Monthly Archives: October 2025

Winter leek and carrot millet risotto (lacto-vegetarian)

 

 

Ingredients for 4 people:

200 g millet
2 leeks
200 g carrots
3 shallots
4 cloves of garlic
Just under 1 litre of water
1-2 tablespoons of granulated vegetable stock
Rapeseed oil
⅛ litre white wine
Herb salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Cumin
Thyme
50 g grated Parmesan cheese
⅛ litre cream
In addition:
Smoked paprika powder

Preparation

1. Place the millet in a sieve and rinse with cold water. Leave to drain.
2. Clean and wash the leeks and cut into fine rings.
3. Clean the carrots, scrub with a vegetable brush and cut into small cubes.
4. Peel the shallots and cut into small cubes.
5. Peel the garlic, remove the germ and cut into fine slices.
6. Bring the water to the boil and add the granulated vegetable stock.
7. Heat the rapeseed oil in a saucepan and fry the chopped shallots with the leek rings and carrot pieces.
8. Add the drained millet and garlic slices, mix well and gradually deglaze with the prepared vegetable stock. Repeat this process until the vegetable stock is used up or the millet is soft.
9. Then add the white wine, bring to the boil briefly and season with herb salt, freshly ground black pepper, cumin and thyme.
10. Mix in the grated Parmesan cheese and finally the cream.
11. Season to taste, if necessary, and serve immediately in deep plates, dusted with smoked paprika powder.

 

My advices:

    • You can also use millet to make risotto.
  • Always use seasonal vegetables. This means you can make a summer millet risotto with aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes, etc.
  • If children are eating with you, replace the white wine with extra vegetable stock.

 

Product description:

Millet is rich in vital nutrients, gluten-free and easily digestible, it belongs to the sweet grass family. Whether sweet, sour or savoury, millet goes well with almost everything and can be combined wonderfully with vegetables or fruit.

 

Naya’s vanilla cake with sugar cream (vegan)

 

 

Ingredients for a springform pan approx. 30 cm in diameter:

Approx. 500 ml plant-based milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
500 g spelt flour (80%)
½ packet cream of tartar baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
A pinch of sea salt
Approx. ⅛ l chickpea water (aquafaba)
180 g soft plant-based butter
a good ⅛ l neutral oil
250 g whole cane sugar
½ teaspoon ground vanilla
zest of ½ lemon
For the sugar cream:
200 g plant-based butter
125 g vegan cream cheese
180 g whole cane icing sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
In addition:
Oil for greasing the springform pan
Baking paper

Preparation:

1. For the vanilla cake, mix the plant milk with the lemon juice and set aside until it curdles into vegan buttermilk.
2. Grease a springform pan and line the bottom with baking paper.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the spelt flour, cream of tartar baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and sea salt.
4. Pour the liquid from a jar of chickpeas into a mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer for one minute until frothy.
5. In a second bowl, beat the soft vegan plant-based butter, oil and whole cane sugar for about 3 minutes until creamy and fluffy. Add the beaten aquafaba and ground vanilla and mix well.
6. Add the flour mixture and vegan buttermilk spoonful by spoonful and fold in.
7. Spread the batter into the cake tin and bake at 180 degrees C for about 30-35 minutes. (Test with a toothpick to see if it’s done!). Then leave the cake to cool in the tin.
8. For the sugar cream, beat the plant butter with a hand mixer until creamy. Add the cream cheese and mix until everything is well combined. Gradually add the whole cane icing sugar and a little lemon juice and mix until creamy.
9. Cut the cake once or twice across the middle and spread with the sugar cream.
10. Finally, spread the remaining sugar cream on and around the cake. Garnish the cake as desired.
11. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight before serving.

 

My recommendations:

    • My little granddaughter Naya really enjoyed this vanilla cake on her first birthday.
  • Aquafaba is similar to egg whites, i.e. it makes the cake lighter.
  • The cake can also be baked in advance. Wrapped in foil, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.
  • If the icing becomes too thick, stir in a little more lemon juice. Or if it is too soft, add more whole cane icing sugar.

 

Product description:

Aquafaba is the cooking water from legumes such as chickpeas and beans. The water from chickpeas is best suited for this purpose. The longer the cooked chickpeas soak in the water, the easier it is to whip up the cooking water afterwards. Compared to beaten egg whites, aquafaba takes significantly longer to stiffen. Aquafaba is also sensitive to oil. Care should be taken to ensure that there are no traces of oil on kitchen utensils. Aquafaba can also be used without any problems for unheated dishes.

 

 

Chocolate almond clusters à Liebelei (vegan)

 

 

Ingredients for approx. 20 pieces:

Approx. 50 g flaked almonds
Dark chocolate
1 teaspoon coconut or sesame oil

 

Preparation:

1. Spread the flaked almonds in a large frying pan without fat and roast on both sides.
2. After roasting, leave the almonds to cool for approx. 30 minutes.
3. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and melt in a bain-marie.
4. Fold in the roasted flaked almonds and mix everything well with a baking scraper.
5. Line a large, flat bowl or baking tray with parchment paper. Oil this with a little coconut or sesame oil.
6. Place a tablespoon of chocolate-coated almond flakes on the prepared sheets and repeat the process, leaving some space between each cluster.
7. Place the flat bowl with the chocolate almond flakes in the freezer until the chocolate has set.

 

My suggestions:

      • The flaked almonds can also be replaced with whole almonds or other nuts.
    • The dark chocolate can be replaced with any type of chocolate.

 

Product description:

Almond flakes or sliced almonds are thin slices of whole almonds. They are gently dried and sliced. They are ideal for adding a special touch to baked goods, desserts, muesli or even savoury recipes.