I had the new Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - River Cottage Veg Every Day - for Christmas, it's a wonderful book which is packed full of veggie inspiration with beautifully styled photos of all the recipes. I've been trying out a few of the dishes over the past couple of weeks. Tonight's 'experiment' was Swede Speltotto
Hugh's version here
My not quite so elegantly styled version here.
It was very tasty, filling and unbelievably cheap. I used pearl barley instead of pearled spelt - which is suggested in the recipe (I suspect pearled spelt would be an impossible request anywhere in SE Essex.) Half a bag of pearl barley - 25p, plus half a swede - 20p, one onion - 10p, some vegetable stock, a handful of dried parsley (it would be lovely with fresh parsley but I didn't have any) and a good grating of parmesan (me and my gall bladder are walking on the wild side with adding the parmesan but it would be pretty bland without it.) I reckon the total cost for both of us is somewhere around £1.00, so at 50p per serving (and with some leftover to add to a veggie soup tomorrow) it was a REALLY thrifty evening meal.
Last week I tried out the recipe for Vegeree - the veggie equivalent of kedgeree - that was darned tasty too. I've got all sorts of other recipes lined up to try - pasta with greens, garlic and chilli is taking my fancy right now.
I have to let you know that I prefer your kitty mat / fruit cloth / brown bowl goodness over the cold styling in the book. Although the book pic is pretty delicious looking, your version is much more cozy and homey. Makes me want some too! Thanks for sharing. :)
Posted by: kellie | 01/25/2012 at 12:37 AM
I had to google swede to find out what it was. Turns out it's one of my favorites! In the States we call them rutabagas. Your dinner looks much, much healthier than the quick dinner I threw together tonight.
Posted by: kathleen | 01/25/2012 at 02:59 AM
I too had this book for christmas, the Past, galic, greens and chilli is very tasty, even my other half (who is a great meat eater) liked it
Posted by: Sandy | 01/25/2012 at 11:13 AM
Might see if I can get this book from the library - am trying to eat more veggie during the week for health, but am short on inspiration a lot of the time - last night's chick peas and spinach (Jamie Oliver) recipe didn't go down well!
Posted by: Caroline | 01/25/2012 at 12:22 PM
Funnily enough, my friend got this book for Xmas and I spent last weekend drooling endlessly over the recipes. I've promised myself a copy. xx
Posted by: Loo xx | 01/25/2012 at 02:08 PM