Broccoli Spread



Undoubtedly, broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables. I love everything about broccoli, the taste, the texture, the fact that it’s so versatile. One of the most simple and yet delicious recipes with broccoli is broccoli spread. It’s extremely creamy and it’s wonderful spread on a slice of homemade bread (or tortilla, in my case). It’s so hearty and flavorful and the color is simply hypnothyc. This recipe is a great way to use the whole vegetable, stem included, so nothing goes to waste. And before I forget, all the ingredients are plant-based, so it’s suitable for a vegan diet.

Ingredients (for 6 servings):

  • 500g broccoli
  • 1/2 large avocado
  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tsp chopped chives
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp chili powder
  • salt to taste

Method:

  1. Fill a medium saucepan with water, cover with a lid and bring to a boil.
  2. Peel the broccoli stalk using a vegetable peeler. Cut the broccoli into florets and cube the peeled stalk.
  3. When the water starts to boil, add the broccoli and simmer them for 8 minutes ( the cooking time depends on the size of the florets). Meanwhile prepare the ice bath by adding 1 cup of ice to a bowl filled with cold water. Carefully drain the broccoli and immediately place itin the ice bath. Drain the broccoli using a collander and refrigerate it for about 20 minutes.
  4. After 20 minutes place it in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy.
  5. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until smooth. Give it a taste and adjust the salt. Spoon it into a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

Poached Egg Whites

Herb egg whites, avocado & homemade bread

Breakfast

Poached herb egg whites

Whenever I engage myself in over-ambitious bakery projects, I end up by throwing away the egg whites. Of course I plan on using them the following days, but I almost never do. And I strongly dislike wasting and throwing things away. Lately, to avoid any waste (and all the bad energy that comes with it), I take 2 egg whites at a time, I wrap them in cling film square, I season them with sea salt, olive oil and fresh herbs and I poach them in hot water. This way, you get some flavorful egg white balls, perfect for a weekend brunch.

When you prepare a classic egg white omelette, the dish tends to be a bit blend, but using this technique, the egg whites are full of flavor. Another great advantage is the fact that you can prepare 3 or 4 packages at a time so in 15 minutes, you can prepare a very satisfying breakfast for the whole family. I usually serve my poached egg whites on a slice of homemade bread covered with a generous amount of avocado spread. Simple and so delicious! Continue reading Poached Egg Whites

Asparagus and Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed-Lemon Dressing

Asparagus saladCleaning asparagusSaladDSC_4818

I absolutely love strawberries. I find them delicious both in desserts and in savory dishes. They go so well with a lot of other salad ingredients, from arugula, baby spinach and asparagus to green beans and cauliflower. Strawberries not only add an elegant touch to any dish, but they also add nutrients and flavor. During May and June, when strawberries are fresh and mouth-watering, I include them almost daily in a salad.

For this particular salad I sliced a few strawberries and I placed them on top of some blanched asparagus. I added pea sprouts, avocado and feta cheese and I dressed them with a fresh and flavorful poppy seed-lemon dressing. Very simple and so delicious! Continue reading Asparagus and Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed-Lemon Dressing

Paleo Tuna and Avocado Salad

Tuna boatTuna saladAvocado, apple tuna salad

Tuna, onion and mayonnaise is a match made in heaven, from my point of view. I’ve never tried to perfect this combination because I found it perfect in the first place. The problem occurred one day when I ran out of eggs and it was impossible for me to make mayonnaise (I’m old school, I always make my own mayonnaise, don’t judge me). I was desperately looking for a substitute in the pantry when a (probably) 100 year old ripe avocado was looking back at me. It seemed such a good idea. And it was a wonderful idea! From that day on I’ve never used mayonnaise in my tuna salad again. Continue reading Paleo Tuna and Avocado Salad

Warm Kidney Bean and Quinoa Salad Wrap

 

WrapFlatbread and warm quinoa saladWarm salad

Today I have the following idea: a hearty kidney bean and quinoa warm salad wrapped in a homemade flatbread, served with a delicious and tangy avocado sauce. It’s a vegan dish, extremely tasty and very nutritious. It is a very satisfying salad, packed with protein, vitamins and healthy fats. Continue reading Warm Kidney Bean and Quinoa Salad Wrap

Lamb’s Lettuce with Mushrooms, Grapes and Halloumi

Salad - eating

Salad - close up

I’ve declared my eternal “love” for salads on many other occasions. I’m still not a fan but I still eat them regularly, only for their health benefits. On the other hand, this salad is quite tasty, extremely easy to make and packed with nutrients. It has so many bold flavors and the consistency of the halloumi cheese is simply addictive.
Continue reading Lamb’s Lettuce with Mushrooms, Grapes and Halloumi

Dinner Rolls Served with Guacamole and Quail Eggs

Dinner roll, guacamole & quail egg
Dinner roll

Lately I’ve been making guacamole every other night. It’s delicious, healthy and so easy to make. And when I spread it on a fluffy homemade dinner roll, I’m in heaven.
Continue reading Dinner Rolls Served with Guacamole and Quail Eggs

Potato Salad with Avocado and Greek Yogurt Sauce

Potato salad - servingGarnishing potato salad
This potato salad is a healthier approach to classic mayonnaise potato salad. Since I started cooking, I tried a lot of recipes, but I haven’t found the perfect one. I tried to include lots of different ingredients, some of them fitted like a glove, some of them made my salad taste at least… weird. So, I finally have my own version, a version that is both tasty and nutritious.
Continue reading Potato Salad with Avocado and Greek Yogurt Sauce

Cream of Potatoes Soup

Potato soup - platingPouring potato soup

I love veggie soups. They are nutritious, tasty and very easy to make. When it’s freezing outside, a big bowl of soup has the power to warm up both your body and your soul.

Today I chose a cream of potato soup. It’s so hearty and creamy. For extra flavor, I boiled veggies in homemade chicken soup and I seasoned my cream of potatoes with Cajun spice blend. I served this wonderful soup in huge bowls with crispy bacon, avocado, pumpkin seeds and chilli pecorino cheese sprinkled on top.

Continue reading Cream of Potatoes Soup