Tomato Pearl Barley Risotto

Creamy, delicious tomato pearl barley risotto. Serve up with a side of rocket tossed in olive oil and balsamic, or some sauteed greens with a little lemon and chili for a weeknight meal, or go the extra mile with the addition of garlic bread and a glass of red for a weekend treat.

This risotto uses pearl barley in replacement of the usual arborio rice. Pearl barley is a lot chewier and much hardier than rice, so it adds a lovely texture to the dish; its nutty flavour emphasising the sweetness of the rich tomato sauce. The creaminess of this dish, brought partially by the starch from the grains, is heightened with a little vegan cheese melted through, it adds a base seasoning as well as giving the sauce a wonderful gloss and mouthfeel. I also used tinned cherry tomatoes in this recipe; they add a wonderful sweetness and a real pop of flavour.

Chunky Monkey Blondies

I have three words for you: Chunky. Monkey. Blondies. Vegan banana blondies with chunks of walnuts and dark chocolate. Who said chunky monkey was just a flavour for ice cream?

These are somewhere between banana bread and blondies; a deep banana flavour, with gooey chunks of rich dark chocolate and crunchy walnuts, not too sweet, yet just sweet enough that all the flavours work together perfectly. Moist and a little fudgy and totally moreish. 

Vegan In London

Having lived in London for a year now I've visited more than my fair share of places with incredible vegan options and it seemed selfish not to share them with you all! Here's my ultimate guide of where to eat vegan in London. From matcha lattes to breakfasts, brunches, burgers and desserts, from vegan options to fully vegan, here are 40+ places to get your hands on some great vegan food in London! I'll keep updating this list as I try new places, so watch this space and comment below if you know somewhere I just have to try!

Ultimate 5 Bean Chili

There's something so comforting about a bowl of chili and having not eaten meat in over 12 years, bean chili was always something my mum would cook when I was growing up, we'd serve it with some nachos, sometimes guac or sour cream too and dig in! This is my ultimate 5 bean chili, served with crispy tortilla pieces, guac, cashew sour cream and fresh coriander! 

My mum's chili has a secret ingredient that, in my opinion makes the whole dish; a humble can of baked beans. It adds a unique flavour and sweetness that perfectly compliments the smoky, spicy flavour. You can whip this meal up in 20 minutes if you're in a rush, or sit back and let it simmer away, after all, meals like chili, casseroles and curries always taste better as leftovers! When all the flavour has been cooked off for longer and just marries together perfectly. This is definitely more of a milder chili, but there's nothing stopping you adding hot chili powder, extra chipotle flakes, or even serving up with jalapenos if you're a spice lover!

Mexican Tofu Scramble Wraps

Weekends were made for brunching and what could be better than a delicious tofu scramble? This Mexican inspired tofu scramble is flavoured with smoky paprika and cumin, mixed with black beans, tomatoes and coriander, all folded into a grilled wrap and drizzled with a lime-coriander crema. 

This scramble is super simple, coming together effortlessly in under 20 minutes, so whether it's a lazy Sunday brunch or a post-workout refuel, you'll still have plenty of time to relax and enjoy your weekend. Simply scramble the tofu in a skillet, warm up the wraps in a griddle pan and blend the cashew crema.