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Month: September 2018

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Blog Uncategorized

The Healthy Falafel Recipe You Have To Try

Healthy Falafel Recipe

Falafel is a Middle Eastern food that originated in Egypt. Falafel is made up mostly of ground chickpeas, although traditionally it was made up of fava beans.

Falafel is most commonly served in pita bread with hummus, or on a bed on the salad with tahini sauce or as part of a mezze.

Healthy-Falafel-Recipe

Is falafel healthy?

Chickpea falafel is good for you because chickpeas are packed with vitamins and minerals. Their health benefits include being high in protein, improving digestion, aiding weight management and decreasing the risk of disease. Because it is high in protein, falafel is also a great meat replacement for vegetarians and vegans.

How to make falafel: healthy falafel recipe

You can make falafel at home with this easy-to-follow recipe.

Ingredients (serves 20 falafel balls):

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas
  • 1 ½ large onion, chopped (1 for garnish)
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1 green capsicum, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon dried red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Vegetable oil
  • 4-6 teaspoon plain flour
  • Pita bread
  • Tahini sauce

Method (prepare the day before):

  1. In a large bowl, put the dried chickpeas and cover with water so that the chickpeas are submerged by at least 2 inches. Leave to soak overnight. (You can also make falafel with canned chickpeas.)
  2. The next day, blend together the chickpeas, chopped onion, parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, hot red pepper and salt.
  3. Add the baking powder and plain flour to the mix so it’s no longer sticky.
  4. Using your hands, make 20 round balls out of the mixture.
  5. Put the balls into the refrigerator and let cool for 3 hours.
  6. In a large wok, heat the vegetable oil and lightly fry the falafel balls for a few minutes on each side, until brown.
  7. Serve by putting the falafel into pitas, and garnish with chopped onion, tomato and tahini sauce.

Cooking falafel is so easy that anyone can do it! Try it for yourself and indulge in the traditional Middle Eastern cuisine at home!

Categories
Uncategorized Blog

Tabbouleh: The Perfect Healthy Dish For Those On A Budget

Healthy Salad Dish

Tabbouleh is a salad that originates from the Middle East, often used as a part of a mezze. It is fresh, light, incredibly healthy and inexpensive to prepare. If you’re on a budget but are looking for a dish that is both healthy and simple, Tabbouleh salad is for you.

Healthy-Dish

What is in Tabbouleh?

Tabbouleh is traditionally made up of finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, onion, mint, bulgur wheat and seasoned with salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice.

Instead of bulgur Tabbouleh, other variations include couscous or quinoa Tabbouleh. All variations are healthy. You may also choose to add garlic or lettuce to the parsley Tabbouleh salad.

Tabbouleh salad recipe: how to make Tabbouleh salad

Ingredients you’ll need (6 servings)

  • 1 cup chopped plum tomatoes
  • 2 chopped green onions
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 3 large garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • 1 cup bulgur wheat
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup boiling water

Method (45-50 minutes – can be prepared the day before):

  1. Mix the garlic in a bowl with the lemon juice and olive oil.
  2. In another bowl, put the bulgur wheat and cover with boiling water. Let the bulgur stand until the water has been absorbed (approximately 15 minutes).
  3. When the water is absorbed, add the finely chopped onion, parsley, mint and tomatoes.
  4. Add in the oil, garlic and lemon juice, and toss all together.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and let stand, chilled, until flavours have blended in (approximately 30 minutes)

To save money, you can make the Tabbouleh salad in bulk and store it in the fridge, dipping into it throughout the week.

Tabbouleh salad can be enjoyed on its own, or as a side dish to other ingredients like meat, falafel, bread or hummus.

However you choose to eat your Tabbouleh salad, you can rest assured knowing it’s an incredibly healthy option full of fresh ingredients and is incredibly tasty. Better yet, it is cheap to prepare!

Categories
Blog Pizza

Top 10 Lip-Smacking Pizza Crusts That Will Blow Your Mind

Smacking Pizza Crusts

Sure, we all get excited about our pizza toppings, but nothing beats an amazing crust! The humble pizza crust doesn’t get nearly enough good press as it deserves – so here are ten lip-smacking styles of pizza crust that are sure to blow you away (and work up your appetite!)

1. Cauliflower Pizza Crust
A delicious, healthy pizza crust that is low-carb! Cauliflower pizza crust has become increasingly popular as we’ve all become more health conscious. A large cauliflower gets blended until it resembles cous-cous. It’s baked for 15 minutes, and then the water is squeezed out with cheesecloth. You’re left with a gorgeous dough to construct a delicious pizza crust with

2. Gluten Free Pizza Crust
Yay! Finally, a crust for the gluten-intolerant. Gluten-free pizza crust means than everyone can enjoy a mouth-watering pizza.

3. Thin Pizza Crust
The thin pizza crust is ultra-traditional. Crispy and delicate, you’ll find you can fit in more sumptuous pizza when you have a thinner crust in front of you.

4. Stuffed Crust Pizza
Possible the King of Crusts, stuffed crust pizza is a wonderful modern edition to the pizza world. Stuffed crust can contain mushrooms, cheese – basically, any pizza topping can be used to fill up a gorgeous flaky crust.

5. Wood Fired Pizza Crust
Wood-fired pizza crust captures that irresistible smoky flavour of the oven. It doesn’t get any better than that heavenly, charcoal crunch.

6. Deep Dish Pizza Crust
Instantly recognisable, the deep-dish pizza is characterised by a very high edge. More room for cheese and extra toppings.

7. Vegan Pizza Crust
Another inclusive pizza crust that lets our vegan friends take a bite of the action! No animal products in sight.

8. Zaatar Pizza Crust
Middle Eastern herbs go so well with pizza, so a Zaatar pizza crust is a guaranteed party for your taste buds.

9. Focaccia Style Crust
Nothing like a thick focaccia crust infused with herbs and olive oil to give your meal that savory flavour.

10. Double Crust Pizza
Also known as a Calzone, because the crust is folded over to make a pizza pocket. This is truly one for the crust lovers!

Next time you order a pizza, opt for one of these incredible crusts and really vamp up your meal!

Categories
Lebanese Food Blog

Why Lebanese Cuisine Should Make Its Way into Your Kitchen

Fresh Salads Sydney

Lebanese cuisine is amongst the freshest and tastiest in the world – so why wouldn’t you start introducing it to your own kitchen? Grilled meats like shawarma, gorgeous pastries like baklava, even the classic combination of pita bread and babaghannouj, are all memorable Lebanese dishes that you can serve right at home.


The Lebanese Essentials

Before you embark on your Lebanese odyssey, there are some basic ingredients that you should have close to hand.

Olives: Olive oil, and olives as they are, heavily present in Lebanese menus. There are over 170,000 olive producers in Lebanon because there is clearly a market for them! Olives and olive oil help to lower our ‘bad’ cholesterol and raise our ‘good’ cholesterol.

Onions & Garlic: Onions are an integral part of Lebanese stews, and garlic is undoubtedly the most common flavouring. You can find it in dips, sauces, pesto and stews.

Lemons: Lemons and lemon juice are another crucial components of Lebanese food. You’ll need copious lemon juice to make a truly tangy, tasty hummus or fresh tabouli.

Herbs & Spices: The essential herbs and spices you’ll need for authentic Lebanese dishes include mint, coriander, cinnamon, sumac, and parsley.

Easy Lebanese Meals

Amongst the best dishes to attempt as a beginner are:

Kafta – Lebanese mince meat skewers made of lamb or beef.

Babaghannouj – creamy eggplant dip that’s perfect with a piece of soft pita bread.

Tabouli – the vegetarian salad that consists of finely chopped parsley, Bulgar wheat, tomatoes, mint, onion, with lemon juice and olive oil mixed through (delicious!)

Shawarma – juicy, well-seasoned grilled meats.

Tabouli Recipe

Ingredients (Serves 4)

  • 1 handful of mint leaves
  • 1 bunch of flat leaf parsley
  • 1-2 lemons
  • 2 tbsp fine bulgar wheat
  • 3-4 diced tomatoes
  • 2 white onions finely chopped
  • Salt & pepper
  • Olive oil

Method

  • Finely shred the parsley and mint.
  • Juice the lemons and pour over the bulgur wheat and set aside to soften for ten minutes.
  • Combine the parsley, mint, soften bulgar wheat, tomato and onion in a bowl.
  • Season with salt & pepper, add olive oil and mix.
  • Add more olive oil and/or lemon juice according to taste.