Top 20 Additive-Free Recipes (2024)

Spinach Wraps

Did you know that store-bought spinach wraps only have spinach seasoning in them? So how are green? From the artificial blue and yellow food dyes (colours 133 and 102) that are added in the ingredients. Not to mention there are multiple preservatives in there too. It really is easy to make your own and they’re completely additive-free.

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EveryMite and Cheese Scrolls

You know that famous black, salty, breakfast spread? Well you might be surprised to know that it contains types glutamate yeast and barley malt extracts as well as nasty caramel colour 150C. We prefer EveryMite instead which, whilst it doesn’t taste exactly the same, is a much healthier additive-free option and makes these scrolls taste delicious.

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Banana Bread

Ain’t no preservatives, artificial or natural flavours in this baby! Just 7 real food ingredients and it tastes delicious. It’s also a beautiful way to use old over ripe bananas too.

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Vegetable Stock Paste

This will replace your veggie stock cubes or veggie stock which can be laden with MSG. Instead this recipes uses up old wilting veggies and also all the bits you would normally discard like carrot tops, broccoli and cauliflower leaves and stalks, etc. You can even dehydrate the paste and turn it into a stock powder.

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BBQ Spice Mix

This additive-free spice mix is so yummy and versatile on so many things and it’s free from glutamates and artificial flavours.

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Slow-Cooked Lamb Curry

A hearty winter warming recipe that is economical using lamb shoulder, and is far less complicated than a lot of other curry recipes.

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Thai Beef Salad

This is a must have whenever we go out for dinner. But why not have it at home when you know for sure what is in it. You could also turn this into a simple vegetarian dish by leaving out the meat.

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Zucchini Fritters

These are a great way to get some good veg into you and your family. They’re perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner and can be mixed up with whatever veg you have lying around.

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Cauli Waffles

This is another versatile recipe that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Our kids love them and we’re sure you will too.

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Sweet Potato Lentil Boats

This recipe was created purely from a need to use up leftovers, being lentil bolognese and we stumbled upon a winner winner vegetarian dinner!

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Slow-Cooked Curried Sausages

A curried sausage recipe is a staple if everyone’s household right? This one doesn’t disappoint because it is made with preservative-free sausages and tastes delish.

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Oven Fried Chicken

This has been one of the most popular recipes on our website for years now. The flour with it’s not-so-secret herbs and spices is very reminiscent of a fast food chain that we all know but without all the additives. So give it a try, we’re sure you will love it!

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Tandoori Lamb Kebabs

Kebabs can be so versatile. You could have these for lunch, dinner or a snack, take them to an outing or just at home for no occasion other than they are amazing! They can be totally adapted to include whatever meat or veg your fussy eaters may want.

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Slow-Cooked Roast Chicken

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on those supermarket rotisserie hot chickens? There’s over 50 ingredients with a multitude of additives including MSG, flavours, colours and more. We know these can be convenient to buy, however, when this recipe is so simple, it literally takes a minute or two to put it all in the slow cooker, there’s really no need to buy the additive laden version.

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Peppermint Bliss Balls

Using 100% pure food-grade peppermint essential oil and preservative-free desiccated coconut, these make the perfect school lunchbox treat or for that afternoon pick-me-up.

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ANZAC Biscuits

We used to have a packet of the supermarket version of these for masterclasses to show people the additives in them. The packet we had didn’t go mouldy until about 3 years after we bought them. They still looked fresh as a daisy in their packaging for years! Do we really want to be eating something that takes that long to go bad? Give this additive-free recipe a try which is quick and simple to make.

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Aunty Betty Plain Biscuits

These are the ultimate easy biscuit recipe. They make 5 dozen biscuits! That’s enough for now and enough to have in the freezer when you need them. They can also easily be turned into chocolate, choc-chip or jam drop biscuits. Very yummy and very versatile.

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Easy Lemon Slice

This Lemon Slice is super tasty! There are only a few simple steps to create it and it will freeze really well (iced and all) – do it, you will love it! It’s great for school lunches being nut free, but it’s perfect to take for a morning tea, playgroup or just with a nice cuppa relaxing with a good book!

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Coconut Cake

We LOVE cake and this coconut cake we believe is one of the best. It’s perfect with a cuppa for afternoon tea, it freezes well and is great for school lunches. Just be sure to get preservative-free coconut. You can easily source this from the supermarket these days.

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Chocolate Ice-Cream

Have you always been hesitant to make your own ice-cream? We can assure there’s no need to be, it is actually really easy. Store-bought ice-cream can be laden with really nasty additives like preservatives, annatto 160b, caramel colours, artificial colours, flavours, carrageenan and more.

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For more information on additives, have a look around our website as you will find plenty blog posts and podcast episodes about them as well as checking out our App where you can scan ingredients and detect any additives as you shop!

If you give these recipes a try, let us know. Leave a comment below or take a pic and tag us in it over on Facebook or Instagram. We love to see all your cooking posts.

Enjoy!

Much love,
Jo and Tracey x