Ajo Blanco, or “white gazpacho,” is a creamy cold soup from Andalusia made with almonds, bread and garlic. Refreshing, nutty and perfect for summer.
Starters
Sesame Tofu (Goma Dofu)
Goma Dofu is often considered one of the pinnacles of Shojin Ryori. Traditionally, the sesame paste and kuzu starch would be ground by hand. It’s a process that takes several hours, but teaches the practicing monks virtuous values such as kansha, an appreciation for the very efforts it takes to produce these foods.
Gochujang Yachaejeon (Gochujang-Flavored Vegetable Pancakes)
Gochujang Yachaejeon is a flavorful twist on the classic Korean vegetable pancake, blending the savory taste of traditional yachaejeon with the spicy kick of gochujang, a fermented red chili paste. This Korean-style pancake is packed with a variety of fresh vegetables like courgette, carrots, and onions, all bound together with a light, crispy batter. The addition of gochujang not only adds a spicy depth of flavor but also gives the pancake a beautiful, rich color. Perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side dish, Gochujang Yachaejeon is a delicious way to enjoy the vibrant flavors of Korean cuisine.
Seaweed Salad
The abundance of seaweed on coasts all around the world has always posed a crucial question. How come that certain cultures have long taken advantage of its nutritional benefits, whereas others have seen it as a mere weed of the ocean? What if we could learn from those cultures and apply a few simple techniques and methods to the local bounty, thereby opening up an entire new food group that is not only healthy but also sustainable?
Farinata (Italian Chickpea Pancake)
One of my favourite twists to making chickpea tofu is to turn it into farinata instead. Farinata is a thin chickpea pancake that originated in Genoa and is known in France as ‘socca’. Traditionally, it’s made from chickpea flour, but just like with the Burmese-styled tofu, you can start with whole, dried chickpeas.
Potato Pão de Queijo
Pão de Queijo are small, gluten-free cheese breads from Brazil. Traditionally, they get their cheesy flavour not only from the addition of cheese, but also from the fermented starch, Polvilho Azedo, that is used to make them. Once we understand these ingredients, it becomes much easier to look around us and find alternatives that grow within our reach.
Purple Pão de Queijo
Pão de Queijo is a traditional cheese bread from Brazil. The discovery of these breads dates back to the Portuguese colonisation of Brazil, when African slaves peeled, grated, soaked and dried local cassava roots to turn them into an edible flour. The flour, known as tapioca starch, is still used today in traditional Pão de Queijo recipes.
Black Fungus (Chinese Cloud Ear Mushroom Salad)
Black fungus, also called cloud ear mushrooms, make an exceptional addition to a stir-fry and fragrant soup or can be served on their own as a starter. Their shape turn them into the perfect vessel to hold on to the lip-smacking spicy, garlicky and tangy dressing with black vinegar, soy sauce and plenty of coriander.