Ingredients

300g Soft Light Brown Sugar
3 Eggs
300ml Sunflower Oil
300g Plain Flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon, plus extra to decorate
½ tsp Ground Ginger
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp Vanilla Extract
300g Beauregard (Orange) Kumara , grated
100g Shelled Walnuts, chopped, plus extra, chopped and whole, to decorate
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For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
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600g Icing Sugar, sifted
100g Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
250g Cream Cheese, cold
 
Line the bottoms of 3 x 20cm cake tins with baking paper.
Instructions

1.     Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas 3.
2.     Put the sugar, eggs and oil in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat until all the ingredients are well incorporated (don’t worry if the mixture looks slightly split). Slowly add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt and vanilla extract and continue to beat until well mixed.
3.     Stir in the grated kumara and walnuts by hand until they are all evenly dispersed. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tins and smooth over with a palette knife. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and the sponge bounces back when touched. Leave the cakes to cool slightly in the tins before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
4.     For the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.
5.     Add the cream cheese in one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed.
6.     Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Do not overbeat, as it can quickly become runny.
7.     When the cakes are cold, put one on a cake stand and spread about one-quarter of the Cream Cheese Frosting over it with a palette knife. Place a second cake on top and spread another quarter of the frosting over it.
8.     Top with the last cake and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides. Finish with walnuts and a light sprinkling of cinnamon.

Baked kumara, spiced chickpeas with kumara hummus dressing
Serves 4 as a side Prep time 10 mins Cook time 30 mins
 
2 medium orange kumara, washed, sliced in half lengthwise
425 g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon each cumin, coriander, smoked paprika
 
Dressing
1/4 cup Kumara hummus
1 tablespoon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
Water to thin a little
 
To garnish
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
½ red onion, sliced finely
small handful parsley and coriander, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
 
Method
 
Preheat oven to 200 Degrees c. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Toss rinsed and drained chickpeas with olive oil and spices and place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Rub the kumara with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper, place on the same baking sheet and bake for 25 - 30m.
 
Meanwhile prepare your dressing by adding all ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisking to combine, add enough water to thin so it’s pourable. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
 
For the topping, simply combine the tomato, onion, parsley and coriander with lemon juice and set aside. Once the kumara are fork tender and the chickpeas are golden brown - roughly 30 minutes - remove from oven.
 
For serving, place kumara flesh-side up and gently fluff with a fork. Top with chickpeas, sauce and garnish. Serve immediately.

Recipe created by Brett McGregor

Prep time 20 Cook time 55-60
 
 1 cup butter, softened
 2 cups white sugar
 2 cups Orange and gold kumara, cooked until soft then mashed
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 4 eggs
 3 cups flour
 2 teaspoons baking powder
 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
 1/4 teaspoon salt
100g butter, softened
 2 ½ cups icing sugar
125g cream cheese, room temp
 Zest and juice of half a lemon or to taste
 A little hot water to thin
 
Method
 
Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Grease and flour a 25cm round pound cake tin. Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add kumara and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time. Add flour mixture to kumara mixture. Beat on low until combined.
Pour mix into round pound cake tin. Bake at 175 degrees C for about 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into cake comes out clean. Cool cake for 20 minutes in the pan, then invert onto wire rack.
To make the icing: in a small bowl. Beat the butter and cream cheese together combine with icing sugar. Add lemon juice and a touch of hot water to achieve drizzling consistency. Spoon over warm cake and sprinkle with zest.

Recipe created by Brett McGregor

Prep time:20 mins
Cook time:15 mins 
Serves: 6

​The perfect start to any weekend - Kumara Waffles! The kids will love them, and so will you!

Ingredients
       2½ cups all-purpose flour
       ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
       2¼ tsp baking powder
       1 tsp baking soda
       ½ tsp salt
       2 tsp ground cinnamon
       1 tsp ground ginger
       ¼ tsp ground cloves (optional)
       4 large eggs
       1 cup milk
       1 cup buttermilk
       1 cup Orange Kumara, boiled, mashed (cooled)
       6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
       Chopped pecans, for serving
       3 tbsp Maple syrup
       1 cup sour cream
       2 pears, sliced

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
2. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, buttermilk, Orange Kumara and melted butter. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients, folding just until combined. The mix will be slightly lumpy.
3. Combine the maple with the sour cream and set aside.
4. Preheat the waffle baker and lightly grease it with butter. Add a portion of the batter to the waffle baker, close the lid and cook until fully baked. Remove the waffle then repeat with the remaining waffle batter.
5. Top the waffles with pear, chopped pecans, maple and sour cream. Serve immediately.
   

Recipe created by Brett McGregor

A fragrant and filling warm salad in honour of National Nut Day on October 22nd. You’ll love the colour and crunch the pistachios add to this dish!

Pistachio & kumara couscous

Prep time    10 mins     Cook time      20 mins      Total time  30 mins

Cuisine: Kiwi, Middle Eastern
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 cup chicken stock, almost boiling
• 1½ tbsp olive oil, divided measure
• 1 orange kumara
• ½ cup broccoli, broken into small florets and blanched
• ½ onion, finely diced
• 1 carrot, finely diced
• ½ tsp each cumin, coriander and turmeric
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 1 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 100g pistachio nuts, dry toasted with 2 tbsp sunflower seeds and ½ tsp paprika
• ½ cup mixed parsley and coriander,
• Sliced zest of a lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place couscous into a bowl and pour in hot stock. Add ½ tbsp oil and combine. Cover and let steam for about 3 minutes. Remove cover and fluff with a fork. Set aside.
2. Roll the kumara in a paper towel and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Peel and dice. Place into a med bowl with the blanched broccoli. Set aside.
3. Heat a pan on a med heat and add the oil. When hot add the onions, carrots and cook until sweet, about 5 minutes, then add the tomato then cumin, coriander, turmeric, season and combine. Add 3 tbsp of water and combine.
4. Add the chickpeas and cook for a further 2 minutes or until heated through. Remove. Add the warmed chickpeas to the fluffed couscous and combine, now add the broccoli and kumara. Add the fresh herbs with the zest and gently combine.
5. Season, finally sprinkle over the roughly chopped pistachio and sunflower mix to serve.

Recipe created by Brett McGregor

Prep time    10 mins            Cook time   15 mins   Total time   25 mins

Super simple, tasty recipe using beautiful Kaipara Kumara - New Zealand's very own superfood. This dish has origins in India and goes deliciously with lamb.
Serves: 4 as a side

Ingredients

• 100ml veg oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 red onion, finely diced
• 3 tsp garlic paste
• 3 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 2 tsp coriander seeds, toasted and ground
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 large kumara, diced
• 2 tbsp fresh coriander
• 2 green chillies, minced added to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large pan and add the cumin. Cook until they just begin to change colour. Stir in the onion and cook until turning golden.
2. Add the garlic paste, spices and salt and cook this base until fragrant. Add the kumara and combine. Cook over a medium heat until the oil separates, then add 2 cups of water. Continue to cook until the kumara is soft and the water has evaporated.
3. Remove from heat and add the coriander and chilli to serve.

Be kind to yourselves…blend yourself up this kumara and berry smoothie – your body will thank you for it! Up the Anti - Kumara and Berry smoothie

Author: Brett McGregor
Cuisine: Health
Serves: 500ml

Ingredients

• ⅛ Orange kumara, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup mixed berries
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup of coconut water
• 1 tsp wild blueberry blend (optional)

Recipe created by Brett McGregor

Kumara Cakes with Italian Meringue 
Makes 12

Kumara cakes
1/2 cup kumara puree – bake kumara for 1 hour at 180dc or until super soft, puree flesh in food processor until smooth
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
 
Mapled Italian meringue
 2 large egg whites
 ¾ cup sugar
¼ cup water
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
 
Method
Heat oven to 180dc.
Line a Baking tray with baking paper or silicone baking mat.
 
Beat the kumara puree, maple syrup, and brown sugar with a mixer until smooth. Add in extract and egg, and beat until well combined.
 
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and stir until fully incorporated.
 
Using a small spoon, scoop mix onto prepared tray (the mix doesn’t spread out, but does puff up). Bake until cakes have puffed up and are dry to the touch, about 8-10 minutes. Let cakes rest on baking tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
 
To make the meringue - in a medium-sized saucepan combine the sugar and water. Heat over low heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, turn the heat to medium-high and allow the syrup to come to a boil.
 
In the meantime, add the egg whites to a medium-sized, heatproof bowl and using electric beaters beat until foamy and the whites are almost able to hold soft peaks.
 
Once the syrup is boiling, clip on a thermometer. Cook until the syrup reaches 116°C (or the soft ball stage), then take the pan off the heat and slowly drizzle the hot syrup into the bowl with the foamy egg whites, mixing continuously to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
 
Once all the syrup has been added, keep mixing until the bottom of the bowl feels cool to the touch and the meringue has cooled down to body temperature.
Use immediately.
 
To make…
Spoon 1 tsp of the marshmallow mixture on top of half of the cooled cookies. Top with remaining cookies, gently pressing down to stick together. Chill assembled kumara cakes until filling has set.

Recipe created by Brett McGregor

Perfect for kids parties and as an extra treat you could put a few M&Ms inside!
These were such a hit

• 1 cup of dried dates
• 1 cup cashews (or other nuts or seeds)
• up to 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 cup shredded coconut (plus more for rolling)
• 1 cup boiled orange kumara

Add all ingredients to the food processor, blitz until combined, stopping occasionally to push the mixture down.
Grab a little mixture, place 2 to 3 M&Ms in the middle, roll around in your palm, then roll/coat in extra shredded coconut.

Store in the fridge or freezer till required.
Recipe created by Nicci Webb from At a Pinch (www.atapinch.com)

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 4 eggs
• 1-1/4 cups canola oil
• 3 cups shredded peeled kumara
  
• 1 teaspoon rum extract
• 1 can crushed pineapple, drained
  
• 1 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• Icing:
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 4 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon rum extract
• 1-1/2 cups ground walnuts
  

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Add the eggs, oil, kumara and extract; beat until combined. Stir in the pineapple, raisins and walnuts.
   
2. Fill 12 greased or paper-lined jumbo muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Beat in the sugars and extracts until smooth. Frost sides of cakes; roll in walnuts. Place cakes upside down and frost tops with remaining frosting. Yield: 1 dozen.