Cooking Without Chemicals with Tom Hunt – Ghee-spiced roasted root vegetables with fresh coriander

by Tom Hunt

Tom Hunt is an award-winning chef, food educator, writer, climate change activist and author. This recipe was first published in his book Eating for Pleasure, People & Planet. https://www.tomsfeast.com

Ghee is thought of as sacred in India. And it’s easy to see why. Whilst it bubbles on the stove it gives off the most delicious aromas of caramel and toasty nutty-ness. Once clarified the ghee looks like nectar, golden yellow in colour. Ghee is thought to be purifying and vital for our health within ayurveda – India’s holistic medicine. It has a high smoke point which means it can be used for roasting, sautéing or even deep fat frying. The warm spices in this recipe combined with the ghee create a comforting dish, delicious served alongside other plain vegetables or as part of an alternative roast dinner.

– Serves 4 as a side dish

50ml organic ghee

1tsp cumin seeds

2tsp coriander seeds

1 level tsp turmeric or ideally turmeric root to grate

2cm piece ginger, finely grated

1 tbsp honey

200g parsnips, cut in half or quarters lengthways

200g carrots, cut in half or quarters lengthways

250g turnips or Jerusalem artichokes (or a mix of both), cut into halves or quarters

2 shallots, cut in half lengthways

6 sprigs fresh coriander and/or mint, leaves roughly chopped, stalks finely chopped

Yoghurt to serve (optional)

To roast the root vegetables: preheat the oven to 180c. Mix 50ml of ghee with the

cumin, coriander, turmeric, grated ginger, honey and a teaspoon of salt. Place the root

vegetables in a roasting tray and pour the spiced ghee mixture over the top. Turn the

vegetables in the mixture until evenly coated. Cover with a piece of parchment or foil and

place in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil or parchment and return to the oven for a

further 25 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and slightly caramelised. Finish with the

fresh coriander and/or mint and blob of yoghurt on the side if you fancy.

A Plastic Free Christmas?

by Kenneth Keavey

Is it possible?

Here in Ireland we need to do much better on plastic, we are at the bottom of the European league tables when it comes to plastic waste per person. By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the oceans.

On our farm and in our business, we have spent 3 years looking at our processes and removing plastic where we can. In contrast to the green washing of most of the larger retailers who have promised and yet have not delivered we are doing what we say.

We do not use plastic in any of our seasonal set boxes, we use paper, and we collect and reuse our boxes, this is a fundamental cornerstone of our business. We realise that paper too has its own carbon cost, and we are looking at ways of trying to reduce that further. It bothers me a bit though, when the idea of using a paper straw instead of a plastic one constitutes progress, it is a small step, but it diverts attention from the real issues, such as the large scale use of plastics in the food industry.

The strain that humankind’s excessive consumption is putting on our planet is eye watering and for the environment and biodiversity the price is too great. We all need to consume less, whether it be plastic or otherwise.

I recognise the irony of encouraging less consumption and at the same time trying to sell our organic veggies boxes. But I have no shame in this, we run a sustainable business, we employ a lot of people in a worthwhile industry we grow local organic food and support so many other small scale Irish organic producers too and in order to pay them we need to sell boxes.

Everybody needs to eat, and it is impossible to assess the environmental credentials of most food businesses. This Christmas and new year if you want to know your food has been sourced and grown sustainably then throwing your lot in with us for your food is the right thing to do.

Our Christmas boxes and many other lovely Christmassy things (gift vouchers, wine hampers, original art and many eco-hampers) are available on our website, and they will be delivered the week beginning the 20th of December. The boxes are brimming with organic local (where possible) freshly harvested sustainable food.

We can deliver by courier all over Ireland and if you can place your order by the 12th you will be entered into a draw for an amazing hamper, it also guarantees you a delivery slot on Christmas week and helps us out immeasurably with harvesting.

If you want the most amazing fresh ingredients and also keep Christmas plastic free, local and sustainable then get a delivery from us this year.

Thank you for your support.

Kenneth