Edamame Hummus

Edamame Hummus

This spread or dip is packed with protein as edamame beans are green soy beans. Enjoy it on toast, crackers, as a dip or stirred into roasted veg.

250ml edamame beans, thawed
30ml tahini paste
30ml lemon juice
30ml olive oil
1,2ml salt
2 cloves of garlic, minced
30-60ml water

Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend for one minute.
Add the water a little at a time and keep blending until the hummus is smooth and creamy.
Taste the hummus and adjust the seasoning – often it needs a pinch of salt and some lemon juice.
Serve on crostini or crackers as a canapé or simply spread on toast.

Nut-Butter Hummus

Nut-Butter Hummus

If you dont like the slightly bitter aftertaste of tahini paste in hummus, this is the recipe for you. Made from macadamia nut-butter (any nut-butter is good) it produces a buttery, soft hummus with a delicious umami taste.

1 x 400g can chickpeas
60ml nut butter (I use the Babylonstoren Macadamia nut butter but you may use any variation that appeals to you)
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
30ml lemon juice
2,5ml salt

Drain the chickpeas and place in a liquidiser/cup of a stick blender.
Add the nut butter, garlic, lemon juice and salt.
Blitz together until smooth.
Serve as a dip with crispy vegetable sticks or simply slosh it onto a cracker or fresh slice of bread.
PS: I sprinkled sunflower and chia seeds on the hummus to add another layer of taste.

Tartare Sauce (and homemade mayonnaise)

Tartare Sauce (and homemade mayonnaise)

This is a delicious tartare sauce made from the easiest ever homemade mayonnaise!!

Mayonnaise:
250ml oil of your choice – I like a specific brand of olive oil but you may use any seed oil you like)
2 egg yolks
15ml English mustard
60ml lemon juice

Add the oil, yolks, mustard and lemon juice to a mixing bowl and blitz at high speed with a stick blender. Keep going until you have a thick and creamy sauce.
Season with salt.
You may keep the mayonnaise in a glass jar in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Tartare sauce:
250ml homemade mayonnaise
a handful of basil leaves
4 gherkins, chopped
15ml capers, chopped

Add the mayonnaise and basil leaves to a mixing bowl and blitz with a stick blender.
Add the chopped gherkins and capers and mix through.
Check the seasoning and serve with fish.

Warm Artichoke Dip/Spread

Warm Artichoke Dip/Spread

1 can/bottle water-packed artichoke hearts, drained
2 cloves garlic, crushed
45ml mayonnaise
250ml grated mature cheddar cheese
30ml lemon juice

Preheat your oven to 200℃.
Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process to mix, but be sure to keep some texture of the artichoke.
Season with salt and black pepper.
Spoon the mixture into a small ovenproof dish and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
Serve with vegetable sticks, freshly baked bread or crackers.

Caramelised Onions

Caramelised Onions

When onion is caramelised to perfection it has a rich flavour and makes a great accompaniment to cold meats, patés, terrines and even a base for savoury tarts. This recipe yields about 500ml of caramelised onions that will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

30ml butter
15ml vegetable oil
5 large onions, sliced
a pinch of salt
30ml brown sugar
45ml balsamic vinegar

Heat the butter and oil in a large frying pan over low heat.
Add the sliced onions and a generous pinch of salt and cook for 20 minutes. Stir the onions once or twice to prevent them from catching but not too often as it will prevent the caramelisation process.
Add the sugar and balsamic once the onions are soft and golden in colour.
Cook over a low heat for another 10-15 minutes.
Stir occasionally until the onions are sticky and caramelised.

Butter Bean Hummus

Butter Bean Hummus

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.