Mexican beans

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 red capsicum

1 green capsicum

3 carrots

3-4 stalks of celery

1 brown onion

4 cloves of garlic

2 x 400g cans of diced tomatoes of passata

1 x 400g can of kidney beans or ½ cups of cooked kidney beans

1 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp smoked paprika

1-2 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp dried oregano

Method

Dice all the veg up about 1cm, chop the garlic.

In a large pot heat 1 ½ tbsp olive oil, through all the veg in a stir, cook for 1-2 minutes and then add spices, cook another 1 minute and then add tomatoes and kidney beans, add about ½ can worth of water. Simmer for about half an hour until the veg is tender.

You can take this mix and put in an ovenproof dish, break in 1-2 eggs each and sprinkle over some grated cheese, bake at 200 fan forced for 10 minutes or the eggs are done to your liking. Serve up with extra veg and sour cream if you like!

Lentil and vegetable soup

Lentils have 9g protein per 100g cooked lentils so are a great vegetable based protein. 8g fibre, 3.3 mg iron and 1.3 mg of zinc.

They are also an excellent source of molybdenum and folate and very good source of copper, phosphorus and manganese.

Ingredients

4 cloves of garlic

1 onion

3 stalks of celery

2 carrots

1-2 zucchinis

¼ of a small cabbage

3-4 bay leaves

1300 ml vegetable or chicken broth

1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes

1 cup of lentils. I used ½ cup each of red lentils and French lentils. Near the soup section at the supermarket. Very cheap!

2-3 slices of bacon or pancetta, prosciutto (opt)

Method

Using a grater attachment on a food processor grate all your vegetables, or pulse with the food processor blade, until small. Or chop small by hand. I like small so my kids won’t be able to pick out bits.

If using bacon, fry off in a large pot in some olive oil, then add everything else. Simmer covered for 30-40 minutes or until the French lentils are soft. Take out the bay leaves if you can find them.

Legume ragout with saffron and rosemary

Have this by itself or as I have done with poached eggs and feta cheese

The term comes from the French ragoûter, meaning: "to revive the taste".

The basic method of preparation involves slow cooking over a low heat.

Serve 4-6

Ingredients

2 carrots, diced

2-3 stalks celery, diced

1 red or green capsicum, diced

1 large brown onion, diced

3-4 cloves garlic, crushed

2 stems rosemary

A pinch of saffron

2 x 400g can of rinsed and drained legumes, chickpeas, butter beans, cannellini bean, kidney beans etc…

2 cups of vegetable or chicken broth

1 cup tomato passata

Method

Put everything in a slow cooker and put on low for the day.

You can serve with extra veg and poached eggs, feta cheese, chopped chilli