Tag Archive for: vegetarian recipes

After-eight egg pasta triangles

Sweet and savoury together, but also mint and chocolate coming together, our recipe today is a mix of flavours and contrasts: After-eight egg pasta triangles.
A pleasant pasta enclosing a soft filling with an intense flavour. In short, an appetising first course to surprise with something new and unexpected.

If you love fresh pasta, also try Sardinian Culurgiones a work of art of workmanship and taste!

 

After-eight egg pasta triangles

29.48g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients for the egg pasta for 8 persons

  • 500g fresh pasta flour mix, brand Molino Dallagiovanna**
  • 5 eggs
  • 15g bitter cocoa powder*
  • 40g water
  • 20g extra virgin olive oil
  • 3g salt

Ingredients for stuffing

  • 400g boiled and mashed potatoes 300g freshly grated sweet Pecorino cheese
  • 30g grated medium-aged Pecorino cheese
  • 30g extra virgin olive oil
  • 10g chopped mint
  • 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
  • milk and salt as needed

** Ingredients specific for celiacs

Preparation

  1. Prepare the dough by mixing flour, eggs, cocoa, water, oil and salt by hand or in a planetary mixer. In no time, you will obtain a smooth and elastic dough. Wrap it in cling film and let it rest.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.
    Put the grated cheese and the mashed potatoes in a bowl and mix well until an even mixture is obtained. Heat the olive oil in a small pan and as soon as it is hot, add the chopped garlic and stir; turn off the heat and add the chopped mint. Let it rest for a minute, then pour the aromatic oil over the potato and Pecorino mixture. Mix well, add salt to taste and, if the mixture is too thick, soften it with a few tablespoons of warm milk.
  3. Now, take the dough and roll it out with a pastry cutter to the penultimate or third last hole; with a toothed cutter, cut 8cm squares.
    Using a teaspoon, or your hands, place the filling in the centre of the square, then close forming a triangle and pinching the edges together to seal the ravioli tightly.
    Bring the water to the boil, salt it lightly and gently toss in the triangles. After a few minutes, drain them and dress them with melted butter together with a few mint leaves and grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese.

Triangoli-di-sfoglia-after-eight-ph-chiara-marando

Version with gluten of After-eight egg pasta triangles

Replace gluten-free flour with wheat flour and reduce the amount of water used to 15g.

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Mexican dinner: Vegetarian Chili

How about organising a fun Mexican dinner? We have done so and would like to recommend a recipe that is going to be a true success, with intense, spicy flavours suitable for all palates: Vegetarian Chili.

Would you like to accompany the recipe with an aperitif? Try the Guacamole Salsa.

Let’s begin!

Vegetarian Chili

7.41g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 400g tomato sauce
  • 300g yellow pepper
  • 300g red pepper
  • 250g carrots
  • 250g cooked Mexican black beans (about 120g dry soaked in water for at least 12 hours)
  • 200g cooked yellow soy (approx. 100g dry soaked in water for at least 12 hours)
  • 100g water
  • 40g onions
  • 1 piece of chilli pepper
  • paprika, parsley or coriander, extra virgin olive oil, salt

Preparation

  1. Put the beans in water and cook them for the time necessary for them to remain firm. Once cooked, drain them and set them aside. Repeat the same operation with the yellow soy.
  2. Chop the onion fairly finely and sauté it in a slightly high-sided pan with a little oil, adding the garlic clove and a pinch of chilli pepper according to personal preferences for spiciness.
  3. In the meantime, slice the carrots into rounds and dice the pepper, chop the parsley (in Mexico, coriander is used, but its specific flavour is not liked by all), then add all the vegetables and tomato sauce to the stir-fry, then season with salt and paprika.
  4. Let the vegetables cook for about 15 minutes. Finally, incorporate the soy and beans and let everything gain flavour for another 5 minutes before serving.

Chili-vegetariano-senza-glutine-uni-chef-per-gaia

Version with gluten of Vegetarian Chili

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Soy and pumpkin patties

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Soy and pumpkin patties are a nice appetiser, a tasty dish that is hard to give up, a dish that comes when hunger starts to set in and prepares for the upcoming meal. That’s why it must certainly be appetising but, at the same time, balanced so as not to weigh you down and allow you to fully enjoy the following courses.

Soy and pumpkin patties fulfil all these characteristics: they are light, healthy and tasty. And to continue having fun with patties and meatballs, dive into the Patties and meatballs section: you will find a solution to make young and old happy.

And if you are looking for a salad to go with these patties, try this Dominican salad or just prepare a mixed green and tomato salad.

Ready to start cooking?

Soy and pumpkin patties

12.20g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 300g pumpkin cooked in the oven
  • 150g boiled yellow soy
  • 50g breadcrumbs**
  • 30g leek
  • parsley, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and nutmeg

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

Preparation

  1. Slice the leek thinly and put it in a pan with a little oil, brown it and add soy and pumpkin.
  2. Season with herbs and spices, add salt and blend in a food processor until creamy.
  3. Form into patties (we had about 14) and roll them in breadcrumbs. Brown in a non-stick frying pan with a little oil, then serve with fresh vegetables.

Polpettine-di-soia-e-zucca-senza-glutine-uno-chef-per-gaia

Version with gluten of Soy and pumpkin patties

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Three-colour flan: all the taste of vegetables

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Vegetables are the biggest challenge for us as parents: preparing them in a tasty and appetising way to win children over is not always easy. The Three-colour flan can be a winning idea as it contains some of children’s favourite vegetable ingredients, namely potatoes, pumpkin and carrots.

Given the richness of potatoes and pumpkin in carbohydrates, as well as the presence of cheese and egg, the Three-colour flan can be eaten as a one-course meal, quenching even the most insatiable appetites.

Furthermore, you can also use this wonderful dish as a side dish or, why not, a main course to propose during a dinner with friends with vegetarian preferences, perhaps combined with a Ratatouille.

Three-colour flan

9.54g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 800g potatoes
  • 700g courgettes
  • 400g pumpkin
  • 300g carrots
  • 100g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 25g butter
  • 10g breadcrumbs**
  • 1 egg
  • to taste salt, pepper, oil

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

Preparation

  1. Boil the potatoes and mash them in a potato masher, then season with a knob of butter, half of the Parmesan cheese and egg. Boil the carrots and mash them too. Steam the pumpkin and thinly sliced courgettes with a little oil and salt. Once the pumpkin is cooked, repeat the operation with a potato masher, add the carrots, a little Parmesan cheese, salt to taste, and complete the mixture with some mashed potatoes.
  2. Form a layer of courgettes on the bottom of an oven-proof dish and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover everything with the pumpkin mixture, press well and top with a layer of mashed potatoes.
  3. Dust the surface with a little breadcrumbs, put a few tufts of butter on top and bake au gratin in the oven at 200°C for about 20 minutes, until a nice crust has formed. Serve the flan warm or lukewarm.
Tortino-ai-tre-colori-senza-glutine-uno-chef-per-gaia

Three-colour flan

 

Version with gluten of Three-colour flan

Just replace the gluten-free breadcrumbs with standard ones.

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The simple freshness of Mint flavoured beans

Today we have come up with a dish that can become a light main course or a perfect side dish to enrich a meal. Simple, genuine, tasty and ideal for any palate: one ingredient and herbs and you’re done, Mint flavoured beans.

Here’s how to prepare them for a fresh, healthy, naturally gluten-free and diabetes-friendly dish, perhaps accompanied by seasonal vegetables. I chose Borlotti beans that are very common in northern Italy, but feel free to pick your favourite beans for this salad.

And if you want an idea for another fresh and tasty salad, try this irresistible Swordfish salad.

Mint flavoured beans

18.56g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 160g dried borlotti or white beans (soaked for 12 hours)
  • 1 celery stalk
  • 1 clove garlic
  • extra virgin olive oil, mint, salt and black or pink pepper

Preparation

  1. Boil the beans in water with celery and garlic; once cooked, remove the latter and drain the beans.
  2. Let the beans cool and season them with fresh mint leaves, a good extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper: it is a very simple dish, but really rich in flavour and aroma.

fagioli alla menta

Version with gluten of Mint flavoured beans

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Venere rice pasta salad with vegetables

What could be better in summer than a nice, fresh Venere rice pasta salad with vegetables?

In our opinion, it is the ideal dish for the summer months, perfect for satiating hunger after returning from the beach, but also for an evening out with friends. It can be prepared in advance, in large quantities, and stored to have a great, healthy meal ready immediately.

Let’s prepare this vegetarian recipe then!

Would you like another idea for a summer salad? Try this Swordfish salad or Tomatoes with anchovy flavoured croutons.

Here’s how to prepare it!

Venere rice pasta salad with vegetables

24.65g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 400g Venere rice pasta Amaranto**
  • 300g white mushrooms
  • 250g courgettes
  • 100g yellow pepper
  • 100g red pepper
  • 100g carrots
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste

** Ingredients specific for celiacs

Preparation of Venere rice pasta salad

  1. Clean and slice the mushrooms and sauté them in a non-stick pan with oil and a clove of garlic.
    Next, julienne cut the courgettes and carrots and dice the pepper.
  2. Put a little oil in the wok and cook the vegetables with a clove of garlic, seasoning with salt. When the vegetables are soft, let them cool down.

Insalata-di-past-di-riso-venere-alle-verdure-blog-uno-chef-per-gaia

  1. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water; leave it slightly al dente, drain and cool under running water.
    In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the vegetables and mushrooms; if necessary, season with salt and, if desired, add a few basil leaves.

Insalata-di-past-di-riso-venere-alle-verdure-blog-uno-chef-per-gaia

Version with gluten of Venere rice pasta salad with vegetables

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Papaya sauce with vegetables

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For the ‘friends’ recipes‘ section, I am sharing with you a tasty recipe that Cecilia sent us: Papaya sauce with vegetables. It is a great idea to accompany tortillas, but also to top crackers and bread. In short, a perfect hunger-breaker or a tasty aperitif to propose to friends.

And don’t be misled by the fact that the main ingredient is a fruit: the sauce is savoury and perfect for stimulating your appetite! This sauce is also great to be served with cheese and, why not, with my beloved Pinzimonio.

If you wish to stay in this area of the world, try my Vegetarian Chili.

Papaya sauce with vegetables

8.97g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients

  • 550g papaya
  • 200g tomatoes
  • 15g spring onion
  • 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2g fresh cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon jalapeño chilli
  • salt

Preparation

  1. Peel the papaya, remove the seeds and blend it. Remove the seeds from the tomatoes and chop the pulp finely. Also finely chop the spring onion, cilantro and seeded chilli.

salsa-di-papaya-alle-verdure-blog-uno-chef-per-gaia

  1. Mix all ingredients together, add lime juice, adjust salt and serve the sauce to accompany tortillas or crackers.

Version with gluten of Papaya sauce with vegetables

The recipe contains only naturally gluten-free ingredients, so no adaptation is necessary for its version with gluten.

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Tartlets with strawberries

Today we are in the mood for strawberries, their bright colour and inviting taste that goes well with desserts. And here we are with a reinterpretation of the classic shortcrust pastry tartlets, lighter but still delicious: Tartlets with strawberries

The trick?

Simple, the dough is prepared with ‘Zero Butter’, a fantastic all-vegetable substitute of butter.

We can begin!

Tartlets with strawberries

40.5g carbohydrates per 100g

Ingredients for the shortbread

  • 100g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 60g sugar
  • 50g gluten-free cake flour mix, brand Mix C Dolci Schär**
  • 50g almonds, peeled
  • 50g Zero butter* or butter
  • 1 egg
  • 8g baking powder*

Ingredients for the pastry cream

  • 160g low fat milk
  • 50g sugar
  • 15g corn starch*
  • 3 egg yolks
  • a bit of vanilla from the pod

Ingredients for garnishing

  • 200g fresh strawberries

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Grind the almonds in a food processor into a flour and add all the other ingredients for the shortcrust pastry; mix them together to obtain a soft, smooth dough. Cover with cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the pastry cream: in a food processor or bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until the mixture is frothy; add the corn starch and vanilla. Meanwhile, put the milk on the stove and bring it to the boil; pour it over the egg and corn starch mixture and stir quickly with a whisk so that no lumps form. Put everything back on the heat and let it thicken while continuing to stir. Let cool by covering with cling film.
  3. Roll out the shortcrust pastry and line tartlet moulds; prick the bottom with a fork and bake in a static oven preheated to 160°C for about 20 minutes. Let them cool down.
  4. Top the tartlets with custard and strawberries.
    Since no gelatine is used to coat the fruit, eat the tartlets on the same day or the next day at the latest.

Crostatine-di-fragole-gluten-free.blog-uno-chef-per-gaia

Version with gluten of Tartlets with strawberries

Replace the gluten-free flour with an equal amount of standard flour.

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Creative first courses: Three-colour crêpe rolls

One eats first of all with the eyes, which is why dishes must not only be good but also harmonious and colourful: the cheerfulness they convey starts with the sight and then leaves room for the taste and that is what happens with the Three-colour crêpe rolls.

It is a sensory journey through aromas, scents and nuances.

That’s why the first course we propose here marries this theory to perfection, a perfect mix of flavour, authenticity and energy. Needless to say… strictly gluten-free.

Bring your imagination to the table then with our recipe for Three-colour crêpe rolls. If you like crêpes, also try Quinoa crêpes with broccoli.

Three-colour crêpe rolls

9.7g carbohydrates per 100 g

Ingredients for crêpes

  • 500g milk
  • 230g gluten-free multi-purpose flour**
  • 50g cooked and mashed red beet
  • 50g cooked and blended spinach (creamed spinach)
  • 6 eggs
  • 8g salt
  • extra virgin olive oil

Ingredients for the filling

  • 500g cabbage
  • 300g milk
  • 200g Bitto or Casera cheese (semi-hard cheese)
  • 30g wholemeal rice flour°
  • 10g butter
  • salt

To serve as desired: cream and parmesan fondue, creamed spinach

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. In a bowl or a food processor, blend all the ingredients for the crêpes except the beet and spinach cream. Once the batter is ready, divide it into three equal parts: one part should remain its natural colour, the other two should be completed with the creamed spinach and red beet respectively.
    In case they still contain pieces of vegetables, blend each mixture using an immersion blender.
  2. Lightly grease a frying pan about 15cm in diameter and pour in enough mixture to cover the bottom. Cook the crêpes on both sides until lightly browned.
  3. And now the filling! Cut cabbage or Savoy cabbage into strips and cook in a wok or non-stick pan with a little extra virgin olive oil and, if necessary, a bit of water. Finally, season with salt.
    In another pan, prepare the béchamel sauce with 10g butter, 30g rice flour, 300g milk and salt to taste.
Rotolini di crepes colorati

The coloured crêpe rolls

  1. Roll the crêpes, distribute the vegetables evenly on top and cover them with two tablespoons of béchamel sauce; finally, finish by adding the diced Bitto or Casera cheese; roll the crêpes and place them on a baking tin covered with parchment paper. Heat in the oven at 160°C until the cheese has melted.

Just one more step.

I rotolini di crepes colorati pronti per essere mangiati

The colourful crêpe rolls ready to be eaten

  1. Cut the crêpe rolls obliquely to obtain 3 small cylinders; spread a layer of fondue on the bottom of each plate and lay 1 cylinder per colour on top.

Serve piping hot.

Version with gluten of Three-colour crêpe rolls

Replace the 230g gluten free flour with 250g wheat flour to make the crepes; no other adaptation is needed.

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Who can resist Pizza with potatoes?

Pizza is one of the symbols par excellence of Italian cuisine, a dish capable of brightening up evenings with friends, a family lunch, but also perfect for snacks or aperitifs. Yet pizza is a major challenge for both those with diabetes and those with celiac disease, albeit for completely different reasons.

For those with diabetes, pizza is a challenge for blood glucose control as it is one of the most difficult foods to predict in terms of short-, medium- and long-term blood glucose rise. So we should always be careful when consuming it!

For those with celiac disease, pizza is a challenge because the crispness of the dough is hardly comparable to pizzas made with conventional flours.

Despite the challenges, Pizza with Potatoes is definitely one of a thousand ways to prepare this iconic dish and I hope it gives you a moment of joy. Try it out and let me know how the experience went.

Pizza with potatoes

68.27g carbohydrates per 100g of baked pizza without topping

Ingredients for the pizza base

  • 450g flour mix for bread, brand Nutrifree**
  • 450g water
  • 250g potatoes (weight of cooked and peeled potatoes)
  • 250g cherry tomatoes
  • 50g buckwheat flour*
  • 50g wholemeal rice flour*
  • 20g brewer’s yeast
  • extra virgin olive oil, fine and coarse salt, oregano

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Take the flours, put them in a bowl or planetary mixer and mix with water in which you have dissolved the yeast. Knead, then add fine salt and 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Once everything is mixed together, place the dough in the mixing bowl to rise for about 2 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes and, once cooked, peel, mash and let them cool.
  3. Take the risen dough, add the mashed potatoes and mix until the potatoes are completely incorporated.
  4. Now divide the dough into 4 parts, lay each part on a baking tin covered with parchment paper; let the pizzas rise for as long as it takes to heat the oven, then bake them at 220°C until ¾ done.
Uno_Chef_per_Gaia_ricetta_Pizza

Adding tomato to pizza

  1. Remove the pizza from the oven, top it with tomato sauce, mozzarella and oregano and finish cooking for the remaining time. In total it should be about 25 minutes.
Uno_Chef_per_Gaia_ricetta_Pizza_senza_glutine

Adding mozzarella

We topped the pizza in a simple way, but you can let your imagination guide you to create flavour combinations according to your preferences.

Uno_Chef_per_Gaia_pizza_senza_glutine

The ready-to-eat pizza

Version with gluten of Pizza with potatoes

Prepare the dough with 500g wheat flour and knead it with 300g water.

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