Category Archives: Lunch

The creamy texture of the polenta and cheesy nutritional yeast makes it a perfect comfort food for a warming winter dish. I’m in love with nutritional yeast. I know the name does’t sound that appetising, but the yeast itself is grown on beets and dehydrated, so don’t let the word “yeast” scare you away. Since it is plant derived and dried out, it’s free of the harmful candida that can wreck havoc on your digestive system. This magical yellow flakes not only add a nice and cheesy taste to the dish but also provide a enormous benefit to a vegetarian diet. It is jam-packed with essential minerals and vitamins. It is a good source of vitamin B12 and folic acid, high in fibre and protein, and totally gluten-free. It is also naturally low in sodium, making it a perfect addition for those monitoring their sodium intake. For this recipe, you can top with any seasonal vegetables. Root veggie hash such as parsnip, beets and pumpkin might be nice, too. Or a poached egg on top if you want more protein.

Ingredients

1/2 cup fine polenta
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 cup water or vegetable stock
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 cups of chard leaves, roughly chopped
1 cup of wild mushrooms, sliced
1 tsp Himalayan salt
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
a squeeze of lemon
pepper to taste
a handful of pepitas

To make a polenta cake, place polenta and water or vegetable stock in a saucepan and bring it up to a boil. Simmer on low heat and keep stirring for 20-30 minutes until creamy and thick. Add nutritional yeast and season with salt. Stir to combine. Pour the polenta into a bowl or ramekin and set aside. Heat coconut oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms, garlic and cayenne pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Add chopped chard leaves and balsamic vinegar into a pan and cook for another 5 minutes. Add squeeze of lemon and pepper to taste. To assemble, place a polenta cake in the middle of the plate, top with sauteed chard and mushrooms, sprinkle pepitas and drizzle olive oil on top.

Tempeh is a high-protein food made from fermented soybeans. It is similar to tofu, but the texture isn’t soft and mushy. The taste is quite different, as well – mild nutty flavour. Being high in protein and a complete protein food, and cholesterol-free, tempeh is a great alternative to meat for vegetarians and vegans. Soy products reduce cholesterol, increase bone density, reduce menopausal symptoms and satisfy your hunger. Tempeh’s fermentation process decreases the phytic acid, which is found in soybeans and interferes with the absorption of zinc and other essential minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and copper. Healthy bacteria from fermentation is also great for your digestive system.
Ingredients

100g tempeh
1 tsp coconut oil
1 bunch of broccolini
1 tsp of sesame seeds

For sauce
1 orange
1 tbsp coconut amino sauce* (or tamari sauce)
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp maple syrup
pepper to taste

Cut the tempeh into cubes and set aside. Mix squeezed orange juice, orange zest and other sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium heat and cook tempeh 3-5 minutes each side until lightly browned. Add the sauce and steamed broccolini and cook until the sauce is reduced. Take it off the heat and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with sesame seeds.

* Coconut amino sauce is an alternative to soy sauce. You can find in local health food shops. The coconut aminos is made from the raw sap of the coconut tree, naturally aged and is blended with sun-dried sea salt. It has got a great amino acid content. You can pretty much use it instead of soy sauce in dressing, stir-fry, marinade and dipping sauce.