HOT HONEY HALOUMI COCONUT BITES
These are fun, tasty little morsels! The combination of the super savoury Riverina Dairy Haloumi and the sweet spiciness of the hot honey make you want to dive back for more and more!
Read MoreFiltering by Category: VEGETARIAN
PUMPKIN LASAGNE
Pumpkin Lasagne
Serves 4 (increase qty to make larger tray)
1/2 medium Kent Pumpkin, skin removed, cut into chunks
1 brown onion, diced
1 sprig rosemary, whole
2 leaves sage, whole
Olive oil
Sea salt, to season
Bechamel
6 tbs (85g) butter
1/2 cup (70g) plain flour
4 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed with rosemary, bay & sage
2 cups cheese (1 cup parmesan / 1 cup cheddar - or melting cheeses of your choice), reserve a little cheese for topping the lasagne
Walnut Ricotta
1/2 cup walnuts
500g fresh ricotta
Rosemary & Sage, finely chopped
Sea salt, to taste
5 fresh lasagne sheets
Step 1. Preheat an oven to 180C. Drizzle pumpkin pieces with olive oil and season with salt. Toss to coat and then place onto a roasting tray and into the oven for 20-25 mins or until pumpkin is soft.
Step 2. While the pumpkin is cooking, saute the onion in a little olive oil along with rosemary and sage. As you cook your onion, begin the walnut ricotta by quickly blitzing the nuts in a blender and then adding to a large bowel with the ricotta, herbs and sea salt. Set aside until needed.
Step 3. For the bechamel starting with butter, then adding flour and cooking out for 1-2mins, then add the warmed, herb milk a little at a time working with a whisk to get a super smooth sauce. Add cheeses and if needed any extra milk to ensure the correct silky smooth consistency.
Step 4. Blitz together the pumpkin and onion mix (remove rosemary stalk) until a chunky puree (you don't want to turn the pumpkin into soup). Now it is time to build, you can really choose your own adventure here but I start with some bechamel, then lasagne sheet, followed by the pumpkin, another lasagne sheet, ricotta walnut mix, topped with bechamel, then lasagne sheet again, more pumpkin, a further lasagne sheet, then again the ricotta mix, topped finally with a last sheet of lasagne and topped with bechamel and cheese.
Step 5. Into the preheated oven and bake for 25mins or until hot, bubbling and golden on the top.
MORE PASTA
PALAK PANEER
I love Palak Paneer, Saag Paneer, however it comes really - my goto order when it comes to Indian food but also a favourite of mine to make at home ‘cause it is pretty simple, doesnt take long and PACKS in the flavour. My recipe below…
Ingredients
200g paneer, cut into cubes
2 tbs ghee
1 tbs whole cumin seeds
2 red onions, finely slices (reserve some for serving)
5cm thumb ginger, finely dices
6 cloves garlic, crushed and finely chopped
2 green chili, finely sliced
2 tbs ground cumin
1 tbs ground coriander
2 tsp chili powder (add as much or as little as you like)
1/2 tbs turmeric powder
2 bunches, washed english spinach
1 bunch fresh coriander
3 tbs plain yoghurt
Method
Step 1. Using a medium heat, fry off the paneer cubes in a little ghee until golden brown on all sides. Remove from pan and set aside until needed.
Step 2. Next using the remaining ghee, fry off cumin seeds along with onion until onion softens. Next add in your ginger, garlic and chili, fry off until aromatic and follow with the spices, combining well and gently toasting. Remove from heat and set aside.
Step 3. Add spinach to pot of boiling water and blanch quickly until vibrant and green, strain in a colander and along with coriander add to ice water to stop the cooking process.
Step 4. Blend spinach and coriander with a little water until smooth, add half the onion mix and blend again, finally add yoghurt and blend for a final time until silky.
Step 5. Add the paneer back to the pan with the onions, pour over the spinach mix and warm through. Serve with rice and breads.
GREEN PEA & BACON SOUP
250g streaky bacon, cut in strips
1 medium brown onion
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1L chicken stock
500g green peas
1 1/2 cup sour cream
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Bacon bits + sour cream, to serve
Step 1. Starting with a medium low heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove from the pan, setting aside to serve, use a strainer to strain off the bacon fat, reserving a little in the pan to cook the onion, celery and garlic. Cook until aromatic and softened.
Step 2. Add stock and bring to a rapid boil. Once boiling add peas and cook for 2-3mins or just tender. Allow to cool slightly before transferring to the blender along with seasonings and sour cream. Blend until smooth.
Step 3. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and crispy bacon bits.
THAI PUMPKIN & COCONUT SOUP
1/2 Kent Pumpkin, skin removed, cut into large chunks
3 carrots, peeled and cut in half
1 brown onion, halved and skin removed
2 tbs red curry paste
Olive oil, to drizzle
1 x 400ml can coconut milk
500ml vegetable stock
To serve
Chili oil
Crispy shallot
Coriander
Step 1. Preheat oven to 180C. In a large bowl, toss together the pumpkin, carrot, onion, curry paste and oil. Be sure to coat all the vegetables well with the curry paste. Add in a single layer to a roasting dish and bake in oven for 30-40mins or until pumpkin is soft and tender.
Step 2. Add all vegetables to a blender, along with coconut milk and vegetable stock. Blitz until silky smooth - feel free to add more or less liquid depending on how you want the texture and consistency. Eat as is, or add to a pot and heat through.
Step 3. Serve and top with your favourite toppings, I used chili oil, crispy shallot and coriander.
CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP
I DIDNT HAVE A PHOTO OF THE FINISHED DISH, SO HERE ARE THE VIDEOS 🥲😂
6 portabello mushrooms, stalks removed
4 cloves garlic, crushed
½ tbs dried thyme leaves
6 cubes butter (approx. 1/2 tbs each)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup (~50g) dried mixed mushrooms*
1L water
250ml pouring cream
Finely chopped chives, to garnish
Step 1. Roast the Mushrooms. Preheat oven to 220°C
Arrange portabello mushrooms on a baking tray. Scatter over garlic and add butter cube to each of the mushrooms. Sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 25–30 minutes, or until mushrooms are softened completely.
Step 2. Make a mushroom stock. Add dried mushrooms to a small pot with 1 litre of water, cover and gently simmer.
Step 3. Blend together. Transfer the roasted mushrooms and garlic (along with any juices) into a blender or large pot. Add strained mushroom stock and cream and blend until smooth. (If using a pot, use an immersion blender.)
Step 4. Gently simmer the Soup: Pour the blended mixture into a large saucepan if not already using one. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
Step 5. Serve. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with finely chopped chives.
Serve with crusty bread or a swirl of cream for an extra touch.
* you don't need to make your own mushroom stock, you can use vegetable stock as an option.
SOME MORE COSY WINTER DISHES HERE
CAVALO NERO MISO PASTA
Your favorite pasta, cooked in salted boiling water
1 bunch cavolo nero, hard stems removed
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp chili flakes
1 tbs white miso paste
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Step 1. Blanch greens, garlic and chili. Shock in ice bath. Drain, add all to blender along with a few spoonfuls of pasta water. Blitz until super smooth
Step 2. Add pasta to a large skillet over medium heat, pour over greens mix, add cheese, season and toss to combine.
Step 3. Serve and enjoy
VEGEMITE, CHEESE & CARROT SCROLL
Recipe created and developed for VEGEMITE
Back to School with my Vegemite, carrot and cheese scrolls 🥕🧀👇
4 sheets, puff pastry
4 tbs VEGEMITE
4 carrots, grated
4 cups grated tasty cheese + 1/2 cup for sprinkling
1 egg, beaten
Step 1. Preheat oven to 200C. On a clean worksurface, roll out the puff pastry one sheet at a time. Start by spreading 1 tbs of VEGEMITE onto the sheet, followed by a generous sprinkling of carrot and cheese, ensuring you have enough of each for the remaining sheets of puff pastry.
Step 2. Working gently so as not to damage the pastry, roll the sheet in a loose roll away from you. Using a sharp knife, cut the roll into thirds and then each third cut in half so that you have 6 scrolls. Repeat the process for the remaining sheets of pastry. This may need to be done in batches depending on the size of your oven.
Step 3.. Place scrolls cut size up onto baking trays. Brush gently with the beaten egg.. Bake for 15mins and sprinkle over the remaining cheese, place back into the oven for a further 10-15mins or until puffed, golden and the cheese is well melted.
Step 4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. If you are not eating right away, allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
VEGEMITE & Cheese Mini Quiches
RECIPE DEVELOPED FOR VEGEMITE
Prep 00:15
Cook 01:00*
Makes 12
Super Easy
2 large brown onions, halved and sliced.
1 tbs olive oil
2 tsp sea salt
1 sheet (approx. 27 x 36cm) all butter puff pastry
2 tbs VEGEMITE
3 eggs
150ml thickened cream
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
Step 1. Make caramelised onion by cooking your onion in the oil with a seasoning of salt over a low medium heat. This process takes time and should be done gently to maximise flavour. Once the onions are jammy and a deep brown colour, remove from heat and set aside.
Step 2. Preheat your oven to 200C. Prepare a muffin tin with a quick spray of cooking oil. Using a 10cm circular pastry cutter cut 12 discs of pastry. Place each disk into the muffin tin pressing to the edges and up the sides. Grab a fork and prick the base of the pastry to prevent it from rising. Place into the oven and cook for 10mins or until the pastry just begins to puff and change colour.
Step 3. While the pastry is still hot, use a pastry brush to brush the insides of the quiche shells with vegemite. Next add in a teaspoon of caramelised onion. Whisk together the eggs and cream until really well combined, using a small pouring jug, pour in the egg mixture, top with cheese and place back in the oven for a further 20mins or until the pastry and cheese is golden and the egg is cooked.
Note:
*cooking time on this is slightly extended due to the caramelised onions, this can be significantly reduced if you purchase a store bought jarred caramelised onion mix.
MEXICAN 7 LAYER SALAD
CREAMY SUNDRIED TOMATO & PRAWN PASTA
RECIPE DEVELOPED FOR GRANT BURGE WINES
400g your favourite short pasta*
800g fresh medium green prawns*, peeled, tails on, deveined
Olive oil
Sea salt
Sauce
2 tbs unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 tbs Dijon mustard
2 cup pouring cream
1 cup, fresh basil, roughly chopped
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Parmesan cheese, finely grated, to serve
Step 1. Start by cooking pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water. This whole dish should come together in the time it takes to cook the pasta.
Step 2. Heat a large saute pan over high heat, toss prawns through some oil and season well with sea salt, cook prawns searing each side quickly until colour changes, you do not need to cook all the way through, this will be done when finishing the dish. Remove from pan and reduce heat to medium.
Step 3. Add butter and garlic and cook until fragrant. Next, the sundried tomatoes, mustard, mix well to combine, pour over cream and reduce slightly. Finally add in the prawns and basil and toss together.
Step 4. For pasta, reserve some pasta water and then drain, add into pan with prawns and toss through along with sea salt, pepper and parmesan, adding pasta water if needed to loosen.
NONNI'S 7 LAYER SALAD
Nonni's 7 Layer Salad 🥗
1 head iceberg lettuce, torn or shredded
1 cup diced celery
4 hard boiled eggs, diced
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 Can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 bunch green onions, chopped
250g sliced cooked and crumbled bacon
2 cups mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. Sugar
1 cup cheese
Step 1.) Into a large glass container place the lettuce then sprinkle the next ingredients on top in layers in the order listed, ending with the bacon.
Step 2.) Stir together the Mayo and sugar and spread over the top like frosting..to seal the ingredients.
Step 3.) Sprinkle the cheeses over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 8 hrs.
CAMPERVAN CURRY
Recipe developed for Apollo Campervans
This is a simple and delicious prawn curry that I cooked up in the Apollo Camper Van. Super tasty and delicious took cook in my kitchen on wheels! Loved it. Check out the video to see how amazing the view was! Cook it in your camper van, cook it in your kitchen, it is such a good recipe.
Prep 00:10
Cook 00:15
Serves 2
Easy
Ingredients
1 tbs neutral oil
1 x small brown onion, diced
4 x cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
3 x sprigs curry leaf, leaves only
2 tbs curry powder (I used Love my Earth Fish Masala)
1 tbs brown mustard seeds
Sea salt, to taste
1 (400ml) can coconut milk
400g peel green prawns
White rice, cooked to your liking
Coriander, to garnish
Method
Step 1. Heat a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and onion, cook for 2-3mins until onion begins to soften. Next add garlic and curry leaf, stir well to combine. Once fragrant, add curry powder and mustard seeds, and toast for a further 1-2mins.
Step 2. Add coconut milk and stir, incorporating all the curry powder and spices into the mix, the coconut milk should change colour and bring to a gentle simmer. Add prawns and cook until done to your liking. *note, you may need to add a little water to the mix if it becomes too thick.
Step 3. Serve curry over rice and garnish with coriander. Enjoy.
CRISPY POTATOES W/ BLUE CHEESE WHIP
This recipe was developed for Castello Mild Blue Cheese
Prep 00:10
Cook 00:45
Serves 4 as part of a shared meal
Super Easy
4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut in half
Garlic cloves, whole, skin off, lightly crushed
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Blue Cheese Whip
150g Castello Mild Blue Cheese (half for whip, half to crumble)
1 cup Natural Greek Yoghurt
1 cup Sour Cream
1/4 lemon, juiced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chives, finely chopped, to garnish
Method
Step 1. Preheat oven to 220C. Boil potatoes in generously salted water until just cooked (you don't want them soft her, you need them to be able to retain their shape as you crush them). Pour into colander and allow water and steam to dry as much as possible.
Step 2. On a lined baking tray add the potatoes and garlic, drizzle over olive oil and then toss well to coat. Using another baking tray or heavy bottom pot, gently crush the potatoes. Place in oven and cook for 40 mins or until golden and crispy.
Step 3. While the potatoes are cooking make the blue cheese whip by placing half the blue cheese along with all other ingredients into a blender or small food processor and blitzing until smooth. Set aside in fridge until needed.
Step 4. To serve spoon out the blue cheese whip onto the base of a serving dish, crumble over some of the remaining blue cheese and then top with the crispy potatoes, garnishing finally with chives and the remaining blue cheese.
SEARED THREADFIN SALMON W/ TOMATOES & OREGANO
After a fun day of fishing on the Fitzroy River with Guided Fishing Down Under it was time to cook up our catch - I had never cooked with King Threadfin Salmon before but Nathan told me that how I had planned to cook it up would be perfect. So here we go!
Prep 00:10
Cook 00:10
Serves 4
Easy
Ingredients List
4 x fillets / portions threadfin salmon (use your favourite white fish for the BBQ)
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and pepper, to season
3 large ripe heirloom tomatoes, thickly sliced
Dressing
3 tbs white wine vinegar
5 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
3 sprigs oregano, leaves only, finely chopped
1 glove garlic, finely chopped
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
To serve
Fresh sprigs of oregano
3 tbs pine nuts, toasted golden
Method
Step 1. Heat a pan, or BBQ plate to high heat. Season fish well and then drizzle with olive oil. Cook fish until seared and cooked to your liking, about 2-3 mins per side*
Step 2. For the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and set aside until ready to serve.
Step 3. To serve, place tomatoes on a large serving platter, top with cooked fish and spoon over dressing, top with fresh oregano and pinenuts. Serve to the middle of the table to share.
Notes
* Cooking times will always vary depending on the size and thickness of your fish fillets.
Freekeh & Green Bean Salad
RECIPE DEVELOPED FOR WOOLWORTHS TABLE
Prep 00:30
Cook N/A
Serves 4-6 as a shared side
Easy
Ingredients
500g green beans, trimmed, blanched
250g Woolworths Macro Australian Whole Grain Freekeh, cooked as per packet instructions
1 x Woolworths Beetroot & Feta Salad Kit
1/4 cup Woolworths Pistachios, toasted, roughly chopped
1/4 cup Woolworths Pine Nuts, toasted
1/2 cup mint, leaves only
1/2 cup parsley, roughly chopped
Lemon
Woolworths Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea salt, and Pepper, to taste
Step 1. Toss all ingredients together, and dress with lemon, olive oil and season with sea salt and pepper
CHARRED CAPSICUM SALAD
RECIPE DEVELOPED FOR WOOLWORTHS TABLE
Prep 00:10
Cook 00:15
Serves 4-6 (as a shared side)
Easy
Ingredients
3 medium capsicums (red, yellow or orange), quartered, seeds and membranes removed
1/3 cup Woolworths walnuts, roasted and roughly chopped
1 cup Woolworths 35 Hour Sourdough Loaf, cut into croutons, toasted in oven
1/2 cup Woolworths Sicilian Pitted Olives, sliced in half
2 tbs Woolworths Red Wine Vinegar
2 tbs Woolworths Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 sprigs fresh oregano, leaves only
1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
Step 1. Heat a BBQ or griddle pan and grill the capsicums skin-side-down for 3-5 minutes or until nicely charred. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Step 2. To assemble, scatter the grilled capsicums on a platter and spoon over the nuts, croutons and olives. Drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar, then garnish with fresh herbs.
MUSHROOMS & POLENTA
What a cosy dish this is, and one which I came up with off the back of some random things in the cupboard and a few ugly looking mushrooms in the vegetable drawer (Jax has a bit of a mushroom obsession and sometimes we cant get through them as quick as they last in the fridge!) so this dish was born off the back of some dried mushrooms in the cupboard, polenta and a bit of chicken stock, pretty much all you need. Oh, and maybe a glass of red wine or two?
Prep 00:10
Cook 00:15
Serves 2
Easy
Ingredients
300g fancy mushrooms (shitake, enoki, oyster, shimeji)
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced
3 sprigs thyme, leaves pickled
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
20g unsalted butter
Mushroom Stock
30g dried wild mushrooms
500ml good-quality chicken stock
Buttery Polenta
100g polenta
500ml water (or chicken stock)
40g unsalted butter
20g Parmesan, grated
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Method
Step 1. To make the Mushroom Stock, add the dried mushrooms to a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Allow the mushrooms to toss in the dry pan for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 10 minutes.
Step 2. Meanwhile, start on the Mushroom Sauce. Add the gourmet mushrooms into a large frying pan and place over medium heat. Toss mushrooms in the dry pan for 1 minute, until fragrant.
Step 3. Add the olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper to the frying pan with the mushrooms. Toss to combine all together. Allow to cook, toss regularly, for 2 minutes.
Step 4. Drain stock - you should have about 1 cup of stock left after simmering, and add into the frying pan with the mushrooms. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes, until mushrooms soften. Add butter and stir through until melted and combined into the sauce.
Step 5. To make the Buttery Polenta, add the water to a medium saucepan and place over high heat. Bring to the boil, then add the polenta. Cook, stirring vigorously, until polenta is hydrated, about 1-2 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, butter and parmesan. Stir all together to combine. Add more water as you like, to make the polenta a little looser if you prefer - I do!
RAINBOW PLATTER
RECIPE DEVELOPED FOR EIMELE
Prep 00:15
Cook 00:40
Serves 4 as a side dish
Easy
Ingredients
1/4 Kent pumpkin, sliced into 3-4cm wedges
3 carrots, chopped into 4cm chunks
salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 heads broccoli, chopped into 2cm florets
2 tsp smoked paprika
extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup beetroot hummus
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, lightly toasted
Shiitake Sesame Dressing
7 shiitake mushrooms
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white sesame seeds
3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1/3 cup kewpie mayonnaise
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp salt
Method
Step 1. Preheat oven to 200C.
Step 2. To make Shiitake Sesame Dressing, add shiitake mushrooms to a baking tray and drizzle over the olive oil. Place into the oven and roast for 10 minutes until tender.
Step 3. Spread the sesame seeds across another baking tray and place into the oven. Roast for 5 minutes, until lightly golden.
Step 4. Add the roasted shiitake, sesame seeds and all remaining ingredients for the Shiitake Sesame Dressing into a high-speed blender. Blitz until smooth. Add 1-2 tbsp of water as needed to thin out the dressing as you like.
Step 5. Add the pumpkin and carrot to a large baking tray. Sprinkle over a good pinch of salt and pepper, the cinnamon and a good drizzle of olive oil. Toss to coat, then roast in the oven for 35-40 minutes until tender.
Step 6. Add the chickpeas to another baking tray, sprinkle over a pinch of salt, pepper and the paprika. Then drizzle over some olive oil. Toast to coat the chickpeas. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.
Step 7. Add the Broccoli to a final baking tray, sprinkle over a pinch of salt and pepper and drizzle over olive oil. Toss to coat, then roast for 15 minutes, until browned on the edges and tender.
Step 8. To assemble: spread the beetroot hummus across a large platter. Add the baby spinach leaves, roasted pumpkin, carrot, broccoli and chickpeas. Spoon over the Shiitake Sesame Dressing and sprinkle over the toasted sunflower seeds, to serve.
SWEET CORN WITH HOT CHILLI HONEY BUTTER
RECIPE DEVELOPED FOR CAPILANO HONEY
The perfect side to go with your Hot Chili Honey & Chipotle Glazed Ham, punchy flavours that will get the taste buds dancing and your guests diving in for more and more!
Prep 00:10
Cook 00:15
Serves 6 as part of a shared meal
Super Easy
Ingredients List
6 whole ears of corn
Hot Chili Honey Butter,
4 tbs Capilano Hot Chilli Honey, plus extra for drizzling
75g Pepe Saya smoked butter, room temperature
2 tsp smoked paprika
Sea salt, to taste
75g Greek Feta*, crumbled
1/2 cup coriander, finely chopped
Method
Step 1. Heat a barbecue, chargrill or cast iron griddle pan on medium-high heat. While grill is warming, fold husks back, removing any corn silk, to expose the kernels and tie the husk with kitchen string. Cook corn, turning occasionally, for 10 mins or until lightly charred.
Step 2. While the corn is cooking, prepare the Hot Chilli Honey butter by whipping together all the butter ingredients in a small bowl. Having room temp butter here is key. Cover and set aside until corn is cooked and ready for the butter.
Step 3. Once corn is cooked, tender and lightly charred remove to a serving dish and brush over the room temperature butter, turning the corn to ensure the whole cob is coated. Allow to cool slightly before garnishing with crumbled feta and coriander.
Notes
*Ensure the feta you buy is hard/firm so that you can crumble over the corn.
