Braised Okra (Bamies) - Greek-style in Tomato Sauce (with Thermomix method)

If you like okra (aka ladies' fingers, bhindi, bamia etc.), you'll love this easy and delicious Greek dish, with its comforting rich tomato sauce...

Good hot as an accompaniment, or even as a main dish (if you're a real okra-freak - you could crumble a little feta over the top for some protein if you're having it as a meal), and also at room temperature - it would be a nice part of some mezze dishes to pick at - it's certainly very more-ish. I never used to like okra, but this is now one of my favourite ways to have it.

Serves six people as a generous side dish. 130 calories per serving. [Calories in square brackets if you're counting - for a more filling meal, you'd probably want double this]

We sometimes enjoy this as a side dish to my Lamb Kleftiko (slow roasted lamb, marinated in lemon, garlic, herbs and olive oil - click here for recipe - around 300 calories a serving) with lemony roast potatoes.

Lamb Kleftiko (Arni Kleftiko)

After marinating overnight, this tasty dish pretty much takes care of itself with a long slow roast...

Named after the 'Klephts' - Greek bandits of the countryside who would allegedly steal the odd lamb or goat and cook it in sealed pit ovens, to avoid the smoke being seen - lamb kleftiko is usually cooked slowly on the bone after marinating in lemon juice, garlic, herbs and olive oil.

Needless to say, like many classic dishes from around the world, there are many versions - everything from cooking single lamb portions or cutlets with vegetables in filo pastry to the whole leg or shoulder roasted in a clay pot, sealed as tightly as possible. If you want, you can add potatoes to this dish for the last hour of cooking to cook in the lamb juices, but I prefer to cook them separately if I'm serving it with potatoes, so that they have their own individual flavour.

Kleftiko is delicious served with flatbreads or pitta, Tzatziki and Greek salad (click on highlighted text for my recipes); or if you fancy having it as your 'roast dinner' it's delicious served with roast potatoes (I like to parboil, and then roast them with a little lemon zest and olive oil for this, or use whole baby/new potatoes, parboiled then roasted with whole, unpeeled garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs - roast for about half an hour, or as mentioned you can put them in with the lamb for the last hour), and roasted Meditteranean vegetables, or something like my braised okra in tomato sauce (bamies) which is also popular in Greece (more side dishes to come!).

This serves six - go for the heavier weight if you're serving people with big appetites! However, the quantities can also be halved for a smaller joint (see to the left of the photo above - there is a small, rolled, boneless shoulder joint). Takes 3 hours to cook, and needs to marinade overnight (or at least for several hours).

Calorie wise, (if you're counting) roast lamb shoulder is around 205 to 230 calories per 100g, if you trim the fat off your portion, plus add on another 20 to 40 calories for a drizzle of the juices/gravy. I'd say a portion of around 120g (roughly equivalent to the weight of your average chicken breast) would probably suit most people with normal appetites (especially as lamb is so rich-tasting) so you're looking at around 300 calories with juices/gravy (provided you have that weight of lamb without the fat).

Thermomix Teriyaki Chicken or Salmon Meal with Sesame-Miso Green Beans or Asparagus, Cucumber-Radish Pickles and Rice

Cooked in twenty minutes, with only a few minutes of preparation...

You choose whether you have chicken or salmon, and green beans or asparagus (I like green beans with chicken, and asparagus with salmon), and substitute as suggested to suit your diet. If you have time to marinade your chicken or salmon for half an hour first, that's great - but if not you could just steam it and toss it in the sauce at the end and it will still be tasty.

This serves two people, at 304 calories per serving for the teriyaki chicken (breast), green beans and cucumber-radish pickles, plus 76 calories if serving with 200g cauliflower rice per person (380 calories in total), or add on 175 calories for a 50g (raw weight) serving of rice (479 calories - although I find that I can only eat half of this quantity of rice with everything else on the plate, so it's 391 calories for me!). Oh and 3 calories a serving for the spring onion with the rice, if you're counting... ;)

For the teriyaki salmon, it's 409 calories for the salmon, pickles and vegetables, plus the rice as above.

Teriyaki Chicken Meal with Sesame-Miso Green Beans, Cucumber-Radish Pickles and Rice (or Cauliflower Rice)

If you want a guide to cooking the whole meal in under half an hour, here it is...

Obviously, the time might vary a little depending on a couple of things, but there's really not that much to do, and it can certainly all be cooked in under 20 minutes once you've prepared your ingredients.

This serves two people, at 304 calories per serving for the teriyaki chicken (breast), green beans and cucumber-radish pickles, plus 76 calories if serving with 200g cauliflower rice per person (380 calories in total), or add on 175 calories for a 50g (raw weight) serving of rice (479 calories - although I find that I can only eat half of this quantity of rice with everything else on the plate, so it's 391 calories for me!). Oh and 3 calories a serving for the spring onion with the rice, if you're counting... ;)

Teriyaki Chicken

Simple, quick and tasty - with an authentic Teriyaki marinade made from only three ingredients

There's really very little to this - the beauty of it lies in the simplicity of the ingredients. You can use breast meat for the lighter option, or chicken thighs for flavour and succulence - or if you want to make a vegetarian version you could use quorn chicken-style fillets or firm tofu and press it for half an hour before marinating then cooking (or go here for Teriyaki Salmon cooking instructions).

This is delicious served with my sesame-miso asparagus or green beans (59 calories per serving) and some quick and easy cucumber-radish pickles (14 calories per serving) accompanied by some rice (or cauliflower rice if you're avoiding carbs) and you can knock all of these dishes up in under half an hour if you're canny about it (I'll post a method for cooking the whole meal as a separate blog).

This serves two people, at 231 calories per person for chicken breast (or 292 calories made with thigh meat).

Teriyaki Salmon Meal - with Sesame-Miso Asparagus, Cucumber-Radish Pickles and Rice / Cauliflower Rice

If you want a guide to cooking the whole meal in under half an hour, here it is...

Obviously, the time might vary a little depending on a couple of things, but there's really not that much to do, and it can certainly all be cooked in under 20 minutes once you've prepared your ingredients (not naming any names of people with un-realistic cooking times, or anything like that!).

This serves two people, at 409 calories per serving for the salmon, asparagus and cucumber-radish pickles, plus 76 calories if serving with 200g cauliflower rice per person (485 calories in total), or add on 175 calories for a 50g (raw weight) serving of rice. Oh and 3 calories a serving for the spring onion with the rice, if you're counting... ;)

Teriyaki Salmon

Simple, quick and tasty - with an authentic Teriyaki marinade made from only three ingredients

There's really very little to this - the beauty of it lies in the simplicity of the ingredients. Salmon goes so well with soy and sweet flavours and takes minutes to cook.

This is delicious served with my sesame-miso asparagus (59 calories per serving) and cucumber-radish pickles (14 calories per serving) accompanied by some rice (or cauliflower rice if you're avoiding carbs) and you can knock all of these dishes up in under half an hour if you're canny about it (I'll post a method for cooking the whole meal separately).

This serves two people, at 336 calories per person.

Healthy Granola - to suit you!

Everyone loves a healthy, tasty and filling breakfast...

...and the great thing about this granola recipe, is that you can tweak it to suit your own tastes and diet!

Your choice of seeds, nuts and dried fruit - you can switch around the ingredients every time you make it, so it's a little bit different.

Makes 30 portions (approximately 50g each), around 259 calories per portion. Easily halved. Keeps well in an airtight container or re-sealable sandwich bag. Very easy to make!

Sesame-Miso Asparagus or Green Beans (...or Broccoli?)

Add a taste of the Orient to your green vegetables, with this delicious dressing, full of nutty, toasty, umami flavours

You can serve this hot, warm, or cool. It's fantastic as a side to Japanese dishes such as Teriyaki, Yakitori or Kushiyaki, or as part of a vegetarian spread or a Bento box and there's really nothing to it other than cooking your vegetables, and giving the dressing ingredients a stir before tossing them all together.

I love to have asparagus served this way with Teriyaki salmon (well, I'm always after different ways to eat salmon and asparagus together - they're two of my favourite things!); or make it with steamed green beans if we're having Teriyaki chicken, both served with my cucumber-radish pickles and some rice (or cauliflower rice) tossed with sliced spring onions, and maybe a splash of toasted sesame oil...

I have a little recipe plan for making Teriyaki chicken/salmon/tofu with rice, the above and cucumber-radish pickles all in under half an hour including preparation time, which I'll post, as it's great to be able to make something tasty, varied and a little bit exotic in a short amount of time if you organise how you do it!

Serves two, 59 calories per serving.

Cucumber and Radish Pickles (Japanese style)

Very simple and quick, and a refreshing accompaniment to Japanese food

These are great served on the side of Teriyaki dishes (which is what we had them with last night), with my Miso-Sesame Grilled Aubergines or Japanese barbecued skewers such as Yakitori chicken or my Kushiyaki beef.

They don't need long for salting either, you can do that while you prepare the other ingredients and there's no cooking involved either, so why not give them a try!

This quantity serves two as a small side, and is easily doubled. 14 calories per serving.

Miso-Sesame Grilled Aubergines (Eggplants)

Aubergines, Japanese style!

Great vegetarian main or side dish – even my children loved it  and scoffed the lot, which surprised me as one of them is not too keen on aubergine! Goes well with some form of pickles, or acidic salad (e.g. my Japanese Pickles, Cucumber-Radish Pickles, Cucumber and Wakame Seaweed Salad (Sunomono)) on the side, as it’s quite rich-tasting.

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Serves 2 as a main dish or four as a side dish; 88 calories per serving (aubergine half) as a side dish, 174 calories per serving for a main course.

Japanese Pickled Vegetables - leave overnight, then delicious as sides to Japanese grilled meats the next day

These are so simple and quick, and a perfect accompaniment to Japanese grilled / barbequed meats

Pickles are served with almost every meal in Japan, and this recipe will keep for several days in the fridge. You can substitute all kinds of veg, such as red radishes, daikon/mooli, courgettes, celery – whatever you’ve got to hand – and don’t be afraid to add some ginger or chilli to the mix if you want a kick!

If you have a food processor with a slicing attachment these will take just a few minutes to make - and they are delicious served with grilled or barbequed Japanese meat, poultry, vegetables or fish, such as Teriyaki chicken or salmon, Yakatori chicken, Miso-Sesame Grilled Aubergines or Kushiyaki beef skewers.

Serves four to eight (depending on serving size - a quarter of this is a fair amount), 126 calories for all of it (including topping), 16-32 calories per portion (although you may only want a spoonful on the side of your dinner).

Stifado - a Greek braise with baby onions in a fragrant tomato and red wine sauce.

A traditional Greek dish, stifado was originally made with hare or rabbit, and now also commonly made with beef.

Marinating the meat overnight really infuses it with the flavours of the dish, and then low and slow cooking results in tender chunks of meat, in a rich and fragrant sauce, with juicy, caramelised onions / shallots.

Traditionally served with orzo pasta (tiny pieces of pasta shaped like pointy rice-grains, as in the photo), and maybe some crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Serves 8 to 10, easily halved and freezes very well, 229 calories for a tenth serving, 285 calories for an eighth.

Chocolate Cornflake Cakes

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist...

But who doesn't like a chocolate cornflake cake?

Not those ones that are just solid bricks of cornflakes melded together with cheap melted chocolate (or 'vegelate' as some Europeans might prefer to call it, and quite rightly so!), but the stickier, softer, richer, darker versions with decent chocolate, butter, golden syrup and maybe a pinch of sea salt (or even pink himalayan salt) if you're so inclined.

If you're making them with or for children, you could use all milk chocolate, and/or put into miniature cases.

Makes approximately 10, at 174 calories each [calories in square brackets, if you're counting].

Speedy Salmon, Asparagus and Cherry Tomato Sautée, with Lemon and Basil

Something quick, tasty, and packed with flavour, for an easy, healthy weeknight meal

Italian flavours give a new lease of life to salmon and asparagus.

A quick chop, heat up the pan and you're ready to go!

Serves two, 322 calories per serving

Orange, Pistachio and Cardamom Cake (including Thermomix method)

My little twist on a traditional Greek orange cake...

Very easy to make in that it can't really go far wrong as it's one of those 'throw-it-all-in-and-blend' cakes, so if you're wary of baking then this is a great cake to have a go at! Rises magnificently (as you can see from the photo below, it more than doubled in size) and comes out with a light, moist and fluffy centre, and a thin, crisp, golden crust.

I served it with fresh orange segments (pith removed, by peeling the whole orange with a sharp knife then cutting out the segments) and some Greek yoghurt (or you could whip up some cream) with a little orange zest and honey whipped into it, scattered with chopped pistachios.

Serves 12-16, 353 calories per serving for a sixteenth of the cake (not including yoghurt, cream, extra nuts etc.). [Calories in square brackets, for enquiring minds who like to know these things]

Baked Feta in a Tomato and Oregano Sauce (with Thermomix instructions)

This is really simple, but incredibly delicious, and great to share!

Fantastic as part of a mezze to share with friends, served straight out of the oven when the feta is soft and spreadable and mingling with the chunky tomato sauce, with crusty warm bread to scoop it up - I can guarantee it will all disappear in minutes if not seconds!

Easy to make, and hard to go wrong - you can even prepare it the day before and just pop it in the oven when you're ready to go.

Serves four as an appetiser / snack with a 200g baton of crusty bread, or six with a couple of other dips and some crudites (vegetable batons, e.g. carrot, cucumber, peppers etc.). Easily doubled. From 145 calories for the baked feta in tomato sauce alone, or 279 calories per portion including bread (see below).

Spinach and Feta Filo Pie - Spanakotiropita / Spanakopita (includes Thermomix method)

A traditional Greek pie cooked in filo pastry, packed full of flavour.

The beauty of spanakotiropita (aka spanakopita) lies within the lightness of the filo pastry, and the depth of flavour from the feta cheese and herbs within the spinach filling. A very tasty pie whether you're vegetarian or not!

Delicious as a main course, maybe served with my Greek village salad, or cut into smaller squares and served as part of a mezze.

Serves four as a main course (from 302 calories), or can be served cut into 16 pieces to serve as part of a mezze.

Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki Salata)

A timeless classic, great on its own, or as a side dish

A handful of good quality ingredients is what makes this simple salad so enduring. Go for a decent barrel-aged feta, juicy vine-ripened tomatoes and the best Greek olives you can get your hands on: classic purply-brown to black almond-shaped Kalamata olives, or if you're breaking from tradition, go for a nice plump green variety, like Halkidiki or some Olympian green olives.

I tend to switch depending on what I'm having it with, and who else is eating it - if in doubt, just put your favourites in!

Serves up to eight as a small side dish, or four as a light lunch, from 79 calories per serving for a small side and 159 calories as a light lunch (see below for information re. calories).

Thai Green Chicken Curry (Gaeng Khieo Wan Gai) - with FIVE delicious variations!

There really is just nothing quite like a good Thai Green Curry...

And I absolutely love Thai green chicken curry - so much so, that I have included no less than five variations of it, a couple of which have a special place in my heart! (You may not be surprised to learn that I have more Thai green curry recipes which don't involve chicken...they will also be posted!)

Green curry is the most classic of all Thai curries. It generally thinner, hotter and more pungent than red curries. My recipe for making your own green curry paste is here (and is what is used for the purposes of calorie counting below). You could however buy a ready made curry paste – if you do, I would suggest buying a decent quality one such as “Thai Taste” brand, (which is available from oriental supermarkets and Ocado, Sainsbury’s etc. in the UK) and following the instructions on the packaging (generally 1 tbsp per serving).

Unlike some curries, this is actually incredibly easy to make – you just fry the curry paste, add the coconut milk and sauce ingredients, then drop in the chicken (and vegetables) for a few minutes until cooked. That’s pretty much it, so do have a go – you can’t go far wrong!

From 348 calories per serving between two (see variation 1, which is pictured), or from 178 calories per serving between four as part of a meal.

Thai Green Curry Paste (Nam Phrik Gaeng Khieo Wan)

One of the foundations of Thai curries, a good green curry paste is essential and not at all difficult to make.

This is the base for the most classic of all Thai curries, used in curries with coconut milk/cream, garnished with kaffir lime leaves, chillies and Thai sweet/holy basil. Green curries are generally thinner, hotter and more pungent than red curries.

Makes approximately 160g in total (including a tbsp water) therefore 10 servings of 16g each (approximately one tbsp) at 14 calories per serving.

Thermomix Coleslaw - The Final Cut!

AKA every second counts!

So, my first choice for making coleslaw would be shredding the cabbage etc. by hand, because I like the contrasts in texture of the grated and sliced vegetables. But... I wanted to give it a go in the Thermomix, and get the texture and flavour as close as I could to my ideal. So, with a bit of experimentation, and determination, I got it to this, which everybody really liked!

There's not a lot to it, which in most peoples' books is a good thing! But I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, so I'm sharing it for the Thermomixers who haven't had a go at making coleslaw yet, or who fancy a change.

Serves four to six, 94 calories per portion for a quarter (very generous portion!), 62 calories for a sixth.

First ever 'Win' blog!

Sorry, I just had to share!!!

I just found out that I won the first ever food-related competition I ever entered!

Which is very exciting, and I'm looking forwards to receiving the hamper of Spanish goodies which I will be creating a Spanish-inspired recipe with, and sharing here, of course! (It may involve olive oil...).

You can find the dish in question on my blog, here, if you're a fan of octopus, chorizo and cauliflower.

A huge thank you to all the lovely people - friends, family and strangers - who voted for my dish - it's lovely to get something back after writing recipes for so long!

Andrea x

Kushiyaki Beef Skewers with Tare Sauce

Delicious beef skewers, Japanese style!

If you're familiar with 'Yakitori Chicken', and you're a fan of steak then you're bound to like this!

Yakitori are traditional Japanese street food of chicken ‘kebabs’ often cooked on grills over hot coals to give them a delicious smokey flavour - so perfect for barbecues, or you can also grill or griddle them. When they're made with beef, they're known as Kushiyaki.

Serves 4 at 294 calories per serving. Quantities easily doubled (or halved - or you could freeze some after marinating, ready to go). Or halve the quantities, use small skewers and serve as a starter to a Japanese meal, or as appetisers.

You can be as creative as you like with yakitori, whether you use chicken, vegetables or beef as suggested here, or try it with thinly sliced pork, chunks of monkfish, raw tiger prawns, or whatever else takes your fancy. It’s at its best when cooked over a smoky barbeque, but delicious grilled too. You could cook it on a griddle as well, but beware the sugars in the marinade leaving a sticky black mess! [Calories in square brackets]