TEFF | The World's Smallest Gluten-Free Grain | No comments:

Whilst there seems to be a minor stigma attached to being Gluten Free, I think it's pretty cool! Firstly, it requires you to think outside the box, experiment with alternatives and find solutions in cooking! When it comes to gluten free grains, PSHHH, we sure do have an abundance of options to choose from. So, my newest discovery and absolute favourite, most flavourful grain of them all has to be the Teff grain! Pardon? Yes, it seems that most people are still yet to discover this ancient Ethiopian superfood grain which is strong, versatile and sweet to taste. The grain itself is the world's smallest grain and is able to sustain and thrive in even the most difficult of climates; making this grain a staple in Ethiopian cuisine. If you didn't know about it, I am so happy you now do as it opens up a brand new door in GF cooking, so dance on in and have fun experimenting with all the new ways of using it! It can be eaten whole, ground and used as flour, cooked, boiled, baked and is so pretty versatile.

The Super-Powerful Health Benefits That Exist in the World's Smallest Grain

~ Excellent source of protein
~ Contains a balance of all 8 essential amino acids to promote our body's growth & repair
~ 180mg of Calcium per 100g (a great essential source of calcium for Vegans!)
~ Manganese, phosphourous, iron, copper, aluminium, barium, thiamin and Vitamin C!
~ Recommended for anaemic's as the iron is Teff is absorbed easily into the blood stream
~ Has a low-glycemic index and has 20-40% resistant starches which helps regulate the blood sugar levels in diabetics
~ Contains fibre to ease constipation and keep you fuller for longer
~ Low in fat
~ Benefits colon health
~ Anti-inflammatory and can help you out on the month that mother nature comes along - can help reduce cramping and flow (sorry not sorry)

Food for Thought...

Forgetting our health for just a moment. Let's think about the source of our food from cradle to grave. Let's be honest most of today's health and superfoods are grown and harvested in underdeveloped countries stricken by hunger and poverty. Do you ever stop to think about what it takes to get that grain, berry or seed on to your plate. Let's think beyond the short journey of sourcing the product online or at your local supermarket for 5 minutes...

Maybe you never thought about it, maybe your initial reason for buying exotic superfoods was purely for their plethora of health benefits which we all seek for our external and internal beauty. I am always seeking ways to purify my skin, stop my unwarranted hair loss and manage my digestive issues. More often than not, these health foods are exported from underdeveloped countries, resulting in an increase in exports to Western countries such as the US and the UK. Teff flour is exported from Ethiopia, and with it's increasing rise in popularity, Ethiopia’s returns on exports are increasing, contributing to curbing hunger and poverty.

On August 6th, 2015, The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) released a statement: “Ethiopia is preparing to export limited amounts of Teff flour to the United States and other foreign markets to capitalise on the growing demand for gluten-free grain products. Exports are expected to begin in early 2016 with annual totals the first year expected to reach between 6,000-8,000 metric tons. To avoid potential inflationary pressure from the export of Teff flour, the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) will tightly control the volumes produced for export. In addition, to meet foreign countries’ import requirements, the GOE will institute the proper food safety and quality-based measures.”

We can assume that when it comes to trying to fight poverty, products such as Teff can be a way to contribute to third-world countries by increasing demand and in turn accepting the inalienable high prices; except for the fact a rise in global popularity can sometimes cause their exports to become industrialised, therefore,  those countries can result in further suffering from the corruption of large corporations exploiting farmers and not increasing pay, and instead taking advantage of it. This is a problem, and so it was with Quinoa. Now that’s some food for thought…

So! Where can I find it?

UK Supermarkets
Whole Foods
Sainsburies
Various health food stores including Holland & Barrett

UK Online
Holland and Barrett  £6.49
Tobia Teff Ltd  £4.95

Tel Aviv
Divan Organic Health Supermarket HaShuk Carmel
Health food stores

Wants some inspiration? Get started with my delicious sweet Teff bread, serve with homemade butter or margarine. Serve warm for breakfast, dessert or as a snack..cheeky!!

Recipe: Vegan + GF Dried Fruits Ethiopian Teff Bread

Kisses,

Bea xo

Baked Lemon Sole & Brazilian Mango Salsa served with Sweet Potato & Sweet Dates | No comments:

Your main dish doesn't necessarily need to be savoury. In fact, integrating sweetness created balance or could create absolute mayhem, a beautiful mess. This dish for me is like dinner and dessert on one plate, and the flavours play off each other favourably. Fruit is often overlooked when it comes to a main dish. I feel in mainstream restaurants, especially in London, you don't find it too often in your main meal, usually in dessert. Some of my favourite partners in crime are: 

- Orange, pear, walnut & blue cheese

- Strawberries, basil & balsamic

- Dates & sweet potato (dessert on a plate...MMM) 

- Mango, chilli & coriander 

- Gammon & pineapple

- Honey roasted root vegetables

- Watermelon and olive oil 

So why fruit and fish? Surely BLEURGH? 

Actually...no. Whilst adding fresh fruit to fish might not be the first flavourful combinations to come to mind, I can ensure you that you will be graced with a more than pleasant surprise. In fact, unlike red meat and poultry, fish has a certain freshness to it, with iodine and sea-resembling fishy flavours being passed down the food chain and essentially onto your plate. Its texture is delicately soft and light; it's flavour best accentuated by the freshest of ingredients. White fish has far less of a 'fishy' taste than other variations of fish, for example tuna. I have used lemon sole, a flat fish which has a sweet delicate flesh and works well in many dishes.

I first tasted the mango, coriander and hot red chilli salsa when I worked for the Rolex HQ in London. Our meals were catered for us everyday, and we were lucky enough to have Pete the chef cooking 3-course meals for us daily! Oh how I loved Pete :D Even if my gluten-intolerance really did him up the backside sometimes. Pete if you're reading this, I miss coming into the kitchen each day, you were so great and you inspired me always! Pete served us once, cod on crushed new potato's with this Brazilian style salsa, which I was enthralled by! It is genius. It is SO fresh, flavourful and spicy. I felt so many flavours whizzing around my mouth, except my taste buds accepted them clearly and confidently. IT. WAS. DELICIOUS. Note to self, next time, try adding chopped red onion into the salsa, for another kick in a different direction. I think that too is a match made in heaven. 

OK. So I bought a sweet potato. I baked it and then I had one of those mid-creating brainwaves. I know I sound like a loony tune, but being creative in the kitchen is SO much fun, I am buzzing still from the flavour pairings...EEEK! The best part is you never actually know what you are doing half the time, you explore and experiment and then VOILA! I tried to slice dates...it turned to much OBV. They are SO soft. I have date syrup? That's it. Sliced sweet potato laced with melted butter, date puree, garnished with drizzled date honey. OH MY this is what I am dubbing dessert on a plate. It is a wonderful side to an savoury or spicy dish, it not only adds balance, but the sweetness is not overpowering, it went beautifully with the delicate flavours, seeing as it has an earthy undertone. OK, it sounds like earthy and ocean bearing flavour just don't mix. Think again! 

DATES! DATES! DATES! My favourite restaurant, that I have eaten at so far is La Shuk on Dizengoff. Why? Firstly, the ceviche is incredible. The best ceviche I have had and right now I am loving ceviche. It was white John Dory fish and sweet dates...I need to recreate this dish. Speaking of ceviche, restaurants here in Israel serve such wonderful ceviche dishes, diverse in flavour, and right now its my favourite dish. I'll have a glass of Cava please (but really I say it in Hebrew) :P There is only one place I can find Prosecco here in Israel, luckily it's in a wine bar called Denim, which is conveniently located down my street, with a daily happy hour. WHOOPS. Whilst I no longer drink it as often, I consider myself more of a sangria girl now, Prosecco was undoubtedly my favourite drink back home and in London. 

PS. Can we just appreciate this cute silver scoop! On my wanders around Tel Aviv last weekend, I got lost exploring the back streets leading to Levinsky Market, by which I stumbled across several professional chef stores! ERRR I'M IN HEAVEN. I lost myself and found myself a million times over planning dishes based on plates, accompaniments and so-called kitchen gadgets. Exhibit A. The sweetshop scoop. I knew instantly when I saw it that I would, essentially, serve the accompaniment to a dish. In this case, the salsa fitted perfectly in there. Cooking isn't just about making food and eating it. The creative processes actually start before you even start cooking. I bought so many cute and kinda cool things in these stores for the presentation of my food. I can't wait to share it all with you :)

ENJOY DOLLS XO 

Fish in Foil, the Scoop of the Day and Finally the Sweet Potato found himself a DATE! 

SWEEEET! 

Baked Lemon Sole & Brazilian Mango Salsa Served with Sweet Potato & Sweet Dates

(This recipe SERVES 1 to increase yield, multiply quantities by amount of people) 

Preparation Time: 15 minutes 

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients: 

- 1 fillet of Lemon Sole white fish
- wedge of lemon
- knob of butter
- 1/4 sweet potato
- 1 King Solomon dates (my favourite Israeli dates, other variations will do!)
- 1 tsp date syrup
- Sea Salt & Pepper

Mango Salsa Ingredients: 

- 1/3 Mango
- Handful of coriander
- 1/3 Red Chilli Pepper
- 2 slices red onion (optional & not included in this recipe)

Make the Magic Happen: 

1. Preheat fan oven to 180 degrees. Wash sweet potato, and mark an X in the middle using a sharp knife. Place potato in the microwave for 6 minutes to pre-cook it. This reduces cooking time and it is just as tasty. If you beg to differ, pop the potato in 40 minutes before preparation begins :D
2. Take a piece of aluminium foil approx. 30cm x 30xm long and place the fillet of fish in the middle of the foil square. Season with cracked sea salt and cracked black pepper, squeezing a little of the lemon wedge over the fish and leave on top with a knob of butter. 
3. Fold in the foil first length ways and then horizontally, create a roof over the fish, sealing in a little house, ensuring all edges are folded over so nothing seeps out. Use a fork or a knife to poke holes in the top to allow steam out. This is one of my favourite ways to cook fish. It is baked inside all the juices, the addition of ingredients such as lemon, parsley, onion, herbs or whatever induces flavour and keeps the freshness. It also keeps the flesh soft and moist. 
4. Place the fish in foil in a small casserole dish, just in cas any juices spill out, you don't want to have more hassle when it comes to cleaning the kitchen. 
5. Take the potato out of the oven...careful...this is not a game of hot potato, be sure to use something like a tea towel to grab it. IT'S HOT!! Pop it straight in the oven to continue cooking and to crisp over. 
6. Meanwhile, slice off the mango. I used an avocado slicer to slice the mango out from the skin, an alternative is to use a knife and chop into chunks. Place in a bowl.
7. Finely chop the coriander and add to the mango.
8. Slice the red chilli pepper into fine circles. If you like it hot like me, start at the top of the chilli where the seeds are, you will get more spice, and more heat! Use sparingly if you are sensitive to spice.. Add to the bowl and mix it all up!
9. Pop the fish in the oven for 15 minutes, he can sit tight with the sweet potato.
10. Slice the dates and mix together to form a puree. 
11. Once the fish and sweet potato are cooked, take out of the oven and leave to cool for 5 mins, at this moment I pour myself a glass of vino rouge...
12. Arrange your plate accordingly; slice the sweet potato and add a tiny knob of butter to each slice. Top with sweet date puree and drizzle with date honey, make it look pretty.
13. Serve the mango salsa on the side and VOILA! 

Enjoy Dolls 

Bete Avon 

Bon Appetit! 

xo 

Bea

You can like my FB Page Dine With Bea for more recipes, kitchen creations, articles and general ramblings

Follow me on instagram @thesartorialdoll to see what I am cooking everyday and stay up to date with my culinary explorations here in Tel Aviv

DINE WITH BEA: Orange, Pear, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad with Fig Vinagarette | No comments:

Make yourself a healthy and SUPER FLAVOURFUL lunch in no more than 8 minutes, come on Dolls...CHOP CHOP!

INGREDIENTS (couldn't do it without 'em):

~ Handful of Lettuce (I used soft lettuce leaves as opposed to the crunchy Romanian lettuce)

~ 1 Red Pear

~ Handful of Cherry Tomatoes

~ 1/2 Orange THE JUICIEST KIND

~ Blue Cheese 

(I opted for a creamy one, I can't lie and say I know which because the packet is in Hebrew. I bought it on a whim and it's GREAT. Creamy and strong tasting.)

~ Handful of Walnuts

- Fig Vinaigrette TOTAL LOVE!!!!!!!

MAKE IT HAPPEN:

Do I have to tell ya? No, I Didn't think so, just make it look FRUITY & FABULOUS! Presentation is key and food made with love is the most delicious, heart-warming kind, don't disappoint my darling dolls..

Yeah, so 7 weeks, no no 7lbs later, oh I mean heavier my clothes are definitely feeling snug, oh SHIT. My love for cooking and mixing together flavours has spiralled out of control, I have never been so inspired by flavours and spices in my life. I have had to take a healthy turn and give the carbs a rest for a few days. MEGA LOLZ. Whilst hummus and falafel are a popular tradition here in the middle-east, I have stretched far beyond the stereotypical flavours that you can imagine here in Israel. Firstly, all the produce here is fresh, the fruit is straight off the trees...no, no I mean quite literally, cute, and the vegetables are straight outta the ground here in Israel. In London, the produce is usually imported due to the not-so-tropical climate, not so fresh as you say you are HEY. The markets here are incredible for a foodie like me, a wonderland of colour, freshness and flavour. LOVES IT!

This morning I strolled down by the port in Tel-Aviv, unlike the usual setting of the Shuk Carmel that I usually find myself wandering through week in/week out. I stumbled across a local produce stand sampling an array of fruity vinaigrette's open for testing. WOW. These are mind blowing, from Strawberry, to Fig, to Mango...I GOTTA GET EM. I bought the fig and mango, and for sure will be going back for more. The taste is delightfully pleasing the the taste buds and complements fruity salads and creamy blue cheeses. I could tell this from the moment I placed the sample in my mouth. Fruit and salad go impeccably well FYI. The recipe creation that I grace you with here is a perfect healthy treat, full of complex flavours, textures and colours. Great for a summer dinner party or just as a quick lunch, it is quick, easy and so damn DELICIOUS! Strawberries go exceptionally well with basil and balsamic vinaigrette, or balsamic reduction/syrup. Be creative, I can guarantee you it won't fail. 

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRUITS & NUTS:

~ The addition/garnishing of nuts (walnuts being my fave in salads) come with many health benefits such as added dietary fibres, a wide range of essential nutrients including several B group vitamins, vitamin E and minerals such as calcium. 

~ Citrus fruits, they're not just zesty, juicy goodness, they contain VITAMIN C...which apparently helps you see better! They lower the risk of strokes, help fight weight gain, cancer and supposedly lowers stress

- An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are FULL OF FIBRE, I don't need to say the rest...you got it.

- Berries. Small but POWERFUL. Full of antioxidants, they help your body fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals that cause illness.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables help reduce the risk of heart disease, but too much fruit isn't too good as remember they are full of natural sugars. 

Enjoy preparing your summery salads dolls, and if you are in cold countries, bring some sunshine to your lunchtimes with these summery salad ideas. 

Kisses,

Bea {X} 

#DINEWITHBEA

(If any of you try my recipe's, I would LOVE to hear your feedback) :)