gluten free and vegan spimach and zucchini quiche

Vegan Spinach Quiche (Glutenfree)

This vegan & glutenfree spinach quiche will have you asking for more! Succulent, creamy and also yet crunchy, you wouldn’t know that neither eggs nor cream were needed to make it.

Vegan Quiche?

A tasty vegan quiche! Is that really possible? Yes it is! Enjoy the magic of chickpea flour, vegetable stock, oat milk, tahini and turmeric to create a magic ‘Vegan Royale’ that will have you begging for more. Freshly cooked spinach and zucchini (courgette), steamed with shallots, garlic and fine spices will do the rest. And to top of it all off: it’s really easy to make! What’s not to like!

Can you make quiche with glutenfree flour?

The question is: can you make a good short-crust pastry with gluten-free flour? The answer is: yes you can! I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1:1 Baking Flour. Try and buy a good quality gluten-free flour mix, rather than a single blend, as these work best. Blends made out of rice-, potato- and tapioca usually work well. But feel free to experiment with a gluten-free flour mix that works best for you. I always create the best recipes when I let my gut lead the way and try out new things (and deviate away from strictly following a recipe).

ayurveda

Feeling Vata: This quiche has exactly the right mix of ingredients balancing sensitive Vata types. I myself experience bloating and gas from eating chickpeas, however this has never been the case with chickpea flour or blended chickpeas in dips such as hummus. The finished quiche has nice warm and soft qualities, great for balancing Vata.

Feeling Pitta:  I believe that all leafy greens are good for Pitta, including spinach. However, opinions can deviate. Cooking the spinach breaks down oxalic acid which can be drying and heating to the digestive tract. If you worry about your Pitta you can buy baby leaf spinach which is milder and has less of these properties.

Feeling Kapha:  Starchy flours such as rice and potatoe are usually a bit heavy for Kapha. Luckily the short-crust base of this recipe is really thinly layed out, however mixed in with the olive oil this can be a bit heavy for Kapha types. For a more balanced version simply leave out the crust completly. Make an extra half of the ‘vegan-royale’ and simply fill out the whole quiche-form with vegan royale & the vegetable mix. Leaving out the short crust pastry completly. Voila! A Kapha friendly quiche-dish with hardly any fats.

Healing Recipe

Vegan Spinach Quiche – Glutenfree

gluten free and vegan spimach and zucchini quiche

Vegan Spinach Quiche (Glutenfree)

A fresh and light vegan version of a vegetable quiche. Creamy spinach and zucchini make for y a yummy and delightful glutenfree quiche, you will never want to go back to eggs and wheat.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

FOR THE SHORT-CRUST PASTRY

  • 2 1/2 cups glutenfree flour mix (I use Bob's Red Mill glutenfree 1:1 baking flour)
  • 1/3 cup oat milk or water (I use Oatly's organic oat milk)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt

FOR THE FILLING

  • 300 g fresh spinach
  • 1 medium-large zucchini (courgette) chopped in small quarters
  • 3 shallots finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 medium-sized white onions finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 tsbp olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoons nutmeg

FOR THE 'VEGAN ROYALE'

  • 2 cups chickpea flour
  • 130 ml water
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable stock (buy a good brand that doesn't add any sugars or hidden flavourings such as dextrose or maltodextrin)
  • 2 tbsp oats
  • 1 teaspoons arrowroot powder
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tbsp tahin
  • 1 teaspoons turmeric (dried)

TO DECORATE & FOR SERVING

  • 2 medium tomatoes sliced
  • 1 bunch parsley

Instructions
 

Shortcrust Pastry Preparation
  • Add the glutenfree flour and the salt to a medium sized bowl. Add the oat milk and mix the dough with your fingers.
  • Add the olive oil to the flour and quickly work everything into a smooth dough.
  • If the dough is still too crumbly, add a few tablespoons of water, one at a time, to reach desired consistency.
  • Wrap the dough in cling film, let it rest briefly and then let it rest in the fridge for another hour.
Filling Preparation
  • Roughly chop the spinach.
  • Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the shallotts, the onions and the garlic.
  • Add the rosemary and thyme.
  • Stir in the spinach and zucchini and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
  • Fry all on medium heat in the pan, until the zucchini is starting to cook through.
'Vegan Royale' Preparation
  • For the vegan royale add the chickpea flour and all other vegan royale ingredients to a mixer and blend until smooth.
Putting it all together
  • Take the dough out of the fridge and roll it out to a thickness of about 5 mm on a a floured work surface.
  • Brush a quiche or casserole dish with olive oil.
  • Carefully place the dough into the quiche or casserole dish, pressing down gently with your fingers to evenly distribute the dough.
  • Add the spinach filling onto the dough and distribute evenly.
  • Take the 'vegan royale' and add it on top of the spinach filling, patting down with a spoon to evenly distribute. You want the spinach together with the 'vegan royale' to fill out the complete quiche dish, getting the dough evenly into all the edges.
  • Now decorate the top of your unbaked quiche with the sliced ​​tomatoes.
  • Bake the quiche in a preheated oven at 180 C for 35 – 40 minutes.
  • To serve, portion the quiche and place on plates. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. A nice coleslaw or lamb's lettuce salad with walnuts goes well with this.
Keyword glutenfree, quiche, spinach, Vegan, zucchini

Bieler's Broth: Liver Cleansing soup in a white mug

Bieler’s Broth: Liver Cleansing & Kidney Calming

What is Bieler’s Broth?

Today I like to share an incredibly healing and very easily digestable soup recipe with you called ‘Bieler’s Broth’. This very nourishing and healing ‘Bieler’s broth’ is superb for cleansing the liver whilst also being very soothing for the kidneys.

First of all it’s name comes from a doctor named Bieler who inveted the soup in order to restore an acid-alkaline and sodium-potassium balance to organs and glands. Especially the sodium-loving adrenal glands which often suffer severly under stress.

The soup is vegan and all vegetable-based. It is not a culinary soup, so it can be a little bland for people who are used to flavourful spicings of their soups. However, it’s tasty enough that you can eat it a few days in a row and thus is super suitable for cleanses and detox diets.

The broth is also very supportive for liver function — remember that the liver is our detoxifying organ.

Bieler’s broth contains zucchini and string beans, which are rich sources of organic potassium and sodium. The liver uses those elements to clean and revitalize the body. Occasionally, when you’re sick, the best thing to do is not eat and let the body heal. Digestion takes a lot of energy.  Instead, drink Dr. Bieler’s healing broth recipe for energy, weight loss, and cleansing.

Background: Dr. Bieler would take a detailed study of his patients’ endocrine glands. This includes the adrenal glands, pituitary gland and the thyroid gland. Dr. Bieler would then prescribe a limited diet, or even a fast on Bieler’s broth. The vegetables were cooked and easy to digest, full of vitamins and restore such elements as potassium and sodium to our glands. Dr. Bieler was particularly interested in restoring the liver.

What else ?

Dr. Bieler believed that most folks eat excessive amounts of proteins. He said that milk and eggs lose their nutritional value after being pasteurized/cooked, and that meat cooked to temperature above rare becomes hard to digest. According to him, salt is a stimulant providing only a temporary sensation of well-being, and over consumption is detrimental to health. The best way to obtain necessary sodium is from plants (vegetables), not addition of salt. He gave a number of examples of disease-free cultures that do not have access to salt.

ayurveda

Feeling Vata: This soup might be a little light for you, sensitive Vata, as there’s no oils or added fats in this detox recipe. However if you’re on a cleanse and if not eaten for longer periods than 3 days, this soup can work well for you on a detox or cleanse if the overall detox programm is well thought out and stabilising to your system.

Feeling Pitta:  This soup works really well for you, go for it!

Feeling Kapha:  Perfect soup for a kapha cleanse, go for it!

Healing Recipe

Bieler’s Broth: Liver Cleansing & Kidney Calming Soup

Bieler's Broth: Liver Cleansing green soup in a glass jar

Bieler’s Broth: Liver Cleansing & Kidney Calming Soup

The soup is vegan and all vegetable-based. It is not a culinary soup, so it can be a little bland for people who are used to flavourful spicing of their soups. However, it’s tasty enough that you can eat it a few days in a row and thus super suitable for cleanses and detox diets.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Cleansing
Servings 4 person

Ingredients
  

  • 4 medium zuchinis
  • 450 g string beans
  • 2 stalks cellery chopped
  • 1 bunch parsley chopped
  • 4 cups water

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a large pot and bring to the boil. Skim any foam off the surface.
  • Lower the heat and simmer, covered.
  • Cook the vegetables until the are tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Take off the heat and then puree the soup in the pot with a hand-held blender.
  • Serve warm, sprinkled with a little bit of fresh parsley on top if you like.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

You can experiment by adding fresh kale(or other fresh, leafy greens of your choice) to your soup. For this, chop some kale and add it into the soup towards the end of your cooking time.
Keyword adrenal healing, adrenals, ayurveda, bielers, broth, detox, dosha, Liver healing, Liver-Cleansing, simple, Soup, Vegan


fresh vegetable lentil soup with plenty of lentils and greens in a white ceramic bowl

Granny’s Hearty Lentil Soup (Vegan Style)

Why Lentil Soup?

This very hearty lentil soup is straight out of my granny’s recipe book. It’s vegan, it’s tasty, it’s healthy!

From an ayurvedic perspective, legumes are essential for a healthy lifestyle and diet. Rich in protein, complex carbs and nutrients, they are a staple in any ayurvedic diet. Lentils can be included in many different recipes such as soups, salads, and even home-made veggie burgers. They also provide you with healthy energy, fiber and can reduce cholesterol. This very hearty and warming lentil soup is straight out of my grandma’s recipe book. Yes, back in the day my granny would be adding meat and butter to this recipe. So I’ve amended it to give you the updated, modern day vegan version. There’s dosha tipps & amendments suitable for your body type as always included in the sections below. Amend this dish suiting your type and I am certain it’ll soon become one of your favourite kitchen staples! Enjoy!

What about digestion ?

You have probably experienced that lentils & beans can cause the odd bout of gas (or bloating). This is why lentils (or beans) are also called the ‘musical fruit’. This is due to the naturally occuring saponins which lentils have to protect themselves against insects. Saponins form the sudsy foam on the surface of a cooking pot of beans. They prevent protein digestion resulting in stagnation and gas of the bowels. Brown lentils are slightly more difficult to digest for some (rather than red lentils or yellow lentils which are slightly easier to digest). Brown lentils are best for Pitta and Kapha. However, due to their drying quality, they may aggravate an already dry Vata dosha.

Cooking Tips to Improve Digestion

Cooking lentils with oil and digestive herbs will help improve their digestibility. Soak the lentils at least for 6 hours or overnight (as a rule of thumb you should do this with all types of lentils). Yellow mung dal and red lentils require the least amount of soaking (with only a minimum of 1 hour before cooking). Don’t add salt until after lentils are completely cooked. By adding salt at the beginning of the cooking process it will make the outside hard, increasing the cooking time. Also ensure that the lentils are completely cooked. If they are not cooked fully they may stress the digestive system. Always eat pulses with plenty of culinary herbs and spices to help digest them, for example asafoetida, ajwain and fennel. Others such as cumin, coriander and fresh ginger can also also help.

ayurveda

Feeling Vata: Brown lentils can be a little tricky for you to digest, cause bloating and gas and canmake a very dry Vata even drier. If you know that this is you, then you can replace the brown lentils in this recipe with red lentils. I, for example, am a Vata/Pitta type and and can tolerate brown lentils in moderation. Always ensure you soak your lentils at least for 6 hours.

Feeling Pitta:  This soup works really well for you, go for it!

Feeling Kapha:  This is a good meail for you. You can try adding more black pepper, some caynenne, or other warming spice such cumin, ginger, and turmeric. Adding these spices to your cooking can invigorate a sluggish kapha digestion.

Healing Recipe

Granny’s Hearty Lentil Soup

fresh vegetable lentil soup with plenty of lentils and greens in a white ceramic bowl

Granny’s Hearty Lentil Soup (Vegan Style)

This very hearty lentil soup is straight out of my granny's recipe book. It's vegan, it's tasty, it's healthy! Yes, back in the day my granny would be adding meat and butter to this recipe. So I've amended it to give you the updated, modern day vegan version. There's dosha tipps & amendments suitable for your body type as always included in the sections below. Amend this dish suiting your type and I am certain it'll soon become one of your favourite kitchen staples! Enjoy!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 8 medium potatoes diced
  • 1.5 Litres stock ensure you use stock or stock cubes that are pure and with good quality organic herbs only. Avoid stock that has maltodextrin, sugars or extra fats added (no fats needed in a good stock powder). Also avoid all types of flavourings (natural and un-natural) as these are usually just cover-ups for different types of MSG.
  • 250 gramm brown lentils
  • 1 leek chopped
  • 1 bunch parsley chopped
  • 8 medium carrots chopped

Instructions
 

  • Add the potatoes and the chopped carrots to large cooking pot and cover in the stock and start cooking on medium heat.
  • Put the lentils in a seperate pot, cover with water (rule: 3 cups of water to 1 cup of lentils), and bring to the boil.
  • Once the lentils have boiled, reduce to medium heat and simmer for around 30 minutes until the lentils are cooked.
  • Once the carrots and potatoes are cooked, add the leeks and keep simmering on low to medium heat.
  • Once lentils are cooked, drain them off the cooking water and add them to the potato, leek and carrots mix.
  • Add the chopped parsley to the pot and simmer everything for another 5 minutes.
  • Season with salt & pepper and serve in warm bowls.
  • Enjoy!
Keyword ayurveda, dosha, grannys, healthy, hearty, lentils, Soup, stew, winterwarmer


ginger and apple puree in glass jars displayed with apples

Apple & Ginger Puree – Adrenal Healing Snack

Lovely Apple Puree with a Sweet Kick

Do you like apple puree but thought it could do with a bit of a re-vamp? Then here it is! This apple puree comes with a special warming ginger kick plus deliciously added sweetness from some succulent dried medjool dates. A super healthy go-to-snack when you need that little pick me up but don’t want to grab that naughty chocolate bar. Apple puree is also a great winter-warming snack for your kids or delicious as an after dinner or lunch dessert that won’t leave you feeling guilty.

Adrenal Healing ?

This Apple Puree is not only delicious it’s also good for your Adrenals & Your happy Hormones

The combination of ingredients in this puree delivers the right balance of glucose (apple), sodium (celery) and potassium (date) that your body needs in order to prevent blood sugar dips that force your adrenals to fill in and release adrenaline. Eating the right kind of snacks every few hours helps to restore your adrenals and brings your stress hormones back into balance. Click here for more info on adrenal snacks and adrenal health.

Dates are not only packed with potassium. Dates also contain phyto-hormones that resemble oxytocin, the ‘tend and befriend hormone’. Chewing dates slowly can thus calm you down and cheer you up in stressful situations. Date sugars also contain more complex carbohydrates than other fruits. These complex carbohydrates take longer to digest. Because of this they release their energy more slowly into your body and curb your appetite longer than simple sugars.

ayurveda

Feeling Vata: This is a very good snack for you, feel free to eat it a few times during the day. Especially if you are very Vata or if you’re adrenals are exhausted (adrenal fatigue, etc.). If you feel very Vata you can omit the celery and replace with half a sweet potatoe (cooked). Soak your dates before cooking.

Feeling Pitta:  This snack works well for you. Leave it as it is, but ensure the apple is sweet and not sour and the dates have been soaked prior to using

Feeling Kapha: Dates can aggravate an already heavy Kapha. Simply make this recipe without the dates.

Healing Recipe

Apple & Ginger Puree – Adrenal Healing Snack

ginger and apple puree in glass jars displayed with apples

Apple & Ginger Puree – Adrenal Healing Snack

Do you like apple puree but thought it could do with a bit of a re-vamp? Then here it is! This apple puree comes with a warming ginger kick and a very delicious sweetness from the added dates. A super healthy go-to-snack when you need that little pick me up but don’t want to grab that naughty chocolate bar. Apple puree is also a great winter-warming snack for your kids or delicious as an after dinner or lunch dessert that won’t leave you feeling guilty.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium apple chopped
  • 1 thumb size knob of fresh ginger chopped
  • 2 medium dates chopped
  • half a teapsoon of cinnamon optional
  • half a stalk of celery chopped
  • 1 tsbp of maple syrup optional
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Add the chopped apple to a heavy bottom sauce-pan and turn to medium to high heat. Add one or two tablespoons of water and start cooking.
  • Add the chopped dates.
  • Add the chopped celery stalk.
  • Cook on medium to high heat with a lid on between 10 – 15 minutes until the apples are well cooked and a bit mushy.
  • Once cooked turn off the heat and let cool down for a few minutes.
  • Add the apples, dates & celery mix to a high-speed blender. Add the chopped ginger.
  • Add the lemon juice.
  • Blend on high-speed until you have a creamy mix.
  • Optional: add a spoonful of maple syrup for some added sweetness.
  • Optional: add half a teaspoon of cinammon.

Notes

Store in an air-tight glass jar. Keeps in the fridge for a few days. 
Keyword apple, celery, dates, dessert, ginger, puree, snack, sweets

turmeric apple and banana porridge

Simple Apple & Banana Turmeric Porridge

Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast

This simple apple and banana porridge infused with turmeric provides a super healthy and anti-inflammatory breakfast to kick-start your day.

Why Turmeric?

TURMERIC is a POWERHOUSE, a plant with amazing healing and anti-inflammatory properties, and is one of the most powerful herbs on the planet today to help us humans shield from inflammation, prevent disease, and to keep our bodies strong and healthy. For a full article on what turmeric is and what it does, read on here. Turmeric is also well digested and tolerated by all three doshas. It can sometimes aggravate a very high Pitta, but you would have to take very high dosages for this to happen and a teaspoon like suggested in this recipe should be more than fine.

Why Porridge ?

Porridge is a very nourishing staple breakfast for people with sensitive bellies

A warm porridge in the morning can be a very healing and warming food, especially for people with food sensitivities. Porridge has become a staple in my breakfast repertoire and since consuming it regularly in the mornings, with a teaspoon of added linseeds, it has really improved my digestive issues. It sets me up nicely for the day, especially in autumn and winter times: it gives you this super-nice; cosy and warm feeling in your belly. Especially for Vata types what’s not to like! This porridge is also flavoured with yummy cinnamon. Cinnamon is well torleated by all three doashas, stabilizes blood sugar, reduces blood pressure and its prebiotic properties may improve gut health. For more info on Cinnamon’s benefits click here.

Always opt for Gluten-Free Porridge

I recommend always opting for gluten-free porridge oats. Oats can be cross-contaminated with gluten from the sites that they’re being processed at and only oats that especially state that they are gluten-free can claim to be free of this cross-contamination. I myself do not consume any gluten at all, as I believe gluten is a very triggering substance for most human beings today. I also have very sensitive digestion and food allergies and after swapping my standard porridge oats for gluten-free porridge oats, I realised that I could suddenly handle oats well, whereas this wasn’t the case before.

However in the rare case that you do not tolerate oats well, even when they’re gluten-free, try and opt for millet instead. You can simply cook the recipe below and use millet instead of oats. Or if you don’t tolerate millet either, chose a breakfast grain that you know you do tolerate well, as long as you make sure that it’s gluten free. For more info on gluten and other triggering foods read on here.

ayurveda

Feeling Vata: You can play around with other fruits for this porridge if you like, Vata does well on most sweet fruits. If you want to add dried fruits ensure you soak these overnight. For very ‘dry’ Vatas it can be a good idea to add a little linseed oil on top of your porridge when serving (not during cooking).

Feeling Pitta: Ensure the bananas are very ripe and sweet, if not you can replace the banana with sweet pears instead. Generally avoid any sour fruits. If worried about your Pitta being too high opt for half a teaspoon of turmeric or leave out completly.

Feeling Kapha: Oats are usually too heavy and can make a Kapha feel sluggish and tired. Replace the oats in this recipe with millet, buckwheat flakes or quinoa (amaranth can also be ok in moderation). You can replace the banana with pears.

Healing Recipe

Simple Apple & Banana Turmeric Porridge

turmeric apple and banana porridge

Simple Apple & Banana Turmeric Porridge

A warm porridge in the morning can be a very healing and warming food, especially for people with food sensitivities. Porridge has become a staple in my breakfast repertoire and since consuming it regularly in the mornings, with a teaspoon of added linseeds, it has really improved my digestive issues. It sets me up nicely for the day, especially in autumn and winter times: it gives you this super-nice; cosy and warm feeling in your belly. Especially for Vata types what's not to like! This porridge is also flavoured with yummy cinnamon. Cinnamon is well torleated by all three doashas, stabilizes blood sugar, reduces blood pressure and its prebiotic properties may improve gut health
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Breakfast
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium banana chopped
  • 1 medium apple diced
  • 5 tbsp porridge oats gluten-free and soaked overnight
  • 1 tsp brown or golden linseeds (skip if doing a cleanse) soaked overnight
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder, ground
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamom optional

Instructions
 

  • Add the porridge oats and the linseeds (if using) to a heavy bottom sauce-pan and cover in water (just enough water to have everything just about covered)
  • Start cooking on medium heat, stirring frequently.
  • Add the chopped apple and banana.
  • Add the turmeric and the cinnamon (if using).
  • Add a pinch of salt and keep cooking for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring frequently, and until the apples are well cooked through.
  • Cook until you have reached a nice, creamy consistency. Add a bit more water at the time if the mix starts getting to dry and sticks to the bottom.
  • Take off the heat and serve.

Notes

You can sprinkle with some cinnamon and add maple or date syrup when serving to sweeten it up a bit. If not on a cleanse you can also sprinkle with nuts or seeds or try roasted coconut chips. 
Keyword apple, banana, porridge, turmeric


Beetroot Borscht

Vegan Borscht: Anti-Inflammatory & Liver Protecting

Vegan Borscht

This modern, vegan version of a traditional classic borscht is super flavourful, warming and brimming with anti-inflammatory properties.

What is Borscht?

Borscht! Borscht! Borscht! What’s not to like about this so very flavourful, earthy and deeply fullfilling spectactle of a soup? Traditionally made with beetroot, potatoes and some form of beef stock, borscht is a classic kitchen recipe associated with the cuisine of eastern and central Europe (especially Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine). Here we will cook a delicious vegan version of this all-time hearty favourite.

What is beetroot food for?

Beetroot is good for the liver:

They contain antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, and iron. These compounds help protect the liver from inflammation and oxidative stress while enhancing its ability to remove toxins from the body. Beets’ juice has traditionally been used as a remedy to activate liver enzymes and to increase bile, which helps the liver’s detox function. They are also high in compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation, protect against oxidative stress and reduce the risk of liver damage.

Beets can reduce inflammation:

Their juice contains anti-inflammatory compounds called betalains. Many studies have shown that betalains help modulate inflammatory reactions, especially in inflammatory diseases. Beetroots therefor make a great choice for people with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia.

Beetroots can help reduce blood pressure:

Beets naturally contain large quantities of nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide. This compound dilates the blood vessels, which improves blood flow and lowers overall blood pressure.

Beets can help prevent anemia:

Beetroots are also rich in iron, an essential component of red blood cells. Without iron, red blood cells cannot transport oxygen around the body. People who have low iron levels can sometimes develop a condition called iron deficiency anemia. Adding sources of iron to the diet can reduce the risk of this condition.

ayurveda

Feeling Vata: This soup is great for you. Packed full of root vegetables to ground lofty Vata especially during winter times or whenever you feel a little out of sorts. Cabbage can be ok for Vata if cooked and not eaten too often, however if you know that cabbage gets you really gassy, then you can leave out the cabbage and cook the soup without it.

Feeling Pitta: Beetroots pacify pitta so this is a very good soup for you. If you’re feeling very Pitta leave out the garlic. Ensure you use the white and not the red onion as red onions can aggravate pitta.

Feeling Kapha: As this soup is full of root vegetables which can aggravate an already heavy Kapha, this is not the best soup for you to enjoy when your Kapha is high. A healing mung bean soup is much more pacifying for your dosha and easier for you to digest, leaving you feeling less heavy. However if you do want to enjoy a bit of beetroot goodness, than use much less of the beetroots and carrots and use more of the cabbage (can also be substituted with white cabbage). Use very little or no salt but you can add more black pepper and more of the lemon juice.

Healing Recipe

Liver Protecting & Anti-Inflammatory Beetroot Borscht

Liver Protecting & Anti-Inflammatory Beetroot Borscht

Beetroot Borscht

Borscht! Borscht! Borscht! What’s not to like about this so very flavourful, earthy and deeply fullfilling spectactle of a soup? Traditionally made with beetroot, potatoes and some form of beef stock, borscht is a classic kitchen recipe associated with the cuisine of eastern and central Europe, especially Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine. Here we will cook a delicious vegan version of this all-time hearty favourite, that’s also very good for your health!

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped finely
  • 1 medium white or red onion
  • 6 beetroots, diced cooked (I use the pre-cooked ones from the supermarket)
  • 1 small piece of celeriac diced
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 4 large potatoes diced
  • 700 gr red cabbage sliced into fine strips
  • 1 tsp black caraway ground in pestle and mortar
  • 4 carrots sliced
  • 2 bayleaves
  • 2 tbsp parsley chopped
  • 4 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1,25 liter vegetable broth without added fats or additives, and no added yeast or MSG or natural flavourings
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • juice of ½ a lemon

Instructions

    1. Fry the onion and the garlic in the oil on low to medium heat for a few minutes until softened.
    2. Add the diced potatoes and fry lightly along with the onion and garlic mix for a few minutes. Stir frequently.
    3. Add the celery stalks, the beetroot and the celeriac. I always add the juice from the pack of the cooked beetroot (if using raw beetroot cook these first for 30 – 40 min and then add to this mix). Keep cooking on medium heat and stir frequently for around five minutes.
    4. Add the vegetable stock and bring to the boil.
    5. Add the cabbage and the black caraway.
    6. Add the remaining vegetables, bay leaves, the tomato paste and salt and pepper.
    7. Simmer for about 20 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked through. Stir several times. Season to taste with salt (but try and go easy with it as this is a healing soup. Try and avoid the salt altogether if you can).
    8. After 20 mins have passed, try the soup to see if all the vegetables are cooked through and tender. If so, take the soup off the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
    9. Now you are ready to serve and eat your soup! Voila!


Warming Turmeric & Cauliflower Broth

Weekly Recipe

Warming Cauliflower & Turmeric Broth

Yield: 1 Large Stock Pot

Warming Turmeric & Cauliflower Broth

Warming Turmeric & Cauliflower Broth
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 shallot, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, diced
  • 5 tsp yellow Lupin Miso (I don't use Soya products as I strongly believe these increase inflammation in the body). You can omit this ingredient and just flavour more with salt, pepper, stock, and coconut aminos or lupin sauce.
  • 1 tsp anisseeds
  • 1 fingerlong fresh root of turmeric, minced
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, minced
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 200g brown button mushrooms, chopped
  • quarter head cauliflower, chopped into florets
  • 1 medium zuchini, chopped and diced
  • 1.5 litres vegetable stock
  • 6 tsbp cocos aminos
  • 3 tsp powdered turmeric
  • one chicoree head, sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • brown rice noodles (I use king soba noodles)
  • juice of 1 and 1/2 lemon

Instructions

  1. To a large stock pot, add the shallot, ginger, the fresh turmeric, garlic and aniseeds (ground in pestle and mortar). Add half a cup of water, and stirr occasionally, cooking on low heat until the shallot and garlic become fragrant and translucent for a about 5 minutes.
  2. Stirr in the lupin miso and cook for another 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in the chopped mushrooms and keep cooking on low heat for another 5 minutes, stirring occassionally.
  4. Stirr in the chopped zuchini and cauliflower and cook for another 2 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.
  5. Add the vegetable stock to the mushroom mix, stirring well.
  6. Add the cocos aminos and the turmeric powder.
  7. Bring to the boil, then lower heat to a simmer.
  8. Simmer for 15 minutes, lid on.
  9. Add the chicoree and simmer for another 5 minutes, plus add salt and pepper to taste.
  10. In the meantime boil the rice noodles according to instructions in a seperate pot.
  11. Stir the lemon juice into the broth and let it sit off the heat for 1 minute.
  12. Ladle the broth into bowls and serve with the rice noodles.
  13. Voila!


Gooey Apple and Cinnamon Cupcakes

Sometimes you just need something that satisfies you.
Something that is sweet, tasty, and if possible, has that gooey, tasty sensation to it.
Something that, when you put in your mouth, reminds you of autumn, of your mum’s home baked apple cake,
of gardens and of late summer blooms.
Something that when you eat it, gives you that warm fuzzy feeling,
that peaceful feeling that everything is ok.

And what better way to give into this craving, than with these pretty much guilt free, goeey apple and cinnamon cupcakes?!
Low in sugar, fat, gluten free and vegan, and plenty of apples for your 5 a day. What’s not to like?

Of course I have added plenty of spice again:
cardamom and cinnamon to help you stabilize your blood sugars, to calm you and to nourish you, every little ‘gooey’ bite at a time.

Enjoy!

Yield: 12

Gooey Apple & Cinnamon Cupcakes

Gooey Apple & Cinnamon Cupcakes

Delicious and gooey apple and cinnamon cupcakes, vegan & gluten free

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 oat milk ( or other plant milk of your choice)
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinnegar
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 8 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 and 1/2 cup ground almonds
  • 2 cups gluten free flour blend (I use Bob's red mill)
  • 2 heaped tsp gluten free baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate soda)
  • 3 tbsp apple sauce home made or store bought
  • 3 medium size apples, diced and cored
  • 1 tbsp flax egg

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees celsius .
  2. Make the flax egg: add 1 tablespoon flaxseeds to a small bowl and add 3 tbsp warm water. Mix well. Put to one side.
  3. Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan.
  4. Once melted, mix the oil, the milk, the vinegar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, ground almonds and apple sauce together in a mixing bowl.
  5. Add the flax egg and mix well.
  6. Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
  7. Mix well, adding a tiny splash more milk if it’s looking too dry.
  8. Add the apples and carefully stir in.
  9. Transfer the mixture between muffin cases in a muffin tin.
  10. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
  11. The cupcakes should still have a very soft and gooey consistency. I usually eat one fresh and warm (mhmmm, so good) and place the rest in the fridge, they will harden a bit more and keep for up to a week.

Notes

Dust off the Cupcakes with some icing sugar or top with a nice vegan frosting.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

12 cupcakes

Amount Per Serving Calories 212Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 25mgSodium 19mgCarbohydrates 30gFiber 4gSugar 24gProtein 1g

Please note that nutrition information is based on averages and can therefor not always be accurate.


Healing & Nourishing Asian Style Broth

This is my go-to soup recipee when I simply need something warming, nourishing, and simply healing:
when you had a stressfull day, when you are feeling run down or when your boss has just simply driven you up the wall:
This broth will pick you up, give you a hug and will fill you with a
warm feeling telling you that everything, really, is ok.

Particularly good for people with digestive issues
and sensitive bellies (bloating, gas, etc.), this recipe is a winner.
Fennel and anissed will soothe your digestion and flush out toxins,
garlic will help to clear your mucus membranes and kill of any pathogens,
and plenty of greens assist in moving foods through your sensitive digestive tract.
You can replace the vegetables used in this recipee with anything you might prefer.
Choose any leafy greens of your choice, and along the zuchini,
try it with added carrots, sweet potatoes or any other root vegetable.

This soup always works in any combo!

Picture credit: Mae Mu 

Weekly Recipe

Asian Style Healing Broth

Yield: 1 Pot of Broth

Healing & Nourishing Asian Style Broth

Healing & Nourishing Asian Style Broth

This is my go-to soup recipee when I simply need something warming, nourishing, and simply healing:when you had a stressfull day, when you are feeling run down or when your boss has just simply driven you up the wall:This broth will pick you up, give you a hug and will fill you with a warm feeling telling you that everything, really, is ok. Particularly good for peope with digestive issues and sensitive bellies (bloating, gas, etc.), this recipe is a winner. Fennel and anissed will soothe your digestion and flush out toxins, garlic will help to clear your mucus membranes and kill of any pathogens, and plenty of greens assist in moving foods through your sensitive digestive tract.You can replace the vegetables used in this recipee with anything you might prefer. Choose any leafy greens of your choice, and along the zuchini, try it with added carrots, sweet potatoes or any other root vegetable.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil (leave out if on a cleanse, or ok for the evening meal).
  • 3 shallots diced (or use half a red onion instead)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
  • 1.5 litre vegetable broth
  • 1 tsp aniseeds (grind in pestle and mortar)
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds (grind in a pestle and mortar)
  • 4 x tablespoons cocos aminos (or lupin sauce or both).
  • 2 tsbp miso (I use soya free miso made from lupins)
  • 1.5 heads bok choi OR kale OR chard OR substitue any other green leaf of your choice
  • 1 zuchini, chopped
  • juice of half a lemon
  • half a fennel bulb, sliced
  • 1 pack of rice noodles
  • sesame flakes for topping
  • red pepper flakes for topping

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive in a large stockpot over medium heat.
  2. To the oil, add the diced shallots and mix well.
  3. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the shallots turn translucent and turn to soften. Stir often.
  4. Add the minced garlic and minced ginger to the shallots and mix. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes or until garlic and ginger are fragrant.
  5. Add the ground anise and fennel seeds to the onion mix, stir and cook until lightly toasted (1-2 minutes)
  6. Then add the chopped fennel and coat the fennel pieces evenly in the onion and ginger mix.
  7. Then add the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer. Add the cocos aminos and the miso, and stirr everything well to combine, then add the chopped courgette.
  8. Cover and continue to simmer for 10 minutes.
  9. Afterward add the bok choi (or other leafy green) and the rice noodles. Cook everything for a further 5-8 minutes (until the vegetables are tender and the noodles are cooked through). Add the juice of half the lemon, stirr in, then turn off the heat and leave for 1-2 minutes to sit before you serve.
  10. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  11. Divide soup between bowls and season with toasted sesame seeds and red pepper flakes if you wish.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Amount Per Serving Saturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0g

Please note that nutrition information is based on averages and can therefor not always be accurate.