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Bushra Riaz, South Lake Tahoe, CA (2025)

07/16/2025

Method
Step 1
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy frying pan and gently cook the red onion and garlic for 5 mins until just starting to brown. Scatter over the aubergine and red pepper and sizzle for another 4 mins, adding more oil if you need to. Season well and stir through the paprika, then splash in the vinegar and soy sauce. Pour over the passata, then simmer for 5 mins until glossy and thick. Turn off the heat. Can be made up to two days ahead and kept in the fridge.
Step 2
To make the cheese sauce, heat the milk in a heavy saucepan until simmering. In a separate pan, melt the butter and add the flour. Stir to make a paste. Slowly whisk in the hot milk and simmer gently for 2-3 mins, stirring continually until thickened slightly. Stir in the parmesan and season.
Step 3
Tip the ratatouille into an ovenproof dish, then completely cover it with the cheese sauce. Crumble over the goat’s cheese and arrange the courgette slices on top in concentric circles, alternating between green and yellow if you have them. Can be assembled several hours before cooking.
Step 4
Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Brush or drizzle the remaining oil over the courgette slices and season with sea salt. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until the courgettes are cooked through and starting to brown. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 mins before serving.

Transform ratatouille into a bake with a layer of cheese sauce and you won't look back. It makes a great late summer dish and delivers three of your 5-a-day

07/01/2025

Method
Step 1
Remove the beards, then wash the mussels well in cold water. Refresh the water and repeat until it is clear. Discard any mussels that are broken or stay open when tapped.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole. Fry the onion until very lightly brown, then add the ginger, garlic, chillies, spices, a good pinch of salt and a grinding of pepper. Cook for 2-3 mins until fragrant and toasted. Pour in the coconut milk and bring to the boil, then simmer for a few mins to get everything mixed together.
Step 3
Tip the mussels into the dish, cover, turn up the heat to maximum and boil for 3-4 mins until the mussels have just opened. Scatter over the coriander sprigs and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

You can add any other seafood to this quick aromatic green curry - prawns can go in with the coconut milk and clams with the mussels

06/18/2025

Method
Step 1
Heat oven to 110C/90C fan/gas ¼ and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Drain the can of chickpeas over a bowl, saving the chickpeas for another recipe.
Step 2
Using an electric whisk, beat the chickpea water until soft peaks form (similar to egg whites). Add the sugar a little at a time, whisking constantly until thick and glossy. This step is crucial to helping the meringues hold their shape and you'll be whisking for up to 10 mins – far longer than for a traditional meringue.
Step 3
Spoon or pipe the meringue mixture over the tray in 8cm blobs. Bake for 1 hr 15 mins until crisp. Leave to cool, then pile with the soya cream and fruit, if using.

Whip up some crunchy meringues for a showstopping dessert. This recipe uses vegan aquafaba (chickpea water) in place of eggs

06/06/2025

Method
Step 1
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Put the flour, paprika, garlic granules, a large grind of black pepper and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the milk until you have a smooth batter that’s thick enough to coat a spoon (you may not need it all).
Step 2
Put the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Toss each floret in the batter mix, tap off any excess, then toss in the breadcrumbs to coat. Transfer to the lined baking tray, and repeat with all the cauliflower florets.
Step 3
Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown and crispy, turning halfway through so they bake evenly.
Step 4
Meanwhile, put all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and whisk to combine, lightly seasoning with salt and pepper.
Step 5
Put the cooked cauliflower in a large bowl and mix through the sauce until they’re all coated. Sprinkle over the sesame seeds so they stick to the sauce, and top with the chilli and spring onions.

Try a veggie twist on bang bang chicken, and replace the meat with cauliflower florets. With a crispy coating and a spicy sauce, it makes a great starter or side

05/23/2025

Bircher muesli with apple & banana
Method
Step 1
Put the grated apple in a bowl and add the oats, seeds, half the nuts and the cinnamon. Toss together well. Stir in the yogurt and 100ml cold water, cover and chill for several hours or overnight. Spoon the muesli into two bowls and top with the sliced banana, sultanas and remaining nuts.

Soaking oats and seeds overnight makes them easier to digest, and the muesli will be extra creamy. Great for a quick breakfast straight from the fridge

05/23/2025

Avocado & strawberry smoothie
Method
Step 1
Put all the ingredients in a blender and whizz until smooth. If the consistency is too thick, add a little water.

A creamy breakfast-friendly blend that's high in calcium and low in calories

05/20/2025

Spiced parsnip & maple muffins
Method
Step 1
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl. Tip in the sugar and rub any lumps between your fingers to break them up.
Step 2
Mix in the grated parsnip and chopped pecans, ensuring that everything is fully combined. Pour the maple syrup into a jug and mix in the eggs and oil. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix with a wooden spoon until nearly combined with a few specks of flour remaining. Spoon about 2 tbsp of the batter into each case, so they’re about three-quarters full. Bake for 22-24 mins until risen and a skewer inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 3
Meanwhile, make the frosting. Sift the sugar into a bowl and beat in the butter using an electric whisk. Fold in the soft cheese and maple syrup. If the frosting is too loose, whisk for a few minutes more or chill until it has stiffened up again.
Step 4
Spoon or pipe the frosting over the cooled muffins, then drizzle over some maple syrup, dust with cinnamon and decorate each one with a whole pecan, if you like.

Got a glut of parsnips? Do something different with this familiar veg box favourite and rustle up some spiced parsnip and maple muffins for the cake tin

05/20/2025

Parsnip & maple syrup cake
Method
Step 1
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease 2 x 20cm sandwich tins and line the bases with baking parchment. Melt butter, sugar and maple syrup in a pan over gentle heat, then cool slightly. Whisk the eggs into this mixture, then stir in the flour, baking powder and mixed spice, followed by the grated parsnip, apple, chopped pecans, orange zest and juice. Divide between the tins, then bake for 25-30 mins until the tops spring back when pressed lightly.
Step 2
Cool the cakes slightly in the tins before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely. Just before serving, mix together the mascarpone and maple syrup. Spread over one cake and sandwich with the other. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

Try this delicious parsnip & maple syrup cake for your next weekend bake. Use up spare allotment veg and turn it into a tasty treat to share

05/14/2025

Vegetarian sausage rolls
Method
Step 1
Put the mushrooms in a food processor and pulse until they're very finely chopped.
Step 2
Put half the olive oil in a large frying pan and add the leeks along with a pinch of salt. Fry gently for 15 mins or until softened and golden brown. Scrape the leeks out of the pan and into a bowl. Heat the remaining oil in the pan and fry the mushrooms for 10 mins over a medium heat. Add the garlic, sage, miso and mustard and fry for another minute, then leave to cool slightly.
Step 3
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Combine the mushroom mixture with the leeks in a bowl, add the chestnuts, cheese and breadcrumbs. Season lightly to taste (the miso and leeks will add salt, so don’t add too much) and work everything together until you have a slightly stodgy mixture.
Step 4
Unravel the puff pastry on a floured surface, then roll out so one side measures about 40cm. Push the mushroom mixture down the centre of the pastry. Bring the pastry around the mixture and seal the edges with a fork, then cut into 8 pieces. Lay on a lined baking sheet and brush each one with the beaten egg. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until deep, golden brown. Allow to cool a little before eating.

Try our flavourful vegetarian sausage rolls, packed with mushrooms, chestnuts, leeks and cheese. They're perfect for a picnic or served with salad for lunch

05/14/2025

Cheese & onion pasties
Method
Step 1
First, make the pastry. Tip the flour into a bowl. Holding the block of butter in its wrapper, grate it directly into the flour (you may need to dip the end of the butter into the flour occasionally if it becomes sticky). Add the cayenne pepper, mustard powder and half the beaten egg, and season with a pinch of salt. Bring everything together with your hands until the mixture starts to clump together. Tip the pastry onto the work surface and knead very briefly into a smooth ball, adding up to 3 tbsp cold water if it’s too dry. Squash the pastry into a disc. Wrap and chill while you make the filling.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onions and thyme leaves for 8-10 mins until the onions have softened and started to caramelise. Tip into a bowl and leave to cool. Once cool, mix in the grated cheese, mustard and spring onions.
Step 3
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Roll the chilled pastry out on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out as many 10-12cm circles as you can (you can use a cup or mug as a template), then re-roll any off-cuts and repeat. You should get about 10-12 circles in total.
Step 4
Spoon a mound of the filling into the centre of each pastry circle, leaving the edges clear. Working with one circle at a time, brush a little of the remaining beaten egg around the edge, then bring two sides up to meet in the middle in a half-moon shape. Pinch the pastry together, crimping the edge to seal. Transfer to the baking tray and repeat with the remaining pastry circles and filling. Brush all the pasties with some beaten egg. Will keep frozen for two months.
Step 5
Bake the pasties for 20-25 mins (or 40-45 mins from frozen) until the pastry is deep golden brown. Leave to cool for at least 10 mins before eating warm, or cool completely and pack into containers for a picnic. Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.

Rustle up these little cheese and onion pasties for a family picnic. If you won't eat all 12, they freeze well and can be cooked straight from frozen

04/30/2025

Salted hazelnut praline matzo
Method
Step 1
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the butter, caster sugar and 50ml water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and set over a low heat until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Then turn the heat up to medium-high and allow to simmer for 15-20 mins until a light caramel colour. Add 1 tsp salt and stir again to make sure there are no sugar crystals. Stir in 80g of the toasted hazelnuts.
Step 2
Line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment and lay the matzo sheets on top. You will need to break up one sheet to fill the gaps. Don’t worry if it’s not exact, you just want a layer of matzo covering the base of the tin. Pour the caramel mixture over the matzo, then carefully (because it will be hot) spread it out to cover the surface of the matzo. Bake for 10 mins.
Step 3
Put the tin on a heatproof surface or wire rack and sprinkle with the chocolate drops. Wait 1-2 mins until they melt, then lightly spread them over the surface. Scatter with the remaining 20g of hazelnuts. Leave to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for an hour or so, before cutting into large shards.

Turn a simple cracker into a taste explosion with chocolate and hazelnut. You may want to make a double batch as these will vanish pretty quickly!

04/30/2025

Almond & orange Pesach mandelbrot
Method
Step 1
Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Mix the ground almonds, matzo meal and a large pinch of salt in a large bowl and set aside.
Step 2
Beat the eggs, oil and sugar for 3-4 mins in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or using an electric whisk), until pale and airy then whisk in the orange zest. Stir in the ground almond mixture, then the chocolate chunks and blanched almonds.
Step 3
Halve the dough and, with damp hands if it’s sticky, make two oblong logs, each about 5cm wide. Put them on the baking sheets and bake for 45 mins. Cool on the baking sheets for 10 mins. Reduce the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Transfer the baked dough to a chopping board and, using a serrated knife, cut each one diagonally into slices that are 1.5-2cm wide.
Step 4
Turn the baking parchment over, put the biscotti back on the baking sheets and bake for another 15 mins. Remove from the oven, turn them over, then bake for another 15 mins until firm to the touch on the outside but still soft on the inside. Keep an eye on them to make sure they do not get too dark. They will get more crunchy as they cool. Cool for 5 mins on the tray, then slide the parchment and cookies onto a wire rack to cool completely. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 10 days.

Celebrate Passover with an Eastern European Jewish recipe, similar to Italian biscotti. This version comes flavoured with orange zest, dark chocolate and almonds

Bushra Riaz

07/16/2025

07/01/2025

06/18/2025

06/06/2025

05/23/2025

05/23/2025

05/20/2025

05/20/2025

05/14/2025

05/14/2025

04/30/2025

04/30/2025

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