Bo's Kitchen

Plant based recipes made with love

chia

Nourishing chia parfaits

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super elixir parfait welleco

Breakfast parfaits are one of my favourite things to eat. They’re simple to make, flexible, delicious and nutritious! I love to make breakfast a special occasion and a pretty parfait always gets my day off to a happy start. These nourishing chia parfaits are made up of layers of coconut chia pudding, spinach and pineapple smoothie, dairy free yoghurt and topped with a sugar free coconut whip. Totally refined sugar free, gluten free and no bananas! …

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Blackberry bircher parfait

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blackberry bircher parfait

Are dark, gloomy Mondays getting you down? Has your New Year’s resolution to prep a beautiful breakfast each day already fallen by the wayside? Well, I’m delighted to announce that this year I’ll be partnering with Provamel with the aim of helping you to make positive food and drink choices – this means being Pro 100% plant-based, Pro organic and Pro ethically sourced products that respect our environment.
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Cranberry and pistachio energy bars

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cranberry and pistachio energy bars

These cranberry and pistachio energy bars have been a firm favourite in my house this month. They’re so quick to prepare and compared to traditional energy bars, which in my experience tend to be dry, flavourless and tough, these are moist, sweet and incredibly moreish. The best bit is you can easily swap the ingredients around depending on what you have in your pantry- I love flexible recipes. The perfect way to use up all of those leftover bags of dried fruits and nuts from Christmas. Pistachio and cranberry is a wonderful combination though, so I’d recommend grabbing these if you can. They freeze really well too, so I’ve been making a big batch on a Sunday to enjoy through the week.

Feel free to add in your favourite superfoods, nut butters, dried fruits, coconut shreds, whatever you fancy really, just keep the proportions of wet to dry ingredients the same and you’ll struggle to go wrong.

I’ve worked all through the Christmas period and now I’m off for three whole days and I can’t wait to cook and shoot again, I really miss it if I can’t take pictures every day. I’m going to be rustling up some turmeric lemonade today, after spotting this beautiful recipe on my friend Janine’s blog. Take a peek here to check it out, the photography is stunning and her blog is a joy to visit. If you’d like to follow her on Instagram, you can find her at @nutsandblueberries.

Hope you’re staying warm, my sweet peas! Wishing you a very happy New Year, roll on 2017!!!

Cranberry and pistachio energy bars

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup almonds, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds
  • 1/ 4 cup chia seeds
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup shelled and roughly chopped pistachios
  • 1/4 tsp pink himalayan salt
  1. Preheat oven to 190•c. Pour oats, almonds, walnuts and seeds onto a baking tray and spread out evenly. Toast in the oven for 10 minutes, until slightly golden.
  2. Add dates and 1/2 cup of hot water to a food processor and blitz until a date caramel has formed. Add date mixture and toasted oat mix into a large bowl.
  3. In a small pan, gently melt maple syrup, coconut oil and almond butter. Once combined, add to the large mixing bowl with the date caramel and oats. Stir well until everything is coated. Now mix through the cranberries, pistachios and salt, leaving a few pistachios and cranberries for the top.
  4. Line a small square baking tin (mine was 8×8 inches) with parchment paper- leave a little hanging over the sides so it’s easy to remove later. Flatten the mixture down with your hands or the back of a spoon. Now add your remaining pistachios and cranberries to the top.
  5. Set in the freezer for 30 minutes, or an hour in the fridge. Cut into 12 bars and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Chia bliss balls

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It’s getting so cold here lately. It takes a lot to tempt me out of the house if I’m honest! It’s not all bad though, I love nothing more than drinking endless cups of tea whilst rustling up new recipes in the kitchen when the nights get longer. A whole host of new seasonal ingredients and comforting winter recipes are tempting me every day, I’m bubbling over with ideas!

There’s a few basic recipes that I always fall back on whatever the weather and these balls are one of them. The beauty of a bliss ball is that it requires hardly any cooking, minimal ingredients and it is almost impossible to get them wrong. The results are instant too, no need to wait for them to cook! My kind of recipe. I tend to become a bit of  a snack monster when I’m cold, so a bliss ball can be just the thing to stop me reaching for something carby and sugary before dinner.

As well as being incredibly tasty and addictive, these babies are packed with goodness, oats, almonds, seeds, chia, dates and spices.

These are so easy to make, I’d love to know what you think if you try them!

 

  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 3 tbsp chia seeds
  • 3 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp flaxseed
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 tbsp cacao (optional, leave out for a plain version)
  • 1/2 cup soft pitted dates
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup

Toppings –

Chia seeds, cacao powder, sesame seeds
1. Add all dry ingredients to your food processor and pulse briefly to combine.
2. Add in dates, vanilla, coconut oil and maple syrup and pulse until a dough is formed. Add more flour if it’s too wet, or a little water if it’s too dry.
3. Roll in chia seeds, cacao and sesame seeds and store in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.

 

Chunky almond granola clusters

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chunky almond granola clusters with maca

Granola is just one of those things I wish I’d started making years ago. It can be so expensive to buy and they are often laden with as much sugar and salt as regular cereals. I set about making my own after trying several recipes and I’m now sharing the result with you. Making your own granola means you can make it just how you like it, it’s fairly hard to go wrong! This recipe is super flexible, so if you don’t have any of the ingredients just stick with the same rough proportion of wet to dry ingredients and you can be sure to whip up your own exclusive batch of breakfast heaven. The most important thing to remember is not to break it up on the baking tray while cooking and to let it cool completely before smashing to pieces (I enjoy this bit). Granola is amazing with yoghurt, on top of oatmeal or just on its own! The perfect nutritious snack.

Chunky almond granola clusters

  • 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 3/4 cup walnuts or pecans
  • 1 cup dried fruit (I used cherries)
  • 2 tbsp Organic Burst chia seeds (optional)
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup or agave
  • Pinch of himalayan pink salt
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp Organic Burst maca powder (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 140°C and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.
  2. Blend almonds in a food processor into a rough crumb, leave chunkier for a crunchier granola. Add the almonds and oats to a large mixing bowl.
  3. Briefly pulse walnuts /pecans, just to break them up a little. Add to the mixing bowl.
  4. Add all other ingredients to mixing bowl, stirring really well until everything is coated evenly.
  5. Press the mixture down into a large flat piece of granola (almost like a flapjack) and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn the granola around in the oven, don’t break it up (this is the key to clusters).
  6. Check again after 15 minutes and if it’s starting to brown around the edges, take it out. It should take no longer than another 20 minutes until it’s ready.
  7. Take out the oven and leave to cool completely before breaking into chunky clusters. Stores in an airtight jar for two weeks.

Chia and fennel green pizza

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chia and fennel seed pizza crust

I’ve just realised that this is my third pizza recipe. I must really love pizza! I think what entices me the most is how adaptable it is, you don’t really need to have much in the cupboards to whip up a pizza. I always end  up chopping up more veggies than I need for toppings.

I had a craving for a green pizza this week, a herby, summery, savoury affair but with a crisp base that tastes like the real deal. This is honestly so delicious I will be making more houmous at the weekend just so I can have it again next week for lunch. The fennel seeds work really well with the garlic infused pesto. Pesto houmous is also my new favourite thing- SO GOOD.  I thoroughly recommend using marinated artichokes on top, because they are just the most delicious vegetable in the world and every pizza tastes better with more artichokes. A good thing about being vegan and asking for a pizza with no cheese when I eat out is that I get to ask for more artichokes instead. I’m all about the artichokes.

Recipe

Chia and fennel seed pizza crust

  • 1 cup gram(chickpea) flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 5 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp fennel seeds
  • Salt and pepper

Kale pesto

  • 5 large handfuls of kale
  • 2 lemons, juiced
  • 1 bunch of basil (large handful)
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup of walnuts
  • 2 tsp Organic Burst wheatgrass (optional)
  • 1/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt

Houmous

  • 1 tin of organic chickpeas
  • 1 tbsp tahini
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/4 cup of water/liquid from the can of chickpeas

Kale pesto –

  1. Start by blending your garlic cloves in a food processor until finely minced.
  2. Add all other ingredients and blend until smooth.
  3. Store your kale pesto in a jar for up to four weeks in the fridge, covering with a thin layer of olive oil to keep it fresh.

Houmous –

  1. Blend garlic in a food processor until fine.
  2. Add all other ingredients and mix until smooth and creamy, adding more water/chickpea liquid a little at a time if you need to.
  3. If you want to make kale pesto houmous, simply mix equal parts houmous and kale pesto.

Chia and fennel seed crust-

  1. Preheat your oven to 180°c and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
  2. To make the pizza crust, mix the chia seeds with 4tbsp of water and leave to form a gel. This should take around 5 minutes.
  3. Add all dry ingredients to a medium sized mixing bowl and stir to incorporate. Now add the cup of water and the chia seed gel. Mix until it’s smooth but still quite thick, you want it to slowly drop of the spoon, like a thick paste.
  4. Spread the base over your prepared baking tray and cook for 20 minutes, until firm.
  5. Allow to cool and then top with kale pesto houmous, courgette ribbons, red onion, fresh oregano, fresh basil, marinated artichokes and sesame seeds.

Raspberry choc chip muffins

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raspberry chocolate chip vegan chia muffins

This week it was sunny almost every day, I managed to get a tan! Sadly, the sunshine didn’t last all week. As soon as Friday came, so did the rain, which only meant one thing- baking! Although I really enjoy sunning myself in the garden, I love nothing more than a day snuggled up in the house, with time to myself to try some new recipes, experiment with different flavours and indulge my culinary desires (usually in the form of lots of cooking shows and my favourite newspaper for inspiration). I set to work on these muffins as soon as I woke up on Saturday morning. The result is a soft, moist muffin that is light, tangy with raspberries and gorgeously chocolatey. Just perfect with a large Americano.

A lot of vegan muffin or cupcake recipes can be dry or dense, so I tried to make these as moist as possible with more than one type of egg replacer, which seemed to do the trick. I’ve been hibernating by myself all weekend and have almost finished the whole batch to myself. They are still as soft today as they were yesterday, so this recipe is definitely a keeper! They’re also vegan, refined sugar free and can easily be adapted to be gluten free.

Raspberry choc chip muffins (makes 10)

  • 2 chia eggs (mix 2bsp chia with 6tbsp water) (I use Organic Burst’s ethically sourced, organic chia)
  • 2 medium ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup plant based mylk
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour (sub gluten free if you wish)
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (can sub gluten free oats)
  • 1/2 cup choc chips
  • 1 cup raspberries
  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and grease your muffin tin.
  2. Prepare your chia eggs in a large bowl and set aside for a few minutes. Mix really well with a fork until no big lumps of chia remain.
  3. Mix plant based mylk and cider vinegar in a small bowl.  This will curdle in a minute or two to form vegan buttermilk.
  4. To your chia egg, add bananas and coconut sugar. Mash together with a fork until a few lumps remain, you don’t want it totally smooth. Now add the buttermilk. Stir briefly to incorporate.
  5. Add vanilla and coconut oil and stir again.
  6. Add baking soda, sea salt, flour and oats to the wet mix and stir until just combined. Fold through choc chips and 3/4 cup raspberries.
  7. Divide batter between your prepared muffin tin, I fill them to the top which makes 10 but you can make 12 smaller muffins if you prefer- just fill them 3/4 of the way to the top.
  8. Sprinkle a few choc chips and your remaining 1/4 cup of raspberries on top and bake for 18-20 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden.  Let cool for a few minutes and then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack. These will store well in a covered container at room temperature for several days.

raspberry vegan muffins with chocolate chip

Kiwi and lime chia popsicles

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kiwi and lime chia popsiclesCool down this summer with my kiwi and lime chia popsicles! They’re sweet and creamy but so healthy you can enjoy them for breakfast. Packed with energising chia seeds and healthy fats from the coconut and nut milk, you’ll get that nourishing, full up feeling without feeling sluggish. They’re the perfect zesty treat to liven up your day. I love the texture of frozen chia seeds in coconut milk, it’s such a fun way to try chia!
(Makes 10)
  • 1 3/4 cups coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup almond mylk (or other non dairy mylk)
  • 2 tbsp rice malt syrup
  • 2 limes, juiced and zested
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract or 1 pod, seeded
  • 1/4 cup Organic Burst chia seeds
  • 2 kiwis, thinly sliced (I used Zespri golden kiwi fruit)
1. Stir coconut milk, almond mylk, rice malt syrup, lime juice and zest, vanilla and chia seeds together. Mix really well to make sure there are no lumps. Leave to soak for at least 15 minutes.
2. Rub a tiny bit of rice malt syrup on your kiwi slices and stick inside your popsicle mould. Slowly pour in the chia pudding and set in the freezer for at least 3 hours.