This is a dish which I created during the holidays from leftover quinoa, the idea came to me from Iraqi red rice dishes. The flavours worked so well and my daughter loved it so much I decided to write the recipe down and share it. Quinoa is gaining a lot more popularity, and when I … Continue reading
Category Archives: Modern Australian
Chocolate Chia and Date Mousse
Why can’t desserts be tasty, good for us and so easy to prepare too! This is a very quick guilt free dessert. You can’t resist this! Well you don’t have to, it’s actually good for you. I do not call this cooking, there’s not much really to it, other than a bit of mixing and … Continue reading
Tuscan kale, pumpkin, quinoa and barberries salad
The inspiration behind this recipe is a Lebanese dish called Marshoosheh. This is my modern twist on it. The traditional dish is made with a herb by the name of Ettayfeh, which is not usually found in Sydney, but I have seen something similar to it in Asian vegetable stores. It is a basic peasant dish, … Continue reading
Coconut and Blueberry Pancakes
These pancakes are so good and it has taken me a while, after several attempts to come up with this recipe. I love my food, and I love pancakes, so it was important to come up with a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free batter that also tastes great.They are full of texture and crunchy. Serve … Continue reading
Eggplant, spinach and Bocconcini rolls with tomato sauce and basil.
Eggplant is one of my favourite vegetables, but when you combine it with Fetta, spinach, and a rich tomato sauce, it becomes irresistible. This dish is just so tasty and I love that it is so easy to prepare. I use a Cyprian sheep Fetta, and I absolutely like its creamy taste and that it’s … Continue reading
A trio of Salmon, prawns and scrambled eggs with avocado and baby rocket on a gluten, dairy and yeast free pancake.
I have been trying for a while now to create a crepe and pancake batter that is totally gluten, dairy, sugar and yeast free that tastes delicious. I finally succeeded in making one that tastes so good, is pliable and not dry. The children loved it, it was a hit. I ended up making it … Continue reading
Penne, kale and beetroot salad with sesame seed dressing
Simple food is always so satisfying, isn’t it!! And today I was craving freshness. A meal that is both light and satisfying, a fulfilling salad for lunch. I went shopping this last Saturday, looking for some gluten-free pasta. I have gone completely gluten-free about six months ago and feeling great as a result, but I … Continue reading
Fennel, pink grapefruit, chestnut and shanklish salad
Shanklish is a Middle Eastern cheese that is aged and crusted with za’atar. I am using it in this salad and it brings a wonderful texture to it. This salad is so refreshing with the sour and sweet pink grapefruit, that is balanced so well against the creamy chestnuts and the crunchiness of the fennel. … Continue reading
Chicken, quinoa and feta patties with avocado and tomato salsa
These are absolutely delicious. Put them in pita bread, a burger bun, or on mini skewers and serve them as appetizers at parties. Use your imagination and serve them any way you like, with salads or in a roll with lettuce cucumber and tomatoes. If you can’t have dairy products they taste just as delicious … Continue reading
Pumpkin, carrot and red lentil soup
This is a great recipe, the red lentils take away from the sweetness of the pumpkin and makes for a great texture and taste. The first time I ever tried pumpkin soup was at a friend’s place after I came to Australia. I thought it was interesting but found it a bit too creamy. So … Continue reading
Broad bean, coriander and cumin rolls
These delicious vegetarian pastries are pan-fried with just a drizzle of oil and they make a great side dish or party food. They keep well if prepared earlier during the day and then warmed up in the oven. Ingredients: Makes about 20 rolls Preparation time 15 minutes cooking time 15 minutes To prepare rolls 20 … Continue reading
Chicken with saffron, lemon and yoghurt
I adapted this recipe from Greg Malouf’s cook book, Saraban, recipes inspired from his travels around Persia. It was the first time that I ever had chicken cooked in yoghurt and loved it. It is simple and easy to make. The original recipe uses orange juice which I liked but I preferred using lemon instead. … Continue reading
Freekeh salad with macadamia, barberries and feta
Freekeh is wheat harvested when still young and green, then roasted and rubbed to remove the grain from chaff. It has a special smoky flavour and is quite rich in fibre and protein. It is traditionally cooked as a stew, however chefs of modern Middle Eastern cuisine are reinventing this ancient grain and using it … Continue reading
Kale, sun dried apricots, walnuts, asparagus and beetroot salad
The tangy taste of the sun-dried apricots teams up really well with the crunchiness of walnuts to give this salad an interesting twist on flavours. The Beetroot and the grilled sweet potato introduce a lovely sweetness which contrasts quite well with the sourness of the dressing. prep time: 20 min cooking time: 30 – 45 min … Continue reading
Mediterranean style rice paper rolls with grilled asparagus and haloumi
Taking a bite out of these rolls, is like having all the flavours of an antipasto platter exploding in your mouth at the same time. Absolutely delicious and so light, it is my Mediterranean twist on the very popular ‘Vietnamese rice paper rolls’. I wanted a gluten-free and light alternative to the usual crusty bread piled … Continue reading
Grilled fig salad with pomegranate molasses and caramelised walnuts.
The sweet and salty flavours pair so well in this refreshing salad. It has various textures too which makes it a delight to the palette. Note: for a vegetarian option, omit the prosciutto and scatter extra cheese pieces on top of salad. Serves: Two people Prep Time: 15 min Cooking time: 5 min 4 figs … Continue reading
Stuffed mushrooms with walnut, feta and olives.
A delicious gluten-free light alternative to the usual stuffed mushroom recipes. It makes a great entrée or use small button mushrooms as appetizers. I bought these gorgeous Portobello mushrooms yesterday, they are the brown large ones, but you can most definitely use large button mushrooms instead. Feel free to experiment with goat feta or sheep … Continue reading
Creamy leek and zucchini soup
Leek adds a special flavour to soups. This is a soup that I tend to make quite often, and even though it is creamy, it has no cream or milk in it. I thicken it and achieve the creamy texture by adding the potato. If you wish to add a dollop of cream, you can, … Continue reading
Creamy lemon chicken with leek, pumpkin and broccolini
This dish is really tasty and very easy to prepare. For a vegetarian option, omit the chicken and double your vegetables. This combination of vegetables work really well with a creamy sauce. I am serving it with brown rice but you can use basmati or white if you prefer. Serves 6 Preparation time: 15 min … Continue reading
Dried fig and nut quinoa salad
I created this recipe a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to a friend’s place for lunch and I wanted to do something different with quinoa. I had bought the day before some lovely dries figs and I thought why not use them instead of my usual currants or Persian sultana. Creativity was in … Continue reading