These cool, sweet and tangy RASPBERRY YOGURT CLUSTERS are a spin-off of the viral Blueberry Yogurt Clusters that I shared in my previous post. Those were so good we immediately created a different — dare I say it — even BETTER version with these RASPBERRY YOGURT CLUSTERS!
Read moreBlueberry Yogurt Clusters
Thin, crunchy chocolate enveloping a creamy centre with pops of juicy blueberries, these BLUEBERRY YOGURT CLUSTERS have been going viral recently! I added my own spin to it by adding tahini, maple syrup and cinnamon to the yogurt mixture which add really nice flavour dimensions.
Read moreEasy Shrimp Spring Rolls
These are the EASIEST spring rolls you will ever make! No filling to prepare and cool before assembling, these EASY SHRIMP SPRING ROLLS are inspired by one of my must-get dim sum items and are filled simply with seasoned whole shrimp. Golden and crunchy exterior with a succulent bite of shrimp inside, you won't be able to stop at one or two or three!
Read morePoached Shrimp + Melon Salad
Succulent poached shrimp and juicy melons are the stars of this POACHED SHRIMP + MELON SALAD. Dressed deliciously in an easy 5-ingredient vinaigrette of evoo, white balsamic vinegar, fresh lime juice, sugar (you can sub honey) and salt, and finished with addictive Tajín on top, this is a salad you’ll probably want to make all summer long!
Read moreConfit Garlic Hummus with Grilled Mushrooms
Before you think this is yet another hummus recipe, think again. This CONFIT GARLIC HUMMUS WITH GRILLED MUSHROOMS is absolutely unlike any other hummus recipe I’ve seen or tasted. Loads of garlic (two heads) is roasted in oil in the oven to flavour the smooth and creamy hummus. But it’s the mushroom topping that gives this dish its OH-MY-GOD swoon factor. A mix of cremini and shiitake mushrooms are grilled and then marinaded in garlic, lemon juice and peel, thyme, maple syrup and dried cascabel chile.
Read moreMouclade mussels in saffron cream sauce
MOUCLADE is a divine dish of steamed mussels in a mild saffron curry cream sauce kissed with cognac. It originated from La Rochelle in south western France and is my favourite way to enjoy fresh mussels! In my version, it is a bit lighter (and almost dairy-free) by using oat milk instead of the traditional heavy cream. Lighter, but ever so luscious and flavourful. A fresh, crusty baguette is a must for sopping up all the saucy goodness.
Read moreShanghai Spring Rolls
These SHANGHAI SPRING ROLLS are exactly the kind I grew up eating so they are, hands down, my favourite type of spring rolls! My paternal Shanghainese grandmother used to make it and my dad makes it. We usually make a big pot of simple meatless congee to go with it for a weekend lunch everybody looks forward to!
Read moreTartines with Mackerel + Refried Butter Beans { dairy-free, pescatarian }
The universe has not given canned Mackerel the love it deserves!
Mackerel has long been one of my go-to sushi choices. But as far as shopping in the canned fish aisle of the grocery store, I’m guilty of reaching for tuna most of the time, with sockeye salmon and sardine being my second and third choices. Why? Habit. Little did I know until now, canned mackerel is equally if not even more habit-forming. Case in point: these super simple and suuuper tasty Tartines with Mackerel and Refried Butter Beans are loved by my family and my foodie adult friends. The refried beans are creamy and savoury, and the mackerel fillets flakey and umami-packed. The parsley salad’s acidic and herbaceous freshness perfectly balances the other rich and creamy elements for a seriously delightful bite!
Read moreCrab Cakes with Peach Salsa and Tarragon Aioli { gluten-free, dairy-free, pescatarian, meatless }
Is it just me or are people pretty divisive when it comes to crab versus lobster? I feel like they’re usually in one camp or the other, with few who like them equally. It may be the more pedestrian choice but I’ve always been team lobster since I was a child. My husband, on the other hand, is all about the crab. My lobster bias is due in no small part to sheer laziness and my desire to get large juicy morsels of seafood into my mouth with a minimal amount of work. Large lobster tails = chunks of seafood in my mouth with minimal work. There is no equivalent body part on a crab! Eating crab requires patience and finesse to extract the meat from the claws, legs and body. But ahhhhh…enter: LUMP CRAP MEAT. Fresh picked and already cooked, juicy crab meat can be purchased from any seafood monger or the seafood counter of a well-stocked grocery store. This magical food item is ready to be tossed with a shortlist of simple ingredients to create this decadent yet totally approachable recipe, Crab Cakes with Peach Salsa and Tarragon Aioli. Imagine the warm and juicy crab cakes together with the cool creaminess of tarragon aioli and zippy freshness of the peach salsa! This meal will awaken your taste buds, guaranteed.
Read moreSpanish Tapas Party! { gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo + Whole30 options }
Last week I threw a little tapas dinner party and it was sooo much fun. Not to mention, utterly delicious! I made some of the greatest hits and you know what, they are all surprisingly easy to prepare, as you'll see in the recipes below. Are you ready for this epic, six-recipe blog post featuring some of the most popular and best loved tapas? I promise the deliciousness you're about to encounter will make your tastebuds extremely happy!
Read moreCauliflower Steak Salad with Sambal Matah
Remember when I said cauliflower has superpowers? I still stand by that. Especially after this pretty incredible Cauliflower Steak Salad I made. I've made this dish three times in the past 2 weeks and I have had no regrets about it. Not a one. Actually I do have one regret which is that I'm only discovering Sambal Matah now and not sooner. Such a crying shame!
Read moreMaple Tahini Granola { gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, vegan }
To state that we are a granola-loving family would be an understatement. I have two Granola Monsters here. Apart from the year when we were following a modified Paleo diet where grains like oats and quinoa are disallowed, granola is a mainstay here because it is such a healthy and convenient option for breakfast. Not to mention totally addictive.
Read moreSticky Rice Cakes with Salt-Cured Yolk + Peanut Butter Filling + Zwilling Giveaway { gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free }
Does it seem like I went to crazy town with this one? Yes, I made a filling out of salt-cured egg yolks and peanut butter and sweetened it with maple syrup. I stuffed it inside a dough made with glutinous rice flour (aka 'sweet rice flour' not to be confused with 'rice flour'!), coated them in peanut crumble and pan-fried them. They turned out suuper addictive! We could not stop munching on this warm, chewy, salty-sweet snack! So the lunacy was justified...hence I urge you to continue reading. Plus also there's a giveaway I want you to know about :)
Read moreEasy Chicken Broccoli Meatballs in Lettuce Wraps { gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, egg free, paleo option }
If you know my modus operandi, you know I'm all about tasty and healthy meals with minimal effort. People often assume I love to cook (whatever gave them that idea ;)) but the honest truth is, I'm more driven by the end game than the process. My paramount goal has always been to feed my family simple homemade meals created from clean, whole ingredients. That's why I gravitate toward uncomplicated food. Are you anything like me? If so, this recipe is perfect for you too.
Read moreFluffy! Grain-free Pancakes w/out bananas { gf, dairy free, paleo }
Braised Beef Shortribs & Glutinous Rice Shumai
Are these not the cutest little parcels you want to treat your family and friends to? I came up with this recipe when I had leftover Korean-style braised beef shortribs in the freezer that wasn't enough for a full meal so I had to think of a way to stretch it into one.
Read moreAvocado Veggie Rainbow Rolls + Tangy Tahini Dipping Sauce
I generally abhor salad prep. I love to eat salad. But the prep, no. So much washing and spinning and trimming and seeding and cutting. But these rolls and the dipping sauce. Oh I'll do it for them. They are one of my favorite ways to eat a load of vegetables in one sitting. The filling can be quite versatile. The only 'formula' (for me) is the inclusion of buttery avocado + crunchy carrots + refreshing cucumber + something leafy. Beyond that, almost anything goes.
Read moreHealthy Granola {gf, refined sugar free}
My family LOVES this granola recipe. It has heartiness from the old-fashioned rolled oats. It has crunchiness from the almonds. It has chewiness from the dried blueberries (or other dried fruit like currents, cranberries or raisins). And important to me, it has healthy fats (extra virgin coconut oil) and is sweetened naturally with medjool dates and maple syrup. Indeed, it has all the qualities of Granola Greatness! Do you think they care about that? Nay. They love it because it is really, really yummy.
Read more4-Ingredient Crunchy Chicken Nuggets
Nuggets made with spelt crumbs.
This is an essential weeknight recipe that I default to again and again because it is so easy to prepare and because of how much my girls love them! Think 4 ingredients, 15 prep time, 25 mins bake time. There is no reason to buy packaged nuggets ever. EVER. I also make this recipe regularly with ground turkey with wonderful results too but of course it will be a tad less juicy. I always make a double-batch and freeze a portion of uncooked nuggets for future school lunches.
Apr 2017: I have added gluten/grain-free AND dairy-free alternatives. Hurray! Nuggets for everyone!
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