We are here to help you have a delicious and healthy festive season with three fabulous recipes that are so tasty and versatile, they’ll go with any of your mains. These healthy festive dishes also work well as starters. All you need to do is divide them among your number of guests.
Make It Mezze!
Ingredients:
- 800g mixed heirloom tomatoes, chopped
- 4-5 sweet baby peppers, finely sliced
- 100g olives
- 100g artichokes
- Fresh basil, for garnishing
Dressing:
- 3 to 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ garlic clove, very finely sliced
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp very finely sliced basil (or flat-leaf parsley)
Method:
- Halve or quarter the larger tomatoes and place them into a big salad bowl.
- Add the sliced sweet peppers, olives, artichokes and toss them together.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together and drizzle over the tomato mix. Garnish with basil and serve.
Tip: Swap some fresh tomatoes for sun-dried tomatoes or grilled brinjal and swap the olives for feta. Serve with bread to mop up the flavours.
Grilled Courgette Slices
Ingredients:
- 1kg large courgettes (baby marrows)
- Olive oil
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp toasted sunflower seeds, for garnishing
- Fresh mint, for garnishing
Method:
- Rinse the courgettes and pat dry. Cut off the tops and slice them lengthways, about 3mm thick so that they cook quickly.
- Heat a large griddle pan and drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking. Grill courgette slices until perfectly cooked and then set aside to cool between batches.
- Pile the courgette slices onto a large platter and squeeze a generous amount of fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with sunflower seeds and mint leaves.
Looking for more delicious veggie recipes? Click here!
Braaied Peppers
Ingredients:
- 2 red peppers
- 2 yellow peppers
- 1 orange pepper
- 2 large red onions, cut into wedges
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh basil
Method:
- Prepare the braai coals – the heat should be medium hot so that you get the skin slightly charred (or preheat the oven to 200°C).
- Slice the peppers into quarters, lengthways, removing the seeds and pith. Wrap the onions in foil (if using the oven, slice into quarters).
- Place the foiled onions into the coals. Grill the peppers over the fire If using the oven, spread the vegetables in a single layer onto a large baking-paper-lined tray. Bake until tender and charred in spots.
- Once ready, remove from the heat. Transfer the vegetables to a large serving bowl, garnish with basil and drizzle with dressing, as desired.
For another great festive side dish, check out this ratatouille recipe.