This is a good "back pocket" dish to make when you desperately need more fiber and veggies in your life. What makes it better than a boring lentil salad is sauteeing the almonds in spices and garlic and reserving that leftover oil to season the salad.
Prep Time15mins
Cook Time30mins
Total Time45mins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1cupfrench or black lentil
4 cupswater
4garlic clovessliced
3Tbspextra virgin olive oil
1/4tspturmeric
1/4tspcinnamon
1/2tspcumin
1/8-1/4tspred chili flakes or cayenne (optional)
3/4cupalmondsroughly chopped
4cupsshredded dinosaur kale
1/3 - 1/2cuppitted kalamata olives
Dressing
Reserved oil (from the nuts)
extra virgin olive oil (enough to top up to 1/4 cup)
1/2cuporange juicesqueezed from oranges
1/2lemonjuiced
3Tbspapple cider vinegar
1/4tspsea salt and pinch pepper
Instructions
Place lentils in a sieve and rinse. Then put lentils in a pot with water, a pinch of a salt, bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse.
Meanwhile place a pan on medium heat, add the oil and wait 30 seconds.
Drop in the sliced garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, red chili flakes. Stir around to coat the pan and garlic, then add in the almonds.
Toss, then let them sit, undisturbed for 2 minutes, mix around, let them sit again for another 2-5 minutes. Until almonds and garlic have started to brown. Keep shaking the pan and watching so they don't burn!
Once browned, place them on a plate or tray (you can line it with paper towel) to stop them from cooking in the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Reserve the cooking oil and place in a measuring cup. Add in extra virgin olive oil so the total oil comes to 1/4 cup. Then add in the rest of the dressing ingredients.
Cut the kale and place it in a large bowl. Pour in the lentils. Pour in the dressing and toss around. Then toss in the nuts and olives.
Notes
Substitution Guide:
french or black lentils: green/brown lentils, chickpeas
kale: cabbage or another variety of kale
almonds: pecans, pumpkin seeds, any nut or seed of choice
orange juice: more lemon juice
kalamata olives: raisins, pomegranate seeds, craisins or omit
This is a favourite recipe of mine because this seems like a fancy dish, but it's easy and tastes so good. The point is that the spices sear and toast, not the fish, so the flavour is intense and subtle at the same time.
Prep Time5mins
Cook Time15mins
Total Time20mins
Course: Main Course
Servings: 4
Ingredients
44-5 ozpieces of salmon
1Tbsppaprika
1tspcayenne pepper (optional)
1TbspItalian seasoning
1/2tsp sea salt
1Tbspextra virgin olive oil
2oranges (between 1/3 - 1/2 cup)
Instructions
Mix the spices together in a wide dish.
Place the salmon flesh side down in the spices to ensure one side of them is coated.
Place a wide dish over the stove, heat to medium-high and add oil.
Place the salmon spice side down.
Once the spices look like they're browning. Add in the orange juice. Once the orange has mostly evaporated, flip the fish over and cook for another few minutes until the fish is perfectly cooked.
If your pieces are thick and aren't cooking on the inside, place them a 350 F oven for a few minutes.
This vegan mushroom soup is perfectly creamy without the addition of any actual cream! It's was inspired by a Bon Appetit recipe. Walnuts, thyme and mushrooms are the perfect trifecta, so it only made sense to incorporate all three in the soup. Then we added in a bit of miso for a hit of saltiness, interest and umami flavour.
Prep Time5mins
Cook Time35mins
Total Time40mins
Course: Appetizer, Soup
Servings: 6
Ingredients
12ozmushrooms (cremini and shiitake)don't wash, just wipe and slice
2Tbspextra virgin olive oil
1yellow onion
4garlic cloves
1/2tspsea salt and pinch of pepper
1/2bundlefresh thyme
4cupsveggie broth
1/2cupwalnuts
1Tbspwhite miso
Instructions
Place a large, wide pot over medium heat.
Add the mushrooms, toss to coat in the oil, then leave them undisturbed for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, toss around and saute for an additional 5-8 minutes, continue to toss as needed. Then transfer the mushrooms to a plate.
Add the onion to the pot, and a splash of oil, if needed. Saute for 2 minutes, then toss in the garlic and cook for 60 seconds. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour in broth, the bundle of thyme and mushrooms. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
Take out 2 cups of the whole soup (with everything in it) and blitz with walnuts and miso, until creamy. Return to pot. Remove the thyme. Reason with salt and pepper. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
Pour into bowls, drizzle with olive oil and springs of fresh thyme.
Notes
Substitution Guide:
Mushrooms: any variety you like!
Onion: shallots, leeks, more garlic
Fresh thyme: 1 tsp dried thyme -- just saute it with the onion and garlic
Walnuts: cashews
Miso: omit if you don't have, add a splash of tamari
 Prep Guide:
buy the mushrooms pre-sliced or slice them the day before
4. Crispy Onion and Spaghetti Squash Jewelled Salad
This is a far-fetched play on a Moroccan-style Jewelled rice. At the moment, both spaghetti squash and pomegranates are in season so we really wanted to make use of the two in a simple recipe. What really makes it, is topping it with crispy onions. Isn't everything better with crispy onions?
Prep Time15mins
Cook Time45mins
Total Time1hr
Course: Side Dish
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1spaghetti squash
drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
1/4tspcinnamon
1/4tspturmeric
1/4tspsea salt and pinch of pepper
Rest of the Salad
2carrotshalved and sliced
2radisheshalved and sliced
1/2cuppomegranate seeds
Dressing
2Tbspextra virgin olive oil
1lemonjuiced
1tsphoney
1/2tspsea salt and pinch of pepper
Crispy Onion Topping
1smallyellow onionsliced into think 1/4 inch circles
2tbspextra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
Halve the spaghetti squash, scoop out the seeds with a spoon, place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle the open side with olive oil and spices, place on baking sheet and and bake for 45 minutes.
While the squash is cooking, prep the other veggies and whisk the dressing together.
Also place a wide pan on medium heat. Add oil and after a few seconds toss in the onion. Leave for a minute, undisturbed, then shimmy the pan and leave again. Watch carefully so they don't burn. As soon as they're crisped and brown, remove from pan and place on a plate lined with paper towel.
Once the squash is slightly cooled, take a fork and start scooping out the "innards" to create "spaghetti"
Mix the squash with the veggies and dressings. Top with crispy onions.
Notes
Substitution Guide:
spaghetti squash: any squash or sweet potato
carrots or radishes: any veg you like and have in the fridge that can be eaten raw
pomegranate: craisins
 Prep Guide:
Roast the spaghetti squash a day or two ahead of time
We always love when dishes have complex flavours like they're sweet, spicy, salty and hit on every taste bud! We wanted to do a play on "cauliflower wings" we often see, but keep the recipe super, super, super simple. So after the veggies are "battered" and roasted, a big splash of sweet Thai chili sauce does the trick. Also, the veggies are SO GOOD once battered and roasted you could skip the sauce part, if your heart desired.We personally like the brand "Naked" for the sweet Thai chili sauce. It's available in Canada and the ingredients are a bit better. But other varieties will work and we'll give some alternative suggestions in the substitution section below.
Chop the cauliflower into florets and halve the brussel sprouts.
Preheat oven to 400 F (204 C)
Mix batter ingredients together in a big bowl.
Add all the veggies to the bowl and mix well (you may want to use your hands) so that every piece is coated.
Place parchment paper down on 2 baking sheets. Evenly divide the veggies between the two sheets, ensure each piece has a bit of space around it to properly cook. Bake for 35 minutes, flip halfway.
Take the veggies out of the oven and pour the sweet Thai chili sauce over both baking sheets. Then mix really, really, really well so that every piece is fully coated.
Place back in the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Top with sesame seeds.
Notes
Substitution Guide:
Brussel sprouts or cauliflower: broccoli
almond flour: any flour should work, we have not tried it ourselves
Sweet thai chili sauce:
your favourite BBQ sauce - start with 1/2 cup and see if you need more
1/2 cup Frank's hot (can mix with a few Tbsp honey)
Sriracha (again, can mix with a few Tbsp honey)
 Prep Guide:
Cut the cauliflower and brussel sprouts a day or two in advance (this will save so much time!)
We've been waiting to share this recipe. We recently use this recipe to make cupcakes and they were INCREDIBLE. Especially when you very slightly undercook them so the middle is just a tiny bit gooey (but still safe to eat!). The sweet potato icing is INSANELY delicious. Since this is the last week of cooking club we wanted to give a big, celebratory send-off!
Prep Time15mins
Cook Time35mins
Total Time50mins
Course: Dessert
Servings: 6
Ingredients
Cake
Dry
1 1/2cupsalmond flour
1/4cuparrowroot flour
1/3cupraw cacao powder or cocoa powder
1/2cupcoconut sugar
1/2tspbaking soda
1/4tspsea salt
Wet
3eggs
1/3cupmelted and cooled butter, coconut oil or EVOO
1 1/2tsppure vanilla extract
Icing
1cupsteamed sweet potato or squash
2Tbspmelted coconut oil
1/3cupraw cacao or cocoa powder
1/3cupsemi-sweet chocolate chipsmelted
1/2tspsea salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 F (162 C)
Melt the butter or coconut oil and allow to cool.
Mix all dry ingredients together.
Combine all wet ingredients. Pour dry into wet and whisk until smooth.
Oil a cake pan or muffin tin. Bake the cake for 30-45 minutes (depending on the size of your pan), until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. If making muffins, scoop about 1/2 cup batter into each muffin hole for a big, puffy muffin and bake for 20 minutes.
Icing
if you're steaming the sweet potato yourself, do this first. You can "steam-roast" it by poking holes in it and placing it in a 400 F oven for 45-60 minutes. Or, you can steam it on the stovetop.
While the sweet potato is roasting, place the chocolate chips in in a double boiler over the stove and melt.
Place all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
Assembly
Spoon the icing over the cake and using a spoon or off-set spatula, make "waves" and "scoops" to decorate.