Category: Healthy

Gordon Ramsay’s Grilled Salmon with Garlic Mushroom and Lentil Salad

.Reading time 3 minutes.

Serves: 4

This blog has never been about anything but obtainability and this recipe is proof of that.

Nat offered a late mid-week lunch (with a Champagne) if I crunched a tonne of work in the morning (and then again post-lunch) and who was I disagree with the offer to good to refuse.

I initially thought I was up to cook, so headed straight to Gourmet Traveller: I am after all a kid of the 80s.

Nat of course headed straight to Gordon: she’s a kid from the less cooler 90s.

Though turns out I’m the less cooler one.

This is just such a bloody wonderful, obtainable, sorry not-sorry, simple dish.

It well crosses the line of effort and sophistication to smash the boring Chef’s salads I so often serve up on a Saturday after kids’ sport and shopping.

One hat, no. You won, yes.

(And yes: don’t eat farmed salmon. Wild caught salmon is out there and your kids will thank you for it.)

Ingredients

200gm Puy lentils
1 bay leaf
2 thyme sprigs
800ml vegetable stock
1 tbsp olive oil
200gm chestnuts mushrooms, cut into eights
200gm Portobello mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
4 x 100gm wild salmon fillets
100gm rocket leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the dressing

1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
1 tsp runny honey
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp water

Method

  1. Put the lentils into a saucepan along with the bay leaf, thyme and stock. Bring to the boil over a medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15 – 20 minutes until tender.
  2. In the meantime, heat a large-based frypan over a medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the mushrooms with a pinch of salt and cook in the pan for 6 – 8 minutes stirring now and again, until soft and caramelised on the edges.
  3. Add the chopped garlic and continue to cook for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat.
  4. Once the lentils are tender, drain well and discard the herbs. Put the lentils into a large mixing bowl and add the mushrooms. Mix together gently to avoid breaking up the lentils too much.
  5. To make the dressing, put all the ingredients into a clean jar with a punch of salt and pepper. Close the jar, shake until the dressing comes together and emulsifies.
  6. Preheat the grill to high: grill the salmon for 6 – 8 minutes to your liking.
  7. Pout half the dressing over the warm lentils and toss gently to get everything coated. Fold in the rocket, place the salmon on top and pour over the remaining dressing. Serve immediately.

Anjum Anand’s Grilled Chopped Chicken Salad

.Reading time 3 minutes.

Serves: 2

I’ve slightly adapted this salad to fill it out for two, though the essence is the same.

And that is just a wonderful, healthy, Indian salad perfect for New Year’s Day: where in 2025, the Champagne had to continue.

Right?

The sprinkled Chaat Masala with the roast and ground cumin seeds is your spice. I deseeded the chilli though that is your call.

I also cooked the chicken breasts over charcoal.

Add that lemon, plenty of olive oil and more Champagne and this was a blast of a salad.

Fun. Tasty. Spicy. Perfect to start the new year.

Perfect for a Sydney summer.

More Champagne? Yes thank you.

Another Anjum Anand success.

Ingredients

1 large chicken breast
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil plus extra to serve
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 large garlic clove, finely grated
1 tsp roasted and ground cumin seeds
Good fistful of coriander (stems and leaves), finely chopped
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 medium tomato, cut into 1cm cubes
1 ripe avocado, cut into 1cm cubes
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
Two good handfuls of chopped lettuce*
1 1/2 tsp chaat masala
1/2 green chilli, deseeded and finely sliced
2 tbsp salted peanuts, lightly chopped

Method

  1. Marinate the chicken in 1 tbsp olive oil, seasoning and garlic for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Heat a griddle pan, add the chicken breast and cook for 5 – 6 minutes each side until done.
  3. Meanwhile, mix together the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil, more seasoning, roast cumin and a little of the lemon juice and coriander.
  4. Place the tomato, avocado, onion and lettuce in a bowl. Add the chaat masala, chilli and most of the dressing and toss. Taste, season and add more lemon juice as necessary.
  5. Thinly slice the cooked chicken and place on top of the salad, drizzle with the remaining dressing, coriander and peanuts. Drizzle with more olive oil and serve… with Champagne.

* Nat has a ban on iceberg lettuce in our house on account of its nutritional deficiency. Though we served these Neil Perry Prawn Cocktails as part of a Christmas Eve dinner and we had iceberg lettuce left over.

We both agreed, this was the way to go. It’s New Year’s Day and the feeling was right. Go the iceberg.

Matty Matheson’s Sichuan Chilli Oil Smashed Cucumber with Soy-Cured Egg (Salad)

.Reading time 5 minutes.

Serves: 4 – 6

As Matty Matheson says it:

This is just one of the best things ever. The textures and tastes set you up for a perfect meal. Normally, smashed cucumbers are often served simply as a side to just nibble on while you’re waiting for noodles or dumplings to come out. I think this treatment takes the cucumbers to more of comprehensive dish. This is so refreshing. The soy eggs are just Banana Town. Since we’re making a cookbook, we could make something like this a main event. I’m so hyped on this salad, and I know this will be a staple for you and your family or friends, or maybe your lover

This is a sophisticated Asian salad, no doubt.

The black vinegar chilli crisp dressing is sensational and I’ve prepared it separately for different salads of rocket, avocado and poached green beans with great effect.

The soy sauce eggs are the lux element. This shows effort and it won’t go unnoticed.

Christmas is the time for salad and winding down.

This salad is worth every bit of effort.

And save that dressing on its own. Chilli crisp is brilliant.

(There are 5 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds in total here: just a pre-warning.)

(And the eggs need no less than 6 hours resting and ideally overnight.)

Ingredients

Soy Sauce Egges

6 eggs
1/2 c water
1 c soy sauce
3/4 c mirin

Cucumber Salad

2 English cucumbers, cut into 6cm strips*
Salt
1/2 red onion, sliced as thinly as possible
1/2 bunch coriander, chopped
1/2 bunch spring onions, chopped
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Black Vinegar Chilli Crisp Dressing

1/4 c chilli crisp**
2 tbsp black vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Zest and juice of 1 lime
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 small knob ginger, grated
2 tbsp grapeseed oil

Method

  1. Starting with the soy sauce eggs: bring a large pot of water to the boil and carefully lower each egg into the pot and set your timer for 6 minutes. Transfer the eggs to an ice bath until they get cold, then peel them.
  2. To marinate the eggs, place a Ziplock bag in a small bowl. Fill it with the water, soy sauce and mirin, add the eggs and squeeze out the air to ensure the eggs are fully covered by the soy mixture. Seal and store in the fridge for a minimum of 6 hours and ideally a day.
  3. When you are ready to make the salad, get ready to smash the cucumbers. Lay them out on a chopping board and smash them with the bottom of a pot. Transfer them to a strainer set over a bowl, generously salt them and place them in the fridge for 30 minutes: when done, press them with paper towels to remove all the moisture you can.
  4. In a large bowl, mix the red onion, coriander and spring onions.
  5. Make the dressing by combining all of the dressing ingredients and combine/shake well.
  6. Carefully remove the soy eggs from their bath and break them up gently with your hands. Be artful.
  7. When you’re ready to serve, get a large platter out. First put down the smashed cucumber. Toss with the dressing. Top with the broken up soy eggs. Add the coriander, onion and spring onions and top with the sesame seeds.

* I used Lebanese. There are apparently 100 varieties of cucumber in the world and whilst they vary (seedless vs non-seedless, thicker vs thinner skin), I lost no sleep over this.

** I cannot – cannot – overemphasis the need to find this which isn’t hard. The substitute is not jarred chilli or chilli oil. In fact, even the best substitute suggestions on Google are lukewarm and suggest you get off your arse.

Vikrant Kapoor’s Chickpea Curry (Channa Masala)

.Reading time 2 minutes.

Serves: 4

Zaafran used to be one of Sydney’s best Indian restaurants. My best mate Giles and I would often go there for lunch, overlooking Darling Harbour and the city.

As Darling Harbour (now demolished) slowly merged from a stylish shopping centre and destination to a tourist trap full of ugg boot and opal sellers, Giles and I stopped visiting. Though what great memories and food: nothing beats a midweek lunch and a bottle of cold white.

This is the second Vikrant Kapoor recipe I have cooked. The first was this tremendous barramundi, something that was simply 5-star.

This chickpea curry’s simplicity is deceptive. The clarity of the flavours is just awesome and it was just a perfect side to this Pushpesh Pant Chicken with Fenugreek Leaves.

Arguably, it was much more than a side. Brilliant.

Ingredients

1 large potato, unpeeled
1 tbsp ghee
1 large onion, chopped
1 large tomato, puréed
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 tsp chilli powder
450gm canned chickpeas, drained
1 tsp salt
Coriander leaves, to garnish

Method

  1. Cook the potato in a pan of boiling water for about 10 minutes or until tender. Drain and allow to cool, then peel and cut into cubes. Set aside.
  2. Heat the ghee in a frying pan, add the onion, tomato, ginger garlic paste, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powder and cook for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and chickpeas and 1/2 c lukewarm water and cook for 5 minutes or until hot. Garnish with coriander.

Manali Singh’s Bhindi Masala

.Reading time 2 minutes.

Serves: 4

I don’t know when Nat fell in love with okra, though it has become a total staple in our Indian cooking. No complaints whatsoever there!

It is a little-known vegetable in Australia and to make it sing, it does need a bit of prep.

Sans prep, it’s slimy and that isn’t going to make the cut.

Soak the okra overnight, however, and it is such a versatile and wonderful vegetable: somewhere between French beans and eggplant.

The best Indian is vegetarian and this recipe is exactly why. Served alongside this Ajoy Joshi Hyderabadi Chicken, this was such a brilliant match.

Honestly, cook these two recipes with some Jasmine rice and tell me this isn’t as good as Indian comfort food gets!

Ingredients

2 1/2 vegetable/canola oil, divided
500gm okra
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 medium red onion, chopped
3cm ginger, grated
1 green chilli, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp amchur (mango powder)
1/4 tsp chilli powder
3/4 tsp salt
Garam masala to sprinkle
Julienne ginger to garnish
Rotis/Rice to serve

Method

  1. Soak the okra overnight. Wash and pat dry each okra with a paper towel and then chop into 1cm rounds, discarding the head and tail. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan on medium heat and when hot, add the chopped okra. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently and then lower the heat for 5 minutes more. The okra should be cooked by now (15 minutes) and there should be little sliminess (!) left. Set aside.
  2. Add the remaining 1 1/2 tbsp oil on a medium heat and when hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few seconds. Add the chopped onion and saute for 2 – 3 minutes until soft. Then add the ginger and green chilli and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until soft and mushy.
  3. Add the spices and some water so that the spices do not burn. Stir well.
  4. Add the okra back in and cook together on a low-medium heat for 5 minutes, uncovered.
  5. Sprinkle with garam masala and serve garnished with julienned ginger.

Jolinda Hackett’s Vegetarian Bean and Rice Burrito

.Reading time 2 minutes.

Serves: 4

Nat and I went for a good vegetarian tear before Nat announced Baby #4 -arriving October 2023.

This burrito is why vegetarian food is just as good – better – than the meat alternative.

And certainly, both of us will be back on the tear come November.

Healthier. Cheaper. And the whole carbon thing. You know, that thing.

The coriander-lime rice here is amazing.

And then be versatile with the ingredients. You definitely need guacmole, salsa and sour cream, though some black olives? Why not.

Fried corn. Shredded lettuce, Sauted mushrooms. Browned, sliced onions. Damn why not!

You said pan-fried zucchini? You know my answer.

Saturday lunch between chores (I know, should be the day for a long lunch, though that only means a cracking dinner is on its way), this is a great treat.

Wednesday night with a white wine.

I don’t mind when you do it. Though please do. It’s just great.

Ingredients

2 c cooked short-grain rice such as Jasmine
2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
2 limes, juices
1/2 medium onion, diced
3 – 4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
400gm can black beans
1 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp hot sauce
Pinch salt
4 large tortillas

Accompaniments

Sour cream
Shredded lettuce
Salsa
Guacmole
Shredded cheese
Sliced black olives
Sauted mushrooms
Fried corn
Jalapeño slices
Tofu
Even scrambled eggs
You name it!

Method

  1. In a large microwave-safe bowl, toss together the cooked rice, freshly chopped coriander and drizzle with the lime juice. Heat in the microwave until just hot and give a quick stir.
  2. Ina separate skillet, sauté the onion in the oilfor 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft. Add the garlic and cook another minute. Reduce the heat, add the black beans and season with the spices and hot sauce. Season with the salt, allowing the beans to cook until heated through. About 5 minutes.
  3. Warm the tortillas and spoon on the coriander rice and then the black bean mixture and then add all the toppings you want.
  4. Wrap the burritos: fold the short ends in, then fold one long side over the filling and gently push to ensure the fold is tight before rolling up the remaining of the burrito.
  5. Cut in half and serve immediately.

Yotem Ottolenghi’s Kale and Herb Dumplings in Broth

.Reading time 4 minutes.

Serves: 4

A read through the ingredients and then method of this dish and you can almost taste it.

The wonderful kale and herb dumplings, with the ricotta, feta and soudough breadcrumbs. And the broth, elevated with theinitial addition of vegetables.

And anything with dill has me listening!

Such a warm, hearty and really fun dish: especially elevated through the herbs and the addition of the lemon.

Bookmark to cook this one. Classic Ottolenghi!

Ingredients

1 1/2 ltr vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
300gm kale, thick stems discarded, leaces and thinner stems roughly chopped (150gm net weight)
1 eschalot, peeled and quartered lengthways
2 spring onions, quartered
1/2 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
1 lemon – zest finely grated to get 1/2 tsp and juiced to get 1 tsp
10gm dill, finely chopped
5gm chives, finely chopped
5gm tarragon leaves, finely chopped
80gm ricotta
60gm feta, roughly broken into 2cm pieces
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
60gm fresh sourdough breadcrumbs (about 2 slices, crusts removed)*
30gm plain flour
2 tbsp olive oil, to serve

Method

  1. In a large saucepan for which you have a lid, bring the stock and 3/4 of a tsp of salt to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-high, then blanch the kale for four minutes, until soft. Drain the kale well and when cool enough to handle, squeeze the kale with your hands to get rid of any remaining liquid. Return the liquid to the stock pot.
  2. While the kale is cooling, add the shallot, spring onions and garlic to the stock, simmer on a medium-high heat for 15 minutes, then discard the shallot and spring onions; turn off the heat.
  3. Process the kale in a food process until finely chopped and put in a bowl with the lemon zest and juice, herbs, both cheeses, the nutmeg, egg, breadcrumbs, 1/3 tsp of salt and a good grind of pepper; stir to combine.
  4. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Spread te floir on a large plate. Roll the kale mixture into 12 balls, dipping your hands in water from time-to-time to prevent sticking. The balls should be quite compact, so roll them tightly and put them on the tray as you go. Next, roll each ball in the flour a couple of times, applying pressure so they’re very well coated.
  5. Return the stock to a medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to medium, gently lower in the dumplings, cover and cook for four to five minutes, until theyr swell and float to the top.
  6. Divide the broth and dumplings between four bowls, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, drizzle over the oil and serve piping hot.

* When we have some leftover baguette or sourdough, I blitz it – crusts and all – in the food processor and add it to a bag of fresh breadcrumbs in the freezer. Means having fresh breadcrumbs always at hand.

I hope I’m not telling you how to suck eggs!

Nat’s Black Eyed Bean Salad

.Reading time 1 minute.

Serves: 4

A couple of years ago, we spent New Years up in Newcastle, about two and a half hours north of Sydney.

We really like Newcastle. We have some very good friends there, the restaurant and bar scene gets better every year and with an AirBNB with a good enough kitchen, the show can go on.

We did a Greek/Mediterranean cook off and Nat made this wonderful salad along-side a braised octopus. Incredibly fresh, a wonderful simplicity of flavour and healthy.

Definitely a keeper for any Greek lunch, and a salad Nat has served a few times since.

Ingredients

2 c dried black eyed beans
1 l chicken stock
1 celery stick, finely diced
1/2 red capsicum, finely diced
1 white onion, finely diced
Big handful of Italian parsley leaves, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Braised octopus optional

Method

  1. Soak the beans overnight.
  2. Heat the stock to a simmer in a large saucepan, add the beans and simmer for 45 minutes or until softened. Drain and set aside to cool.
  3. Combine with the remaining ingredients and serve.

Claudia Roden’s Egyptian Red Lentil Soup with Caramelised Onions

.Reading time 2 minutes.

Serves: 6-8

This soup originated from a woman who lived in a little village on the Nile; it is in Claudia Roden’s latest book Med and it is wonderful. The cooked down lentils bring a creaminess to the soup, the spices bring a warmth and it’s finished off with the sharp sweetness of the caramelised onions.

I thought the lentils would take ages to cook down but they don’t. It can be an easy, healthy, delicious weeknight meal.

Ingredients

1 large onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cup of dried red lentils
2 litres vegetable stock
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
Pinch of chilli
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste

Ingredients- caramelised onions

3 large onions, sliced
Splash of balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp brown sugar

Method

  1. Soften the onions, carrots and garlic in olive oil in a large pan on low heat for about 10 mins.
  2. Add the lentils and stock and bring to the boil and then simmer for 40mins, until the lentils have disintegrated. As foam appears on the top skim it off.
  3. Meanwhile cooked the caramelised onions in a pan on low heat with a bit of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar until dark and soft, about 30-40mins.
  4. Stir in the cumin, coriander, chilli and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. If the soup needs thinning add a bit of water, it shouldn’t be too thick.
  6. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with caramelised onions.

Yotam Ottolenghi’s best aubergine (eggplant) side

.Reading time 2 minutes.

Serves: 6-8

Prepare yourself for the best eggplant dish you have ever had. A big call but a worthy one.

This is from Yotam’s book “Jerusalem”; it was the Jews who are said to have introduced the humble aubergine to the Arab culture, Europeans were quite suspicious of aubergine were and reluctant to use them thinking they were “mad apples” and helped induce insanity. With that being said – this dish is insane.

Ingredients

Roasted aubergine with fried onion and chopped lemon

2 large aubergines, halved lengthways with the stem on
150ml olive oil
4 onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 green chillies
1 1/2tsp ground cumin
1tsp sumac
50g feta, broken into chunks
1 lemon
1 garlic clove, crushed
Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 220C. Score the cut side of the aubergines with a criss-cross pattern, brush with olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a baking tray, cut-side up and roast for 45mins, until the flesh is golden brown and completely cooked.
  2. Add remaining oil to a heavy pan and cook the onions with 1/2tsp of salt, stirring often so that parts of the onion get really dark and crisp. About 15mins in total.
  3. De-seed the green chillies, keeping 1/3 of them seperate. Add 2/3 of the chillies, cumin, sumac to the onions and stir for a few mins. Add the feta and cook for a few mins before removing from the heat.
  4. Cut the flesh out of the lemon, ensuring you remove any seeds and chop the lemon flesh roughly. Add any juices, lemon flesh, the remaining green chilli and garlic to a small bowl.
  5. Assemble the dish by transferring the roasted aubergines to a serving dish, spoon over the lemon mixture and top with the warm onion and feta mixture.
  6. Serve warm or at room temperature.