Ingredients

For the crust

270 g semi-whole wheat flour
40 g manitoba flour
half a teaspoon whole sea salt
120 ml extra virgin olive oil
100-120 ml filtered water

For the filling (quantities are enough for a 20-22 cm pie)

170-180 g red onions, cleaned and chopped
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 zucchini, cleaned and cut into cubes
whole sea salt, just enough to taste
100 ml filtered water
a handful of capers, soaked in filtered water for about 20 minutes then rinsed and drained
a handful of shelled pine nuts
dried mint leaves, to taste

Directions

To make the crust, chill wheat and manitoba flour, olive oil and water, by placing them in the fridge at least 30 minutes before you start making the dough. Stir the flours and salt together in a large bowl, then add the olive oil to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until the oil has been absorbed by the flour. Keep mixing with the fork, as your hands would be too warm, then add the water little by little, just enough to make a good grainy texture. You might not need all the water indicated in the recipe, and that’s ok, as long as the dough holds together. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and transfer it in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 180° C.
In a pan, sauté the onions in the olive oil for a few minutes over a medium heat. Add the zucchini, salt and water, turn down the heat and keep cooking until the onions are soft and the liquid has reduced. Stir in the capers and pine nuts, add the mint and cook for another couple of minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Take some of the dough out of the fridge and place it on a lightly floured surface, dust your rolling-pin with flour, roll the dough out to the desired thickness (2-4 mm). Oil the tart pan and sprinkle it with a light coating of flour. Arrange the dough in the pan, poke a few holes in the dough with a fork to let the steam escape and cover with the vegetable filling. Bake for 25-30 minutes then remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, unmold and serve.

Ingredients

150 g vegan labneh or other vegan yogurt based cheese (see this recipe)
1 tablespoon unflavored and unsweetened soy yogurt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
a handful of capers, soaked in filtered water for 15 minutes then rinsed, drained and chopped
a few fresh dill sprigs, cleaned and chopped
a pinch of whole sea salt
half a teaspoon paprika
half a teaspoon sumac

Makes one small cup.

Directions

In a bowl, combine the vegan labne and soy yogurt and blend. Add the olive oil, chopped capers and dill and mix again. Season with salt, add the paprika and sumac, stir well and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Garnish with some paprika, sumac and dill and serve.

Ingredients

4 peppers (I used yellow peppers), washed
150 g semiwhole rice (I used Carnaroli), rinsed under cold running water
150 g seitan, finely chopped
1 zucchini, cleaned and cut into cubes
8-10 cherry tomatoes, cleaned and cut into quarters
a handful of capers, soaked in filtered water for 10-15 minutes then rinsed and drained
a handful of raisins, soaked in filtered water for 5-10 minutes then rinsed and drained
a handful of pine nuts
dried oregano, to taste
extra virgin olive oil, to taste
whole sea salt, just enough to taste

Makes 4 servings.

Directions

Preheat the over to 170° C. Cook the rice in filtered and lightly salted water until al dente (use 2 parts water for 1 part rice). Cut each pepper in half, remove seeds and white ribs. Place the peppers in an oven pan, drizzle with olive oil and bake the peppers for 10-15 minutes. When the rice is cooked, drain it well (in case some cooking water is left) and transfer it into a large bowl. Add the seitan, zucchini, tomatoes, capers, raisins, pine nuts, oregano, olive oil and salt then toss to mix. Spoon some of the rice into each pepper half, cover the oven pan with foil then bake for another 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven, drizzle with some extra olive oil and serve warm or cool.

Ingredients

For the salad

200 g green beans
2 medium-large potatoes, peeled and sliced
a large handful of fresh rocket, cleaned
a handful of capers, soaked in cold filtered water for about 15 minutes then rinsed

For the pesto

a large handful of fresh, cleaned basil (and some for garnish)
2 small zucchini, cleaned
a large handful of pine nuts (and some more for garnish)
5-6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5-6 tablespoons filtered water
whole sea salt, just enough to taste
a squeeze of lemon juice

Makes 2 servings.

Directions

Cook the green beans al dente in salted, filtered water. Steam the potato slices. Drain the beans, then transfer them into a salad bowl. Add the steamed potato slices and let cool.

To make the pesto, combine the basil, zucchini, pine nuts, olive oil, water, salt and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor. Process until rather creamy.

Once the beans and potatoes are cold, add the rocket, the capers and the pesto and toss gently. Add some extra olive oil, if needed. Garnish with some basil leaves and pine nuts and serve.

Ingredients

10-15 long flat beans, cleaned, trimmed, cut into pieces, cooked in salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes (they should stay crispy and bright green), then rinsed under cold running water and drained well
2-3 handfuls of fava beans, cleaned and unshelled
6-8 date or cherry tomatoes, cleaned and sliced
1 small handful of capers, soaked in filtered water for at least 10 minutes, then rinsed and drained well (and pat dried with kitchen paper)
1-2 large handfuls of fresh basil, cleaned and chopped
1 handful of pine nuts
extra virgin olive oil, to taste (not less than 6-8 tablespoons)
whole sea salt, just enough to taste

Makes 2 servings.

Directions

Place the flat beans in a large salad bowl (making sure they are cold), add the fava beans, tomatoes and capers and mix. Combine the chopped basil and the pine nuts in a mortar and pound with the pestle until blended. Add the olive oil a little at a time pounding with the pestle until you reach your preferred consistency (you can adjust the amount of oil). Add the salt, mix again and use the sauce as dressing for the salad.

Ingredients

180 g whole grain farro medium-short pasta ( I used ‘torchioli’)
water and whole sea salt, just enough to cook the pasta
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 carrot, peeled and more or less finely chopped
1 yellow pepper (stem, core and seeds removed), diced
1 long, medium-hot, sweet red pepper, Italian or Mediterranean (stem, core and seeds removed), diced
1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
a pinch of whole sea salt
a pinch of chilli powder
1 large handful of capers, soaked in water for 10-20 minutes to remove excess salt
1 handful of fresh parsley leaves, 1 handful of fresh mint leaves, 1 handful of fresh basil leaves, washed and pat dried with a paper towel

Directions

Bring a pan of plenty water to a boil. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat then add the carrot, peppers, garlic and salt and sauté for a few minutes (the carrot and peppers should stay crunchy). As soon as the water is boiling, add some salt and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta then put it in the pan where you previously cooked the vegetables. Rinse the capers and add them to the pasta. Sprinkle with the chilli and add a little more olive oil if needed, then  mix and sauté over medium heat for 30-40 seconds, making sure the pasta does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, mint and basil (chopped or whole), toss and serve.

Thoughts, tips, ideas

This pasta is delicious served warm but can be also enjoyed cold as a summer picnic pasta. It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6-8 hours.

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.