Creamy lentil stew with butternut squash and kale

The perfect seasonal stew, warming and hearty - and delicious! I often make a big batch that will last for days - plus the flavours seems to develop even more when you let it sit for a day or so which makes it the perfect lunch box food.

The trick to get a really delicious dhal is to use A LOT of spices, as they are filled with both flavour and nutrition! If you don't want to get a lot of different spices to make the spice blend below you can also buy a ready made curry mix that you like and use that instead. Use the same amount as below, or according to your taste. You could also make your own blend of what ever spices you have at home. I think it's a good idea to make a big batch of the spice blend, imagine having your own curry spice mix for occasions like this! Remember - there are endless ways to variate a lentil dhal!

Creamy lentil stew with butternut squash and kale

Serves 6

Ingredients

3 dl red lentils

1 onion

1 garlic clove

300 gram butternut squash, peeled

1/2 dl organic raisins

7 dl water

4 dl coconut milk

200 gram kale

2 handfuls of fresh parsley

tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

salt and freshy ground black pepper

Spice blend

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper 

1/2 tsp ground clove 

For serving

wild rice

plant based yoghurt

fresh parsley 

chiliflakes 

How to

Cook the wild rice according to instructions on the packaging. Mix the spice blend. Rinse the lentils. 

Cut the pumpkin in smaller chunks. Cut away the thick bottom steam part of the black kale, tear the leafs in to smaller pieces. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. 

Heat the oil in a pot and fry the onion and garlic until soft ang fragrant. Add the spices and fry for another minute. Add lentils, butternut squash, raisins, water and coconut milk. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 20 minutes, until a really creamy stew with soft lentils and tender butternut squash. You might want to add a bit more water to get the desired creaminess. Stir every now and then. Add the kale and parsley and remove from the heat. Salt and pepper to taste. Let sit for a bit before serving. 

Serve with wild rice, plant based yoghurt, extra parsley and chiliflakes.

* This is a recipe from “Två Dagar” distributed by Göteborgs-Posten in October 2016. “Två dagar” was produced by contant agency OTW. Recipe, styling and photo by me. 

Veggie hash with steel cut oats and poached egg

A quick, and kind of twisted, version of the classic Egg fried rice! Well, not very much like egg fried rice all really, but based on the same idea of frying veggies + some grain and serve with egg. 

I tend to use the veggies I have at home (or the seasonal veggies I just found at the grocery store), mix with cooked oats and serve with a poached egg. A filling and nourishing yet simple meal ready in 20 minutes! 

Veggie hash with oats and poached egg

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 carrots

2 yellow beets

1/2 leek

100 gram kale, or chard - or the double amount baby spinach

4 dl steel cut oats

1 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

salt and freshly ground black peppar

Poached egg

4 egg

1 liter water

2 tbsp vinegar

1 tsp salt

Topping

Walnuts

fresh lemon balm

How to

Cook the steel cut oats according to instructions on the packaging. 

Scrub the carrots, slice in to smaller pieces. Peel the beets, cut in to small chunks. Cut away the thick bottom steam part of the kale, tear the leafs in to smaller pieces. Cut the leek in half, wash carefully and finely shred.   

Bring water, vinegar and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Crack one egg in a small cup. Lower the heat, you want the water to be simmering. Whisk a whirlpool in the water and gently slip the egg in to the center of the whirlpool. Put on a lid and let simmer for 3-4 minutes. Lift up the egg using a slotted spoon. Follow the same procedure for the rest of the eggs, one at a time. 

Fry carrot and beet in a bit of oil in a frying pan or in a wok until golden och tender. Add the leek and kale and let fry for another couple of minutes. Remove from heat. Add the steel cut oats. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Serve the fry with walnuts, lemon balm and poached egg. 

* This is a recipe for Swedish food magazine Allt om Mat, issued January 2018. Recipe and styling by me, photo by Magnus Carlsson. 

Quinoa sweet potato burger with baked onion, chili mayo and rye sourdough bread

The perfect burger is a great burger - and a great (maybe even favourite) and very smart dish! I make my burgers, or patties, with only plant based stuff - full of nutrition and FLAVOUR!

This is a perfect burger to make when (if) you have a bit of leftovers in the fridge. Mix some baked sweet potato, cooked quinoa and add something green such as broccoli for an extra veggie touch! And remember - if you don't have any leftover sweet potato or quinoa it takes maximum 25 minutes to cook them. Then you'll mix together your burger batter in no time at all. Burger night ahead? Yes, please! 

Quinoa sweet potato burger with baked onion, chili mayo and rye sourdough bread 

6 burgers 

Ingredients

300 grams sweet potato

4 fresh yellow onions 

1 1/2 white quinoa, uncooked 

1 small broccoli 

1 dl fresh basil 

1 1/2 dl chickpea flour or quinoa flour

1 chia egg *

1/2 dl chives

1/2 tsp chili flakes

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

salt and freshly ground black pepper to toaste

Chili mayonnaise

1 1/2 dl vegan mayonnaise (or store bought one, preferably sugar free) 

1/1 - 1 tsp red pepper paste 

For serving

Rye sourdough bread (or any bread/bun that you prefer)

lettuce

tomato

cress

fresh basil

How to 

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Cut the potato in half, brush the cut surface with oil and put on a baking sheet. Wash, remove the stem and cut the onion in the middle, brush with oil and put next to the potato. Bake in the middle of the oven until potato are soft and onion starts to brown, takes about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to instructions on the packaging. 

Scrape out the potato from it's peel. Mix potato, broccoli and basil until a batter like consistency in a food processor. Mix together with the quinoa, flour, chia egg, chives and chiliflakes using a wooden spoon. Salt and pepper to taste. Let sit for 15 minutes and then form in to 6 burgers. Put on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until firm and lightly golden around edges. If you want to can also fry them for one last minute in a frying pan or grill pan to get a extra grilled flavour! 

Mix the mayonnaise and chili paste. Salt to taste. 

Build the burgers with your favourite components! Sour dough rye bread - lettuce - quinoa sweet potato burger - tomato - baked onion - chili mayo - fresh herbs and cress - Sour dough rye bread. 

ENJOY! 

* Chia egg is a plant based substitute to hen egg. Put 1 tbsp chia seeds in a small mixing bowl. Bring 1/2 dl water to a boil (don't let it boil for to long as that will make the water evaporate, you only need to make sure the water is hot), pour over the chia seeds, stir and let sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture takes on a jelly like consistency. 

* This is a recipe from “Två Dagar” distributed by Göteborgs-Posten 16th of December 2017. “Två dagar” is produced by contant agency OTW. 

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! 

Jerusalem artichoke soup with toasted buckwheat, pickled shallot, cress and truffle oil

Jerusalem artichoke soup with toasted buckwheat, pickled onion, cress and truffle oil

Serves 4 as a first course

Ingredients

500 g Jerusalem artichoke 

1 shallot 

1 garlic clove

3 dl water

2 dl creamy oat milk

230 g cooked white beans

1 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pickled shallot

2 shallots 

1 dl water

1/2 dl apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp honey

Garnish

2 tbsp truffle oil

cress

1 dl dried whole buckwheat

How to

Peel and chop onion and garlic. Fry in oil until soft in a sauce pan. Peel the Jerusalem artichokes and cut in to smaller pieces. Add to the onion together with the the water and oat cream. Bring to a boil and let simmer until the Jerusalem artichokes are soft, takes about 15 minutes. Add the white beans when 5 minutes remains. Mix to a smooth soup with an immersion blender. You might want to add a bit more water to get your desired consistency. Add apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.

Pickled shallot: Bring water, vinegar and honey to a boil. Remove from the heat, add the shallots and put on a lid. Let sit for 10 minutes. 

Toasted buckwheat: Put the buckwheat in a fine mesh strainer. Bring some water to a boil and then pour over the buckwheat. Rinse with cold water and let drain for a few minutes. Toast in a dry pan, on medium heat, until golden and crisp. Let cool. 

Serve the soup drizzled with truffle oil, topped with pickled shallots, toasted buckwheat and cress. Serve with crispy seed crackers! 

* This is a recipe from “Två Dagar” distributed by Göteborgs-Posten 16th of December 2017. “Två dagar” is produced by contant agency OTW. Photo by Stefan Edetoft

Golden sorghum salad with roasted broccoli, butternut squash, herb hummus and hazelnuts

A what's-in-the-fridge-lunch. Use a bunch of veggies that you like (including nice and unprocessed carbohydrates, some kind of plant based protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals), cook them in different ways for texture and maybe add something unexpected or fun - like sorghum cooked in turmeric and cumin for colour and flavour - and you're in for a treat. It doesn't have to be any harder then that to cook healthy, delicious and exciting every day food! 

Golden sorghum salad with roasted broccoli, butternut squash, herb hummus and hazelnuts

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 dl uncooked sorghum (Double or triple to get your meal prep going!)

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 broccoli

1/2 a butternut squash

1 small courgette 

2 handfulls of chopped kale 

2 tbsp roasted, peeled hazelnuts (make sure to remove the peel by toasting them in the oven and then rubbing them off wrapped in a clean tea towel if you can't find already peeled as it can be a bit bitter) 

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

fresh herbs of your choice to serve (I used Thai basil)

Herb hummus

4 dl pre cooked chickpeas (about 1 can/230 grams)

2 tbsp tahini 

1/2 dl water 

1/2 garlic clove

2 handfulls fresh herbs of your choice (I used parsley and basil)

1 tbsp good quality cold pressed olive oil 

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 

Cook the sorghum according to instructions on the packaging, adding 1 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp cumin to the cooking water. 

Rinse and cut of the steam from the broccoli florets. Tear the florets in to smaller pieces. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the tough outer layer of the stem, cut the rest of the steam in cubes. Peel the squash and remove the seeds, cut in to small cubes. Put on a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and roast in the middle of the oven for about 15 minutes, until broccoli gets crisp around the edges and squash gets soft. 

Wash and spiralize the courgette using a spiralizer, julienne peeler or a vegetable peeler. Rinse, dry carefully and then massage the kale with 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt until it gets all silky and soft.  

Hummus: Mix tahini and water until creamy. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the oil, and mix until smooth. Add the oil and pulse a few times, salt and pepper to taste. 

Layer the different components on two plates. Serve with hummus and fresh herbs. 

Red rice salad with yellow beets, Jerusalem artichoke and butternut squash patties

Red rice salad with baked yellow beets, Jerusalem artichoke and butternut squash patties

4 portions

Ingredients

2 dl red rice, uncooked

400 grams yellow beets

200 grams Jerusalem artichoke

100 grams red cabbage, shredded 

1 handful of fresh parsley, chopped 

70 grams mixed salad leaves

1 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

salt and pepper

Butternut squash patties

5 dl butternut squash or pumpkin fibers *

4 dl/320 grams cooked chickpeas

1/2 sorghum flour (you can also use oat flour/quinoa flour/buckwheat flour)

1 dl fresh herbs of your choice (I used parsley + basil), or 2 tbsp fresh frozen

1 dl pepitas 

Topping

Turmeric toasted cashews **

Cress  

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. 

Mix the pepitas coarsely. Mix the ingredients for the pumpkin patties to a smooth batter using a immersion blender or a food processor. For in to patties, turn around in the pepitas. Put on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until patties are firm and the pepita coating get lightly golden. If you want a really crisp coating you can fry the patties for about 1 minute on each side after baking in the oven. 

Peel all the yellow beets except for one. Cut in to chunks. Slice the last yellow beet thinly using a mandoline, or a sharp knife. Wash and scrub the Jerusalem artichoke very well, making sure no dirt is left. Slice thinly. Put beets and artichokes on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil and roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until beets are tender, and artichokes are soft with crispy skin.

Mix all the ingredients for the salad, serve with the patties. Top with cashews and cress. Preferably serve the salad with a creamy spread

* With "fibers" I mean what you get left after juicing vegetables, for example butternut squash if you're making my Butternut squash chia pudding. If you don't have any "pure" vegetable fibers you can also use puré of whichever veggie you want (pumpkin/carrots/beets). If so you might have to add som more flour to get the patties to stick together. 

** Toast 1 dl cashews tossed with a splash of cold pressed olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and two (or three) pinches of ground turmeric for about 10 minutes in the oven at 175 degrees Celsius. 

Favourite cracker spreads

Seed cracker is one of my big obsessions. It's a staple in my kitchen and I make a batch every other week to make sure I always have some at home. I like them with a creamy avocado and sprouts for breakfast, as a side to a hearty salad or delicious soup, as a nibble during a party or just as they are. Nutty, crispy and yummy. No matter when they are served a creamy spread goes very well with them. And creamy spreads is just what this blog post is about. 

These two are easy to make, contains lots of nutrition and flavour AND can be stored in the fridge for quite a few days. Make a big batch and keep some for upcoming breakfasts, lunches, afternoon snack moments and dinners. Except from having the spreads on a crispy cracker they could also be served to a hearty salad or in your favourite wrap. 

* The cracker above is "Oat and walnut cracker" from my cookbook The new green salad.

Pea and cilantro hummus

250 grams green peas 

2 tbsp tahini (I prefer the light one here, made of raw sesame seeds instead of toasted) 

1/2 dl water 

1 big handful of fresh cilantro 

1/2 dl cold pressed olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

fresh or dried cilantro for garnishing 

Carrot and tarragon hummus

4 dl/320 grams cooked chickpeas

250 grams cooked/steamed/baked carrots

2 tbsp tahini (I prefer the light one here, made of raw sesame seeds instead of toasted) 

1/2 dl water

1 small garlic clove, minced  

1 tsp dried tarragon

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

salt and pepper to taste 

sesame seeds + cold pressed olive oil for garnishing  

How to

Green pea and cilantro hummus: Mix water and tahini until creamy using an immersion blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until creamy. Salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving. 

Carrot and tarragon hummus: Mix water and tahini until creamy using an immersion blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the olive oil, and mix until creamy. Add the oil and mix to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving. 

DONE! 

Red quinoa and roasted red cabbage salad with butternut squash, apple and herb baked falafels

To bake big chunks of red cabbage in the oven until soft but tender is my favourite way to cook red cabbage. In this salad I toss the cabbage around with some quinoa, small bites of butternut squash, thinly sliced apple and herby falafels! 

I roll my falafels in sesame seeds and bake them all at the same time at a baking sheet in the oven. Makes them really crisp but still healthy! You could serve this salad with an avocado dressing or any nut dressing that you like, but I actually prefer to just drizzle a really good cold pressed olive oil over the whole thing. 

Roasted red cabbage salad with butternut squash, apple and herb baked falafels

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 medium red cabbage 

1 small butternut squash 

2 dl red quinoa, uncooked 

1 apple 

100 grams mixed salad leaves 

Baked herb falafels

450 grams pre cooked white beans (2 packages or 8 dl) 

1 dl sunflower seeds (preferably toasted)

2 dl fresh herbs of your choice 

1 dl sorghum flour (quinoa-/buckwheat-/oat flour works just at fine)

1/2 tsp himalayan salt

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

2 pinches freshly ground black pepper 

1 dl sesame seeds for coating 

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees. Mix white beans, sunflower seeds, herbs, flour, oil, salt and pepper until a sticky and semi smooth "batter" - you want to keep the texture from the sunflower seeds! Ad a bit of water if to dry, and a bit more flour if to wet. Let sit for 20 minutes, this helps the falafels stay together even better when rolling/baking/eating. Form in to falafel, about 20 pieces, and roll in sesame seeds. Place on a oiled baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until crispy on the outside. 

Remove the stalk bit from the cabbage and cut the rest in to big chunks. Brush with oil and place on a baking tray. 

Peel (start with removing the ends, then cut the squash in half lengthwise, and then in half on the width. Carefully cut of the peel using a sharp knife), scrape out seeds and stringy bits and cube butternut squash  Drizzle with oil and place beside the cabbage. Bake in the oven until both cabbage and squash gets soft and golden around the edges, takes about 20-25 minutes. 

Cook the quinoa according to instructions on the packaging.  

Thinly slice the apple using a mandoline, or a sharp knife. 

Mix cabbage, squash, quinoa, apple and salad leaves. Serve with herb falafels and drizzle with your favourite cold pressed oil! 

Quinoa and tofu salad with roasted sweet potatoes

A normal day at my apartment involves opening the fridge to see what veggies the upcoming lunch or dinner might involve. The day I came up with this salad I found sweet potato, half a cauliflower head, a bunch of parsnips, some baby spinach and tomatoes from my parents garden. Together with some quinoa (that I always have at home, often already cooked), a good quality cold pressed olive oil (also a staple at my home) the lunch was served! 

Quinoa and tofu salad with roasted sweet potato

Serves 4

Ingredients

270 g extra firm organic natural tofu

2 small sweet potatoes 

6 parsnips 

2 dl uncooked black quinoa

1 small cauliflower 

250 g plum tomatoes 

100 g baby spinach

1 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil (preferably taste neutral)

Topping

1 handful of pecans 

good quality cold pressed olive oil to drizzle 

flakey salt 

How to

Drain the tofu well and wrap in layers of kitchen roll. Then place in between two chopping boards and put something heavy on top. This is to press out all the excess water so you get a really firm tofu, which will then soak up all the flavours it will be mixed with really well. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, but the longer the better. Tear the tofu in to smaller pieces. Whisk together tamari and paprika powder, and pour over the tofu. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes. Fry in coconut oil right before serving until lightly brown and crisp. 

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Wash the sweet potatoes and parsnip well(when using organic vegetables keep the peel, does a lot both for flavour and texture!) and cut potatoes in to big chunks and parsnips in to big slices. Put on a baking tray and toss around with some olive oil. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until potatoes and parsnips are nice and soft (I like my parsnips to be kind of al dente though), tossing everything around half way through. Sprinkle with dried ramson, ord your favourite herb, ones roasted.  

Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the packaging. Shave the cauliflower using a mandoline, a cheese slicer or a really sharp knife. Wash and cut the tomatoes in the middle. 

Toss tofu, sweet potato, parsnip, quinoa, cauliflower, tomatoes and spinach together. Drizzle with olive oil. Topp with pecans and sprinkle with your favourite flakey salt! 

Curried carrot and coconut soup - with courgette and parsley topping

This pretty thing, a creamy soup to lighten up the darker season that awaits here up in the north, is exactly what I need this time of year. The moment of cuddling up in the sofa with a warming, nourishing and comforting bowl of soup in my hands, looking out over a landscape with the most colourful leaves is one of my favourite things about the autumn. 

 

Curried carrot and coconut soup - with courgette and parsley topping

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 yellow onion

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tbsp paprika powder 

1/2 tsp chili flakes 

1 tbsp freshly grated ginger 

5 big carrots

2 dl red lentils 

400 ml coconut milk 

600 ml water

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil 

salt to taste 

Courgette and parsley topping

2 small courgettes

1 tbsp cold pressed sesame oil

1 handful of fresh parsley 

2 tbsp sesame seeds

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 

How to

Peel and finely chop the onion. Fry in coconut oil, on medium heat, until soft in a big pot.

Add the ginger and all the spices and let fry for another minute until spices become fragrant. Wash the carrots and cut in to smaller pieces. Rinse the lentils.

Add carrots, lentils and water to the pot. You might want to add a bit more water - all of the carrots should be covered with water! Let simmer for about 20 minutes, until carrots and lentils are soft. Remove from heat and mix until completely smooth using an immersion blender. Add the coconut milk and apple cider vinegar, bring back pot to the heat, and let simmer for another 5 minutes. Add more spices and salt to taste. 

Topping: Spiralize, or finely chop, the courgette. Chop the parsley. Mix courgette and parsley in a bowl, drizzle with sesame oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Give it a toss. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve as topping, together with some extra sesame seeds, on the soup. 

Good luck! 

Tomato salad with citrus dressing, toasted buckwheat and Thai basil

What you are now about to get the recipe for is a perfect example of how a simple vegetable can turn in to a delicious dish, with hardly any work at all. It's all about using vegetables in season, the flavour then is really rich all by itself and all you need to do is to serve and enjoy.

So, when it's season for the Swedish garden tomatoes (one of my favourites!) and you can find tomatoes in all kind of shapes, colors and textures at your local greengrocer I often make a simple tomato salad - beautiful and very delicious. This one is perfect as a starter, side salad or tapas! The sweet tomatoes goes very well the the sourish dressing, the crispy topping and the kind of sharp Thai basil. Serve on it's own, or together with some sourdough bread and sheep cheese.  

Tomato salad with citrus dressing, toasted buckwheat and Thai basil

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 kg mixed garden tomatoes

2 tbsp freshly pressed organic grapefruit juice

2 tbsp freshly pressed organic lime juice

zest from 1 organic lemon

2 tsp tamari

1 dl Thai basil

1/2 dl buckwheat groats

1/2 dl finely chopped chives 

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

How to

Mix citrus juice, zest and tamari with a fork to a marinade. Set aside. 

Wash and slice the big tomatoes, cut the smaller ones in half. Put the tomatoes in a bowl and pour over the citrus marinade and half of the Thai basil. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes in room temperature. 

Put the buckwheat in a fine mesh strainer. Bring some water to a boil and then pour over the buckwheat. Rinse with cold water and let drain for a few minutes. Toast in a dry pan, on medium heat, until golden and crisp. Let cool. 

Place the tomatoes on a big flat plate. Pour over the marinade. Sprinkle the rest of the Thai basil, chives and buckwheat. Sprinkle with flakey salt and some freshly ground black pepper! 

* Recipe by me for OTW on behalf of Göteborg-Posten. The recipe was first published in the weekend magazine Två Dagar, distributed by Göteborgs-Posten, August 16th 2017. 

Leftover veggie and coconut soup

I often end up with small bits of pieces of all kinds of different veggies and leafy greens in my fridge. That's the life of a food creator who spends her days test cooking all sorts of different foods and tries out new combinations and vegetables all the time...But, I suppose, that the whole thing about ending up with a bit of this and a bit of that is the case for a few more out there! SO, what do you do with a couple of tomatoes, one small piece of fennel, 1/4 of a butternut squash and some garlic? You mix it into a soup!! Since this is a leftover soup I don't have any exact measurements, but I do have a trick which makes this recipe foolproof anyway. Scroll down and you'll see! 

Something I really like about this kind of recipes, where you don't have an exact recipe when it comes to measurements but only a list of the actual ingredients, is that even if you use the same veggies to make the same soup a couple of week after it will most likely taste a bit different because you will most likely use another amount of the components, without even thinking of it! Voilá, you have a new soup. It's like magic. Kind of anyway! And, to calm you down, soup is one of the best go-with-the-flow-foods I can think of. If you mix a bunch of yummy things in to a soup it can hardly go wrong. Just start out with a little amount of water, or whatever liquid you're using, and maybe add more later on - then you can be sure will get a creamy and delicious brunch, lunch or dinner soup in not too long at all! 

PS. Of course you can make the soup using more of everything, instead of waiting until you only have small bits an pieces left! 

Leftover veggie soup

Serves 2-4 (depending on how much leftovers you find in the fridge!)

Ingredients

1 onion

1 garlic clove 

1/2-1 tsp each of ground turmeric and ground paprika powder (depending on how much veggies you use. Start with the smaller amount and add more to taste when mixing the soup together)

2-4 big tomatoes

butternut squash 

fennel

water

full fat coconut milk

1/2-1 tsp pure maple syrup (optional, but a tiny natural sweet touch develops all of the other flavours in a nice way. You could also use the same amount of honey, note that it won't be vegan though)

a pinch chili flakes 

a handfull of fresh parsley

cold pressed coconut oil

Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Topping

toasted coconut flakes

hemp seeds

pomegranate seeds

fresh parsley 

How to

Peel and finely cut the onion and garlic. Fry in a saucepan, in some coconut oil, until soft. Add the turmeric and paprika powder and stir around. 

Wash and chop the rest of the vegetables in similar size pieces. Add to the onion. Fill up the saucepan with water so everything is just about covered (this is the foolproof part! No measurements needed. If you make a bigger batch just add more water!). Bring everything to a boil and let simmer for about 20 minutes, until veggies are soft. Remove from heat, add a big splash of coconut milk (about 1/2 dl for every portion, at least) and mix until smooth using a immersion blender. Add more water and/or coconut milk and mix until smooth and creamy. Add the parsley and chili flakes and pulse a few times. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Serve the soup with a few toppings that bring crunchiness (toasted coconut flakes), nuttiness (hemp seeds) fruitiness (pomegranate seeds), freshness (fresh parsley) - that will satisfy both the eyes and the tummy! 

Let me know how your soup turned out! Maybe you added some extra veggies, or some other toppings? I'd love to hear from you! 

Love, Therese

White bean dip with mushrooms and herb pesto

Sometimes simplicity is what makes a dish (big or small) really good. Like with this recipe. A simple white bean dip, topped with some pan fried mushrooms, a delicious yet simple pesto and a handful of mâche lettuce for some extra freshness. Together with some seed crackers or crisp bread from my cookbook The new green salad this is really YUMMY! 

I would serve this as a starter, as a side to any dinner or as a great part of a weekend brunch with family and friends! Or, as I will do later today, as a light evening snack. You can also make a big batch and store some of it in the fridge, then you have the perfect spread to your breakfast crisp bread or filling for a hearty wrap sorted out for the next couple of days. 

Photo by dear Fanny Hansson. 

White bean dip with mushrooms and herb pesto

Serves 2 two as a starter/snack, or 4 as a side

Ingredients

230 g cooked giant white beans (about 4 dl cooked)

2 tbsp tahini 

1/2 dl water 

1/2 cold pressed olive oil

a small handful of fresh tarragon 

250 grams mushrooms of your choice (preferably chanterelles when they're in season!)

70 grams mâche lettuce

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Herb pesto

1 1/2 dl cold pressed olive oil

1 small garlic clove, minced

2 dl mixed fresh herbs

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

To serve

seed crackers or oat crisp bread (recipe in my book The new green salad) 

cabbage (really nice to cut in pieces, similar to the size of a cracker) or endive

How to

Soak and cook the white beans according to instructions on the packaning (PLAN & PREP. Make a big batch if you're in the making and keep some of it in the fridge for salads, dips or soups fillings during the next few days. Or even put them in the freezer, in small bags, for other occasions through out the next weeks). If using pre cooked beans rinse them well. Mix tahini and water in a food processor until smooth and fluffy. And the white beans and mix until smooth. Add the oil, lemon juice and tarragon. Mix until completely smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.   

Brush and cut the mushrooms in quarters. Drizzle some oil in a frying pan and fry the mushrooms on medium heat until soft and lightly golden. 

Mix all the ingredients for the herb pesto in a food processor or immersion blender. Add more oil for a runnier texture. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Put the white bean dip in a bowl, top with mushrooms, drizzle some herb pesto and top with a handful of mâche. Serve with some seed crackers, cabbage or endive! 

Roasted beets with fresh raspberry vinaigrette and toasted buckwheat

This i the perfect side dish for Swedish midsummer which is coming up in a few days time. To be honest its the perfect side dish for any occasion, year around. Roasted beets tossed in a fresh raspberry vinaigrette sprinkled with toasted buckwheat. Really simple, and really delicious! Choose beets in season, that will give the best flavour (and it's a good thing for our planet), and let this pretty side salad brighten up your table! 

Recipe from The new green salad. Photo by Fanny Hansson. 

Roasted beets with fresh raspberry vinaigrette and toasted buckwheat

Ingredients

1,2 kg mixed beets (use the ones that are in season now, and that you'll find in your grocery store) 

1 tbsp cold pressed rapeseed oil

2 pinches mineral salt 

1 pinch freshly ground black peppar 

Raspberry vinaigrette

2 tbsp white vine vinegar 

1 tbsp cold pressed rapeseed oil 

1/2 tsp whole fennel seeds, ground up slightly 

10 fresh raspberries

mineral salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 

Topping

1/2 dl dried buckwheat groats 

cress (optional)

How to

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 

Peel and cut the beets in chunks. Put on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and peppar. Stir together and roast the beets in the oven for about 30 minutes, until beets are tender but still got a crispy core.  

Mash the raspberries with a fork and whisk together with white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp cold pressed rapeseed oil, 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (lightly grind them first) and salt to taste. 

Rinse the buckwheat groats with hot (as in was just boiling) water. Drain well. Toast in a hot, dry frying pan until dry and crisp. 

Let your roasted beets cool down slightly, then toss together with the raspberry vinaigrette. Topp with buckwheat and cress. Enjoy! 

Green super smoothie with fennel and buckwheat

I really like smoothies. Smoothies that are filled with vitamins, minerals and fibres - and feels like a proper meal. I always blend my smoothies in a high speed blender, instead of only juicing, as that makes my smoothies even more nutritious - plus it gives them a nice and quite thick but still smooth texture which I like! This green super smoothies is made of not only fruits (which tastes very yum, but isn't very good when you want a proper meal) but lots of veggies too!! Thats the recipe for a filling smoothie. 

Whenever I start my mornings at location when styling I always bring a smoothie just like this one. 

sweet hint of kiwi. 

Photo by photographer Fanny Hansson. 

Green super smoothie with fennel and buckwheat

2 big glasses

Make sure to use organic ingredients, 

Ingredients

1 avokado 

1 green banana 

1 fennel 

1 dl soaked and rinsed buckwheat groats 

2 hand fulls of baby spinach 

1 kiwi 

2 tbs freshly squeezed lime juice (if you've got a high speed blender you might want to add the whole lime, peel and all) 

4 dl water plant based milk of your choice (or water) 

How to

Peel, pit and scoop out the avocado. Peel the banana. Trim of the fennel stalks, plus a little bit at the bottom of the bulb to remove any rough root bits. Rinse the buckwheat. Put all the ingredients in a blender (preferably a high speed one as that will make your smoothie unbelievable smooth!) and blend until creamy. Add extra plant milk for a runnier texture (OR, less if you want to eat it as a smoothie bowl! Then make sure to use frozen banana, and maybe even frozen avocado, for best result), 

Oat and carrot bread with hummus, avocado and kale chips

Alright, so this post is really all about my absolute favourite bread in the world; let me present to you my very moist oat and carrot bread packed with nutrients and lots of flavour. Plus it is very easy to make. It’s gluten free, nut free and vegan, so pretty much anyone could enjoy it. I always cut the loaf in slices and put the ones I don't eat straight away in the freezer. That gives me the chance to just take out a slice or two for any occasion I’m craving a healthy slice of bread (which is very often). 

Have a slice for breakfast or the weekend brunch, eat it as a side with you lunch soup or bring as a snack-on-the-go. A couple of slices topped with hummus, avocado and roasted kale + a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly grounded black pepper is one of my favourite ways to have them. And that is just what my dear friend Fanny Hansson, aka talented photographer of my cookbook The new green salad, and I had a couple of months ago during a creative workshop day. I cooked and styled, Fanny took lovely pictures and Sofia Törnqvist did her retouch magic. Not a bad day at work. 

Well, enough writing. I’ll just post the recipe below and let you try the bread for yourself. I’m sure you’ll understad where I’m coming from once you’ve tried it! 

Oat and carrot bread

Makes 1 loaf

4 dl oat flour

3 dl buckwheat flour

1 dl crushed buckwheat groats

1 dl sunflower seeds

1/2 dl pumpkinseeds

1/2 dl flax seeds

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp himalayan salt

1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp hot water

1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 dl finely grated carrot (about 70g) 

4 dl almond milk (or any other plant based milk of your choice)

Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and sea salt to sprinkle on top

Serving suggestions

hummus (on p. 102-105 in my book The new green salad you'll find my three favourite hummus recipes!) 

avocado 

kale chips *see instructions below

dried cherry tomatoes, or try my recipe for Semi dried cherry tomatoes

cress

sesame seeds (toast them for an even more intense flavour!)

How to

Preheat the oven to 175°C. Bring 3 tbsp water to a boil. Mix water with chia seeds and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes, until it takes on a texture similar to jelly.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Finely grate the carrot. Add carrots, chia mixture, apple cider vinegar and almond milk to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Grease a bread tin with olive oil and cover the bottom of the tin with baking paper. Put the “dough” in the bread tin, sprinkle with additional seeds and sea salt, and place in the lower part of the oven for about 60-70 minutes, until the inner temperature reaches about 100°C. Let the bread cool completely before slicing it. Preferably wrap it in a kitchen towel and leave on the kitchen counter over night. This will allow the bread to sit and the flavour to develop even more! 

Hope you’ll like it as much as I do!

* Kale chips. Pre heat the oven to 175°C. Tear the leafs in to smaller pieces, massage with some olive oil and flakey salt. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 10 minutes, until crispy, tossing around the kale every now and then. 

Fruity brunch bowl with kale, tamari tofu and cannellini mint dip

During my last visit to London I met up with my dear friend, and big source of inspiration, Kimberly. She is an amazing prop stylist, food photographer and food blogger from London who I actually met through Instagram some time back. We had been following each others foodie journeys via Instagram for some time and then last autumn when I was in London we met up and attended a supper club hosted by Uyen Luu together with a couple of friends. I absolutely love how social communities like Instagram can bring people together. With an open mind you can meet the most interesting and kind people who share the same passions as you - all over the world! Anyway, this supper club that we went to on our first friend date really is a must do if you're in London and are looking for a really cool and delicious food experience! 

Back to the story about the recipe below. During my last visit Kimberly and I spent a day at her place cooking and chatting about what's inspiring us, the food styling business and exciting projects. And this is delicious salad bowl pictured above is what I made us for lunch. It's the perfect brunch, lunch AND light dinner dish. Perfect for any occasion really. It has got all the elements I'm looking for in a complete dish. Other than being full of nutritious plant based goodies it contains lots of different textures (creamy white bean mint dip/crunchy walnuts), flavours (sweet grape fruit/spicy tofu) and cooking methods (massaged raw kale/baked plum tomatoes).

It might sound like a lot of work, but it really isn't. Plus, most components in this salad bowl is something you could actually prepare in advance - or they take no time at all to prepare (like the massaged kale for instance. 2 minutes massaging work. 10 minutes rest. Ready to eat!). The white bean dip and the semi dried tomatoes for example is something that you could easily make a few days before and store in your fridge. And oh, you might want to double the recipe in case you make them in advance, since there is a chance you'll have eaten it all up before it's Saturday and you're about to make you weekend brunch bowl...

And one last tips. I made these salads without any grains at all, primarily because we were talking so much I forgot to cook any. Anyway, add 4 dl cooked grains of your choice (durrah, quinoa or buckwheat are a few favorites) for an even more filling dish. 

NOW, lets cook! 

Best, 

T

Fruity brunch bowl w kale, tamari tofu and white bean mint dip

Makes 4 bowls

Ingredients

270 grams firm tofu

     3 tbsp tamari

     1 tsp paprika powder 

250 grams plum tomatoes

100 grams curly kale 

250 grams sprouted broccoli

1 grapefruit 

1 avocado 

50 g cress, or mixed leafy greens  

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil 

2 cold pressed coconut oil for frying

2 tsp sesame oil

flaky sea salt

White bean mint dip

1 can pre cooked canellini beans (about 230 g)

1 tsp dijon mustard 

1/2 organic lemon, juice + zest 

1 handful of fresh mint 

2-3 tbsp water

flaky sea salt + freshly ground black pepper 

Topping

40 g walnuts

fresh herbs (mint, parsley)

How to

Drain the tofu well and wrap in layers of kitchen roll. Then place in between two chopping boards and put something heavy on top. This is to press out all the excess water so you get a really firm tofu, which will then soak up all the flavours it will be mixed with really well. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, but the longer the better. Cut the tofu in smaller pieces. Whisk together tamari and paprika powder, and pour over the tofu. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes. 

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Wash and cut the tomatos in half. Place in an ovenproof dish, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are semi dried and a bit crispy around the edges. Let cool. 

Massage the curly kale with 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt until soft and ”tender”. Put aside while preparing the rest of the salad. Steam the sprouted broccoli for about 3 minutes. Peel and fillet the grape fruit. Halve, peel and pit the avocado. Tear it in to smaller pieces. Drizzle with a bit of lemon juice.

Rinse and drain the cannellini beans. Mix all the ingredients for the dip, except the mint, until creamy using a hand blender. Add the mint and pulse a few times. Salt and pepper to taste. You might want to add a bit more water to ger your desired dip texture. 

Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan and fry the tofu until golden and crisp. Remove from heat. Drizzle with sesame oil (optional). 

Portion the bean dip in to 4 wide bowls, make a pretty swirl on one side using a spoon. Toss the kale, broccoli, tomatos, avocado and cress together carefully and divide in to the bowls. Topp with the tofu and sprinkle with walnuts and fresh herbs.

Enjoy! 

Veggie soup with cilantro tossed sweet corn and bean topping

Let’s talk about soups and autumn. It can be one of the best “perfect match” there is! In Gothenburg we’re enjoying the most lovely late summer ever, and knowing that the time after will imply lots and lots of occasions when a hearty soup is just the right thing makes me ridiculously happy and excited.

Anyway, back to the soup-talk. Pretty much any veggies could be mixed in to a soup, it’s fast and easy cooking and it’s a perfect way to use bits and pieces you find in your fridge but don’t know how to use. That’s exactly what happened to me the other day, when I opened my fridge and found butternut squash, fennel, two carrots, half a sweet potato and one red onion. At first sight to little to make any interesting of, but perfect for mixing in to a tasty soup. I cut everything in to evenly sized pieces, tossed around with some oil and roasted for 20 minutes before I transfered it all to a big skillet, added tomatoes, spices and coconut milk. Brought to a boil, then mixed using a hand immersion blender, adding a little water to get the desired consistency. Easy peasy.

Since this is one of those take-what-you-have-at-home-recipes it doesn’t have very specific measurements. You will want to adjust it a bit depending on what veggies you’re using and what preferences you have on flavoring and how you like your soup consistency etc. Might sound a bit tricky, but if you start with the veggies, crushed tomatoes and coconut milk and then just add water a bit at a time while mixing you can’t go wrong! Feel free to use more of the species, or try different ones, to adjust to your taste. Whatever you do, or whatever veggies you are using, don’t forget the splash of apple cider vinegar – makes all the different! Use water to get the desired consistency.

Mix and enjoy!

Best,

Therese

Crispy tofu summer rolls w mango salsa, avocado and tahini dipping sauce

I love small, casual get togethers with family, friends and good food. Yummy brunches, lunches or dinners, preferably consisting smaller dishes/share food/food that you will assembly by the table, and good company are among the best things there is! Imagine gather a bunch of foodie friends, dish up with a few bits and pieces and make these amazing summer rolls! You can really fill your rice paper wrappers with almost anything – use left overs or whatever you crave at the moment.

I think that the combination of raw veggies, creamy avokado, sweet mango and crispy tofu is just amazing. And together with lots of cilantro – as I just happen to love that herb – this is my best summer rolls recipe. If you don’t like cilantro use only thai basil or substitute for your favorite herb.

In this recipe I marinate the tofu for extra flavor and then coat it in corn flour before frying it – it’s the perfect way to make tofu really crispy without deep frying it. That – along with the amazing flavors and textures – makes this a healthy, vegan and gluten free recipe which is hard to not go crazy about. I serve these rolls with a really simple, but yet extremely yummy, tahini dipping sauce. It’s all you need. Try if for your self!

Crispy tofu summer rolls w mango salsa, avocado and tahini dipping sauce

Makes 12 rolls

300 g extra firm tofu

3 tbsp corn flour  

2 tbsp rape seed oil

12 rice paper wrappers

Tofu marinade

1 tbsp sun flower oil

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp tamari, or regular soy sauce

1 garlic clove

1/2 tbsp dried basil

Tahini dipping sauce

2 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp tamari, or regular soy sauce

1 tsp rice vinegar

1 garlic clove

1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

3-4 tbsp water to thin

Sweet mango salsa

200 g frozen mango

3 spring onions

1/2 red chili, or more if you like it to be hot

1 organic lime, zest + juice

a handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

2 pinches himalayan salt

1 pinch freshly groound black pepper

Extras

red cabbage

1 large ripe avocado

sunflower sprouts

baby spinach

fresh herbs, preferably cilantro and thai basil

For serving

lime

fresh cilantro

sesame seeds

How to

Remove the tofu from the packaging. Line a plate with a paper towel and place the tofu on top. Put another plate on the tofu and press it using something heavy (like a can of beans, crushed tomatoes etc). Let press for 30 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients for the tofu marinade. Drain excess liquid from the tofu and slice the pressed tofu into sticks (12 sticks for 12 rolls). In a shallow dish toss around the sticks with the marinade and let sit for 30 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients for the tahini dipping sauce. You might want to use a bit more water to get your preferred texture.

Thaw and roughly chop the mango. Wash and finely slice the spring onions. Remove seeds and finely chop the chili. Mix all the ingredients for the mango salsa and set aside.

Slice the red cabbage finely lengthwise. Peel, pit and slice the avocado in to wedges. Wash the sun flower sprouts. Wash the baby spinach.

Put the corn flour on a plate and roll the tofu sticks in it, making sure they get completely coated (this will make them very crispy). Put a frying pan on medium heat, drizzle with rape seed oil. Check the heat by putting one tofu stick in the pan – If you hear a sizzling sound you know the heat is right! Put the rest of the marinated and coated tofu sticks in the pan and fry on all sides until golden brown. Transfer tofu sticks to a cooling rack and let cool for a few minutes.

To assemble the rolls, pour lukewarm water in a pie dish and dip one rice paper at a time in the water for 10-15 seconds. The rice paper should get soft, but not too soft and “flabby”! Transfer rice paper to a damp plastic cutting board.

On the bottom of the rice paper put about 3 leafs of baby spinach, some red cabbage, sun flower sprouts, a good tbsp of the mango salsa, an avocado wedge, a tofu stick and some fresh herbs. Gently (but steady) fold over once, fold in each end and continue rolling until the seam is sealed. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of the roll. Do the same thing with the rest of the rice paper wrappers and the filling.

Serve rolls with lime wedges, fresh herbs and the tahini dipping sauce.