Dairy Free Archives

Healthy Baked Tortilla Samosas

Healthy Baked Tortilla Samosas

These healthy baked tortilla samosas are a lighter take on the much loved south Asian classic pastry. As well as using tortilla wraps instead of phyllo, they're also baked instead of fried making them even better for you! Typically associated with Indian cuisine, but did you know that samosas are believed to be derived from the Middle East? They were first mentioned in Iranian historian Abolfazl Beyhaqi’s work where he referred to them as 'sanbosag'. They're now popular in many countries around the world. I grew up in the Middle East where we have our own version of samosas, aka Sambousek. Usually filled with minced meat, or the vegetarian version filled with cheese, spinach and herbs. The version I grew [...]

Nadia2024-04-03T17:01:16+01:00April 2, 2024|Dairy Free, Main Meals, Sauces and Dips, Savoury Snacks, Side dishes, snack, Vegan, Vegetarian|2 Comments

Healthier Muhallebi Recipe (Mahalabia) Milk Pudding

Healthier Muhallebi Recipe (Mahalabia) Milk Pudding

This healthier Muhallebi recipe is my lighter take on a classic Middle Eastern dessert popular during Ramadan and Eid. I've sweetened it with whole dates - a great source of fibre, as well as added tahini for healthy fats and flavour. Muhallebi, also known as mahalabia, is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert that originated in ancient Arab cuisine. It is a creamy pudding-like dessert made primarily from milk, sugar, and cornflour (or rice flour), flavored with rose water or orange blossom water, and garnished with pistachios and rose petals. It's served chilled and can be found in various Middle Eastern countries under different names and variations. Muhallebi is known for its smooth texture and delicate flavour, making it a popular [...]

Nadia2024-03-28T17:29:28+01:00March 28, 2024|Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|0 Comments

Healthy No-Bake Brownies

Healthy No-Bake Brownies

These healthy no-bake brownies are a must-try. You only need a handful of easy to find ingredients and there's no baking required. They're also a great source of fibre (from the oats), healthy fats (from the tahini) and antioxidants (from the cocoa/dark chocolate). They taste decadent whilst being good for you - that's the kind of dessert I want more of in my life! One of my most popular recipes on my blog are these no-bake chocolate covered brownies. I get why they're so loved - they're easy, tasty and fool-proof, so anyone can make them. They're also just as decadent and satisfying as a regular brownie (I think so anyway!), but made with healthier ingredients like dates, tahini, cocoa [...]

Nadia2024-03-26T12:45:45+01:00March 22, 2024|Bars, Brownies, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|9 Comments

How to make Tahini (Easy Homemade Tahini Recipe)

How to make Tahini (Easy Homemade Tahini Recipe)

Have you ever tried making your own tahini? This easy homemade tahini recipe is so simple and you only need 2 ingredients to make it - tahini and oil. The only equipment you need is a food processor and the blending will only take 5 minutes! The results is a super runny and delicious tahini that's better than most jars you buy from the supermarket! If you've followed me for a while, you'll know my deep love and obsession with tahini. It's a big part of my heritage, culture and childhood. We didn't have much growing up. Even snacks were limited, but we always had a jar of tahini in the cupboard. The only snack I remember having was dipping [...]

Nadia2024-03-25T17:53:06+01:00March 18, 2024|Breakfasts, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Sauces and Dips, snack, Vegetarian, Video|3 Comments

Healthy Baklava Chocolate Bars (Vegan/GF/Dairy-free)

Healthy Baklava Chocolate Bars (Vegan/GF/Dairy-free)

These healthy baklava chocolate bars taste like the real baklava, but without all the sugar, fat and calories! They make a delicious healthy dessert or snack. They're also perfect if you're looking for something to satisfy a craving for something crunchy! Baklava is a delicious pastry made of layers of thin phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts (often pistachios, walnuts, or almonds) and sweetened with honey or a simple syrup made with sugar and water. It's a popular dessert in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, but also in countries like Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Iran. With variations in ingredients and preparation methods depending on the region. The fact it was able to spread [...]

Nadia2024-03-07T16:26:19+01:00March 7, 2024|Bars, Chocolate, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, snack, Vegan, Vegetarian|2 Comments

Easy Authentic Middle Eastern Falafel

Easy Authentic Middle Eastern Falafel

This easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel recipe is the only falafel recipe you'll ever need! I grew up eating falafel and have been making falafel for years, this is the best version I've made, so I decided it finally needs its own blog post. Falafel have been part of Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries, with its origins traced back to ancient Egypt. It has since spread across the region and become a staple food in countries like Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Jordan. As well as in Iraq, where I grew up. Falafel is often associated with street food culture in the Middle East. Street vendors and small eateries serve freshly fried falafel balls or sandwiches, making it a convenient and [...]

Nadia2024-02-29T19:23:25+01:00February 29, 2024|Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Main Meals, Protein recipes, Side dishes, snack, Vegan, Vegetarian|23 Comments

Moroccan Zaalouk Recipe (Aubergine Salad)

Moroccan Zaalouk Recipe (Aubergine Salad)

This Moroccan Zaalouk recipe makes a great appetiser, side or snack! With a rich, tangy and smokey flavour, I also love serving it with plain vegetables or rice to add a lot of flavour as well as extra nutrients and antioxidants! Zaalouk is a traditional Moroccan dish made primarily from eggplant and tomatoes, flavoured with garlic, olive oil, and various spices such as cumin, paprika, and chili pepper. It's typically served as a side dish or salad and is often enjoyed with bread. Zaalouk can vary slightly in preparation and ingredients depending on the region or personal preferences, but it's generally known for its rich and savoury flavours. It's a popular vegetarian dish in Moroccan cuisine. I love food, all [...]

Nadia2024-02-22T18:46:29+01:00February 22, 2024|Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Salads, Sauces and Dips, Side dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian|9 Comments

3-Ingredient Apricot Coconut Balls

3-Ingredient Apricot Coconut Balls

Are you looking for a healthy and delicious treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than these 3-ingredient apricot coconut balls! Made with only a few simple ingredients, these balls are not only tasty but also a nutritious snack or healthier dessert option. It hit me recently that I've never used dried apricots in any of my creations before. I used to eat dried apricots a lot when I went through my fad diet phase. I was a big yo-yo dieter before I studied nutrition and improved my relationship with food and my body. I remember one of the big things at the time was to snack on dried apricots instead of sweets/desserts to help kerb sweet [...]

Nadia2024-02-09T19:32:35+01:00February 9, 2024|Breakfasts, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, snack, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|2 Comments

Greek Tomato Fritters (Tomatokeftedes)

Greek Tomato Fritters (Tomatokeftedes)

These Greek tomato fritters aka Tomatokeftedes are probably one of the best vegetable fritters I've had! They're so simple to make, yet packed with so much flavour. They make a great appetiser or snack and they also happen to be vegan/dairy-free. We visited Santorini last year for my partner's birthday and it was hands down my favourite city I've travelled to so far. The weather was beautiful, the people were friendly and the food was delicious. Out of everything we ate, the Tomatokeftedes were by far my favourite (their courgette fritters aka Kolokithokeftedes were a close second!). I love any and all fritters, epsecially vegetable packed ones. They're such an easy way to elevate vegetables. You can turn any old [...]

Nadia2024-01-25T16:35:50+01:00January 24, 2024|Dairy Free, Main Meals, Side dishes, snack, Vegan, Vegetarian|13 Comments

Pistachio Overnight Oats

Pistachio Overnight Oats

These pistachio overnight oats are my current favourite breakfast. Creamy blended overnight oats flavoured with pistachio & packed with 29g protein & 8g fibre per serving! Topped with pistachios and pomegranate for some crunch + extra goodness. In the world of breakfast options, overnight oats have gained immense popularity for their convenience as well as health benefits. To top it off, there are endless flavour combinations to experiment with so you never get bored. I feel like I'm having a new breakfast every single day. Packed with flavour, texture, plus a host of health benefits, these oats are a great way to kickstart your day. Overnight oats are generally known for their nutritional value - this pistachio overnight oats recipe [...]