Twisted Waldorf Salad In a Wrap with Sweet Potato Chips

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Classic Waldorf salad consists of slices of apple, celery and walnut on a bed of lettuce dressed in mayo. Just in case if you are wondering, the name comes from the Waldorf Hotel in New York City where the salad was first created between 1893 and 1896. I made my own twist on it today, changing ingredients a little bit and making a healthy “mayo”. You can add chopped chicken or boiled eggs to add more protein in this salad as well.

For the healthy chips, I baked sweet potatoes instead of deep fried white potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, B vitamins, potassium, and iron. They provide a ton of antioxidants for free-radical fighting and anti-inflammatory properties. They’re also low on the glycemic index, meaning their natural sugars won’t spike your body’s blood sugar, plus they’ll keep you fuller for longer. Sweet potatoes are also loaded with fiber. It keeps your bowels healthy, helps to prevent diabetes and heart disease, and maintains healthy nutrition and body function. When you make crispy sweet potato chips it is important to slice as evenly as possible and pat dry really well before you dress with spices and oil.

Moving onto the dressing. I like using a tahini dressing in salads. A little teaspoon has a powerful flavour – nutty and creamy, a good replacement for mayonnaise. It is tasty as well as nutritious. Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds that is loaded with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as a good amount of protein, thiamin, phosphorus, and copper.
Waldorf salad wrapIngredients

1 cup of chopped lettuce
1 pear sliced
1 carrot shaved
a handful of toasted walnut
a handful of dried cranberries

For the wrap
1 cup of wholemeal spelt flour
water
olive oil
a pinch of salt

For the spicy “mayo” dressing
1 tsp of home-made harissa (blend red chili, tomato, garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, chili flakes, tarragon, pepper and olive oil)
1 tsp of tahini paste
1 tsp of apple cider vinegar
1 tsp of honey
1 tsp of warm water
salt and pepper to taste

Sweet potato chipsFor Sweet potato chips
1/2 sweet potato
1 tsp of paprika
1 tsp of coconut oil
salt and pepper

Posted in: Dinner, Lunch, My recipes, Vegetarian

Carob Prune Protein Balls

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Carob Prune BallsCarob powder is similar to cocoa and cacao, but doesn’t have caffeine. So if you get headaches or restless nights after eating chocolates, carob may be a better choice for you. It has less calories than cocoa and is also naturally fat-free. I find it tastes naturally sweeter so you don’t have to add as much in recipes. I have used dates to make power balls so far, but experimented with prunes today.

Prunes are also high in minerals and vitamin C and K. They are good for your digestion, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. If you are sensitive to high fructose, then it is better to use other dried fruits instead of dates.

Nuts are all good for you. I like using different kinds of nuts here. Cashew for creamy texture and iron, zinc and copper, almonds for calcium and vitamin E, walnuts for healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Feel free to use other kinds, too. Brazil nuts for selenium, macadamia nuts for thiamin, hazel nuts for manganese and vitamin B6, peanuts for protein. Go nuts and make some power balls x

Ingredients

1 cup of prunes
1/2 cup of rolled oats
1 cup of mixed nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts)
1 scoop of whey protein powder
1 tbsp of carob powder
a pinch of Himalayan salt

Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend well. If the mixture is too dry, add a bit of water. If too wet, add some more oats or nuts. Make little balls and keep in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Posted in: Dessert, Gluten Free, My recipes, Snack, Vegetarian

Chocolate Granola

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Chocolate GranolaAfter making home-made granola last time, it’s Chocolate Granola today. It is a healthy and guilt free way to indulge in some early morning chocolate. Never early for chocolate right? Well..a good kind of chocolate! It is naturally sweetened with a small amount honey and is high in fiber and protein from oats, nuts and seeds. The raw cacao powder is full of antioxidants and it is naturally vegan, dairy free and gluten free. It is delicious in a bowl with nut milk or yogurt. You can also sprinkle over a your smoothie or fruit salad. I make homemade granola about every month or so. But, if you are a busy mum or have no time standing by the oven, then make a batch and keep in the freezer, where it keeps fresh for months. It just takes 5 minutes for the dried fruit to soften up out of the fridge. Feel free to put more cacao powder or even add melted dark chocolate if you are a chocolate lover x

Ingredients

500g rolled oats
1/2 cup of raw cacao powder
1/4 cup of coconut sugar
1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup
3 tbsp of peanut butter, melted
1 tbsp of cinnamon powder
1/4 cup of melted coconut oil
1 tsp of fine sea salt

Add-ins: Linseed, coconut chips, almonds, apricots, pepitas, sultanas, sunflower seeds

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and combine well. Spread mixture out in an even layer on a lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven (170) for 40-50 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Take it out of the oven, cool it down and mix with add-ins. Cool completely before storing in a glass jar.

Posted in: Baking, Breakfast, My recipes, Vegetarian

Healthy Hot Chocolate

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Hot chocolateI have a long list of favorite comforting foods. Hot chocolate is one of them. Once you taste this healthy hot chocolate you won’t be able to order one at the cafe cause the cafe one is way too sweet. My version is made of raw cacao and almond milk, full of goodness and guilt-free. Raw cacao is full of antioxidants and happy hormone serotonin, boosting your immune system and mood. Almond milk has plant protein, healthy fats and vitamin E for healthy heart and glowing hair and skin. Trust me on this! It tastes incredible as good or even better than the conventional recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup of almond milk
1 tablespoon of coconut sugar (or any kind of sweetener you have)
2 tablespoons of raw cacao (not cocoa! don’t get confused >.<)
a pinch of sea salt
a pinch of cinnamon powder
a pinch of vanilla bean powder (paste or extract is fine)

Put all ingredients in a saucepan and heat gently. Stir and make sure all ingredients combine together. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy x

Posted in: Drinks, Gluten Free, My recipes, Snack, Vegetarian

Vegetable Soup with Saffron and Turmeric

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Vegetable soupMy typical lunch in a bowl. It’s a vegetable soup today. Weather is finally cooling down now, perfect for making a nourishing soup! I like making salads too but my body is calling for a bowl of warm soup in this weather. I threw in chopped onion, pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower and peas into a pot. Bring it to boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until cooked. I also added a pinch of saffron and a teaspoon of turmeric and cardamom into my soup to make it more nutritious and beautiful. 

Saffron is well known for a very expensive and amazing medicinal spice. It is full of antioxidants protecting you from oxidant-induced stress, cancers and infections. It is a good source of minerals and vitamins. Saffron has been traditionally used as anti-depressant, antiseptic, digestive and anti-convulsant. For ladies, it also has beauty benefits for beautiful radiant skin. You can buy either threads or powdered form at the spice markets, but ground saffron has a shorter shelf life. You need to keep them in a closed box and in a dark cool place away from the light. I like its distinctive flavour, aroma and beautiful colour, great both in savoury and sweet dishes. Add a pinch when cooking rice, risotto, pilaf, quinoa, or paella, making a soup, baking a cake, making a warm drink. It is very versatile and a pinch is enough for the full flavour and colour. I paid about 7 dollars for a 1g box. It is a bit expensive, but remember you use only a pinch for the entire recipe and it is so worth it!

Posted in: Dinner, Gluten Free, Lunch, My recipes, Vegetarian