A Beetroot, Feta & Quinoa Salad

I have a tremendously healthy salad recipe for today. One that we had last night and has left me vitalised! Low fat, high in protein and fibre and so very tasty. I felt so good eating it and I still have some left over for lunch.

Perfect for a summer’s evening with a cheeky glass of crisp white wine if you want 😉 I’ll be experimenting and creating more salads this season. Can’t wait to share them with you all.

I will be serving some @ Angie’s Fiesta Friday Party

Have a terrific day! Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

1 cup quinoa
1 raw peeled and grated beetroot
3 spring onions finely sliced
1 big tomato roughly chopped
1 tin roseca/borlotti beans rinsed & drained
Feta cheese crumbled (low fat)
Handful of sunflower seeds
1tbsp olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
1/4 tsp garlic granules
Salt to taste

METHOD

Put the quinoa to in a small saucepan and cook upon instruction. I tend to cook it like pasta. Bring the water to a boil and then simmer for 15 to 18 minutes. Drain and set aside

In a large bowl add the rest of the ingredients in order according to the pictures. Leaving the beetroot til the end..ish. This way you cab minimize the addition of the deep pink colour to the salad

Crumble in the feta last and fold in

Serve alone or with some buttered whole grain pitta bread

I will be serving some @

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The Indian Onion Soup

Forget the french onion soup! For a second.  Take it to the next level, spice it up, masalafy it and transform it into the Indian curried onion soup.  You are bound to have these ingredients in your pantry , so no extra shopping!   A quick fix with some fresh crusty buttered bread or even some khichdi (rice and split mung bean dish)

I had a large sweet white onion and in contrast a red onion to use for this soup.  However I will never really understand why a red onion is a RED onion ? It is very much purple/magenta in colour?…any how…I love onions, I eat them raw in salads, find them delicious paired with a mature cheddar cheese sandwich!  I just love them!  Most of my cooking will involve onions in some way or another but today we are focusing solely on the onion.

This soup can be cooked in under 20 to 25 minutes.  Is very tasty, slightly sweet because the onions are caramelized in the spices and then you get a hint of heat on your palette at the very end from the red dried chilli flakes.

I know all onion lovers will adore this and it may even convert non onion lovers to loving them.  Hope you have a wonderful day…I’ll see you soon! Much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

1 large white onion sliced
1 large red onion sliced
1 tsp sunflower oil
Pinch of cumin seeds
Pinch of asafoetida
¼ tsp dried chilli flakes
1 tbsp cumin/coriander powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
1-2 tsp garam masala
1 tin finely chopped tomato
Salt to taste
1 cup water

METHOD

In a large saucepan, heat up the oil on a medium heat with the cumin seeds. Once the oil starts to sizzle are the onions and mix well

Add all the seasoning and spices making sure all the onion is coated. Cover, reduce to a low heat and cook for 5 minutes

Pour in the tin of chopped tomatoes with the cup of water, stir well, bring to a boil and gently simmer for 15 minutes

Serve up with a dollop of natural yoghurt and fresh bread

The Perfect After Gym Soup!

My younger brother came over today to spend time with myself and my 2 little boys. He had already planned in his gym session as the gym is close by. So I took this perfect opportunity to cook up a protein filled soup with plenty of vegetables and lots and lots of vegetable stock, for hydration and quinoa for protein.

The feedback was great, he found that it replenished his strength well and was a quick fix to fill him up but wasn’t too heavy. I found that it relieved my headcold really well. Most likely was the potent healing garlic, that works a treat for me everytime!

Give it a go friends and let me know how you get on…Have a beautiful day, evening…Much love, D x

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INGREDIENTS

1 large courgette grated
1 large carrot peeled and grated
1 clove garlic minced
½ cup quinoa
600 – 700ml vegetable stock
1 tsp dried coriander powder
1 tbsp sunflower oil
½ tbsp butter
2 tbsp cornflour dissolved in half a cup of water
Salt to taste
Chilli flakes to garnish optional

METHOD

Heat up the oil and butter together, gently place in the grated carrot and courgette into the deep saucepan.  Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until soft

Season with the coriander powder and salt.  Pour over the vegetable stock, cornflour solution along with the garlic.  Bring to a boil

Slow the heat down to a gentle simmer and stir in the quinoa.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally

Serve up hot with chilli flakes to garnish

A Baking Competition with TefalUK

I am so,so excited to announce my first ever Baking Competition here at Shivaay Delights.com.  I am teaming up with Tefal UK for a chance of all Shivaay Delights friends in the UK to win a “Sleek Black Awesome TEFAL OPTIGRILL”

I have one and it is amazing, here it is in action @My Optigrill! . Not for just vegetarian food, the grill specialises in cooking and grilling all types of food to different culinary requests and needs.  A really smart piece of kit, just in time for Christmas too!

I will be announcing the details of the competition on Monday 1st December here on the blog.  Please share this with friends and family and to keep updated get them to join via email.  Will also be updated on the interactive Facebook group “Sharing Food With Shivaay Delights”

Only open to those in the UK.  I really apologise in advance to all non UK friends.  I hope to incorporate an international feel soon…

Have a lovely weekend, much love D x

Smoked Paprika Plantain Chips ~ BAKED!!!

Growing up we were treated to plantain chips made by our parents.  Matoke as we call it, as both my parents were born in Africa.  It was prepared, sliced by hand and then deep fried.  The result would be a hot soft fluffy chip!  I have always loved them and remember my Dad buying packets of these chips in a range of flavours when I was pregnant for me to keep my energy levels up!

It was only last week that I spotted some plantain in our local supermarket.  I knew instantly that I wanted to create something with them.  So..I peeled them, sliced thinly in a food processor and set out to season and Bake!  Yes BAKE!  This way they remain healthy and I hardly used any oil!  Have a go! It’s so easy and you get fresh hot healthy plantain chips to nibble on, what could be better?

Have a tremendous day! See you tomorrow! Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

2 large plantain, peeled, thinly sliced
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ to 1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tsp salt or to taste

METHOD

• Preheat the oven to 200°c/400°f. Line 2 baking trays with greaseproof paper.  I used my pizza trays

• In a large bowl put all the ingredients together and gently massage the oil, salt and paprika into the plantain

• Lay the slices of plantain on the tray and place in the oven for 20-30 minutes.  Turn them over half way

• They will brown quickly so do keep an eye on them,  they will start to crisp up and this will continue as they cool down

• Eat as soon as possible, but they will keep for a day in an airtight container

Breakfast With My BFF

This lime and coconut syrup cake I made at 6 o’clock this morning for my wonderful friend Anussha who is so very dear to me.  She always spoils me with lovely delightful food and today it’s my turn!

She’s coming round for breakfast with her two little gorgeous girls and we will be having cheese chilli and onion omelette for pitta bread plus a fresh salsa and the cake for “elevenses” with her Mint masala chai recipe

My lime & coconut recipe…Enjoy friends! I know I will!! 😉

Have a restful weekend…Much love, D x

Everyone loves roast potatoes! And Curry!…

Everyone loves roast potatoes! And everyone loves curry, so this is what I decided to make and what a dish! Even though I say so myself! 😉 This particular dish left my husband eating out of the saucepan!

With the addition of roasted garlic this really is a treat. It is tangy, flavoursome and spicy! Perfect with some fresh crusty bread or pitta bread for a warm autumnal meal.

Brilliant if you have some roast potatoes left over from a Sunday roast. This way you can transform them into a different meal altogether!

INGREDIENTS

For the first part

1kg baby new potatoes
6 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp sunflower oil
salt to taste

For the curry sauce

1 tbsp sunflower oil
400g crushed tomato passata
1 tsp ginger puree
1 green chilli finely sliced
¼ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp cumin seeds
2 fresh tomatoes chopped
6 Roasted cloves of garlic
2 tsp cumin & coriander powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
½ tsp chilli powder
Salt to taste approx 1½ tsp

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180°c

Par boil the potatoes for 10 minutes so they soften a little. Drain them, coat in a little sunflower oil

Place in a roasting tray along with the garlic cloves, sprinkle with salt and roast for 30 minutes

In the mean time, heat the tablespoon of oil in a large saucepan. Add the mustard and cumin seeds, once they start to sizzle, throw in the fresh tomato with the roast garlic and ginger

Sauté for a couple of minutes. Pour in the tomato passata. Throw in the rest of the spices and seasoning. Cooked on a slow simmer for 10 minutes

Gently place the roasted potatoes into the curry sauce and smash them a little in order for the flavour to be absorbed

Mix well and carry on cooking for a further 20 or so minutes

For flavours to absorb further need to sit for a while before serving

Cavolo Nero Cheese Muffins

Iron, Iron, Iron! My Mum seeked out some Cavolo Nero Cabbage for me and I was and am extremely grateful and pleased! Having never tried this type of black leaf Kale which is found in Tuscany, Italy, I really couldn’t wait to cook with it. Especially as Tuscany is one place that I want to travel to and see!

I tried it raw and it didn’t have an overwheming strong taste, so I took a chance and wrote up a savoury muffin recipe alongside some sweet cherry tomatoes and strong mature cheddar cheese. Both my husband and I were taken a back! All these ingredients especially the cavolo nero gave us a completely new tasting muffin sensation. I know this particular bake will become very much a regular in our household, especially as our home was filled by such a scrumptious aroma whilst they were being baked. Enjoy! Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

225g self raising flour
6 cavolo single leaves, remove stem and chop into strips
14 cherry tomatoes quartered
100g mature cheddar cheese
180ml milk
1 free range egg
50ml olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp smoked paprika

METHOD

• Preheat oven to 200°c/400°f. Grease a 12 hole muffin pan with some olive oil

• In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients apart from the cheese

• Whisk the egg into the milk and pour into the dry ingredients along with the oil. Stir well to bring together

• Fold in the cavolo nero, cherry tomatoes and cheese

• Spoon up to half of the mixture in each muffin hole

• Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown

Peppered Paneer With Peas

My husband keeps buying paneer! Maybe it’s a big hint for me to make him some. So on Saturday, I decided to make a paneer curry! This time I made the pepper the star of the show and it really adds a gentle warmth to the curry. There are still two blocks of paneer, so I’m sure you all will be seeing another paneer incorporated recipe here this week

I hope you enjoy this version…Take care and have a lovely day friends! Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

1 red bell pepper chopped
250g panner cubed
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 green chilli finely chopped
½ tsp ginger paste
1 onion sliced crescents
1 small green bell pepper sliced strips
1 cup frozen peas
200g tomato passata
1 tbsp sunflower oil
¼ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp cumin seeds
Salt to taste
¼ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander and cumin powder
1 tsp shahi paneer masala

METHOD

Heat up the oil in a medium non stick saucepan along with the mustard and cumin seeds. Once they start to pop throw in the the red bell pepper with the garlic and ginger paste. Stir fry on a medium for a couple of minutes

Gently pour in the tomato passata with all the spices and seasoning. Stir, cover and cook through on a slow heat for 5 minutes

Place in the cubed paneer and mix well, ensuring all the tomato masala is coating the paneer. Mix in the onion and green pepper with the chilli. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.

Stir in the peas and cook for a further 10 minutes. Serve with some naan bread

It’s All About Mum’s Coriander Chutney!

I have been eating this yummy chutney all my life but it is now, how much I appreciate my mum’s cooking even more! Knowing how difficult it is, running a household, working and looking after children, she made it look so easy. I have been blessed with two wonderful parents who both know how to cook and always make us food even today if we let on we are slightly hungry!

This coriander chutney is simplicity at its best. Mum has been delivering pots of the wonder stuff recently as I am on a chutney phase! I have been enjoying it in sandwiches. With Indian food and now in a melted cheese bagel! Try it for yourselves friends and do let me know…I will give the feedback to my Mum! Much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

1 bunch of fresh coriander
2~3 green chillies medium hot
2 tbsp fine grinded peanut powder
Salt to taste
Lemon to taste

Grated mature cheddar cheese
Bagels (I had red onion and chive)

METHOD
For the chutney

~ Blend all the ingredients together into a paste, season with the lemon and salt

~ Slice the bagel in half, toast on the grill. Spread the chutney on one half. Top with cheddar cheese

~ Sandwich together and grill in a panini maker. I used my Optigrill on a medium heat and toasted it until the cheese had melted into the chutney

~ Serve with some coleslaw or salad