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Chicken goujons – low fodmap

What are goujons? They are small chicken fillets that are coated in breadcrumbs. They are fairly easy to make using gluten free breadcrumbs but it is important to use the correct ones for the low fodmap diet. Clearspring rice crumbs are probably the best option. Some gluten free breadcrumbs use a blend including gram flour – this is chickpea flour and is a source of GOS, it might be OK for some people with IBS because of the small portions of crumbs used to coat ingredients – but pure rice crumbs are better and they are wholegrain too – bonus for those with constipation! Hale and Hearty breadcrumbs contain inulin so this should not be used for a low fodmap diet. You can make your own breadcrumbs with gluten free bread if you wish, again choosing wholegrain bread to give the dish added fibre – a way of using up stale gluten free bread and fibre is great for gut health! For health this is a recipe to have occasionally as it is a fried dish – but suitable for those who are underweight as frying adds additional calories to the dish. Mayonnaise is another addition but take care with ones that say low fat mayo as these can have increased amount of skimmed milk powder – a source of lactose. So it has to be full fat and a small portion! The dish includes making your own garlic infused oil at the start of the process – follow this part of the recipe closely, slicing the garlic makes it easier to remove it all before frying the goujons, so you remove all the fructans included in the clove. Don’t be tempted to use a garlic crusher as you cannot then remove all the pieces. I have added the goujons to a gluten free pitta bread with salad leaves.

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Ingredients

Gluten free four (100g)

1 egg

Gluten Free Breadcrumbs (1/2 pack)

seasoning

1 pack of chicken mini breast fillets

Rapeseed oil – enough for frying

1 pack of gluten free pitta breads

Salad leaves of your choice (I used chard and radicchio but lettuce leaves are another option.)

1 clove of garlic.

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Method

Wash Hands.

Wash and chop the salad leaves and prepare the pitta bread and put these on a plate away from the work surface you are using to prepare the goujons. If you have work surfaces on either side of the oven this is good, you can use one side for raw chicken preparation and one for cooked. Do this before handling the raw chicken fillets.

Open the packet of chicken fillets and use immediately – please do not wash them, they don’t need it, plus washing raw chicken is a food poisoning hazard – it can easily spread bacteria around the kitchen.

Place the flour and seasoning on a plate, crack the egg and mix well with a fork on a plate and breadcrumbs on separate plates. Dip the chicken fillets into the flour first, then egg and then the breadcrumbs – coat each fillet well and don’t forget the edges.

When coated, pile them on a dish for frying later.

Clean work surfaces down and wash your hands again after handling raw chicken.

Slice the garlic clove (this is better than crushing as it makes it easier to remove the pieces before frying the chicken.)

Add oil to the pan and fry the clove quickly then remove all the pieces of garlic from the pan.

Add the chicken goujons and fry till golden. Don’t overload the pan as this will lead to steaming instead of frying and soggy breadcrumbs.

Add 2 slices of goujons to each pitta – makes 5.

Serve with green salad.





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Celebration trifle – low fodmap

It’s New Years eve and if you want a celebration dessert that can help people following a low fodmap diet but is also tasty for all your New Years Day party guests, this is ideal – it is made with lactose free mascarpone and lactose free creme fraiche (you can buy these at Tesco) plus gluten free sponge. Whilst this trifle is low fodmap it is not low in fat – if you have issues with foods high in fat resulting in symptoms take care – a small portion only is probably best!

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Ingredients

Sponge

100g gluten free self raising flour

2 eggs

100g margarine

100g castor sugar

Rhubarb

250g rhubarb

2 tablespoons of maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon of orange oil

1 tablespoon of granulated sugar

100ml of water

Topping

50g chopped pecan nuts

Cream

200g lactose free mascarpone

100g of lactose free creme fraiche

1 tablespoon of icing sugar

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Method

Sponge

Make the sponge – this is better prepared the day before to allow it to stale a little

Add the margarine and castor sugar to a bowl and using a hand mixer mix until light and creamy

Add one egg and beat till incorporated into the mix – if it curdles or separates just add a little of the flour to the mix.

Repeat with the other egg.

Add the flour and mix it in slowly with a metal spoon.

Pour into a 7 inch lined cake tin and put in an oven to cook at gas mark 5 190 degrees C for 45 minutes – or until a metal skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Cool and slice length ways into two circles

Rhubarb

Wash slice and cook the rhubarb with the water, maple syrup and sugar and orange oil until soft – cool and save the cooking liquor. I like my rhubarb quite sharp to counteract the sweetness – add sugar or syrup to your preference here.

Cream

Mix the mascarpone with the creme fraiche and icing sugar – keep in the fridge

and build….

Build the trifle, one layer of rhubarb, then sponge – add some of the rhubarb cooking liquor to the sponge, then mascarpone – repeat until all the mixes are used up ending with a layer of mascarpone. Add chopped nuts to the top of the cake to decorate.

Serves 8






🎇🎊 Wishing all my followers a Happy New Year!🎊🎇

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Mini chocolate orange panettone – low fodmap

This is an ideal Christmas recipe for low fodmappers who want to have a festive bread without marzipan and probably one of the only bread recipes that I have managed to produce that has risen well! It is based on an enriched bead dough mix produced using a standard purchased bread flour.

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Recipe

250g gluten free bread flour

150g dark chocolate chips

2 teaspoons of orange oil

2 eggs

1 tablespoon of oil

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 pack of fast acting yeast

1 pinch of salt

1 small pinch of cream of tartar

50g of castor sugar

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of cloves

1 teaspoon of ginger

1 teaspoon of mixed spice

400ml of warm water

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Method

Add the flour, spices salt and dark chocolate chips to a bowl, mix.

Separate the yolk from the white of the eggs.

To the white add a pinch of cream of tartar and whisk till peaks are formed, adding 25g of sugar half way through, then add the rest when soft peaks are formed.

To the yolks add the oil, vanilla and orange oil

Start adding the water to the dry ingredients and mix with a hand mixer. Then add the yolks.

Fold into the mix half the beaten egg whites quickly to slacken the mix. The gently fold in the rest of the egg white.

Add to bread tins and leave in a warm place for 30 minutes to rise. Cook in a warm oven for 30 minutes until cooked.








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Vegan Pate – Christmas starter Low Fodmap

This is a spiced vegan pate starter – a really nice way to begin Christmas lunch. It is based Moroccan themed flavours and has lots of seasonal flavours to remind you of the traditional Christmas. Being very easy to make it will take no time at all for you to prepare. Entertaining guests can be challenging so this dish can be prepared in advance and refrigerated till the 25th or perhaps used as a nice supper dish on the 24th if you prefer.

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Ingredients

100g pecan nuts

1/2 preserved lemon

1 teaspoon of Moroccan Spice (Fodify Foods)

1 teaspoon of oil

4-5 sage leaves

150g roasted peppers (you can purchase these ready prepared from most supermarkets)

100g gluten free breadcrumbs

season to taste

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Method

Cover the pecan nuts with boiling water and leave to soak for a few hours till soft .

Add the oil to a pan and fry the spice a little to release the flavour.

Then add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend well.

Serve with toasted gluten free bread

Serves 4-5






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Chestnut, carrot & celeriac soup – low fodmap Christmas recipes

Having guests around for Christmas lunch and wondering what to serve for a starter? This recipe is a tasty soup, suitable for vegan low fodmappers and has Christmas flavours with mixed spice. I have been using my copy of the flavour thesaurus by Niki Segnit, a gift for my birthday, and this marries chestnuts with carrot, celery (celeriac is a low fodmap food with a similar flavour to celery – a good substitution) carrot and rosemary and yes, this really works. It is a slightly sweet, winter roots flavour with a light addition of spices. Your guests will never know you have a low fodmap starter for them that is really easy to make and really tasty!

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Ingredients

200g celeriac

500g carrots

200g cooked chestnuts

1/4 teaspoon of mixed spice

10 g rosemary

Drizzle of hazelnut oil

Some chilli flakes (if tolerated)

Seasoning

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Method

Chop the vegetables

Add all ingredients to a pan

Add water to just cover the vegetables

Season to taste

Puree

Serve, drizzle with hazelnut oil and chilli flakes!

serves 6

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Chocolate coated peppermint snow peaks – low fodmap Christmas recipes

Just the ticket for giving out to friends who come caroling.

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Ingredients

4 egg whites

200g castor sugar

Pinch of cream of tartar

400g of mint dark chocolate

3-4 drops of peppermint flavouring.

Method

Add the egg whites to a bowl and add the peppermint, cream of tartar and whisk, when they are forming peaks add half the castor sugar and whisk till they form stiff peaks.

Add the rest of the castor sugar, mix and then spoon out into a Teflon baking sheet.

Cook for 1 1/2 hours at gas mark 1/4 or 107  degrees C

Cool

Melt the chocolate and cover the surface of the meringue and allow to set.

Makes around 12.




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Spaghetti Cabonara -low fodmap

Whilst reading the Guardian newspaper recipe booklet this weekend I decided to have a go at one of the recipes in the pasta special and reduce the parmesan and low fodmap modify it. OK – this recipe scared me, adding egg to freshly cooked pasta – surely a recipe for scrambled egg, right? This is a classic Italian dish and no cream in sight and is a rich dish that is suitable for a low fodmap diet. It is easier to make than I first anticipated and much to my surprise, no scrambled egg in sight. This is a really creamy dish without adding cream and a tasty supper for chilli winter evenings.

I used bacon rather than pancetta as it is slightly leaner and 2/3 of the parmesan. Sometimes pecorino cheese is used instead – it really doesn’t matter. Having bacon occasionally is fine – I can’t actually remember the last time I did eat bacon, but obviously not a choice that should be included in your diet regularly and certainly not every day. This recipe was so easy but it could be included in an Italian themed dinner party or a relaxed meal with friends – it doesn’t take much effort at all – so give it a try.

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Ingredients

4 egg yolks

6 rashers of lean bacon

60g parmesan

400g of gluten free spaghetti

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

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Method

Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on the packet – make sure that you follow the instructions carefully as this is the key to cooking the perfect gluten free pasta.

Whilst the water is boiling separate 4 egg yolks from the white (you can use the egg white to make meringue later) and beat.

Grate the parmesan

Add the olive oil to a pan and fry the bacon.

Drain the water from the pasta sauce saving a cup full.

Add the pasta to the bacon, off the heat and ensure the pasta is coated with the oil.

Add the eggs and cheese to the pasta with some of the pasta water and stir well till combined. The heat of the pasta will cook the sauce.

Add some freshly ground black pepper before serving and serve on warmed plates.

That’s it – serves 4.

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Jeweled Koshari – low fodmap

Koshari is a dish served in Egypt and usually has plenty of fried onions on the top and pulses mixed in the rice/pasta blend and added as a topping. Obviously the onion is a no-go for low fodmap diets, but the chickpeas? This could be used in small portions as long as the chickpeas are canned and have been rinsed well. No more than 2 tablespoons should be used per portion and this is tolerated well and will contribute slightly to the fibre and protein content of the dish. Also Koshari is served with a spicy tomato based sauce, which can also be low fodmap modified – see future posts for the topping. This does taste good without though although a little non traditional perhaps and a totally vegan carbohydrate to add to a meal with sources of protein such as a small handful per portion of low fodmap suitable nuts (walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, pine nuts for example) or firm tofu pieces.

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Ingredients

150g of white rice

50g of Camargue red rice

50g gluten free pasta

100g of celeriac

1 parsnip

1 heaped teaspoon of Lebanese seven spice (available from Marks & Spencer and low fodmap)

Chopped tarragon and thyme

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Chopped stalks of rainbow chard (the leaves can be cooked separately and served alongside the dish)

seasoning

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Method

Cook the carbohydrates in boiling water add a little salt and drain.

Whilst the rice/gluten free pasta is cooking chop the vegetable ingredients finely.

Add the olive oil to a pan and fry the spices to release the flavour and add the chard, celeriac and parsnip to the pan and coat well with the oil then roast in an oven till cooked.

Combine the ingredients and top with freshly chopped herbs.

Serves 5


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Remember, remember the fifth of November – Low fodmap parkin.

Parkin is a rich spiced cake from Yorkshire or Lancashire that is consumed during bonfire night. Are you unsure of what Bonfire night is? It is a festival in the UK marking the failure of a plot to blow up parliament by Guy Fawkes. This is celebrated by lighting bonfires and fireworks and making a Guy to collect pennies. If you want to know more then this short version of a video by the excellent Horrible Histories series is a great way to find out – tongue in cheek of course!

 

Ingredients

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp mixed spice

100g dark muscovado sugar

175g golden syrup

175g black treacle

125g Margarine

100ml Lactose free milk

225g Doves Farm Gluten Free self-raising flour

200g Oats (contamination free if you have coeliac disease)

 

Method

Sieve all the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well.

Add the egg to the milk and mix

Melt the butter and sugars in a pan until dissolved – cool a little

Mix the ingredients together

You are looking for quite a wet mix, add more lactose free milk if required

Place some baking parchment into a round tin 9 inch baking tin and grease the tin if needed. Or if you wish this can be used as a tray bake. Cook at gas mark 4.5 until a skewer placed in the cake centre comes out clean. Top with icing sugar and star shaped sprinkles to represent fireworks.

 




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How to make an authentic low fodmap curry – vegetarian

OK – so, how on earth do you make an authentic curry without an onion base? Masala is a mix of spices that are first fried in oil to release the flavour and then finely chopped onion and garlic is added – lot’s and lot’s of onion and this is cooked before adding the other ingredients to the onion and spices. No wonder then many people with digestive problems have an issue with curry! So is curry off limits when following the low fodmap diet? Certainly not – the following recipe replaces the onion with finely chopped white cabbage. I know this does sound a little strange but trust me, give it a go and see. Now this recipe does have a large amount of oil so it is not for every day and if you have problems with food higher in oil perhaps give this recipe a miss.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon of turmeric

1 teaspoon of coriander

1 teaspoon of cumin

1 teaspoon of asafoetida

1 Jar of roasted peppers

130g of white cabbage

1 aubergine

200g of small salad potatoes (skin on)

500ml water

250 ml of oil

Fresh coriander leaves and pomegranate to decorate

Method

Add the oil to a pan and fry the spices

Chop the cabbage very finely and add to the spices and oil and fry for 5 minutes (this cooks into the dish in a similar way to onion.)

Chop the aubergine, potato and red pepper and add to the mix and cook in an oven proof dish for 3o minutes.

Add some chopped coriander leaves and serve with boiled rice or gluten free plain chapati.

The chilli is for decoration although chilli is tolerated by some people with IBS (it is low fodmap) add a small amount to the dish if you wish.

Serves 4




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