keto – Page 2 – My Whisk and I

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.

Uncategorized

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.

Uncategorized

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.

Uncategorized

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.

Uncategorized

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.

Uncategorized

Chicken Salad

January 27, 2022January 25, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

More of an idea than a recipe but absolutely fabulous and delicious!!

Dressing:
45ml olive oil
15ml grape vinegar
2,5ml mustard
15ml honey
a pinch of salt

Per portion/person:
1 fresh mango, peeled and sliced
1 smoked chicken breast, sliced
a handful of rocket leaves

Mix all the ingredients for the dressing together and whisk until amalgamated.
Dress the rocket leaves with half the dressing and set aside.

Layer the salad by arranging the mango slices on a plate, the chicken slices on top of that and finally top it with the rocket leaves.
Drizzle with some of the remaining dressing and serve.

Uncategorized

Gazpacho

January 25, 2022January 25, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This is a delicious cold soup for warm summer days. Spice it up by adding a chilli or two or add a handful of freshly chopped basil leaves. Feeds 4-6 adults.

1 large English cucumber, diced
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
8 fresh tomatoes, diced
30ml olive oil
60ml grape vinegar
salt and pepper
fresh chilli or basil leaves, to serve

Dice the vegetables and add it to a large mixing bowl.
Add the garlic, olive oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
Scoop half the mixture into a liquidiser and blitz.
Pour the liquid back into the mixing bowl and mix through with the diced vegetables.
Refrigerate the soup for at least 2 hours so that the flavours can develop.
Serve the soup with a few ice cubes and chopped chilli or basil leaves.

Uncategorized

Mediterranean Prawns

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This recipe is proof once more of how the simplest ingredients often produces the best taste. Serve the prawns on fragrant rice or with your favourite pasta.

50g butter
15ml olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2kg prawns, peeled and de-veined
2 cans chopped tomato
30ml sugar
15ml salt
a handful of fresh thyme
two handfuls of fresh basil, roughly chopped

Put a large saucepan on to a high heat and add the butter and olive oil.
Add the garlic once the butter has melted and stir around for a minute.
Add the prawns and cook for 2-3 minutes until pink and done.
Remove the prawns from the saucepan and keep on the side.
Add the canned tomato, sugar, salt and thyme to the same saucepan, turn the heat down to medium and cook for 15 minutes.
Pour the sauce into a liquidiser and blitz until smooth. (You can use a stick blender as well)
Pour the sauce back into the saucepan and add the cooked prawns.
Simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add the chopped basil.
Serve the prawns with fragrant rice.

Uncategorized

Quinoa Peach Salad

January 17, 2022January 13, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This salad is literally a complete protein meal, can be made in advance (only get better) and is fabulous for picnics or lunch boxes!

250ml uncooked quinoa
250ml pickled sweet peppers (store bought or homemade)
125ml feta cheese, crumbed
5 peaches, cubed
2 handful of basil leaves, chopped

Cook the quinoa according to the packet instructions and allow to cool completely.
Dice the sweet peppers, feta and peaches and chop the basil leaves.
Mix everything together.
Drizzle the pickling liquid from the sweet pepper over the salad or make the Lemon Dressing (search on this blog)

Serve as a side or a complete meal.

Uncategorized

Chocolate Pistachio Thumbprints

January 6, 2022January 5, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

125g butter
160ml sugar
1 egg, separated
30ml milk
5ml vanilla
250ml flour
83ml cocoa powder, sifted
1,2ml salt
250ml pistachio, finely chopped
80g nut butter chocolate, chopped
15ml cocoa butter

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and cream together.
Add the egg yolk, milk and vanilla and mix together.
Stir in the flour, cocoa powder and salt until combined.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Add the egg white to a small bowl and whisk until frothy.
Chop the pistachio finely (I do mine in a food processor) and place it in a shallow bowl.
Scoop up about 15ml of dough and roll it into small balls.
Now roll each ball in the egg white and then in the chopped pistachio.
Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet.
Use the back of a 2,5ml measuring spoon to make an indentation in the centre of each dough ball.
Bake the biscuits for 12 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately re-press the indentations you made. Set aside to cool completely.
Add the chocolate and cocoa butter to a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water and allow to melt.
Stir every now and then until smooth and glossy.
Remove from the heat and stand the bowl for about 30 minutes.
Spoon the chocolate into the indent in each biscuit and set aside to allow the chocolate to set – preferably overnight.
Makes about 25 biscuits.