new: November 2015

Spicy Butternut Squash Soup

1 butternut squash peeled and chopped
1 large onion chopped
750 ml vegetable stock
1½ tbsp laksa spice mix
4 tbsp dairy free cream
2 tbsp rapeseed oil
Salt and pepper

Fry the onion in the oil for 10 mins until translucent, add the laksa spices (or your curry powder of choice) and cook for 5 mins on a low heat, to avoid burning the spices.

Add the squash and continue to cook for 5 mins, until the squash begins to soften, then add the stock.

Cook for another 15 mins, checking to see if the squash is tender by using a knife, then remove from the heat, add the cream and blitz with a stick blender until smooth. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.

Vegetable and Almond Feta Pie

1 packet of Jus Rol filo pastry
1 almond feta cheese (see recipe here)
200 g spring greens
150 g petit pois peas
30 g pine nuts
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper

Gently fry the spring greens and peas in 1 tbsp olive oil, until the greens have wilted and the peas are cooked. Add the pine nuts and crumble in the feta cheese, season with plenty salt and pepper and mix well together.

Remove the filo pastry from the packet, take one sheet and place on your work top, covering the rest with a damp tea towel so it does not dry out. Brush the filo sheet with the olive oil, cut in half and drape into and over the sides of a loose bottom tin.

Take one sheet of filo, brush with the oil, cut into four and place in the bottom of the tin, to ensure the base is completely covered and thick enough to avoid leakage and a soggy bottom. Continue the same method until all the filo pastry is used.

Fill the tin with the filling, pressing gently and drape the filo sheets over to make a top, decorate if you wish and brush the top with oil.

Bake at 180° until golden brown, covering the top with tinfoil if the top is starting to colour too much. Serve with new potatoes or roasted small potatoes and a tomato and onion salad.

Broccoli and Almond Soup

I had some broccoli that needed using and the first thing that sprang to mind was soup, so hence my simple, but delicious recipe for broccoli and almond soup.

1 large head of broccoli chopped
2 small onions chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
20 g ground almonds
750 ml vegetable stock
2 tbsp rapeseed oil
Salt and pepper

Serves 2

Put the almonds into a pan and toast them, stirring to avoid burning, until lightly browned, then remove from the pan and leave to one side.

Add the onion to the pan with the oil and cook for 5 mins, add the broccoli and garlic and cook for 5 mins, until the broccoli is tender when you stick a knife into it.

Add the stock, plenty salt and pepper and simmer for 10 mins until the vegetables are soft. Take off the heat, add the almonds, mix well and then blitz with a stick blender until thick and creamy.

Serve with a good grind of black pepper, toasted flaked almonds if you fancy and some crusty bread.

Pudlas

I have been meaning to make pudlas, Indian chickpea flour pancakes, after saving a recipe from The Sunday Times magazine a week or two ago, so decided to make them for dinner tonight.

125 g chickpea flour
200 ml water
½ tsp turmeric
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground coriander
1 green chilli finely chopped
25 g coriander chopped
1-2 tbsp rapeseed oil
Salt and pepper

Serves 2

Heat the oven to 150°. Sieve the chickpea flour into a bowl, add the turmeric, ginger, ground and fresh coriander, chilli and salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients together with a fork, add the water and whisk to make a thin batter, which should coat the back of a spoon, if the mixture is too thick, add a little more water.

Heat the oil in a frying pan, pour in a ladleful of the batter, cook for about 3 mins until golden on one side, flip over and cook for a further minute.

Remove the pudlas from the pan as you make them and layer between greaseproof paper on a plate and place in the oven to keep warm. The pudlas can be eaten as they are, with some mango chutney, lime pickle, onion chutney or vegan raita or filled with your curry of choice, I had them with potato and cauliflower coconut curry, rice and stir fried spicy greens.

Bertrams Restaurant Crow Wood Burnley - 21st November 2015

Friends of mine are big fans of Bertrams Restaurant and had invited me to join them for dinner, so I contacted Bertrams a good few weeks prior to our visit as to vegan options. The dishes I suggested, which were vegan versions of dishes already on their current menu, were no problem for chef.

Bertrams is part of Crow Wood Health and Leisure complex set in 100 acres of woodland, it is a pretty awesome place and the restaurant itself is modern but cosy. We had drinks in the bar and were then shown to our table. I had ordered a starter of Asian stir fry vegetables with Chinese pancakes and hoisin sauce, the vegetables were delicious, with a lovely smoky flavour and sesame seeds gave a bit of a crunch, a perfect starter for me. Sadly my photos are a little grainy, which I think is due to the low lighting but also my mobile phone camera needing a clean!

Main course was to be a vegan take on fish and chips, but with tempura vegetables, chips, mushy peas and tomato ketchup instead of tartare sauce. However I only got tempura vegetables so no mushy peas or chips, but one of the best tomato sauces I have had, it was fantastic.

I wondered if there had been some miscommunication to the kitchen regarding my order, but I did not want to cause a fuss, because everyone else had their main courses and it is awkward when you are a guest. I did wonder if the chips and mushy peas were not vegan, but thoroughly enjoyed the tempura which was a healthy portion, but chips and mushy peas would have been a great addition. I would certainly visit Bertrams again though, as chef Spencer Burge and his team, certainly get some flavour into their food.

The Aspinall Arms Mitton Road Whalley - 19th November 2015

I have not reviewed The Aspinall Arms for awhile, but had some vouchers that had to be spent before the end of November, so tonight was my opportunity. I love the place and always look forward to seeing what is on the menu and tonight was no exception, although I forgot to take a photo of the menu but options were:

Starters
Waldorf salad with mimosa dressing
Butternut squash risotto, with pumpkin seeds and sunblushed tomatoes (main course optional)

Mains
Moroccan chickpea salad with apricots, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, almonds and harissa dressing
Tofu salad with vermicelli noodles and sesame dressing
Roast aubergine with vegetables and tomato sauce

Dessert
Trio of sorbets
Fruits and berries with sorbet

I chose the Waldorf salad which was nicely presented, with lots of rocket, gem lettuce, apple, grapes, walnuts, celery and a light tasty dressing. I am not a huge portion person and so I like to chose a salad type of starter and this was perfect.

Mains was a huge portion of the aubergine dish, with a side of chips, but I did rather well on the eating front, good job I did not order a risotto starter!

I chose a very nice bottle of Boutinot 'Les Coteaux' Côtes du Rhône Villages a vegan wine, which went really well with the main course. I really love the fact that Boutinot make it so easy to decide which wines are vegan, as on their tasting notes and product information, they say whether the wine is vegan or not.

I was way to full for pudding, so just had a large espresso to finish the meal. Service throughout was excellent and I have to repeat what I said in previous reviews, that The Aspinall Arms gets a big thumbs up for their vegan menu and long may it continue.

Evuna Deansgate Manchester - 14th November 2015

I love tapas and wanted to visit Evuna so booked their Deansgate restaurant at 21.45 on a Saturday night, the place is cosy and warm, just the ticket, as the weather outside was torrential rain and cold.

We had a cosy table for two in the window, were given menus and our drinks order was taken. I knew they had vegan options available, as I had already made enquires, so chose carrots and runner beans with pine nuts, oven roasted vegetables, tomato and onion salad and patatas bravas. The lighting was quite dim so the photos do not do the food justice, but I thoroughly enjoyed all the food, especially the carrot dish.

The place was busy even so late on at night and service was friendly and efficient, so I will definitely revisit, but next time I will pay their Northern Quarter site a visit.

The 8th Day Vegan Wine Tasting Manchester - 15th November 2015

I have only been to The 8th Day once and that was for breakfast, but being a wine lover, could not resist attending their vegan wine tasting, hosted by Linda Ward of Vintage Roots Organic Wines. I thought the price of £10 per person, which included seven wines and vegan canapes was an absolute bargain.

There were about thirty people attending and we sat in two's or groups of six and as the night went on and the wines were drunk, the noise levels rose, it was good fun.

The wines we sampled were:

DOC Prosecco Spumante Tasi Fasoli Gino Italy

VDP Cotes de Gascogne Les Quatres Cepages, Domaine de Pajot France

Reserve Chardonnay Domaine Bousquet Argentina

Pure Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Brau, France

Merlot Reserve Domane Bousquet Argentina

Heaven on Earth Stellar South Africa

DOC Rioja Otis Tarda Crianza Bodegas Navarioja Spain

Linda spoke as to what makes a wine vegan (no animal products used in the fining process) and that more wines are vegan, than you would think, but the wine maker is not required to state what fining product is used on the label. However the European Union will be introducing legislation in the near future, which is excellent news for us vegans. Linda talked us through each wine, explaining the wine making method and also which foods matched each wine.

I hope The 8th Day have other wine tastings, as I would definitely return.

Comptoir Libanais Spinningfields Manchester - 14th November 2015

I visited Comptoir Libanais on a dank and wet Saturday lunchtime and the place lifts your mood as soon as you walk through the door, it is so colourful and bright, even the menu!

I had been on their website and found it easy to decide on vegan options, as there is a search filter, so I knew there was a good selection of dishes for me to choose from. I chose baba ghanju dip, fattoush salad and batata harra, a spiced potato dish, all tasty and delicious and just the kind of food I love, fresh and light.

I had an excellent mug of black Americano coffee, but a big thumbs up to Comptoir Libanais, as they serve soya or almond milk.

The Manchester branch had only opened two days earlier, but we had excellent service from Lorenzo our waiter who had moved up to Manchester from one of their London branches. We had a chat with Charli, who I presume is the Manager and she explained that all the tiles, teapots, bags, foodstuffs and everything for sale, in the front part of the building were all authentic and imported from Lebanon. Everywhere you look is a big splash of vibrant colour, even the ladies toilets!