Full of smoky flavor and a texture similar to lox, these smoked carrots give your plant-based brunch a blissful makeover. Use the charcoal pancake recipe from the book or sub-in a savory pancake and enjoy.
These carrots are a nod towards smoked salmon and such a creative way to recreate that uniquely smokey salty flavour in a plant-based way.
There is something so exciting about working out how to reimagine anything just using good, honest in-season vegetables. It’s a real showstopper for a weekend brunch with friends and a great meal if you decide to make a big batch and enjoy in several portions throughout the week, tossing the carrots through salads or cooking in stir-fries.
Smoked Carrot Lox on Savory Pancakes
Brunch never tasted so good. This vegan carrot lox is a game-changer.
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 2 nori sheets
- 3 large carrots peeled, topped, and tailed
- 3 tbsp smoked salt
- 3 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 whole star anise
- ½ cup kelp or dulse flakes
- 1 cup olive oil
To serve
- 1 batch savory pancake batter of choice
- cultured dairy-free cream
- handful of rosemary or candied walnuts
- handful of washed green leaves
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan (200°C/400°F/Gas 6).
For the carrots
- Line a small baking tin with high sides with one sheet of foiland one sheet of baking paper –both pieces should be large enoughthat they will be able to seal the whole way around the carrots withoutany gap.
- Place one nori sheet on the baking paper, then cut the peeled carrots inhalf and lay them onto the nori, squeezing each one next to the otheras tightly as possible. You should be able to make two layers of carrots,depending on your topping.
- Sprinkle the carrots with the salt, paprika, star anise and seaweed andthen top with the other nori sheet. Drench the carrots in olive oil,making sure they are totally submerged. We are cooking them ‘confit’,meaning cooking under oil, which gives them a gloriously soft texture.Seal the paper and foil around the carrots, scrunching the foil to makea tight seal and being careful not to leave any holes for the oil to escape.Bake for 2 hours until the carrots are soft. You can check them by verycarefully opening the parcel and piercing a knife the whole way through a carrot to check it is soft. Leave the carrots to cool. When they reachroom temperature, pour theoil into a jar to use for dressings.
- Place the cooked carrots on your chopping board, soft side down,and finely slice horizontally, making long thin slices. This simple andmeditative way in which you carefully slice the carrots once they arecooked is the key to making them resemble smoked salmon.
For the pancakes
- Heat a frying pan over a medium heat with a little oiland ladle the pancake batter into the pan to make rounds the size of acoaster. Cook them for 1 minute on each side and continue until youhave the number of pancakes you would like.
- Top each pancake with some Cultured Cashew Cream, the smokedcarrots, walnuts, and leaves, dressing each pancake with a drizzle of the cooking oil and a squeeze of lemon.
Give these kimchi and black bean tostadas a try next!
Reprinted with permission from Mind Food : Plant-Based Recipes for Positive Mental Health, Lauren Lovatt (2022, Leaping Hare Press)
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