What? A creamy sauce made without oils? Yes, it can be done … and you have seen the basic method on this blog before (remember The Easiest and Creamiest Mac & Cheese and the broccoli mac & cheese). This dish sacrifices nothing in terms of flavour. It packs a tangy punch, it is creamy and full of…
umami
Neapolitan Classics: Pasta e Patate
This is a very typical Neapolitan dish and almost embodies the essence of cucina povera. In Naples, you will find it at home and in many restaurants and trattorie. It is very easy to prepare and is inexpensive. Yes, this is, in fact, a recipe for pasta and potatoes. Carbohydrates are not bad for you. They…
Neapolitan Classics: Pizza di Scarola (Escarole Pie) with a side of History
There’s so much going on in this recipe: cooked lettuce, umami, history, tradition… all my favourite things. Let’s start with what is this. This is a savoury stuffed pie that is typically Neapolitan. In the 19th and early 20th century, this pie would have been eaten on Christmas Eve as a light fare because no…
Neapolitan Classics: Smokey Lentil and Kale Soup
A hearty lentil soup is good anytime. It’s probably one of my favourite dishes. Neapolitans are big fans of lentils and this soup is something my Mum makes at least once a week. There is an easy and kind way to achieve umami – that smokey, meaty flavour: use a few shiitake mushrooms and some…
Easiest Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and Cauliflower (so you can go ahead and feel smug anyway!)
You want mac & cheese… oh but you shouldn’t (for some reason)… but with this recipe, you absolutely should! It’s made with little to no fat/oil, it has vegetables in it, it’s all in one pot and takes no time at all. The concept is simple and based upon this recipe; you’ll basically cook the pasta in…
Vegan Fish Pie With Cheesy Mashed Potato Top
Fish pies in Britain have their origins in the Christian practice of “fasting” days, particularly during Lent, when “fasting” did not necessarily mean not eating, rather it meant not eating meat. Fish was the substitute for those who could afford it. Traditional fish pies were made with rosewater, sugar, spices and wine. Thankfully, this fish…
Thai Vegan Fish Soup (with a side of fish sauce history)
Thanks to Messy Vegan Cook, I discovered that vegan fish sauce exists. Seriously, it does and it’s as stinky and flavourful as the non-kind kind. Here’s a little history on fish sauce. The first printed instance of fish sauce appears in the 2,000 year old Roman cookbook Apicius. They called it garum and liquamen (they were two different…
