vegan

Kabocha Squash and Pomegranate Salad / Salata sa kabocha tikvom i narom

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We Croats are not a big squash eating nation. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that squashes were mainly grown as pig food. Sure, we have a few old local recipes, but foods like pumpkin pie, soup or roast squash would only be looked down on with utter suspicion. But, we entered the 21st century, after all, and squashes are migrating more and more onto our tables. Supermarkets are also flooded with many squash varieties, so we’re experimenting and expanding our horizons.

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This salad is a real autumn treat. The pomegranate seeds give it a nice crisp and roasted Kabocha makes it hearty and filling. Oh, and if you’re wondering what to do with leftover pomegranate seeds, fear not. Here is a muffin recipe that you can quickly whip up. You’re welcome. 🙂

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 2 servings / 1.03 EUR per serving / 2.06 EUR for all)

½ small Kabocha squash (0.67 EUR)

1 tbsp olive oil (0.04 EUR)

Pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Crack of freshly ground black pepper (0.01 EUR)

10 leaves of chicory salad (0.40 EUR)

2 handfuls of rocket salad (0.40 EUR)

1 small onion (0.07 EUR)

2 tbsp pomegranate seeds (0.13 EUR)

For the dressing:

1 tbsp mustard (0.07 EUR)

1 tbsp olive oil (0.04 EUR)

1-2 tbsp lemon juice – from ½ a lemon (0.13 EUR)

2 tbsp yogurt – use non-dairy for vegan version (0.07 EUR)

Pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Crack of freshly ground black pepper (0.01 EUR)

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METHOD:

Preheat oven to 200°C. Line baking tray with parchment paper and set aside. Wash squash, halve, discard seeds and carefully cut into half-moons, keeping the skin intact. Toss with a tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper, spread on prepared baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, until softened and slightly charred. Allow to cool slightly.

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Meanwhile, wash and roughly chop chicory and toss together with washed rocket. Pat to dry or use a salad spinner and divide salads between two plates. Thinly slice onion, placing on bed of salad, topped then with cooled Kabocha.

Assemble dressing in a small bowl by whisking together mustard and olive oil until frothy. Add lemon juice, yogurt, salt and pepper and whisk until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning. Drizzle salad with dressing and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately.

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Mi Hrvati nismo baš neki narod od tikvi. To vjerojatno ima puno veze sa činjenicom da su se tikve uglavnom koristile kao hrana za pajceke. Naravno, imamo par starinskih narodnih recepata (bućnica!), ali na jela kao što su pita od bundeve, juha ili pečena bundeva gleda se sa sumnjom i nepovjerenjem. Ali, ipak smo ušli u 21. stoljeće i tikve sve više migriraju prema našim stolovima. Supermarketi su prepravljeni šarenilom i izborom tikvi, a mi pokušavamo eksperimentirati i širiti svoje horizonte.

Ova salata je prava jesenska poslastica. Sjemenke nara daju joj divnu hrskavost, a pečena kabocha je zasitna i izdašna. A ako se pitate što ćete sa sjemenkama nara koje vam ostanu, ne brinite. Evo vam jedan recept za mafine koje možete za čas smutiti. Nema na čemu. 🙂

SASTOJCI:

(Za 2 porcije / 7,64 kn po porciji / 15,28 kn za sve)

½ male Kabocha tikve (5,00 kn)

1 žlica maslinovog ulja (0,33 kn)

Prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,05 kn)

10 listova endivije (3,00 kn)

2 pregršta rukole (3,00 kn)

1 mali luk (0,50 kn)

2 žlice sjemenki nara (1,00 kn)

Za dresing:

1 žlica senfa (0,50 kn)

1 žlica maslinovog ulja (0,33 kn)

1-2 žlice soka od limuna, od ½ limuna (1,00 kn)

2 žlice jogurta, za vegansku verziju koristiti jogurt od soje ili orašastih plodova (0,50 kn)

Prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,05 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pečnicu na 200°C. Obložite protvan za pečenje masnim papirom i stavite na stranu. Operite i prepolovite tikvu, izvadite sjemenke, pa oprezno skupa sa kožom narežite na polumjesece. Pomiješajte sa žlicom ulja, solju i paprom, raširite po pripremljenom protvanu pa pecite 30 minuta, dok ne tikva ne omekša i ne karamelizira se po rubovima. Pustite da se malo ohladi.

U međuvremenu, operite i grubo narežite endiviju, pa pomiješajte sa opranom rukolom. Lagano posušite sa kuhinjskim ručnikom ili izvrtite u cjedilu za salatu, pa podijelite salatu na dva tanjura. Tanko narežite luk i poslažite po salati, a po vrhu rasporedite ohlađenu tikvu.

Složite dresing u maloj zdjelici, tako da istučete senf i maslinovo ulje dok ne postanu pjenasti. Dodajte sok od limuna, jogurt, sol i papar pa miješajte dok se sastojci ne sjedine. Probajte, pa još začinite po potrebi. Pokapajte dresing po salati i na kraju po vrhu razbacajte sjemenke nara. Poslužite odmah.

Kabocha Squash and Pomegranate Salad / Salata sa kabocha tikvom i narom

Homemade Vegetable Bouillon / Domaća Vegeta

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Like all of us, I love having around batches of things that make life nicer. I love it even more when it’s something that I’ve made myself. Like a jar of homemade jam or salsa. Or, you know, ten jars. You don’t want to run out of jam.

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I’ve been toying with the idea of making my own vegetable bouillon mix for a while now, but something would always get in the way. This weekend I finally remembered about it, bought a bunch of vegetables and set to work. You can, of course, adjust the vegetables to your own liking. I also picked out a head of lovely young kohlrabi, but when I got home, it was nowhere to be found. Alas, I didn’t want it to stop me, so I went ahead and just used the things I had. I am very happy with the result and already tried my bouillon in scrambled eggs and a few dishes I’ve made since. It gives a subtle veggie note that I love.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields about 5 cups / 0.47 EUR per cup / 2.37 EUR for all)

4 small leeks (0.40 EUR)

1 large onion (0.10 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.07 EUR)

3 large yellow carrots (0.40 EUR)

4 small regular carrots (0.27 EUR)

2 large parsley roots, with all its leaves (0.53 EUR)

½ celeriac root (0.40 EUR)

2 chili peppers (0.13 EUR)

1/3 cup salt (0.07 EUR)

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METHOD:

Wash, peel and roughly chop all the vegetables and toss together with salt. Run everything through your food processor, in batches if necessary. Store in a freezer, in airtight containers. Due to the salt amount, the bouillon won’t actually freeze solid and you’ll have no problems taking a spoonful or two when needed. Use later for soups, sauces, stews or basically anything else you can think of. Just remember that it’s really salty, so be extra careful about adding extra salt to your food.

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Kao i svi, volim imati doma zalihe stvari koje čine život ljepšim. Još više volim kada je to nešto što sam sama napravila. Kao recimo staklenka domaćeg pekmeza ili šalše. Ili deset staklenki. Ne želite da vam u životu ponestane pekmeza.

Napraviti domaću vegetu već mi je neko vrijeme bilo na radaru, ali uvijek bi nešto iskrsnulo. Ovaj sam se vikend napokon sjetila, kupila povrće i primila se posla. Naravno, povrće prilagodite svojem ukusu. Ja sam na placu kupila i lijepu mladu korabicu, ali kad sam došla doma, netragom mi je nestala iz torbe. Nisam htjela da me to zaustavi, pa sam jednostavno upotrijebila ono što sam imala. Jako sam sretna sa rezultatom koji je već isproban u omletima i par jela koje sam skuhala u međuvremenu. Svemu daje suptilnu povrtnu notu koja je divna.

SASTOJCI:

(za oko 5 šalica / 3,55 kn po šalici / 17,75 kn za sve)

4 manja poriluka (3,00 kn)

1 veliki luk (0,75 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (0,50 kn)

3 velike žute mrkve (3,00 kn)

4 manje obične mrkve (2,00 kn)

2 velika peršina, korijen i list (4,00 kn)

½ glavice celera (3,00 kn)

2 čili papričice (1,00 kn)

1/3 šalice soli (0,50 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Operite, ogulite i grubo nasijecite svo povrće, pa pomiješajte sa solju. Sve sameljite u multipraktiku, po potrebi u više tura. Čuvajte u hermetički zatvorenim posudama u zamrzivaču. Radi velikog udjela soli, vegeta vam se neće smrznuti u blok i moći ćete bez problema žlicom odgrabiti koliko vam je potrebno. Koristite za juhe, umake, variva i sve ostalo što vam padne na pamet. Samo se sjetite da je jako slana, pa budite oprezni ako dodajete još soli.

Homemade Vegetable Bouillon / Domaća Vegeta

Baked Squash and Sweet Potato Autumn Soup / Jesenska juha od pečene bundeve i batata

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Today we will be baking a soup. Yes, you’ve read this correctly, a soup which comes out of the oven. Incidentally, I had the oven going for some other stuff and thought to myself, why couldn’t I just make a soup in the oven as well? Why, indeed? It’s totally doable. The internet is full of baked potato soup recipes and this is just taking things a step further down the path of lazy. I have zero shame about it, too. In fact, I’m thinking about making a baked mushroom soup next. The possibilities opening before me truly seem endless.

Anyhow, what you will end up here with is a batch of thick yummy paste which you can later take any way you’d like. I’m talking pasta toppings, or stew starters, or just soup. On its own, or with some spinach in, or topped with croutons, or pumpkin seeds, or drizzled with yogurt or cream. It’s like ten meals hiding inside one container of pureed veggies. It’s magic.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 10 generous servings / 0.22 EUR per serving / 2.24 EUR for all)

½ small Kabocha squash (0.66 EUR)

2 sweet potatoes (1.07 EUR)

1 large onion (0.10 EUR)

3 large carrots (0.13 EUR)

1 chili pepper (0.07 EUR)

1 small piece of ginger (0.01 EUR)

2 tbsp olive oil (0.08 EUR)

Pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Crack of freshly ground black pepper (0.01 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.09 EUR)

Oil or non-spray for coating the pan (0.01 EUR)

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METHOD:

Preheat oven to 200°C. Lightly grease baking tray or coat with non-stick spray, line with parchment paper and set aside. Wash, peel and roughly chop all the vegetables and leave skins only on whole garlic cloves, as we’re baking those whole with skins intact. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper in prepared baking tray, arrange whole unpeeled garlic cloves among vegetable chunks and bake for 30-45 minutes, until vegetables soften and slightly caramelize. My tray was placed in lower third of the oven as I was baking something above, so the veggies got nice and charred on the bottom.

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Allow vegetables to cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic cloves out of their skins and working in batches, run everything in your food processor until smooth and creamy. You might want to add a cup of water for smoother texture and also run things in batches if you have a tiny food processor like me.

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For finishing soup, mix two heaping tablespoons of paste with one cup of water and bring to a rolling boil and then serve. Or just store the paste in your fridge or freezer in an airtight container.

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I intentionally made seasoning pretty mild so the final soup can later be customized to wish. However, my chilies were insanely hot, so I suggest you only add one chili at a time, or you too might have a real kick with your soup.

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Danas ćemo peći juhu. Da, da, dobro ste pročitali, radimo juhu u pećnici. Naime, desilo se to tako da mi je pećnica već gorila radi nekih drugih stvari, pa sam pomislila, zašto ne bi mogla napraviti i juhu u pećnici? Zaista, zašto ne? Totalno je izvedivo. Internet je krcat receptima za juhu od pečenih krumpira. Ovo je samo korak dalje prema putu lijenosti. Uopće se zbog toga ni ne sramim. Zapravo, već planiram raditi juhu od pečenih gljiva. Mogućnosti koje su mi se otvorile čine se beskrajnima.

Uglavnom, ono što ćete dobiti je gusta fina krema sa kojom kasnije možete raditi svašta. Kao recimo upotrijebiti kao sos za tjesteninu, ili početak nekog finog gulaša, ili jesti samo kao juhu. Čistu juhicu, ili sa špinatom, ili sa krutonima, ili bučinim sjemenkama, ili pokapanu sa jogurtom ili vrhnjem. To je kao čarobni paket od deset jela u jednom.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 10 izdašnih porcija / 1,68 kn po porciji / 16,78 kn za sve)

½ male kabocha tikve (5,00 kn)

2 batata (8,00 kn)

1 veći luk (0,75 kn)

3 velike mrkve (1,00 kn)

1 čili papričica (0,50 kn)

1 mali komadić đumbira (0,10 kn)

2 žlice maslinovog ulja (0,66 kn)

Prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,05 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (0,70 kn)

Ulje za premazati posudu za pečenje (0,01 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pećnicu na 200°C. Namastite posudu za pečenje i obložite masnim papirom i stavite na stranu. Operite, ogulite i grubo nasijecite svo povrće, osim češnjaka, jer ćemo njega peći cijelog u ljusci. U pripremljenoj posudi za pečenje pomiješajte povrće sa maslinovim uljem, soli i paprom, pa među povrćem razmjestite i češnjak. Pecite 30-45 minuta, dok povrće ne omekša i ne postane blago karamelizirano. Moj protvan je bio u donjoj trećini pećnice jer sam gore pekla nešto drugo, pa se zato lijepa korica uhvatila sa donje strane.

Pustite da se sve malo ohladi, istisnite češnjak iz ljuski i sve ispasirajte u multipraktiku do kremaste teksture. Možete slobodno dodati šalicu vode da se lakše propasira, a po protrebi i ovisno o veličini vašeg multipraktika, možda ćete morati sve podijeliti u par tura.

Da zgotovite juhu, pomiješajte oko 2 žlice paste sa jednom šalicom vode i stavite da zakuha, pa poslužite. Ili jednostavno spremite pastu za kasnije u hermetički zatvorenoj posudi u hladnjaku ili zamrzivaču.

Baked Squash and Sweet Potato Autumn Soup / Jesenska juha od pečene bundeve i batata

Homemade Clumpy Granola / Domaća grudasta granola

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This granola recipe is just the thing when you need to have breakfast situations solved. You can make a huge batch to store in the fridge, as it keeps for weeks. It’s delicious served over milk and yoghurt, and even on its own, as a snack.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 8 generous servings / 0.42 EUR per serving / 3.37 EUR for whole)

500 g rolled oats (0.67 EUR)

3-4 apples, grated with rinds (0.40 EUR)

1 cup golden raisins (0.67 EUR)

1/3 cup almonds, whole or cut or smashed into rough chunks (0.67 EUR)

1/3 cup butter (0.40 EUR)

4 tbsp honey (0.53 EUR)

1 tsp cinnamon (0.01 EUR)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract (0.02 EUR)

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METHOD:

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together oats, apples, raisins and almonds or almond chunks. The easiest way for me to get almond chunks is to put almonds in a freezer bag and bash the crap out of them with a rolling pin. In a small saucepan melt butter and honey. Remove from heat, add cinnamon and vanilla, pour over oats mixture and stir everything until fully incorporated. Spread the mixture on a prepared baking tray, leaving it clumpy and not pressing it into the pan as you want it to be quite loose. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring well halfway through.

Leave granola to cool completely on a baking tray before storing in an airtight container.

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Ovaj recept za granolu je prava stvar kada trebate imati super rješenje za doručak. Možete napraviti veliku porciju i čuvati ju u frižideru i do nekoliko tjedana. Jako je fina sa mlijekom ili jogurtom, ili ju možete grickati samu bez ičega.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 8 izdašnih porcija / 3,16 kn po porciji / 28,27 kn za sve)

500 g zobenih pahuljica (5,00 kn)

3-4 jabuke, naribane skupa s korom (3,00 kn)

1 šalica zlatnih grožđica (5,00 kn)

1/3 šalice badema, cijelih, nagrubo narezanih ili izmrvljenih (5,00 kn)

1/3 šalice maslaca (3,00 kn)

4 žlice meda (4,00 kn)

1 žličica cimeta (0,07 kn)

1 žličica ekstrakta vanilije (0,20 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pečnicu na 180°C. Obložite protvan papirom za pečenje i stavite na stranu. U velikoj zdjeli izmiješajte zobene pahuljice, naribane jabuke, grožđice i cijele bademe ili komadiće badema. Meni je najlakše usitniti bademe tako da ih stavim u vrećicu za smrzavanje i onda raspalim po njima valjkom za tijesto. U lončiću rastopite maslac i med. Maknite sa vatre i umiješajte cimet i vaniliju, pa prelijte preko smjese sa zobenim pahuljicama i izmiješajte dok ne bude jednolično. Raširite smjesu po protvanu, i to tako da ostane grudasta i nemojte ju utiskivati u protvan. Pecite 30 minuta, a na pola pečenja jednom dobro promiješajte.

Ostavite granolu da se skroz ohladi na protvanu prije nego ju spremite u hermetički zatvorenu posudu.

Homemade Clumpy Granola / Domaća grudasta granola

Sauerkraut Bean Stew / Varivo od graha sa kiselim zeljem

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I’m crazy about sauerkraut. I love colder seasons just because of all the sauerkraut we get to devour. We eat it as a salad, in main dishes and side dishes. I’m yet to discover a sauerkraut desert to make the obsession come full circle.

This dish is so filling and easy, it’s just beautiful. Sure, it takes a while for it to cook, but you don’t have to hover over the pot so active cooking time is minimal. Also, this makes a humongous batch. I froze a ton, as it reheats wonderfully.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields about 10 generous servings / 0.78 EUR per serving / 7.81 EUR for whole)

500 g dried beans, presoaked overnight (2.00 EUR)

4 tbsp vegetable oil, divided (0.05 EUR)

1 large onion (0.10 EUR)

4 carrots (0.13 EUR)

3 chili peppers (0.20 EUR)

3 garlic cloves (0.07 EUR)

2 tbsp tomato paste(0.13 EUR)

2 dried bay leaves (0.03 EUR)

2 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.01 EUR)

Sausages, smoked bacon or cured meats of choice (I used 1 kg of cured pork ribs and leftover bacon skins I had lying around); for vegan version omit (4.00 EUR)

6-8 cups warm water (–)

500 g sauerkraut (1.00 EUR)

2 tbsp plain white flour (0.01 EUR)

Handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped (0.07 EUR)

Salt and pepper to taste (0.01 EUR)

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METHOD:

Rinse beans after soaking, place in pot, cover with fresh water and simmer on medium heat for about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, clean and dice all the vegetables. Drain beans, discard the cooking water and rinse well. Set aside.

In a large pot saute diced onions on 2 tbsp of oil until translucent. Add diced carrots, chili peppers and minced garlic and saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato paste, bay leaves, paprika, rinsed beans and meats of choice if using, cover with about 6-8 cups of water, so everything is fully submerged, and simmer for 45 minutes on low. Wait with seasoning until the stew is done; my pork ribs and sauerkraut were pretty salty on its own. 45 minutes into cooking add sauerkraut and simmer for another 45 minutes, up to 1 hour, until the beans are completely softened.

In a small saucepan mix together the remaining 2 tbsp of oil with flour and cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until flour starts smelling nutty and turns golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Once done, carefully pour into the pot of stew (it’s gonna be bubbly, so watch your hands). Stir until fully incorporated, add parsley and cook through for 5 more minutes. Adjust seasoning, fish out bay leaves and bacon skins, if using, and serve with a thick slice of yummy bread of your choice.

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Luda sam za kiselim zeljem. Hladnije vrijeme mi je drago samo zato jer ga možemo tamaniti. Jedemo kiselo zalje u salatama, u glavnom jelu i u prilozima. Moram samo još otkriti neki desert sa kiselim zeljem da obsesija napravi puni krug.

Ovo je jelo tako zasitno i lagano da je to milina. Istina, treba dosta vremena da se sve skuha, ali ne morate stajati nad loncem, tako da je aktivno vrijeme koje treba utrošiti zapravo minimalno. Također, dobiti ćete ogromnu količinu. Ja sam smrznula brdo variva, jer se super podgrijava.

SASTOJCI:

(Za oko 10 izdašnih porcija / 5,85 kn po porciji / 58,47 kn za sve)

500 g suhog graha, namočenog večer prije (15,00 kn)

4 žlice ulja, podijeljene (0,40 kn)

1 veliki luk (0,75 kn)

4 mrkve (1,00 kn)

3 čili papričice (1,50 kn)

3 češnja češnjaka (0,50 kn)

2 žlice koncentrata od rajčice (1,00 kn)

2 suha lovorova lista (0,20 kn)

2 žlice crvene slatke paprike (0,10 kn)

Kobasice, dimljena slanina ili suho meso po izboru (ja sam stavila oko 1 kg dimljenih suhih špic rebrica i kože od špeka koje sam skupljala u frižideru); za vegansku verziju izbaciti (30,00 kn)

6-8 šalica tople vode (–)

500 g kiselog zelja (7,50 kn)

2 žlice oštrog pšeničnog brašna (0,01 kn)

Svežanj svježeg peršina, sitno nasjeckanog (0,50 kn)

Soli i papra po ukusu (0,01 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Isperite grah nakon namakanja, stavite u lonac, pokrijte svježim vodom i kuhajte na srednjoj vatri oko 45 minuta. U međuvremenu, očistite i sitno nasjeckajte svo povrće. Nakon 45 minuta ocjedite i dobro isperite grah i bacite vodu od kuhanja, pa ga stavite na stranu.

U velikom loncu pirjajte nasjeckani luk na 2 žlice ulja dok ne postane proziran. Dodajte nasjeckane mrkvu, čili i češnjak pa pirjajte 5 minuta, povremeno miješajući. Dodajte koncentrat rajčice, lovorov list, slatku papriku, ocijeđeni grah i meso ako ga koristite, prelijte sa 6-8 šalica tople vode da sve bude potopljeno, pa krčkajte na laganoj vatri 45 minuta. Pričekajte sa solju i paprom dok vam varivo ne bude skroz gotovo; moja rebrica i zelje su bili jako slani pa nije uopće trebalo dodatno soliti. Nakon 45 minuta dodajte kiselo zelje i kuhajte još 45 minuta do 1 sat, dok grah skroz ne omekša.

U maloj tavici ili lončiću pomiješajte preostalih 2 žlice ulja sa brašnom i kuhajte na srednjoj vatri, stalno miješajući, dok brašno ne zamiriši i ne postane zlatno-smeđe, oko 3-5 minuta. Kada je gotovo, oprezno zapršku dodajte u grah, pazeći da vas ne pošprica po rukama. Miješajte dok se zaprška sasvim ne sjedini sa varivom i prokuhajte još 5 minuta. Probajte i začinite solju i paprom po potrebi, ispecajte van lovorove listove i kože od špeka ako ste ih stavili, i poslužite sa debelim komadom omiljenog kruha.

Sauerkraut Bean Stew / Varivo od graha sa kiselim zeljem

Thick Raspberry Banana Smoothie / Gusti smoothie od maline i banane

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We’ve only just got a small vegetable chopper last weekend, after living without one for a couple of years. The last one fell victim of my attempt to try quickly chopping some bacon, as I was too lazy to do it by hand. Well, it ended up with me actually chopping the said bacon by hand and throwing the chopper in a dumpster.

So, as we have a new chopper now, I’m on a kick of grinding up everything. Other than bacon. See? I got wiser.

This recipe is so simple that it isn’t even a recipe. But, it’s tasty and healthy. A real treat for you. I also prefer my smoothie on a thicker side, but feel free to add more milk if desired.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 2 cups / 0.68 EUR per cup / 1.36 EUR for whole)

1 small banana, roughly cut up (0.27 EUR)

1 cup frozen raspberries (0.67 EUR)

2 tbsp coconut shreds (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp honey (0.13 EUR)

2/3 cup milk – use nut or soy milk for vegan version (0.16 EUR)

METHOD:

Add all ingredients to a bowl of your food processor and pulse until smooth. If necessary, add more milk to desired consistency. Serve immediately.

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Prošli smo vikend kupili malu sjeckalicu za povrće, nakon što smo pred par godina ostali bez stare. Zadnja je postala žrtvom moje nakane da nabrzinu probam sitno nasjeckati špek za sarmu, jer sam bila prelijena da to idem raditi ručno. Završilo je tako da sam taj isti špek na kraju nasjeckala ručno. Sjeskalica je završila u kontejneru.

Sada kada imamo novu, sjeckam sve živo. Osim špeka. Vidite? Postala sam mudrija.

Ovaj recept je toliko jednostavan da ni nije recept. Ali, ukusan je i zdrav. Prava poslastica.

Osobno više volim gušće smoothije, ali po želji slobodno dodajte više mlijeka.

SASTOJCI

(Za 2 šalice / 5,10 kn po šalici / 10,20 kn za sve)

1 mala banana, narezana na komade (2,00 kn)

1 šalica smrznutih malina (5,00 kn)

2 žlice kokosovog brašna (1,00 kn)

1 žlica meda (1,00 kn)

2/3 šalice mlijeka – za vegansku verziju uzmite sojino ili od orašastih plodova (1,20 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Dodajte sve sastojke u blender ili sjeckalicu i pulsirajte dok ne postane kremasto. Po potrebi, dodajte još mlijeka do željene gustoće. Poslužite odmah.

Thick Raspberry Banana Smoothie / Gusti smoothie od maline i banane

Spaghetti Squash with Mixed Veggie Salsa / Špageti tikva sa šalšom od miješanog povrća

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , Leave a comment

I’ve never had spaghetti squash up to now. I know, I know, I’ve been living under a rock. But, once I’ve finally had it, I’m so making it again because it’s wonderful and flavourful and also a fantastic way to ditch carbs in a meal. Not to mention, cheap and low maintenance, so you can just dump everything in the oven to bake and go about your business.

Oh, and in my initial batch I’ve made enough sauce for at least four meals, so I’m going to half the amount for you, since small squash would make two generous servings and this way you won’t end up with leftover sauce.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields two generous servings / 0.91 EUR per serving / 1.83 EUR for all)

For the squash:

1 small spaghetti squash (0.93 EUR)

3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced (0.06 EUR)

1 tbsp olive oil (0.04 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Freshly cracked black pepper to taste (0.01 EUR)

For the sauce:

1 small onion (0.07 EUR)

1 small red bell pepper (0.01 EUR)

1 small chilli pepper (0.13 EUR)

1 large carrot (0.03 EUR)

¼ tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.01 EUR)

2 tsp corn starch (0.01 EUR)

¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper (0.01 EUR)

1 can diced tomatoes (0.47 EUR)

Handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped (0.03 EUR)

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METHOD:

Preheat oven to 200°C. Line baking tray with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Halve the squash lengthwise using a sharp knife. With a spoon, remove seeds and squishy middle from the squash, place skin down on prepared baking tray and season the inside with sliced garlic, olive oil, salt and black pepper. Roast for 40-45 minutes, until slightly charred and wrinkled. Remove from the oven and let rest for about 20 minutes, so the skin can loosen up from the flesh. Using a fork separate the flesh from the skin into spaghetti.

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Meanwhile, roughly chop onion, pepper, chilli and carrot. Mix the vegetables well with salt, paprika, corn starch and black pepper in a baking dish and place in the oven together with the squash. Bake for around 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through. After 30 minute mark add diced tomatoes, stir once more and return to the oven for additional 10 minutes. Once done, garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Serve spaghetti squash with a dollop of sauce on top.

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Do sada nisam nikad prije jela špageti tikvu. Znam, znam, živim pod kamenom. Ali, sada kada sam ju prvi puta probala, sigurna sam da ću ju raditi opet jer je divna i fina. A i super način da malo smanjim ugljikohidrate. Osim toga, jeftina je i skroz lagana za napraviti jer se sve može samo baciti u pečnicu dok se bavite nekim drugim stvarima.

Kada sam kuhala napravila sam dovoljno umaka za barem četiri porcije, pa ću ovdje za vas sve prepoloviti jer je mala tikva dovoljna za otprilike dva izdašna obroka.

SASTOJCI:

(Za dvije izdašne porcije / 7,22 kn po porciji / 14,45 kn za sve)

Za tikvu:

1 manja špageti tikva (7,00 kn)

3 češnja češnjaka, tanko narezana (0,50 kn)

1 žlica maslinovog ulja (0,33 kn)

Prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Svježeg mljevenog crnog papra po ukusu (0,05 kn)

Za umak:

1 mali luk (0,50 kn)

1 mala crvena paprika roga (0,75 kn)

1 čili papričica (1,00 kn)

1 velika mrkva (0,25 kn)

¼ žličice soli (0,01 kn)

2 žličice slatke crvene paprike (0,10 kn)

2 žličice kukuruznog škroba – Gussnel (0,10 kn)

¼ žličice cvježeg mljevenog crnog papra (0,10 kn)

1 konzerva sjeckanih rajčica (3,50 kn)

Pregršt svježeg peršina, sitno nasjeckanog (0,25 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pečnicu na 200°C. Obložite pleh za pečenje alumijskom folijom za lakše čišćenje. Oštrim nožem uzduž raspolovite tikvu i žlicom odstranite koštice i gnjeckavu sredinu. Položite kožom nadolje na pleh za pečenje, pa unutrašnjost tikve začinite sa narezanim češnjakom, maslinovim uljem, soli i mljevenim crnim paprom. Pecite 40-45 minuta, dok se ne počne loviti korica i tikva se malo ne smežura. Izvadite iz pečnice i ostavite da odstoji 20-tak minuta kako bi se koža otpustila od mesa. Vilicom odstranite meso od kože u špagete.

U međuvremenu, narežite luk, papriku, čili i mrkvu, dobro pomiješajte sa solju, paprikom, kukuruznim škrobom i crnim paprom u manjem protvanu i pecite skupa sa tikvom oko 30 minuta. Nakon 15-tak minuta sve jednom dobro promiješajte. Nakon što istekne 30 minuta, dodajte sjeckane rajčice i sve još jednom dobro promiješajte pa vratite u pećnicu na još 10 minuta. Kada je gotovo, posipajte svježim peršinom.

Špageti tikvu poslužite prelivenu sa umakom.

Spaghetti Squash with Mixed Veggie Salsa / Špageti tikva sa šalšom od miješanog povrća

Roasted Tomato Salsa / Šalša od pečenih rajčica

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , 2 Comments

This might be the last chance to make a batch of tomato salsa for the season. Autumn is kicking in, summer is waning and tomatoes are only lingering here and there. Here’s my take on a classic salsa recipe.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields about 10 generous portions / 0.42 EUR per portion / 4.26 EUR for all)

2 kg tomatoes (2.66 EUR)

2-3 chili peppers, depending on how spicy you like your salsa (0.4 EUR)

2 whole garlic bulbs (0.4 EUR)

2 large onions (0.4 EUR)

3 tbsp olive oil (0.13 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Handful of parsley, chopped (0.26 EUR)

Black pepper and more salt to taste

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METHOD:

Preheat oven to 220°C. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Wash and half tomatoes and chili peppers, discard chili pepper seeds for milder salsa and arrange skins down in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Cut whole garlic cloves with peel intact in half and clean and quarter one onion to arrange between tomatoes and chilies. Drizzle olive oil on top, sprinkle salt, and bake for 30-40 minutes, until tomatoes are wrinkled and slightly charred.

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Let everything cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic out of peels, clean and dice the remaining onion and parsley and blitz with tomatoes and all together in a blender to desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning. Use over pasta, or freeze for later and add to soups, stews and even as a pizza base.

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Čini se da je sada zadnja prilika ove sezone za napraviti šalšu. Jesen je u zamahu, ljeto blijedi, a rajčice su još zaostale tu i tamo. Evo moja verzija klasične šalše.

SASTOJCI

(Za oko 10 izdašnih porcija / 3,10 kn po porciji / 31,01 za sve)

2 kg rajčica (20,00 kn)

2-3 čili papričice, ovisno koliko ljutu šalšu volite (3,00 kn)

2 cijele glavice češnjaka (3,00 kn)

2 velika luka (3,00 kn)

3 žlice maslinovog ulja (1,00 kn)

Prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Svežanj peršina, grubo narezanog (1,00 kn)

Crni papar i ekstra sol po ukusu

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pećnicu na 220°C. Obložite lim za pečenje masnim papirom. Operite i razrežite rajčice i čilije na polovice, a za blažu salsu bacite sjemenke čilija, pa rasporedite u jednom sloju na pripremljeni lim tako da su kože rajčica i čilija okrenute na dolje. Razrežite glavice češnjaka sa cijelom ljuskom na pola, očistite i raščetvorite jedan luk, pa rasporedite među rajčicama i čilijima. Pokapajte maslinovim uljem, posolite i pecite 30-40 minuta, dok rajčice ne povenu i ne počne se loviti crna korica.

Pustite da se sve malo ohladi, istisnite češnjak iz ljuski, očistite i narežite preostali luk i peršin, pa skupa sa rajčicama i svime ubacite u blender i sameljite na željenu gustoću. Po ukusu prilagodite začine. Jedite sa tjesteninom, ili zamrznite za kasnije pa dodajte u juhe, gulaše, variva ili koristite kao sos za pizzu.

Roasted Tomato Salsa / Šalša od pečenih rajčica

Homemade Ajvar / Domaći ajvar

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , 7 Comments

Ajvar is a kitchen staple around these parts and while supermarkets offer a vast variety, I’ve decided to try and make my own for the first time ever, as peppers and eggplants are in season and dirt cheap at the moment. The process may seem a bit lengthy, but I think it’s most definitely worth it. Plus, it’s easier if you spread it during the couple of days and not try to squeeze everything in a single afternoon.

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A little heads up, though; it might seem to you that you have a ton of food when you start. But everything will cook down, a lot. I ended up with less than I hoped for. Still, I think I might do another batch, as the active work is not too terrible.

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INGREDIENTS:

(yields about 5 cups) = 0.58 EUR per cup, = 2.89 EUR for the whole batch

2 kilos red bell peppers (1.33 EUR, marketplace)

1 kilo eggplant (0.8 EUR, marketplace)

2 chili peppers (0.13 EUR, marketplace)

2 whole garlic heads (0.4 EUR, marketplace)

¼ cup apple cider vinegar (0.07 EUR)

½ cup vegetable oil, divided (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp sugar (0.01 EUR)

1 heaping tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

Black pepper to taste (0.01 EUR)

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 220°C. Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil. Wash peppers, eggplant and chili peppers and pat dry. Deseed peppers and cut stems of eggplant, spread over baking sheets together with garlic heads and chili peppers and bake for 30-40 minutes, until skins of eggplant and peppers are black. Once done, put everything in a large covered bowl or a zip lock bag and let cool completely. You want everything covered as this will help to loosen the skins off peppers.

Once cool, drain of any liquids, peel the skins of peppers, eggplant and garlic and discard seeds from chili peppers if you want a milder dip. Add vinegar, salt, sugar and about half the oil and blitz in a food processor to make a paste. You can leave it a bit chunky if that’s what you prefer.

Put paste in a deep pot to cook on medium heat for about 30-45 minutes, until ajvar thickens, stirring frequently. Reserve about 2-3 tbsp of remaining oil for later and gradually stir in more oil as ajvar cooks. Oil is to prevent it from spoiling, but be careful to not overdo with it, as the spread will taste greasy.

If canning, prepare your jars while ajvar is cooking and make sure to preheat oven to 100°C, as you’ll put jars in the oven for final seal. Once ajvar thickens taste for seasoning, add more salt and black pepper if necessary and fill the jars, making sure to squeeze everything down with a spoon so there are no air bubbles inside the jars. Spread everything evenly with back of the spoon once jars are filled, carefully wipe jar rims and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until crust forms. Remove jars from the oven, drip the remaining oil on top to cover ajvar in a thin film, screw lids on tightly and leave to cool completely before storing in a cool dark place.

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Iako su police dućana krcate ajvarom, ove sam godine odlučila po prvi puta napraviti svoj domaći, a posebno jer je sezona paprika i patliđana pa su i jeftini. Sam postupak je možda poduži, ali ja mislim da se zbog konačnog proizvoda isplati. A i lakše je ako posao raspodijelite na nekoliko dana i ne pokušate sve ugurati u jedno poslijepodne.

Samo mala napomena; možda vam se čini da imate gomilu hrane kada počnete, ali to će se sve iskuhati. Meni je na kraju ispalo manje nego što sam se nadala. Svejedno, mislim da ću napraviti još jednu turu, jer samog aktivnog posla i nema toliko strašno puno.

SASTOJCI:

(za cca 5 šalica, ili 3 male teglice) = 4,34 kn po šalici, = 7,23 kn po teglici, = 21,70 kn za sve

2 kg crvenih paprika roga (10,00 kn, tržnica)

1 kg patliđana (6,00 kn, tržnica)

2 ljute papričice (1,00 kn, tržnica)

2 cijela češnja češnjaka (3,00 kn, tržnica)

¼ šalice jabučnog octa (0,5 kn)

½ šalice ulja (1,00 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,05 kn)

1 žlica šećera (0,05 kn)

Crnog papra po želji (0,1 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pećnicu na 220°C. Obložite dva lima za pećenje sa aluminijskom folijom. Dobro operite paprike, patliđane i čili papričice i posušite ih kuhinjskom krpom. Očistite paprike od sjemenki, odrežite peteljke patliđanima i rasporedite po limovima sa čilijima i češnjakom, pa pecite 30-40 minuta, dok im koža ne pocrni. Kad je sve gotovo, stavite u poklopljenu posudu ili u zavezanu vrećicu dok se ne skroz ne ohladi. To će pomoći da kože skliznu sa paprika i patliđana.

Ocijedite tekućinu koja se skupila, ogulite patliđane, paprike i češnjak, izvadite čilijima sjemenke ako želite blaži ajvar te sve usitnite u blenderu skupa sa octom, soli, šećerom i polovicom ulja. Po želji ostavite i malo krupnijih komadića.

Dobivenu pastu stavite u dublji lonac na umjerenu vatru i kuhajte, često miješajući, oko 30-45 minuta, dok se ajvar ne zgusne. Kako kuhate, postepeno dodajte u ajvar preostalo ulje, a 2-3 žlice sačuvajte za kasnije. Ulje pomaže za konzerviranje da se ajvar kasnije ne pokvari, ali pazite da ne pretjerate da vam ne ispadne premasno.

Ako želite konzervirati ajvar, priredite i dobro operite sve staklenke dok se ajvar kuha i ugrijte pećnicu na 100˘C, jer ćete kasnije staviti staklenke da se zapečate. Kad se ajvar ukuhao na željenu gustoću, provjerite okus te po potrebi dodajte još soli i crnog papra po želji. Punite staklenke pazeći da žlicom istisnete van što više zraka. Na kraju poravnajte vrh, obrišite pažljivo rubove staklenki i stavite ih u pećnicu na 10-15 minuta dok se ne uhvati korica. Izvadite staklenke iz pećnice, nakapajte po vrhu ostatak ulja da ajvar bude prekriven tankim filmom, dobro zatvorite staklenke i ostavite da se do kraja ohlade prije nego što ih odložite na tamno i hladnije mjesto.

Homemade Ajvar / Domaći ajvar