It's our last Mindful Eating recipe for 2020!

And this week Izelle Hoffman is helping us get ready for our Christmas feasts - Mindfully! 

Her love language is food, she cooks and shares and loves a big, busy, loud table of kids and grown ups and crackers! If that sounds like your dream Christmas lunch or dinner, then this showstopping recipe is for you! 

Festive roast

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings: 6–8

2 kg topside roast

150 g dried apricots

200 g dried peaches

75 g whole red salad onions/scallions chopped (leaves included) 

4 small white onions, chopped

olive oil for drizzling

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 

¼ tsp Oryx desert wine salt

¼ tsp paprika

3 whole garlic bulbs

coarse Oryx desert salt

1 1/2 cups hot water 

¼ cup raw honey

Fresh Rosemary for Garnishing

1. Remove the roast from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking to come up to room temperature.
2. Soak the dried apricots and peaches in cold water for 30 minutes before using.
3. Preheat the oven to 200 °C on thermo-fan and spray a large roasting tray with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Pile the red and white onions, apricots and peaches in the middle of the roasting tray and drizzle with olive oil.
5. 5. Prepare the meat by drizzling with olive oil and 1 Tbsp of the balsamic vinegar, and seasoning with the wine salt and 1/4 tsp of the paprika.
6. Place the roast on top of the onions, apricots and peaches.
7. Cut the garlic bulbs in half horizontally, drizzle with olive oil and season with coarse salt. Add to the roasting tray.
8. Roast for 20 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 170 °C and roast for another hour (or 15 minutes per 500 g for medium rare). You can cover the Roast with foil once you are happy with the colour. The meat will continue to cook once removed from the oven to be medium when served.
9. Remove the roast, place on a clean tray and cover with foil. Let it rest for about 20 minutes before carving. This will give you enough time to prepare the chunky peach and apricot gravy.
10. Remove the garlic from the roasting tray and set aside. You will serve this with the roast.
11. Add the hot water, honey and remaining balsamic vinegar to the roasting tray and deglaze over low heat by stirring in all of the caramelised juices, peaches and apricots. Season with course salt and the remaining paprika.
12. Bring to a simmer and stir occasionally until the gravy thickens.
13. Carve the roast and serve with the gravy and roast garlic and vegetables sides of your choice. Garnish with fresh Rosemary

*Deglazing involves adding liquid to a hot pan so that you can scrape up those flavorsome browned bits of food that stick to the bottom and make oh-so-tasty gravy #YoureWelcome

Why we are using the following ingredients:

Oryx Salt

What is the purpose of adding salt during cooking? It’s to enhance flavour, right? So why not start by using a good-quality salt to do the job? Sun-dried and unrefined with no additives will bring out the best in your food in the healthiest way possible.

Raw Honey

Salt needs sweet and vice versa to enhance taste and flavour. So when you add sweetness, choose a sweetness that has a healing effect on your body and health. Raw honey is antiviral and anti-fungal, and contains powerful antioxidants. Its helps ward off allergies, stabilise blood pressure and balance blood sugar levels. It also boosts the immune system and promotes digestive health.

Olive Oil

We all have our reasons why we prefer certain oils, but without a doubt my oil base of choice is olive oil, specifically for its amazing health benefits. Olive oil helps reduce inflammation and prevent osteoporosis, and is essential for bone health because it assists in the absorption of calcium and the mineralisation of bones, all of which are qualities I look for in a product, given my hip dysplasia and related joint pain.

Onion

Onions are a natural antibiotic and antiseptic, so are a big YES, especially in winter. They purify the blood, regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion. They are also anti-inflammatory. In addition to fresh onions, in my pantry you will find dried onion powder and flakes.

Garlic

Antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory, garlic assists in detoxification and boosting the metabolism, and is a natural dewormer that kills parasites. I use both black and white fresh garlic, and keep dried garlic powder and flakes in my pantry.

Rosemary

Rosemary is not just another herb! It is an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial immune booster that helps liver detoxification and improves blood circulation.

Paprika

Smoked or sweet, paprika is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and high in vitamin C. It helps ease arthritis and joint pain, and aids in iron and antioxidant absorption.

We chatted about anxiety, Christmas, and our plans for 2021! Listen here:

Another one ingredient challenge: What's in your fridge?

You can buy your copy of the award winning 'Mindful Eating' cookbook here!

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