PLANT-BASED COOKED BREAKFAST
From the sweet potatoes’ beta-carotene for healthy eyes to the fibre-filled beans for controlling blood cholesterol levels, every bite of this satisfying dish is beneficial.
SERVES 2
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, sliced
1⁄2 tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp cayenne pepper, plus a pinch for the tomatoes
400g (14oz) can haricot beans, rinsed and drained
250g (9oz) tomato passata
freshly ground black pepper
150g (51⁄2oz) chestnut mushrooms
1 baby aubergine (100g/31⁄2oz), cut into small cubes
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
3 ripe medium tomatoes, halved
1 large sweet potato (about 200g/7oz), scrubbed not peeled
1 tbsp cider vinegar
2 eggs
15g (1⁄2oz) sunflower seeds
parsley, to serve
1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas 6). Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan and fry the onion for 2–3 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and fry for another minute. Then, add the spices, beans, and passata, stirring well. Season the mixture with black pepper, bring it to a simmer, cover, and let it cook gently, stirring occasionally.
2 Place the mushrooms on a large baking tray and drizzle them with a little oil. Put the aubergine cubes at the other end of the tray and season them with the dried herbs and black pepper, then drizzle on a little more oil. Roast for 10 minutes, before adding the tomatoes, seasoning the tops with a pinch of cayenne. Return to the oven for another 5–10 minutes until the aubergine is cooked.
3 Put a pan of water on to boil and grate the sweet potatoes. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat, then press the grated potato into 7.5cm (3in) cooking rings to shape the hash browns. Fry for 3 minutes on one side, pressing the potato down (to compact into a “cake”), and 2 minutes on the other.
4 Add the vinegar to the boiling water and break one egg into a small bowl. Reduce the heat to a simmer and carefully drop the egg into the simmering water; repeat for the second egg. Poach the eggs for 3–4 minutes; lift the eggs out with a slotted spoon.
5 Serve two hash browns on each plate with a poached egg, a spoonful of beans, some roasted vegetables, and a sprinkle of the seeds and parsley.
NUTRITION PER SERVING Calories 608 Total fat 32.1g Saturated fat 5.3g Carbohydrates 56.7g Dietary fibre 17.7g Sugars 19.3g Protein 21.4g Salt 0.9g
Smart swaps
• Swap the sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds to get extra iron, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc.
• Replace the haricot beans for soya beans to boost intakes of phyto-oestrogens. Dried varieties will need soaking before using, for 8–10 hours or overnight.
NUTRIENT KNOW-HOW
Aubergines are rich in a variety of antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid is thought to help lower levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol, which causes fatty deposits to build up within arteries.