Ingredients

200 g fair trade dark chocolate (70% cacao)
90 g quinoa flour
a pinch of whole sea salt
a pinch of cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
115 g rice malt syrup
55 g maple syrup, grade B or C
4 tablespons powdered flax seeds, mixed with 12 tablespoons filtered water
50 g hazelnut butter
50 ml extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon hazelnut oil
6 tablespoons almond milk, unflavoured and unsweetened

Makes 30-35 brownies.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 170° C. Lightly oil and flour a 20 cm square (stainless steel) baking pan. Melt the chocolate in a bain marie.
Combine the quinoa flour, salt, cinnamon, cream of tartar in a medium bowl and stir. In another bowl, combine the rice malt syrup, the maple syrup, flax seeds, hazelnut butter, olive oil, hazelnut oil and almond milk. Add the chocolate as soon as it has melted, and stir well. Fold the wet into the dry ingredients, stir again until perfectly combined then spread evenly in the baking pan.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick plunged into the center comes out slightly moist with batter. Let cool for a couple of minutes, then unmold the cake and transfer onto a cutting board. Cut into squares and let cool a bit more before serving.

Ingredients

150 g semi-whole wheat flour
100 g whole oat flour
50 g coconut flakes
50 g golden flax seeds, finely ground
2 tablespoons cornstarch, GMO-free
a pinch of whole sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
60 ml extra virgin olive oil
110 g rice malt syrup
130 g coconut milk
150 ml oat milk, unflavoured and unsweetened
2 handfuls of sultana raisins, soaked in filtered water for 10-15 minutes then drained
a handful of hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
100 g dark chocolate (70% cacao), coarsely chopped

Makes about 12 muffins.

Directions

Preheat oven to 180° C. In a large bowl, combine the wheat flour, oat flour, coconut flakes, flax seeds, cornstarch, salt, baking soda and baking powder and stir to blend. In another bowl combine olive oil, rice malt syrup, coconut milk, oat milk and whisk well. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until the ingredients are combined but don’t over mix the batter. Add the raisins, hazelnuts and chocolate and stir just to make sure they’re evenly incorporated into the batter. Fill the muffin cups or muffin tray with the batter, using a spoon. Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick or knife inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven, let cool for a couple of minutes, unmold the muffins and place them on a wire rack to let cool.

Ingredients

half a small head of cooked Romanesco broccoli (which should be about 180-200 g)
215 g cooked whole Baldo rice (which is about 150-170 g uncooked), preferably al dente
1-2 tablespoons raw sesame oil
1 tablespoons tahin
half a teaspoon powdered coriander seeds
half a teaspoon powdered cumin
half a teaspoon dried ginger powder
freshly ground black pepper, just enough to taste
whole sea salt, just enough to taste
a small handful of parsley leaves, preferably fresh, cleaned and finely chopped
1 teaspoon cleaned and chopped chives, preferably fresh
2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
2 tablespoons ground white sesame seeds (you can grind them yourself in a spice or coffee grinder)

To complete

3 handfuls of peeled almonds
1 tablespoon flakes of nutritional yeast

Makes 16-18 balls.

Directions

Using a potato masher or fork, mash the broccoli until no large pieces remain. Transfer the broccoli mash into a large bowl, add the cooked rice, sesame oil, tahin, spices, salt, parsley, chives and sesame seeds (whole and ground) and stir well to combine all ingredients. To shape the balls, wet your hands with a little water to prevent the mixture from sticking. They should be slightly smaller than a golf ball. Set the balls aside on a sheet of parchment paper or a tray. In a coffee grinder, finely grind the almonds with the nutritional yeast. Roll the rice balls in the almond-yeast powder and serve at room temperature.

Ingredients

150 g whole rice, washed in cold water, well drained then cooked in water until very tender
160 g rice malt syrup
3 tablespoons light and fruity extra virgin olive oil
zest of 1 organic lemon, grated
3 tablespoons whole rice flour
80 g corn flour (GMO-free)
a pinch of whole sea salt
a few pinches of vanilla powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch (GMO-free)
3 handfuls of sultanas, soaked in 3 tablespoons mirin for about 15 minutes then drained and pat dried
powdered brown cane sugar or extra fine almond flour, to serve

Directions

Preheat the oven to 170° C. Place cooked rice, malt syrup and oil in the bowl of a mixer and process until very smooth. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, add all remaining ingredients and stir well until everything is incorporated. Place a sheet of parchment-paper on a baking tray and scoop up a spoonful of batter and drop it onto the parchment-paper. Repeat with remaining mixture. Once the fritters have been placed on the baking sheet bake for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and golden on both sides (you can turn the fritters over with a spatula). Remove from the oven, transfer onto a plate, absorb any excess oil with kitchen paper (this step shouldn’t be really necessary), sprinkle with some powdered sugar or almond flour and eat warm.

Ingredients

100 g dark chocolate, fair trade
2 tablespoons plain oat milk
1 pinch whole sea salt
100 g barley malt syrup
200 g almond butter
70 g whole puffed barley

Makes 20 treats.

Directions

In a saucepan in a bain-marie, melt the chocolate with the milk and salt, stirring constantly. As soon as it’s melted, remove the chocolate from the fire and add the barley malt syrup. Stir to combine and add the almond butter. Stir very well and add the puffed barley. When everything is well incorporated and the barley is coated with the chocolate and almond butter mixture, wet your hands and roll the mixture into balls with a flat bottom. Place on a sheet of parchment paper or a tray and let cool for about 30-40 minutes (you might want to refrigerate them if your kitchen is to warm). When they’re set, enjoy at room temperature. They keep for up to 3-4 days (if it’s too warm, store them in the fridge, but remember that they’re more gooey at a standard room temperature).

Ingredients

2-3 cups filtered water
2 teaspoons dried mint
a pinch of powdered cloves (or 1-2 whole cloves)
a pinch of powdered star anise (or 1 whole star anise)
200 g whole grain cous cous (I used whole spelt cous cous)
Himalayan salt, just enought o taste
2 tablespoons raw sesame oil
2-3 handfuls of raisins, soaked in filtered water for 10 minutes then drained and pat dried
3-4 chopped medjol dates, stones removed
2 handfuls of pistachios, peeled
2 handfuls of almonds, peeled
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
a pinch of chilli powder
seeds from 1 pomegranate
fresh mint leaves, to taste

Makes 2 servings.

Directions

First, make the spicy mint tea. Bring the water to a boil, add the mint, cloves and star anise, stir, remove from the heat and let everything infuse for about 1 minute. Filter and set aside.

Place the cous cous in a salad bowl (preferably large and low) and pour some of the mint tea over it (just enough to cover the cous cous). Cover with a lid and let the cous cous ‘cook’ for 1 to 2 minutes. Check doneness and add some more tea (which should be still very hot) if necessary, pouring it little by little. When the cous cous is ready (it should be al dente) fluff with a fork, add the salt and sesame oil and toss. Add the raisins, dates, pistachios, almonds, cinnamon, chilli and pomegranate seeds and toss again. Sprinkle with some fresh mint leaves. Serve at room temperature.

Ingredients

1 cup whole barley, hulled
3 cups filtered water
a pinch of whole sea salt
a piece of kombu, 2 cm long
1 small red, round radicchio, outer leaves removed, cored, rinsed, dried and thinly sliced
8 fresh champignon mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
3-4 handfuls of white grapes, rinsed, cut into halves and seeded
3-4 handfuls raisins, soaked in natural mineral or filtered water for 10 minutes then drained and pat dried
juice of 1 lemon
8 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
whole sea salt, just enough to taste
hazelnut oil, just enough to taste
fresh thyme, to taste

Wash the barley thoroughly and soak it for about 8 hours in filtered water. Transfer the barley into a heavy-bottomed saucepan , add fresh filtered water (or you may even keep the soaking water but make sure you add the right quantity, as indicated in the recipe. Add the salt and the kombu, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook  with the lid on until most of the water has been absorbed, without stirring as you don’t want to alter the cooking process. The barley should get tender in 45-55 minutes (if you are using a pressure cooker, cooking time will be 25-30 minutes). Remove the kombu (you can let it dry and use it a second time). Drain if necessary (although there should be no water left in the saucepan), transfer into a large salad bowl, drizzle with half of the olive oil, toss and let cool completely.

To assemble the salad, add the radicchio, the champignons, the grapes, the raisins and the lemon to the barley. Mix well, sprinkle with the remaining oil and the salt, then top with a drizzle of hazelnut oil and the fresh thyme. Serve immediately.

Ingredients

200 g pearled or semi-pearled farro, rinsed under running water (plus natural mineral or filtered water, and a pinch of whole sea salt to cook it -use 1 part farro, 2 parts water)
the juice of 1 lemon
2 large handfuls of  fresh green beans, ends trimmed, washed and cut into pieces (plus natural mineral or filtered water and a pinch of whole sea salt, to cook them)
5-6 sun dried tomatoes, soaked in natural mineral or filtered water for about 30 minutes
a handful of capers, soaked in natural mineral or filtered water for about 10 minutes
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
a small handful of fresh mint
a couple leaves of fresh basil
10-12 cherry tomatoes, washed
extra virgin olive oil, to taste
whole sea salt, just enough to taste
chilli powder, to taste

Makes 4 servings.

Directions

Put the farro and the water in a pan. Add the salt and bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn the heat down a little, cover with a lid and let cook. The farro should be ready in about 30 minutes (about 15 if you are using a pressure cooker). As soon as the farro is cooked al dente, drain well and transfer it into a large salad bowl. Pour half of the lemon juice over it, stir well and let cool (first at room temperature, then in the fridge).
In the meantime, cook the green beans in boilig salted water (5-6 minutes should be enough, do not overcook). Drain the green beans, rinse them under cold running water, pat dry and transfer them into a bowl. Add the remaining lemon juice and let cool (first at room temperature then in the fridge). Once the soaking time is over, rinse the sun dried tomatoes, pat dry them and chop or cut them. Rinse the capers and pat dry them. Mince the garlic, mint and basil. Cut the cherry tomatoes into halves or wedges. When both the farro and the green beans are cold mix them together in the salad bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Toss, sprinkle with oil, salt and chilli powder and toss once more just before serving.

Thoughts, tips, ideas

Pearled or semi-pearled farro can be substituted with whole farro or barley (pearled or whole). If you use whole grains, they need to be soaked first and of course the cooking time varies from grain to grain.

Full of bright flavors, this dish is a perfect spring, early summer salad. It can be served as part of a multi-course meal or as a first course.

Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients:

For the dressing

juice of 1 lemon

4 tablespoons sesame oil (from raw sesame seeds)

juice of 3 cm ginger root

1 pinch Himalayan salt

½ teaspoon powdered coriander seeds

1 teaspoon tahin

1 teaspoon rice malt syrup

 ½ teaspoon dried ginger powder

For the salad

200 g Thai rice (plus 500 ml filtered or mineral water, and a little whole sea salt, for cooking)

6-8 radishes

10-12 fava bean pods (about 1 cup fava beans)

1 carrot

1-2 zucchini

1 spring onion

1 can plain organic corn kernels

2 handfuls sesame seeds

1-2 handful fresh parsley 

Directions:

Dressing

Put all the dressing ingredients in a jar, secure tightly with a lid and shake well until everything is incorporated. Set aside.

Salad

Cook the rice in 500 ml slightly salted filtered or mineral water, keeping the on. Be careful not to overcook the rice: it should be a bit crunchy. Once it is cooked, set it aside. Clean the vegetables thoroughly, slice the radishes and zucchini, then peel and julienne (or grate) the carrot, trim a nd chop the spring onion, open the fava bean pods and remove the beans. Rinse the corn kernels under running water. Transfer all the vegetables and the rice (making sure it’s cold) in a salad bowl. Toast the sesame seeds in a wok or pan for 1 minute over medium heat, and add them to the rice-vegetables mix. Coarsely chop the parsley and sprinkle it over the mix. Re-shake the dressing, drizzle over the salad and toss together. Serve immediately or keep in the fridge until later.