SPICED SOUP RECIPES

1. Peel and finely chop the onions, carrots and garlic, then trim and finely chop the celery. Deseed and finely chop the chilli. Pick and finely chop the rosemary.
2. Heat a couple of lugs of olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the sage leaves and fry for 30 seconds, or until crisp, then remove to kitchen paper.
3. Place the pan of flavoured oil back on the heat, add the onion, carrot, garlic, celery, chilli, rosemary and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then cook gently for 10 minutes, or until sweet and soft.
4. Meanwhile, halve, deseed and rough chop the squash. When the time's up, add the squash and stock to the pan. Bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. For the croutons, drizzle a little olive oil over the ciabatta, pat it in, then finely grate and press some grated Parmesan on to each side. Place in a dry, non-stick pan and fry until golden on both sides.
6. When the squash is tender, whiz the soup with a stick blender or pour it into a blender and pulse to a smooth purée – leave it slightly chunky, if you prefer.
7. Season to perfection with salt and pepper, then divide between bowls, placing 2 croutons on top of each.
8. Sprinkle with a few crispy sage leaves and drizzle with a swirl of quality extra virgin olive oil, then serve.

1. Peel and finely chop the onions, carrots and garlic, then trim and finely chop the celery. Deseed and finely chop the chilli. Pick and finely chop the rosemary.
2. Heat a couple of lugs of olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the sage leaves and fry for 30 seconds, or until crisp, then remove to kitchen paper.
3. Place the pan of flavoured oil back on the heat, add the onion, carrot, garlic, celery, chilli, rosemary and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then cook gently for 10 minutes, or until sweet and soft.
4. Meanwhile, halve, deseed and rough chop the squash. When the time's up, add the squash and stock to the pan. Bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. For the croutons, drizzle a little olive oil over the ciabatta, pat it in, then finely grate and press some grated Parmesan on to each side. Place in a dry, non-stick pan and fry until golden on both sides.
6. When the squash is tender, whiz the soup with a stick blender or pour it into a blender and pulse to a smooth purée – leave it slightly chunky, if you prefer.
7. Season to perfection with salt and pepper, then divide between bowls, placing 2 croutons on top of each.
8. Sprinkle with a few crispy sage leaves and drizzle with a swirl of quality extra virgin olive oil, then serve.

Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas mark 7. Pull the leaves off the cauliflower and cut the core out of the bottom. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add the cauliflower. Cook for 5 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Drain and leave to steam dry for a further 5 minutes.

Whisk together 2 tbsp oil, the coriander, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon. Place the cauliflower in a large round oven dish, big enough to later take the lentils. Generously rub the cauliflower all over with the spice and oil mix and season to taste. Place in the preheated oven and roast uncovered for 20 minutes. 

Meanwhile, add the remaining olive oil and the shallots to a medium frying pan over a medium heat and fry for 7-10 minutes, until the shallots begin to turn golden brown and caramelised. Add the garlic, sumac and apricots and cook for a further 2 minutes. Stir through the lentils and stock and season to taste. 

Remove the cauliflower from the oven and spoon the lentils and shallots around. Return the cauliflower to the oven for a further 20-30 minutes or until tender. 

Once the lentils are cooked, squeeze the lemon juice over the top. Scatter the cauliflower and lentils with the toasted almonds, pomegranate seeds, parsley and mint. Serve the cauliflower sliced into chunky wedges. 

Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas mark 7. Pull the leaves off the cauliflower and cut the core out of the bottom. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add the cauliflower. Cook for 5 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Drain and leave to steam dry for a further 5 minutes.

Whisk together 2 tbsp oil, the coriander, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon. Place the cauliflower in a large round oven dish, big enough to later take the lentils. Generously rub the cauliflower all over with the spice and oil mix and season to taste. Place in the preheated oven and roast uncovered for 20 minutes. 

Meanwhile, add the remaining olive oil and the shallots to a medium frying pan over a medium heat and fry for 7-10 minutes, until the shallots begin to turn golden brown and caramelised. Add the garlic, sumac and apricots and cook for a further 2 minutes. Stir through the lentils and stock and season to taste. 

Remove the cauliflower from the oven and spoon the lentils and shallots around. Return the cauliflower to the oven for a further 20-30 minutes or until tender. 

Once the lentils are cooked, squeeze the lemon juice over the top. Scatter the cauliflower and lentils with the toasted almonds, pomegranate seeds, parsley and mint. Serve the cauliflower sliced into chunky wedges.