Chocolate peanut butter truffle bites

Might be one of the most heavenly chocolate truffles I’ve ever tasted. Very easy to make, with only a few ingredients and melting-in-your-mouth-kind-of-yummy. Any further description unnecessary - let’s get baking!

Chocolate peanut butter truffle bites

Makes 12

Ingredients

3 dl / 1.2 cups rolled oats

1 dl / 0.4 dl cacao (preferably raw)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 pinch flakey salt

12 fresh dates, pitted

1/2 dl / 0.2 cups unsweetened crunchy peanut butter

Frosting

8 fresh dates, pitted

3 Tbsp cold pressed coconut oil, room temperature

5 Tbsp water

1/2 dl / 0.2 cups cacao (preferably raw)

1 pinch flakey salt

How to

For the base: Mix oats, cacao, cinnamon and salt in a food processor. Add dates and peanut butter and mix until a sticky batter (I like when there are still some crunch to it so I tend to not mix until completely smooth). Add some more water if it feels too dry. Firmly press the dough in to a a small baking mold (covered with parchment paper). Put in the fridge.

For the frosting: Mix all the ingredients until completely smooth in a food processor. Spread out the frosting over the base. Put back in the fridge for an hour before serving.

Cut in to 12 pieces. Powder with extra cacao and sprinkle with salt before serving. DIG IN!

PS. Store in the fridge, or freezer (if any left…)

Recipe for Coop Sverige. Photo by Magnus Carlsson.

Swedish Chokladbollar By Thess

To make sure we’re all in the game: “Chokladbollar” is the Swedish word for this brilliant and VERY traditional no bake little treat. Directly translated it means chocolate balls, and that it just what they are!

For years I’ve been making several types of raw food bliss balls (no grains, only nuts/seeds etc), then I remembered that I’ve eaten the most delicious chokladbollar every other day when growing up. Chokladbollar might be the one thing ALL Swedish kids learn to bake as soon as they kan stand on a stool (so they reach the countertop).

Anyway, I went back to the roots, made a batch of classic ones - but with a #plantbasedbythess twist. And to be honest they are great. No fuss.

Swedish Chokladbollar

By Thess

Ingredients

Makes about 20-24 balls

🌿3 dl / 1.2 US cups rolled oats

🌿12 fresh dates, pitted

🌿1/2 dl light tahini or almond butter

🌿1 dl / 0.4 US cups raw cacao powder

🌿1 Tbsp brewed coffee

🌿1/2 tsp ground cinnamon or vanilla powder, optional

🌿A good pinch of flakey salt

🌿Shredded coconut for rolling 

How to

Mix all of the ingredients until smooth (you want it to be sticky but rollable) in a food processor. Add a bit water or oat mylk (any plant mylk really) if it feels too dry, or a bit more rolled oats if it feels to wet.

Form in to balls. As big or small as you want. Basic knowledge - if you make smaller ones you can eat many and you get more (!) coconut coating.

Put shredded coconut in a bowl, add a few balls at a time and give the bowl a good shake so the balls get all covered. OR even smarter - use a bowl with a lid, then you can give it a proper shake!!

Let the chokladbollar sit in the fridge for about an hour before eating. Best when chilled! Eat within a couple of weeks (you will never be able to keep them for that long. Trust me on that one!).

Good to know!

The chokladbollar can be stored in the freezer if you want to keep them for longer, or make in advance in you have a fika coming up.

Rolled veggie lasagna with a mushroom and lentil mince + Spinach pesto

An all-in-one-dish packed with flavour, lots of different textures, nutrition - and pure plant based food love! I top this kind-of-lasagna-thing with an easily and quickly mixed spinach pesto - which is truly irresistible! For my veggie slices I use a mix of courgette and aubergines - but you can mix and match (e.g. only use courgettes or only use aubergines) however you want, just make sure to have enough to roll up all the yummy veggie mince!

Also, make it your own thing and use other herbs instead or basil if you have any other at home, use seeds instead of walnuts if you're allergic etcetera! 

Rolled veggie lasagna with a mushroom and lentil mince

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 dl beluga lentils, uncooked (about 6 dl pre cooked)

400 g mushrooms

2 handfuls of fresh basil

2 medium courgettes 

2 medium aubergines

500 g crushed tomatoes

1 tbsp unfiltered apple cider vinegar 

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tbsp dired oregano

230 g pre cooked gigant white beans

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

1 handful of walnut kernels, chopped

1 tbsp nutritional yeast * (optional, gives a delicious cheesy and nutty flavour to the whole thing)

Spinach pesto

2 big handfuls of organic baby spinach

1 big handful of fresh basil

1 big handful of walnut kernels, preferably toasted to add an even nuttier taste to the pesto

1 small garlic clove

1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional, gives a delicious cheesy and nutty flavour to the whole thing)

a squeeze of organic lemon + zest from 1 lemon

1/2 dl /0.2 US cups cold pressed olive oil

unrefined salt and freshly ground black pepper

Garnish

Fresh basil

How to

Cook the lentils according to instructions on the packaging. Wash the mushrooms.  Mix lentils, mushrooms, basil and 1 tbsp olive oil until veggie a mince. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

Wash and slice the courgettes and aubergines very thinly lengthwise. Put slices on a big tray, salt them lightly and let sit for about 15 minutes to allow any bitter juice to drain from the aubergine - and to make the slices easier to roll. Dry the slices with kitchen paper.

Pour the crushed tomatoes in to a oven proof dish - preferably a cast iron one as that helps increase the absorption of iron from the food (to be more specific - from the cast iron dish itself). Add vinegar, garlic, oregano and white beans. Stir to combine.

Pre heat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius/300 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a courgette or aubergine slice. Put a spoon of the mushroom and lentil mince in one end and make a roll. Put the roll in the crushed tomato blend. Continue to fill the whole oven dish. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with walnuts and nutritional yeast. Put the dish in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the whole thing looks slightly golden.

Meanwhile - mix all the ingredients for the pesto until your preferred pesto texture. I like mine to be kind of crunchy! Salt and pepper to taste.

Top the lasagna with BIG dollops of spinach pesto and fresh basil. 

ENJOY <3 

Ps. Watch my stories - under "highlighted stories"/Recipes - for a Cook-along guide on this recipe! 

Photo retouch by excellent Sofia Törnqvist

Soft raspberry ice cream with whipped coconut cream and hazelnuts

A quick dessert, or why not a weekend breakfast och brunch. That's one of many clever things about nourishing food, you can have them at anytime from breakfast to dessert! Avocado is the secret ingredient which makes this quick ice cream irresistibly soft and creamy. Try substitute raspberries for blueberries, blackberries or a mix of you favourite berries!

And oh, if you can't find hazelnuts without skin in your grocery you can scroll down to find my tips on how to remove skin from hazelnuts (as it has the tendency to give a bitter taste we want to remove it). Plus tips on how to best deseed a pomegranate - knowledge you cannot live without!

Now, who wants soft ice cream in 15 minutes?!

Soft raspberry ice cream with whipped coconut cream and hazelnuts

Serves 4

15 minutes

Ingredients

3 ripe avokados

500 g frozen raspberries

1 tsp pure vanilla powder

4 fresh dates, pitted (use more for a sweeter taste)

Topping

1 1/2 dl / 0.6 US cups coconut cream

1 dl / 0.4 US cups pomegranate seeds

1/2 dl / 0.4 US cups toasted hazelnuts, skin removed 

2 tbsp cacao nibs

Fresh lemon balm

How to

Whip the coconut cream until fluffy. If you find it hard to get it fluffy you can let it sit in the fridge for about 30 minute, as that will make it more firm and easier to whip.

Thaw the raspberries for 5 minutes. Mix with the rest of the ingredients for the ice cream using a immersion blender, food processor och preferably high speed blender until SUPER smooth. Add more dates for a sweeter touch.

Divide in to 4 small (or 2 big if you're on that mood) bowls and top with coconut cream, hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds, cacao nibs and last but not least fresh lemon balm. Eat straight away!!

Toast and peel hazelnuts

Pre heat the oven to 175 degrees celsius. Put the hazelnuts on a baking tray and toast for about 10 minutes, until the skin starts to crackle. Let cool. Put in a clean kitchen towel and rub to remove the skin.

Deseed a pomegranate

Cut of the top crown and the bottom of the fruit. Now carefully cut the fruit from the top to the bottom, along the inner gentle ridges/fruit membrane which you are suposed to see once the top and bottom are removed. Normally you'll get about 6 cuts. Open the pomegranate, so that you get separate sections. Now you can easily deseed the pomegranate, using your fingers, preferably over a bowl. Remove any membranes that might come with the seeds.

This is a recipe that I created for Swedish vegan food magasin VEGO some time ago! Photo and recipe by me.

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! 

Saffron scones with coconut yoghurt and fresh fig compote

Saffron scones with coconut yoghurt and fresh fig compote 

Makes 10 scones

Scones

4 dl oat flour 

3 dl buckwheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 

1 tbsp potato starch 

1 tsp himalayan salt

1/2 gram pure saffron, ground 

1/2 dl organic raisins (or dried organic apricots, cut in to small pieces)

75 g cold pressed olive oil

3 dl oat yoghurt 

Fig compote

8 fresh green figs 

1/2 organic orange, freshly squeezed juice + zest 

1 tbsp honey 

1 tsp chia seeds (optional, for a thicker consistency)

1 pinch pure vanilla powder 

To serve

coconut yoghurt 

fresh figs 

How to

Scones: Pre heat to oven to 225 degrees Celsius. Mix the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix oil and oat yoghurt, add to the dry mixture and combine quickly with a wooden spoon, the mixture should be quite sticky. 

Form in to 10 small scones, dredge with a bit of oat flour and put on a baking sheet. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 10-12 minutes, until scones are slightly golden and crisp on the top.

Fig compote: Wash and quarter the figs. Zest and squeeze the orange, put all the ingredients in a small saucepan and cook on medium heat until a compote, stirring all the time to avoid burning. 

Serve scones freshly baked with coconut yoghurt and fig compote. 

Happy holidays and lots of love! 

Recipe from a spread for Swedish food magazine Allt om Mat winter 2016. Photo by Jonny Lindh.

Cinnamon fried winter apples with nutty crumble

A sweet finish to your dinner. Sweet and juicy winter apples from the garden under a crumble made of fresh dates, almond flour and oats flavoured with vanilla powder and cardamom. Serve with a plant based yoghurt and some fresh lemon balm! 

This is a recipe my me for Swedish food magazine "Mitt kök" (My Kitchen) from last year. Foto by Fanny Hansson. 

Cinnamon fried winter apples with nutty crumble

6 portions

Ingredients

700 g winter apples

1 tsp cinnamon 

1 pinch himalayan salt

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

Crumble

3 dl rolled oats

1 dl almond flour

1/2 dl almonds

1/2 tsk cardamom 

1/2 tsk pure vanilla powder

10 fresh dates, pitted

1/2 cold pressed coconut oil

For serving

2 dl plant based yoghurt, unsweetened 

fresh lemon balm or fresh mint 

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 

Core and cut the apples in smaller pieces. Fry in coconut oil, cinnamon and salt on medium heat until soft, sweet and fragrant.  

Pitt the dates. Mix all the ingredients for the crumble until crumbly in a food processor. Add the whole almonds in the end to get bigger nutty bites. 

Divide the apples in 6 small cake tins (or in one big cake tin). sprinkle over the crumble. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the crumble is golden and crisp. 

Let cool for a couple of minutes. Serve with lemon balm. 

Tips and tricks! Make ahead. Fry the apples, mix the crumble and put everything together. Then just bake the tartlets before serving!