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Summary: These Vegan Quinoa Stuffed Aubergines are really easy to make, even though they look and sound so sophisticated. They are inspired by traditional Mediterranean stuffed tomatoes or other vegetables, but the traditional stuffing of rice / breadcrumbs / meat / cheese is replaced by a tasty quinoa filling. Quinoa is a great alternative to rice, as it is highly nutritious : high in fibre, high in protein, and high in phytonutrients if you choose coloured quinoa. Plus, quinoa is not a grain, but a seed, so make sure to add some to your pantry if you are trying to eat a more varied diet and reduce the amount of grains that you eat. The pine nuts (a seed, not a nut) or pumpkin seeds give the filling a satisfying crunch, feel free to vary the seeds or use nuts if there is no risk of allergy.
You could serve the stuffed aubergines with a drizzle of tahini over the top, and a side salad of fresh, pickled or fermented vegetables.
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Summary: This salad is really super quick and easy to make, and yet very sustaining. Quinoa and Avocados are traditional foods in Peru ; they go really well together and are both highly nutritious. Quinoa is high in fibre and in excellent quality protein. Avocados are amongst the best foods on the planet, thanks to their high content in healthy fats, fats that heal. Spinach is really high in good quality protein too and because it has a balanced amino-acid profile, it improves the protein profile of any meal.
This really is a super salad !
Please feel free to add other Spring favourites like blanched broad beans or sliced raw radishes, or substitute lamb's lettuce for the baby spinach.
It takes only 5 extra minutes to make the quinoa crunchies, and they are well worth it. Make them right before serving the salad for a lovely temperature and texture contrast.
Serves 1 hungry person as a main, or 2 normal people as a starter.
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Summary: There is more and more research giving us evidence of how crucial a healthy microbiome is, not just to digestive health, but how it also strenghtens our immune system, improves nutrient absorption, benefits our mental health and even determines our food cravings !
Probiotics capsules are helpful, provided they contain a wide range of bacteria strands, and enough colony forming units. But even then, some research suggests that they only really make a difference while we take them, and good quality probiotics can be very costly. On the other hand, fermented whole foods contain exceptionally high numbers of bacteria : an ounce of homemade, raw, unpasteurised sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) contains more bacteria than a whole bottle of good quality probiotic capsules. And they are very cheap to make at home : the only cost is the price of the produce, and a little salt.
Include these naturally lactofermented cucumbers for a cheap and easy way to boost your family's friendly gut flora.
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