Independent Kitchen - Cooking Without the Corporates

Oven Dried Tomatoes

by independentkitchen | Tuesday, July 22, 2014 | Food, Side Dishes | 0 comments

Oven dried tomatoes are a fantastic way to add a burst of flavour and colour to any dish, including salads, pasta, tarts or omelettes. You can use tomatoes which may be a little lackluster in flavour too, as the slow drying intensifies the taste. I have included 2...

Homemade Halloumi and Ricotta Cheese

by independentkitchen | Sunday, July 20, 2014 | Food, Side Dishes | 0 comments

Homemade halloumi and ricotta cheese is surprisingly easy to make. Halloumi is much softer than its shop bought counterpart and it stores incredibly well. Shop bought cheese can also be expensive, so for the nifty cook making it at home home can be a good money saver....

Jerk Halloumi Sliders

by independentkitchen | Sunday, July 13, 2014 | Food, Snacks and Appetisers | 1 comment

We made these jerk halloumi sliders as canapés for a recent vegetarian catering contract. Sliders are trendy miniature burgers primarily filled with hamburgers, but we have created these tasty little mouthfuls to cater for the vegetarian masses. We made our own...

Courgette Feta Fritters

by independentkitchen | Monday, June 30, 2014 | Food, Snacks and Appetisers | 0 comments

Courgette feta fritters make a wonderful starter, snack or light dinner. Using buckwheat flour in the batter keeps them light and gluten free. We served these with a spicy avocado chilli and lime salsa which was fresh and cut through the richness of the fritters....

Gluten Free Nut and Seed Crackers

by independentkitchen | Monday, June 16, 2014 | Food, Snacks and Appetisers | 3 comments

These Gluten Free Nut and Seed Crackers are high in protein, low carb, paleo and are really tasty. They are great as a post workout snack with dip or topped with smashed avocado and tomato as a healthy breakfast. These wafer thin crackers are surprisingly filling as...

Beetroot Carpaccio

by independentkitchen | Friday, June 13, 2014 | Food, Side Dishes | 0 comments

Beetroot carpaccio is a great vegetarian version of the Italian classic. I love the deep earthy flavours and rich ruby colour of beetroot, served with a lemon caper dressing. The lemon in the dressing mascerates the raw onion, removing the strong bitter taste and...

Watermelon Coconut Cocktail

by independentkitchen | Thursday, June 12, 2014 | Drinks and Smoothies, Food | 0 comments

A fresh watermelon coconut cocktail made purely from watermelon, coconut water and good quality vodka, perfect for alfresco summer evenings. I have been in Portugal for the past week with my family for my mums’s birthday, where produce is fresh and flavoursome!...

Roasted Aubergine with Herbs

by independentkitchen | Sunday, June 1, 2014 | Food, Salads | 0 comments

A fragrant and flavoursome roasted aubergine antipasto salad, with aromas of the Mediterranean and a kick from the chilli. It is an excellent make-ahead dish as it can be served warm or at room temperature. Aubergines love oil – I have reduced the oil used...

Carrot and Coconut Salad

by independentkitchen | Friday, May 23, 2014 | Food, Salads | 0 comments

This carrot coconut salad is a recipe adapted from my favourite café in Gloucester, Peppers. They have a wonderful self-service salad bar with a wide selection of freshly made salads including wild rice and pumpkin seeds, pesto chickpeas, and yep, carrot and...