food to glow

Happy Monday from Edinburgh, where wits and wags note that, “summer was on a Tuesday.”

It is has not been the sunniest of summers. I have recently dared look back at a few 2011/2012 summer posts (hiding behind my hands) and saw words like “the sun is splitting the rocks,” and “long, warm days” and, my personal favourite for its high cringe factor: ” it’s el scorchio here at casa food to glow.”

So, bearing in mind the less than inflated temperatures of late (summer really was on a Tuesday; sometime in May, I think), salads have had to compete with soups, bakes, cooked grains and seared proteins for our affection.

Speaking of cooked grains, I had oat porridge this morning, accompanied by fuzzy socks and – this is no word of a lie – a scarf. Andrew came downstairs early this morning, bleary eyed and slightly befuddled before his shower, to be greeted with me sat on the sofa, cat on my lap, warm bowl of peachy porridge in hand, and a scarf around my neck. The trail of scarves in our bedroom as I pulled one away in the dark should have prepared him.

The grains we have been eating have mostly been hot or room temperature, as in this bowl of chewy, coconut-infused whole grains.

In this Malaysian-inspired and easily knocked-together dish the brown, whole grain rice is cooked with coconut milk and toasted coconut, then topped with seared and spiced vegetables and paneer – that deliciously high-fat Indian cheese that barbecues and griddles so well. I have cheated with bought sambal oelek, but the cheese is homemade and nearly as supple as its doppelgänger, tofu – the latter of which you could use instead. And the baby vegetables are quite cute, but if you have none to hand then of course do use sliced vegetables. One hint on the cooking: start a bit hot to get those glorious grill marks, then lower the temperature to cook the vegetables all the way through. Or slather veggies in the sauce and lay on crumpled foil and bake in a 200C/400F oven to glistening perfection: no kebab sticks required.

How has your summer weather shaped up? Are you hot and bothered, or cool as a cucumber? What recipe best epitomises your summer weather and mood? Share your best link. 🙂

Grain Bowls and Paneer on Food To Glow:

Beetroot and Tomato Rogan Josh with Homemade Paneer 

Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl (with vegan option)

Related Recipes from Others:

Kale and Tomato Brown Rice Bowls – Amuse Your Bouche

Paneer Malai – Kavey Eats

Kale Rice Bowl – 101 Cookbooks

Paneer Amritsari – Indian Healthy Recipes

Baked Sriracha Tempeh Bowls – The Muffin Myth

Barley, Tomato, Paneer, Channa Dal and Cashew Nut Salad – Deena Kakaya

I have popped this over to a few sharing blogs:

Recipe of the Week – A Mummy Too

Meatfree Mondays – Tinned Tomatoes

Try A Bite Tuesday – Caleigh’s Kitchen and Bowl Me Over