I love the glory that some less popular vegetables are getting now due to their miraculous ability to form beautiful noodles {I'm looking at you butternut squash and zucchini}. Spiralized vegetables are a FUN way to incorporate them into filling, nutritious meals. My local grocery store sells fresh beet noodles and I'm here for it! Green Giant also sells spiralized beets in the frozen section if your store doesn't have fresh available.
If you don't love beets, substitute spiralized butternut squash or yams!
Beet Pad Thai {with Turkey}
Serves 4
2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 shallots, sliced
1 lb lean ground turkey
24 oz spiralized beets (may substitute yam noodles)
4 Tbsp powdered peanut butter (I used PB Fit)
6 Tbsp coconut aminos (may use low sodium soy sauce)
4 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp minced ginger
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp lime juice (I often use 1/4 tsp True Lime instead)
2 tsp Sriracha for heat, if desired
4 green onions, sliced
1 jalapeno, sliced (optional)
Chopped peanuts, if desired
Combine powdered peanut butter, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, fish sauce, lime, and sriracha in a small bowl or jar and mix well to combine. Set aside.
In a large skillet or dutch oven heat sesame oil over medium high heat. Add shallots and saute until fragrant, 3-4 minutes. Add ground turkey and saute until cooked through. Stir in peanut sauce.
Place fresh spiraled beets into a microwave-safe bowl and cook for 5 minutes, until slightly softened. Add spirals to the skillet mixture and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook for additional 3-4 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened and spirals are softened to desired consistency.
Serve immediately garnished with green onions and sliced jalapeños, if desired.
Nutrition info per 1 serving: 317 calories, 17 g fat, 26.5 g protein, 14 g carbohydrates, 3.5 g fiber
Inspired by the amazing Skinny Taste bagel recipe (hello air fryer), these cinnamon rolls are the perfect little treat.
Yes that really is the ingredient list.
No, they don't need to rise prior to baking.
Yes it's really that simple. And delicious!
Greek Yogurt Cinnamon Rolls
Makes 6
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, divided
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp white sugar
1 egg white, beaten
3 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
Dash salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a small baking dish with baking spray.
Combine 1 1/4 cups flour, baking powder, sugar, and Greek yogurt in a mixing bowl. Stir with a spatula until combined, then use your hands to gently knead until a dough is formed. Use remaining flour to lightly flour a rolling surface, then transfer dough to the surface. Knead just until a solid dough is formed, adding a few additional dashes of flour if needed. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into square, 1/4-1/2" thickness.
In a microwave-safe dish combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Microwave for 45-60 seconds, or until butter is melted. Mix well.
Spoon butter mixture over the dough, then roll the dough into a log. Cut into six even slices and transfer into the baking dish. Brush rolls with a beaten egg white.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until dough is cooked through and tops are golden brown.
Glaze if desired and serve warm.
Nutrition info per 1 roll: 172 calories, 4.5 g fat, 6.5 g protein, 27 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber
Chicken Marsala is one of my favorite dishes of all time. It's easy enough to make at home, and healthy to boot! Converting it into an easy-to-share dip was really simple..... and necessary. The Roasted Cauliflower Ricotta Dip serves as the perfect {optional but highly recommended} accompaniment.
Chicken Marsala Dip
Serves 8
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 lb ground chicken
2 Tbsp flour
1 clove garlic, minced
16 oz baby bella mushrooms, chopped
12 oz marsala cooking wine, divided
1/2 tsp low sodium chicken bouillon paste
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Fresh parsley, chopped
Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Add ground chicken, mincing it into small pieces as it cooks through. Sprinkle mixture with flour and stir to coat onions and chicken. Add garlic and 4 oz marsala and mix well. Stir in bouillon paste and chopped mushrooms, then reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until marsala is absorbed and mushrooms soften. Add remaining marsala and cook for additional 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thickened.
Transfer mixture to a serving dish, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve with slices of toasted baguette.
Roasted Cauliflower Ricotta Dip
Serves 8
14 oz chopped cauliflower
1 tsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic
Dashes of salt and ground black pepper
1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
4 oz part skim ricotta cheese
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place chopped cauliflower and cloves of garlic on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and use your hands to mix well.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cauliflower is lightly browned. Remove from the oven and transfer mixture to a blender. Add ricotta cheese and chicken broth and mix until smooth.
Transfer mixture to a serving dish, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve.
Nutrition info per 1 serving (~1/4 cup chicken dip and 2 Tbsp ricotta dip): 190 calories, 9 g fat, 12 g carbohydrates, 16 g protein, 3 g fiber
No, I didn't create this recipe to conform to the Keto diet trend. You know I don't play those games. I did, however, create this recipe to help you increase your intake of vegetables! Don't be skeptical of this one- the cauliflower is such an amazing pasta replacement in this recipe!
Cauliflower Chili Mac
Serves 6
CAULIFLOWER
2 heads cauliflower, chopped into small pieces
Olive oil spray
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Dashes of salt and pepper
3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
MAC
1 Tbsp butter
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 lb lean ground turkey
1/4 cup chicken broth
3 Tbsp flour
1 cup milk (I used 2% Fairlife dairy milk)
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can chipotle diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place chopped cauliflower on a large baking sheet, spray with olive oil spray, and toss with seasonings and nutritional yeast. Bake for 20 minutes (some florets may be lightly browned). Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
While cauliflower is roasting, heat butter in a large dutch oven over medium high heat. Add onion and cook until fragrant, 2-3 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook until cooked through. Add in chicken broth, then sprinkle in flour and mix until onions and turkey are coated. Saute for 1 minute, then pour in milk. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat to low, and stir in shredded cheese. Mix until cheese is melted.
Stir in cauliflower, and toss until coated. Add remaining ingredients and seasonings and fold to mix.
Transfer dutch oven to the oven, heated to 350 degrees. Cook for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes prior to serving.
Serve garnished with chopped tomatoes, additional shredded cheddar cheese, and/or chopped spicy peppers.
Nutrition info per 1 serving: 435 calories, 22 g fat, 36 g protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 10 g fiber
Edamame. The tasty protein powerhouse of the plant world. If you're not familiar with them (have you NEVER eaten at a Japanese restaurant?), they are immature soybeans. Most often you find them on menus in whole pod form, lightly salted and ready to have the peas "sucked" out of them. There's really no other way to put it. Find them in your grocer's freezer section, in or out of their pods. Use the shelled versions to make your life easy when making this recipe.
Edamame Chicken Chili
Serves 5
2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 - 1 1/2 lb lean ground chicken breast
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dried green lentils
3 celery stalks, chopped
5 oz shredded carrots
4 oz can diced green chiles (or diced jalapeños if you like spice)
3 cups unsweetened coconut milk (in refrigerated section)
2 Tbsp yellow curry powder
2 tsp garam marsala
2 tsp tumeric
1 tsp green chile powder (New Mexican variety works well)
2 cups frozen edamame
1 tsp salt
Ground black pepper to taste
2 Tbsp cornstarch
Fresh chopped cilantro (optional)
Fresh chopped green onions (optional)
In a soup pot, heat sesame oil over medium high heat. Add onion and cook until fragrant. Add garlic and chicken, sautéing until cooked through. Add chicken broth and lentils. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes, or until lentils are softened. Add celery, carrots, chiles, coconut milk, and seasonings. Cook for 10 minutes, then add in edamame. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
While soup finishes cooking, combine cornstarch with 2 Tbsp water and mix to form a slurry. Stir into the soup to thicken.
Serve garnished with chopped cilantro and chopped green onions if desired.
Nutrition info per 1 1/2 cups: 390 calories, 13 g fat, 40 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 9 g fiber
Truth: This blog partly serves as my own personal recipe book that I reference OFTEN.
Here are just a few of the recipes that I will be using on the regular this fall season!
