Maria Middlestead - Clinical Nutritionist, Auckland. Call (09) 418 5422

Smoky Eggplant Cashew Dip

Makes 2 cups
(No gluten, dairy, legumes*, cane sugar; with options for nightshades*)

Food advice can have fashions that may not be related to wisdom. For too long elegant, sleek eggplant has been subjected to the abuse of being peeled (and lose that colour-related beauty and antioxidants – shame!) and its flesh then salted (not necessary unless old and bitter – sigh). This vegetable is popular throughout the Mediterranean and Asia. There are thin ones, bulbous, tiny, hefty, purple and green varieties. A constant though is to buy one that is firm and sleek without the wrinkles that come to most with age.

Vegan Mexican ‘Queso’ Sauce

For nachos, tacos, lasagne, pasta, legumes, veg, fish or chicken
Makes 1½ cups
(Vegan; no gluten, dairy, tomato, soy or other legumes)

The original Mexican queso sauce (KAY-zo: meaning cheese) and the American versions are basically cooked or raw vegetables (usually tomato, onion and chilli) mixed with melted cheese and served warm. Traditionally this is poured over nachos, used as a filling for tacos or warm tortillas, or used as a dip. Some US recipes use almost 1 kilo of cheese – mostly processed!

Fluffy Hotcakes/Pikelets

Makes 24; serves 3-4
No gluten, dairy, soy or cane-sugar

Serve this popular fare sweet or savoury; for breakfast or a fun dinner. These are so moist and fluffy they do what few of the pancake family can accomplish: they are even nice the next day for snacks, lunch or reheated. This recipe was adapted from a wheat-flour-based Jamie Oliver recipe and was made with the inspiration of my teenage, pancake-loving friend Lily. Technically when such batters fill a pan they are pancakes; if large, thin and with no leavener such as baking powder, they are crepes; if served small they are hotcakes or pikelets.

Creamy (Vegan) Mushroom Sauce for Pasta/Veg/Tofu/Fish or Chicken

Serves 3-4
(Vegan; no gluten, dairy, egg, nightshades*; with options for legumes*)

Such a rich taste and almost cheesy – yet with no dairy or other animal products, or flour as a thickener. The texture is achieved by warming your choice of Milk Option* and blending it with cashews and onion for a thick, surprisingly buttery result. This gets seasoned and added to colourful veg for a quick, easy meal. A pinch of turmeric (high in antioxidants) gives egg yolk colour with little hint of its heritage. If just serving with veg or pasta the protein content might be light for some so a range of options follow; the legume* ones keep it all vegan. You can also use this recipe to replace cream or cheese-based sauces such as in lasagne.

Vegan/Almost Vegan Chocolate Cake

(No gluten, dairy, egg, soy or cane sugar)

You can dispense with any recitation of this cake’s nutritional virtues and confidently serve it on the basis of great taste alone. Moist, dark with layers of flavours and it improves with age. It is complete without any accompaniment but for a glam occasion you could serve slices with some piped, sunny-hued Apricot Whip along one edge (as below; see also its use with Fluffy Hotcakes).

Pasta Perfecto

Pasta and Noodle Dishes from Around the World

(No gluten or dairy – with options for nightshades*, legumes*, yeast, eggs and cane sugar)

Foods can suffer from discrimination and abuse especially at the hand of science segregationists. Carbs are in and fats are out; then carbs are bad and protein gets celebrity status. What makes for the confusion is looking at foods in isolation when they are rarely eaten that way. If all you ate was any one superb food your health would suffer. Plus different people experience different results from eating the same foods.

Sushi Salad Hot or Cold

Serves 2-3
(No gluten, dairy, or cane sugar; with options for nightshades*)

It is a surprise when something light, balanced and healthful such as sushi becomes a fashion hit across demographics. This simple hot or cold rice main dish has many similar ingredients and flavours. Serve with sliced cucumber, steamed or baked beetroot. Uncharacteristically, basmati rice is used rather than short grain sushi rice. Long grain rice holds a distinct shape better so the salad doesn’t become wet and gluggy. The rice is boiled using the easier, stick-resistant, nutritionally superior absorption method.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Brownies

16-20 small squares
(Vegan; no gluten, dairy, cane sugar, egg, soy, citrus)

You can safely serve this to any fan of rich morsels (ie most females). If preferred, avoid all discussion of its nutritional virtues: it can win on taste and texture alone. A version of this recipe came from the popular Aussie blog Not Quite Nigella, but behind that was a long trail of variations and attributions probably dating back to Eve. My version is below.

Italian Bean Dip

Makes 1¼ cups
(Vegan; no gluten, dairy, egg, soy or nightshades)

If you like to eat foods that bite you back with similar intensity: try this. It resembles a chunky hummus, Italian-style. Use it on bread, crackers or as a dip for raw vegetables and triangles of bread toasted with my dairy-free, herb and garlic version of Better Butter (see website RECIPES). Or add as a flavourful topping on baked or steamed vegetables, salad, poached fish or tofu. Any left-overs can be mixed with an egg and breadcrumbs and used to fill large mushroom caps. Fan Grill about 7 minutes for a vegetarian main. Serve with kumara wedges and salad.

Glazed Orange & Ginger Meatballs

Makes 32; serves 4-5
(No gluten, dairy, legumes or nightshades)

New Zealand supermarket shoppers are fortunate to be able to purchase grass-fed, free range venison without antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones. Farm-raised venison has a mild flavour with many cuts – such as medallions and stir-fry – requiring only a few minutes of cooking. Or make the meatballs using ground lamb. New Zealand lamb is almost all pasture-fed.