FENNEL, BANANA, & FUSILLI SALAD WITH ORANGE YOGURT DRESSING

SERVES 1 LARGE OR 2 SMALL PORTIONS

FOR THE SALAD

1 cup (100 g) fusilli pasta

sea salt

1 fennel bulb.

1 large banana

1/2 apple

FOR THE DRESSING

3/4 cup (200 g) soy yogurt, or other

plant-based yogurt

6 tbsp. orange juice

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

3 tbsp. orange vinegar, or white wine or herb vinegar

1/2–1 heaped tbsp. mild curry powder

1 1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1⁄3 cup (50 g) pine nuts

small bunch of parsley

squeeze of lemon juice

NUTRITIONAL VALUES

Calories: 516kcal
Fat: 18.4g (2.6g S.Fat)
Carbs: 84g
Protein: 13.2g
Sugar: 26.3g
Sodium: 498mg

METHOD

To make the salad, cook the fusilli in salted water according to package directions (usually 8–10 minutes). Meanwhile, remove the fennel's tough core, cut off the stalks, and finely grate the bulb. The banana should be peeled and sliced. Peel the apple, remove the core, and finely grate it. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then drain once more. Incorporate the fennel, banana, and apple.

In a small bowl, combine the yoghurt, orange juice, oil, vinegar, curry powder, salt, and pepper for the dressing. In a dry pan, toast the pine nuts until golden brown, then set aside to cool. Remove the leaves from the parsley stalks and finely chop them. Toss the pasta with the dressing, pine nuts, and parsley. Add lemon juice to taste, as well as salt and pepper to taste.

BANANA NUT PROTEIN BITES

SERVES 12 BITES

1 cup (185 g) sliced bananas

1 cup (105 g) walnut halves

1 cup (130 g) roasted pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds), divided

1/4 cup (40 g) ground flaxseed

3 Medjool dates, pitted

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

NUTRITIONAL VALUES

Calories: 166kcal
Fat: 11.8g (1.9g S.Fat)
Carbs: 9.1g
Protein: 6.5g
Sugar: 4.7g
Sodium: 101mg

METHOD

Pulse the bananas, walnuts, 1/2 cup (65 g) pepitas, flaxseed, dates, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt in a food processor fitted with an S-blade until they form a slightly chunky dough. If you process too much, you will end up with a mushy paste.

Make approximately twenty 1-tbsp. (10 g) dough balls and place them on a baking sheet to chill for 10 minutes. Place the remaining 1/2 cup (65 g) pepitas in a small bowl and chop them into smaller pieces.

After chilling, press each ball into the pepita pieces to crust the outside of each protein bite.

Serve immediately or keep in the fridge for up to 10 days for snacking.

RECIPE NOTES

Mix 1 tbsp. (10 g) of your favourite unflavored greens powder into the mixture while processing to add a pop of colour and even more nutrition.