Jerusalem artichoke soup with toasted buckwheat, pickled shallot, cress and truffle oil

Jerusalem artichoke soup with toasted buckwheat, pickled onion, cress and truffle oil

Serves 4 as a first course

Ingredients

500 g Jerusalem artichoke 

1 shallot 

1 garlic clove

3 dl water

2 dl creamy oat milk

230 g cooked white beans

1 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pickled shallot

2 shallots 

1 dl water

1/2 dl apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp honey

Garnish

2 tbsp truffle oil

cress

1 dl dried whole buckwheat

How to

Peel and chop onion and garlic. Fry in oil until soft in a sauce pan. Peel the Jerusalem artichokes and cut in to smaller pieces. Add to the onion together with the the water and oat cream. Bring to a boil and let simmer until the Jerusalem artichokes are soft, takes about 15 minutes. Add the white beans when 5 minutes remains. Mix to a smooth soup with an immersion blender. You might want to add a bit more water to get your desired consistency. Add apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.

Pickled shallot: Bring water, vinegar and honey to a boil. Remove from the heat, add the shallots and put on a lid. Let sit for 10 minutes. 

Toasted buckwheat: 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. 

Serve the soup drizzled with truffle oil, topped with pickled shallots, toasted buckwheat and cress. Serve with crispy seed crackers! 

* This is a recipe from “Två Dagar” distributed by Göteborgs-Posten 16th of December 2017. “Två dagar” is produced by contant agency OTW. Photo by Stefan Edetoft

Golden sorghum salad with roasted broccoli, butternut squash, herb hummus and hazelnuts

A what's-in-the-fridge-lunch. Use a bunch of veggies that you like (including nice and unprocessed carbohydrates, some kind of plant based protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals), cook them in different ways for texture and maybe add something unexpected or fun - like sorghum cooked in turmeric and cumin for colour and flavour - and you're in for a treat. It doesn't have to be any harder then that to cook healthy, delicious and exciting every day food! 

Golden sorghum salad with roasted broccoli, butternut squash, herb hummus and hazelnuts

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 dl uncooked sorghum (Double or triple to get your meal prep going!)

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 broccoli

1/2 a butternut squash

1 small courgette 

2 handfulls of chopped kale 

2 tbsp roasted, peeled hazelnuts (make sure to remove the peel by toasting them in the oven and then rubbing them off wrapped in a clean tea towel if you can't find already peeled as it can be a bit bitter) 

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

fresh herbs of your choice to serve (I used Thai basil)

Herb hummus

4 dl pre cooked chickpeas (about 1 can/230 grams)

2 tbsp tahini 

1/2 dl water 

1/2 garlic clove

2 handfulls fresh herbs of your choice (I used parsley and basil)

1 tbsp good quality cold pressed olive oil 

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 

Cook the sorghum according to instructions on the packaging, adding 1 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp cumin to the cooking water. 

Rinse and cut of the steam from the broccoli florets. Tear the florets in to smaller pieces. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the tough outer layer of the stem, cut the rest of the steam in cubes. Peel the squash and remove the seeds, cut in to small cubes. Put on a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and roast in the middle of the oven for about 15 minutes, until broccoli gets crisp around the edges and squash gets soft. 

Wash and spiralize the courgette using a spiralizer, julienne peeler or a vegetable peeler. Rinse, dry carefully and then massage the kale with 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt until it gets all silky and soft.  

Hummus: Mix tahini and water until creamy. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the oil, and mix until smooth. Add the oil and pulse a few times, salt and pepper to taste. 

Layer the different components on two plates. Serve with hummus and fresh herbs. 

Red rice salad with yellow beets, Jerusalem artichoke and butternut squash patties

Red rice salad with baked yellow beets, Jerusalem artichoke and butternut squash patties

4 portions

Ingredients

2 dl red rice, uncooked

400 grams yellow beets

200 grams Jerusalem artichoke

100 grams red cabbage, shredded 

1 handful of fresh parsley, chopped 

70 grams mixed salad leaves

1 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

salt and pepper

Butternut squash patties

5 dl butternut squash or pumpkin fibers *

4 dl/320 grams cooked chickpeas

1/2 sorghum flour (you can also use oat flour/quinoa flour/buckwheat flour)

1 dl fresh herbs of your choice (I used parsley + basil), or 2 tbsp fresh frozen

1 dl pepitas 

Topping

Turmeric toasted cashews **

Cress  

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. 

Mix the pepitas coarsely. Mix the ingredients for the pumpkin patties to a smooth batter using a immersion blender or a food processor. For in to patties, turn around in the pepitas. Put on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until patties are firm and the pepita coating get lightly golden. If you want a really crisp coating you can fry the patties for about 1 minute on each side after baking in the oven. 

Peel all the yellow beets except for one. Cut in to chunks. Slice the last yellow beet thinly using a mandoline, or a sharp knife. Wash and scrub the Jerusalem artichoke very well, making sure no dirt is left. Slice thinly. Put beets and artichokes on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil and roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until beets are tender, and artichokes are soft with crispy skin.

Mix all the ingredients for the salad, serve with the patties. Top with cashews and cress. Preferably serve the salad with a creamy spread

* With "fibers" I mean what you get left after juicing vegetables, for example butternut squash if you're making my Butternut squash chia pudding. If you don't have any "pure" vegetable fibers you can also use puré of whichever veggie you want (pumpkin/carrots/beets). If so you might have to add som more flour to get the patties to stick together. 

** Toast 1 dl cashews tossed with a splash of cold pressed olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and two (or three) pinches of ground turmeric for about 10 minutes in the oven at 175 degrees Celsius. 

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! 

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! 

Beluga lentil and naked oats salad with cinnamon roasted carrots, black kale and pecans

This is perfect way of enjoying all the wonderful winter flavors that are around this time of year. Great texture, warming flavors and lots of healthy goodies in one plate is how I would describe this pretty salad. I used one of my favorite grains, naked oats, and beluga lentils as the base for this salad. The naked oats needs to soak for a few hours before cooking, so this one needs a bit of preparation. But it’s well worth it! I often cook a lot (both naked oats and beluga lentils) at the same time and store some in the fridge. Then I have a great base for all sorts of salads at any time.

Crispy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside-carrots, crispy kale, soft and warming apples, nutty pecans and sweet cranberries all add to the whole winter feeling in this salad. I finished it all off with another thing I always have in the fridge – my herb dressing. It’s super easy and makes any sallad or dish really yummy.

Serve the salad as it is or with a piece of goat cheese, or as a side salad to your winter dinner. Why not put in on your christmas dinner table? I hope you really enjoy it! 

Beluga lentil and naked oats salad with cinnamon roasted carrots, black kale and pecans

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 dl beluga lentils

1 dl naked oats

4 medium sized carrots

250 grams black kale

2-3 garden apples

50 grams pecan nuts (approx. 1 dl)

60 grams dried cranberries (approx. 1 dl), preferably without sugar

Herb dressing

1 dl cold pressed rapeseed oil

1/2 garlic clove

1 tsp lime juice

1 dl of your favorite fresh herbs (or 3 tbsp frozen)

sea salt, black pepper to taste

How to

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees celsius. Cook the naked oats and beluga lentils according to the instructions on the packaging (naked oats needs to soak for at least one hour before cooking).

Peel and cut the carrots in to chuncks. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Wash and tear the black kale in to bits, massage with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cut the apples in to chunks and season with cinnamon. Put the carrots on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 25 minutes. Turn the carrots half way through. When 10 minutes remains, lower the temperature to 200 degrees, and add the black kale and apples. Bake until the kale are crisp.

Mix all the ingredients for the herb dressing in a mixer, or using a immersion blender. 

Mix the roasted carrots, kale and apples with the naked oats and beluga lentils. Put on a big plate, sprinkle with pecans and dried cranberries. Drizzle with the herb dressing. Serve and 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! 

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

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! 

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. 

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! 

Veggie soup with cilantro tossed sweet corn and bean topping

Let’s talk about soups and autumn. It can be one of the best “perfect match” there is! In Gothenburg we’re enjoying the most lovely late summer ever, and knowing that the time after will imply lots and lots of occasions when a hearty soup is just the right thing makes me ridiculously happy and excited.

Anyway, back to the soup-talk. Pretty much any veggies could be mixed in to a soup, it’s fast and easy cooking and it’s a perfect way to use bits and pieces you find in your fridge but don’t know how to use. That’s exactly what happened to me the other day, when I opened my fridge and found butternut squash, fennel, two carrots, half a sweet potato and one red onion. At first sight to little to make any interesting of, but perfect for mixing in to a tasty soup. I cut everything in to evenly sized pieces, tossed around with some oil and roasted for 20 minutes before I transfered it all to a big skillet, added tomatoes, spices and coconut milk. Brought to a boil, then mixed using a hand immersion blender, adding a little water to get the desired consistency. Easy peasy.

Since this is one of those take-what-you-have-at-home-recipes it doesn’t have very specific measurements. You will want to adjust it a bit depending on what veggies you’re using and what preferences you have on flavoring and how you like your soup consistency etc. Might sound a bit tricky, but if you start with the veggies, crushed tomatoes and coconut milk and then just add water a bit at a time while mixing you can’t go wrong! Feel free to use more of the species, or try different ones, to adjust to your taste. Whatever you do, or whatever veggies you are using, don’t forget the splash of apple cider vinegar – makes all the different! Use water to get the desired consistency.

Mix and enjoy!

Best,

Therese

Crispy tofu summer rolls w mango salsa, avocado and tahini dipping sauce

I love small, casual get togethers with family, friends and good food. Yummy brunches, lunches or dinners, preferably consisting smaller dishes/share food/food that you will assembly by the table, and good company are among the best things there is! Imagine gather a bunch of foodie friends, dish up with a few bits and pieces and make these amazing summer rolls! You can really fill your rice paper wrappers with almost anything – use left overs or whatever you crave at the moment.

I think that the combination of raw veggies, creamy avokado, sweet mango and crispy tofu is just amazing. And together with lots of cilantro – as I just happen to love that herb – this is my best summer rolls recipe. If you don’t like cilantro use only thai basil or substitute for your favorite herb.

In this recipe I marinate the tofu for extra flavor and then coat it in corn flour before frying it – it’s the perfect way to make tofu really crispy without deep frying it. That – along with the amazing flavors and textures – makes this a healthy, vegan and gluten free recipe which is hard to not go crazy about. I serve these rolls with a really simple, but yet extremely yummy, tahini dipping sauce. It’s all you need. Try if for your self!

Crispy tofu summer rolls w mango salsa, avocado and tahini dipping sauce

Makes 12 rolls

300 g extra firm tofu

3 tbsp corn flour  

2 tbsp rape seed oil

12 rice paper wrappers

Tofu marinade

1 tbsp sun flower oil

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp tamari, or regular soy sauce

1 garlic clove

1/2 tbsp dried basil

Tahini dipping sauce

2 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp tamari, or regular soy sauce

1 tsp rice vinegar

1 garlic clove

1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

3-4 tbsp water to thin

Sweet mango salsa

200 g frozen mango

3 spring onions

1/2 red chili, or more if you like it to be hot

1 organic lime, zest + juice

a handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

2 pinches himalayan salt

1 pinch freshly groound black pepper

Extras

red cabbage

1 large ripe avocado

sunflower sprouts

baby spinach

fresh herbs, preferably cilantro and thai basil

For serving

lime

fresh cilantro

sesame seeds

How to

Remove the tofu from the packaging. Line a plate with a paper towel and place the tofu on top. Put another plate on the tofu and press it using something heavy (like a can of beans, crushed tomatoes etc). Let press for 30 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients for the tofu marinade. Drain excess liquid from the tofu and slice the pressed tofu into sticks (12 sticks for 12 rolls). In a shallow dish toss around the sticks with the marinade and let sit for 30 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients for the tahini dipping sauce. You might want to use a bit more water to get your preferred texture.

Thaw and roughly chop the mango. Wash and finely slice the spring onions. Remove seeds and finely chop the chili. Mix all the ingredients for the mango salsa and set aside.

Slice the red cabbage finely lengthwise. Peel, pit and slice the avocado in to wedges. Wash the sun flower sprouts. Wash the baby spinach.

Put the corn flour on a plate and roll the tofu sticks in it, making sure they get completely coated (this will make them very crispy). Put a frying pan on medium heat, drizzle with rape seed oil. Check the heat by putting one tofu stick in the pan – If you hear a sizzling sound you know the heat is right! Put the rest of the marinated and coated tofu sticks in the pan and fry on all sides until golden brown. Transfer tofu sticks to a cooling rack and let cool for a few minutes.

To assemble the rolls, pour lukewarm water in a pie dish and dip one rice paper at a time in the water for 10-15 seconds. The rice paper should get soft, but not too soft and “flabby”! Transfer rice paper to a damp plastic cutting board.

On the bottom of the rice paper put about 3 leafs of baby spinach, some red cabbage, sun flower sprouts, a good tbsp of the mango salsa, an avocado wedge, a tofu stick and some fresh herbs. Gently (but steady) fold over once, fold in each end and continue rolling until the seam is sealed. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of the roll. Do the same thing with the rest of the rice paper wrappers and the filling.

Serve rolls with lime wedges, fresh herbs and the tahini dipping sauce.

Pumpkin and coconut soup with rocket and roasted pumpkin seeds

Creamy pumpkin soup with lots of flavors – and different textures thanks to the toppings. Cinnamon and ginger gives the soup that extra seasonal touch, and goes very well with both the pumpkin and the coconut.

Now, what goes better with a creamy soup then a freshly baked bread loaf? Not much. I served this soup with my super easy favorite bread made of oats, carrots, almond milk, seeds and nuts – healthy and with lots of flavors.

This is my way of welcoming, and embracing, the cold and chilly weather that comes with November. You really must try this one!

 

Pumpkin and coconut soup with rocket and roasted pumpkin seeds

Serves 4

500 grams pumpkin flesh, diced (I used a mix of butternut squash and spaghetti pumpkin) 

1 onion

1 garlic clove

2 1/2 dl coconut cream (save some for drizzling when serving) 

6 1/2 dl vegetable stock (make your own or use a stock cube)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground tumeric

1 krm paprika powder

Sea salt and ground black pepper

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

For serving:

1/2 dl pumpkin seeds, approx. 30 grams

70 grams rocket

Coconut cream for drizzling

How to: 

Put the oven on 225 degrees celsius. Put the pumpkin on a baking sheet, drizzle with cold pressed rapeseed oil and roast in oven for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, peel and chop the onion and garlic, then sauté in a saucepan until soft. Add the pumpkin, coconut cream, vegetable stock and spices. Use a immersion blender and mix until smooth. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the sauce pan from the stove and add the apple cider vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste. Roast the pumpkin seeds in a hot frying pan until golden. Drizzle some coconut cream over the soup and serve with rocket and roasted pumpkin seeds.

Oat- and carrot bread w seeds and nuts

Makes one loaf

1 dl wheat germ

2 dl buckwheat flour

3 dl oat flour

1/2 dl sunflower seeds

1/2 dl pumpkin seeds

1/2 hazelnuts, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda  

1 dl carrots, finely grated

3 dl unsweetend almond milk

1 egg

How to:

Put the oven on 175 degrees celsius. Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Put the “dough” in an oblong baking tin. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes. Let cool before serving. Serve with creme cheese and cress as topping.