gluten free Archives - Joie De Vivre

Appetisers and Hors D'oeuvres, Cuisines, Entree, Salads, Savoury, Vegetables & Sides

Rainbow Bowl

It’s not possible, or agreeable, to delve into any interaction, virtual or (ah, if only) physical, without inquiring about the mental health of the other person. These times are trying for all, albeit in different ways, but trying nonetheless. I am extremely grateful for all the luxuries that we have, that all our loved ones are in good health, and that we have access to nature’s bounty. With that in mind, making simple cold summer food with what’s in the kitchen is a no-brainer. The key is having a dynamite dressing to tie in the vegetables, and add a carb or card replacement (like I did, with my black bean noodles)

Eating plant based and eating fresh are something that will always be a sustainable and sensible option for your body, to boost your immunity and to provide you with the nutrition and strength you need, to fight against these trying times, medically and emotionally. Read more…

April 29, 2020 | 0 comment

Joie De Vivre

Vanilla Almond Cupcakes [Vegan, Gluten Free]

Quarantine means a lot of time in the kitchen for me, innovating a new recipe using what’s available in the fridge or pantry, and lots of baking with Sitara. I’m not one of those moms that’s gets too worked up about her consuming sweet too much, but I do believe in moderation and healthy habits. Lucky for us, she’s always made greener, wholesome choices herself, I mean her favourite colour is green!

But since mama-baby baking has become a more frequent activity, I wanted to alternate using classic ingredients like sugar, butter and flour with ingredients line almond flour, coconut oil, whole rolled oats and almond milk. The results have not disappointed at al! From the daily 1000 odd articles on 🦠 we consume, one cannot ignore that sugar is the greatest compromiser of immunity. So especially in the absurd times to live in, cutting down or replacing sugar with alternatives is one step I would definitely suggest making the effort to inculcate. Read more…

April 7, 2020 | 0 comment

Appetisers and Hors D'oeuvres, Fruit Inspired, Salads, Savoury, Vegetables & Sides

Pomelo Salad [VG] [GF]

Pomelo isn’t the regular, run of the mill kind of fruit you’d just find, lying around your house. But if you do find it, you know, just lying around the house, be sure to make this salad with it! My Pomelo Salad uses humble ingredients like coriander, mint. peanuts, shredded coconut, onion, chilli, sugar, soy sauce and peanuts to give that amazing mouthful of sweet, savoury, nutty, sour, spicy and crunchiness, all in each and every bite! Pomelo salad is a staple Thai salad, which can also be replaced with grapefruit or even raw papaya.

I’ve buried my nose in Samin Nosrat’s book, Salt Fat Acid Heat, which explores how to cook, rather than what to cook using a recipe. Of course, the book does have recipes, but the fundamental idea that sets this book apart from a “cookbook” is that the book makes you understand the rules elements of cooking – how to use acid, how to cook with fat, how to season your food with layers of salt, how to apply (or not apply) heat. AND, the one essential unwritten rule that would take you the furthest when you pick up an apron is this: TASTE, TASTE, TASTE. Read more…

October 8, 2018 | 1 Comment

Chocolate, Cookies, Brownies & Bars, Joie De Vivre, Sweet

Oat + Nut Cookies {VG} {GF} {SF} and seriously YUM!

As a mum of a toddler, I like to make stuff that even Baby Doll can eat, along with us, or else I inevitably get guilted into giving her morsels of goodies what we eat and she should technically NOT be indulging it, quite yet at least! To tackle this, I’ve come up simple yet effective meals for her and us, that actually taste great to all palates of all ages. Some examples are: grated carrot salad with an orange juice dressing, tomato basil salad with some extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper, asparagus risotto (without the wine, of course!), grilled paneer with lime and coriander, whole wheat spaghetti pomodoro, guacamole sans the jalepeno – you get the drift! So when it comes to desert, whyever not have a desert that is baby friendly, diet friendly and daddy friendly? Read more…

February 26, 2018 | 0 comment

Appetisers and Hors D'oeuvres, Cuisines, Joie De Vivre, Savoury, Vegetables & Sides

Birthday Tikkis

I made these (birthday) tikkis a last week from the Indian Accent cookbook, which now dominates my kitchen counter (not only because it is gorgeous, but its also HUGE!). Not a day has gone when I haven’t opened the book and perused the recipes, salivated at the pictures, and read chef Manish Mehrotra’s stories that prelude each and every recipe. Some of the recipes are complicated, requiring a team of sous chefs to help you – while the others, like our tikkis here, may look difficult to make, but in fact aren’t as cumbersome as I thought – and taste fantastic. A real Indian Accent dish, from my kitchen and my heart to yours, marking the occasion of Joie De Vivre’s 6th year – this really is a treat worthy of the celebration!

Sweet Corn with Miso Butter

Inspiration for the combination of miso + sweetcorn came while watching Masterchef AU, the episode where Sara makes a roasted quail dish, on a bed of miso sweetcorn puree with a blackberry vinaigrette. As usual, I look at the side elements on a protein dish that I can re-create at home, maybe not in the same exact form, rather as a flavour pairing that I can then create my own recipe with. Now let’s be honest, we’ve all eaten butter slathered corn on the cob, and even steamed corn with a dollop of butter and spices, and it is safe to deem the bowlful of goodness as a warming and comforting snack. Adding miso and some other relishes, well that just makes it burst with flavour in an understated and perfectly rounded way!

For some reason, a lot of people like to boil their corn before using it, or steaming it. I personally find this not only wasteful and cumbersome, but I find that repetitive cooking Read more…

December 15, 2015 | 0 comment