Georgina Hayden

Feeding since 1982

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Sweet tahini Easter bread

03.04.2016 by georgie // Leave a Comment


Greek Lent is almost here! I normally just give up one thing (coffee, cheese, chocolate…) but this year I’m going to do it properly, I’m going to basically be vegan for 50 days. OK, so it’s not as straight forward as that, there are some days you can eat fish, and some days you can’t eat olive oil, but I’ll turn to my yiayia for guidance. I still find it quite confusing. Anyway, I’m going to try, and I’ll share my progress with you all and hopefully find and create some exciting recipes in the process

So, the bread. The inspiration for this recipe, tahinopita, is one of my favourite things about Greek Easter. Traditionally eating during times of lent and fasting, you can buy individual ones all year round from Greek and Turkish bakers (or make it yourself of course). But growing up it was always eaten around Easter time, due to its lack of animal products, and I just love it. The soft dough, caramelised crispy edges, and gooey middle (a bit like frangipane)… insanely moreish.

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Most commonly known for its addition to houmous, savoury dishes and dressings, tahini is brilliant for baking with. Sweetened, like in this recipe, it has a peanut butter vibe, and works wonderfully with honey, maple syrup or brown sugars. (Also a little bit in a smoothie with banana, honey, milk and cinnamon is ridiculously good). The most complicated thing about this recipe is making the bread, which isn’t difficult at all, I promise. The filling and ring part is even easier, and is perfect for a rainy day at home. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Read on for recipe…

Categories // Baking & puddings, Breakfast & brunch, Greek and Cypriot Tags // Baking, Breakfast, Cyprus, Dairy-free, Greek, Sweets, Vegan, Vegetarian

Wild garlic pudla

03.17.2015 by georgie // 3 Comments

The Hayden household is slowly on the mend. But if I am honest I’m still not feeling tip top and more than ever I need some healing meals. I’ve got a few more days resting up at home and I’m making a conscious effort to up my game on the cooking front. Up until now, I’ve been all about comfort, which is fine for a while but I definitely need some more nutrients in my life. There has been a lot of soup, cheese on toast, and if I am really honest there has been a lot of chocolate (I know, I know, I blame all the Easter eggs in the shops. Tis the season). I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself but no amount of chocolate mini eggs are going to make me feel better (they actually make me feel worse! My jeans are definitely feeling a little snug), so it’s all about the fruit bowl and proper cooking from now on; I’ve given myself a good ol’ kick up the backside.

 

Wild garlic pudla
Wild garlic pudla

Today my aim was to get as much iron and as many nutrients into my lunch as possible, so I made pudla – an Indian chickpea pancake.  Read more…

Categories // Light meals, Main meals, Vegan and Vegetarian Tags // Avocado, Chickpea, Dairy-free, Fertility, Gluten-free, Indian, Mains, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Pumpkin seeds, Spinach, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat-free

My ‘go to’ South Indian dal recipe

01.05.2015 by georgie // 10 Comments

When I published my dal makhani recipe a month or so ago a friend said she loved the sound of it but didn’t have the time to make it (it does take several hours), and do I have any other dal recipes that are quicker? Well, I love nothing more than a request, and of course! I’m just ashamed it’s taken me so long to upload to be honest (I blame the madness of Christmas and New Year).

So, my ‘go to’ South Indian dal. It isn’t strictly authentic, but it is based on several trips to South Indian and eating lots of dal laden with mustard seeds, curry leaves and coconut. This is a real store cupboard comfort food recipe for me; I always have yellow split peas in the cupboard, (it covers so many cuisines – Greek Fava, Swedish soup, Pease pudding, Indian dal…), low fat coconut milk is a key dry store staple for me and my biggest tip? Buy a big bag of curry leaves when you find them and pop them in the freezer. They freeze well and it means they’re always on hand. (You’ll find them in any Indian supermarket or sometimes online. You can use dry if you have them but they’re not as punchy and don’t fry as well).

It might not look like much but this dal is incredibly comforting and really is delicious. It is wholesome, filling and packed with iron and it freezes wonderfully, so perfect for a rainy day. Sarah, I hope you like it!

South Indian dal
South Indian dal

 

MY ‘GO TO’ SOUTH INDIAN DAL

Serves 4 – 6 (serve it as is for a filling and hearty soup or with basmati rice as a meal)

  • 300g yellow split peas, soaked for 20-30 minutes before cooking
  • Groundnut oil or coconut oil
  • 2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, finely sliced
  • a thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 heaped teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 heaped teaspoon heaped ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tin of low fat coconut milk
  • 20 curry leaves
  • 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
  • 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely sliced
  • Half a lemon
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pour a lug of groundnut or coconut oil into a large non-stick saucepan and place on a medium low heat. Add the onion, ginger, most of the garlic and saute the veg for 10 minutes until softened but not coloured. Add the turmeric, cumin, coriander and cinnamon and fry for a further 2- 3 minutes.

Drain the yellow split peas, rinse and add to the pan along with the can of coconut milk. Add 600ml of water to the pan, or more, ensure that the split peas are completely covered. Gently bring to the boil and then lower to a simmer and cover the pan. Cook over a low heat for around 1 hour and 15 – 20 mins, so that the split peas have completely cooked through and have turned to mush. Check the dal every so often during cooking, and top up the water if it feels like it is getting too thick. You’ll probably need to add a splash here and then. Squeeze in the lemon juice, season to taste and leave to one side.

EDIT/ NB: Someone just asked me on Instagram if I pureed my dal, as it looks so smooth, which I didn’t. But having said that I did use yellow split peas I bought in Greece which become very creamy. If your peas haven’t completely broken down then do try pureeing them with a hand/ stick blender for a smooth finish.

Add a few tablespoons of groundnut or coconut oil to a small frying pan and place on a medium heat. After a minute or so add the mustard seeds and fry for around 30 secs – 1 minute until the seeds start to pop. Once they do add the garlic, curry leaves and chilli and fry everything for a few minutes, until the garlic and chilli are golden and the leaves look translucent.

Check your dal, as it will probably have thickened a little as it cools, so add a splash of boiling water if it feels too thick. Serve the dal in bowls, and drizzle a little of the temper over the dal- the flavoured oil and leaves, chilli and mustard seeds.

TIPS:

  • l love this recipe with spinach added at the end of cooking. Stir in a handful of frozen spinach balls for the last 5 – 10 minutes of cooking, or a large bag of baby spinach chopped up for the last few minutes. Great for an added iron boost.
  • I didn’t have any fresh green chillies to add to my temper for the picture above, so I ended up just giving it a drizzle of chilli oil before eating, which is totally acceptable too!

Categories // Light meals, Main meals, Vegan and Vegetarian Tags // Dairy-free, Dal, Gluten-free, India, Mains, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Soup, Starter, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat-free

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Georgina is an award winning food writer, cook and presenter from North London.
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