Roasted butternut squash and parsnip salad with turmeric cauliflower, shaved fennel and kale crisps

Photos by Anges Malterdotter

Roasted butternut squash and parsnip salad with turmeric cauliflower, shaved fennel and kale crisps

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 butternut squash

1 cauliflower

250 g parsnips

200 g kale

230 g (about 4 dl / 1.6 US cups) pre cooked chickpeas

1 fennel

1 tsp mild curry blend (choose your favourite!)

2 tsp dried cilantro

1 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Avocado mash

2 avocados

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 

a handful of fresh mint, finely chopped

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

How to

Pre heat the oven to 175 degrees celsius / 345 degrees Fahrenheit.

Peel, remove the seeds and dice the butternut squash in 2x2 cm pieces. Tear the cauliflower in to smaller florets (and keep the light leaves - the are delicious to roast as well). Scrub the parsnips, cut in half. Rinse the chickpeas, then dry them with kitchen paper. 

Cut away the thick bottom steam of the kale, tear the leafs in to smaller pieces. Massage with olive oil and a pinch of salt until silky. Put half of the kale on your serving platter, the rest is going in to the oven when about 5-7 minutes remains on the roasted veggies.

Put the butternut squash, cauliflower, parsnips and chickpeas on a baking tray (separated), drizzle with olive oil. Massage the cauliflower florets + leaves and chickpeas with the curry blend. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until the veggies are slightly golden and crispy around the edges but still have that al dente taste to them. Add half of the massaged kale when 5-7 minutes remains. Toss everything with the dried cilantro once out of the oven.

Shave the fennel using a mandoline or cut thinly using a sharp knife. Peel and pit the avocado, mash, with vinegar and finely chopped fresh mint, using a fork. Salt and pepper to taste.

Layer all the ingredients on a big serving plate. Top with dollops of the avocado mash. Sprinkle with flakey salt.

Zoodles with fennel and herby avocado sauce + turmeric fried tofu

Veggie spaghetti - spiralized veggies which have the same shape as spaghetti - is a favourite of mine - both because I like the taste much better then the taste of regular pasta + it's a great way to get even more nutrition in to your meal! I usually spiralize carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, radish and courgette. The later one I'm using for this dish - but you could just as well us any of the other veggies mentioned above, or why not a mix of them!  

To make nice spaghetti like strings you would need a spiralizer or a shred peeler. You could also use a regular potato peeler - but to be honest - it won't give you quite the same result as if you were using the "proper thing". If you like to make veggie spaghetti, plus shred fruits and veggies for garnish/salads, I would recommend you to get the right. Will save you time and make the cooking even more fun and efficient!  

If I'm making a big batch I'm using my Westmark Spiromat which gives me long and corkscrew like strings, and when I'm on the go or just want to spiralize one carrot or so I'm using my Grovstrimlare.  

When you have the right kitchen tools you can make this delicious dish in no time at all. It's my kind of fast food - perfect for days when you want something light and nourishing for lunch or dinner. You could add more veggies to make it a bigger meal - for example steamed sugar snaps and pak choi for a asian touch or maybe roasted pumpkin and crispy kale for a wintery touch. Let your mind flow! 

Hope you like it!! 

Photo by Fanny Hansson

Zoodles with herby avocado sauce + turmeric fried tofu

4 portions 

Ingredients

2 big zucchinis

1 fennel 

1 red apple 

270 grams firm natural tofu, organic

1 tsp grated fresh turmeric, or 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger, or 1 tsp ground ginger

1 tbsp tamari 

Fresh Thai basil 

1 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil, (flavour free)

Herby avocado sauce

2 avocados, peeled and pitted  

1 garlic clove, grated 

1/2-1 dl water

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

1 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil (flavour free)

2 handfulls of fresh herbs of your choice (I used Thai basil + cilantro) 

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 

For serving

crispy green leafs (mix of mache lettuce, baby spinach, rocket) 

seed cracker (you find two of my best recipes in my cookbook The new green salad!!)

toasted pepitas

How to

Spiralize the zucchinis. Mandoline the fennel lengthwise, or slice very thinly using a sharp knife. Deseed and mandoline the apples. But everything in a big bowl with cold water (will make everything even more crisp) while preparing the rest. 

Press the excess water out of the tofu (if I have time I prepare the tofu in the same was as I do for THIS dish). Fry in oil on medium heat until golden around the edges. Add turmeric and ginger, let fry for another minute. Add the tamari and let sink in, remove from heat.  

Mix the ingredients for the avocado sauce until a smooth using an immersion blender. Add more water if it's to thick. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Drain the zucchini and fennel well. Toss together with the avocado sauce. Topp with fresh herbs. Serve with the fried tofu, crispy green leafs and pepitas. And some seed crackers if you have any nearby!