Simply Sushi Salad

This was such an obvious combination to put into a salad, I don't know why I never though of it before especially considering that I eat sushi as often as possible. Tastes like sushi but without all the fuss of rolling it (although that is something I really enjoy but only when I'm in the mood). My 5 year old won't usually eat salads, but has now changed his mind. I will have him eating greek salads by the end of the summer.

Sushi Salad

2 cups basmati rice

3 tablespoons sesame oil

3 cloves garlic finely chopped

2.5cm piece ginger finely chopped

1/2 cup soy sauce (tamari, kikomen)

3-5 chillis finely chopped(optional)

3/4 cup rice wine vinegar

8 nori sheets cut into small strips

150g smoked salmon

1/3 cup toasted sesame seeds

1/2 bag baby spinach leaves

1 avocado (optional)

Cook rice according to packet instructions. Heat sesame oil in pan and fry garlic, ginger and a dash of soy sauce for a couple of minutes. Put rice in bowl, and pour over the aromatics, left over soy sauce and vinegar. Add remaining ingredients and mix together garnishing with chopped avocado. Would also be lovely with garlic prawns, roast peppers or cucumber.

Friday Night Dinners...

Our family runs by the 80-20 rule - healthy food most of the time, but we do also need our treats. And so began the Friday night tradition... Basically the most well behaved person in the house gets to choose their favourite dinner and dessert. This person almost always turns out to be my 4 year old son Jack who has a penchant for fish and chips and all things junk. The challenge is to health it up a bit and also add a new spin on it. So tonight Jack would like Chicken Burgers and Chips.

Chicken Burgers are a firm favourite in this household and here follows the recipe for my favourite style of burger - chicken accessorised with bacon and avocado. I like to serve my burgers in mini pita breads as a healthier option as we prefer more protein and less carbs in our diet. Normally I am quite a purist when it comes to all things culinary but when it comes to chips - I can't be asked. I usually resort to buying ready fried chips hot from the local chip shop smothered in salt and vinegar or bags of the cholestrol friendly variety from the frozen section. These are best served with cheats aoli which I whip up by mixing my favourite mayonnaise with roast garlic(chop the top off a whole garlic, drench in olive oil and roast til soft before squeezing it out and mixing it into the mayo).

Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Burgers

2 chicken breasts
4 rashers bacon
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
1 tbs plum sauce
salt and pepper
4 wholemeal pita breads
avocado
tomato
lettuce
gherkins
aoli

In a food processor whizz together chicken, bacon, egg, flour, plum sauce and seasoning. If you don't have plum sauce(a personal favourite of mine), cranberry sauce would be a great substitute. Divide your pulverized burger mix into 4 and shape into burger size patties. Place on a greased baking tray and grill for about 7 minutes on each size until golden.

Spray pita breads with a little olive oil spray then grill on either side to crispen up. Slit open the pita bread and spread some aoli on the base. Then add layers of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, chicken bacon burger and finally some mashed avocado.

Serve with fries on the side and a dollop of aoli.

Tonight these burgers were enjoyed with a bottle of french pinot noir and followed by some very dark and delicious chocolate.