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Super Speedy Egg Fried Rice

At the moment we are really into our quick meals and this super speedy egg fried rice is an absolute win. Great for children too, it’s got plenty of vegetables and protein, but don’t worry, the Chinese 5 spice gives it a wonderful flavour that satisfies everyone.

Ingredients (serves 4)

80g TVP mince – available in store
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper (ground)
25ml soy sauce (add to TVP to marinade) – refill in store
2 medium carrots (diced)
Bunch of chard or other leafy green (roughly chopped)
100g fresh or frozen peas
3 eggs (whisked in a bowl ready to scramble). Or drop this to make it vegan
5 spring onions (sliced and whites kept separate from green)
500 grams day old cooked rice
1 heaped tsp Chinese 5 spice – available in store
25ml soy sauce (add to fried rice) – refill in store
1 tsp flour 
Sesame seeds

For the sauce
50g honey (or agave to make it vegan) – refill in store
30ml soy sauce – refill in store
40g ketchup – available in store
20ml white wine vinegar – refill in store
3 garlic cloves (diced)

Method
Simmer the TVP for 8-10 minutes until tender

Drain TVP and allow to steam dry before adding the black pepper, garlic powder and soy sauce to marinade until needed.

Simmer the diced carrots for 8 minutes. Then drain and add to a deep pan with some oil, the chard, spring onion whites and the peas. Leave to cook for a few minutes then push to the side of the pan and pour the eggs in and scramble them. Add the rice, Chinese 5 spice and 25ml of soy sauce to the pan and mix well. Once heated through take off the heat and add the spring onion greens.

Combine the sauce ingredients. Heat the cooked TVP chunks in a hot pan with some oil and then pour the sauce in and stir. Leave it to simmer for a couple of minutes then add the flour and stir until it thickens.

Plate up the rice and veg mix, a big scoop of the TVP and sprinkle over some sesame seeds to finish.

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Refreshing Orzo Salad

This refreshing orzo salad is just what you need on a hot day. Not too heavy but filled with flavour and lemony punch, it ticks all the boxes. We make a batch up as it is a little faffy to make but well worth it.

Ingredients:

1 onion (finely chopped)

1 garlic clove (finely chopped)

1 tsp demerara sugar

350g orzo (refill in store)

Olive oil (refill in store)

Juice of half a lemon

Basil (dried or fresh)

Cherry tomatoes (halved)

Method:

Heat some olive oil in a saucepan and add the onion. Fry for 10 minutes until golden and caramelised, stirring regularly.

While the onion is cooking, boil the kettle. Cook the orzo in boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Toss with plenty of olive oil and leave to cool.

After the onion has been cooking for 10 minutes add the garlic and sugar. Cook for a further 3 minutes then remove from the heat.

Add the lemon juice, basil and sticky onion mixture to the orzo. Chop the cherry tomatoes in half and add. Toss together and season.

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Pumpkin koftas with smoky tomato sauce

This is a seasonal win for me and went down a treat at home. Pre-warning, it is a bit of a faff, so perhaps not your usual run of the mill weeknight meal, but it is a great one for guests or a weekend when you have a little more time. This meal really needs ALL the components though. The koftas are nothing without the tomato sauce, and the sauce is bland on it’s own. Served with delicious focaccia and this will be a winner with everyone. Continue reading Pumpkin koftas with smoky tomato sauce