Tag Archives: Tomatoes

Piyaz – Turkish Black-Eyed Bean Salad

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A healthy and delicious protein packed salad perfect for picnics and barbeques.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Chilling time: 1 hour
Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 small red onion finely diced
1 can pre-cooked black eyed beans drained
2 medium tomatoes diced
1 tablespoon fresh coriander
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
salt and black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon sumac (I used dried mango powder instead)
1 clove garlic

Method:

1. Place the beans, onions , coriander and tomatoes in a bowl.
2. Add the garlic, lemon juice,vinegar salt and pepper, dried mango powder powder and cumin powder and toss well.
3. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for 1 hour to allow all the flavours to marinade.
4. Serve with toasted pitta bread.

Tomato and Carrot Soup

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A fast and speedy soup that is hearty and delicious . 

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes.
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

2 medium carrots diced          
8 tomatoes diced
1 potato diced
2 cups water  
1 bay Leaf                        
1/2 teaspoon black pepper.       
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar.

Method:

1. In a microwaveable bowl add the bay leaf, potatoes and carrots  with 1 cup of water and microwave on high for 5 minutes untilvegetables  fully cooked .
2. Blend the tomatoes in a blender jug and puree them. Strain to remove skin and seeds and pour into a saucepan and add 1 cup water, simmer on medium heat.
3.Once vegetables are cooked remove the bay leaf  and add them to the simmering tomato puree.
4. Add more water to get desired consistency. Add the salt, pepper and sugar.Taste and adjust seasoning as required. Simmer for 5  more minutes.
5. You can either puree the soup in a blender jug to make it smooth  or leave it chunky .

To Serve:
Garnish with a drizzle of fresh cream and serve hot with fresh bread.

Pizza Bites

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Preparation time – 15 minutes
Cooking time – 20 minutes
Makes about 40 small pizza bites

Ingredients:

2 sheets of ready rolled puff pastry
2 tablespoon sun dried tomato paste
2 tablespoons tomato puree
½ teaspoon chilli flakes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
200 grams grated mature cheddar

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC.
2. Oil two baking trays and keep aside.
3. In a bowl add the tomato puree, sun dried tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt and chilli flakes and mix well.
4. Open out the ready rolled puff pastry sheets and spread  the tomato filling evenly over both sheets leaving approximate 1 cm rim at one end.
5. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the tomato spread.
6. Using a pastry brush wet the 1cm rim end.
7. From the opposite end tightly roll the pasty to encase the cheese like a roulade.
8. Press down firmly to seal the wet edge.
9. Cut 1cm thick slices of the pastry roll and place the cut slices onto prepared oiled baking tray. (Cover  with cling film and freeze for later use at this stage).
10. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until pizza bites are crisp and golden brown.
11. Remove from oven and immediately transfer to serving plate.

Serve with tomato ketchup or chilli dip.