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Recipes /
Weekend recipes
Food /
Recipes /
Weekend recipes
Book offer: Unprocess Your Life Unprocess Your Life by Rob Hobson, HarperCollins Publishers, £18.99, is out now. To order a copy for £17.09 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25. Promotional price valid until 21/01/2024. Photography: Ola O Smit
Recipes
Spelt paella Paella is deliciously comforting, best when slightly gloopy and unctuous on the plate. Spelt, a wholegrain, behaves in a similar way to arborio rice when used in this dish. I’ve also used frozen seafood as it is cheaper than fresh and works just as well. Choose fresh stock, as using stock cubes introduces flavour enhancers.
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Thai green king prawn curry This fragrant curry has a vital essence of lime, and making your own paste makes all the difference to the flavour. Don’t be put off by the long list of ingredients, as they all get thrown in a food processor to create the paste.
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Beef and vegetable pie with wholemeal pastry Some shop-bought pies contain modified starches and emulsifiers to improve the texture and shelf life. Stock cubes can introduce flavour enhancers, so it’s better to choose fresh stock. Working with wholemeal pastry can be tricky, but a rustic look to a homemade pie is appealing.
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Tomato ketchup This is simple to make and you get much richer-tasting ketchup, not at all like the bright-red Tommy K you buy from the shop.
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Spicy bean burgers with lime yoghurt The Burger King spicy bean burger was my choice of takeaway when I was younger, so I thought it would be fun to re-create it. This version has lime yoghurt to add freshness. The original burger had a lot of salt, which you’ll reduce dramatically by making this dish yourself.
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Seeded wholemeal and rye loaf Making bread is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I urge you to try it. Once I’d learned how to make this loaf and discovered how tasty it was, I never went back to shop-bought bread. Ultra-processed bread contains more than four times the number of ingredients, including emulsifiers and preservatives to lengthen shelf life.
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Wholemeal rolls Making your own bread rolls feels like a very self-sufficient thing to do, especially when you make them in a batch, as you’ll always have something to hand in the freezer when you want it. Shop-bought varieties of bread rolls require different types of emulsifiers to help improve the texture and prevent the ingredients from splitting and settling, giving them a longer shelf life.
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Wholemeal pitta breads These pitta breads use just four ingredients and are simple to make as no proving is involved, unlike other types of bread. Shop-bought pitta bread can contain many ingredients, including emulsifiers, preservatives, flour treatment agents, dextrose and stabilisers such as xanthan gum.
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Grilled peach and feta couscous salad Choosing wholemeal over white is a simple way to help un-process your life and improve your diet. Whole grains, as in this couscous, are rich in fibre with many proven health benefits, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Chicken shawarma wrap This is a popular takeaway meal, especially after a big night out. Often the shawarma kebab is laden with sauces, usually shop-bought and full of thickeners, flavourings and preservatives. The meat used here is thigh, and you can create this at home with the right spice blend and a hot grill.
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Roasted red pepper, avocado and refried bean quesadillas These vegan quesadillas are so versatile - they can be eaten as a light lunch, served cold, taken to work, or put in the school lunchbox. Making them with homemade refried beans and wholemeal tortillas will make a huge difference to both the taste and your intake of ultra-processed ingredients.
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Sesame chicken noodles This chicken noodle salad is bursting with raw vegetables and gives a generous portion size. Loading up your plate with vegetables is an excellent way to help regulate your blood glucose levels and keep you feeling full through the afternoon.
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Almond crusted cod loin with lemon and caper yoghurt dressing Fish is not always popular and I often think this is because people believe it will take too long to prepare or is prohibitively expensive. This almond crust is delicious, and if you don’t have fresh herbs, use dried thyme.
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Chicken Kyiv These are a hugely popular ready meal, but shop-bought Kyivs are usually excessively salty. Avoid this by making them yourself using whole chicken breasts and fresh homemade garlic butter.
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Pork and pineapple skewers with citrus couscous Pineapple contains a type of enzyme called bromelain, which helps break down protein. You can use tinned chunks or fresh pineapple. Although technically a processed food, tinned fruit is still healthy, especially when tinned in juice.
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Pecan and coconut granola While it may seem healthy, shop-bought granola is often loaded with sugar. It does differ between brands, but many contain preservatives such as sulphur dioxide and glucose-fructose syrup for sweetness. It’s easy to make your own granola from unprocessed wholegrains, nuts, nut butter, seeds and spices.
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Wholemeal tortillas These versatile wraps are simply wholemeal flour, water, salt and a little oil. Shop-bought tortilla wraps can last weeks in their packaging, so it goes without saying that many more ingredients are used to extend the shelf life.
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Huevos rancheros This simple and nutritious dish is traditionally served for breakfast, but it also makes a great quick lunch or dinner option. Making your own wholemeal tortillas is a less ultra-processed option compared to pre-packaged white flour wraps - store them in batches in the freezer to save time. Add black beans to the sauce if you fancy something more filling.
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Chocolate and banana protein shake Protein shakes can contain many ingredients that classify them as an ultra-processed food, including soy lecithin (which is used as an emulsifier), thickeners and artificial sweeteners such as sucralose. While they may be less convenient, homemade shakes are more nutritious and unprocessed. This shake offers you around 20g of protein, which is recommended to support muscle repair and growth post-exercise.
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Homemade hash browns with poached egg Whether you buy your hash browns from McDonald’s or the freezer section of your local supermarket, it is hard to find one that doesn’t contain ingredients you don’t recognise, like dextrose. These hash browns are easy to make and, topped with an egg, make a nutritious start to the day.
Recipes
Spot the baddies! All foods exist on a scale from unprocessed to ultra-processed, depending on what’s been added and how they’ve been prepared. Here are some of the main foods to look out for in each category...
Recipes
What are the serious health risks of UPFs? Numerous recent studies show a link between diets high in ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of developing a range of serious conditions including heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some cancers - particularly breast cancer.
Recipes
Luscious lamington AUSTRALIA Cake, chocolate and coconut, the lamington is as Aussie as kangaroos, Kylie and cricket.Lamingtons even have their own national day of celebration!
Recipes
Kiwimintini NEW ZEALAND New Zealand has a thriving kiwi fruit industry - the tart green zingers with their furry coats are electrifying in the intensity they bring to co*cktails.
Recipes
Tinto de verano SPAIN This is basically instant Sangria - swap lemon soda for any citrus soda you like.
Recipes
Pineapple mojito CUBA A tropical twist on the classic Mojito.
Recipes
French rose FRANCE The origins of this simple yet sublime three-ingredient co*cktail are said to lie with barman Johnny Mitta of the Hôtel Chatham in Paris in the early 20th century. Any co*cktail that showcases the aromatic white wine Lillet Blanc gets my vote.
Recipes
Rosemary dramble UNITED KINGDOM As Shakespeare’s Ophelia hands out flowers and herbs she says: ‘There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.’ This is an apt co*cktail to raise to absent friends.
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Nut roast with mushroom gravy Not everyone wants meat for a festive feast and this nut roast is just right for a celebration at any time of year.
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Recipes
Book offer: The Hairy Bikers’ Ultimate Comfort Food The Hairy Bikers’ Ultimate Comfort Food by Si King and Dave Myers, published by Seven Dials, £25, is out now. To order a copy for £22.50 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25. Promotional price valid until 30/12/2023. Photography: Andrew Hayes-Watkins. Additional recipes adapted from The Hairy Bikers’ British Classics by Si King and Dave Myers. Photography: Toby Scott. The Hairy Bikers: Coming Home For Christmas, Tuesday, 9pm, BBC2 and BBC iPlayer.
Recipes
Christmas pudding Some people love a Christmas pudding while others prefer a trifle. For us, Christmas isn’t Christmas without a flaming pud so we reckon it’s best to keep everyone happy and make both. You can make it a few days or a week before you need it.
Recipes
Mincemeat lattice tart We love a mince pie but we think this lattice tart is even better - the surprise disc of marzipan inside makes it that bit special. It’s based on an Austrian favourite called linzer torte and this is our version.
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Chocolate mousse There’s a lovely chocolate-orange vibe to this mousse which we really enjoy.
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Salmon en croute Whether you call this salmon en croûte or salmon Wellington, it makes a proper fancy dish for a special meal. Salmon, flaky puff pastry and a rich creamy sauce - what more could you want?
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Honey-glazed gammon Cook a big piece of gammon to serve a large party or a smaller joint for a small family – with lots of delicious leftovers. Make sure you buy good quality gammon.
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Braised red cabbage Serves 4
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Potato salad with leftover ham A potato salad in its many forms is always a go-to comfort dish and we think this recipe is one of the best. It’s also a great way to use up your leftover Christmas ham.
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Roast potatoes Serves 4-6
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Sweet ’n’ sticky chipolatas with bacon and dates Chipolatas wrapped in bacon have to be everybody’s favourite Christmas garnish and it’s best to make your own. Mix in some dates too, to give you a lovely sticky treat.
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Turkey with two zingy stuffings A little citrus to liven up your Christmas lunch. The humble orange complements the turkey perfectly. You can use both or just one of the stuffings, if you prefer.
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Sprouts with hazelnuts and pomegranate Go on, try it - you won’t be disappointed! Your family and friends will love this dish.
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Roast cauliflower with cashew nuts The earthy note of the cauliflower and the sweet, nutty flavours of the cashew nuts and Parmesan cheese make this a Bikers’ festive favourite.
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Gingerbread not men These biscuits make ideal tree decorations. We see Reggie tucking in to gingerbread Santas in the season nine Christmas special. They keep for weeks in a sealed container.
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Trifle Trifle is one of the more frequently seen sweet dishes at Nonnatus House. In season ten, Miss Higgins enjoys a Harvey Wallbanger co*cktail with the trifle.
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Mince pies Mince pies are always a particularly noticeable part of Shelagh Turner’s Christmas preparations. Every year she tries something different, so feel free to experiment with pastry types, flavours and different decorations, such as star-shaped lids.
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Marshmallow snowman The season eight Christmas special is memorable for the election of Sister Mildred as the new Mother Superior. The customary well-laden Christmas table features this Snowman novelty cake – glimpsed first whole and then very enthusiastically demolished a little later.
Recipes
Christmas cake For those who aren’t fans of dark, treacly fruit cakes, this one is much lighter. Decorate with icing flowers or opt for the Nonnatus House route of plastic figurines and a jolly ribbon.
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