Lentil, Pesto and Pasta Salad!

Another quick delicious salad that doesn't take too long to prepare!

For a gluten free version, simply use a gluten free pasta! I'm a fan of Buontempo's gluten free pasta range which is mostly rice with corn. Also, double check ingredients on jars of pre-made pesto.

You can use a jar of pre-made pesto or use your own.
I would totally be impressed if you made your own!

This is my variation on a Taste.com.au recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 tomato
• 250g penne or spiral pasta
• 200g green beans, trimmed, cut into 1 inch lengths (2.5cm)
• 400g can brown lentils, rinsed, drained
• 25g (1/3 cup) shaved parmesan
• 60g (1/4 cup) basil pesto
• 1/3 cup small fresh basil leaves, optional

Step 1 - Roast tomatoes

1. Preheat oven to 170C. 
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper. 
3. Cut tomato into 8ths or 12ths cut side up, on the prepared tray. Spray with olive oil. 
4. Roast for 12-15 minutes or until softened slightly. Set aside to cool.

Step 2 - Meanwhile, cook pasta and beans

1. Cook the pasta until al dente...
2. ... Add the beans in the last 2 minutes of cooking.
3. Transfer to a colander and refresh under cold running water. 
4. Drain well.

Step 3 - Combine

1. Transfer pasta and beans to a large bowl.
2. Add the lentils, tomato, parmesan, basil pesto and basil leaves. 
3. Season with pepper.
4. Toss to combine.

Chicken and the Egg Salad!

This salad is based on the "Man Salad" I sometimes enjoy from Sumo Salad!

It's very simple to throw together, and great to do on a Sunday night so you'll have salads for two people for two lunches! You basically just need to pre-cook the eggs and chicken & chop up a few vegetables.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

Woah, that looks like some awesomely fresh food

...and a very sharp knife.

This is not my kitchen.

• 3 eggs (hard boiled and quartered)
• 400g cooked chicken (eg. shredded or sliced)
• 250g corn kernels
• 2 spring onions (chopped)
• 2 large carrots (grated)
• Two handfuls mixed leaves lettuce, washed
• 1/2 cup shredded tasty cheese 
• Mayonnaise

Combine all the above ingredients except the mayonnaise in a large bowl and mix.

I usually stir through the mayonnaise just before eating.

Low Fodmap Ketjap/Kecap Manis

My Thai stir-fry quinoa recipe calls for Ketjap Manis. It seems to be otherwise known as "Kecap Manis", which is basically the Indonesian way of saying Sweet Soy Sauce.

Now, you can usually buy this from the local supermarket, but I've not found one which doesn't have wheat added, and my girlfriend is allergic to wheat, it's a no-go. 

What's the next move? Check the internet! And success! I found a simple substitute that's easy to make! Not ever having this sauce before, I'm not 100% sure what a good one is meant to taste like, but after having made this one, I don't particularly care, this one tastes great, even in it's most basic form!


Please note, I use garlic in this recipe, but if can't digest garlic well, you could just add a splash of garlic oil or leave it out completely and use other spices listed below to compensate.

This is probably just a picture of soy sauce..
 but hey, I just needed a free image so I could
pin this to Pinterest!

Without further ado...

This recipe makes around a quarter of a cup.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup soy sauce (check for wheat if allergic)
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove

Optional Ingredients 

I add these ingredients add some zing:

• Chilli flakes (amount depends on your tolerance)
• A few cracks of Black Pepper

Wikipedia says Kecap is sometimes spiced up with these ingredients so you try variations of small amounts of any of these if you desire: 

• star anise
• cinnamon
• coriander (aka cilantro)
• clove

Instructions

1. In small saucepan, mix brown sugar and soy sauce. 
2. Simmer over medium-low heat until it thickens into a syrup. Don't let it boil.
3. As the mixture cools, it will thicken a bit further.