The Recipe Room

I’ve always been a huge fan of beer, and it was probably one of the hardest things to give up when I first embarked on my gluten-free diet.  Luckily, these days it’s fairly easy to find gluten-free beer, and I’ve finally been able to add it back in to my diet (although I have to admit it wasn’t so lucky for my belly!).

Another of my all-time favourite foods is cheddar cheese, so I just knew that this beer and cheddar soup was going to turn into a new favourite even before I tried it.  It’s creamy and sweet, very satisfying, and frankly one of the most delicious soups I’ve ever tasted, if I do say so myself!  You can use strong cheddar if you prefer, but the mild cheddar seems to melt much better. Besides, the beer gives it plenty of kick anyway.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

For more creamy soups, have a go at this cream of asparagus soup, without the cream.

This Moroccan style aubergine and baked bell pepper salad is a veritable explosion of flavours and really shows just how versatile the humble aubergine can be!  When you mix the steamed aubergine with the rest of the ingredients, it tends to get a bit mashed and fall apart just a touch, which helps to spread the flavour of the spices throughout the whole dish.  The roasted peppers add a strong and pungent flavour to the salad, while the cumin seeds and chilli pepper flakes give it that authentic Middle-Eastern aroma.

Green peppers tend to take a bit longer than yellow and red ones to bake as their skin is a bit tougher, so you may need to leave them in the oven a bit longer in order to facilitate the removal of the skin.  The only bad thing about this salad is you really need to let it cool before serving, so you have to leave enough time in advance. (Also try this spinach and bell pepper potato salad.)

Another typical Mediterranean delight, this red cabbage and apple recipe is sure to knock your socks off if you’ve never had it or anything similar before!  You can find a lot of different variations of the dish if you travel around the Mediterranean countries, but the basic idea is always the same: very tender red cabbage mixed with a sweet fruit (I’ve used apples, but some people make it with raisins, oranges or apricots) and seasoned with some kind of aromatic spice, usually cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg.

The dish works well either as a salad to go along with your main meal, or as an appetiser.  I also find it makes a great topping for sausages or hot-dogs, something like a less vinegary coleslaw. Just be careful not to drop any of it on your clothes, especially white, as it does stain quite easily.  Speaking of the colour, if you find that the red cabbage starts to turn blue when you’re cooking it, it means you haven’t used enough vinegar, as this is necessary to keep the colour from leaking out.  If you think it’s already got enough vinegar, a little bit of lemon juice will also do the trick quite nicely. (Also try this cabbage and barley soup.)

One of the worst things about my gluten-free diet has got to be not being able to eat semolina pasta!  I used to eat it by the bucketful (maybe that was part of the problem!), and to be honest, I don’t really find any of the gluten-free alternatives to be nearly as satisfying.

However, I have found that if you take the time to make sure you’ve got a superbly delicious sauce to serve it with, it does help to make up for it.  This spicy corn pasta recipe is similar to a tagliatelle dish I used to enjoy eating when visiting southern Italy and is definitely one of my favourite, non-gluten pasta dishes. (Also try this prawn and courgette tagliatelli recipe.)

Rosti is a traditional Swiss dish consisting mainly of potatoes and was originally eaten for breakfast by farmers.  Somewhat similar to the more familiar hash browns, they are usually fried, although I prefer them baked.  These bacon and potato rosti are oven-baked and while I don’t think I’d want to eat them for breakfast very often, they make for a wonderfully satisfying snack or starter.

I like bacon, but you could also try this salmon and rosti bake. Or if you prefer to make them vegetarian-friendly, you can leave out the bacon or alternatively replace it with some cheddar cheese or even apple if you’re the adventurous type.

You Need:

• 450g potatoes, whole and with the skin left on
• 2.5tbsp olive oil
• 1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 4 rashers of back bacon, diced
• 1tbsp potato flour
• 1tbsp fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
• 1/2tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2tsp salt
• A few sprigs of fresh parsley or basil to decorate the plate.

Steps:

1.  Preheat the oven to 220ºC.
2. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
3. Parboil the potatoes in abundant, lightly-salted water for 6 minutes.
4. Drain and set aside to cool.
5. Once the potatoes have cooled enough to be handled, peel them and grate with a coarse cheese grater.
6. Set aside.
7. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan over low heat until it is hot but not smoking.
8. Add the chopped onion and bacon and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep them from sticking.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Add the bacon and onions to the grated potatoes along with the rest of the olive oil, potato flour, parsley, chives, salt and pepper.  Mix well.
11. Divide the mixture into eight small portions and press into patties using your hands.
12. Arrange the patties carefully on the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each patty.
13. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the rosti turn golden brown and crunchy.
14. Garnish with the sprigs of fresh parsley or basil and serve immediately.

Ready In:  45 minutes

Serves:  4

Difficulty:   3 out of 5

Mexican-style corn tortillas for making burritos, quesadillas or chicken fajitas.  They’re surprisingly easy to make and taste so much better than the store-bought variety!

You Need:

• 500g cornflour
• 250ml to 300ml warm (45°C) water

Steps:

1. Blend the cornflour and warm water with a food processor until a soft ball forms. Remove the dough from the food processor. You should be able to knead the dough in your hands without it sticking to your hands or falling apart. If it isn’t right, put the dough back in the food processor. If it is too sticky, blend in more flour, a tablespoon at a time; if it falls apart, add more warm water, a tablespoon at a time.
2. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and shape into balls. Cover tightly to prevent them from drying out.
3. Cut 24 pieces of baking paper, each about 7 inches square. Place one ball of dough between two pieces of baking paper, roll with a rolling pin to a 15cm diameter, and stack on a plate.  Don’t remove the paper.
4. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
5. To fry, heat a cast-iron frying pan over high heat until hot. Hold the tortilla in one hand and peel off the top layer of wax paper with the other hand (starting with side nearest your wrist) and pull the wax paper up toward the ceiling.
6. Carefully invert the tortilla onto the griddle. Wait 3 seconds and then peel off the remaining baking paper. (Do not leave the wax paper on the tortilla for longer than 3 seconds or it will permanently stick to the tortilla.)
7. Cook the tortilla about 2 minutes on each side until it looks dry and has golden flecks on it. Transfer the cooked tortilla to a plate to cool between clean sheets of baking paper.
8. Cook the remaining tortillas. These are best eaten right after they’re cooked, but if you have leftovers, let them cool, and refrigerate them between layers of parchment paper in a re-sealable plastic bag.
9. Reheat tortillas in the microwave on low 1 to 2 minutes.

Ready In:  45 minutes

Serves:  2-4

Difficulty:   4 out of 5

This home-made dried fruit and nut muesli makes a great breakfast cereal or can even just be eaten by hand as a snack.  It also works well for making a base or crispy topping for baked fruit desserts like this apple crisp recipe.  I like to put a handful or two in a small plastic bag or container and take it with me to snack on at work or in the car.

You Need:

DRY INGREDIENTS:

• 500g gluten-free rolled oats
• 250g unsweetened coconut flakes
• 65g sunflower seeds
• 60g almond slices
• 65g pumpkin seeds
• 60g walnuts or pecans
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt

LIQUID INGREDIENTS:

• 125ml honey
• 65ml very hot water
• 65ml canola oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS:

• 125g whole almonds
• 65g dried bananas
• 65g raisins
• 65g finely chopped dried apricots

Steps:

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 150ºC.
2. Line a baking sheet (not non-stick) with baking parchment paper or lightly coat it with cooking spray or canola oil.
3. Place the dry ingredients in a very large bowl and toss them well to thoroughly combine.
4. Combine the liquid ingredients in a small bowl and stir until the honey is dissolved.
5. Pour the liquid mixture over top of the dry ingredients and toss with a spatula to thoroughly combine. The mixture should be fairly wet.
6. Place the muesli on the prepared baking sheet and spread out to form a thin layer.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes and then stir. Bake another 15 minutes and stir again.
8. Continue baking in 10-minute increments until the muesli is browned to the desired degree. Keep a very close eye on it in the final stages as it can go from lightly browned to burnt in a matter of seconds!
9. Cool the muesli on the pan for 20 minutes on a wire rack.
10. Stir the dried fruits and nuts into the baked mixture.
11. The muesli will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Ready In:  60 minutes

Serves:  4-5

Difficulty:   2 out of 5

Artichokes are a wonderfully tasty vegetable that bring an authentic Mediterranean flavour to any dish, and this oven-baked artichoke dip is no exception!  As an added bonus, artichokes are known to have one of the highest antioxidant capacities of all vegetables, are diuretic and even help to reduce cholesterol!

This dip has a sweet roasted flavour and will be sure to impress your guests at your next dinner party.  Serve it in a bowl with a plate of fresh chopped veggies, savoury biscuits, crisps, or my rosemary focaccia recipe.  I guarantee the bowl will be empty long before the night is through!

You Need:

• 125ml fresh lemon juice
• 185ml extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 package (400g) frozen artichokes, thawed
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
• 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or soy alternative
• Additional salt and pepper to taste
• A selection of chopped mixed vegetables or crisps or biscuits for dipping.

Steps:

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 175ºC.
2. In a large, heavy frying pan, combine 6 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the garlic, salt, and pepper.  Mix well until the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
3. Add the artichokes to the lemon juice mixture and toss to coat them in the liquid.
4. Bring the mixture to boil, remove from heat, and transfer from the frying pan to an oven-proof dish.
5. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the artichokes are tender and lightly browned.
6. Remove from the oven and let cool.
7. Place the roasted artichokes in a food processor and add the rest of the lemon juice, the remaining oil, and the thyme, basil, and Parmesan cheese.
8. Process until thoroughly blended and smooth.
9. Taste the dip and add additional salt and pepper if required.
10. Serve immediately with some chopped veggies, crisps or savoury biscuits.

Ready In:  60 minutes

Serves:  8

Difficulty:   2 out of 5

These lemon blueberry muffins are mouth-wateringly delicious and make a great snack or only slightly decadent breakfast.  The crispy lemon and sugar topping is the icing on the cake, or in this case, the muffin!  If you manage to not eat them all in one sitting, they will keep in the refrigerator for up to ten days. (I would also recommend these raspberry and cinnamon muffins.)

You Need:

LIQUID INGREDIENTS

• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 185ml milk
• 125ml canola oil
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DRY INGREDIENTS

• 180g + 25g sorghum flour
• 180g + 20g cornflour
• 140g + 15g tapioca flour
• 150g granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 175g (1 cup) fresh blueberries, washed and patted dry

TOPPING

• Cooking spray
• 100g granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Steps:

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 190ºC.
2. Generously grease the cups of a standard 12-cup non-stick muffin pan, or line with paper liners coated with cooking spray.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs with an electric mixer on low speed until light yellow and frothy, about 30 seconds.
4. Add the milk, oil, lemon zest, and vanilla and beat just until blended.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients except the blueberries. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat the dry ingredients into the liquid ingredients until the batter is smooth and slightly thickened.
6. Gently stir in the blueberries.
7. Divide the batter evenly in the muffin pan.
8. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until the muffin tops are firm and the edges start to pull away from the pan.
9. Cool the muffins in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack.
10. Spray the tops with cooking spray.
11. Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine the sugar and lemon zest.
12. Dip each muffin top into the sugar mixture and let stand on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
13.  Serve warm.

Ready In:  60 minutes

Serves:  10-12

Difficulty:   3 out of 5

Although I suppose it’s not technically a pie as it doesn’t have any pastry, this cheese and potato pie recipe certainly looks quite a bit like a pie so I’m going to stick with the name.  It is baked in the oven like a pie and when you serve it cut into triangle shapes it also looks somewhat similar to a Spanish omelette, although the taste is quite different.  In France they make it with lean bacon and it’s called a truffade.  Whatever you want to call it, the result is very, very yummy and I can guarantee that everyone is going to want second or even third helpings so be sure you make plenty.

I’ve suggested using cheddar cheese in the recipe since it’s the easiest to find, but you can substitute any strong, hard cheese if you prefer.  The French usually use tomme cheese, but I don’t know where to get that here in the UK.  I’ve used Spanish manchego cheese on occasion and it tasted simply delightful.

You Need:

• 2tbsp sunflower oil
• 675g potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 300ml grated cheddar
• 1/2tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt
• Pepper

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC.
2. Grease a deep oven dish with a little of the sunflower oil.
3. Arrange a layer of potatoes along the bottom of the baking dish.
4. Season this layer of potatoes with the nutmeg, salt and pepper.
5. Coat with a bit of the sunflower oil.
6. Arrange a layer of sliced onions on top of the potatoes.
7. Sprinkle this layer with grated cheddar cheese.
8. Arrange another layer of potatoes (with salt, pepper and nutmeg), onions and cheese.
9. Keep adding layers until all the ingredients are used up.
10. Top off with a layer of cheddar cheese.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until it turns a dark golden-brown colour.
12. Let sit 5 minutes, loosely covered with a sheet of aluminium foil.
13. Serve with salad on the side.

Ready In:  60 minutes

Serves:  4-6

Difficulty:   2 out of 5