GRAB AND GO MUESLI BARS

Lusciously decadent bars of soft fruit and crunchy nuts to give you the energy you need to power through the day.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups (185g) almond meal
• 150g toasted muesli
• 12 Medjool dates, pitted, chopped
• 1 cup (170g) pitted prunes, chopped
• 1/3 cup (50g) currants, chopped
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup (80g) sunflower seeds
• 2 tbs linseed or chia seeds (see note)
• 2/3 cup (110g) almonds, lightly toasted, chopped
• 2 tbs raw cacao powder (see note) or Dutch cocoa powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbs tahini
• 1/3 cup (80ml) maple syrup
• 2 tbs apple juice

• METHOD

  • 1
    Begin this recipe 1 day ahead.
  • 2
    Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm square cake pan with baking paper.
  • 3
    Combine all the dry ingredients, reserving 100g muesli, in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the tahini, maple syrup and apple juice, whisking until smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add extra juice if mixture is dry.
  • 4
    Press mixture into cake pan, sprinkle over remaining muesli, then cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight.

EGG AND QUINOA SALAD IN A JAR

           EGG AND QUINOA SALAD IN A JAR

This egg and quinoa salad in a jar is fun way to serve a layered springtime salad for breakfast or brunch.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup (100g) quinoa, cooked to packet instructions
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 3 tomatoes, seeds removed, chopped
• 1 Lebanese cucumber, peeled, seeds removed, chopped
• 1 avocado, chopped
• 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
• 1 tbs lemon juice
• 100g baby spinach, shredded
• 2 tbs dukkah
• 2 eggs, soft-boiled, peeled, halved

Dressing

• 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
• 100ml orange juice
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard

• METHOD

  • 1
    For dressing, whisk ingredients together. Season and set aside.
  • 2
    Combine the quinoa with oil, then season. In a second bowl, combine the tomato and cucumber, then in a third bowl, toss the avocado with the parsley and lemon juice, then season.
  • 3
    To serve, divide spinach among four 300ml jars. Top with a layer of quinoa, then tomato mixture and avocado mixture. Sprinkle with dressing and dukkah, then top each jar with half an egg.

Quinoa fritters with green goddess sauce

Quinoa fritters with green goddess sauce

Crisp and nutty on the outside, soft and salty on the inside, these quinoa fritters are deliciously more-ish.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup (200g) quinoa
• 2 eggs, plus 1 extra egg yolk
• 2 tbs roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tbs roughly chopped mint
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup (65g) feta, crumbled
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 1/3 cup (50g) plain flour
• 2 tbs sunflower oil

Green goddess sauce

• 1/3 cup (75g) whole-egg mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup (70g) thick Greek-style yoghurt
• Handful flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
• Handful mint leaves, finely chopped
• 1/2 small bunch chives, finely chopped
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• Juice of 1/2 lime, plus wedges to serve

• METHOD

  • 1
    For the green goddess sauce, pulse all the ingredients together in a blender or food processor to combine. Season to taste, then chill until required.
  • 2
    Place the quinoa and 11/2 cups (375ml) water in a small saucepan over high heat, then cover and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 12 minutes or until the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Cool.
  • 3
    Beat the eggs and extra yolk together, then stir into the cooled quinoa with the herbs, spring onion, feta, garlic, cumin, lemon zest and flour. Season, then form into 12 patties. Chill for 1 hour to firm up.
  • 4
    Heat the oil in a large frypan over medium-high heat. In batches, cook the patties for 3-4 minutes each side until golden and crisp. Keep warm while you cook the remaining patties.
  • 5
    Season fritters with sea salt flakes and serve warm with the green goddess sauce and lime wedges.

RAW NUTELLA BARS

These raw Nutella bars are as delicious as they are healthy, making them the perfect mid-afternoon guilty-free treat.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup (55g) almonds
• 2 tbs each pumpkin seeds (pepitas) sunflower seeds and linseeds
• 1/2 cup (50g) almond meal
• 75g desiccated coconut
• 400g healthy raw Nutella

Healthy raw Nutella

• 2/3 cup (100g) hazelnuts
• 1 cup (100g) cacao powder
• 100g extra virgin coconut oil
• 100ml maple syrup

• METHOD

  • 1
    For the Nutella, soak hazelnuts in water overnight. The next day, drain and rinse well. Place hazelnuts in a food processor and whiz until fine. Add 1/4 tsp salt and pulse to combine. Add 1/4 cup (25g) cacao and whiz to combine, then add 25g coconut oil, and whiz until combined. Repeat, alternating between cacao and coconut oil, and scraping down sides of bowl, until combined.
  • 2
    Add maple syrup in a thin stream to form a paste. If mixture splits, add warm water, 1-2 tbs at a time, with the motor running to bring back together. Place in an airtight container and store until ready to use.
  • 3
    Meanwhile for the bars, whiz almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds in a small food processor until roughly chopped. Combine with linseeds, almond meal, coconut and Nutella.
  • 4
    Line a 10cm x 20cm loaf pan with plastic wrap. Press mixture into pan and sprinkle over extra coconut. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or until firm.

APRICOTS IN CARDAMOM SYRUP

Plump up dried apricots with vanilla and sugar syrup to serve with muesli, or store in jars to gift to friends.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups (330g) caster sugar
• 1/3 cup (80ml) lemon juice
• 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
• 15 green cardamom pods, bruised
• 2 1/3 cups (500g) dried apricots
• Muesli and natural yoghurt, to serve

• METHOD

  • 1
    Begin this recipe 1 day ahead.
  • 2
    Combine sugar, lemon juice, vanilla pod and seeds, cardamom and 1.25L (5 cups) water in a large pan over high heat.
  • 3
    Bring to the boil and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves.
  • 4
    Reduce heat to medium-low and add apricots.
  • 5
    Cook for 10 minutes or until apricots are plump and tender.
  • 6
    Remove from heat.
  • 7
    Cover with plastic wrap.
  • 8
    Set aside at room temperature overnight.
  • 9
    The next day, spoon into four 1 cup (250ml) sterilised jars and chill until ready to use. Serve with muesli and yoghurt.

THE NEW VEGETARIAN 'MEATLOAF' TO UP YOUR OFFICE LUNCH GAME

This pumpkin, chickpea and quinoa loaf with crispy sage is packed with some big nutrient players that make for a balanced meal in every slice. Freeze slices in sandwich bags and pop in the toaster for breakfast, or toast in the sandwich press and finish with labneh or boiled eggs, chutney and greens.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup (100g) quinoa, rinsed, drained
• 400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained
• 21/2 cups (350g) firmly packed grated pumpkin
• 60g baby spinach leaves
• 2 cups (300g) buckwheat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 4 eggs
• 100ml extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
• 2 thyme sprigs, leaves chopped
• 1/2 bunch sage, leaves picked
• Boiled eggs, baby kale leaves (from grocers) and tomato chutney, to serve
• 
  

METHOD

• 1
  Place quinoa and 3/4 cup (185ml) water in a saucepan and place over medium heat. Cover with a lid, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until water is absorbed. Cool.
• 2
  Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line a 22cm x 10cm loaf pan with baking paper. Place chickpeas in a bowl and roughly crush using the back of a fork. Add cooled quinoa, pumpkin, spinach, our, baking powder, bicarb, eggs, oil and thyme.
• 3
  Chop half the sage and add to the bowl. Season. Stir to combine, then spread into pan. Top with remaining sage and drizzle with extra oil.
• 4
  Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean and sage is crisp. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then slice and serve with boiled eggs, baby kale and tomato chutney.

PALEO CHERRY RIPE

INGREDIENTS

• 21/2 cups (375g) dried cherries
• 100ml lemon juice
• 1/3 cup (115g) honey, plus 1 tbs extra
• 2/3 cup (165ml) coconut oil
• 1 cup (70g) shredded coconut
• 1 cup (100g) almond meal
• 3/4 cup (75g) cacao powder, plus extra to dust
• 1 cup (50g) coconut flakes, toasted
• 1/2 cup (70g) slivered almonds, toasted
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 30 fresh cherries, halved, pitted

• METHOD

  • 1
    Place dried cherries, lemon juice, 1/3 cup (115g) honey and 1/3 cup (80ml) coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened and melted.
  • 2
    Transfer to a food processor with shredded coconut, almond meal and 1/4 cup (25g) cacao, then whiz until combined.
  • 3
    Transfer to a large bowl and stir through coconut flakes and slivered almonds.
  • 4
    Grease and line a 21cm square baking pan with baking paper and press mixture into the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 2 hours.
  • 5
    Heat the vanilla, extra 1 tbs honey, remaining 1/3 cup (80ml) coconut oil and 1/2 cup (50g) cacao in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until a smooth icing.
  • 6
    Slice into 15 bars using a hot knife. Dip bars in the icing and garnish with fresh cherry halves.
  • 7
    Set aside for 15 minutes, then dust with extra cacao to serve.