ITV's James Martin’s Saturday Morning - Dog Food Recipes Your Hound Will Love
ITV's James Martin’s Saturday Morning - Dog Food Recipes Your Hound Will Love
by Chief Taste Tester, Poppy from Poppy’s Picnic and Dylan Watkins
We hope you enjoyed watching our fresh feeding feature on James Martin’s Saturday Morning. Feeding fresh is simpler than you might think and adding just a little bit of freshness to their diet can make a world of difference to a dog’s health and wellbeing.
As the Pet Food Manufacturers Association Pet Obesity Report shows, over 50% of dogs are obese and suffering from conditions such as cancer and diabetes, likely because they cannot digest many of the grains, fillers and preservatives found in highly processed dog foods.
Feeding a biologically appropriate diet has many benefits including better oral health, fewer skin allergies and even smaller, odourless, pickupable poo so why not give it a try!
These recipes are a great occasional meal or snack, but the best way to ensure your dog is getting all of the vital vitamins and minerals they need in the right quantity is by feeding a balanced raw diet such as Poppy’s Picnic raw Mince and Meatballs.
Happy feeding!
Love,
Dylan and Poppy x
~ Hound-friendly Hummus ~
This is a fantastic adapted hummus recipe that’s safe for hounds. It omits garlic and lemon juice which if consumed in large quantities can be bad for dogs.
Ingredients
200g of canned chickpeas
1 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)
4 tbsp water
Pinch of cumin
Pinch salt
Pinch paprika
Method
Drain the chickpeas and rinse. Combine the chickpeas, cumin, tahini, water and salt together and blitz until smooth in a food processor and sprinkle over some paprika to serve.
~ Paw Canapes ~
These canapes are fresh, flavoursome and have great mouthfeel, giving your dog a first class eating experience.
Makes 8 canapes
Ingredients
Quarter of a cucumber
A dollop of hound-friendly hummus (see recipe above)
8 cooked king prawns
Method
So easy, your dog could make them!
Slice the cucumber thinly, add half a teaspoon of hummus and pop a prawn on top.
Voila...well...WOOF!
~ Muttley’s Raw Meatballs ~
A yummy ‘pasta’ and meatball dish that provides your dog their Lady and the Tramp moment but with food they can digest with no grains, just goodness.
N.B. None of this recipe requires cooking. Once you start to cook food it breaks down the vitamins and minerals that are essential to your dog. Never give your dog cooked bone - it hardens when cooked and can splinter.
N.B. This recipe contains bone which acts as a fantastic natural toothbrush and is packed full of minerals and nutrients. Just as an ‘apple a day keeps the doctor away’ the same goes for ‘give your dog a bone’. If your mincer isn’t strong enough to mince the bone, just use good quality lamb mince instead.
Ingredients
Raw Meatballs (makes 8 meatballs)
220g lamb chops, minced (and the bone!)
10g Liver (beef or chicken)
10g Beef Kidney
Spirulina (big pinch)
Supports the immune system and prevents inflammation. Is rich in nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and essential amino acids. Spirulina can ward off inflammation and other diseases in the body, and is excellent for protecting the immune system, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease
Wheatgrass (big pinch)
Helps to boost immunity. Stimulates metabolism and contains chlorophyll, vitamins A, C and E, iron, calcium and magnesium and can also increase red blood cells in the body
½ teaspoon of coconut oil
Has a reputation for fighting off viruses and the treatment of skin conditions. Increasingly regarded for its health potential, coconut oil contains high levels of antioxidants which can reduce inflammation, help alleviate arthritis, and heal urinary and kidney infections
Turmeric (pinch)
Contains antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Renowned for centuries for its digestive benefits, its powerful anti-inflammatory powers can alleviate joint pain and protect liver function. A great general circulation stimulant that provides aid for dogs with mobility issues
Tomato Sauce
1 beef tomato
1 tbsp flaxseed oil
Rich in omega-3, flaxseed oil can promote healthier heart function, calmer moods and decreased inflammation, while also promoting healthier skin and hair
Spiralised ‘Spaghetti’
Spiralised butternut squash, swede or a parsnip
Parmesan Sprinkles
5g of Parmesan
Stem of Basil
Small handful of Coriander
Small handful of Parsley
Fresh herbs are a great natural breath freshener and help to improve overall gum and dental health. Many also have anti-inflammatory properties which can help issues such as arthritis and cancer
Method
To make the meatballs, mince the lamb chops, liver and kidney.
Add in the spirulina, wheatgrass, coconut oil and turmeric and mix well.
Scoop out level dessert spoons of the mix, and roll them into balls - roughly 30g each (you may find it easier to put a little coconut oil on your hands to help you shape them).
To make the sauce, grate a large buffalo tomato and add a drizzle of flaxseed oil. Season with a little pepper and a small pinch of salt.
Spiralise the vegetables and put into a bowl
For the parmesan sprinkles, blitz parmesan, basil, coriander and parsley in a small blender (or use a fine grater).
To serve, grab a small amount of the spiralised vegetables, place a few meatballs and spoon over some tomato sauce. Finish with the parmesan sprinkles.
Feeding kibble and wanting to add some freshness?
Think about adding some of these amazing foods to superfood up their bowl
- Fresh turmeric
- Sardines in spring water (just not oil, brine or tomato sauce)
- Pomegranate seeds
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Egg (not cooked)
- Liver / kidney (always uncooked)
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Celery
- Radish
- Celeriac
- Strawberry
- Raspberries
- Prawns
- Soaked almonds
- Mussels
Are you going to give it a go? We look forward to seeing you and your pups get busy in the kitchen - we'd love to see photos! If you haven't already, follow us on social media to get all the updates before and after the show! Tweet us at @poppyspicnic or @sat_jamesmartin and use the hashtag #poppyspicnic to let us know what you think of our fresh feeding feature 😊
Visit poppyspicnic.co.uk for all our products.