Asparagus and sesame sushi rice bars (gluten-free, dairy-free; vegan)

May 13, 2017March 12, 2018 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Sushi_rice_bars_topped_with_fresh_asparagus

Asparagus is my favourite vegetable. It has been highly prized since Roman times, and it is peak asparagus season at the moment. I had my first taste of the new season’s crop a couple of weeks ago when I was on holiday in Sussex, and I have consumed quite a lot more since then!

The season here in the UK is brief: just 6 short weeks in late spring. In my mind, asparagus is one of the vegetables that tastes noticeably different when locally grown and freshly picked. The flavour is sweeter, fresher and nuttier than the varieties that are flown in all year round. I think it is well worth the wait each year and I am taking every opportunity to savour and enjoy it whilst these magnificent steams are available.

Freshly_harvested_British_asparagus — New season British asparagus. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Fresh_asparagus_spears_in_a_glass_of_water — Keeping asparagus fresh. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

As with any vegetable, buy and eat asparagus as soon as possible after picking to enjoy the freshest flavour and juiciest texture. But if you do end up with more than you can eat, trim away the woody ends as you would with fresh flowers and pop the stems in a vase or jug of cold water. Either store in a cool place or put in the fridge. This way, the stems will stay fresh for at least 48 hours. You can freeze it, but I really don’t like the softer texture of frozen asparagus once it is cooked – I think it over-cooks too easily – however it makes the perfect base for soup-making or blending with mayonnaise or very ripe avocado for a dip, so it is worth freezing a few stems for this purpose alone.

Trimming_away_the_woody_end_from_fresh_asparagus_stems — Preparing fresh asparagus for cooking and keeping. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I like my asparagus best when it has been griddled or roasted. Thin spears cook very quickly in a hot, lightly oiled frying pan or on a griddle pan brushed with oil. Larger stems are good for roasting – brush with oil and spread out on a lined baking tray, and bake in a moderately hot oven for 10-15 minutes. If you prefer to use water, try to cook the stems so that the tips stay out of the water. You can buy tall upright asparagus steamers if you’re a big asparagus fan – these enable you to stand the stems upright in bunches – only the stalks are in the water whilst the tops cook in the steam. Otherwise, steaming, covered, over a saucepan of water is the next best way – keep the cooking water to add to your recipe as stock if you’re making a soup or risotto.

Here’s my recipe for sushi rice bars topped with asparagus tips – a delicious light snack for a spring lunch. If you need to trim away lots of stalk to make this recipe, keep the leftovers, and either use them to make stock or soup, or slice them into thin rounds and add to a stir fry.

Sushi_rice_bars_topped_with_fresh_asparagus — Homemade asparagus and sesame sushi bars. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Makes: 12

150g sushi rice
25g piece root ginger
1 large clove garlic
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
3 tbsp freshly chopped chives
4 tsp mirin, sweet sherry or white balsamic vinegar (Agredolce)
¼ tsp salt
12 fine asparagus spears
Fresh chives and flowers to garnish

1. Double line a shallow 18cm square cake tin with cling film so that the film overhangs the sides. Rinse the rice in cold running water. Put in a small saucepan and pour over 200ml cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes undisturbed. Turn off the heat and leave to stand with the lid on for 20 minutes. It is worth checking the manufacturer’s cooking instructions for the particular rice you are using as timings and water quantities may vary between brands.

2. Meanwhile, peel the ginger and garlic and chop finely. Heat the vegetable oil in a small frying pan and gently fry for 2-3 minutes until softened but not browned. Leave aside.

3. When the rice is ready, scrape it into a heat-proof bowl and fork through to break up the grains. Add the ginger and garlic along with the seeds, chives, wine, sherry or vinegar and salt. Mix well.

4. Pile into the prepared tin, press down with the back of a spoon and leave to cool completely, then fold over the cling film and chill for 2 hours until firm.

Ingredients_and_preparation_of_seasoned_sticky_rice — Making seasoned sushi rice. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

5. Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Trim the asparagus to approx. 8cm lengths and place in a steaming compartment over the water. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes until just tender – insert the tip of a sharp knife into the end of the stalk is a good way to check it is perfectly tender. Cool under cold running water, then drain, place on damp kitchen paper and chill until required.

6. To serve, remove the rice cake from the tin and remove the cling film. Place on a board, cut into 12 bars and arrange asparagus on top of each bar. If liked, wrap a length of chive stem around each piece and arrange on a serving platter. Sprinkle with chive flowers, and serve with wasabi paste if liked.

Spears_of_fresh_British_asparagus — New season fresh, British asparagus spears. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Cherry almond amarettis (Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)

April 30, 2017August 8, 2017 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Cherry_almond_vegan_amaretti_cookies — Vegan cherry almond amaretti cookies. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

For several weeks, every now and again, I have been trying to make eggless meringues. The meringues I prefer are the large, pillow-like ones made with brown sugar and lots of chopped nuts and a drizzle of dark chocolate, and not the plain white, dainty variety. Sadly, I haven’t been successful so far. However, my experimentation has led me to find other uses for vegan “egg white”, hence, I come to this week’s post.

Next time you open a can of cooked white beans or chickpeas in water, keep the canning liquid, for this is vegan “egg white”. Amazing as it sounds, the liquid whips up into a thick foam and can be used (with care) as a substitute for fresh egg whites. You may find it referred to as aqua fava for after all, that is what it is: bean water!

Vegan_egg_white_(aqua_fava) — Bowls of butter bean and chickpea canning water. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The drained liquid content of a 400g can is approx. 140ml which equates to 3 medium egg whites. It freezes well so you don’t need to use all of it in one recipe – an ice cube tray is perfect for individual egg-sized amounts, but don’t forget to label it otherwise your G&T may taste a little strange! As with fresh egg white, place in a clean, grease-free bowl and whisk in the same way. I add a pinch of cream of tartar to assist the volume when whisking up.

Freshly_whsked_vegan_egg_white_(aqua_fava) — Whipped butter bean and chickpea canning water. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Once I have cracked a decent meringue recipe and got my sugar and nut quantities correct, I look forward to sharing it with you. Until then, here is my recipe for Italian amaretti cookies. These are the soft variety, and are truly delicious (and very moreish). They make a lovely gift too.

Makes: 18

A few sheets of gluten-free edible paper (optional)
45ml chickpea or white bean canning water
Pinch of cream of tartar
225g ground almonds
100g glacé cherries, chopped
125g + 2 tsp icing sugar
2 tsp natural almond extract

Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan oven, gas mark 4). Line 2 large baking trays with baking parchment. Using a 4cm diameter round cookie cutter, trace and cut out 18 rounds of edible paper if using, and place on the trays, spaced a little apart.
Put the canning water in a clean, grease-free bowl and whisk until softly foaming. Add the cream of tartar and continue whisking until the beaters leave an impression in the foam – this takes about 3-4 minutes of whisking.
Put the almonds and cherries in a bowl. Sift 125g icing sugar on top. Mix well and then add the almond extract and whisked foam. Carefully mix together to make a softish dough.
Divide into 18 portions and form each into a ball. Place one on top of each paper circle and press down gently to flatten slightly – if you’re not using the paper, just space them out directly on the lined trays.
Amaretti making. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden and firm to the touch. Cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. The biscuits will store for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. Serve lightly dusted with icing sugar.

Board_of_cherry_amarettis_duted_with_icing_sugar — Sugar-dusted cherry amarettis. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

For gifting, wrap each amaretti cookie in a small, clean square of tissue paper, and twist the ends on each side to seal the wrapping. Arrange in a shallow box and tie with ribbon to present. Perfect for serving with coffee.

Cherry_almond_amarettis_individually_wrapped_in_tissue_paper — Gift-wrapped amarettis. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Chai masala biscuits for Easter (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)

April 14, 2017August 8, 2017 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 8 Comments

Chai_masala_spiced_Easter_biscits — Marzipan-topped chai masala biscuits for Easter. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Rich, short, lightly fruited biscuits with a hint of spice, this is a spring bake that takes me back to my childhood. Easter just wouldn’t be Easter without them. Traditionally the biscuits are dusted with white sugar before baking to give them a crusty top, but I love marzipan and it makes a delicious topping for these biscuits. Using a chai masala mix instead of the usual ground spice blends adds a delicate citrus note to the flavour. I think this Indian spice mix tastes lighter and more fragrant than the more familiar blends used in baking.

Jar_of_ready_mixed_chai_masala — Ready blended chai masala mix. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

You can buy ready mixed chai masala for putting in your bakes (or tea!) (Steenbergs organic chai masala), but if you have selection of traditional spices, it is easy enough to put together your own blend. Making your own means that you can experiment by adding more of your favourite spice to personalise your mix.

Selection_of_whole_spices_that_make_up_a_chai_masala_blend — Whole spices: root ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves and cardamom. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

To make your own chai masala, mix together 4 level teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 level teaspoons ground cardamom, 1 level teaspoon ground ginger and ½ level teaspoon each ground nutmeg, ground cloves and finely ground black pepper. As with all spices, store in a sealed jar out of direct sunlight, in a cool, dry place. I keep small vitamin supplement jars for keeping spice mixes in as the glass is often brown or dark green, and so perfect for keeping out the light. Make up the blend in small batches to insure fresh flavour every time you use it. Chai masala can be used in any recipe where a ground mixed spice is called for.

Making_homemade_chai_masala_spice_mix — Blending together ground spices for chai masala. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Here’s the recipe for my Easter biscuits.

Makes: 14

100g vegan margarine, softened (use butter if you prefer)
75g caster sugar
3 tbsp non dairy milk
200g gluten-free plain flour blend + extra for dusting (such as Dove’s Farm)
1 ½ to 2 tsp chai masala
65g mixed currants and chopped cranberries

Line 2 large baking trays with baking parchment. Put the margarine and sugar in a bowl and whisk together until smooth and creamy. Whisk in the milk.
Sift the flour and spice on top and add the fruit. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined, then bring the mixture together with your hands to make a softish dough.
Dust the work surface with flour and knead the dough gently until smooth. Roll out thinly to a thickness of approx. ½ cm. Using a 7cm crinkle-edge round cutter, stamp out 14 rounds, re-rolling the dough as necessary. Arrange the rounds on the baking trays, spaced a little apart. Prick with a fork, and chill for 30 minutes.
Preparation of the biscuit dough. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Preheat the oven to 200°C (160°C fan oven, gas mark 6). Bake the biscuits for about 15 minutes until lightly golden round the edges. Cool on the trays for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Freshly baked chai spiced Easter biscuits. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
The biscuits are delicious left plain but if you are a marzipan fan, dust the work surface with icing sugar and roll out 200g marzipan thinly. Using a 6cm diameter crinkle-edged cutter, stamp out 14 rounds, re-rolling the marzipan as necessary. Brush each biscuit with a little smooth apricot jam and secure a marzipan disc on top of each. Score the marzipan with a knife and lightly toast the tops with a cook’s blow-torch if liked. Happy Easter eatings!

Chai_masala_spiced_Easter_biscuits_with_marzipan_top — Marzipan-topped Easter biscuits. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Savoury oat and seed crunchies (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)

March 12, 2017March 12, 2018 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Pieces_of_savoury_oat_and_seed_crunchies — Oat and seed crunchies. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Every now and then I try very hard to cut back on the amount of sugar I eat. I find it challenging to find something to stave off the cravings. and I usually turn to seeds to do the job. This week, I started my latest “health-kick” and I found that I had built up quite a collection of different seed varieties from the last time. Many of the seeds are in half-opened bags stored in the fridge and are now coming up to the “best before” date; it seemed the perfect time for a healthy, and very much savoury, baking session. Bursting with nutrition and flavour, and with super crunchy textures, seeds are one of the best foods to snack on without feeling too guilty.

Chia_sunflower_pumpkin_sesame_and_flax_seeds — Some of my current seed collection. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

You can use any seeds in this recipe, but a mixture of different sizes works the best. Introduce your own flavourings if you like; I kept mine plain and simple this time, but black pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, chilli, thyme and rosemary are good flavours to try if you like to experiment. I use the thicker milled, porridge (or Scottish Porage) oats, the finer milled varieties seem to go a bit mushy and give a less crisp texture to the final bake. There is a small amount of gram (chickpea) flour added to the mix to help bind the ingredients together but the recipe works fine with other gluten-free blends if you prefer.

Thick_or_coarse_milled_porridge_oats — Thick milled Scottish porridge oats. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

These crunchies are very easy to make and will keep for a week or so in an airtight container. Enjoy them broken into large shards as a crispbread, or crumble them on to soups or salads for extra nutty flavour. Here’s what to do…….

Makes at least 10 big pieces

90g thick or coarse milled oats
175g assorted seeds – I used chia, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and flax seeds
25g gram (chickpea) flour
½ tsp salt
2 tsp soft dark brown sugar or maple syrup
1 tbsp sunflower oil
Approx. 100ml warm water

Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan oven, gas mark 5) Line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Put the oats and seeds in a large bowl and mix well. Stir in the remaining ingredients until thoroughly combined.
Gradually pour and stir in approx. 100ml warm water to make a clumpy mixture. Leave aside to soak for 15 minutes, then squeeze the ingredients together with your hands to make a ball. Add a little more water if the mixture is still a bit dry.
Put the mix on to the prepared baking tray and flatten with your hands. Place another sheet of parchment on top and roll using a rolling pin to make a rectangle approx. 36 x 25cm minimum. Remove the top layer of parchment.
Making the oat and seed dough. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

4. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Place a sheet of parchment on the surface of the bake, lay another baking tray on top and carefully flip the mixture over. Peel away the top parchment and return to the oven for a further 15-20 minutes until crisp and lightly golden all over. Cool for 10 minutes then slide on to a wire rack to cool completely.

A freshly baked slab of oat and seed crunchies. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

When cold, transfer to a board and either snap into pieces with your fingers, or break into shards using the tip of a knife.

Oat and seed crunchies. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

As an alternative way to bake, you can divide the dough into 10 or 12 portions, flatten each one separately, and roll into thin rounds. Bake in the same way for about 5 minutes less cooking time. The crunchies are delicious with all kinds of savoury spreads, but I prefer mine with crunchy wholenut peanut butter.

Ready for snacking. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Rhubarb, raspberry and custard crump (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)

February 26, 2017March 12, 2018 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 12 Comments

Rhubarb_raspberry_and_custard_crump_pudding — Rhubarb, raspberry and custard crump. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

For me, one of the signs that Spring is on its way is the first harvest of my forced rhubarb. I love the rich colour of the stalks, their tenderness when cooked and the mild astringent, tartness of flavour that really packs a punch on the palate. Sadly, my rhubarb is not ready for picking just yet as you can see below, but I couldn’t resist the fresh stalks I saw in the local farm shop this week.

Homegrown_forced_rhubarb_in_Scotland_in_February — My homegrown forced rhubarb in late February. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Stalks_fresh_forced_rhubarb — Spring rhubarb. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

One of my favourite pairings with rhubarb is raspberry. Whilst it seems like a long time ago I had raspberries ripening in the garden, I have a few packs in the freezer, and this recipe is the perfect opportunity to delve into my supplies.

I love the name of this dish. I assume it comes from the hybridisation of the pudding called “slump” and the one called “crumble”. The recipe works fine with any cooked fruit baked underneath the glorious, melt-in-the-mouth topping. The custard is a recent addition to my recipe and brings an extra spoonful of comfort at this time of the year.

Homegrown_raspberries_on_the_branch_and_frozen — Last years homegrown raspberries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Serves: 6

350g fresh rhubarb, trimmed
50g vanilla sugar (or you can use plain caster if you prefer)
175g frozen raspberries
115g dairy free margarine (or butter if you eat it), very soft
75g caster sugar
175g gluten-free plain flour blend (I use Doves Farm)
5ml good quality vanilla extract
500ml gluten-free, dairy-free custard

Trim the rhubarb and cut into 5cm lengths. If you have thin and wider stalks, cut the stalks down so that they are all roughly the same width – this helps the rhubarb cook more evenly.
Arrange neatly in a large, lidded shallow pan. Spoon over 2 tbsp water and sprinkle with the vanilla sugar. Heat until steaming, then cover with the lid and simmer gently for 5-6 minutes until just tender but still holding shape.
Remove from the heat, sprinkle the frozen raspberries on top and leave to cool completely. Transfer to an ovenproof baking dish, about 1.2l capacity. If the fruit is very juicy, drain off a few spoonfuls and keep as a separate serving syrup.
Rhubarb and raspberries, a winning combination. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
For the topping, put the margarine (or butter) in a bowl and beat in the caster sugar until smooth and creamy. Mix in the flour and vanilla to make a lumpy, sticky mixture, resembling a soft cookie dough. Cover and chill for 30 minutes until firm.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan oven, gas mark 6). Spoon over about half of the custard in small dollops. Break up the chilled topping into clumps and scatter over the top, covering the fruit and custard as much as possible. Stand the dish on a baking tray and bake for about 35 minutes until lightly golden, bubbling and the topping has merged together. Serve hot or warm with the remaining custard and the fruit syrup.
With custard; with topping, and the freshly baked crump. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

A spoonful of comfort: hot crump pudding. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Gluten-free rough puff pastry (with dairy-free & vegan variation)

February 19, 2017August 8, 2017 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 14 Comments

Gluten_free_rough_puff_pastry_vol_au_vent_cases — Freshly baked gluten-free vol au vent cases. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

One of the foodie joys I miss most by not eating wheat is the crisp, golden, flaky, melt-in-the-mouth bite of real puff pastry. Whilst I’m not about to claim that the following recipe comes close to the original, it does make a crisp, flavoursome alternative that makes a crunchy base for a tart or a handsome topping for a pie. It’s good with sweet or savoury flavours. I use half white vegetable fat and half butter for my taste, but you can substitute the butter for a vegetable based block margarine if you’re dairy free or vegan – butter or margarine adds colour as well as flavour so using all white fat will give a different result. Tapioca flour is often part of a gluten-free blend but adding a little extra to the mix helps give a more stretchy texture to the dough which helps in the layering process.

I remember that rough puff pastry was one of the first “fancy” pastries I made at school, and I’ve been making it ever since. A favourite because it starts off as one hell of a messy mixture, but by the end of all the rolling and folding, you end up with a silky smooth, perfect block of pastry. Even with wheat flour, the rise isn’t perfect, but it’s a lot easier to work the fat into gluten-free flour using the “rough puff” method than with any other method I have tried. It does take a bit of time, but if you fancy the challenge, why not give it a go?

Makes: approx. 550g

65g cornflour
65g tapioca flour
120g gluten-free plain flour blend + extra for dusting (I use Dove’s Farm)
½ tsp salt
75g unsalted butter or non-dairy, vegetable margarine, chilled
75g white vegetable fat (I use Trex), chilled
150ml cold water

Put the 3 flours in a large mixing bowl with the salt and mix together until well blended.
Cut the butter or margarine and white vegetable fat into small pieces and stir into the flour, coating each piece of fat in flour.
Gradually stir in the water until the mixture comes together to make a soft, very lumpy dough.Then turn turn out on to a lightly floured work surface and work the dough into a flat, roughly rectangular, shape.
Step 1: making the pastry dough. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Step 2: rolling and folding the pastry dough. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Now the rolling and folding begins. The aim is to consistently roll out the pastry to the same dimensions, and then to fold it, turn it and seal it in the same way each time; this is how the pastry layers get constructed. My rolling pin is 35cm long and is the perfect length guide for rolling out the pastry to consistently the same length. Roll out the pastry to approximately this length, with a width about 12cm.
Fold the top one third of the pastry down and the bottom one third up and over the top pastry; twist the pastry round so that the open edge is facing to the right, and gently press the 3 open edges of the pastry together with the rolling pin (see middle image of slide below).
Repeat this rolling, folding, turning and sealing 3 more times and then chill the pastry for 30 minutes. The mixture will be very sticky but try to refrain from dusting with too much flour as this will dry the texture of the pastry.
After the chill time, repeat the rolling, folding, turning and sealing another 3 times, working the pastry each time in the same direction. You should now begin to feel that the fat is more blended into the flour. Chill the pastry for a further 30 minutes.
Now you’re on the home-stretch. Repeat the process 3 more times and you should see that the fat pieces have practically disappeared. Wrap and chill for at least 1 hour before using. From start to finish, you should aim to roll and fold the pastry 10 times.
Progression of the dough, from the rough to the smooth. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Unless I have lots of baking to do, I usually cut the pastry in half or quarters and wrap for freezing. It cooks perfectly after freezing and means that you have a back up supply for future use. You’re now ready to use the pastry as per your recipe.

Homemade gluten-free rough puff pastry. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

You will need to dust the work surface with extra gluten-free flour and put some on your rolling pin too. It is tricky to roll the pastry very thinly, so I usually stop trying at 1/2 cm. For thicker crusts (like vol-au-vents), 1cm gives a good rise. When rolling up, say for palmiers or arlette, you will notice the pastry cracks quite easily. After chilling and wrapping the roll in baking parchment, it is possible to smooth out some of the cracks before slicing and baking – recipes to follow in future posts.

I usually bake the pastry at 200°C (180°C fan oven, gas mark 6), and most things benefit with a light protein-based glaze (milk or egg depending on your diet). I have found that exposed edges of the pastry do bake quite hard after cooking, so if you’re making a turnover or roll, you may want to wrap the pastry round the filling entirely so that the pastry forms a seam rather than a flat, sealed edge.

The finished result is crisp and flaky, with good flavour, and if you do the rolling and folding correctly, you should get plenty of layers.

Gluten_free_rough_puff_pastry_baked_layers — Crisp, baked gluten-free pastry. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Chocolate tart (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)

February 10, 2017August 8, 2017 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 4 Comments

Gluten_free,_dairy_free,_vegan_chocolate_tart — Chocolate tart. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Only a few days ago, in my last post, I had the feeling that spring was on its way. But only one day later, down came the snow once again. In fact, as I go to post this piece, it’s very white outside. At times of despair, a “cheer-me-up” pudding is called for to help me get through the rest of this dreary month, and what comes to mind most naturally? Chocolate, of course!

This is a simple recipe with only a few ingredients. I don’t usually buy out of season fruit, but I made an exception this week and bought some rather delicious looking strawberries. Best of all, they tasted pretty good too. Of course you can top your dessert with any fruit you fancy, or simply leave it plain. I also added a sprinkle of my favourite toasted raw coconut flakes on top, just before serving. Depending on your chocolate taste-buds, use however much of the darker variety you prefer. Enjoy!

Serves: 8-10

140g plain gluten-free, dairy-free granola, finely crushed
50g coconut oil
200ml canned coconut milk
200g dairy free plain chocolate
100g 90% cocoa extra dark chocolate
1 to 2 tsp good quality vanilla bean paste
Fresh fruit and toasted coconut, optional, to serve

Grease and line an 18cm spring-form cake tin. Put the granola in a bowl. Melt the coconut oil and mix into the granola until well incorporated.
Press into the bottom of the tin using the back of a spoon and chill whilst preparing the chocolate layer.
Pour the coconut milk into a saucepan. Break up the chocolate and add to the pan. Place over a very low heat, and stir occasionally until melted. Cool for 10 minutes, stir in vanilla paste to taste and then pour over the granola base. Leave to cool, and then chill for about an hour until firm.
Carefully release from the tin. Peel away the lining paper and transfer to a serving plate. Top with fruit and coconut if using.

Vegan_gluten_free_chocolate_tart_with_coconut_topping — Finished with a coconut topping. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

A_slice_of_chocolate_tart — One slice is never enough. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Nian Gao – sticky rice cake for Chinese New Year (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)

January 28, 2017February 5, 2019 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Freefrom_nian_gao — Happy Chinese New Year! Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I discovered this sweet treat for the first time last year. The texture is soft and gelatinous, a bit like Turkish Delight. It is teeth-janglingly sweet, so a little goes a long way, but the rich, treacly flavour is strangely addictive. I dare you to try it.

To achieve the right texture, you do need to use the right ingredients, so you may need to make a trip to a Chinese supermarket or research online suppliers. However, good news: there are only four ingredients, and one of those is water! You must use glutinous rice – a fine white powder, full of starch (and don’t worry, no gluten!) – I have tried this with ordinary rice flour and the texture was grainy and quite solid. The brown sugar you use is up to you; the depth of colour and flavour of the finished cake will depend on how dark the sugar is. This year, I used coconut sugar and the result is, as you see above, very dark, glossy and treacly. The only other ingredient is coconut milk, and I use the canned variety.

Once cooked and cooled, Nian Gao is traditionally cut into slices, dipped in egg and pan-fried until lightly golden all over. It is served with red and gold decorations for luck. I’m not an egg lover, so I don’t do the frying part; I eat the cake about an hour after cooking, just as it is. Lovely.

Bag_of_Chinese_glutinous_rice_flour — Glutinous rice flour. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Other than the ingredients, you just need a couple of tins or dishes, lined with baking parchment, to cook the mixture in, and a steamer for cooking.

Prepared_tins_for_steaming — Lined 10cm diameter tins for Nian Gao. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Makes 2 x 10cm cakes (serves 3-4)

100g brown sugar
100ml water
100ml canned coconut milk
100g glutinous rice flour

Line 2 x 10cm tins or dishes with circles of baking parchment – you will need to crease the paper to make it sit snuggly inside. Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan, and heat, stirring, until dissolved. Raise the heat and simmer for 5 minutes until lightly syrupy. Cool for 10 minutes then stir in the coconut milk.
Bring a steamer to the boil, or you can use a saucepan of water fitted with a steaming compartment. Reduce the water to a simmer.
Sift the rice flour into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Gradually pour and whisk in the sugary milk, until well blended, and the mixture resembles a smooth pancake batter.
Divide the batter between the 2 tins or dishes, and arrange in the steamer. Cover loosely with a sheet of baking parchment and then put the lid on top. Leave to cook in the steam for 30 minutes until firm and glossy, like set, thick custard.
Preparation and cooking Nian Gao. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

5. Remove the cakes from the steamer and leave to cool for 10 minutes, then take out of the tins and place on a wire rack to cool. If you’re going to present the cakes, you might like to leave them in the parchment and tie with red ribbon. A flake of gold leaf on top gives the perfect finishing touch.

This is how I like my Nian Gao, still slightly warm, cut up into small chunks, and served with fresh fruit. Happy Chinese New Year!

Sticky_rice_cake_with_fresh_mango — My favourite way to serve Nian Gao, with fresh mango. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Chocolate Haggis for a Burns Night supper (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)

January 24, 2017March 12, 2018 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 12 Comments

Chocolate_biscuit_cake_wrapped_in_marzipan_shaped_like_a_haggis — Chocolate haggis wrapped in marzipan. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

January 25th is a Scottish celebration day, commemorating the birth of Scotland’s National poet, Robert Burns. Not wanting to offend my non meat-eating friends, I thought better of posting anything about the traditional savoury supper served on this day, and instead turned my thoughts to something I devised a few years ago, the Chocolate haggis. Much more appealing to all, I think, and perhaps, a wee bit more fun.

My recipe is simply a twist on the classic biscuit or refrigerator cake. You can add any combination of biscuit, fruit and nuts that you fancy. I use Scottish heather honey for the sweetness and flavour, but golden syrup or maple syrup will work just as well for my vegan friends. If you eat butter, you can use this instead of coconut oil. It’s a very versatile mix. Adding a wee tot of whisky is for the celebration; it’s fine without, so I’ll leave that up to you! By the way, I love marzipan, but if it’s not for you, you can achieve a similar effect by using an ivory coloured fondant icing.

Makes 1 haggis – 12 generous slices

125g free from plain chocolate
75g coconut oil (or butter)
2 tbsp golden or maple syrup (or heather honey)
150g free from plain granola or coarse oatcakes, crushed
150g free from shortbread or plain biscuits, crushed
75g currants
2 tbsp whisky (optional)
Icing sugar to dust
250g natural marzipan

1. Break the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and add the coconut oil and syrup. Sit the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water until melted. Remove from the water and cool for 10 minutes.

2. Mix the granola, shortbread and currants into the melted chocolate and stir in the whisky, if using. Leave in a cool place for about 45 minutes to firm up, but not set completely.

How_to_make_a_chocolate_haggis — Chocolate haggis preparation. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

3. Line the work top with a large, double-thickness, square of cling film and pile the chocolate mixture into the centre. Mound it up it to form a fat oval shape about 12cm long. Wrap the cling film round the mix tightly and twist the ends to seal, making a fat sausage shape. Chill for at least 2 hours until very firm.

4. Lightly dust the work surface with icing sugar. Roll out the marzipan to a rectangle approx. 18 x 28cm, and neaten the edges. Unwrap the chocolate haggis and place in the centre of the marzipan. Fold the marzipan over the top to cover the chocolate haggis completely, and then pinch at either end to make the distinct haggis shape. Tie the ends with twine if liked.

Freshly_made_chocolate_haggis — Chocolate haggis, ready to slice. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

5. Cover loosely with cling film and leave at room temperature for about an hour before slicing to serve, accompanied with a wee dram or two. Slàinte!

Sliced_chocolate_haggis — Chocolate haggis, sliced and ready to serve. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Chocolate_haggis_for_Burn's_Night_supper — Happy Burns Night! Image: Kathryn Hawkins

My favourite mash (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan

January 15, 2017August 8, 2017 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 8 Comments

First_snowfall_of_2017_in_Perthshire_garden — The first snow of 2017. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s been a cold week all over the UK; the first snow of the year settled in the garden a few days ago, transforming it into a “Winter Wonderland” overnight. As soon as a chill sets in, my thoughts immediately turn to comfort food.

I am a huge potato fan and this week seemed like the perfect excuse to make my favourite mash potato recipe. Perfectly cooked potatoes, a generous handful of chopped parley, lashings of good quality olive oil, a good pinch of sea salt and some fresh garlic. It’s a delicious that mash seems to go with everything.

Ingredients_and_essential_equipment_for_making_the_perfect_mashed_potato — Ingredients and equipment for olive oil and garlic mash. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

For the best result, you need to choose a potato that mashes well. My preference is King Edward, it’s got good flavour and a dry, floury texture when cooked. Cook the prepared potatoes until they are completely tender. Drain well and then give them a good thump with a potato masher. If you don’t mind a few lumps, leave it at that, but if I’ve got the time, I like to press the mash through a ricer for the smoothest, silkiest texture possible. It’s up to you how much garlic, parsley and seasoning you add, but do use a really tasty olive oil. A good quality extra virgin (cold pressed is even better) oil will not only add flavour and colour, but will add to the indulgence of the finished mash. Only warm the oil, never heat it beyond warm, otherwise the health and flavour benefits will be lost.

Mashed_potato_with_parsley_olive_oil_and_garlic — Olive oil, parsley and garlic mash. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Serves: 4

900g main crop potatoes, such as King Edward or Maris Piper
Sea salt
4 plump garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 tbsp sunflower oil
Large handful of fresh curly parsley, washed, thick stalks removed, and finely chopped (I like to add about 25g chopped parsley to this quantity of potato)
6 tbsp good quality, extra virgin cold pressed olive oil + extra for serving, if liked

Thinly peel the potatoes. Cut into chunky pieces and rinse in cold water. Place in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Add a pinch of salt, bring to the boil and cook until completely tender (12-15 minutes, depending on how thick you’ve cut them up). Drain well through a strainer, and leave to air dry for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the sunflower oil in a small saucepan and very gently fry the garlic for 1-2 minutes until tender but not browned. Remove from the heat.
Return the potatoes to the saucepan and mash well. If you’re not using a ricer, stir in the parsley and cover. If you are ricing the mash, press the potato into a warm bowl, stir in the parsley, and cover the whole bowl with foil.
Stir the olive oil into the cooked garlic and place the saucepan over a very low heat for 2-3 minutes to gently warm the oil.
Adding the flavourings to mashed potato. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
Stir the warm oil into the parsley mash. Taste and season. Pile into a warm serving dish. Drizzle with more olive oil if liked, and serve immediately. Mmmm…mmmmm.
The last spoonful of my favourite mash. Image: Kathryn Hawkins