Browsing Tag

vegetarian

Peach Tostada

September 26, 2012

This might actually be too simple to call a recipe, but that’s ok. Most of my at home recipes are simple, and I know that most of you don’t have time for complicated anyway! The great thing about this dish is that you can customize it to suit your mood. More spice, less spice, different herbs.. the options are endless.

The crispy tortillas are the perfect contrast to the sweet, juicy peaches. They’re mixed together with lettuce, avocado tossed in tangy lime juice. This would be great as a side dish for a picnic but it’s also hearty enough to be a full meal. The plan was to save the leftovers for lunch the next day, but if you put a bowl of food between my fella and I, leftovers don’t stand a chance.

Peach Tostada

Ingredients:

  • corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas
  • black beans
  • avocado, choped
  • romaine lettuce, sliced
  • 1/2 of a small red onion, finely chopped
  • juice and zest of 1 lime
  • 2 ripe peaches, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped mint (or you could use cilantro)

Directions:

  1. Combine chopped peaches, mint and lime juice in a bowl and mix.
  2. Place tortillas in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes on each side, until warm and crispy.
  3. Top with all of the toppings.

(Photo Credit: my sister, Jenny Norris – jjnorris.com)

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Melon Salad

September 24, 2012
melon-salad

Even though it’s perfectly legit to enjoy a melon with nothing but a fork, it only takes a few extra steps for something even a little more special. You can serve this as an afternoon snack, or alongside a more elaborate meal.

You may be surprised at the sight of basil, show curious interest in the addition of olive oil but it will surely prompt an addiction to each salty, sweet, cool and crunchy bite. It’s as simple as a few ingredients and magically transcends the sum of its parts, as they say. With Autumn well upon us, this may be our last chance to enjoy a few last bites of summer.

Melon Salad

Vegan, Raw & Gluten-free

Ingredients:

  • seedless watermelon, cubed
  • cantaloupe, seeds removed and cubed
  • cucumbers, cut into large chunks
  • Several branches of fresh basil
  • 1 Jalapeno–thinly sliced or diced small
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • olive oil
  • pinch of sea salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Prep the ingredients, being careful to put each in its own container. Remove basil leaves from the stem, tear.
  2. For the chili vinaigrette, remove seeds from the pepper and rinse before slicing, dice the pepper and add to the lime juice. Let macerate for several minutes. Add a healthy splash of olive oil to the citrus and pepper mix. Add salt and pepper for taste.
  3. When ready to serve, build each salad individually with an equal portion of colorful melon and cucumber. Toss with two tablespoons of chili vinaigrette and a big pinch of fresh basil. Top each portion with a nice drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.
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Pasta Alla Checca

July 18, 2012
pasta-alla-checca

Vegetarian delight, pasta alla checca is a simple, quick and delectable dish from Italy. It is served in the summer months when tomatoes and basil are at their peak. It is ideally savored during the sultry months when one doesn’t want to spend too much time over a hot stove. It consists of uncooked tomatoes and simple Italian herbs, basil and the outcome is delizioso (translated means “delicious”).

Earlier this summer my boyfriend and I spent a weekend in Rome for my birthday. We had such a wonderful time and I wanted to recreate one of our favorite meals from our travels, but with a little twist – make it completely raw. If you are an avid tomato grower or prefer purchasing them from your local farmers, this is just the recipe for you. Take maximum advantage of the freshest tomatoes that are so bountiful during the summer season. Actually, the secret to making this dish an utter success lies in the use of the freshest, ripest and most flavorful tomatoes. Heirloom or heritage tomatoes are great for this dish as they taste good when eaten fresh.

For the “pasta” in this dish, you can use yellow squash or zucchini, or a combination of both. It’s nice to leave the peel on for extra vitamins and color. A spiral slicer makes lovely noodles in just minutes, but you can always cut them by hand with a vegetable peeler, by just peeling the squash or zucchini lengthwise into long strips. Of course, shredded with a mandoline would be just fine too.

Tomatoes, which we know are a fruit and not a vegetable, are loaded with all kinds of health benefits for the body. Free radicals in the body can be flushed out with high levels of Lycopene, and the tomato is so amply loaded with this vital antioxidant that it actually derives it’s rich redness from the nutrient. Intake of tomatoes has long been linked to heart health as well.

As a part of the summer squash family, zucchini not only offers delightful taste and texture to many dishes, but also carries with it many health benefits. One cup of zucchini has 36 calories and 10% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, maintains low blood sugar and curbs overeating.

pasta-alla-checca-zucchini-salad

Pasta alla Checca

Vegan, Raw, Gluten-free

Ingredients:

  • 2 large zucchinis
  • 2 large tomatoes, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1–2 teaspoons herbs (thyme, rosemary or Italian herbs of choice)
  • 12 fresh basil leaves
  • 2 dates
  • ½ cup olive oil, or to taste
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Freshly milled black pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Soak dates in filtered water to soften.
  2. Add the tomatoes, garlic, herbs, basil, dates, salt and pepper to a blender and blend until smooth. Slowly pour in the olive oil and continue blending until fully emulsified.
  3. Trim the ends of the zucchini. Using a spiral slicer or hand vegetable peeler, slice the zucchini into noodles.
  4. Transfer zucchini noodles onto serving plates and add sauce generously over noodles. Season to taste with pepper and additional salt, as desired. Use basil as garnish.

Buon appetito!

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Almond Pulp Crackers

June 8, 2012
almond-pulp-crackers

Despite the torrential downpours we are experiencing in Ireland, I’ve been having fun in the kitchen making these yummy crackers. What makes these crackers so delicious and nutritious you ask? They are made with almond pulp. After making almond milk, use the leftover pulp of the almonds to make crackers that are full of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Seasoned with fresh rosemary, they’re vegan, gluten-free and super healthy. The most brilliant part about this recipe is you can customize it to your liking. Add any seeds, herbs and spices you fancy. You can even refrigerate or freeze the dough for later use if you don’t want to make it all up in one day. Who knew you could take leftovers and make the tastiest snack ever? I am still delighted with my afternoon snack.

crackers-made-from-almond-pulp

Almond Pulp Crackers

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup firmly packed almond pulp
  • 2 Tbsp. milled flaxseed
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped (I used the dried variety)
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F (176° C).
  2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
  3. Roll dough into a ball, press and roll to ¼ inch thickness. Transfer dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. Cut dough into 2-inch squares with a knife or pizza cutter.
  5. Bake crackers for 20-25 minutes. Let crackers come to room temperature on baking sheet, then serve. Store in air-tight container.

 

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