Ginger and Lime Salmon, Avocado Vegetable Medley, and Cauliflower Coconut Couscous

Camilla and I hit the drawing board this past weekend to discuss what Pantry Narrative’s menu should look like this December (please make suggestions in the comment box below). There was one thing in particular that we agreed on: New Zealand’s delectable fresh seafood and the sun-drenched vegetables that saturate our country’s summer. 

We are beyond blessed in New Zealand to have access to a bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables.We wanted this dish to present a Vegetable Medley of some of New Zealand’s most colourful nourishing morsels. Our Vegetable Medley consists of spring onions, cherry tomatoes, fresh coriander, lemon zest and juice, avocado, and cucumber - all of course on a fluffy bed of cauliflower coconut couscous.

Salmon and leek tart and a chat about wholefoods

You probably have heard the term wholefoods thrown about quite a lot recently but as you are probably aware, there is nothing too new about it.  This is primarily because our grandmothers were all on a wholefoods diet and secondly, because it turns out that the term was actually coined in 1960.  A wholefood approach simply meaning using ingredients that are as unprocessed as possible.  Think less white food with the exception of onions and cauliflower.  The theory goes that in general the more processed a food is, the more the nutrients are stripped away.

I find it quite interesting that something that used to be so normal is now considered hip and counter-cultural.  It has become quite an art to put a meal on the table that doesn't contain any form of preservative or added sugars thanks to the industrialization of food production.  Although I find it most enjoyable to put in a little more effort and cook from scratch, I realise that wholefood cooking can be much harder for people that are pressed for time and on a limited budget. That is why in general, we are aiming to share recipes that don't contain ingredients that are too hard to get your hands on, aren't too expensive and don't require too much effort.  In saying that from time to time we will put in recipes that might cost a little more than others or take a little bit more time just for a little bit of fun.  This in one of those times as salmon and goats cheese can be a little expensive at times.  We assure you it does taste good though.