side dishes and starters

caramelised fennel salad

~ aplotzi ~ 3 Comments

This salad is surprisingly delicious. Most salads have raw fennel in them, but roasting fennel makes it lose its liquoricey taste and it becomes a different but delicious salad ingredient, also it brings out the sweetness and it becomes quite tender and a bit crispy all at the same time. Great on its own (I like it with chips) and you can also serve it with fish, chicken or meat and you have a fab low carb meal. My friends really love it and make this a lot, plus it’s pretty healthy.

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slow roasted tomato with runny eggs brunch

~ aplotzi ~ 2 Comments

This recipe is my favourite brunch. I love the combo of crunchy and creamy and sweet and savoury. But more interestingly,  rosemary is, according to the centenarians in the Italian town of Acciaroli, the secret to a long life. They should know, they have 300 of them out of a population of 2000.

For 2.

Ingredients:
250g of baby plum tomatoes
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons maple syrup
A small sprig of Rosemary
A small sprig of parsley very finely chopped
3 eggs
2 slices of sourdough bread
Salt and pepper to taste

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halloumi saganaki

~ aplotzi ~ 2 Comments

Hello all halloumi and cheese fans. This recipe from Rick Stein is crispy and crunchy with my favourite sweet and savoury combo. Ready in about 10 minutes. It is a great starter served with a Greek tomato salad.

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caponata

~ aplotzi ~ 2 Comments

Like pesto, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when I first tried caponata. It’s the most delicious Italian aubergine stew that’s served at room temperature. It’s great with antipasti, on bread or as part of a salad. You could even leave it hot and serve it on pasta with lots of Parmesan. Even nicer the next day after its cooked.

Serves 2-3.

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons maple syrup or sugar
5 tablespoons olive oil
A few aubergines cut into 1 inch chunks
1 medium onion finely cubed
4 garlic cloves minced
1 400g tin of chopped plum tomatoes
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
2 tablespoons of baby capers
A handful of pine nuts
A handful of chopped basil

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japanese fine beans

~ aplotzi ~ 2 Comments

These delicious peanutty fine beans were part of a sushi meal I had at a Japanese restaurant in Spitalfields. They went so well with the sushi and were the highlight of the meal, so I have try to guess what the sauce was, and after a few attempts I think I’ve nailed it and think it’s just as delicious. It’s an easy recipe and the sweet and savoury sauce is sublime…and makes an excellent side dish..do try it.

Serves 2-3.

Ingredients:
200g approx of fine beans topped and tailed
1 heaped tablespoon of peanut butter
1 teaspoon of soya sauce
1 teaspoon of maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil
1/4 garlic clove chopped
1/4 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger

japanesefinebeans_ingredients
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tomato bruschetta with garlic paste

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This bruschetta is Italian meets Lebanese (like us). A traditional tomato bruschetta perked up with a Lebanese garlic paste called Toum. This is a fantastic starter or snack for garlic fans.

Serves 4.

Ingredients:
4 thick slices of sourdough bread
2 heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced
5 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup of light olive oil
1 teaspoon of salt
Pepper to taste
Micro leeks or cress for decoration (optional)

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blood orange and radish salad with pistachios

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A really easy salad that can be made in minutes and looks really pretty, and tastes divine.

Serves 2-4.

Ingredients:
4 oranges (blood oranges if available), peel, pips and pith removed, cut into thin slices
A bunch of mint finely chopped
A large handful of pistachios roughly chopped
A bunch of radishes, washed and shaved into thin slices
Some salad leaves (optional)

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carrot salad with orange flower water

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Yes I am obsessed with carrots. Here’s another carrot salad recipe, just in case you are also a carrot person. Fragrant, fresh and delicious, this salad will transport you straight to Marrakesh

Serves 4 as a starter.

Ingredients:
500g carrots, peeled and grated
2 large juicy oranges or 4 clementines
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons of orange flower water
Juice of 1 orange
3 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

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salade de tomates

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I always had this as a child, my parents lived in Paris when they were young, and came back with lots of recipes, so french food is comfort food to me. This is very nice with just crusty bread, or as a side dish to a risotto or pizzetta.

Serves 2.

Ingredients:
300g approx. of large-ish tomatoes
1 small red onion, very finely chopped
Small bunch of basil, finely chopped
Small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon sherry or white wine vinegar
1-2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 crushed clove of garlic (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

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