• Recipes,  Uncategorized

    “PF Chang’s” Lettuce Wraps

    PF Changs may not be authentic Chinese food, but I must admit, I really really love it. I’m a HUGE fan of their veggie lettuce wraps and hot & sour soup. The wraps are warm, a little spicy, and filled with yumminess that you don’t have to feel too guilty about enjoying. Plus, lettuce wraps make an easy party appetizer! I’ve been making lettuce wraps for years, so I was surprised when I realized I had never posted the recipe. Ingredients: 1 T sesame oil 2 minced cloves of garlic 1 t grated ginger 1/2 onion diced 1/2 bell pepper diced 1/2 C diced mushrooms (I used shittake) 6 ounces…

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    Tzatziki Dip

    Tzatziki is like middle eastern raita… No wonder I’m obsessed with it. It’s really refreshing to dip pita or veggies into on a hot day and is SO easy to make. I’m pretty sure this doesn’t constitute cooking. It’s basically just an exercise in mixing things together, but it’s so good that I needed to share! Ingredients: 2 C greek yogurt 1/2 large cucumber, peeled & grated juice half a lemon 2 cloves garlic minced 1/4 C chopped dill 1 t each cumin, salt, pepper Recipe: 1. Great the cucumber finely. Some prefer to de-seed first. Allow the excess water to drip off so the dip doesn’t become too runny.…

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    Muhammarra Dip

    Muhammarra is a dip originally from Syria. Its a delicious mix of pomegranate, red pepper, and walnuts and really is a great combination of sweet and tangy with an amazing textural composition. My friend Christina (& her mom) make an amazing version of this dip that I am absolutely obsessed with. I created a recipe based on the recipe they shared and this recipe; I feel that this is the perfect make up for this dip in both texture and flavor. It’s a great party appetizer to serve with veggies or pita!   Ingredients: 1 large red bell pepper 1 C walnuts, finely chopped 1 T pomegranate molasses 1/4 C breadcrumbs…

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    Baked Falafel

    I loveeee falafel. Few falafel places could ever compete with falafel drive-in, but I crave falafel so often that driving all the way to San Jose to get a fix doesn’t make much sense. Plus, most middle eastern places fry their falafel, which makes them super delicious, but not very healthy. These falafel are a healthier option. You can easily make them at home, freeze them, and reheat later for a quick meal. They can be served on top of a salad or in pita bread for a quick lunch. Ingredients: 1 (14 oz) can chickpea 2 garlic cloves minced 2 green onions sliced 1/2 large red onion chopped 1/2…

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    Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

    I love tortilla soup. I mean, in general I’m not a big soup person, but of soups- this one is definitely up there. Most restaurants make chicken or meat tortilla soups, but I decided to try to make a vegetarian one at home. Theres something about the crispy tortilla pieces in the hot soup that really is comforting. Anyway, last week I was really sick. I had a sore throat, a fever, the works. Usually this means that I would crawl to my parents house in agony wanting homemade rasam (oh wait, I did that too- thanks Appa!), but in the meanwhile, I decided that making a few quick soups was…

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    Spinach Almond Pesto

    I love love love fresh pestos- they taste fresher and are much healthier than store bought versions. You all probably know about my love for pesto given my previous Kale & Cashew pesto recipe. This recipe is similar, but has a slightly richer flavor given the almonds. It is also a beautiful, bright color which is fun! Ingredients: 2 C spinach (uncooked) 2 T olive oil 1/3 C sliced almonds 1 t salt 3 cloves garlic 4-5 basil leaves (to brighten up the flavor- can be omitted) 2 T water (room temp) Recipe: 1. Combine everything in a magic bullet or food processor thoroughly and enjoy! Serve with bread, pasta,…

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    Tofu Masala Patties

    I absolutely love the vegetarian masala burgers from trader joes. They are easy (because the come frozen) and totally delicious. However, they’re super high in sodium which I want to try to avoid when possible. I decided to try and come up with a healthier version that allowed me to use ingredients I keep at home regularly. I haven’t tried freezing them yet (but will update this post when I test that out!) Make sure to cut up all the veggies small so that the patties stick together well and don’t hesitate to be creative with the ingredients! Ingredients: 1.5 T minced garlic 1 T minced ginger 3 T finely…

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    Spicy Goat Cheese Arrabiata Sauce

    I absolutely love arrabiata sauce. For those of you who haven’t tried it, it’s a tomato based pasta sauce with a little kick! I think it’s a nice way to spice up simple pastas like spaghetti or penne. I highly recommend making your own pasta sauces if you have the time. They don’t spoil as quickly as some store bought jars and you can freeze them in small quantities and use them whenever you feel like. Plus, they make great gifts! Ingredients: 1 C diced onion (I used a red onion) 1 can tomatoes 5-7 basil leaves chopped 1 C water at room temperature 1 T olive oil 2 t…

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    Dijon Caper Brussel Sprouts

    There is a restaurant called Local Kitchen right around the corner from my house and they serve the most amazing dijon caper brussel sprouts. I’ve tried to recreate them about 10 times and feel like I’ve finally come up with a good recipe that pretty closely replicates the flavor. I’m pretty sure their brussel sprouts are fried, but to make this a little healthier I decided to bake mine. Ingredients: 20 brussel sprouts (cut in halves) 2 T capers 2 T olive oil + extra to for baking 1 T dijon mustard juice of half a lemon Recipe: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Cut the brussel sprouts in…

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    Homemade Hummus

    Hummus might possible be my favorite snack. It’s sad, because my father is deathly allergic to chickpeas, but seriously it’s just SOO good. It’s healthy, comes in lots of flavors, and can go well on chips, pita, veggies, sandwiches, etc. I generally buy Trader Joe’s spicy or cilantro hummus. Both are really flavorful! But real talk, it’s incredibly easy to make hummus on your own and you can avoid the preservatives, bad oils, and excess salt. Why not?!? Ingredients: 15 ounce can of garbanzo beans 1/2 C tahini (sesame seed sauce) 3 cloves of garlic 1/2 T paprika 1 teaspoon salt (might need to increase, but tahini generally is salty)…

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