Posts

Sweet Spinach, Pea, and Basil Smoothie Bowl

A deliciously healthy smoothie bowl made with ingredients that you can find in your local supermarket. Don’t worry; this doesn’t taste like vegetable soup: the flavours of the fruits are dominant.

Ingredients:

For juicing

1/4 cucumber
1 slice pineapple
1 apple
1 kiwi fruit

For blending

2 frozen bananas
Large handful spinach
Large handful frozen peas
Handful oats
15-20 basil leaves

For decorating (suggestion)

Fresh, dried, or frozen fruit
Nuts and seeds
Coconut flakes
Suitable for vegan muesli or granola

Directions:
1. Juice the pineapple, cucumber, apple, and kiwi.
2. Add to the blender with the bananas, spinach, oats, peas and basil. If the mixture is too thin, add more oats or frozen peas. If too thick to blend, add a little more liquid (all-plant milk would be suitable).
3. Pour into a bowl (or two, depending on desired serving size), and serve decorated according to taste.

Beet and Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

This bowl is earthy and moderately sweet. If you don’t like the earthiness of beets, some lime juice will help cut through it a little. You can also add a touch of vegan liquid sweetener to enhance those sweet notes.

Ingredients

For juicing
1 slice pineapple
1/2 large red beet
1 apple

For blending
100g frozen strawberries
100g frozen cauliflower

For decorating
Desiccated coconut
Flaked almonds
Oats

Optional
1/2 lime
Maple syrup or other suitable-for-vegans liquid sweetener

Directions
1. Juice the pineapple, beet, and apple
2. Blend the juice with the frozen strawberries and cauliflower.
3. Taste. If you find the bowl too earthy, squeeze the lime into the blender over your closed hand (palm facing up; this way, you catch the seeds). If you’re adding the lime juice, blend briefly.
4. Transfer to a bowl, decorate, add some maple syrup (or other suitable-for-vegans sweetener), and enjoy.
5. As with all smoothie bowls, they will melt rather quickly. A good tip to slow the melting process is to leave your bowl in the refrigerator overnight and use this for plating your smoothie bowl the next day.

Baked Beans in a Flash

Oil-free, ready in just over 10 minutes, and suitable for novice cooks, these baked beans are perfect for breakfast or lunch.

Ingredients

1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
300g passata
1 x 400g can white beans (e.g. cannellini or haricot)
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp maple syrup
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika

Directions

1. Heat a small saucepan over a medium low heat. Add the onion and sauté until just starting to caramelise (about 3-5 minutes). Add the garlic and a splash (about 1tbsp) water and cook for another 30 seconds.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pan. Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to reduce slightly, about 5 minutes. Taste, adjust seasoning if necessary, and serve.