This is a collection of some of my favorite recipes that prove that nutritious foods can be delicious! I love to experiment with and create new recipes. Here are some that are tried and true. Let me know what you think! If you have a better version, I'm game!
As with many dishes, the flavor grows day by day. I didn't have any jalapeños at the time, so I used some grated red pepper flakes, and that worked well. A bit of a kick tempered by the coconut milk.
INGREDIENTS
3tablespoons neutral oil, such as sunflower or canola
1large onion, chopped
2jalapeños, seeded or not, thinly sliced
1bay leaf
1knob ginger (about 1 inch), minced
4garlic cloves, minced
1 ½teaspoons garam masala
1teaspoon ground cumin
½teaspoon ground turmeric
2(15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed
1(13.5-ounce) can coconut milk (I used lite and let it simmer for longer to thicken)
1(13.5-ounce) can pumpkin purée
1 ½teaspoons fine sea salt, more as needed
¾cup chopped cilantro, more for serving
2 to 3tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Cooked rice or couscous, for serving (optional)
PREPARATION
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in onion, jalapeño and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden on the edges, about 8 minutes.
Add ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in garam masala, cumin and turmeric; cook for an additional 30 seconds.
Stir in chickpeas, coconut milk, pumpkin, 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the flavors meld. (Add more water if it starts to look too thick.) Stir in cilantro and lime juice to taste. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
Serve over rice or couscous if you like, and top with more cilantro and lime wedges on the side.
This was good - the dressing was very good. Obviously easy to vary the ingredients. Maybe try pistachios?? The apples I used were not that tart - will try again with better apples! Easy!
My favorite fresh salad featuring healthy greens, sliced apple, toasted pepitas, dried cranberries and crumbled goat cheese. Toss with my simple apple cider vinaigrette (recipe below) or use balsamic dressing in a pinch. Recipe yields 2 full-sized salads or 4 to 6 side salads.
SCALE
INGREDIENTS
Green salad
5 ounces (about 5 cups) spring greens salad blend
1 large or 2 small Granny Smith apple(s)
⅓ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) or chopped raw pecans
Toast the pepitas: In a medium-sized skillet, toast the pepitas over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they are turning golden on the edges and making little popping noises (if using pecans instead, warm them just until they are fragrant). Transfer the pepitas to a small bowl to cool.
Make the dressing: In a cup or jar, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard and salt until well blended. Season to taste with pepper.
Just before serving, chop the apple into thin, bite-sized pieces. Place your greens in a large serving bowl. Top with sliced apple, dried cranberries and toasted pepitas. Use a fork to crumble the goat cheese over the salad.
Drizzle the salad with just enough dressing to lightly coat the leaves once tossed (you probably won’t need all of it). Gently toss to mix all of the ingredients and serve!
NOTES
MAKE IT VEGAN: Substitute maple syrup for the honey and omit the cheese.
STORAGE SUGGESTIONS:Spring greens wilt quickly once they’ve been tossed with dressing, so store dressing separately from the greens. Apples oxidize quickly once they’re cut open, so I chop them just before serving the salad. For a salad with more longevity, swap chopped kale for the spring greens (like this). Bonus? The dressing will keep the chopped apples looking fresh.