Cooking-for-two/5 recipes

An extra creamy rendition of guacamole with a touch of yoghurt for a bit of extra tang.

Buttery Biscuits recipe

Falafel recipe

Beakfast pancake or muffin batter with zucchini, bananas, and raisins.

Easy to cook, but also very healthy and tasty with Tofu Spread.

This recipe is a great example of how a vegan or gluten-free diet doesn’t mean a restrictive one. Quinoa is ‘out of this world’ for goodness and may quite literally be ‘out of this world’ in the future! Nasa science investigations are experimenting to assess germination of Quinoa in microgravity, this proves how valuable a source of nutrition this seed is. Quinoa is a perfect provider of protein, this is determined by the fact that it contains all the essential amino acids. It is high in antioxidants that neutralise the free radicals that harm our body and it also has other numerous health benefits. What may soon be a celestial body should surely be pronounced correctly – Keen-wah!

A cold yet hot ice-lolly – not for the faint hearted if lots of chilli flakes are added! Popular pineapples are full of goodness as well as flavour, they are the only source of the plant compound bromelain. Bromelain is linked with improved immune function, prevention of cancer and digestive health. Pineapples contain Vitamin C, an antioxidant, folate and trace minerals. Be cool and get a hot chilli ice lolly.

An incredibly, refreshingly, nutrient filled drink that not only quenches your thirst but feeds your health. Watermelons are made up mainly of water but also contains vitamins A, B6 and C, not to mention amino acids and antioxidants. So hydrate your body, get rid of toxins and give your skin a boost. Cheers or Kanpai (Japanese for ‘dry the glass!’) – a very good sentiment for this type of drink.

A healthy alternative on a Mexican tortilla that is traditionally filled with cheese hence the meaning ‘little cheesy thing’. Our take is this – ‘little avocado thing’ which is full of goodness, full of fibre to ensure gut health, full of healthy fats which ensure that the carotenoid antioxidants are well absorbed into the body, full of vitamins and minerals that have many benefits – folate for cell function, potassium for heart health, Vitamin C for immune function to name a few. Buen provecho.

If there’s any dish you should be eating RAITA now, it’s this one. Tofu is a powerhouse for protein and all 9 of our body’s essential amino acids. As if the taste isn’t enough, tofu also provides an overwhelming amount of minerals and nutrients, such as calcium which promotes bone health, iron that helps with our metabolism and haemoglobin formation, and magnesium which can help with high blood pressure, reduces your risk of heart attacks and lowers anxiety too. The olive oil in this raita is also full of healthy monounsaturated fats! Cultures throughout times have shown that those with diets containing this elixir of the gods, have a higher life expectancy and also a much lower risk for heart disease! So, not only is this dish pleasing to the eye and taste, but also does wonders for your heart, keeping it happy and healthy!

We have the Italians to thank for bringing this humble soup into our kitchens. Originating in Tuscany centuries ago as a means for the poor to use up stale, leftover bread. Today, we are just grateful that we have a hearty, tasty way to use up leftover ingredients that create a deeply-satisfying meal that is not only well-balanced and healthy, but simple to throw together. While it may not have been a dish for the wealthy, we think you will be peasantly surprised.

Contrary to what you make think, not all Spring Rolls are deep-fried. They can be served fresh as well, which is a lovely option for an appetizer or light meal this summer. It’s quite an extensive list of ingredients, but if you are a fan of Thai cooking, it’s likely you have most of them in your pantry or fridge already. The preparation is a simple whisk, toss, hydrate, roll. And our special touch? We added a peanut sauce to make a “Pad Thai” version, as well as some chillies. Stop, drop and roll – these babies are on fire!

Here is a ‘grate’ side dish for the gluten-intolerant – or a way to get kids excited about vegetables. Packed with flavour and fibre, the mixture can be made in advance, and then simply portioned and fried for 6 minutes to glorious, crispy perfection. Don’t forget to drain off that excess oil once done, nobody wants a soggy, greasy latke..

This Nicoise Salad is a beautiful play off its French counterpart. It keeps the traditional string beans, potatoes, boiled eggs and tuna, but it adds an Asian inspired dressing that elevates this salad to the next level. By changing the usual white potatoes to sweet potatoes, it becomes a healthier version of the recipe. Sweet potatoes provide more vitamins and minerals than regular potatoes and they have fewer calories. Add in the Omega-3 benefits in the tuna, the protein of the eggs, and fibre-packed beans, and you have got a power packed lunch that tastes like a million dollars. This recipe will certainly be singing to your taste buds tuna.

The mere sight of this cute-looking yummilicious noodle, served on a plate, will make you salivate, and if you eat it, it will make you reinvigorated too. This Italian dish is a brilliant blend of arrabbiata sauce and squash in the form of noodles. The carefully spiralized noodle and diced tomatoes make this dish very appealing to the eyes. But it doesn’t stop there, its appearance is as great as the taste. Oh… The squash noodles are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre which make the body healthy. They also have a minimal amount of fat, are rich in protein and are relatively low in calories and carbs. It is a great source of energy for the body—and a great delight to the mouth! That’s also very important. Now, let us see how we can prepare this tempting dish. Shall we!

This delicious vegan dish is perfect for when you don’t have much time. It can be ready in under 30 minutes and is a great way of using up veggies. For this dish we’ve used a mix of carrots, onion, parsnips and brussel sprouts with chickpeas and quinoa, but other veggies you could try are: cauliflower, olives, tomatoes, sweet potato, spinach or kale.