Tag: togetherness

Bright, beautiful recipes that bring wellness and togetherness to the table

Spiced Garlic Lentil and Root Vegetable Soup

This is the kind of soup that earns a permanent place in your cold-weather rotation. Lentils, carrots, parsnip, and Japanese sweet potato each bring a different texture—and a different fibre—to the pot, while a fragrant blend of warming spices does the real heavy lifting.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings: 6

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 2 medium carrots peeled and diced
• 1 medium parsnip peeled and diced
• 1 medium Japanese sweet potato peeled and diced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 cup dried green or brown lentils rinsed
• 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro to garnish

Method

 

1. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion, then cook 4 to 5 minutes, until softened. Add garlic, carrots, parsnip, and sweet potato and continue to cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and salt; cook 1 minute, until fragrant. Add lentils, broth, and bay leaf. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 30 to 35 minutes, until lentils and vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf.
2. For a partially creamy texture, blend 2 cups of soup and stir back in, leaving the rest chunky. Stir in lemon juice and pepper. Ladle into bowls and garnish with parsley or cilantro.

Grain-Free Olive Oil Cake with Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Frosting and Spiced Apple Compote

This cake doesn’t ask sugar to do any favours. Maple syrup sweetens the crumb, spiced apples add natural sweetness, and a tangy dairy-free cream cheese frosting provides the perfect finishing touch—a dessert that trusts what’s actually in it.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings: 12 slices

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

Cake

• 2 ½ cups blanched almond flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup vegan butter softened
• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

Frosting

• 1 cup dairy-free cream cheese softened
• ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Spiced apple compote

• 3 medium apples peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 7 inch springform pan or line with parchment paper.
2. In large bowl, combine almond flour, cornstarch, olive oil, vegan butter, maple syrup, vanilla bean paste, almond extract, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until thick, even dough forms.
3. Press dough evenly into prepared pan. Bake 18 to 22 minutes, until lightly golden on top and set at the edges. Remove from oven and let cool completely in pan, at least 45 minutes to 1 hour.
4. For frosting, in medium bowl, whip cream cheese, salt, and vanilla bean paste with a hand mixer for 2 to 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
5. For compote, combine apples, cinnamon, and lemon juice in small saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 4 to 5 minutes, until apples release a bit of their own juices and begin to soften at the edges. Uncover and continue cooking 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid has mostly reduced and mixture looks glossy and jammy. Apples should hold their shape with a slight bite. Let cool completely.
6. Once cake is completely cool, spread frosting evenly over top. Spoon apple compote over frosting just before serving, letting it pool slightly in centre.

Maple-Ginger Seared Salmon Bites

This is the bite that tells your guests what kind of night it’s going to be. Seared salmon, a whisper of maple, and a hit of fresh ginger come together in one elegant mouthful—simple enough for a relaxed gathering yet special enough to set the tone for the meal ahead.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings: 12 bites

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 12 ounces salmon fillet skin removed, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon gingerroot finely grated
• ½ teaspoon orange zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh chives finely chopped, to garnish

Method

 

1. Pat salmon dry with paper towel. Toss cubes with olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until evenly coated.
2. Heat skillet over medium-high heat or set broiler to high. Sear salmon cubes 1 to 2 minutes per side, turning occasionally until coloured on two or three sides (or broil 3 to 4 minutes total, turning once), until just cooked through and lightly golden on the edges. Avoid overcooking—centre should still look slightly translucent when removed from heat, as it will continue cooking briefly.
3. While salmon cooks, whisk together maple syrup, gingerroot, and orange zest in small bowl.
4. As soon as salmon comes off the heat, brush each piece lightly with maple-ginger mixture. Skewer each bite with small pick and arrange on serving platter. Scatter chives over top just before serving.

By Corrine Quesnel

Recipes Courtesy of Alive Magazine