Category Archives: Recipes

Ensalada in Orba

Articles, Spanish, Travel, , , , , , , ,

Today we went for a walk in the Jalon valley and saw wild orange trees, nut trees, purple grape trees and cacao bean trees! We have lemon trees in the garden at the villa so can pick wild lemons. It’s fantastic to go outside and pick your own fruit!

Later we drove to Orba to have lunch in Les Arcades. For tapas they had finely sliced, fried mushrooms seasoned in olive oil, garlic and parsley which were very tasty.

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For starter I had the sopa de cebolla/onion soup which was tasty.

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All the main meals contained meat, but we asked the waiter if they could prepare some vegetables. Later on he brought out a stunning dish of rainbow coloured vegetables with rice, mushrooms and patatas which was amazing!

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For dessert I had cantaloupe melon. After that we were stuffed!

So it really is possible to eat vegan while in Spain!

Patatas Bravas in Calpe

Articles, Spanish, Travel, , , , , ,

Buenas dias! Today we went into Calpe to do some shopping. Unfortunately on the way back it poured with rain, so much so that we couldn’t cross the road to walk back to the car as the road had turned into a river! So we ran into the Spanish restaurant El Paseo to shelter from the rain and have lunch while we waited for the rain to stop.

The only vegan meal on the menu was Patatas Bravas! It is becoming one of my favourite meals! Crispy potatoes with spicy tomato salsa sauce! I will keep you updated with other vegan meals that I find in the restaurants!

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Baked Apples with Raisins

Desserts, Recipes, Vegan, , , , , , ,

This traditional English baked apples recipe makes a delicious dessert! Many adults remember their Mum’s cooking this dessert for them as a child. And it makes good use of the abundance of cooking apples on the trees during late summer!

Baked Apples with Raisins

Serves 2

Ingredients

2          Cooking apples

1 tbsp  Raisins

1 tbsp  Cashew nuts

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tbsp  Agave nectar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Wash and core the apples. Place the apples on a baking tray.

Chop the cashew nuts and place into a small bowl with the raisins, cinnamon and agave nectar. Mix well. Now spoon the mixture into the apples.

Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the apples are soft.

Serve warm.

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Gluten-free, Vegan Fruit Bread

Bread, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, , , , , , , , , ,

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

Gluten-Free, Main Meal, Recipes, Vegan, , , , , , , , ,

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 Mayonnaise

Dips & Spreads, Recipes, , , , ,

This vegan mayonnaise is delicious in a sandwich, on a baked potato or mixed into a potato salad! It is very quick and easy to make and completely egg free! My tasters could not tell the difference between this and ordinary mayonnaise!

Vegan Mayonnaise

Ingredients

1/2         Lemon

1tsp       Dijon mustard

2tsp       Cyder vinegar

100ml    Soya milk

100ml    Rapeseed oil

1/4tsp    Sea salt

1/4tsp    Black pepper

Instructions

Squeeze the juice of half of a lemon into a blender. Add the mustard, cyder vinegar, soya milk, rapeseed oil and salt and black pepper into the blender.

Now blend on a medium speed until the mayonnaise has thickened.

Pour into a jar and store in the fridge. Eat within 3-4 days.

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Vegan Cashew Cream

Dairy Alternatives, Recipes, Vegan, , , , , ,

This vegan cashew cream is so simple to make and it is the perfect alternative if you are intolerant to dairy. It is delicious served with strawberries or spread in a Victoria sponge cake!

Vegan Cashew Cream

Ingredients

100g    Cashew nuts

1          Ripe banana

Instructions

Soak the cashew nuts overnight.

The next day drain them and add them to a blender along with the chopped banana. Blend until it forms a smooth cream. Transfer the cream into a container.

Store in the fridge and eat within 3-4 days.

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Vegan Victoria Sponge Cake

Cakes, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, , , , , , , ,

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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Vegan Thai Green Curry

Main Meal, Recipes, Vegan, , , , , , ,

Hope you are all enjoying the summer holidays! I am enjoying having lots of time to cook new things outside of my usual culinary comfort zone. This delicious vegan Thai green curry made a refreshing change from my usual curry. The fresh fragrances of the basil and coriander give it a delicious aroma.

Vegan Thai Green Curry

Ingredients

Curry Paste
2 garlic cloves
1/2 red onion
1 stalk lemon grass
1tsp ground coriander
2tsp ground cumin
1/2 lime juice
30g fresh coriander
10g fresh basil
1/2 can coconut milk

Veggies
1tsp coconut oil
2 bay leaves
1 small sweet potato precooked
1 carrot
1/2 head broccoli
100g green beans
100g mushrooms
100ml filtered water

Method

Pre-bake the sweet potato in the oven at 190C for 45 minutes.

Now add the chopped garlic, onion, lemon grass, ground coriander, ground cumin, lime juice, fresh coriander, fresh basil and half a can of coconut milk to a blender to make the curry paste. Blend for 30 seconds until smooth.

Next melt the coconut oil in a frying pan on a medium heat. Add the curry paste and fry for a few minutes to release the fragrance. Now finely chop the broccoli and carrot for a faster cooking time and add to the curry paste. Chop up the precooked sweet potato into cubes and add to the curry paste with the chopped green beans and mushrooms. Add the extra water and stir the veggies regularly.

Cook on a low heat for 30 minutes or until you can pierce the broccoli with a knife.

Serve warm with basmati rice or rice noodles. Garnish with a few basil leaves.