Easiest and quickest quinoa salad

I have a confession, I don't ALWAYS feel like cooking. There are times where I just wish dinner was there waiting for me but, on the nights this isn't possible, this is a quick and healthy meal that always satisfies.

Ingredients:
1 cup of quinoa
1/2 x cucumber
1 x carrot
4 thick slices of haloumi cheese
1/2 Tsp dried coriander
1/2 Tsp Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
1/2 Tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp rice bran oil
1/2 lemon
1 x tomato

Directions:

1. Boil the quinoa with water in a pot over medium heat for 15 mins (or as the back of the packet suggests)
2. Drain water from quinoa once cooked and set quinoa aside in a bowl
3. In a frying pan add the rice bran oil and leave it for 30 secs over a medium heat so the oil gets hot
4. Add the haloumi slices into the pan and cook on each side until nice and golden
5. Chop cucumber into small squares and place into quinoa
6. Chop tomato into small squares and place into quinoa
7. Peel the carrot and then grate it finely - add the grated carrot to quinoa mix
8. take the haloumi out of the frying pan and cut into cubes the same size as you did the cucumber, then place in with quinoa
9. To dress the quinoa add the olive oil, sea salt, dried coriander, lemon juice and black pepper into the bowl
10. Mix all the ingredients together and then plate up!

Bunless turkey burger

This is a recipe for those who enjoy a burger but their stomachs just can't handle the bread.
 

Ingredients:
  250g turkey mince
1 x onion finely diced
1 x egg
1 Tbsp mixed spice
2 x Tsp Himalayan Pink Sea Salt
1 x handful of finely chopped parsley
1 x large aubergine
50g feta
2 Tbsp rice bran oil
 
Directions: 

1. Chop the aubergine into circles 1 cm thick and add a pinch of salt. Set aside
2. In a bowl add the turkey mince, onion, mixed spice, sea salt, parsley and egg
3. Mix well
4. Grab a heaped tablespoon full of the mix and flatten into a Pattie and place on a greaseproof sheet of paper
5. Once you have turned all the mix into patties place into the fridge
6. Heat fry pan and add oil
7. Place aubergine in hot oil and fry on both sides for 10-15 mins or until cooked through
8. Place aubergine on a paper kitchen towel to drain excess oil
9. Remove turkey patties from fridge and place in hot frying pan
10. Cook on both sides for 10 - 15 mins until completely cooked through. Place onto a plate
11. Chop feta lengthways 1cm thick
12. Place feta in frying pan and cook for 2 mins on each side

 
Assembling the burger:

1. Lay one slice of aubergine on a plate, followed by a turkey pattie and grilled feta
2. Top with another slice of aubergine

You can also add cranberry sauce before you put the top aubergine on (optional)
 
Bon appetit!

Labne (yoghurt) cheese

This is the easiest cheese you will ever make in your life. A bold statement but it really can't be simpler. This is a Middle Eastern cheese made purely from yoghurt. There are only two ingredients needed for this - full fat yoghurt and salt. I can eat a small bowl of this in a few days it's so moreish but super healthy.

 

 

You will need a cheesecloth or if you don't have one a white pillowcase turned inside out will do.

Directions:

1. Get a bowl and colander, and place colander on top of the bowl
2. Place cheesecloth in colander and spread it open 
3. Pour a tub of full fat natural or greek yoghurt (or you could have a mix of the two) into the cheesecloth.
4. Add half a tsp of salt to the yoghurt and give a small stir
5. Tie up cheesecloth
6. Add something heavy on top of the cheesecloth like a brick or some heavy books
7. Leave for a day so the water drips out of the yoghurt
8. After a day, untie the yoghurt and you can either place in a tupperware or if you plan to not eat it as quickly as I do, fill a sterilised jar up with olive oil and make small balls out of the cheese and drop them into oil. This will preserve it for ages

You spread this cheese like you would any cream cheese and sprinkle with some paprika, it is honestly delicious.

Until next time, happy eating!