No electricity? No problem

If you think you might lose electricity due to loadshedding, or you simply don’t want to turn on the oven, here are a few recipes you can try:

Easy gazpacho

This gazpacho is special because you add what pleases you and it is so refreshing.

You will need:

•  780 grams Italian tomatoes, drained.
•  A quarter cup dry breadcrumbs.
•  A quarter cup olive oil.
•  One cup tomato juice.
•  One garlic clove, crushed.
•  A quarter cup vinegar.
•  Half a teaspoon salt.
•  Half a cup cucumber, finely chopped.
•  Half a cup tomato, finely chopped.
•  Half a cup onion, finely chopped.
•  Half a cup celery, finely chopped.
•  Half a cup green pepper, finely chopped.

What to do:

In medium size bowl, combine chopped tomatoes, crumbs, olive oil, tomato juice, garlic, vinegar and salt.

Cover and refrigerate.

When ready to serve, ladle tomato mixture in individual bowls.

Place chopped vegetables in separate serving plates and set on table for your family to garnish soup according to taste.

Creamy avocado and white bean wrap

White beans mashed with ripe avocado and blended with sharp Cheddar and onion makes an incredibly rich, flavourful filling for this wrap.

You will need:

•  Two tablespoons cider vinegar.
•  One tablespoon canola oil.
•  Two teaspoons salsa.
•  A quarter teaspoon salt.
•  Two cups shredded red cabbage.
•  One medium carrot, shredded.
•  A quarter cup chopped fresh cilantro.
•  One can white beans, rinsed.
•  One ripe avocado.
•  Half a cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese.
•  Two tablespoons minced red onion.
•  Four to eight whole-wheat wraps, or tortillas.

What to do:

Whisk vinegar, oil, salsa and salt in a medium bowl.

Add cabbage, carrot and cilantro; toss to combine.

Mash beans and avocado in another medium bowl with a potato masher or fork. Stir in cheese and onion.

To assemble the wraps, spread about half a cup of the bean-avocado mixture onto a wrap and top with about two thirds of a cup of the cabbage-carrot slaw. Roll up.

Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Cut the wraps in half to serve, if desired.

Cream cheese and black olive ciabatta

This sandwich is totally vegetarian, but can be made with other items of your choice, such as cold meats or salami.

You will need:

•  Ciabatta rolls.
•  Two teaspoons butter.
•  Four tablespoons cream cheese, flavoured is better.
•  Half a cup finely shredded iceberg lettuce.
•  Two tablespoons finely chopped red onions.
•  Four tablespoons finely chopped sweet red peppers.
•  A quarter cup sliced small pitted black olives.
•  Italian herb salad dressing.
•  Salt and pepper.

What to do:

Cut the ciabatta in half lengthwise and toast lightly.

Spread the butter evenly on each half bun. Spread cream cheese evenly on each half.

Spread lettuce evenly on each half. Spread chopped onions evenly on each half.

Add sweet red pepper evenly on each half and then the sliced olives.

Now drizzle with Italian herb dressing to your taste.

Sprinkle salt and pepper to your taste.