Dietary: Gluten Free

This recipe shows you how quick and easy it is to stir fry kale and is delicious and easy when served with golden garlic and fiery chilli. A perfect mid-week side dish, plus kale is packed full of vitamins and minerals to nourish your body. 

  1. Start by prepping your kale. The best way to prepare kale is to pull the leaves off the stem in the middle – the stem is very woody and takes a long time to cook down, it is also difficult to digest and so the leaves are the best part to eat. Once you have removed the stems just roughly tear the leaves.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Then add the sliced garlic and finely diced chilli. Fry this off for a couple of minutes until the garlic begins to start turning golden and toasty.
  3. Next add the kale and stir fry along with the garlic and chilli for roughly 5 – 8 minutes until the kale has softened and collapsed without losing its green colour. Now you want to season your kale with a good pinch of Maldon Salt and a splash of sherry vinegar – the combination of the salt and the sweet vinegar enhances the earthy flavours of the kale and also helps reduce any bitterness.
  4. Tip the stir-fried kale into a serving bowl and serve immediately whilst warm.

Start your day with a vibrant burst of flavour and nourishment with a green smoothie. Blending fresh spinach, creamy avocado and a hint of ginger, it’s finishing touch of Maldon Sea Salt flakes elevates every sip. The clean saltiness brings out the natural sweetness of the fruit and the earthiness of the greens, making this smoothie a refreshing, energising drink to have with your breakfast.

How to make a green smoothie

  1. Set up your blender on a cool, flat surface. Make sure it’s switched off whilst the plug is in.
  2. Start filling the blender with your ingredients in this order: water, half an avocado, fresh ginger, cored apples, frozen spinach and a final pinch of Maldon Sea Salt flakes to elevate the sweetness of the smoothie and counteract the bitterness.
  3. Place the lid securely onto the blender to prevent any spillage. Turn the switch/power button on.
  4. Select the appropriate speed setting and begin blending. You will know when the ingredients have blended nicely together because the liquid will become vivid green with a medium-thick texture.
  5. Pour the contents into a tall glass and drink immediately.

What are the benefits of a detox smoothie?

A detox smoothie helps detoxify your body, it can help with weight loss, it enhances immunity, improves digestion and is a great way of packing in extra vitamins and nutrients.

Are green smoothies good for you?

Medically reviewed by Dany P. Baby, green smoothies are nutrient-rich blends of fruits and vegetables which allow people to meet their recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals all in one glass! Unlike juices, green smoothies retain beneficial fibre from whole foods that are blended together.

What to put in a green smoothie

Basic green smoothies contain leafy greens like spinach, kale and arugula. Alone, these greens blended can take quite bitter, however there are many combinations you can use to improve the flavour profile and add further nutritional value to the drink:

Are green smoothies good for breakfast?

Green smoothies make a great breakfast option! You can make it quickly for a blender, it’s fresh tasting and it’s packed with nutrition from the amount of fruit and vegetables used. It contributes to your 5-a-day and is the ideal breakfast for when you are on the go.

Can you freeze green smoothies?

Yes. You can store your smoothie in the freezer for up to 3 months! It keeps the flavour, mouthfeel, colour and nutrition! Make sure you store your smoothie contents in BPA-free plastic, glass or bags designed for sub-zero temperatures so that you avoid cracking and freezer burn.

Can I make green smoothies the night before?

You can store your smoothie in the fridge for up to 1-2 days before drinking. However, we do recommend consuming the smoothie within 24 hours for optimal freshness. Make sure you container is covered with a tight-fitting lid

This take on a classic gin sour uses Pink Marmalade gin alongside the zesty and citrus flavours of Cointreau, lemon and Campari. When served in a beautiful couple glass with edible flavours it makes an elegant cocktail for entertaining guests.

  1. Add all the ingredients apart from the ice into a shaker and shake vigorously for a few minutes. Then add the ice and shake again for a few minutes.

2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass, making sure to tap out all the frothy egg white. Top the glass with a few drops of angostura bitters and garnish with edible flowers.

This is a recipe for a delicious Rum spiced Ham, perfect for the festive period – this could be served on Christmas eve or New Year’s Eve and would be perfect alongside slow cooked red cabbage and dauphinoise potatoes. It is surprisingly easy to prepare and any leftovers make the best sandwiches!

Traditionally, a gammon joint would often require soaking overnight to remove some of the strong salt from the cure. However, more often these days the butchers use cures which don’t require this – check with your butcher first if you are unsure.

Take a large pan, big enough to hold your ham and to the pan fill it up halfway with water. To the water add the black treacle and mix in well. Then add your gammon joint and top up the pan with some more cold water until it just covers the ham. Then add the bay leaves, half an orange, cinnamon stick, star anise, black peppercorns and cloves. Then place on the hob and bring the liquid up the boil and then reduce to a low simmer and let it simmer for 2 hours 30 mins. Keep topping up the water level if necessary, to ensure the ham is evenly covered.

Preheat oven to 180C.

After 2 hours 30 mins remove the ham from the heat and allow to cool slightly before removing carefully from the pan of water.

Place the ham on a large baking tray and using a sharp knife, score the skin in a diamond pattern. In small bowl mix together the spiced rum, 2 tbsp black treacle, Dijon mustard, Maldon salt and 1 tbsp olive oil. Use a pastry brush to rub this glaze all over the ham. Then place into the oven for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush again with any remaining glaze.

Let the ham rest for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Here is a classic Whiskey Sour recipe. A whiskey sour consists of malt whiskey, lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white. Traditionally garnished with a glace cherry, this version uses a fresh cherry instead to nod towards Summer.

  1. In a cocktail shaker add the malt whiskey, lemon juice, Maldon Salt, sugar syrup and egg white.
  2. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for 1 – 2 minutes. Fill a small rocks glass with ice and then strain the cocktail over.
  3. Garnish with a slice of orange and a fresh cherry on a cocktail stick.
  4. Finally add a couple of dashes of angostura bitters.

A salty dog is known to date back to the 1920s and consists of salt, gin and grapefruit juice – if you omit the salt rim then it is known as a Greyhound. It is refreshing, classic and simple.

Place the Maldon salt onto a small, flat plate. Run some of the fresh grapefruit around the rim of a tall highball glass. Turn the glass upside down into the salt and turn it so the salt sticks to the edge of the rim.

Carefully fill the glass with ice. Pour in the Tanqueray Gin and then fill the glass with the grapefruit juice, gently stir. Garnish with a slice of fresh pink grapefruit.

This risotto is a wonderful combination of earthy beetroot, salty blue cheese and nutty walnuts. The beetroot dyes the whole dish a beautiful pink colour making it a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds.

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Place each beetroot onto a piece of foil, drizzle with oil and wrap each individually. Then place them onto a baking tray and into the preheated oven, roast them for 30 minutes until soft and tender.

Whilst the beetroot is roasting you can start the risotto. In a large wide frying pan heat the olive oil and 30g of butter. When the butter is melted and foaming add the finely chopped onions along with a pinch of Maldon salt. Allow the onions to cook over a gently heat until soft and translucent. After they have softened, add the garlic and fry for an additional 2 minutes.

Next add the arborio rice and stir so all the grains are well coated in the onions. Fry for 2 minutes and then add the red wine, allowing the wine to bubble and be absorbed by the rice. Once the wine is absorbed begin adding the hot vegetable stock a ladle at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed by the rice before adding the next. The rice should be tender but still with a little bite.

Once the beetroot has roasted, remove from the oven and unwrap the foil to allow them to cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle carefully peel away the skins (you might want to wear gloves for this as they can stain your hands). Once peeled, roughly chop 3 of the beetroot and place in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and pureed. Chop the other two beetroot into a small dice.

Pour the pureed beetroot into the risotto and stir through, it will turn it a brilliant pink colour. Next add the diced beetroot and stir through. Check the seasoning of the risotto and add a generous pinch of Maldon salt and some cracked black pepper. Finally add the 10g butter at the end and melt through to give a creamy and glossy texture.

Divide the risotto among 4 plates and then top with the crumbled blue cheese, toasted walnuts and thyme leaves. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a final sprinkle of Maldon salt.

A paloma consists of grapefruit juice, tequila and lime. This one has the addition of Rosemary Syrup which adds a beautiful freshness to the cocktail. It is so simple and quick to make and you can store the syrup in the fridge for 1 week.

Start by making the rosemary sugar syrup. In a small pan add the granulated sugar and water along with the 4 rosemary sprigs. Bring to the boil and allow it to gently bubble until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool before storing in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

To make the cocktails start with the salt rim. Pour the Maldon salt onto a small, flat plate. Take 2 tumbler glasses and run a lime wedge around the rim. One at a time, turn the glasses upside down in the salt and turn them so the salt sticks to the rim. Set aside.

In a cocktail shaker add the Villa Ascenti gin with the grapefruit juice, rosemary sugar syrup and lime juice. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for 1 minute. Fill the glasses carefully with ice and then pour in the cocktail from the shaker. Top each glass up with sparkling water and then garnish with a final sprig of rosemary.

The Chilton is a cocktail originating from Texas. It is incredibly refreshing, especially on a hot day, and is so simple with just lemon, vodka and soda. The salty rim works brilliantly with the lemon and the addition of blueberries here brings some Summer fruitiness to the drink.

Begin by making the salt rim on the glass. Place the Maldon salt on a small, flat plate. Rub the rim of a tall highball glass with lemon and then turn the glass upside down into the salt and turn to stick the salt around the rim.

Carefully fill the glass with ice. Add the Ketel One vodka, lemon juice and top up with soda water. Stir gently and then garnish with fresh blueberries and some slices of lemon.

Macaroons are considered dainty and beautiful treats and are surprisingly simple to make too. These delicious coffee ones have sweet almondy shells which are sandwiched between a salty and rich dark chocolate ganache – they are perfect when paired with the Salted Caramel Espresso martinis as an after-dinner showstopper.

In a food processor, place the icing sugar, ground almonds and espresso powder. Blitz together until fine in texture.

Sift this through a sieve into a large bowl and discard any larger bits that don’t pass through. In a separate bowl, use an electric whisk to beat together the egg whites until they resemble soft peaks. Slowly add the sugar – a tsp at a time – whisking to incorporate after each addition. Keep whisking until all the sugar is added and the egg whites are glossy and at stiff peak stage.

Tip the egg whites into the ground almonds and fold them through until fully incorporated, trying not to overmix.

Line two baking trays with baking paper. A good tip is to use a little of the macaroon mixture to stick the corners of the paper to the tray to ensure it doesn’t blow and flutter in the oven. Place the macaroon mixture into a piping bag with a small nozzle attached. Pipe 30 small circles (15 on each tray). Then bang the tray onto the work surface firmly a couple of times to knock any air bubbles out. Leave the macaroons to dry out at room temperate for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 180C.

While the macaroons are drying, make the ganache. Finely chop the dark chocolate and place in a large heatproof bowl along with a pinch of Maldon salt. Pour the cream into a small pan and heat gently until it reaches scalding point but before boiling. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and then without stirring, leave it to sit for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, use a whisk to mix and combine the chocolate into the cream – it will thicken and become smooth and glossy. Set aside.

After an hour, put the macaroons into the preheated oven and bake for 15 – 20 minutes until crisp. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely.

Once cool, sandwich the shells together with the ganache. Dust them with cocoa powder and serve alongside salted caramel espresso martinis.