Sweet potato hummus with roasted garlic and tarragon

Hummus, my favourite dip/spread/sauce/filling - or what ever you might call it! Except for the lovely texture and delicious flavour I really like hummus because of it's nutrition - it's a great way to add some extra protein (and fibers and vitamins and minerals!) to your plant based meal! Spread it on seed cracker, add to your wrap or have it with a hearty salad. Traditionally a hummus is made of chickpeas, but sometimes I use white beans instead - I really like the variation (food hack #1 in this post - look for easy made variations and cooking will be much more fun and simple!)!

Another way to vary your hummus is to add different veggies (like beetroot, roasted carrot, green peas, grilled bell pepper etc) and herbs - also a perfect way to match the hummus with what ever you're serving it with - or what you're craving at the moment!

In my book The new green salad I share three of my favourite hummus recipes - and one of them you find here below! It happen to be my favourite hummus in the world - irresistibly creamy, sweet and nutty at the same time - with a herby touch! 

Photo by Fanny Hansson for The new green salad (Published by Bonnier Fakta)

 

Sweet potato hummus with roasted garlic and tarragon

Yield about 5 dl

Ingredients

240 grams (about 4 dl) cooked chickpeas *

1 small sweet potato, about 250 grams

1 garlic bulb **

2 tbsp tahini (preferably the light one, made of natural sesame seeds)

1/2 dl water

12 fresh tarragon leafs, or 1 tsp dried tarragon

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil + extra to drizzle as garnish

Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. 

Garnish

Sesame seeds

Chili flakes 

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degres Celsius. Peel the potato and cut in to chunks, put on a baking sheet and mix with 1/2 tbsp olive oil. Remove the outer skin from the garlic bulb, enough for you to see the garlic cloves (skin on) separately with but yet you want the whole bulb to stick together. Brush with 1/2 tbsp olive oil. Put next to the sweet potatoes and roast in the oven for 30 minutes until potatoes and garlic are soft. Let cool.  

Mix water and tahini until creamy using an immersion blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients (squeeze out the garlic), except for the olive oil and tarragon, mix until creamy. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and tarragon and mix to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chili flakes before serving. 

Tip! Make a big batch and store in a air tight container in your fridge! Then you'll be ready for snackning, brunching, dining or having guest at any time. Food hack #2 in this post. A staple in my home! Lasts up to about a week. 

* Either use canned ones, or by dried and soak/cook yourself! If so, make sure to cook a big batch and put the ones you're not using for the recipe in different sized portions in your freezer! Takes about 2 seconds to take out when ever you want to use chickpeas the next time! Food hack #3 in this post) 

* * YES, a whole (!) garlic bulb! After half an hour roasting in the oven it will be all soft and sweet with an almost caramelised kind of flavour. It's lovely! 

Saffron scones with coconut yoghurt and fresh fig compote

Saffron scones with coconut yoghurt and fresh fig compote 

Makes 10 scones

Scones

4 dl oat flour 

3 dl buckwheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 

1 tbsp potato starch 

1 tsp himalayan salt

1/2 gram pure saffron, ground 

1/2 dl organic raisins (or dried organic apricots, cut in to small pieces)

75 g cold pressed olive oil

3 dl oat yoghurt 

Fig compote

8 fresh green figs 

1/2 organic orange, freshly squeezed juice + zest 

1 tbsp honey 

1 tsp chia seeds (optional, for a thicker consistency)

1 pinch pure vanilla powder 

To serve

coconut yoghurt 

fresh figs 

How to

Scones: Pre heat to oven to 225 degrees Celsius. Mix the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix oil and oat yoghurt, add to the dry mixture and combine quickly with a wooden spoon, the mixture should be quite sticky. 

Form in to 10 small scones, dredge with a bit of oat flour and put on a baking sheet. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 10-12 minutes, until scones are slightly golden and crisp on the top.

Fig compote: Wash and quarter the figs. Zest and squeeze the orange, put all the ingredients in a small saucepan and cook on medium heat until a compote, stirring all the time to avoid burning. 

Serve scones freshly baked with coconut yoghurt and fig compote. 

Happy holidays and lots of love! 

Recipe from a spread for Swedish food magazine Allt om Mat winter 2016. Photo by Jonny Lindh.

Favourite cracker spreads

Seed cracker is one of my big obsessions. It's a staple in my kitchen and I make a batch every other week to make sure I always have some at home. I like them with a creamy avocado and sprouts for breakfast, as a side to a hearty salad or delicious soup, as a nibble during a party or just as they are. Nutty, crispy and yummy. No matter when they are served a creamy spread goes very well with them. And creamy spreads is just what this blog post is about. 

These two are easy to make, contains lots of nutrition and flavour AND can be stored in the fridge for quite a few days. Make a big batch and keep some for upcoming breakfasts, lunches, afternoon snack moments and dinners. Except from having the spreads on a crispy cracker they could also be served to a hearty salad or in your favourite wrap. 

* The cracker above is "Oat and walnut cracker" from my cookbook The new green salad.

Pea and cilantro hummus

250 grams green peas 

2 tbsp tahini (I prefer the light one here, made of raw sesame seeds instead of toasted) 

1/2 dl water 

1 big handful of fresh cilantro 

1/2 dl cold pressed olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

fresh or dried cilantro for garnishing 

Carrot and tarragon hummus

4 dl/320 grams cooked chickpeas

250 grams cooked/steamed/baked carrots

2 tbsp tahini (I prefer the light one here, made of raw sesame seeds instead of toasted) 

1/2 dl water

1 small garlic clove, minced  

1 tsp dried tarragon

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

salt and pepper to taste 

sesame seeds + cold pressed olive oil for garnishing  

How to

Green pea and cilantro hummus: Mix water and tahini until creamy using an immersion blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until creamy. Salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving. 

Carrot and tarragon hummus: Mix water and tahini until creamy using an immersion blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the olive oil, and mix until creamy. Add the oil and mix to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving. 

DONE! 

Almond and apricot bliss balls with wintery spices

Sweet, tangy and chunky at the same time. This is my favourite seasonal bliss balls which I make with toasted almonds, dried organic apricots and all my favourite wintery spices. Make a big batch and store in the freezer - ready to be taken out and served whenever during the upcoming season! 

I make my own "wintery spices blend" that I use both for bliss balls like these but also in hot and cold porridge and hot drinks throughout the season. Try making your own (or use my "recipe" below), using your favourite spices, or by blends like "ginger bread spices" found in the grocery store. 

Almond and apricot bliss balls with wintery spices

Makes about 14 bliss balls

Ingredients

2 dl almonds (preferably toasted for extra flavour) 

1 dl oats (use gluten free if gluten intolerant)

1 dl shredded coconut

12 dried organic apricots

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

2 tbsp freshly pressed orange juice (optional) 

1-2 tbsp almond milk or water (optional)

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cardamon

1 pinch ground cloves

1 pinch sea salt 

How to

Pulse almonds, oats, shredded coconut and spices until coarsely chopped * in a food processor. Add the apricots and mix until crumbly, then add the coconut oil and orange juice and mix just until the mixture sticks together. You might have to add a bit of almond milk or water (especially if not using orange juice. This usually depends on how big/soft the apricot are)  to get it to stick together. You want to mixture to be slightly sticky. 

Form mixture in to balls and roll in shredded coconut. Place in the fridge and served slightly chilled - thats how I like them best! 

* I like having quite big bites of almonds in my bliss balls! You could also mix until a flour like mixture before adding your wet ingredients, this will give your bliss balls another consistency. 

Red quinoa and roasted red cabbage salad with butternut squash, apple and herb baked falafels

To bake big chunks of red cabbage in the oven until soft but tender is my favourite way to cook red cabbage. In this salad I toss the cabbage around with some quinoa, small bites of butternut squash, thinly sliced apple and herby falafels! 

I roll my falafels in sesame seeds and bake them all at the same time at a baking sheet in the oven. Makes them really crisp but still healthy! You could serve this salad with an avocado dressing or any nut dressing that you like, but I actually prefer to just drizzle a really good cold pressed olive oil over the whole thing. 

Roasted red cabbage salad with butternut squash, apple and herb baked falafels

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 medium red cabbage 

1 small butternut squash 

2 dl red quinoa, uncooked 

1 apple 

100 grams mixed salad leaves 

Baked herb falafels

450 grams pre cooked white beans (2 packages or 8 dl) 

1 dl sunflower seeds (preferably toasted)

2 dl fresh herbs of your choice 

1 dl sorghum flour (quinoa-/buckwheat-/oat flour works just at fine)

1/2 tsp himalayan salt

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

2 pinches freshly ground black pepper 

1 dl sesame seeds for coating 

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees. Mix white beans, sunflower seeds, herbs, flour, oil, salt and pepper until a sticky and semi smooth "batter" - you want to keep the texture from the sunflower seeds! Ad a bit of water if to dry, and a bit more flour if to wet. Let sit for 20 minutes, this helps the falafels stay together even better when rolling/baking/eating. Form in to falafel, about 20 pieces, and roll in sesame seeds. Place on a oiled baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until crispy on the outside. 

Remove the stalk bit from the cabbage and cut the rest in to big chunks. Brush with oil and place on a baking tray. 

Peel (start with removing the ends, then cut the squash in half lengthwise, and then in half on the width. Carefully cut of the peel using a sharp knife), scrape out seeds and stringy bits and cube butternut squash  Drizzle with oil and place beside the cabbage. Bake in the oven until both cabbage and squash gets soft and golden around the edges, takes about 20-25 minutes. 

Cook the quinoa according to instructions on the packaging.  

Thinly slice the apple using a mandoline, or a sharp knife. 

Mix cabbage, squash, quinoa, apple and salad leaves. Serve with herb falafels and drizzle with your favourite cold pressed oil! 

Butternut squash chia pudding with apple compote

There are a few kitchen tools that I cannot be without. My knifes, my immersion blender and my mandoline. And then there are the ones that I would rather (really) not be without - like my food processor and high speed blender. Cooking gets even more fun when you have good conditions! Anyhow, I now have a new friend in the kitchen - one of those tools that make the cooking even more fun, creative and let you discover a bunch of new things you can do - especially when it comes to plant based food. I'm talking about my new dear slow juicer that I got from kitchen store Bagaren och Kocken in Gothenburg.

The brilliant thing about a slow juicer (which crushes the ingredients and then presses them through a fine mesh strainer which further more preserves most of the enzymes and nutrition - good thing) is that you can extract both vitamins and fibers from not only bigger fruits and vegetables but also from leafy greens, herbs and nuts. Imagine adding that to your breakfast, lunch, afternoon smoothie or dessert! Or how easy it could be making a batch of super nutritious turmeric and ginger shots.  

As I love vegetables I've been experimenting and been slow juicing other things than the obvious fruits. As it's winter squash and pumpkin season I wanted to use them in a new way. The thing is, when I have my "Thess food talks" I often talk about discovering other areas of use for your favourite vegetables then the most obvious ones. That's how I came up with this recipe - a savoury and seasonal chia pudding made from slow juiced butternut squash! 

Butternut squash chia pudding with apple compote

Makes two bowls 

Ingredients

4 tbsp chia seeds

2 dl freshly slow juiced butternut squash 

1 dl water 

1 dl coconut milk

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1/2 tbsp ground turmeric 

1/2 tbsp ground ginger

2 pinches ground cloves 

1 tbsp honey (use maple syrup for a vegan option) - optional, for a sweeter touch  

Topping

1 sweet winter apple 

1 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 

oat yoghurt 

pecans 

dried pomegranate seeds

semi ground pepitas 

fresh mint 

How to

Peel the butternut squash, scrape out the seeds and cut the squash in to smaller pieces. Put in your slow juicer. Whisk together 2 dl of the smooth juice (save the squash flesh and use as a base for delicious veggie patties, stay tuned for that recipe next week!) with the rest of the ingredients for the chia pudding. Let sit for about 30 minutes until creamy. Stir half way through to avoid clumps.  

Wash and cut the apple in half, remove seeds and cut in to smaller pieces. Fry on medium heat in coconut oil and cinnamon until soft. You might want to add a splash of water if gets to dry. 

Divide the chia pudding in two serving bowls. Top with a dollop of oat yoghurt, the apple compote and your choice of dried fruit, berries and nuts/seeds. I used pecans, dried pomegranate seeds and semi ground pepitas. Garnish with fresh mint.

Enjoy! 

Quinoa and tofu salad with roasted sweet potatoes

A normal day at my apartment involves opening the fridge to see what veggies the upcoming lunch or dinner might involve. The day I came up with this salad I found sweet potato, half a cauliflower head, a bunch of parsnips, some baby spinach and tomatoes from my parents garden. Together with some quinoa (that I always have at home, often already cooked), a good quality cold pressed olive oil (also a staple at my home) the lunch was served! 

Quinoa and tofu salad with roasted sweet potato

Serves 4

Ingredients

270 g extra firm organic natural tofu

2 small sweet potatoes 

6 parsnips 

2 dl uncooked black quinoa

1 small cauliflower 

250 g plum tomatoes 

100 g baby spinach

1 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil (preferably taste neutral)

Topping

1 handful of pecans 

good quality cold pressed olive oil to drizzle 

flakey salt 

How to

Drain the tofu well and wrap in layers of kitchen roll. Then place in between two chopping boards and put something heavy on top. This is to press out all the excess water so you get a really firm tofu, which will then soak up all the flavours it will be mixed with really well. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, but the longer the better. Tear the tofu in to smaller pieces. Whisk together tamari and paprika powder, and pour over the tofu. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes. Fry in coconut oil right before serving until lightly brown and crisp. 

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Wash the sweet potatoes and parsnip well(when using organic vegetables keep the peel, does a lot both for flavour and texture!) and cut potatoes in to big chunks and parsnips in to big slices. Put on a baking tray and toss around with some olive oil. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until potatoes and parsnips are nice and soft (I like my parsnips to be kind of al dente though), tossing everything around half way through. Sprinkle with dried ramson, ord your favourite herb, ones roasted.  

Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the packaging. Shave the cauliflower using a mandoline, a cheese slicer or a really sharp knife. Wash and cut the tomatoes in the middle. 

Toss tofu, sweet potato, parsnip, quinoa, cauliflower, tomatoes and spinach together. Drizzle with olive oil. Topp with pecans and sprinkle with your favourite flakey salt! 

Curried carrot and coconut soup - with courgette and parsley topping

This pretty thing, a creamy soup to lighten up the darker season that awaits here up in the north, is exactly what I need this time of year. The moment of cuddling up in the sofa with a warming, nourishing and comforting bowl of soup in my hands, looking out over a landscape with the most colourful leaves is one of my favourite things about the autumn. 

 

Curried carrot and coconut soup - with courgette and parsley topping

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 yellow onion

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tbsp paprika powder 

1/2 tsp chili flakes 

1 tbsp freshly grated ginger 

5 big carrots

2 dl red lentils 

400 ml coconut milk 

600 ml water

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil 

salt to taste 

Courgette and parsley topping

2 small courgettes

1 tbsp cold pressed sesame oil

1 handful of fresh parsley 

2 tbsp sesame seeds

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 

How to

Peel and finely chop the onion. Fry in coconut oil, on medium heat, until soft in a big pot.

Add the ginger and all the spices and let fry for another minute until spices become fragrant. Wash the carrots and cut in to smaller pieces. Rinse the lentils.

Add carrots, lentils and water to the pot. You might want to add a bit more water - all of the carrots should be covered with water! Let simmer for about 20 minutes, until carrots and lentils are soft. Remove from heat and mix until completely smooth using an immersion blender. Add the coconut milk and apple cider vinegar, bring back pot to the heat, and let simmer for another 5 minutes. Add more spices and salt to taste. 

Topping: Spiralize, or finely chop, the courgette. Chop the parsley. Mix courgette and parsley in a bowl, drizzle with sesame oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Give it a toss. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve as topping, together with some extra sesame seeds, on the soup. 

Good luck! 

Berry smoothie and coconut chia bowl with granola

This is not only breakfast art, but also a great flavour and texture combination. The smooth berry smoothie together with the creamy chia pudding plus the crunchy granola! During weekends when a have a bit more time I love to make this for breakfast or brunch, sometimes I even serve it as a dessert! Also, one last thing before I'll let you run off to the kitchen to start mixing, try using other berries than raspberries for variation - any berry works just as fine! 

Smoothie and coconut chia bowl with granola

Makes 2 bowls

Smoothie

1 ripe avocado 

1 green banana, cut in pieces and frozen 

2 dl frozen raspberries 

2 tbsp nut milk

1 fresh date, pitted 

Coconut chia pudding

1 dl coconut milk

1 dl water 

2 tbsp chia seeds 

A good pinch of pure vanilla powder 

Granola

4 dl seeds/nuts/grains (rolled oats/pumpkin seeds/sunflower seeds/hazelnuts)

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tbsp cardamom 

1 tsp pure vanilla powder

1 good pinch Himalayan salt

1 dl water

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

3 fresh dates, pitted

1 dl toasted coconut flakes

2 tbsp cacao nibs 

1 dl dried berries/fruits (raisins/blueberries/goji berries)

How to

Whisk together all the ingredients for the coconut chia pudding. Let sit for about 30 minutes until creamy. Stir half way through to avoid clumps. 

Mix all the ingredients for the smoothie in a mixer until smooth. 

Divide smoothie and chia pudding in to two bowls. Top with granola and freeze dried berries 

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Mix your choice of seeds/nuts/grains (I used a mix of chopped hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, rolled oats), cinnamon, cardamom, pure vanilla powder and a good pinch of Himalayan salt in a mixing bowl.

Bring water, oil and dates to a boil. Let simmer for 1 minute. Mix until completely smooth using a hand blender. Add to the mixing bowl and mix everything together using a wooden spoon until every bit gets covered. Spread out on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until crispy and golden, stirring every now and then, for about 30 minutes.

Let cool. Add 1 dl toasted coconut flakes + cacao nibs + your choice of dried berries/fruits (I used goji berries + raisins).

Buckwheat chocolate bliss balls with blueberry and coconut

I really love almonds, nuts and seeds. As a snack, on top of a salad, on my morning porridge, mixed to a nut butter and in raw desserts. Nuts contain LOTS of greats nutrition, and they also contain a lot of fat. Good fat, but still, even good things can be to much. Therefore I like to sometimes use toasted buckwheat whenever I make raw desserts or bliss balls for afternoon snack. Buckwheat groats contains lots of great nutrition, but less fat then nuts and seeds. And also - the toasted buckwheat gives a delicious crunchy texture, and it's gluten free. 

So, I came up with a simple recipe for a perfect and delicious little ball with buckwheat instead of the commonly used nuts or seeds. This buckwheat bliss ball is the perfect “fika” but also a great afternoon snack. I made them the other day, during one of the retreats here in France this summer - and everybody loved them. The chocolate together with the blueberry is a really tasty combination. And the tiny bit of sea salt that I always add makes all the difference. 

A few things to have in mind is: add more cacao for an even more chocolaty flavor, add more blueberry power for even more of a berry taste, and more dates for a sweeter touch. Mix it until you make it - so to speak! 

Enough writing. So, here is the recipe for these little ones, hope you like them! 

Buckwheat chocolate bliss balls with blueberry

Makes about 20 bliss balls

Ingredients

2 1/2 dl dried whole buckwheat groats (buy toasted ones if you find in your store, then you kan skip the first instruction below on how to toast them yourself)

3/4 dl cacao 

2 tbsp blueberry powder 

A pinch of flakey salt 

10 fresh dates, pitted 

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil 

1-2 tbsp water

Shredded coconut for rolling

How to

Put the buckwheat in a fine mesh strainer. Bring some water to a boil and then pour over the buckwheat. Rinse with cold water and let drain for a few minutes. Toast in a dry pan, on medium heat, until golden and crisp. Let cool. 

Mix buckwheat, cacao and blueberry power until some of the buckwheat has been crushed. I like my bliss balls to have quite a few whole buckwheat groats left as I like the crunchy consistency, but you can also mix until a flour like consistency. Add dates, coconut oil and water, mix until a dough. You might want to add a bit more water to get the dough to stick together. 

Form the dough in to about 20 balls, roll in shredded coconut. Put on a plate and let chill in the fridge for at least 30 minites before serving. Allowing time in the fridge (or freezer if you cannot wait to dig in!) will make them even more firm and - if you ask me - even tastier!

Tomato salad with citrus dressing, toasted buckwheat and Thai basil

What you are now about to get the recipe for is a perfect example of how a simple vegetable can turn in to a delicious dish, with hardly any work at all. It's all about using vegetables in season, the flavour then is really rich all by itself and all you need to do is to serve and enjoy.

So, when it's season for the Swedish garden tomatoes (one of my favourites!) and you can find tomatoes in all kind of shapes, colors and textures at your local greengrocer I often make a simple tomato salad - beautiful and very delicious. This one is perfect as a starter, side salad or tapas! The sweet tomatoes goes very well the the sourish dressing, the crispy topping and the kind of sharp Thai basil. Serve on it's own, or together with some sourdough bread and sheep cheese.  

Tomato salad with citrus dressing, toasted buckwheat and Thai basil

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 kg mixed garden tomatoes

2 tbsp freshly pressed organic grapefruit juice

2 tbsp freshly pressed organic lime juice

zest from 1 organic lemon

2 tsp tamari

1 dl Thai basil

1/2 dl buckwheat groats

1/2 dl finely chopped chives 

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

How to

Mix citrus juice, zest and tamari with a fork to a marinade. Set aside. 

Wash and slice the big tomatoes, cut the smaller ones in half. Put the tomatoes in a bowl and pour over the citrus marinade and half of the Thai basil. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes in room temperature. 

Put the buckwheat in a fine mesh strainer. Bring some water to a boil and then pour over the buckwheat. Rinse with cold water and let drain for a few minutes. Toast in a dry pan, on medium heat, until golden and crisp. Let cool. 

Place the tomatoes on a big flat plate. Pour over the marinade. Sprinkle the rest of the Thai basil, chives and buckwheat. Sprinkle with flakey salt and some freshly ground black pepper! 

* Recipe by me for OTW on behalf of Göteborg-Posten. The recipe was first published in the weekend magazine Två Dagar, distributed by Göteborgs-Posten, August 16th 2017. 

Leftover veggie and coconut soup

I often end up with small bits of pieces of all kinds of different veggies and leafy greens in my fridge. That's the life of a food creator who spends her days test cooking all sorts of different foods and tries out new combinations and vegetables all the time...But, I suppose, that the whole thing about ending up with a bit of this and a bit of that is the case for a few more out there! SO, what do you do with a couple of tomatoes, one small piece of fennel, 1/4 of a butternut squash and some garlic? You mix it into a soup!! Since this is a leftover soup I don't have any exact measurements, but I do have a trick which makes this recipe foolproof anyway. Scroll down and you'll see! 

Something I really like about this kind of recipes, where you don't have an exact recipe when it comes to measurements but only a list of the actual ingredients, is that even if you use the same veggies to make the same soup a couple of week after it will most likely taste a bit different because you will most likely use another amount of the components, without even thinking of it! Voilá, you have a new soup. It's like magic. Kind of anyway! And, to calm you down, soup is one of the best go-with-the-flow-foods I can think of. If you mix a bunch of yummy things in to a soup it can hardly go wrong. Just start out with a little amount of water, or whatever liquid you're using, and maybe add more later on - then you can be sure will get a creamy and delicious brunch, lunch or dinner soup in not too long at all! 

PS. Of course you can make the soup using more of everything, instead of waiting until you only have small bits an pieces left! 

Leftover veggie soup

Serves 2-4 (depending on how much leftovers you find in the fridge!)

Ingredients

1 onion

1 garlic clove 

1/2-1 tsp each of ground turmeric and ground paprika powder (depending on how much veggies you use. Start with the smaller amount and add more to taste when mixing the soup together)

2-4 big tomatoes

butternut squash 

fennel

water

full fat coconut milk

1/2-1 tsp pure maple syrup (optional, but a tiny natural sweet touch develops all of the other flavours in a nice way. You could also use the same amount of honey, note that it won't be vegan though)

a pinch chili flakes 

a handfull of fresh parsley

cold pressed coconut oil

Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Topping

toasted coconut flakes

hemp seeds

pomegranate seeds

fresh parsley 

How to

Peel and finely cut the onion and garlic. Fry in a saucepan, in some coconut oil, until soft. Add the turmeric and paprika powder and stir around. 

Wash and chop the rest of the vegetables in similar size pieces. Add to the onion. Fill up the saucepan with water so everything is just about covered (this is the foolproof part! No measurements needed. If you make a bigger batch just add more water!). Bring everything to a boil and let simmer for about 20 minutes, until veggies are soft. Remove from heat, add a big splash of coconut milk (about 1/2 dl for every portion, at least) and mix until smooth using a immersion blender. Add more water and/or coconut milk and mix until smooth and creamy. Add the parsley and chili flakes and pulse a few times. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Serve the soup with a few toppings that bring crunchiness (toasted coconut flakes), nuttiness (hemp seeds) fruitiness (pomegranate seeds), freshness (fresh parsley) - that will satisfy both the eyes and the tummy! 

Let me know how your soup turned out! Maybe you added some extra veggies, or some other toppings? I'd love to hear from you! 

Love, Therese

White bean dip with mushrooms and herb pesto

Sometimes simplicity is what makes a dish (big or small) really good. Like with this recipe. A simple white bean dip, topped with some pan fried mushrooms, a delicious yet simple pesto and a handful of mâche lettuce for some extra freshness. Together with some seed crackers or crisp bread from my cookbook The new green salad this is really YUMMY! 

I would serve this as a starter, as a side to any dinner or as a great part of a weekend brunch with family and friends! Or, as I will do later today, as a light evening snack. You can also make a big batch and store some of it in the fridge, then you have the perfect spread to your breakfast crisp bread or filling for a hearty wrap sorted out for the next couple of days. 

Photo by dear Fanny Hansson. 

White bean dip with mushrooms and herb pesto

Serves 2 two as a starter/snack, or 4 as a side

Ingredients

230 g cooked giant white beans (about 4 dl cooked)

2 tbsp tahini 

1/2 dl water 

1/2 cold pressed olive oil

a small handful of fresh tarragon 

250 grams mushrooms of your choice (preferably chanterelles when they're in season!)

70 grams mâche lettuce

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Herb pesto

1 1/2 dl cold pressed olive oil

1 small garlic clove, minced

2 dl mixed fresh herbs

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

To serve

seed crackers or oat crisp bread (recipe in my book The new green salad) 

cabbage (really nice to cut in pieces, similar to the size of a cracker) or endive

How to

Soak and cook the white beans according to instructions on the packaning (PLAN & PREP. Make a big batch if you're in the making and keep some of it in the fridge for salads, dips or soups fillings during the next few days. Or even put them in the freezer, in small bags, for other occasions through out the next weeks). If using pre cooked beans rinse them well. Mix tahini and water in a food processor until smooth and fluffy. And the white beans and mix until smooth. Add the oil, lemon juice and tarragon. Mix until completely smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.   

Brush and cut the mushrooms in quarters. Drizzle some oil in a frying pan and fry the mushrooms on medium heat until soft and lightly golden. 

Mix all the ingredients for the herb pesto in a food processor or immersion blender. Add more oil for a runnier texture. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Put the white bean dip in a bowl, top with mushrooms, drizzle some herb pesto and top with a handful of mâche. Serve with some seed crackers, cabbage or endive! 

Roasted beets with fresh raspberry vinaigrette and toasted buckwheat

This i the perfect side dish for Swedish midsummer which is coming up in a few days time. To be honest its the perfect side dish for any occasion, year around. Roasted beets tossed in a fresh raspberry vinaigrette sprinkled with toasted buckwheat. Really simple, and really delicious! Choose beets in season, that will give the best flavour (and it's a good thing for our planet), and let this pretty side salad brighten up your table! 

Recipe from The new green salad. Photo by Fanny Hansson. 

Roasted beets with fresh raspberry vinaigrette and toasted buckwheat

Ingredients

1,2 kg mixed beets (use the ones that are in season now, and that you'll find in your grocery store) 

1 tbsp cold pressed rapeseed oil

2 pinches mineral salt 

1 pinch freshly ground black peppar 

Raspberry vinaigrette

2 tbsp white vine vinegar 

1 tbsp cold pressed rapeseed oil 

1/2 tsp whole fennel seeds, ground up slightly 

10 fresh raspberries

mineral salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 

Topping

1/2 dl dried buckwheat groats 

cress (optional)

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 

Peel and cut the beets in chunks. Put on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and peppar. Stir together and roast the beets in the oven for about 30 minutes, until beets are tender but still got a crispy core.  

Mash the raspberries with a fork and whisk together with white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp cold pressed rapeseed oil, 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (lightly grind them first) and salt to taste. 

Rinse the buckwheat groats with hot (as in was just boiling) water. Drain well. Toast in a hot, dry frying pan until dry and crisp. 

Let your roasted beets cool down slightly, then toss together with the raspberry vinaigrette. Topp with buckwheat and cress. Enjoy! 

Green super smoothie with fennel and buckwheat

I really like smoothies. Smoothies that are filled with vitamins, minerals and fibres - and feels like a proper meal. I always blend my smoothies in a high speed blender, instead of only juicing, as that makes my smoothies even more nutritious - plus it gives them a nice and quite thick but still smooth texture which I like! This green super smoothies is made of not only fruits (which tastes very yum, but isn't very good when you want a proper meal) but lots of veggies too!! Thats the recipe for a filling smoothie. 

Whenever I start my mornings at location when styling I always bring a smoothie just like this one. 

sweet hint of kiwi. 

Photo by photographer Fanny Hansson. 

Green super smoothie with fennel and buckwheat

2 big glasses

Make sure to use organic ingredients, 

Ingredients

1 avokado 

1 green banana 

1 fennel 

1 dl soaked and rinsed buckwheat groats 

2 hand fulls of baby spinach 

1 kiwi 

2 tbs freshly squeezed lime juice (if you've got a high speed blender you might want to add the whole lime, peel and all) 

4 dl water plant based milk of your choice (or water) 

How to

Peel, pit and scoop out the avocado. Peel the banana. Trim of the fennel stalks, plus a little bit at the bottom of the bulb to remove any rough root bits. Rinse the buckwheat. Put all the ingredients in a blender (preferably a high speed one as that will make your smoothie unbelievable smooth!) and blend until creamy. Add extra plant milk for a runnier texture (OR, less if you want to eat it as a smoothie bowl! Then make sure to use frozen banana, and maybe even frozen avocado, for best result), 

Carrot patties with ginger, herbs and drizzled lemon tahini dressing

These little delicious bites are easy to make, filled with nutrition and are really easy to make. They make the perfect finger food for the party, can be served as a satisfying topping on a salad or filling in a wrap. Try flavouring the patties with any herbs you prefer, I used cilantro and parsley is it was the ones I hade on my windowsill. Plus I really like them.

The tahini dressing that I drizzle over right before serving is a twist on one of the favourites from my book The new green salad, and it goes very well with the ginger and cilantro. I've made these patties vegan by using a "chia egg" (which is really 1 part chia seeds + 3 parts hot water, mixed and soaked it takes a texture similar to regular egg), if you prefer to use regular egg a medium one would be just enough. 

These carrot patties will for sure be one of the staples in my fridge this summer. Make a double (or why not triple!) batch, keep some in the fridge and some in the freezer. That will make you settled for a couple of weeks! Hope you like them! 

Photo by Fanny Hansson. 

Carrot patties with ginger, herbs and drizzled lemon tahini dressing

Makes about 20 small patties

Ingredients

7 dl finely grated carrots (about 5 medium carrots) 

2 stalks spring onion 

2 tsp grated fresh ginger 

a big handfull of fresh cilantro 

a big handfull of fresh parsley 

2 dl rolled oats (gluten free if gluten intolerant) 

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp hot water 

2 pinches mineral salt 

Lemon tahini dressing

1/2 dl light or regular tahini *

zest + freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon (more to taste)

1/2 a garlic clove 

1/2 - 1 dl water (depending on how thick you want it) 

mineral salt 

How to

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Peel and finely grate the carrots. Thinly slice the spring onions. Scrape away the peel from the ginger using a spoon, then finely grate it. Roughly chop the fresh herbs. 

Put the chia seeds in a small mixing bowl. Bring 1/2 dl water to a boil (don't let it boil for to long as that will make the water evaporate, you only need to make sure the water is hot), pour over the chia seeds, stir and let sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture takes on a jelly like consistency. 

Place carrots, spring onion, ginger and herbs in a mixing bowl. Add oats, olive oil, chia egg and salt. Stir well to combine. Let sit on the kitchen counter for at least 20 minutes to allow the mixture to set, this is important for the patties to hold together - and for getting the lovely texture!  

Form the mixture in to about 20 small patties and put on a baking sheet. Bake in the middle oven the oven for about 15-20 minutes, until patties are firm and edges are a bit crispy. 

Lemon tahini dressing: Mix together all the ingredients until a creamy dressing. Salt to taste. 

Serve patties with the lemon tahini dressing and fresh herbs! 

* There are also the dark tahini, made of roasted sesame seeds. I prefer the lighter one, made of plain sesame seeds, as it has a rounder and more gentle taste to it. 

Oat and carrot bread with hummus, avocado and kale chips

Alright, so this post is really all about my absolute favourite bread in the world; let me present to you my very moist oat and carrot bread packed with nutrients and lots of flavour. Plus it is very easy to make. It’s gluten free, nut free and vegan, so pretty much anyone could enjoy it. I always cut the loaf in slices and put the ones I don't eat straight away in the freezer. That gives me the chance to just take out a slice or two for any occasion I’m craving a healthy slice of bread (which is very often). 

Have a slice for breakfast or the weekend brunch, eat it as a side with you lunch soup or bring as a snack-on-the-go. A couple of slices topped with hummus, avocado and roasted kale + a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly grounded black pepper is one of my favourite ways to have them. And that is just what my dear friend Fanny Hansson, aka talented photographer of my cookbook The new green salad, and I had a couple of months ago during a creative workshop day. I cooked and styled, Fanny took lovely pictures and Sofia Törnqvist did her retouch magic. Not a bad day at work. 

Well, enough writing. I’ll just post the recipe below and let you try the bread for yourself. I’m sure you’ll understad where I’m coming from once you’ve tried it! 

Oat and carrot bread

Makes 1 loaf

4 dl oat flour

3 dl buckwheat flour

1 dl crushed buckwheat groats

1 dl sunflower seeds

1/2 dl pumpkinseeds

1/2 dl flax seeds

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp himalayan salt

1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp hot water

1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 dl finely grated carrot (about 70g) 

4 dl almond milk (or any other plant based milk of your choice)

Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and sea salt to sprinkle on top

Serving suggestions

hummus (on p. 102-105 in my book The new green salad you'll find my three favourite hummus recipes!) 

avocado 

kale chips *see instructions below

dried cherry tomatoes, or try my recipe for Semi dried cherry tomatoes

cress

sesame seeds (toast them for an even more intense flavour!)

How to

Preheat the oven to 175°C. Bring 3 tbsp water to a boil. Mix water with chia seeds and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes, until it takes on a texture similar to jelly.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Finely grate the carrot. Add carrots, chia mixture, apple cider vinegar and almond milk to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Grease a bread tin with olive oil and cover the bottom of the tin with baking paper. Put the “dough” in the bread tin, sprinkle with additional seeds and sea salt, and place in the lower part of the oven for about 60-70 minutes, until the inner temperature reaches about 100°C. Let the bread cool completely before slicing it. Preferably wrap it in a kitchen towel and leave on the kitchen counter over night. This will allow the bread to sit and the flavour to develop even more! 

Hope you’ll like it as much as I do!

* Kale chips. Pre heat the oven to 175°C. Tear the leafs in to smaller pieces, massage with some olive oil and flakey salt. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 10 minutes, until crispy, tossing around the kale every now and then. 

Fruity brunch bowl with kale, tamari tofu and cannellini mint dip

During my last visit to London I met up with my dear friend, and big source of inspiration, Kimberly. She is an amazing prop stylist, food photographer and food blogger from London who I actually met through Instagram some time back. We had been following each others foodie journeys via Instagram for some time and then last autumn when I was in London we met up and attended a supper club hosted by Uyen Luu together with a couple of friends. I absolutely love how social communities like Instagram can bring people together. With an open mind you can meet the most interesting and kind people who share the same passions as you - all over the world! Anyway, this supper club that we went to on our first friend date really is a must do if you're in London and are looking for a really cool and delicious food experience! 

Back to the story about the recipe below. During my last visit Kimberly and I spent a day at her place cooking and chatting about what's inspiring us, the food styling business and exciting projects. And this is delicious salad bowl pictured above is what I made us for lunch. It's the perfect brunch, lunch AND light dinner dish. Perfect for any occasion really. It has got all the elements I'm looking for in a complete dish. Other than being full of nutritious plant based goodies it contains lots of different textures (creamy white bean mint dip/crunchy walnuts), flavours (sweet grape fruit/spicy tofu) and cooking methods (massaged raw kale/baked plum tomatoes).

It might sound like a lot of work, but it really isn't. Plus, most components in this salad bowl is something you could actually prepare in advance - or they take no time at all to prepare (like the massaged kale for instance. 2 minutes massaging work. 10 minutes rest. Ready to eat!). The white bean dip and the semi dried tomatoes for example is something that you could easily make a few days before and store in your fridge. And oh, you might want to double the recipe in case you make them in advance, since there is a chance you'll have eaten it all up before it's Saturday and you're about to make you weekend brunch bowl...

And one last tips. I made these salads without any grains at all, primarily because we were talking so much I forgot to cook any. Anyway, add 4 dl cooked grains of your choice (durrah, quinoa or buckwheat are a few favorites) for an even more filling dish. 

NOW, lets cook! 

Best, 

T

Fruity brunch bowl w kale, tamari tofu and white bean mint dip

Makes 4 bowls

Ingredients

270 grams firm tofu

     3 tbsp tamari

     1 tsp paprika powder 

250 grams plum tomatoes

100 grams curly kale 

250 grams sprouted broccoli

1 grapefruit 

1 avocado 

50 g cress, or mixed leafy greens  

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

2 cold pressed coconut oil for frying

2 tsp sesame oil

flaky sea salt

White bean mint dip

1 can pre cooked canellini beans (about 230 g)

1 tsp dijon mustard 

1/2 organic lemon, juice + zest 

1 handful of fresh mint 

2-3 tbsp water

flaky sea salt + freshly ground black pepper 

Topping

40 g walnuts

fresh herbs (mint, parsley)

How to

Drain the tofu well and wrap in layers of kitchen roll. Then place in between two chopping boards and put something heavy on top. This is to press out all the excess water so you get a really firm tofu, which will then soak up all the flavours it will be mixed with really well. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, but the longer the better. Cut the tofu in smaller pieces. Whisk together tamari and paprika powder, and pour over the tofu. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes. 

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Wash and cut the tomatos in half. Place in an ovenproof dish, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are semi dried and a bit crispy around the edges. Let cool. 

Massage the curly kale with 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt until soft and ”tender”. Put aside while preparing the rest of the salad. Steam the sprouted broccoli for about 3 minutes. Peel and fillet the grape fruit. Halve, peel and pit the avocado. Tear it in to smaller pieces. Drizzle with a bit of lemon juice.

Rinse and drain the cannellini beans. Mix all the ingredients for the dip, except the mint, until creamy using a hand blender. Add the mint and pulse a few times. Salt and pepper to taste. You might want to add a bit more water to ger your desired dip texture. 

Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan and fry the tofu until golden and crisp. Remove from heat. Drizzle with sesame oil (optional). 

Portion the bean dip in to 4 wide bowls, make a pretty swirl on one side using a spoon. Toss the kale, broccoli, tomatos, avocado and cress together carefully and divide in to the bowls. Topp with the tofu and sprinkle with walnuts and fresh herbs.

Enjoy! 

Coconut and matcha chia trifle w blueberry mousse and date granola

Coconut and matcha chia trifle w blueberry mousse, topped with golden granola! I call it weekend breakfast, brunch, mid day-snack and dessert, just to make sure I can have it as often as possible. Prepare the day before, or even a few days before as it keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days, and you'll have things delicious thing ready in no time! I top the whole thing with my favorite granola, which I call golden as it looks kind of golden thanks to turmeric which is one of the super spices that gives the granola that special and wonderful flavor. Try it for yourself! 

Coconut matcha chia trifle w blueberry mousse and date granola

Serves 2 as a steady breakky

Chia pudding

1 dl creamy coconut milk

2 dl water

2 tsp organic matcha powder

1/2 tsp pure vanilla powder

2 tbsp chia seeds 

Blueberry mousse

1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted  

3 dl frozen blueberries

1 fresh date, pitted

Topping

Your favorite granola, try my sweet date granola here

How to
Whisk together coconut milk, water, matcha powder, pure vanilla powder, a pinch of Himalayan salt and chia seeds in a glass jar. Wait 10 minutes and then whisk again to prevent clumping. Cover and put in the fridge over night. You could manage with only 3-4 hours but I find that it gets even more creamy if you let it sit for at least 8 hours.

Remove from fridge and stir well before serving. Mix avocado, blueberries and fresh date until a smooth mousse.

Portion the chia mixture to bowls or glass jars. Scoop the blueberry mouse on top. Serve with fruits or berries + your favorite granola + fresh lemon balm or mint.

ENJOY!

Creamy coconut, millet and quinoa porridge

When it comes to the topping it's all up to you! You might want to go for a more fruity topping for breakfast, and more of a savory topping (for example avocado and kale)  I add the quinoa for a nice flavor, but you could also

Best, 

T

Creamy coconut, millet and quinoa porridge

Makes 2 bowls 

Ingredients

2/3 dl millet flakes 

2 tbsp quinoa flakes 

1 tsp chia seeds

3 dl water

1 dl coconut milk 

a pinch each of ground cinnamon and ground cardamom

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt 

Topping

toasted buckwheat groats (*se notes below how to toast buckwheat groats)

apple, thinly sliced 

pomegranate seeds 

lingonberry or blueberry powder (or any berry or fruit powder that you prefer

How to

Mix everything in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 3-4 minutes on medium heat, stirring all the time (this will make the porridge very creamy!), until a creamy texture. Pour in to two bowls and top it with whatever you feel like! 

* Put about 3 dl of dried buckwheat groats in a fine mesh strainer. Bring 1 liter (I normally use about 3 times as much water as groats) of water to a boil. Pour the hot water over the buckwheat and drain well. Toast the groats in a hot, dry frying pan until golden and crisp. Let cool. Store the toasted buckwheat in a glas jar and use as topping on porridge, smoothie bowls, soups, salads etc etc! 

Tips! You could also follow the same "strain procedure" as described above and then toast the buckwheat in the oven (at a baking sheet) at 175 degrees celsius for about 10 minutes.