Pecan, lime and blueberry bircher low fodmap

What a glorious way to start the day with a yoghurt and oat based creamy breakfast – this recipe contains ground flaxseed to add lots of soluble fibre to your breakfast, a real treat for sluggish bowels! Skyr yoghurt contains lactose – if you are lactose intolerant and are concerned about yoghurt add lactase liquid to the yoghurt. The dose recommended is 5 drops per pint – 4 drops to convert a large pot of yoghurt (450g) for the Biocare liquid lactase product,  it does contain glycerol, which is a polyol, but lactase enzymes should be included after the re-introduction phase of the fodmap diet and you will be aware of whether you need to exclude polyols, although lactase drops are used in very small amounts, usually. Another product available appears to be Colief but this is marketed as infant colic drops at a slightly higher price for 15ml with very similar ingredients. These were the only two brands available when I searched for UK products, do let me know if you use others. It is probably better to treat milk/yoghurt with lactase prior to drinking or using it in recipes, as this forgoes the complex vagaries of digestion – I would suggest digestion is certainly more complex with IBS – the effects other food components in the digestive tract or in recipes may reduce the effectiveness of the lactase. This prepared yogurt needs to be left for twenty four hours in the fridge for the lactase to take effect. However some people with lactose intolerance can manage yoghurt, as the manufacture means a lower level of lactose in yoghurt – go with what you tolerate, once you have completed your fodmap re-introductions you should know how much you can have without symptoms. The yoghurt can then be used to make up the bircher, this is usually left overnight.

Ingredients

200g of low fat low sugar Skyr or thick textured yoghurt

50 mls fluid

1 heaped tablespoon of ground flaxseed

1 teaspoon of lime curd (check labels for any fructose based syrups and avoid)

20g of pecan nuts

1 heaped tablespoon of oats

13g of dried blueberries or 80g of fresh.

Method

Add the flaxseed to 50ml of water, mix well.

Then add the yoghurt, oats, blueberries and lime curd to the mix.

Prepare this recipe the night before and it will be ready for you to eat the next day! Add the chopped pecans just prior to serving to retain the texture. Yum!

Drink a glass of fluid or cup of tea with this for additional fluid to help the flaxseed move through your bowel.

northern-lights

All ingredients for this dish were purchased.

 

Quinoa deli filler

This deli filler can be used in gluten free wraps, sandwiches and on the top of jacket potatoes and is a really quick easy recipe to make. It has a very fresh taste and is a great option for summer al fresco dining. Just perfect if you want to go out for a picnic or need some alternative ideas for your lunchbox. I used Clearspring organic quinoa trio. Packet quinoa can be used hot or cold and is suitable for a low fodmap diet, just ensure you check the ingredients list before you buy. The recipe does contain egg in the small amount of mayo used to bind the ingredients together. The quinoa contains some oil but you could add a little dressing instead of the mayonnaise, if you are vegan, to bind the rest of the ingredients. You could also cook your own quinoa but this would defeat the point of making this dish as easy as possible so you can quickly make your sandwiches or wraps and get outside in the sunshine, for a picnic perhaps!

Ingredients

1 packet of Clearspring Quinoa

6 radishes

5 chives

3 tablespoons of pine nuts (these are expensive – leave them out if you wish)

150g of white cabbage

2 roasted peppers (use roasted from a jar to save time)

3 heaped teaspoons of extra light mayonnaise

Method

Wash the vegetables.

Slice the radishes thinly, chop the white cabbage, chives and the peppers

Empty the packet of quinoa into a dish

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Taste, then season if needed – the ready made quinoa already contains salt, I certainly didn’t need to add any extra.

Serve.

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(The quinoa was purchased by me, other makes of quinoa can also be used in this dish if needed.)

Spring vegetable frittata – low fodmap

This frittata can be served as a light lunch with Jersey potatoes and is very pretty!

Ingredients

5 eggs

Half a sliced courgette

3 Pak Choi

30g of Parmesan cheese

Chives

Salt to taste

Spray oil

Method

Wash the vegetables

Trim the base of the pak choi flat and slice it at right angles to the growth direction, about an inch from the base, to form a flower – do this with each base of the three leaves if you wish – I just used one.

Chop the rest of the pak choi finely.

Slice the courgette.

Grate the cheese.

Whisk the eggs together and season and add the cheese and chopped pak choi.

In a pan add spray oil and place the ‘flowers’ and slices of courgette around the pan.

Add the egg mix to the pan.

Cook until well cooked through

Chop over the chives and serve

Serves 3-4 with Jersey potatoes and green salad.

 

 

Allergy + Free From Show talk on IBS

Are you going to the Allergy + Free From Show in July? Don’t forget to get your free tickets here http://bit.ly/1Pga0N5 and come and see my talk for the IBS Network on Diet and Constipation – is it just about fibre and fluid?

This is on Sunday 10th July in the Learning Centre at 11:00am – come early as seats do fill up fast! If you want to see some of my talks given at previous shows check out my LinkedIn account http://bit.ly/1X8Vgav

I look forward to seeing you there!

Smoked maple chicken – Low fodmap tray bake

One of my favourite recipes is an Ottolenghi dish based on chicken, cinnamon, onion, hazelnuts and honey – a middle eastern baked chicken recipe that I cook for special occasions. Obviously this is certainly not advisable for those people following a low fodmap diet, I have changed this recipe and it certainly does taste just as good as the original! I didn’t need to add any salt and pepper to the dish as my palate is used to not using them and bacon is very salty, you can add a small amount if needed, but do taste if first!

Ingredients

1/2 white cabbage

4 teaspoons maple syrup (make sure it has no fructose-glucose syrup added)

1 heaped teaspoon of asafoetida

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

6 skinless chicken thighs

6 rashers of smoked bacon (fat removed)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

50g of chopped pecan nuts

Method

Wrap each chicken thigh with bacon – wash hands after using raw meat and any utensils used – do not wash the chicken thighs before use.

Chop cabbage thinly

In a small pan add vegetable oil, maple syrup and spices and heat gently to release the aroma.

Add the cabbage to a roasting tray

Pour over the spiced oil and mix well with cabbage

Place chicken thighs on the top and leave in the fridge for a couple of hours to marinade.

Heat an oven to gas mark 6, 220 deg.C and bake for 30 minutes.

Chop the pecan nuts and sprinkle over the bake and bake for a further 5 minutes.

Chop chives over the dish to serve.

Serves 4-6 people depending on the size of the chicken thighs. Serve with boiled rice and green salad.

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Asafoetida – what is it?

The link below is to a great little piece on asafoetida from BBC Good Food, if you are eager to learn more about this spice. I would advise anyone with coeliac disease to check to ensure it has not been mixed with wheat flour before you buy it. It is a great addition to recipes that are low fodmap. As for the account of it helping with those people who have problems with lentils and beans (foods containing oligo-saccharides) I cannot guarantee that the addition of this spice to dishes will reduce the effects of this fodmap, for those following a low fodmap diet. However if you are following a low fodmap diet and missing onion as a spice it is certainly worth trying.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/asafoetida