Root Vegetable Gratin

by Nessa Robins

This Christmas, how about making vegetables the centrepiece of your Christmas feast? Better again, how about supporting Irish farmers by including lots of local vegetables, grown organically without the use of any pesticides? We’re kicking off our Christmas series of recipes today with a gorgeous root vegetable gratin. Hearty enough to sustain itself as a main, but it makes for a delicious and nutritious side too. This vegetable-ladened gratin is a rich source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. The beetroot adds a beautiful pink hue to the finished dish, along with a burst of nutrients including iron, vitamin B6 and magnesium. If you would like to get-ahead for the big day, this gratin also freezes perfectly; simply take it from the oven before adding the cheese, allow to cool fully, before wrapping tightly and freezing in a freezer-proof dish. Then defrost in the fridge overnight the night before cooking, add a layer of cheese and bake for about 20 minutes or until fully cooked through.  

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Root Vegetable Gratin

Ingredients

  • 2 large potatoes
  • 1 large parsnip
  • 1 large beetroot
  • 2 carrots
  • 250ml hot vegetable stock
  • 200ml cream, plant-based or regular
  • Sprig of sage and rosemary, finely chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 75g parmesan, or vegan alternative, grated

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/ fan 180°C/gas mark 6.
  2. Wash, peel, and very thinly slice the vegetables. Rinse with water and pat dry with a paper towel. 
  3. Add to a large bowl with the stock, cream, sage, rosemary and some salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
  4. Transfer to a large casserole dish, and bake in the oven for 50 minutes, giving the mixture a stir a couple times during cooking.
  5. Add an even layer of the grated cheese to the gratin and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until it is bubbling, cooked through and the cheese is bubbling. Serve and enjoy!

Carrot Fries with a Coriander & Lime Dip

by Nessa Robins

Once you make these carrot fries for the first time, they will soon become a part of your recipe repertoire as they are totally addictive and so easy-to-make. Of course, they are also bursting with goodness. Carrots are rich in beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A by the body. Vitamin A supports our immune system and vision, while promoting healthy skin, bones, and teeth. These carrot fries are scrumptious as a snack but are also perfect to serve as a side. The coriander dip serves perfectly with the fries, but if you’re not a fan of coriander, basil can be used in its place. 

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Carrot Fries with a Coriander & Lime Dip

Ingredients

  • 2 medium-sized carrots
  • 2tbsp olive oil
  • 2tbsp cornflour
  • 1tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp onion granules
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

For the dip

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C /Gas Mark 7, or the air fryer to 200°C.
  2. Prepare the carrots by peeling them and cutting into strips or batons.
  3. Add to a large bowl along with the olive oil, cornflour, smoked paprika, onion granules, and garlic powder. Season with a little salt and pepper. Toss to combine and fully coat the carrots. 
  4. Cook in the air fryer for 18- 20 minutes or the oven for 25-30 minutes, turning twice during cooking.
  5. While the carrots are cooking, make the dip by adding the ingredients to a high-powered processor and blitz for a few seconds until smooth. Refrigerate until needed. 
  6. Serve the carrots while hot with the dip on the side. Enjoy!

Green Vegan Mac & Cheese 

by Nessa Robins

As the evenings are getting darker and a little colder, comforting dinners, such as this delicious green vegan mac & cheese, are perfect for tucking into. The addition of romanesco to this pasta dish adds extra flavour, texture, and colour, as well as lots of nutrient. It is part of the brassica family of vegetables and tastes like a cross between broccoli and cauliflower. This stunning vegetable is grown on the farm, so nutritionally it benefits greatly from the best of soil. It is rich in fibre, calcium, and iron, and also a good source of vitamins, such as A, C and K. This dish only takes minutes to prepare and is best served with a simply green salad and chunks of crusty bread. 

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Green Vegan Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

Method

  1. Place the cashew nuts in a heat-proof bowl. Cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 15 minutes. 
  2. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the macaroni according to the pack’s instructions. Add the romanesco to the pot for the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain the pot, reserving 175ml of the cooking water.
  3. Drain the cashews and add to a processor, with the juice of one lemon, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, turmeric, the reserved pasta water and a little salt and pepper. Blend until combined.
  4. In a large casserole dish, combine the drained macaroni and romanesco with the sauce. Top with the vegan cheese and place under the grill for 5 minutes until golden brown. Serve straight away. Enjoy!

Puff Pastry ‘Pumpkins’

by Nessa Robins

There is an abundance of Irish apples currently in season and turning them into a delicious dessert the whole family can enjoy is a lovely way to enjoy them. These little puff pastries are the perfect treat to make over the Halloween holidays. There is no doubt eating an apple raw is the best way to enjoy it nutritionally, however even when cooked they are still a good source of dietary fibre. Most shop bought puff pastry is dairy free, making it a great staple to have to hand for a speedy sweet or savoury dish. These pastries can be enjoyed hot from the oven with a scoop of your favourite dairy-free ice-cream or, when cooled, packed into a lunchbox to tuck into as a snack on an autumn walk.

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Puff Pastry ‘Pumpkins’

Ingredients

To serve

  • Icing sugar
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Sage leaves

Method

  1. Take the pastry from the fridge and leave to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before using. 
  2. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C /Gas Mark 6. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
  3. Unroll the pastry and cut into thin strips.
  4. Slice the apples and remove the inner core of each slice using the end of a piping nozzle to cut out a circle. 
  5. Add the caramel sauce to a small bowl. In another bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon.
  6. Dip each apple slice in the caramel before coating well in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.
  7. Carefully, wrap the pastry strips around each apple slice. Place the wrapped apple slices on the baking tray. Brush with a little milk and sprinkle over some more of the cinnamon sugar.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Once baked place on a wire rack to cool.
  9. To serve, dust with icing sugar, and to make these little pastries resemble mini pumpkins, pop a cinnamon stick plus a couple of sage leaves into the centre of each one. Enjoy!

Mushroom Pâté – Vegan

by Nessa Robins

Mushrooms make for a nutritious addition to the diet as they’re a source of fibre, protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This mushroom pâté can be made a couple of days in advance, and it’s best served with slices of lightly toasted crusty bread and crunchy vegetables. However, it can also be used as a delicious stir-in pasta sauce; simply stir through some hot cooked pasta with a little of the pasta cooking water, add a few gratings of black pepper, and you’ll have a speedy and tasty supper in minutes.  

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Mushroom Pâté

Ingredients

  • 1tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 25g vegan butter
  • 250g mushrooms, sliced
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 sprig of thyme, leaves only
  • 200g vegan cream cheese
  • To serve – finely chopped chives, rainbow carrots, radishes  

Method

1. Add the olive oil to a small saucepan over a low heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring regularly, for about ten minutes, until the onion is soft but not coloured. Take from the heat and leave to one side.

2. Add the butter to a large pan, over a medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms, season with a few grinds of black pepper. Turn up the heat and fry, stirring regularly, for about 5 minutes.  Once the mushrooms are cooked, stir in the garlic and thyme, and continue to cook for about 1 minute, stirring continuously. Take from the heat and leave to cool. 

3. Once the onions and mushrooms are completely cooled, add them to a high-powered processor along with the cream cheese and blitz until smooth. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving, and up to 3 days. Serve with a sprinkle of finely chopped chives, some crusty bread, and thin slices of vegetables. 

Yellow Vegetable Curry  – Vegan

by Nessa Robins

Pumpkins and butternut squash are from the same plant family and are both currently in season. They can easily be interchangeable in recipes and make for a nutritious addition to any curry or casserole. They are packed full of vitamins and minerals and are also a rich source of fibre, which is essential for optimal gut health. Preparing the pumpkin or butternut squash is the most time-consuming part of this recipe, so to aid with the preparation of an otherwise speedy curry dish, I normally peel and cube the squash ahead of time and store in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to use. It will keep perfectly when stored this way for up to three days. This curry tastes just as good the day after it is made, so keep a bowl aside in the fridge for the next day’s lunch. 

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Yellow Vegetable Curry 

Ingredients

Method

  1. Over a medium heat, add the olive oil to a large saucepan. Once it has heated through add the onion and turn down the heat. Sauté over a low heat, stirring regularly. Add the garlic and stir through, before adding the curry paste and a few grinds of black pepper. Stir to combine.
  2. Next, add all the remaining ingredients to the pot. Place the lid on the pot. Once it starts to bubble, turn the heat to low and simmer for 50 minutes, stirring regularly. 
  3. To serve, ladle into bowls, serve alongside some boiled brown rice, scatter over some fresh coriander leaves, and add a dollop of coconut yogurt.  

Mushroom Burgers – Vegan

by Nessa Robins

It’s now peak mushroom season in Ireland, and we’ve a great variety of them available to pick up in our online store. When preparing mushrooms for cooking they should never be washed, as they are porous and will retain this water which will interfere with their texture and flavour when cooked. However, their ability to retain fluids works perfectly for this recipe as the mushrooms are marinated in a flavoursome mixture which adds an extra level of deliciousness to these burgers. I’ve made a simple plant-based burger sauce, which works nicely with the cooked mushrooms, along with a layer of lettuce and slices of our juicy tomatoes. 

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Mushroom Burgers

Ingredients

  • 2 large portobello mushrooms
  • 1tbsp soy sauce
  • 1tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1tsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

For the sauce

To serve

Method

  1. Prepare the mushrooms by removing the stems and lightly brushing away any dirt. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and garlic, along with a little salt and pepper. Whisk to combine, before adding to a bag along with the mushrooms. This allows the mushrooms to better soak up the marinade. Place in the fridge for about an hour.
  2. Make the sauce by combining the mayonnaise, gherkin liquid, gherkin, mustard, and garlic in a small bowl. Place in the fridge until ready to use.
  3. Place an oven-proof griddle pan over a medium heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil, once hot add the mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes on each side. 
  4. Preheat the grill. With the mushrooms underside up, place a slice of plant-based cheese on top. Place the pan under the grill for about two minutes, until the cheese starts to bubble. 
  5. Remove straight away and layer into the toasted bun with the burger sauce, lettuce, and slices of tomato. 

Vegan Meringues

by Nessa Robins

These vegan meringues are light and crispy, and serve perfectly alongside some plant-based cream and berries. When making the meringue mixture it is important to whisk it well for about fifteen minutes, before quickly adding the trays to the oven. To help prevent the meringues from cracking, once baked, allow the meringues to rest in the oven for an hour, without opening the oven door. There are plenty of blackberries appearing in the hedgerows at this time of year, which pair nicely with the meringues and cream, but any soft fruit would work well in their place.

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Vegan Meringues

Ingredients

makes 24

  • 400g tin chickpeas
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 1tsp vanilla extract

To serve

  • Whipped plant-based cream or yogurt
  • Blackberries and blueberries
  • Mint leaves

Method

  1.  Preheat the oven to 120°C/fan 100°C/Gas 1. Line two large baking trays with greaseproof paper. 
  2. Drain the tin of chickpeas over a bowl, reserving the chickpeas for another recipe.
  3. Add the chickpea liquid to a mixing bowl. Using an electric whisk, beat the liquid until it becomes frothy. Gradually start to add the sugar, a spoonful at a time, while whisking continuously. Once all the sugar has been added, add the vanilla, and continue to whisk at a high speed for about 15 minutes.
  4. Spoon out blobs of the mixture onto the greaseproof paper-lined trays. Bake in the oven for 2 hours. 
  5. Once baked, leave in the oven without opening the door for about an hour, this will help to prevent the meringues from cracking.
  6. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days. Serve with cream or yogurt and lots of berries. 

Spicy Peanut Noodles – Vegan

by Nessa Robins

These spicy peanut noodles are so delicious and packed full of nutritious ingredients. I’ve used udon noodles in the recipe, but any noodles of choice can be used. This dish only takes minutes to assemble, and even though it is best enjoyed on the day it is made, it will keep well in the fridge for up to two days. 

Enjoy!

Nessa x

Spicy Peanut Noodles

Ingredients

  • 300g udon noodles
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • ½ courgette, grated
  • Handful of kale, finely chopped
  • Handful coriander leaves
  • 2tbsp peanuts, roughly chopped
  • 2tbsp sesame seeds

For the sauce

To serve

  • 2 scallions, finely sliced
  • 1 red chilli, finely sliced

Method

  1. Cook the noodles according to the instructions on the pack. Once cooked, add to a colander and rinse well under cold running water. 
  2. Roughly grate the carrot and courgette into a bowl. Using a paper towel, press down on the grated vegetables to soak up any excess water. 
  3. Add the grated carrot and courgette to a large bowl along with the cooled noodles, kale, coriander leaves, peanuts, and sesame seeds.
  4. To make the sauce, add the peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, sriracha, and a dash of boiling water to a bowl. Whisk together using a fork. Pour over the noodles and vegetables and stir well to combine. 
  5. To serve, top with the sliced scallion and chilli. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. 

Roasted Tomato & Pasta Soup

by Nessa Robins

Tomatoes are naturally high in lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant. Cooking tomatoes not only increases the level of lycopene in the tomato but also makes it easier for the body to absorb. This is also a great dish to make if you’ve young chefs in the kitchen who’d like to help-out as it is so easy to prepare. It’s packed full of nutrients and serves well by the bowlful with chunks of bread on the side, or it transports well in a thermos flask for a lunch on-the-go. Enjoy!

Nessa x

Roast Tomato & Pasta Soup

Ingredients


Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/Gas 5.

2. Place the chopped tomatoes, garlic cloves and onion in an ovenproof dish. Drizzle over the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle over the smoked paprika and sugar, and season with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground pepper.

3. Using a wooden spoon, combine all the ingredients together. 

4. Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. 

5. While everything is roasting, make the pasta according to the pack’s instructions.

6. In a large saucepan heat the stock, stir in the cooked roasted tomato mixture and simmer over a low heat for 15 minutes.

7. Add the basil, saving a few leaves for serving. Using a liquidiser or hand blender, blend the soup until smooth.

8. Divide the pasta between four bowls, pour over the soup and top with a few basil leaves.