Uncategorized – Page 60 – My Whisk and I

Green Shakshuka Omelette

February 16, 2022February 16, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This is the perfect one-portion shakshuka, all wrapped up into one omelette!

4 eggs
125ml baby spinach
salt and pepper
a 10cm piece of chorizo sausage (per portion), cut into small cubes
250ml cherry tomato, halved
80ml feta cheese, cut into small cubes
15ml butter
vegetable oil

Add the eggs and baby spinach to a jug and blitz together with a stick blender.
Season with salt and pepper.
Melt 15ml butter and a splash of vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan, set over medium-low heat.
Pour the egg mixture into the frying pan and cook until the edges of the omelette begin to set.
Push down onto the edges with a silicone spatula and gently push the edges towards the centre of the pan.
Tilt the pan so that the uncooked eggs move to the edges.
Repeat around the pan until the eggs are set but still soft.
Scatter the chorizo, tomato and feta in a line down the centre of the omelette and cook for one minute longer.
Slide the spatula underneath one side of the omelette and gently fold it over the filling. Repeat on the other side.
Now tilt the pan and gently nudge the omelette onto a plate.
The omelette is for one famished individual or two people, to share.

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Basting Sauce for Grilled Vegetables

February 15, 2022February 15, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Whether you choose to cook your vegetables on an open fire or in roast them in the oven , this is the sauce to boost that flavour and have everyone coming for seconds!

30ml butter, melted
15ml vegetable oil
15ml wholegrain mustard
20ml lemon juice
30ml thyme leaves
1ml salt

Add all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk together.

Flame grill:
Place your selection of vegetables on the griddle over medium hot coals.
Baste and turn the veg every 1-2 minutes for about 12 minutes in total – this of course depends on the veg you chose!
Remove from the heat and serve as a side.

Oven roasting:
Preheat your oven to 200℃ and place your selection of vegetables on a roasting tray.
Liberally baste the veg with the sauce and place in the oven for 7 minutes.
Open the oven and baste and turn the vegetables before roasting for another 5-7 minutes more, depending on the vegetables you have chosen to roast.
Serve immediately.

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Beer Chicken

February 11, 2022February 10, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This chicken is terribly easy and quick to make and deliciously soft and moist. Yields 6 portions.

6 chicken breasts, skin removed
45mll butter
30ml vegetable oil
125ml chicken stock
125ml stout or any other beer
10ml dried tarragon
125ml cream

Preheat your oven to 180℃.
Place an ovenproof frying pan onto medium-heat and add the butter and vegetable oil to it.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and place it in the hot pan to fry.
Cook the breasts for 4 minutes before turning and cooking the other side for another 4 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the frying pan and keep on the side while you make the sauce.
Pour the chicken stock into the frying pan and simmer for 3 minutes before adding the stout/beer.
Bring the liquids back to a simmer, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen the caramelised bits of chicken and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the tarragon and cream and stir through.
Place the chicken breasts back in the sauce and place the pan in the oven. Cook for 20 minutes.
Serve the chicken on couscous and spoon over some extra sauce.

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Roasted Cauliflower Salad

February 10, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This is my adaptation of the delicious Donna Hay salad with roasted cauliflower. Serves 4 as a main.

For the avocado dressing:
half an avocado (taken from the 2 avocados you need for the salad)
125ml greek yoghurt
15ml lemon juice
60ml water

Add all the ingredients to a mixing jug and blitz together with a stick blender.
Season to taste and set aside.

For the salad:
1kg cauliflower florets
2 x 400g chickpeas, drained and rinsed under cold water
60ml olive oil
5ml salt
2 avocado pears, halved and sliced
12 radishes
a handful of mint leaves

Preheat your oven to 220℃ and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Arrange the cauliflower and chickpeas on the lined baking tray and drizzle with the oil.
Sprinkle the harissa and salt over.
Roast for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Spoon the cauliflower and chickpeas onto a serving platter and top with the avocado slices, radishes and mint leaves.
Drizzle the salad with the avocado dressing and serve.

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Nut Butter Energy Bars

February 9, 2022February 9, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

These bars are deliciously crunchy and loaded with energy boosters!! Yield: 16 squares from a 20cm x 20cm pan. Keep refrigerated.

500ml rice crispies/puffed rice
125ml sunflower seeds
125ml pumpkin seeds
125ml peanut butter
30ml coconut oil, melted
62ml honey
5ml honey
160g De Villiers Coco Nut Nut Butter Chocolate or any other chocolate of your choice

Line a 20cm x 20cm square baking tin with baking paper, leaving an overhang

Add the rice crispies, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds to a mixing bowl.
Add the peanut butter, melted coconut oil, honey and vanilla to a jug and stir to mix.
Pour the peanut butter mixture into the rice crispy mixture and mix well. Make sure that you cover all the seeds and puffed rice!!
Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tin and spread the top evenly. Press down firmly with the bottom of a measuring cup to ensure that all the ingredients “glue together”.
Place in the refrigerator.

Break up the chocolate and add the pieces to a heatproof bowl, set over a saucepan with simmering water.
Allow the chocolate to melt completely before removing it from the heat.
Pour an even layer of chocolate over the seed mixture and place it back in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours.
Remove from the baking tin by lifting the paper overhang and slice into squares.

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Korean Pancakes

February 8, 2022February 8, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

These pancakes are a delicious snack, light lunch or canapé. The recipe yields two pancakes which is enough for one person or a snack for two sharing. Savoury and crispy has never tasted as good!!

Dipping sauce:
30ml soy sauce
15ml vinegar
5ml honey
5ml sesame oil
2,5ml sesame seeds

Mix all the ingredients together and set aside.

For the pancakes:
250ml zucchini, cut into stick not wider than 4mm (or grated if you do not want to do the cutting!)
190ml flour
30ml cornstarch
1 clove garlic, minced
2,5ml salt
1 egg
190ml ice cold water
about 60ml vegetable oil

Cut the zucchini into sticks no thicker than 4mm.
Mix the flour, cornstarch, salt, garlic and egg together in a mixing bowl.
Drizzle in the water while whisking continuously, to form a smooth batter.
Heat about 30ml of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
Arrange half the zucchini in the pan and spread it out evenly.
Pour half the batter over the zucchini sticks and leave to cook for 4 minutes.
Flip the pancake and cook for another 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy.
Remove the pancake from the pan, slice into chunks and serve with the dipping sauce.

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Loaded Salad

February 7, 2022February 3, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

As with most salads this is a combination of ingredients rather than a recipe.

hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved
pan-fried halloumi cheese (see recipe for Pan-Fried Halloumi)
butter bean hummus (see recipe for Butter Bean Hummus)
rocket leaves
olive oil
lemon juice
sesame seeds

Arrange the halved eggs, halloumi slices and rocket leaves on a serving platter.
Spoon the hummus into a small mixing bowl and thin it down with equal amounts of olive oil and lemon juice. Taste as you go and adjust the consistency to your liking.
Dress the salad with the hummus dressing and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

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Flapjacks with Berry Sauce

February 4, 2022February 3, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Makes about 9 flapjacks

For the flapjacks:
62ml sugar
1 egg
125ml milk
15ml butter, melted
250ml flour
10ml baking powder
1ml salt

Add the sugar and egg to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat together until creamy.
Add about half the milk and the melted butter and beat to incorporate.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt and add it to the mixture with the engine running on low.
Gradually drizzle in the rest of the milk so that you are left with a smooth batter.
Place a frying pan on medium-high heat and add a dash of vegetable oil.
Drop spoonfuls of the batter in the pan and fry 1-2 minutes per side.

For the Berry Sauce:
350g frozen berries
62ml sugar
30ml lemon juice

Add the berries, sugar and lemon juice to a small saucepan and place it on a low heat.
Stir the mixture every now and then until the berries are defrosted and the sugar dissolved.
Take the saucepan from the heat and blitz the berry mixture with a stick blender until smooth.
Place the saucepan back onto the heat and bring to a simmer.
Turn the heat down to medium and cook the sauce for 4 minutes.
Decant the sauce into a jug and place in the refrigerator until needed.

Serve the warm flapjacks with the cold berry sauce.

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Pan-Fried Halloumi

February 3, 2022February 3, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Halloumi cheese, cut into 0,5cm slices
vegetable oil

Dressing:
2 red chillies, very finely chopped
20ml parsley, very finely chopped
15ml lemon juice
30ml olive oil
a pinch of salt

Add all the ingredients for the dressing to a small bowl and stir together. Put aside.

Place a heavy frying pan on medium to high heat and wait for it to become hot.
Add about a teaspoon of oil to the pan and give it a swirl.
Now lay the halloumi slices down in the pan without them touching.
Fry for about one and a half minutes before flipping and frying the other side. Do not move the cheese around when frying as you will lose the caramelisation and beautiful golden crust!
Keep going until all the cheese is fried.
Place the halloumi on a serving dish and spoon over the dressing while still hot.
Serve immediately.

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Butter Bean Hummus

February 1, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This is the creamiest hummus you will ever taste and I love it for its versatility!! Keep it in the refrigerator and use as a spread on crackers on sandwiches, as a dip with veg or thin it down and use it as a salad dressing.

1 x 400g can butter beans
30ml tahini
2 cloves garlic, minced
the juice of one lemon (30ml)
30ml olive oil
5ml salt

Add all the ingredients to a liquidiser and blitz together until completely smooth.

Store in the refrigerator.