Broccoli pesto frittata

Leave a comment

Something quick and easy, please

It is hot and sticky here in Auckland, the last thing I want to be doing in spending hours over a hot stove. This week’s recipe comes from the I don’t want to be in a hot kitchen collection but still want a home-cooked meal. This Broccoli Pesto Frittata is a quick and easy recipe that takes minutes to prepare and can be served hot or cold.

Broccoli pesto frittata

Leftovers are welcome

My fridge is a mish-mash of food at the minute, there are about four kinds of cheese, a range of cut meats, jars of sauces and cooked vegetables. Post-Christmas and New Year meals are generally an effort to empty the fridge as fast as possible. With three hungry mouths to feed I had a quick rummage around the fridge and cupboards. I had a stash of nut-free pesto and steamed broccoli in the fridge this week which was the inspiration for this recipe.

Broccoli pesto frittata recipe

Ingredients

Broccoli pesto frittata
  • 3 tbsp. nut free pesto
  • 2 tsp. butter 
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 4 cups broccoli, steamed and roughly chopped
  • 8 eggs
  • Salt and pepper

Broccoli pesto frittata

  • Servings: 8
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

This quick and easy frittata is a great way to use up late leftover pesto



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp. nut free Pesto
  • 2 tsp. butter 
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 4 cups broccoli, steamed and roughly chopped
  • 8 eggs

Directions


1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C/375 degrees F. 
2. In an oven-safe pan or cast-iron skillet, heat the butter over medium heat.
3. Add the onion to the pan and cook for 10 minutes or until the onion is soft.
4. Add the broccoli to the onions and mix.
5. Beat 4 of the eggs and add them to the pan. 
6. Spread the 3 tablespoons of pesto on top of the eggs.
7. Beat the remaining eggs and pour them over the pesto.
8. Put the pan into the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the eggs are browned on top.
9. Remove the pan from the oven and let the frittata cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
recipe-directions]

Nutrition

Per Serving: 128 calories; 9 g fat; 5 g carbohydrates; 8 g protein

Equipment

  • Cast-iron
  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Spatula
  • Spoon 
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Kale Pesto

Leave a comment

Pesto that won’t kill me

Stupid nut allergies have prevented me from trying a number of foods over the years that look, smell and no doubt taste amazing. Pesto was one of the things I had wanted to try for years, but as it contains pine nuts it’s been a no go. 

I had a moment of genius (or madness, I can never really tell the difference) and figured that I could replace the pine nuts with something else, after a little trial and error I found a combination that worked.

The verdict 

My taste tester assures me that the flavours are in the same balance as normal pesto made with nuts the only difference is the texture of the sunflower seeds, I suppose I have to take his word for it because I don’t fancy the hospital trip that I would get if I checked. If you don’t have to avoid nuts sub the sunflower seeds for the same amount of pine nuts.

Nut-free pesto

Baby kale everywhere

I recently planted some kale out on my deck and it has grown like crazy. With so much baby kale leaves around I decided to make some pesto with it. The baby kale adds a new dimension of flavour that works well with eggs. Green eggs and ham anyone?

Nut-free kale pesto recipe

Kale pesto ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1/2 garlic clove, chopped
  • 3 handfuls fresh baby kale leaves, picked and chopped
  • 1 handful sunflower seeds, very lightly toasted
  • 1 handful Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Pound the garlic and the baby kale leaves in a pestle and mortar, or pulse in a food processor. 

Add the sunflower seeds to the mixture and pound or pulse again. 

Add the parmesan and mix with a spoon or do a quick pulse again.

Stir gently and add olive oil or put the food processor on its lowest setting and pour in the oil.

Add a little oil at a time so you don’t drown everything else.

Season to taste.

Add the remaining cheese and oil to your taste and preferred consistency.

The finished pesto should look shiny and a little creamy. 

Nut-free pesto

  • Servings: 10
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

This nut-free pesto is a great alternative for anyone that has to stay away from tree nuts.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1/2 garlic clove, chopped
  • 3 handfuls fresh baby kale leaves, picked and chopped
  • 1 handful sunflower seeds, very lightly toasted
  • 1 handful Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Pound the garlic and the baby kale leaves in a pestle and mortar, or pulse in a food processor.
  2. Add the sunflower seeds to the mixture and pound or pulse again.
  3. Add the parmesan and mix with a spoon or do a quick pulse again.
  4. Stir gently and add olive oil or put the food processor on its lowest setting and pour in the oil.
  5. Add a little oil at a time so you don’t drown everything else.
  6. Season to taste.
  7. Add the remaining cheese and oil to your taste and preferred consistency.
  8. The finished pesto should look shiny and a little creamy. The finished pesto should look shiny and a little creamy.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 123 calories; 10.1 g fat; 2.1 g carbohydrates; 6.2 g protein

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Spatula 
  • Measuring spoons 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Breakfast crunch

2 Comments

Nut-free please

I am one of those unfortunate people that is allergic to not only peanuts but also tree nuts. When it comes to food options, not having nuts on the menu can be challenging at times and frustrated at others. There are so many foods I would love to try or eat regularly but won’t get the chance thanks to nuts. Not eating nuts doesn’t have to be the end of the world; there are always replacements and alternatives that mean you can have a nut-free option. This recipe is my attempt to create a nut-free version of a usually nut packed recipe.

Nut-free breakfast crunch

My take on granola

I don’t always want a protein shake or eggs for breakfast, at times I want something with a bit more texture and some crunch to start my day. This recipe is ben a staple in our fridge for a long time now, I recently updated this recipe to add in some more variety with the addition of hemp hearts and buckwheat groats. I like to add it to the top of my smoothie bowl or some coconut yoghurt.

Nut-free breakfast crunch

Nut-free breakfast crunch ingredients
Nut-free breakfast crunch ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup coconut threads
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup buckwheat groats
  • 1/2 cup hemp hearts
  • 1/4 cup figs, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil
Toast the hemp hearts
Toast the hemp hearts
Toast the coconut
Toast the coconut
Toast the buckwheat groats
Toast the buckwheat groats
Add the toasted seeds to the chopped figs
Add the toasted seeds to the chopped figs
Toast the sunflower seeds
Toast the sunflower seeds
Add the sunflower seeds
Add the sunflower seeds
Toast the pumpkin seeds
Toast the pumpkin seeds
Mix everything together with the melted coconut oil and honey
Mix everything together with the melted coconut oil and honey
Spread the mixture out on a baking tray
Spread the mixture out on a baking tray
Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar.
Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar.

Breakfast crunch

  • Servings: 15
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

This seed packed breakfast crunch is an ideal option for breakfast or sprinkled on top of ice cream.


Credit:Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup coconut threads
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup buckwheat groats
  • 1/2 cup hemp hearts
  • 1/4 cup figs, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil

Directions

  1. Over a medium heat lightly toast the seeds and coconut.
  2. In a small pan heat the coconut oil and honey and mix them together.
  3. While the honey and oil are warming start toasting the seeds.
  4. Take a frying pan and warm it over a medium heat.
  5. Toast each kind of seed individually so you get an even toasting.
  6. Add the toasted seeds and coconut to the oil and honey mixing well.
  7. Add the figs and stir well.
  8. Pour the mix onto a lined baking tray and let it cool.
  9. Break into chunks and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 204 calories; 11 g fat; 21 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Frying pan
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Baking tray 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Sun butter

2 Comments

Nut-free option

I am one of those unfortunate people that is allergic to not only peanuts but also tree nuts. When it comes to food options, not having nuts on the menu can be challenging at times, and frustrated at others. There are so many foods I would love to try or eat regularly but won’t get the chance thanks to nuts. Not eating nuts doesn’t have to be the end of the world; there are always replacements and alternatives that mean you can have a nut-free option. This recipe is my attempt to create a nut-free version of a usually nut packed recipe.

My version of peanut butter

I often feel a little cheated when it comes to nuts; because of them there is a huge amount of foods I don’t get to eat, and nut butters are on the list. As nut allergies are common alternatives are available but not always well known. Sun butter is a nice alternative as sunflower seeds have a slightly nutty taste and are packed with nice fats. The downside is that it can be hard to find and much more expensive than the nut versions. 

Make your own

If you are like us and you try to avoid mass-produced processed foods, the best option is to make your own. When you make your own, you get to control which ingredients you use and how much or how sweet you want it to be. Once you have a go at making your own and you realise how easy it is you will never go back to store-bought again. After a little trial and error, I came up with this recipe. This sun butter is simple to make, easy to store and can be used in lots of different ways.

Sun butter recipe 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
Lightly toast the sunflower seeds
Lightly toast the sunflower seeds
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
If you have used a spice mill move the seed powder to a food processor.
If you have used a spice mill move the seed powder to a food processor.
Continue to blend the seeds
Continue to blend the seeds
Continue to blend the seeds
Continue to blend the seeds
Scraping the sides of the processor down when needed.
Add the oil part way through processing and continue blendingAdd the oil part way through processing and continue blending
It takes about 15 minutes to get to a buttery consistency
It takes about 15 minutes to get to a buttery consistency
Sun butter ready for the fridge
Sun butter ready for the fridge

Sun butter

  • Servings: 30
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

This homemade sunflower seed butter is my perfect alternative to peanut butter



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 1 tsp. salt

Directions

    . Lightly toast the sunflower seeds over a medium heat for about 5 minutes.
  1. Remove seeds from the heat and place them in a food processor or spice mill some with salt.
  2. Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute.
  3. If you have used a spice mill move the seed powder to a food processor.
  4. Continue to blend the seeds, scraping the sides of the processor down when needed.
  5. Add the oil part way through processing and continue blending.
  6. It takes about 15 minutes to get to a buttery consistency.
  7. Depending on if you want chunky or smooth you may need to add more oil or blend a little longer

Nutrition

Per Serving: 50 calories; 4 g fat; 2.5 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein

Equipment 

  • Frying pan
  • Spatula
  • Food processor
  • Jar

Try this with

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.