Smoky Bonfire night baked beans

It's Bonfire Night tomorrow, an evening of fireworks, sparkles, chilly feet and warming comfort food. Thinking about it, it seems a strange event to mark each year in our increasingly secular multicultural society - a day to commemorate the failure to blow up Parliament, a plot devised by Catholics against Protestants. Remarkably, it was actually illegal NOT to celebrate Bonfire Night up until 1959!

No matter what the historical background is, many of us still celebrate the events of 5th November in our own way. Now that my kids are pretty much independent, there's no real excuse to set off our own fireworks, but I do love watching everyone's displays. Although, after having been in India during Diwali, our fireworks are more damp squibs than the thunderous assault of noise and colour you experience there!
Bonfire night makes me think of food - thick comforting soup and piping hot baked potatoes always spring to mind, as do Boston beans. Traditionally made with fatty pork rind and thick molasses, my husband's best friend made these beans for a couple of Bonfire nights we celebrated together in our early 20's (along with lots of alcohol I seem to remember!). Deep smoky, rich flavours mixed with hearty beans, they were perfect for a cold winters night spent in the garden with colourful explosives.
Beans are of course a fantastic source of protein, fibre and micronutrients, and a staple in any diet, plant based or otherwise. Research has found they can help reduce the onset of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and that if more were included in everyone's diet it would have a big impact on long term health.
So as it's that time of year, I've made my own smoky baked beans, similar to Boston beans but of course plant based and animal free. Packed full of deep smoky flavours, you can make this on the cooker top, in the oven or in a slow cooker if you have one to hand. And if you have time, make it the day before so the flavours have a chance to develop. Serve on top of a crunchy skin baked potato with a good dollop of dairy free sour cream, this will keep you so warm and snuggly whilst you partake in our slightly odd historical celebration and enjoy the fireworks.
Smoky baked beans

400g tin of beans (flageolet are good)
1 red onion
1 large clove garlic
500g carton passata
1 heaped teaspoon smoked paprika
1 heaped teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
salt and pepper
coconut amines or tamari
If you are baking in the oven, pre-heat to 150ºC and use an oven proof pan like Le Crueset if you have it. If you are using a slow cooker, prepare in a saucepan and transfer to the pot at the oven stage of the recipe.
Finely dice the onion and garlic clove. Heat the pan and add a little olive oil or water, then sauté the onion until it starts to soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for a minute, making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Pour in the passata and stir in the spices, coconut sugar and vinegar and stir well to combine. Fill the passata carton with water and add to the pan. Stir in the beans then add salt and pepper plus tamari or coconut amines to taste (this provides a deep, umami flavour). Put the lid on the pan.
If you are using a slow cooker, pour the mix into the bowl, put on the lid and leave to cook for 6 -8 hours.
If you are cooking in the oven, now is the time to pop it in. If you are cooking on the hob, turn down the heat and simmer. For both the oven and hob, stir after an hour and add more water if it's drying out. Do the same after 2 hours and check the flavour - your beans will be ready after about 2 1/2 hours. If you are making in advance, leave to cool then reheat gently.
Serve on pipping hot baked potatoes. Enjoy!

Original kedgeree

Every now and then my husband gets the urge to have a session in the kitchen. Apart from the inevitable mess, I love it when he's inspired to try out something different - not only does it give me the night off, but it's usually something he's been thinking about for a while and researched within an inch of it's life. Big contrast to my sudden inspiration, throwing things together to see what happens approach!

He's been mainly plant based for over a year and a half now which is quite a surprise to both of us! Having gone for it, he's quite happy not to go back eating to meat and dairy for now as it stops him from pigging out on pastries and burgers. There are a few things he misses though (thankfully beer is plant based). Oddly, one is kedgeree, something we rarely ate but obviously on his list of 'foods I love'. So he decided to get researching to make a completely plant based version.
It didn't take him long to discover the original version of kedgeree - kichiri, a simple Indian comfort food, traditionally given to those under the weather. Legend has it that kedgeree, which includes milk, fish and egg, was devised by Colonial Brits in India, then brought back to England, although according to Wikipedia, there is some contention that it appeared in Scotland in the 1700's; the India connection remains intact though. When exactly a fish, rice and egg combo became a breakfast dish, I'm not so sure.
Kichiri is the perfectly balanced plant based dish. A mixture of rice, lentils and some super spices, it's tasty, satisfying and remarkably moreish despite the simplicity. The lentils give it a little bit of texture and it's aromatic rather than spiciness, so gentler on the palate.
Rice and lentils create the perfect plant based protein - both these lovelies contain the full range of essential amino acids. Even though it's one of the top arguments detractors will come up with when you decide to go plant based, there's no fear about missing out on protein as long as you eat a wide range of products. And of course wholegrain is best as more nutrients are retained. And lentils give you much more than just protein - they also have a wonderful dollop of fibre, manganese, iron and B vitamins amongst others.
A cucumber raita completes this dish perfectly - using dairy free yoghurt of course! You could get flashy and add make a little spicy tempering to go on the top - toasted cumin and mustard seeds with a couple of dried red chillis and some fresh curry leaves to finish. Lovely.
So why not give this a go and see what you think - is definitely different to kedgeree but still comfortably familiar!
Kichiri (serves 4)

160g green lentils
270g wholegrain basmati rice
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 onion, diced
1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
pinch of salt
1 litre water
couple of handfuls fresh coriander
Heat a glug of olive oil in a large pan and sauté the cumin and black mustard seeds until they start to pop. Add the onion and ginger and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring so it doesn't burn. Add the carrot and red pepper and cook for another minute or so, then add the garlic, rice and lentils as well as the ground coriander, turmeric and salt and cook on a low heat stirring all the time. After a minute or so, carefully pour in the water, bring to the boil and pop on the lid. Turn the heat down low and cook for 15-20 minutes until the water has been absorbed and the lentils are tender. Turn off the heat, and leave to steam for a couple of minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle fresh coriander over the top to serve. Enjoy!

Quinoa - being celebrated all year!

Did you know that quinoa (pronounced 'keen-waa' although I still think 'quin-noah' in my head!) is such a superfood that it even has it's own year? The United Nations has decided that 2013 is the International Year of Quinoa, a celebration of the Andean people who have preserved traditional ways of cultivating this nutritious grain as well as it's potential for alleviating poverty and food insecurity - not bad for such a tiny grain!

Quinoa has been the 'in' grain with the dieting fashionista for some time now, often used for gourmet markets only. But as more becomes known about the great nutritional properties of this unusual grain, it's popularity is increasing and becoming more mainstream.
Although I'm calling it a grain, Quinoa is not actually a true cereal but more related to beets and spinach; the 'grain' is the plants seed. The leaves can also be eaten as a green, although these are not readily available on the international market. Nutritionally, quinoa really is a powerhouse of goodies, with fantastic levels of manganese, magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium. It's high in fibre and low in fat and cholesterol. But what makes quinoa even better is that is the protein content; it is one of the few plant-based sources of complete amino acids as well as being gluten free.
As well as eating as a whole seed, quinoa can be ground into a flour and used to make bread, cakes, pasta, dumplings - the list continues. It's great as a salad base, added to stews and soups and apparently can be used to brew beer!
Being suitable for practically any type of diet (it's even considered kosher) or allergy, demand has been increasing, and therefore so has the price. This means that indigenous populations are finding it hard to buy (the price has tripled since 2006!), but equally farmers are able to make livable income which has a knock on effect, expanding the economy as a whole. Trials are underway elsewhere in the world to see if quinoa can be grown in different climates; after all, potatoes were once the staple of the Andean population, maybe quinoa can be too.
In my opinion, quinoa definitely has a place in a plant based wholefood diet. There are of course ecological aspects to take into consideration - air miles, farmer welfare etc - but when compared to the environmental impact of the meat and dairy industry, they just don't equate.
I love quinoa as a salad base; this one is called Sarah's salad, after my lovely friend who first introduced it to me. It's simple to make and packed with nutritional goodies. This recipe makes a big bowl - it stays fresh in the fridge for a few days but it's easy to half if you don't want to eat it every night.  Enjoy!
Sarah's Quinoa Salad

200g quinoa
4 grated carrots
couple of handfuls of chopped fresh herbs - parsley, mint or coriander
2 tbspns mixed seeds
2 tbspns flaked almonds
2 tbspns raisins or sultanas, soaked in boiling water
50mls of fresh orange juice
good glug of extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
First, cook the quinoa according to the packet instructions - I tend to do 3x weight of quinoa i.e.: 600mls in this case. Simmer for 15 minutes or so until the water has been absorbed and the grain soft but with a little 'bite'. Drain any remaining cooking liquid and leave in the pan with the lid on to steam for a few minutes. Empty out into your serving bowl to cool off.
Meanwhile, grate the carrots, lightly toast the seeds, and soak the raisins or sultana for a few minutes so they plump up all fat and juicy. Once the seeds and quinoa are cool, drain the raisins and mix all the ingredients together, adding olive oil and seasoning to taste.