough.

Place the pizza base in the bottom of the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.

To make the topping, add the olive oil to a frying pan on a medium heat. Slice the onion, pepper and finely slice the mushrooms. Add to the pan along with the finely chopped garlic. Also season with the salt and pepper and stir in. Fry for 5 minutes until the mushrooms are browned, turning them over once.

To make the vegan mozzarella, add the soaked cashews, olive oil and water into a blender. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon into the mix. Blend on a low speed for 30 seconds.

Now spread the passata onto the pizzas using the back of a spoon. Sprinkle on the oregano and basil. Use a teaspoon to drop on splodges of the vegan mozzarella. Also add half the red onion, pepper and mushroom topping onto each pizza. Cut the olives in half and place on the pizza.

Now bake each pizza in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the pizza base is golden and crisp around the edges.

Finally cut into slices and serve warm.

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Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms Recipe

Ever since I tried these garlic mushrooms (champinones) as a tapas in an authentic Spanish restaurant in Jalon I have wanted to make them! They are so simple to make and so tasty! Today we stayed in and relaxed by the pool and I made them for lunch on toast.

Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 tbsp Olive oil

3 Medium button mushrooms

1 Garlic clove

1/2 tsp Dried parsley

1/2 tsp Sea salt

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan on a low heat.

Thinly slice the mushrooms and add to the pan. Chop the garlic and add to the pan. Season with the parsley and sea salt and mix in.

Saute on a low heat for 15-20 minutes until the mushrooms are delicately soft and slightly brown. Regularly stir and turn over the mushrooms.

Serve warm as a tapas snack or delicious served on toast.

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Gluten-free, Vegan Fruit Bread

This delicious, sweet, fruit bread is so easy to make and has the health benefits of being gluten and dairy free. It is tasty sliced and served with strawberry jam. It did not last long in our house!

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Ingredients

350g      Rice flour
150g      Buckwheat flour
1 tsp      Dried yeast
1 tsp      Himalayan pink crystal salt
1 tsp      Cinnamon
1 tsp      Ginger
150g      Raisins
350ml    Filtered water
1tsp       Coconut oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Add the dry ingredients and the raisins into a large bowl. Wash your hands. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the water. Mix the ingredients together using your hands.

Now leave the dough to rise for an hour an a half until it has doubled in size.

Next grease a bread tray using the coconut oil. Place the dough into the bread tray and bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

Leave the bread to cool for 5 minutes then place on a wire rack. Once cool slice the bread.

Store in a cool, dry place and eat within 3-4 days.

Vegan Style Fish ‘n’ Chips

If you are a vegan and miss having your fish ‘n’ chips on a Friday here is the answer! The idea for this delicious vegan fish ‘n’ chips was told to me by a friend. The seaweed nori sheet makes the vegan style fish (or tofish!) smell and taste like fish from the sea and it also looks like fish skin. The batter is gluten-free. So why not treat yourself to this English classic!

Vegan Fish 'n' Chips

Serves 2

Vegan Style Fish Ingredients

1/2 Block firm tofu

200ml Olive oil

100g Rice flour + extra for dusting

1tsp Baking powder

1/2tsp Turmeric

1tsp Flaxseed

150ml Soya milk

2 Nori sheets

Vegan Chips Ingredients

2 Large potatoes

1/2tsp Black pepper

1/2tsp Sea salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Remove the tofu block from the packaging, drain and wrap in sheets of kitchen roll. For extra firmness, press the tofu between two chopping boards and put something heavy on top (I used the Vitamix base!) to press down for a least 10 minutes.

Now to make the chips, wash the potatoes and chop them into chips lengthways. Place the chips in a baking dish. Sprinkle over the salt and black pepper.

Place the chips in the oven and dry roast for 45 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp.

To make the vegan-style-fish, first add the olive oil to a frying pan and turn to a low heat.

Now prepare the batter. Put the rice flour, baking powder and flaxseed into a bowl and create a well in the centre. Next pour in the soya milk and beat together with the flour using a whisk. Mix in well until you have a smooth batter.

Next slice the block of tofu in half lengthways. Slice the half block diagonally to make the vegan-style-fish fillets. Now place the tofu fillet on one nori sheet. Drizzle some olive oil on the tofu fillet and wrap the nori sheet around it. Now dip the tofu fillet into the extra flour. Place in the batter and coat all over using your hands. Lift up the tofu fillet and let the excess batter drip off the sides.

Finally drop the battered tofu fillet into the hot oil. Turn the heat up until the oil begins to bubble gently around the edges of the tofu fillet. Cook for no more than 1-2 minutes on each side. Repeat with the other tofu fillet.

Serve the vegan-style-fish and chips warm with mushy peas and ketchup. Enjoy!

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Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake

Treat yourself to this delicious vegan victoria sponge cake that is 100% vegan and gluten-free! It makes a tasty afternoon snack! It has taken me 2 days and 2 ovens but I have finally done it! Hope you enjoy this recipe!

Vegan Victoria Sponge

Vegan Victoria Sponge Recipe

Sponge Cake Ingredients

100g Buckwheat flour

300g White rice flour

200g Golden caster sugar

4tsp Baking powder

2tbsp Coconut oil + extra for greasing

3tbsp Ground flaxseed + 600ml water (3 flax eggs)

Strawberry Jam Ingredients

100ml Water

100g Strawberries

50g Golden caster sugar

Vegan Cream Ingredients

100g Cashew nuts

1 Ripe banana

Instructions

Soak the cashew nuts in water overnight.

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan.

Grease two 20cm springform cake tins with coconut oil.

Sieve the dry ingredients, including the buckwheat flour, rice flour, caster sugar and baking powder, into a large bowl.

With a spoon push the flour to the sides of the bowl to make a hole in the middle. Add the coconut oil. Now mix the flaxseed and water together in a glass to make the flax eggs. Pour half the flax egg mixture into the gap and begin to mix in the flour using a wooden spoon. Pour in the rest of the flax eggs. Mix it together very quickly as the baking powder will start working and you want to get it in the oven as soon as possible. You can use an electric whisk for a smoother mixture.

Now pour half the mixture into each of the cake tins and put in the preheated oven immediately. Bake for 20-30 minutes. You can put a skewer in the cake and if it comes out dry you know the cake is cooked.

While the cake is cooking, prepare the strawberry jam. Add the water and the strawberries to a pan on a medium heat. Mush up the strawberries using a wooden spoon. Heat until the strawberries begin to soften. Now add in the sugar. Heat until the sugar has dissolved. Now bring the mixture to the boil. Boil for 15-20 minutes stirring regularly. Finally pour the mixture into a jam jar and leave to set.

While the cake is cooking, prepare the vegan cream. Drain the soaked cashews and add them to a blender with the chopped banana. Blend on full power until you have a smooth, creamy mixture. You may need to push down the sides of the mixture and blend again.

Remove the cakes and leave to cool. Next spread on a layer of the strawberry jam onto the top surface of one of the cakes. Now spread a layer of the vegan cream on top of the jam. Finally you can carefully place the second cake on top of the vegan cream and voila!

Store in an airtight container and eat within 3-4 days.

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Buckwheat and Brown Rice Pancakes

Yes! I’ve finished my nutrition exam and assignments and have the whole summer free to relax and be creative! Finally I have time to make new recipes again! I started off by making these delicious buckwheat and brown rice pancakes. The buckwheat gives them a delicious nutty flavour. They are gluten free and make a tasty breakfast! I used a JML pancake pan to make my pancakes, but any pan would be suitable.

Buckwheat and Brown Rice Pancakes

Makes 12 pancakes.

Ingredients

  • 75g buckwheat flour
  • 75g brown rice flour
  • 1 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 tbsp flaxseed
  • 1 tbsp agave nectar
  • 500ml water
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 30g raisins
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 3 tsp peanut butter
  • 30g blueberries

Instructions

Weigh out the buckwheat flour and brown rice flour and pour into a large bowl. Add the other dry ingredients including the flaxseed, cinnamon and sea salt and mix in with a wooden spoon. Now make an indent in the middle of the flour. Put in the wet ingredients including the almond butter, agave nectar and water. Now mix well with the wooden spoon until the mixture forms a smooth batter. Next add in the raisins and mix in.

Now heat a large pan over a low heat. Using a dessert spoon, drop 2 spoonfuls of the mixture onto the hot pan. Repeat 3 more times into the large pan until you have 4 medium sized pancakes forming.

Cook for about 2 minutes until there are bubbles throughout the surface and you can easily peel away the pancake from the pan. Flip over and cook for another 2 minutes until golden brown. Pile the pancakes on top of each other on a plate.

Repeat this process 2 more times until all the batter has been used up.

Finally drizzle the pancakes with agave and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Delicious served with spoonfuls of peanut butter and blueberries.

Enjoy!

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10 Healthy Snack Ideas

It has been a while since I last posted an article on my blog. I have been very busy with assignments and studying for my nutritional therapy exam in July! Also mercury retrograde in Gemini made it difficult to move forward with new ideas – but that has finished now yay! And I feel my creative flow is returning! I hope you enjoy my healthy snack ideas!

If you are out and about and want to grab a snack from a shop there are healthy options such as Nakd bars or cereal bars or even fruit. If you have time it is even healthier to prepare your own healthy snacks to bring with you. Below are a list of 10 healthy snacks ideas that you can make and keep in your bag:

  1. Gluten Free Oat Flapjacks – these tasty flapjacks are high in protein and a filling snack.P1010579
  2. Green Smoothie – you can make up your favourite smoothie and keep it with you in a flask for a hydrating drink. P1000324
  3. Raw Chocolate Brownies – these chocolate brownies are the perfect snack for when you have a chocolate craving!Raw Chocolate Brownies
  4. Raw Chocolate Bar – more chocolate to satisfy that chocolate craving!phppHQM7WAM
  5. Vegan Chocolate Muffins – these high protein muffins are a tasty snack.P1000687
  6. Gluten Free Blueberries Muffins – it is summer and blueberries are in season. You could use them to make these healthy muffins.DSCF1295
  7. Raw Mango Cheesecake – who doesn’t love cheesecake!P1000443
  8. Vegan Chana Halva – these are a popular snack in the east.P1000860
  9. Amaranth Gingernut Biscuits – get creative and try out a new grain like amaranth to make biscuits!P1000100
  10. Chocolate Snowballs – my chocolate snowballs were popular when I brought them into college. They are rich and chocolatey!P1000077

Gluten Free Oat Flapjacks

Enjoy these tasty gluten free oat flapjacks! They make a great healthy snack or a quick breakfast! Having discovered recently that I can eat oats if they are gluten-free without having a reaction, I’m thrilled to be able to make this vegan version of these tasty flapjacks that I used to make years ago, replacing the butter with coconut oil.

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Makes 9

 Ingredients

100g               Dates

100ml             Filtered water

100g               Coconut Oil

1tbsp              Ground flaxseed

2tbsp              Agave nectar

50g                 Almonds

50g                 Pumpkin seeds

200g               Gluten free oat flakes

Instructions

Soak the almonds and pumpkin seeds overnight.

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Chop the dates and add to a pan with the water. Simmer until the dates are soft.

Now add the coconut oil and allow to melt. Add the agave nectar and mix in.

Chop the almonds and add to the pan with the whole pumpkin seed. Mix well.

Finally pour in the oat flakes and mix thoroughly.

Pour the mixture into a square baking tray and press down firmly with a wooden spoon.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

Remove and leave to cool. Now cut into 9 pieces.

Store in a cool, dry place and eat within a week.

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Nettle Soup

This nettle soup is amazing! It’s a gorgeous rich, yellow colour and full of vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidants!

I was inspired to go nettle picking today in the glorious sunshine! l took a paper bag and collected nettles (wearing gloves!) just a few minutes from where I live! Nettles are in season between April to May and make this delicious, nutty soup!

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Serves 3

Ingredients

Large handful of freshly picked nettles

1tsp                 Coconut oil

1                      Onion

1                      Garlic clove

1                      Large carrot

½                     Large sweet potato

1tsp                 Thyme

1 litre               Filtered water

 Method

Bake the carrot and sweet potato in the oven for 45 minutes at 200C.

Melt the coconut oil in a large heated pan. Chop up the onion and sizzle in the pan, followed by adding the chopped garlic.

Wash the nettles (I used gloves!) and cut off any roots. Pour the water into the pan and add the nettles.

Chop up the carrot and sweet potato and add to the pan. Now add the thyme.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

Finally leave to cool for a few minutes, then add the soup to a blender or use a hand blender to make a smooth soup.

Serve and enjoy!

Vegan Chocolate Cake!

Indulge in this delicious, guilt-free chocolate cake made without dairy, eggs or gluten. It is so simple to make and your friends and family will love it! I used the same ingredients as in my Vegan Chocolate Muffins recipe to make this chocolate cake and used my Raw Chocolate Mousse recipe to make the tasty chocolate icing! I plan to make it as a birthday cake on my birthday!

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Cake Ingredients

150g              Quinoa

150g              Brown Rice

1tbsp             Coconut Oil

3tbsp             Ground Flaxseed

5tbsp             Cacao Powder

6tbsp             Agave Nectar

1tsp               Apple Cider Vinegar

3tsp               Baking Soda

1/4tsp            Pink crystal salt

500ml            Almond Milk

Chocolate Icing Ingredients

1                     Ripe Avocado

4tbsp              Cacao powder

2tbps              Agave nectar

300ml             Almond milk

1/4tsp             Pink crystal salt

Topping

100g               Raspberries

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Grease a cake tray with the coconut oil.

Add the quinoa and brown rice into a Vitamix blender and blend on full power for 30 seconds to make the flour. Now add in all the other ingredients. Blend for 30 seconds until well mixed.

Next pour the mixture into the cake tray.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 25 minutes.

When the cake is cooked, leave it to cool for 5 minutes and then carefully remove it from the tray and place on a rack to cool.

Now make the icing. Add the icing ingredients into the blender and blend for 30 seconds on full power until well combined.

Spoon out the icing on top of the cake and spread evenly with the back of a spoon. Place the raspberries around the edge of the cake.

Store in the fridge and eat within 4 days.