All tagged spices

Minted lamb meatball tagine

A Moroccan inspired one-pot, packed with veggies, flavour and lots of protein. The lamb meatballs are very quick to make and I would recommend to make extra as they are delicious hot or cold and can be added to a lunch or salad the next day. Do not be put off by the long list of ingredients as they all go in together and make this one pot dish a great healthy recipe to make over and over.

One tray herby chicken leeks, fennel & potatoes

A perfect quick, easy and very tasty chicken one tray. I typically make this midweek in the evening, but it also makes a perfect no-fuss Sunday lunch for those not wanting to spend hours in the kitchen!
You can add different vegetables but fennel is so tasty and goes brilliantly with chicken and herbs. All round comfort food.

One pan salmon with harissa tahini dressing

A perfect quick, easy and very tasty one pan salmon packed with flavours. Main ingredients are very simple but elevated but a gorgeous harissa and tahini dressing which would also work with chicken. You can swap the vegetables with the seasons too. Easy to make for 2 or for a larger crowd. It is nutritious enough to serve on its own, but would work well served with lentils, brown rice or quinoa.

Hummus crusted chicken & vegetables

A perfect quick, easy and very tasty one tray you can make last minute. You can easily change the vegetables with the seasons. You can swap chickpeas for beans or lentils. This meal will provide you with a great balance of protein and complex carbs and is a fab one to reheat for a leftover lunch next day!

Super quick chickpea veggie curry bowl

Great option for those short on time but wanting flavour! Packed full of goodness with chickpeas, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and spinach this is a vegetarian option but you could add any leftover roast chicken. This takes very little prep, especially if you decided to go for ready chopped frozen vegetables. As always, make extra and save yourself portion for lunch the next day!

quinoa, aubergine, chickpea halloumi salad

At the Health Boost we are not vegetarian but we encourage everyone to increase the consumption of mostly plant based meals a couple of days a week if possible. With some pulses providing some good quality protein such as the quinoa and chickpeas in this salad and the added halloumi we make sure to provide a balance of all macro nutrients. We also get asked often what to do with aubergines as they are a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals and low in calories for those counting.

top tips for building the perfect smoothie

If you go into a supermarket the array of smoothies you can now buy is overwhelming. We find more and more people are reaching for a smoothie as a healthy choice. However, many of the shop bought smoothies are very high in fruit and contain very small amounts of vegetables. This makes them very sweet and palatable. While this is great for increasing the amount of fruit in one’s diet, it does mean that we often get a blood sugar spike. Without any protein or fat to slow down the absorption you get the same effect as reaching for a sugary drink. A blood sugar spike results in an evitable blood sugar crash a few hours later, which leads to cravings for more food (often unhealthy food) as your body needs the energy fast!

chickpea, aubergine and courgette easy curry

This is NOT just another vegetarian curry option. It is one of those really satisfyingly easy dish to pull together for a mid week meal or a Friday night with friends. Packed full of flavours, purple and green vegetables, good amounts of protein and fibre. What’s not to like? I have previously served it as a main or side dish, with brown rice or quinoa or simply flatbreads. Chicken or lamb are the perfect meat to accompany.

roasted beetroot & chickpeas recipe

Beetroot and chickpeas are one of my favourite combo in a summer salad but this time I decided to team them up in a winter warmer with a taste of Morocco! This is a lovely balanced meal option for vegetarians, or an ideal side paired with slow cooked lamb. It is packed full of good dietary fibres and prebiotic goodness for help naturally improve and support your whole family’s gut health.

squash and cauliflower korma masala

More and more foodies show an interest in vegetarian options, so as big advocates of including lots of vegetables in our daily diets we like to ensure that we always add lots of recipes to our offering. A veggie curry is so versatile. Served on its own, this squash and cauliflower curry is heartwarmingly delicious. For a more filling meal, add chicken or serve with brown rice or your choice of whole grains.

Lemon & ginger energy snack

Not another snack requiring NO BAKING… said no-one ever! Whenever we are invited to talk at an event, be it a wellness event, nutrition talk or workshop at a school it seems most families struggle with choosing healthy snacks. They are not always necessary or even recommended, but when trying to manage a busy schedule and aspiring to a healthier regime it is really important to have the right balance of nutritious and flavoursome ingredients to keep us going. These snacks taste just like lemon drizzle cake!

harissa baked cod

At the Health Boost we're here to share quick simple and delicious recipes that you can make and enjoy again and again. This cod is packed full of the aromatic flavours of the Rose Harissa and simply baked in parchment paper. It is ready very quickly and can be served on a bed of crushed new potatoes or wild rice and a rainbow of seasonal veggies!

raw cacao, orange & turmeric power balls

With all the talk and noise about snacking or not snacking, government guidelines not always suitable for all, what to do? As busy mums to active sporty kids, we prefer to make sure that if our children need to refuel between meals, we make nutrient dense homemade snacks available. These energy balls are nut-free too, so can be taken to school or the local sports club. And for those who like a strong boost, add extra turmeric, go on!!

Christmas energy balls

I started experimenting with raw food a while back now and always find new inspiration for energy balls, adjusting flavours and ingredients to suit seasons, moods and hectic family diaries. In order to satisfy that festive spiced biscuit craving and still provide the much needed post workout fuel or after-school sport these cranberry and mixed spice balls do the trick. And the level of spice can be adjusted to suit younger or more mature eaters equally.

squash & courgette curry

A fresh and zingy curry - perfect now that there's a chill in the air. It's packed full of ginger and garlic, both great anti-inflammatory foods that will help if you are feeling below par. I often just serve this on it's own, but you could always add some chickpeas or other beans. Can be served on its own, with brown rice or cauliflower-rice. You can substitute the butternut squash with pumpkin if you prefer.

vegetable tagine

This tagine serves a delicious spicy punch. Not one for little ones unless adventurous! A great vegetarian meal that packs in lots of different vegetables. Can be made ahead and reheated and leftovers are perfect for lunch the next day. Delicious served on its own, but if you are super hungry then serve with brown rice, quinoa or some cauliflower rice. Don't be put off by the long list of ingredients - the spice paste is ever so easy to make!

tomato and coconut chicken

This is perfect for introducing your children to spices. It's not that hot, so I add a couple of dried chillies when I cook it for some extra heat. If your children aren't used to spices then don't add any chillies the first time you make it and then introduce gradually. Don't be put off by the long list of spices it's a very simple dish and the oven does the hard work!