seen from South Africa
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seen from Malaysia
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The house smells amazing…
And I think our oven is running hot. And this is what separates me from an actual baker. An actual baker pays attention and takes out the trays before they burn. I am still a bit uncertain so even though I think the cookies are overbaking, I still follow directions. What can I say, I’m a rule follower! The last two weeks, the cookies have been a bit over done and I’m not sure why. I think…
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Renae Smith – Meat Free Week Ambassador
I speak to ambassador and MasterChef alum Renae Smith about Meat-Free Week, her travels in India and her fabulous Tomato Tart.
Meat-Free Week is back for 2015 and I speak to ambassador and MasterChef alum Renae Smith about Veganism, her travels in India and her fabulous Tomato Tart. Photographs by Nicholas Rider. Renae Smith leans over the granite bench top in her kitchen trying to fix the dial on her Thermomix. It’s Monday afternoon and we’re making a vegan almond cream which will act as a base for some vegan tomato…
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Prep time 15 mins plus overnight | Cooking time 40 mins | Makes 4
It’s meat free week and to help get you in the swing of things Renae Smith has put together a wickedly delicious tart that’s meat-free and dairy free. Photographs by Nicholas Rider.
Now in its third year, Meat-Free Week has returned and it’s even bigger than before. The team have launched in the UK and hope to spread their message of animal welfare and human health throughout the world. MasterChef Renae Smith has kindly shared a tasty tomato and asparagus tart with an almond cream. The best thing about this one is that it is meat-free and dairy-free. Actually, I lied, there is something even better. It’s the sweet, sticky balsamic glaze which Renae drizzles over the top of the tarts. Check out the recipe below and make yourself a glorious lunch, then check out what Renae has been up to since leaving the MasterChef kitchen here.
Ingredients:
¼ cup of raw almonds
¼ cup of raw cashews
¼ cup of raw sunflower seeds
¼ cup of olive oil
¼ cup of water
2 tomatoes
1 bunch of asparagus
2 sheets of puff pastry (butterless)
¼ cup of balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons of sugar
A few sprigs of fresh basil
Salt and pepper
Cut the asparagus into equal batons
Lay the asparagus on the almond cream
Sit the tomatoes on the asparagus
Bake and wait
Method:
Make the almond cream. Soak the nuts and seeds overnight in enough water to cover them and then drain. The next day place nuts into a blender with a little water and oil and blend. Add more water and oil (in equal portions) until you have a smooth paste. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Roast the tomatoes. Take the tomatoes and quarter them. Place them into an oven at 200ºC and bake until collapsed, about 15-20 mins.
Prepare the asparagus. Trim the asparagus and then cut each one in half, all at even sizes.
Assemble the tarts. Place a sheet of puff pastry and cut into four squares. In the centre of each square place some of the nut cream and spread over the pastry leaving about a 1cm edge the entire way around. Lay asparagus over this (cut to size if needed). Place a roasted tomato on top of the asparagus. Place into the oven at 200 degrees until puffed and golden, about 15-20 mins.
Make the balsamic glaze. Meanwhile, place sugar and balsamic vinegar into a pan and simmer gently until reduced. Taste and add sugar until you have a sweet vinegar syrup. Remove tarts from the oven, drizzle with caramelised balsamic vinegar and garnish with fresh basil.
Heat the balsamic and sugar in a pan
Drizzle the sweet, sticky glaze over the tarts to serve
Want more Meat-Free Week? Check out my interview with Simon Bryant from ABC’s The Cook and The Chef here. I love receiving photos of your kitchen creations. Send me your recipes and dishes by tagging #brendonthesmilingchef on Instagram or Tweeting to @bthesmilingchef. Let me know what you’re making today by leaving a message in the comments section below, or send me a message via my social networks.
Happy Cooking and Keep Smiling,
Brendon :)
It’s meat free week and to help get you in the swing of things Renae Smith has put together a wickedly delicious tart that’s meat-free and dairy free. Prep time 15 mins plus overnight | Cooking time 40 mins | Makes 4 It’s meat free week and to help get you in the swing of things Renae Smith has put together a wickedly delicious tart that’s meat-free and dairy free.
