#OnePlanetPlate

For Earth Hour 2018, chefs across the world will put sustainability on the menu by showcasing a recipe that reflects their work in addressing food system issues. Titled “One Planet Plate”, this Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) campaign will highlight chefs’ contributions to start a dialogue around food system issues that galvanises diners to re-think their food choices.

A chef’s perspective: Conor Spacey on One Planet Plate

I am delighted to play a small part in “One planet plate” this year. For me, it’s a perfect opportunity to highlight a growing worldwide problem that’s very close to my heart- “Our Food”.

Our food system is not working and to make a change we have to become sustainable. As chefs, it’s our responsibility to push for change, buy and grow sustainably and talk to our customers to help them make changes at home.

I’m not a vegetarian and all our kitchens only work with small scale local farmers which have less environmental impact on meat production, but I do enjoy plant and vegetables dishes. Here I have done a simple dish using all of a cauliflower.

“Chargrilled cauliflower, labneh, whey cauliflower rice, kimchi & rapeseed”

Ingredients: Serves 4

• 1 large local cauliflower
• 500ml sheeps yoghurt
• Local rapeseed oil
• 1 bunch fresh coriander

For the Kimchi:

• 2 fresh chillies
• Seasalt
• 1 glove garlic
• 1 garlic glove size of ginger
• 6 scallions
• 1 teaspoon sugar

To start:

1. Cauliflower Kimchi – a great and simple way to use cauliflower leaves. Pick the small leaves and slice the large (removing the root) until all the same size. Sprinkle with seasalt and cover with water, leave to stand for 2 hours. Drain the leaves and wash well under running water, squeeze dry to remove any excess. Chop the chillies, garlic and ginger and mix together into a paste. Using gloves rub the paste over the leaves until all covered and place into a flip top jar. Press well down into the jar and seal. Leave at room temperature for 4 days, place in the fridge. It will keep here for a month
2. Making the labneh – using local sheep’s yoghurt strain through muslin over a container or bowl so that you can keep the whey. I usually leave for at least 4-5 hours so to get the right consistency. If you like it thicker then leave longer. When strained whisk in 3-4 teaspoons of rapeseed oil.
3. With the head of the cauliflower cut of the sides so that it is a square shape, and then cut the square into four “steaks”. Rub with rapeseed oil and season with sea salt and black pepper.
4. Gather the off cuts from the cauliflower head and place into a blender. Blend until it is a couscous like consistency.
5. Heat a chargrill or skillet until hot ( better if you have a bbq J) and place the cauliflower steaks onto it, cook for 3-4 mins on each side or until cooked. Get a nice colour on it that will add to the flavour
6. For the “Couscous” heat a pan and pour in enough whey (left over from the sheeps yoghurt) to cover the bottom of the pan put in the couscous and season with sea salt, black pepper and cook until fluffy. When ready add chopped coriander.

To plate very simply spread the labneh across the centre of the plate , then spoon over some couscous, place the  steak on top, then depending on how much you like put at least a dessert spoon of kimchi on top ….enjoy!

How One Planet Plate works:

The SRA asks chefs to submit a One Planet Plate recipe to the campaign and feature this dish on their menu for Earth Hour on the 24th of March. While there are no criteria, this recipe should address one of the six sustainability themes: celebrates local; features more veg; has a low carbon food print; includes better meat; sources fish sustainably; and wastes no food.

Diners can engage in this campaign in two ways. A One Planet Plate map plots all the restaurants participating in this campaign at which diners are encouraged to enjoy and snap a “hero dish” to share on social media using #OnePlanetPlate.  Additionally, a digital copy of the One Planet Plate recipes submitted by the participating chefs are published on the campaign’s website, accessible to all.

All of this is to galvanise diners and home-cooks to use the power of their food choices to create positive change. Diners have the opportunity to make a promise using #EarthHourPromise.

How to engage:

• Follow Chef Conor Spacey: @SpaceyChef
• Submit a recipe: oneplanetplate@thesra.org
• Check out One Planet Plate’s map and compilation of recipes
• Eat, snap & share a #OnePlanetPlate dish on social media 
• Follow this campaign: @FoodMadeGood #OnePlanetPlate