All posts filed under: Vegetarian

REAL FOOD FAST- Zucchini Noodle Pesto Pasta with Cannelini Beans & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This is another in my Real Food Fast series of healthy and delicious recipes that take 10 minutes or less to whip up. This flavor packed dish is a nutritious plant-based, gluten-free alternative to traditional pasta that leaves you feeling full and satisfied thanks to all the fiber, plant protein and heart healthy fats. Zucchini and summer squash also happen to be some of the lowest calorie vegetables around meaning this is the perfect kind of dish to help maintain a healthy weight. You can get a spiralizer to turn your veggies into noodles online or most places where they sell kitchen appliances. I use the 4-blade spiralizer from Paderno which has settings for angel hair, spaghetti and shoestring noodles plus a blade for accordion cuts. Angel hair and spaghetti sized noodles work well for this. If you don’t have one however, don’t worry! You can use a regular vegetable peeler to make thin, wide pappardelle noodles. Just press down firmly along the length of the zucchini to make the noodles with your peeler. This …

Thick and Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing- Better than the Original!

Published by Jacqueline King

This Avocado Ranch is an updated version of my favorite ranch dressing recipe from before I went dairy free. That one called for buttermilk and mayo. Instead, we use avocado, nut milk and apple cider vinegar to create a creamy texture and bright flavor that is even better than the original! The myriad of healthy fats and nutrients found in avocados – oleic acid, lutein, folate, vitamin E, monounsaturated fats and glutathione among them – are believed to help protect your body from heart disease, cancer, and even some brain diseases. That’s why so many consider it a superfood. Fresh onion, garlic and herbs make all the difference in any ranch dressing flavor-wise and pack a surprising amount of nutrients and health benefits of their own as well. Creamy Avocado-Herb Ranch Dressing This will beat any bottled dressing hands down and takes just a few minutes to throw together in a blender. This recipe makes a very thick, creamy dressing, to make it more fluid simply add more milk. In the unlikely event you have any …

Artichoke Hummus with Za’atar

Published by Jacqueline King

All of these ingredients are available at most major super markets with the exception of the middle-eastern spice blend called za’atar which is found at specialty or ethnic food shops or you can make your own. If that proves too challenging, don’t worry, this hummus is great on its own or you could add some fresh cilantro on top instead. I prefer to use artichoke bottoms (crowns) in this recipe so it comes out very smooth, but artichoke hearts work well too. Ingredients: 4 cups boiled or 2 cans Garbanzo Beans 1 can artichoke Bottoms (or hearts if unavailable) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp Chili Powder or Paprika 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp white pepper 2-3 Garlic Cloves 1/4 cup Olive Oil 1/2 cup Vegetable Broth 1/4 cup Tahini Juice of 1/2 Lemon 2 tsp Za’atar (optional) Reserve two tablespoons of Garbanzo Beans and 2 Artichoke Bottoms or 3 hearts for garnish. Place all remaining ingredients except Za’atar into a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Place in serving dish and sprinkle with …

Top Secret Veggie Chili

Published by Jacqueline King

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make the best veggie chili in town. And why wouldn’t you? Veggie chili is healthy and hearty and tasty and the flavor is just so…American. Like BBQ, chili is one of those things we can imagine cowboys eating around the campfire in days gone by, making it the perfect thing to serve at your 4th of July cookout! I have to admit I am loath to give out this recipe. I’m a Scorpio and Scorpios love to keep secrets. In the past when people have asked for the recipe I’ve always given an artfully incomplete answer, but now that I’ve started this blog I’ve decided to offer it up for the greater good. It’s the right thing to do. I guess the first thing you should know is there are some secret ingredients. Ready, drumroll please… coffee, mexican chocolate and Sriracha! They may surprise you but they turn this chili into a melting pot of flavor. I happened to have a lovely coffee with chicory from my …

The Best Creamy Cashew Sour Cream (only 3 ingredients!)

Published by Jacqueline King

When I decided to stop using dairy in my recipes I thought it was going to be really hard to give up some of my favorite foods. After just a bit of experimenting, however I found that there are truly delicious plant-based alternatives to traditional dairy like this amazingly creamy and delicious cashew sour cream. All of the ingredients are natural and nutritious, filled with enzymes and essential minerals. It is so simple to make and is wonderful as a topping on mexican food and lunch bowls. It also make a greet base for a dip. Most non-dairy sour creams I’ve seen include lemon which gives them (surprise!) a lemony flavor, which I find a bit strange. Apple cider vinegar however gives a delicate tangy taste that is just perfect. If you are making this in the food processor you can omit the water which will make a thicker cream, but also will keep much longer. You just have to make sure to dry out the cashews after soaking It’s the moisture which makes it …

Feel Good Huevos Rancheros with Soyrizo and Mustard Greens

Published by Jacqueline King

This is my Californian variation on a traditional Mexican breakfast dish. Soyrizo is a GMO-free, organic version of the Mexican sausage that’s easily available in most big super markets and pretty much the only meat substitute meat eaters always like. Even my Grandpa who is from Oaxaca likes it just as much as regular chorizo. He even buys it himself! This is the perfect breakfast for a weekend brunch or as a healthy start to a busy workday. You can sub kale or chard for the mustard greens if you prefer. Enjoy! 🙂 Jacq Huevos Rancheros with Soyrizo and Mustard Greens Ingredients: Serves 2 Olive Oil 1/2 Medium Onion, thinly sliced 2 Corn Tortillas 1 can whole Black Beans, rinsed Kosher salt and Black pepper Paprika Cumin 1 Garlic Clove, cut in half 1 small bunch Mustard Greens 1/2 package (6 oz.) Soyrizo 2 Eggs 1/2 cup Fresh Salsa 2 tbsp Cashew Sour Cream 1/2 Avocado Fresh Cilantro for Garnish 1.Place 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add onions and stir to coat. 2. …

The Most Delicious Dip, Spread and Topping – Whipped Avocado Cream

Published by Jacqueline King

This Avocado Cream is one of my favorite things to keep in the fridge. I make it every week as part of my meal prep. The recipe seems almost too simple, but trust me, it adds an incredible amount of flavor and richness to so many dishes. Of course it’s wonderful on Mexican food, but I especially love to use it as a topping for my lunch bowls. You can also whip it up as a quick dip for a snack or to serve at a party. Somehow it seems more sophisticated and complex than regular guacamole, but it’s actually faster and easier to make because you throw it all together in the blender in seconds. You can even use it as a delicious spread to make pretty little appetizers. Even though it tastes rich and creamy, it is made of simple healthy ingredients. Avocado is one of the most nutrient dense foods around with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown in studies to be good for both your skin and heart health. …

Carrot and Carrot Top Pasta with Walnuts, Pesto and Cashew Cheese

Published by Jacqueline King

I love this pasta so much! Not only is it delicious but it’s also beautiful. I love that it uses the whole carrot including the nutritious tops. Since the main ingredients are carrots and pasta it’s also a pretty inexpensive dish which makes it perfect for a family meal or a casual dinner party. Carrots are nutritional heroes. Few other vegetables or fruit contain as much carotene as carrots, which the body converts to vitamin A. They are an excellent source of vitamins B and C as well as calcium pectate, an extraordinary pectin fiber that has been found to have cholesterol-lowering properties. Lightly cooking carrots actually helps to break down their cell walls which means your body can absorb the nutrients more easily. The peel of the carrot is the post nutritious part so it’s always best to just give them a good scrub, rather than peeling them. Enjoy! Serves 4 Ingredients: 3 Tbsp Coconut Oil 1 small Onion, thinly sliced 4 Garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1/4 tsp Herb d’ Provence 4 medium Carrots, …

Feel Good Blended Iced Mocha-Vanilla

Published by Jacqueline King

Before I started to focus more on healthy eating I was addicted to a certain national coffee chain’s blended iced mocha drinks. It was pretty much a daily ritual. I decided to quit cold turkey when I did my yoga training several years ago which left me feeling pretty bad and groggy the first couple of days, but when you’re doing yoga all day you won’t feel miserable for long, so it certainly could have been worse. After training I decided that if my worst vice was morning coffee I was doing Ok, so I switched to a simple homemade brew with almond milk, which was great and definitely has a lot less crap in it than those blended drinks. Sometimes though… I still wanted my old fix. Which is why I’m so excited about my new mocha-vanilla ice-blended recipe made with only natural whole food ingredients. Did you know cacao has a higher anti-oxidant rating than blueberries and coffee is the number 1 anti-oxidant source in the American diet? This is mainly because americans in …

Greens Agrodolce with Marcona Almonds and Crispy Fried Shallots

Published by Jacqueline King

This is my favorite way to eat dark leafy greens- Italian style sweet and sour with meaty almonds and savory shallots. This recipe has the perfect balance of flavors and textures to compliment the bitter greens. You can use a single type or a mixture, either way these greens are anything but boring! 🙂 Ingredients: 1 lg bunch Dark Leafy Greens (Mustard, Kale, Swiss Chard and/or Beet Greens) 1/2 small Onion, sliced into 1/4 inch thick slices 1 Shallot, thinly sliced 1/4 cup Marcona or toasted slivered Almonds 1 Tbsp Honey or Maple Syrup 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar Olive Oil Pinch of Red Chili Flakes Salt & Pepper Directions: Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat, add onion and stir to coat. Tear any tough center ribs from the greens, chop the ribs and add to the onion. Sauté until onions are soft and just beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Chop remaining greens, add to the pan and mix to coat with oil. Sprinkle with vinegar, honey, chili flakes and …