Lentil and Wurst Salad

This is lovely salad which we enjoyed as a hearty lunch.

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry lentils
• 3-4 cups water
• 1 red bell pepper, de-seeded and chopped
• 1 red onion, thin sliced
• 3-4 vegan wursts or hot dogs
• ½ head iceberg lettuce, chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1½ tablespoon vinegar
• 1-2 teaspoon mild mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the lentils in 3-4 cups of water until they are soft, but not mushy.
2. When the lentils are done, remove from the heat and drain any extra water off.
3. De-seed and chop the red bell pepper into small pieces.
4. Slice the red onion into rings, reserve some as garnish on top and chop the rest.
5. Cut the vegan wurst into rounds and grill them lightly on each side.
6. Make the dressing by mixing the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl.
7. Place the drained lentils in a large bowl.
8. Mix in the red bell pepper pieces and the chopped onion pieces.
9. Add the salad dressing and mix evenly.
10. Shortly before serving, chop the lettuce into bite sized pieces and mix into the salad.
11. Serve the salad with the cooked wurst pieces on top, garnished with a few red onion rings.

Related Posts:

• Salsify, Lentil and Pineapple Salad
• Lentil Salad with Pumpkin and Romanesco
• Lemony Barley Lentil Salad
• Review: German Potato and Lentil Salad
• Lemony Pearl Couscous Lentil Salad

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Rebel Kitchen Organic Coconut Yogurt with Gluten-Free Granola Topping

This simple granola recipe is the perfect accompaniment to Rebel Kitchen’s creamy organic coconut yogurt. Enjoy together or topped up with as much fresh fruit as you fancy.
 
Pop the rest of the granola in an airtight Tupperware to last the week.
 
Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 125ml maple syrup
• 150ml Rebel Kitchen Chai or Chocolate Mylk
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• 300g gluten free oats
• 150g mixed seeds
• 100g dried cranberries
• 50g coconut flakes 

 
Method:

• Pre heat oven to 150c
• Melt the coconut oil in a pan then mix in a large bowl with maple syrup, Rebel Kitchen Mylk and cinnamon
• Mix in the oats and mixed seeds
• Spread on a greaseproof lined baking tray and toast for 15 mins
• Add remaining dried ingredients; toast for a further 10 mins until golden

 

 

Serve suggestion:
Stir a dollop of honey into Rebel Kitchen Organic Coconut Yogurt, then top with granola.
 
About the yogurts and the benefits
 
Rebel Kitchen Organic Coconut Yogurts are made using organic young green coconuts grown in the Philippines and contain live vegan yogurt cultures. This means they're full of the good bacteria that your gut loves and needs.


 
The yogurts are made using young green coconut meat, not milk (which come from mature coconuts). This is what gives the yogurts their deliciously light and smooth texture. It also means they contain up to half the amount of fat per 100g compared to other coconut yogurts.
The yogurts (like the Mylks) contain no refined sugar, additives or preservatives. They’re also vegan, gluten free and non-GMO.
 
Sustainability
 
The coconut meat in the yogurts comes from the same coconuts that are used to make Rebel Kitchen’s Organic Coconut Water. The remaining coconut husks are then used to generate power, which helps fuel the plant in the Philippines. This production method ensures the whole product is used so absolutely nothing goes to waste. 



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Introducing the World's Healthiest Rice

Want to meet the rice that can balance your mood and help you get healthier in the process?
GABA queen of calm!

Before we talk rice, let’s talk GABA. Nicknamed ‘nature’s Valium’, GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) naturally exists as one of the most calming chemical messengers in our brains. 
 

GABA helps level our moods, and improves our stress tolerance, while softening many of our body’s less welcome happenings. Think everything from racing, anxious minds to inflammation, high blood pressure, sleep disturbance, and an overactive immune response.

It’s pretty darn great – thank you brain! The problem is, GABA’s fast depleted in times of increased stress. SO, that’s most of modern life then. Time to hit the kitchen and top up our intake…

(Psst, science lovers will rejoice at the news gut bacteria has been seen eating GABA for the first time! It’s thought GABA foods’ calming action comes from improved intestinal microbiota sending positive biochemical messages to our brains. Now we’re getting closer to seeing how!)

Rice with benefits:

We get our fill with some help from the world’s healthiest rice – Organic Sprouted GABA. It’s the germination and sprouting process that brings optimal health benefits to a once-humble pantry ingredient. 


Alongside its substantial increase in GABA, sprouted rice is more fibrous, and vitamin and mineral-rich than traditional varieties. Sprouted rice specifically comprises more zinc and vitamins B1 and B6 – which also happen to boost the natural GABA production in your brain.

It’s all in the process… 

To make our rice, we take the highest quality rice blends - including organic wholegrain Hom Nin (for GABA Rice Black) and organic Thai jasmine wholegrain (GABA Rice Jasmine and GABA Rice Jasmine-Green) - and germinate and sprout each before milling. 



This process nurtures the nutrient production in each rice kernel. When we’re satisfied we’ve reached the maximum nutrient level (24 hours later), we parboil the grains to lock everything in. Especially that GABA! Our Jasmine-Green variety follows this very same method; the only difference being that the germination takes place in green tea. 



What you can expect:

Rice with bite! That’s how we tend to think of it. Organic Sprouted GABA Rice has a beautiful nutty quality and firmness, which pairs super well with a wide choice of sweet or savoury dishes – from rice wraps, to salads, puddings, Buddha Bowls and curries.

Get more of that goodness…

You may want to team your Organic Sprouted rice with glutamate-rich foods. These also help to increase your natural GABA production. Cook some spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, corn, lentils, cabbage, parsley and broccoli into a stew, serve on GABA rice and you have one heck of a calming dish! 

OR just check out what the health bloggers and Instagrammers are doing with theirs. It’s so exciting seeing the buzz around this wholesome ingredient and we can’t wait to hear how you’re using yours!

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Review: Potato Mushroom Stew

Well, it has definitely turned fall here now. We have chilly, wet days and the trees have spectacular colors. With this change in weather, we really appreciate warm comforting stews and soups.

We enjoyed this meal created by Molly at apolloandluna.com. The fennel seeds really add a nice flavor to the stew.
Recipe: Potato Mushroom Stew (Vegan & Gluten-free)

Related Posts:

• Review: Greek Giant Bean Stew with Sweet Sour Sauce
• Review: Mushroom & Walnut Spicy “Bolognese”
• Review: German Potato and Lentil Salad
• Review: African spiced yellow split pea and sweet potato…
• Persian Stew with Rhubarb

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Vegan Apple, Walnut, Polenta Waffles

These delicious waffles are perfect for a chilly fall morning. They’re quick and easy to make and the house smells wonderful while they are cooking.

Yield: 6-8 waffles depending on size

Ingredients:

• 1¾ cup AP flour
• ¼ cup polenta
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 apple, cored, peeled and diced
• ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
• 3 egg replacements
• 1¼ cup non-dairy milk
• 4 tablespoons vegan margarine, melted

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the waffle iron.
2. Mix the dry ingredients for the waffle batter in a bowl.
3. In a separate bowl mix the non-dairy milk, egg replacements and melted vegan margarine.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk to blend.
5. Add the prepared apples and walnuts.
6. Ladle about ¾ cup of the waffle mixture onto a well oiled waffle iron.
7. Cook until light golden brown.
8. Serve hot with maple syrup and sliced apples.

Related Posts:

• Review: Vegan buckwheat waffles
• Herbed Polenta with Vegan Cheese and Gooseberry-Chili Relish
• Vegan Kale and Walnut Pesto
• Vegan Green Pea and Walnut Spread
• Vegan Walnut and Pear Tart

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Fermentation Kits by Mortier Pilon

Fermentation has been taking over the foodie world these past few months! From kimchi to kraut and from pickles to kombucha, bloggers, chef and health writers are getting excited about fermenting all sorts of foods.
At Mortier Pilon, we think everyone should be able to enjoy the countless health benefits of fermenting produce at home; that’s why we set out to create a range of fermentation glassware that would be at once beautifully designed and highly practical.
 
So what is fermentation, anyway?
 
Fermentation occurs when food is placed in an anaerobic (without air) environment, which allows bacteria to grow and prosper, thus transforming fresh produce into something else entirely. While the word “bacteria” may have some unpleasant connotations, when done right—and with adequate equipment—, fermentation is not only completely safe, but also tremendously healthy!


 
Fermentation—Why it’s good for you
 
Fermentation is an ancestral craft deeply embedded in many cultures across the world. It comes as no surprise, then, that elders and healers have long been passing on the knowledge of its countless health benefits. Now, mainstream medicine is catching on, with nutritionists and dieticians recommending fermented foods to patients both healthy and ill.
 
Fermented foods have been known to help balance out gut bacteria and promote bowel health and better digestion, all of which are huge pluses for those of us with stomach issues. Fermentation also helps boost and strengthen the immune system, which we all need as the colder months approach!
 
Health benefits aside, fermented foods offer an exciting range of unique tastes and textures. They’re also a very budget-friendly way to preserve food and don’t require expensive or hard-to-come-by ingredients. Last but not least, they’re an easy, hands-on way to connect with deeply-rooted culinary traditions from all around the world, from Korean kimchi to Bavarian sauerkraut.


 
Mortier Pilon is bringing the fun back to fermentation
 
When the team at Mortier Pilon started getting into fermentation, we quickly realized that there was a lack of stylish, ergonomic, affordable fermenting equipment on the market: the crocks were all heavy, bulky and prohibitively expensive.
 

The Mortier Pilon range of Do-it-Yourself fermentation kits is our solution: a collection of beautiful, all-inclusive products that bring the fun back to making kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut and more right at home, with easy-to-follow recipes and step-by-step instructions included.
 
The Mortier Pilon products feature a range of traditional fermentation recipes (some of which can be found on our YouTube channel), but with the winter upon us, we thought it appropriate to share this recipe for Homemade Ginger Bug Soda. This fizzy homebrewed drink is packed with good bacteria sure to heal your stomach and boost your immune system!


 
Look at the kits at the kits here 
Find a lot of recipe inspiration on Mortier Pilon's youtube channel.
 
Let us know what you think!
 
Sophie @ Mortier Pilon
 
About Mortier Pilon
 
Mortier Pilon strives to create accessible home fermentation products aimed at the health conscious consumer. The name, which literally means mortar and pestle in French, was inspired by the spirit of tradition and focus on DIY that define the brand. Mortier Pilon was launched in the summer 2015 by Montreal-based, innovation-driven company MMTUM, which specializes in designing and distributing niche products with momentum.

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New Food to Go Menu

As the days are getting darker and it’s slowly getting colder we’ve launched a new seasonal menu to keep you running through Winter.
Every dish on our menu is vegetarian and refined sugar free. There are also plenty of vegan, grain free dishes and options with no gluten. We understand dietary needs and preferences so whatever yours are, just speak to a team member and they can help.

Of course all of our new menu is also completely organic. We are fully committed to organic and our cafes are certified by the Soil Association who uphold the highest standards. Organic food contains no artificial ingredients and no GMOs, we believe it is better for us and better for the planet.

We’ve picked out some of our favourite new dishes so you have an idea what your lunch could look like…but we suggest you try them for yourself!

Butterbean & Courgette Green Lentil Lasagne: a brand new green lasagne. Made with green lentil pasta sheets and filled with a delicious combination of courgettes, spinach, sundried tomatoes and butterbeans. Topped with mature cheddar. Great with salad or some broccoli.

Satay Rice Noodles: Pumpkin & ginger rice noodles with Portobello mushrooms and a peanut butter satay sauce. Great with vegetable stir fry and kimchee.
 

Asian Coconut Slaw: a combination of courgette, butternut squash & carrot noodles with sliced coconut meat. Fresh and light, ask for chillies for extra punch! Great with other salads and mango salsa dressing.
 

Butternut Squoodles with Sage & Almond Pesto: butternut squash noodles with an almond & sage pesto, topped with crunchy hazelnuts. Great with roasted root veg or on the side of lasagne.

Buckwheat & Roasted Veg Salad: buckwheat with roasted vegetables, olives and colourful candy stripe & golden beetroot. Covered with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil. Perfect with a boiled egg and guacamole.
 

 

Aubergine with Tahini Dressing: slices of roast aubergine covered in creamy tahini dressing and pomegranate seeds. Great with Butternut Squoodles or lasagne. 
 

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Warm Fall Salad with Walnut Maple Dressing

This hearty salad makes a really good warm lunch on a chilly fall day, or can also be served at a lovely brunch.

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

for the salad:

• 1 cup dry lentils
• 2 cups water
• pinch salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded and cut into bite size pieces
• 2 apples, cored and sliced
• ½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
• arils from 1  pomegranate
• 2-3 handfuls arugula
• 1 red onion, sliced

for the dressing:

• 3 tablespoons walnut oil
• 2 tablespoons walnut vinegar
• 1/8 cup walnuts
• ¼ teaspoon dry mustard powder
• ½ teaspoon vegetable bouillon powder
• 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions:

1. Place the lentils in a medium sauce pan.
2. Add the water a pinch of salt and the bay leaves.
3. Bring the pot to a boil, then turn down to simmer. Cook the lentils until soft but to mushy.
4. While the lentils are cooking, preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C.
5. Peel the butternut squash and cut into bite sized cubes.
6. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil over the cubes and place on a cooky sheet prepared with baking parchment.
7. Place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. (Alternatively, you can steam the butternut squash).
8. When the lentils are cooked remove from the heat, drain off any excess water and place in a large salad bowl
9. Clean and spin dry the arugula and remove and extra long stem ends.
10. Slice the red onion.
11. Toast the walnuts in a dry frying pan and chop.
12. Remove the arils from 1 pomegranate. This is does easiest by slicing in half, then scoring where the white membrane is. Place the half of the pomegranate in a bowl of water and gently ease the arils from the membranes. The arils will sink to the bottom and the membranes will float .
13. Place the dressing ingredients i a blender and pulse to a smooth dressing consistency.
14. When the squash pieces are golden brown remove from the oven and add to the lentils.
15. Gently mix in the arugula, most of the red onion slices and the walnuts.
16. Core the apple and slice or chop and add to the salad.
17. Pour some of the dressing over and gently mix all together.
18. Sprinkle the pomegranate arils on top along with the rest of the red onion slices, some apple slices and a few walnut pieces.
19. Serve the salad warm with extra dressing on the side.

Related Posts:

• Warm Lentil Salad with Celery Root, Apples and Hazelnuts
• Review: Red Cabbage Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
• Review: Broccoli & Lentil Salad with Turmeric Yogurt…
• Review: Pasta Man-Salad (Malad) With Peanut Butter Dressing
• Asian Slaw Salad with Fava Beans, Cashews and Spicy Peanut…

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Savoury Flapjacks by Kimberly Parsons

Here is a delicious recipe of savoury flapjacks created by Kimberly Parsons, writer of the Yoga Kitchen Book, available online and in all our stores.
This flapjack really hits the spot when you’re craving something savoury, but light. A great on-the-go snack that tastes remarkably like a pizza slice. Feel free to play around with the ingredients here, you can substitute the courgettes (zucchini) for carrots and feta for goat’s cheese if you prefer.

MAKES 12 FLAPACKS
 
Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 red (bell) pepper, diced
• 2 courgettes (zucchini), grated
• 3 tablespoons Kalamata olives, pitted
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 50ml (1¾fl oz/scant ¼ cup) olive oil
• 250g (9oz/2½ cups) gluten-free rolled oats or millet flakes
• 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon  sea salt
• ½ teaspoon  freshly cracked black pepper
• 150g (5oz/1 cup) crumbled feta

 

Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6. Line a 36 x 20cm (14 x 8in) square baking tin (pan) with baking paper (parchment paper). Place the coconut oil in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the onion and red pepper and sauté until soft. Add the courgettes and olives and cook for a further few minutes.
 
Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add the eggs, olive oil, oats, oregano, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix to combine, then transfer to the prepared tin.
Add the crumbled feta over the top of the mixture and, using your hands  or a flat spatula, pat the mixture firmly down into the baking tin. Sprinkle with a little more dried oregano.
 
Bake in the oven for 35 minutes  or until golden and cooked through. Allow to cool before cutting into 12 squares.



 

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Pukka's 4 favorite sleep solutions to help

Feeling stressed and struggling to get a good nights sleep? Try our favourite natural solutions to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling more refreshed.
 

How well do you sleep? 
 

Research from the University of Leeds found that around a quarter of British adults are getting as little as five hours’ sleep a night – an amount that not only causes problems with tiredness the next day, but is actually associated with long-term health problems such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The study also found that 30 percent of adults were dissatisfied with the amount of sleep they were getting, and 18 percent said that their lack of sleep was affecting how well they functioned during the day.
 

So it seems that many of us are missing out, whether it’s because we’re not giving enough importance to sleep, ‘burning the candle at both ends’, or struggling with insomnia (either getting to sleep or staying asleep) when we do hit the sheets. And many more people may clock up enough hours but have poor-quality sleep, waking feeling unrefreshed.
 

Insomnia and sleep deprivation are distressing and debilitating problems to have, and can lead many people to rely on pharmaceutical medication to help tackle the issue. Although these medications can seem helpful at the time, long-term use can be detrimental. As well as causing drowsiness the next day, they are linked with side effects such as hormone imbalances and memory deterioration.

A restorative night's sleep is essential to maintain good health. So for those who struggle, it’s helpful to find a natural solution. Herbal remedies have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine to support restful sleep.

Here are our 6 favourite sleep solutions to help.  

1. Try a natural herbal solution to help improve your slumber. 

Pukka’s organic Night Time capsules have been formulated by herbalist and Ayurvedic practitioner Sebastian Pole to support better sleep and provide a solution for everyday sleep problems. The formula contains a unique blend of seven organic herbs that each play a specific role in relaxing a restless body and mind, helping us fall to sleep and stay in a good sleep.

Too stressed to sleep? Stress is often at the root of our sleeping problems. When we’re troubled, our sleep is too. The Ayurvedic herb Ashwagandha is a chief stress-busting herb that nourishes and strengthens a weakened and over-anxious nervous system and helps the body respond better to stress, to prevent it disrupting our sleep at night.  

Pukka Herbs recently conducted an online survey with over 300 public volunteers into the efficacy of Ashwagandha; the results were astounding. Emotional health improved by 42% and sleep quality improved by 66%.

Pukka Night Time formulation:

•                   Ashwagandha is used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as an ‘adaptogen’ – herb that helps us to cope with the effects of stress. It has natural anti-anxiety activity, and it can help reduce ‘hyperactive’ symptoms and calm the body and mind. Its Latin name – Withania somnifera – reflects its somniferous (sleep inducing) properties.

 

•                Gotu kola and Bhringaraj helps to calm an agitated and racing mind and relax the nervous system. One of the traditional uses of gotu kola is to help with ‘restless legs’ syndrome.

 

•          Valerian: This soothing herb is thought to have been used for over 2,000 years for its sedative and anxiety-relieving properties. It can be beneficial for anyone experiencing tension or anxiety. Valerian can help us to get to sleep and encourage undisturbed sleep too.
•  
•                Nutmeg has sedative properties and can help to relax the nervous system. It may specifically help to prevent waking up after falling asleep – great news for those of us who tend to wake up in the night with a restless and racing mind.

•  

•                   Hawthorn is traditionally used to support and strengthen the heart. It may help with relieving stress-related symptoms that affect the heart, such as palpitations.  
•  
•                  Fennel is a traditionally used as a digestive tonic, helping to calm an irritated digestive system. Digestive symptoms such as bloating and cramping can be stress-related and can have a big impact on our sleep.

Pukka’s Night Time capsules are available here

2. Try a soothing bedtime tea

Pukka’s Night Time tea is a wonderful way to end your busy day and start your relaxing evening routine.  It contains a combination of sleep-inducing herbs, including lavender, chamomile, oatstraw and tulsi – designed to help calm the mind and relieve tension.   

Pukka Night Time tea is available here

3. Magesium flakes 

Have a look at our range here

4. Lavender oil

Have a look at our essential oil range here

 

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Add Turmeric To Your Diet

If you're not using turmeric, now is the time to add it to your diet. Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant properties with benefits to indigestion, ulcers and osteoarthritis and more.

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