guacamole

 Poppy cooks...

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl add
   2 tablespoons onion, finely diced,
   1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt,
   2 tablespoons coriander leaves, minced; and mash together with a fork.
   
   
   
2. Add
   2 avocados to mixture and mash together.
   
   
   
3. Add
   1/2 lime, juiced and
   1 roma tomato, finely chopped; and stir together.
   

mexican bowl

Serves 4

This dish is so quick and easy, and can all be done using just one pan, so less washing up! Feel free to add jalapeños if you like extra heat, or to omit the chilli powder and cumin like I do when cooking this for my toddler. This is quite a light meal, so great for summer. If you would like to bulk it up, then you can try accompanying it with grilled meat, gluten free flat bread or some sweet potato chips.

Poppy cooks...

1. Heat
   1 tablespoon coconut oil in a large pan and saute
   2 garlic cloves, minced.
   
   
2. Add
   1.25 cups quinoa,
   tin diced tomatoes,
   1.25 cups vegetable stock,
   tin black beans, drained and rinsed,
   1.25 cups frozen peas*,
   1/2 teaspoon chilli powder (optional),
   1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional),
   celtic sea salt and cracker black pepper to taste; bringing to the boil and reducing to a simmer with a lid on until quinoa cooked.
   
   
3. Serve topped with
   avocado,
   lime wedge and
   coriander.
   

* The more traditional option here is corn, but we are currently eliminating corn from our diet for health reasons. Feel free to google the pros and cons of corn.

tofu + mango salsa

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Cook
   1 cup basmati rice in a rice cooker.
   
   
2. In the meantime, make the optional sauce first by whisking together
   tablespoon tahini,
   tablespoon apple cider vinegar,
   tablespoon tamari sauce,
   tablespoon olive oil,
   teaspoon agave syrup and
   wedge of lime, juiced, then set aside.
   
   
3. Saute
   2 cups green cabbage, finely sliced in
   olive oil seasoned with
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper.
   
   
4. Add rice, toss together and serve onto plates.
   
   
5. To make tofu marinade, in a large mixing bowl dissolve
   4 teaspoons cornflour in
   2 tablespoon olive oil and
   2 tablespoon tamari sauce.
   
   
6. Add
   2 packets firm tofu, diced to marinade, tossing to coat, then cook in a frying pan until the tofu is slightly crispy and the marinade is sticky and reduced.
   
   
7. While the tofu is cooking, prepare the mango salsa by combining
   2 mangos, finely diced,
   red capsicum, finely diced,
   1/2 bunch chives, chopped,
   handful coriander, chopped and
   1/4 lime, juiced. Serve salsa on top of cabbage rice.
   
   
8. When tofu is cooked, place on top of salsa, drizzle sauce over each dish and garnish with
   fried shallots.

sweet potato quinoa patties with avocado sauce

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Make avocado sauce by blending
   1 large avocado,
   1/4 cup olive oil,
   1/4 cup filtered water,
   couple sprigs of coriander,
   2 garlic cloves,
   juice of 1/2 lime and
   celtic sea salt, to taste then place in the fridge.
   
   
2. Boil
   1/2 cup quinoa in
   1 cup filtered water until all the water is absorbed and set aside.
   
   
3. Insert butterfly whisk into thermomix.
   
   
4. Place
   1 medium sweet potato, cut into 1cm pieces,
   pinch of celtic sea salt, and enough
   filtered water to cover the sweet potato and cook for 25 minutes/95ºC/speed 1, placing simmering basket instead of measuring cup onto mixing bowl lid.
   
   
5. Remove butterly whisk, drain water, insert measuring cup and mash for 30 seconds/speed 4.
   
   
6. In a mixing bowl, combine, cooked quinoa, mashed sweet potato,
   1/2 small red onion, diced,
   tin of black beans, drained,
   1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper,
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
   
   
7. Form patties and bake in a 190ºC oven for 15 minutes.
   
   
8. Flip patties over and bake for a further 15 minutes.
   
   
9. Serve on a
   mesclun salad with the avocado sauce drizzled over the top.

avocado hummus

Serves 2

Poppy cooks…

1. Blend together
   1/3 can chickpeas, drained,
   avocado,
   2 tablespoons olive oil,
   2 teaspoons tahini,
   1/4 lime, juiced,
   clove garlic,
   pinch of celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper and
   pinch of ground cumin for 3 minutes on speed 3 if you have a Thermomix.

chicken san choy bow

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Chop
   1 carrot and
   1/4 red cabbage in thermomix for 20 seconds at speed 4 then tip into a mixing bowl. Alternatively, julienne / thinly slice ingredients by hand.
   
   
2. Add to the mixing bowl
   1 lebanese cucumber, julienned and
   1 spring onion, thinly sliced then set aside.
   
   
3. Grill
   500g chicken tenderloins in
   olive oil with
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper.
   
   
4. While the chicken is cooking, in a small bowl mix together
   1/4 cup manuka honey,
   1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce,
   2 teaspoon white wine vinegar and
   1/2 lime, juiced.
   
   
5. Shred the chicken, then add it to the vegetables. Pour dressing on top and mix together.
   
   
6. Prepare
   12 iceberg lettuce cups, spoon filling into cups and sprinkle with
   fried shallots.

honey tofu with fried quinoa

Serves 3

Poppy cooks…

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together
   1/2 tablespoon olive oil,
   1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce,
   1 tablespoon coconut amino sauce,
   2 tablespoons manuka honey and
   juice of 1/4 lime.
   
   
2. Add
   packet firm tofu, cubed into mixture and marinade for at least half an hour.
   
   
3. In a deep frying pan on medium heat, fry
   1 cup quinoa until it crackles and becomes aromatic then set aside.
   
   
4. In a rice cooker, add
   onion, diced to the pan with
   olive oil and cook until lightly browned.
   
   
5. Add
   green chilli, deseeded and chopped and
   2 cloves garlic, minced and cook for 1 minute.
   
   
6. Add
   500ml vegetable stock and quinoa and cook until all the stock is absorbed.
   
   
7. While the quinoa is cooking, steam some
   asian greens in the steamer insert.
   
   
8. Also while the quinoa is cooking, cook the marinated tofu in a frying pan; cooking until the sauce caramelises, tossing frequently to coat the tofu.
   
   
9. Stir
   juice of 1/4 lime,
   4 spring onions, sliced diagonally,
   handful coriander, chopped and
   1/4 cup pepitas through the quinoa mixture.
   
   
10. Serve the tofu on top of the quinoa and sprinkle with
    sesame seeds, with the asian greens to the side.
    

prawn summer salad

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Dice
   300g sweet potato and place on a baking tray. Drizzle with
   olive oil  and season with
   celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper and roast in a 180ºC oven for 30 minutes.
   
2. On a serving platter or divided amongst 4 dinner plates, place
   2 cups iceberg lettuce, sliced,
   mango, diced,
   100g snow peas, sliced diagonally,
   1/2 cup red cabbage, sliced,
   avocado, diced and roasted sweet potato.
   
3. In a frying plan combine
   1 tablespoon olive oil,
   2 teaspoon lime juice,
   red chilli, finely chopped,
   bunch coriander, chopped,
   300g prawns, deveined and cook until the prawn flesh is no longer translucent.
   
4. Serve the prawns on top of the salad.

asian fusion salad

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. In a small pot bring to the boil
   3/4 cup quinoa in
   1.5 cups hot filtered water and simmer until liquid is absorbed.
   
   
2. In a salad bowl, place the quinoa with
   3/4 cup shelled edamame beans,
   red capsicum, diced,
   carrot, peeled into ribbons or grated,
   1 cup pineapple, cut into bite size pieces,
   1.5 cups purple cabbage, finely shredded and mix together.
   
   
3. In a small bowl, whisk together
   juice of 1/4 lime,
   1.5 tablespoons tamari sauce,
   tablespoon agave syrup and
   2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar.
   
   
4. Add dressing to salad and mix together.
   
   
5. Garnish with
   teaspoon sesame seeds.

vegan tortillas

Serves 12

Poppy cooks...

1. Cook
   1/4 cup red quinoa in
   3/4 cup hot filtered water and set aside.
   
   
2. In a large saucepan cook
   onion, diced and
   sweet potato, diced in
   olive oil until sweet potatoes are tender.
   
   
3. Add
   2 cloves garlic, minced and saute for 30 seconds.
   
   
4. Add cooked quinoa and cook for 5 minutes (don't worry if the quinoa gets crispy).
   
   
5. Add
   3/4 cup hot filtered water,
   410g tin diced tomato,
   1/4 teaspoon chilli powder,
   1 teaspoon smoked paprika,
   1 teaspoon ground cumin,
   1 teaspoon coconut sugar, and
   1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper bringing to the boil then reducing to a simmer for 5-10 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
   
   
6. Remove from the heat and stir through
   400g tin of black beans, drained and rinsed,
   1/4 cup coriander, chopped and
   juice of 1 lime.
   
   
7. To make the salsa, combine in a mixing bowl
   arils from 1 pomegranate,
   1/2 cup dried cranberries and
   zest and juice of 1 lime.
   
   
8. In a non-stock frying pan, heat up
   12 white corn tortillas as per packet instructions.
   
   
9. To assemble, spoon quinoa mixture down the centre of a tortilla, top with
   avocado, diced and finish with the salsa.

asian style salmon

Serves 2

A super easy Asian dish that you can easily multiply depending on how many serves you want to make. 

Poppy cooks…

1. Line a baking dish with foil and place
   2 salmon fillets, skin side down, in the baking dish.
   
   
2. Cover the fish with
   2 spring onions, diagonally sliced,
   1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced,
   2 garlic cloves, minced,
   knob of ginger, minced, and
   2 teaspoons sesame seeds.
   
   
3. Pour juice of
   1/4 lime,
   1.5 tablespoons tamari sauce and
   1 tablespoon coconut amino sauce over the ingredients.
   
   
4. Cover and bake in a 180˚C oven for 25 minutes.
   
   
5. While the fish is in the oven cook
   1 cup jasmine rice in a rice cooker, with a bunch of
   asian greens, chopped in the steamer tray.
   
   
6. Plate up rice, followed by greens, place salmon fillet on top, drizzle remaining sauce over the whole dish and garnish with fresh
   coriander.

noodle stir fry

Serves 4

Poppy cooks...

1. Blend
   juice of 1 lime,
   1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper,
   3/4 teaspoon ground ginger,
   4 tablespoons tamari sauce,
   2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar,
   3 tablespoons manuka honey and
   5 medjool dates, pitted in a food processor until dates are fully broken down and set aside.
   
   
2. In a wok or non-stick frying pan scramble
   4 eggs, whisked with a drop of olive oil and set aside.
   
   
3. In the same wok/pan, heat
   olive oil over medium heat before adding
   500g chicken tenderloins, diced with
   celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper for 3 minutes.
   
   
4. Add
   onion, thinly sliced and
   5 garlic cloves, minced until chicken is fully cooked and onion is browned. Drain any excess liquid.
   
   
5. Stir through
   1 packet of konjac or rice noodles, prepared according to instructions on packet,
   3 baby zucchini, julienned,
   2 carrots, julienned and
   2 spring onions, diagonally sliced tossing until ingredients start to stick to the pan.
   
   
6. Pour sauce over ingredients and stir to combine. Cook until sauce is absorbed/reduced.
   
   
7. Before serving, stir through egg and
   1/2 cup coriander, chopped.
   
   
8. Serve with
   lime wedge and garnish with
   coriander.

Notes
If you like spicy food, just increase the amount of cayenne pepper in the sauce. And if you aren't allergic to nuts like I am, then top this dish with some toasted cashews.

thai beef salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

1/2 cup quinoa

1 cup hot filtered water

500g fillet steak

1/4 red onion, finely diced

2 spring onions, sliced diagonally

red capsicum, finely sliced

handful bean sprouts

125g green beans, sliced diagonally

lebanese cucumber, chopped

green chilli, finely sliced

1 cup coriander, chopped

50ml tamari sauce

juice of 1 lime

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Method

1. Cook green beans
2. Cook quinoa in filtered hot water
3. Grill steak with seasoning until medium rare. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before slicing into thin pieces
4. Combine onion, spring onion, capsicum, bean sprouts, beans, cucumber, chilli, coriander, quinoa and steak in a large serving bowl
5. Mix together tamari sauce, lime juice and garlic to make dressing and pour over salad

Notes
Feel free to use more red onion if you like red onion, or try adding a red chilli too if you like really spicy food.

cauliflower paella

Serves 4

Ingredients

onion, diced

red capsicum, diced

3 celery stalks, chopped

1/2 cauliflower, diced in food processor

3 garlic cloves, crushed

3 teaspoons smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3/4 cup hot filtered water

1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt

bay leaf

cracked black pepper

1/2 cup artichokes, diced

400g tin diced tomato

1/4 cup olives, sliced

juice of 1 lime

parsley, for garnish

Method

1. Saute onion in olive oil
2. Add capsicum and celery until softened
3. Add cauliflower and stir for 3 minutes
4. Add garlic, paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper, water, bay leaf, salt, pepper, artichokes, tomato and olives
5. Bring to the boil, and reduce to a simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed
6. Serve with lime and parsley

Notes
A paella without rice?! Who knew cauliflower was such a great rice substitute. This vegetable-packed meal tastes even better the next day! I love to heat it up in the oven to caramelise it further until the top is slightly crunchy.

blueberry, lime + coconut cake

Serves 10

Dry ingredients

1/2 cup coconut flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

Wet ingredients

4 free-range eggs

3 tablespoons nuttelex, melted

juice + zest of 1 lime

zest of 1/2 lemon

6 tablespoons coconut milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

punnet (1/2 cup) blueberries

Glaze ingredients

1/4 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

30ml coconut cream

Pinch of celtic sea salt

25ml honey

15ml lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C
2. In a bowl combine dry ingredients
3. In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients, excluding blueberries
4. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients using a spatula
5. Combine blueberries into mixture
6. Spoon mixture into a cake tin and bake for 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean
7. Remove and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving
8. On low heat, combine glaze ingredients until smooth
9. Cool glaze in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before spreading over cake

Notes
This is a delightfully light and fluffy cake, due to the use of coconut flour. Like most cake recipes, you can use this same mixture to make muffins - this recipe makes about 6 large muffins.

jerk chicken with pineapple

Serves 6

You can adjust the heat of this one pot wonder by either de-seeding all the chillies or leaving them whole. You can also use any cut of chicken you prefer, or even roast a whole chicken!

Poppy cooks...

1. To make the marinade, place
   2 red chillies, 1 deseeded,
   3 garlic cloves,
   handful coriander,
   handful parsley,
   2 sprigs thyme,
   1 lime, zest and juice,
   3 tablespoons coconut sugar,
   1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon,
   1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg,
   1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt,
   1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper and
   1.5 tablespoons olive oil in a food processor and pulse until combined.
   
   
2. Poor the marinade into a plastic freezer bag, then add
   1kg chicken thigh fillets and massage the marinade into the chicken. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
   
   
3. Preheat the oven to 200°C and line a roasting pan with foil.
   
   
4. Scatter chicken in roasting pan and roast for 40 minutes until golden.
   
   
5. While the chicken is cooking, cook
   3 cups jasmine rice in
   6 cups filtered water.
   
   
6. Blanch
   2 cups green beans, sliced diagonally in hot filtered water.
   
   
7. 10 minutes before the chicken is finished, add
   2 cups pineapple, cut into pieces to the roasting pan.
   
   
8. Serve rice topped with chicken. Add green beans to roasting pan and toss with roasting juices before serving pineapple and green beans.

kaffir lime chicken with cucumber + mango salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 cups jasmine rice

16 kaffir lime leaves, centre vein removed, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

60ml (1/3 cup) lime juice (or juice from 1 fresh lime)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 lebanese cucumbers, halved lengthways, thinly sliced diagonally

mango, sliced

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup coriander

160ml (2/3 cup) coconut cream

500g chicken tenderloins, chopped (or pork)

Preparing the salad

Method

1. Cook rice
2. Combine 16 lime leaves, garlic, lime juice & oil in mixing bowl. Add chicken, coat, cover & place in fridge to marinade for 4-6 hours
3. Place cucumber, mango, onion & coriander in large bowl to make salad & toss
4. Drain chicken and cook in a non-stick frying pan
5. Serve rice, top with salad & chicken, and spoon over coconut cream to serve

The finished product!

Notes
Kaffir lime leaves can be quite hard to cut, so feel free to use kitchen scissors instead!