Sugar Free Archives

Carrot and Butternut Squash Soup

Carrot and Butternut Squash Soup

A velvety carrot and butternut squash soup with a kick. Packed with immune-boosting ingredients like garlic, turmeric, and fresh lemon juice, this vibrant, plant-based bowl gets an irresistible upgrade with a fiery kick of red chilies and a protein-packed crunch of roasted chickpeas. It is the perfect balance of sweet, savoruy, and spicy to keep you nourished and cozy all season long! When the colder months roll around, there is nothing quite as comforting as wrapping your hands around a steaming, vibrant bowl of soup. Our bodies naturally crave warmth, nourishment, and grounding foods. Enter the undisputed king of winter comfort: this carrot and butternut squash soup. But this isn't your standard, run-of-the-mill squash soup. By combining the natural sweetness of [...]

Nadia2026-04-08T21:56:32+01:00February 17, 2026|Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Main Meals, Savoury Snacks, snack, Soups, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|8 Comments

Date Smoothie

Date Smoothie

Looking for an easy way to get your 6 dates in during pregnancy? Try this simple date smoothie recipe. Ready in minutes and tastes like a caramel milkshake with warming hints of cinnamon and cardamom. The creamy date smoothie recipe: a nourishing boost for pregnancy and beyond When it comes to simple, nourishing, and naturally sweet treats, few things compare to a date smoothie recipe. Made with just a handful of wholesome ingredients - dates, tahini, milk, cinnamon, and cardamom - this creamy, caramel-like drink offers a perfect blend of flavour, nutrition, and tradition. It’s more than just a delicious smoothie; for me it was an easy and enjoyable way to include dates in my diet to support a smoother [...]

Nadia2026-04-14T14:45:43+01:00January 28, 2026|Breakfasts, Dairy Free, Drinks, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Smoothie, Smoothies, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|0 Comments

Healthy Brownies Recipe

Healthy Brownies Recipe

So these brownies were kind of an accident. Is it just me or are the best recipes usually the ones that don't go to plan, instead they result in something even better! I was trying to make egg free chocolate cookies, but they didn't turn out exactly the way I planned, so I decided to turn them into brownies instead...and here's the result!

Nadia2026-01-23T17:15:42+01:00January 7, 2026|Brownies, Chocolate, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Video|60 Comments

Healthy Date and Walnut Cake

Healthy Date and Walnut Cake

This healthy date and walnut cake makes a great healthier treat when you're craving something sweet with your afternoon cup of tea. Made with better-for-you ingredients like oats and tahini. Sweetened only with whole dates, so it's sweet, but not overly so. Make it the next time you're looking for a lighter cake recipe that still tastes amazing! I grew up eating dates almost on a daily basis, so they have a special place in my heart. Growing up in Iraq post the first gulf war and during the time the UN imposed international sanctions that crippled the country financially, things like treats and snacks became a luxury and not something we got to enjoy regularly. I've always had a [...]

Nadia2024-11-21T18:01:20+01:00November 21, 2024|Cakes, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, snack, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|69 Comments

Easy Hummus Recipe (Authentic Middle Eastern)

Easy Hummus Recipe (Authentic Middle Eastern)

Hummus is something that I eat every single day without fail! I eat it on the side of main meals with salads and cooked vegetables, and it's also one of my go-to snacks. I like to have some peeled chopped carrots in the fridge so when I'm feeling peckish, all I have to do is open the fridge, take out the hummus and carrots and devour! I also like to have it with rice cakes when I run out of carrot sticks and I'm too lazy to peel more!

Nadia2024-06-06T17:07:10+01:00June 6, 2024|Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Raw, Sauces and Dips, Savoury Snacks, snack, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Video|29 Comments

Healthier Mahalabia Recipe (Muhallebi)

Healthier Mahalabia Recipe (Muhallebi)

This healthier Mahalabia 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. Mahalabia, also known as Muhallebi, 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. Mahalabia is known for its smooth texture and delicate flavour, making it a popular [...]

Nadia2026-03-11T16:47:57+01:00March 28, 2024|Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|6 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

Sesame Pomegranate Chocolate Bark

Sesame Pomegranate Chocolate Bark

This sesame pomegranate chocolate bark is inspired by one of my childhood snacks from the Middle East - sesame brittle aka Simsemieh. It's deliciously crunchy and sweet whilst also being packed with healthy fats and antioxidants! Sesame seeds have long been cultivated in the Middle East and feature quite heavily in both sweet and savoury recipes. One of the most widely known ways of using sesame seeds (aka simsim in Arabic) is blended into tahini, which is basically sesame paste/butter. They have a rich, nutty flavour that works so well in desserts and sweet snacks. Its uses go way beyond tahini though as it's used heavily in desserts (like halva), savoury dishes (as a garnish), baked goods (a lot of [...]

Nadia2023-09-12T11:01:03+01:00September 8, 2023|Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, snack, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|22 Comments

Tahini Date Freezer Cups

Tahini Date Freezer Cups

These tahini date freezer cups make a lovely snack or healthier chilled treat to enjoy after dinner on hot days. Best of all is you only need 5 ingredients to make them! I've probably said this about a million times before and I don't think I'll ever stop saying it - tahini and dates are the best dessert combination EVER! Even better when paired with cardamom. That flavour combination is one made in heaven! Every time I post a recipe that includes tahini I still get asked the question 'what is tahini?'. It surprises me because it seems to me that tahini is now everywhere. So many people on social media use it in both sweet and savoury recipes. It's [...]

Nadia2023-09-03T19:18:51+01:00September 3, 2023|Cupcakes, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|22 Comments

Mango Yoghurt Protein Frozen Bites

Mango Yoghurt Protein Frozen Bites

These mango yoghurt protein frozen bites are a healthy and nutritious way to keep cool on a scorching hot summer day. They're made with only 3 main ingredients and are so easy to put together. I have to admit that when the weather is hot, there are very few things I actually crave eating. I hate the idea of cooking hot meals when the house already feels like an oven and I'm sweating even in my short shorts, vest and multiple fans on around the house. All I want is something cool, chilled and refreshing. I could probably eat ice cream and iced lollies all day every day during hot summer days. Although I almost never buy them from shops [...]