vegetarian meals – My Whisk and I

Cheesy Orzo

May 2, 2024April 24, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

300g orzo pasta
45ml olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
30ml thyme leaves, chopped
250ml cream
1 lemon, grated zest and juice
250ml grated parmesan cheese
40g pine kernels, toasted

Place a large saucepan over high heat, pour in a good quantity of water and add a teaspoon of salt.
Bring to a boil, add the orzo pasta and cook until al dente.
Place a large pan on medium-high heat and add the olive oil and onion to it.
Cook until the onion is translucent.
Add the garlic and thyme and stir-fry for one minute.
Pour in the cream, turn down the heat to medium and simmer until slightly reduced – 3 minutes or so.
Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and parmesan and stir through.
Now add the drained orzo to the sauce and simmer for another 2 minutes while stirring to coat the pasta with the sauce.
Spoon the orzo on to a serving dish and scatter the pine kernels over to serve.

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Parmesan Eggs

January 25, 2024January 20, 2024by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

6 eggs
30ml butter
salt, pepper, smoked sweet paprika
250ml grated parmesan cheese

Boil the eggs for 5 minutes, peel and half them.
Melt the butter in a pan set over medium heat and place the eggs cut-side down into the butter.
Season with salt, pepper and a generous amount of sweet paprika.
Cover the eggs with the grated parmesan and place a lid on the pan.
Cook just until the cheese has melted.
Serve immediately.

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Chickpea Salad

November 12, 2023October 15, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Dressing:
15ml wholegrain mustard
15ml red wine vinegar
45ml olive oil
30ml honey
a pinch of salt

2 x 400g tins of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 small red onion, finely chopped
200g feta cheese, cut into small cubes
1 large English cucumber, cut into small cubes
40g parsley, chopped

For the dressing:
Add the mustard and red wine vinegar to a small bowl.
Drizzle in the olive a little at a time while whisking. Keep going until the olive oil is incorporated.
Add the honey and a pinch of salt and whisk again. Set aside.

Add the chickpeas, chopped onion, feta, cucumber and parsley to a salad bowl and mix together.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and give it another good mix before serving.

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Open Vegetable Pie

September 11, 2023August 30, 2023by Karen Claassen1 Comment

350g sweet potato, cut into 1-1,5cm cubes
350g potato, cut into 1-1,5cm cubes
1 small cauliflower head, 350-400g, cut into florets
45ml olive oil
3 eggs
250ml cultured buttermilk
5ml salt
100g mature cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat your oven to 170℃ and spray a 20cm x 20cm baking dish with cooking spray.
Spread the cubed sweet potato, potato and cauliflower florets on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and roast in the oven until cooked but not mushy.
Set aside to cool.
Add the olive oil and eggs to a large jug and whisk together.
Pour in the buttermilk and salt and whisk until the mixture is amalgamated.
Add the grated cheese and stir through.
Place the pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it out to a square.
Line the prepared baking dish on the bottom and sides and trim the edges.
Spoon the cooled vegetables in the pastry shell and pour the buttermilk mixture over.
Bake in the oven for 40 minutes.
Serve as a side dish or as a vegetarian main with a salad.

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Potato-Cheese Pithivier

March 16, 2023March 14, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

600g potatoes, peeled and quartered60g butter
60ml olive oil
2 large onions, thinly sliced
1 clove of garlic, minced
10ml wholegrain mustard
45ml sour cream
1 egg
a handful of thyme leaves
150g feta cheese, crumbled
2 x 400g Today puff pastry
egg-wash: 1 yolk + 15ml water whisked together

Line a baking sheet with baking paper and set aside.
Boil the quartered potatoes, cool completely and crush roughly.
Heat the butter and oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
Add the onions, sprinkle with 2,5ml salt and cook for 30 minutes, stirring every now and then.
Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
Add the potato, onions, mustard, sour cream, egg, thyme and feta to a large mixing bowl.
Season with pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Cover the mixing bowl and refrigerate.

Unroll the pastry on a lightly floured work surface and roll slightly wider.
Cut one 25cm circle from one pastry sheet and place on a cutting board.
Refrigerate until ready to use.

Cut a 22cm circle from the second sheet of pastry and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Spoon the potato mixture on the pastry circle and form a nice even mound. Leave a 2 cm border.
Brush the border with egg-wash.
Lay the 25cm pastry circle over the mound and press the edges to seal. Trim off the excess pastry.
Cut a small hole in the centre of the top.
Score curved lines all over the top from the hole down to the edge, being careful not to cut all the way through.
Brush the pie all over with egg-wash and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 200℃.
Bake the pithivier for 40 minutes, until golden.
Slice into wedges and serve warm.

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Fresh Summer Tart

November 30, 2022November 29, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

1 x 400g pastry
5 eggs
185ml cream
100g baby spinach, chopped
250ml frozen peas
100g ricotta cheese
100g feta cheese, crumbed
80g rocket leaves
125g sugar snap peas
3 zucchini, shaved into ribbons

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and spray a 22cm loose-bottom cake tin with cooking spray.
Roll the pastry to a 3mm thickness and line the bottom and side of the cake tin. Set aside.
Add the eggs and cream to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
Add the chopped spinach, peas and cheeses and mix through. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour the mixture into the pastry case and bake for 30 minutes.
Cool the tart for 30 minutes.
Top the tart with the rocket leaves, sugar snaps and zucchini shavings.
Drizzle over some olive oil to serve.

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Enoki Quiche

October 24, 2022October 23, 2022by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

300g enoki mushrooms
45ml butter
1 packet puff pastry
4 eggs
250ml sour cream
250ml cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat your oven to 200℃ and spray a 23cm diameter loose-bottom pie tin with cooking spray.
Put a frying pan on medium-high heat and wait for it to warm up.
Add the butter, wait for it to melt and then add the mushrooms. Fry until golden.
Take the mushrooms from the heat and set aside.
Line the prepared pie tin with the pastry and prick the base all over with the tines of a fork.
Line the pastry case with baking paper and dry beans and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the beans and paper and bake the shell for another 8 minutes.
Remove from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 180℃.
Add the eggs and sour cream to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
Scatter the enoki mushrooms over the base of the pastry shell and pour the egg mixture over.
Sprinkle the cheese on top and bake the quiche for 40 minutes.
Serve warm (not hot!) with a salad on the side.

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Potato-Ricotta Bake

July 6, 2021June 20, 2021by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This potato dish is a quick weekday dinner for vegetarians or a substantial side dish to any meat. If you don’t have ricotta cheese on hand, get the recipe from this site and make your own. Yields 6 – 8 portions.

6 large potatoes
350g ricotta cheese
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 onion, finely chopped
a handful of chives, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
40g parmesan/pecorino cheese, grated

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and grease a 20cm X 28cm baking dish.

Peel the potatoes and boil them until just cooked.
Slice them into 1,5cm cubes and put aside.
Add the eggs to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
Add the chopped onion, chives, minced garlic and parmesan to the egg mixture and whisk together.
Now add the cubed potato and mix through.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes until golden.
Serve with a green salad.