Tag: red onion

Quinoa Salad with Arugula and Bell Pepper (Vegan)

 

I love arugula, as well as I love quinoa. So it was practically impossible for me not to fall in love with this salad while the stars in the recipe are precisely the ingredients mentioned above. When you add to this equation red bell pepper, onion, pine nuts and a sweet and sour citrusy dressing you get a wonderful salad. One of the many reasons I love this salad is its delicious taste and its beautiful color scheme. Also, this salad is so nutritious and filling. It’s simply divine!

Ingredients (for 2 servings):

⦁ 100g uncooked quinoa (1/2 cană)
⦁ 240ml water (1 cană)
⦁ 40g arugula
⦁ 1/2 red bell pepper (100g)
⦁ 1/2 red onion (30g)
⦁ 1 Tbsp pine nuts (15g)
⦁ 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
⦁ 1 Tbsp olive oil
⦁ 1/2 Tbsp maple syrup
⦁ zest and juice of 1 orange
⦁ zest and juice of 1/2 lime
⦁ salt and pepper to taste

 

Method:

  1. Quinoa. Place the quinoa in a strainer and rinse it with cold water for about 1 minute. Drain it very well. Place quinoa in a sauce pan, add 1 cup water and 1/4 tsp sea salt and bring to a boil on high heat. When the water begins to boil, cover with a lid and reduce the heat to minimum. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let it stand covered for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, fluff it with a fork. Spread it on a plate to cool down faster.
    2. Pine nuts. Carefully brown the pine nuts in a skillet, over medium heat. Set aside to cool.
    3. Pepper and onion. Cube the red bell pepper. Peel the onion and cut it into fine cubs.
    4. Citrus. Grate the peel off the citrus and squeeze the juice.
    5. Dressing and assembly. Prepare the dressing by mixing in a medium bowl the vinegar with the oil and the maple syrup. Add the zest and the citrus juice and mix. Add the onion, bell pepper and the arugula and stir. Finally add the quinoa and mix well. Garnish with toasted pine nuts.
    6. Leftovers. Place the leftovers (if any) in a bowl, cover with cling film and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Source: Forks over Knives, pag 62

Scrambled Tofu with Pepper and Spinach

I had no idea that there’s a way to make some delicious scrambled eggs without using a single egg. Seasoned crumbled tofu accompanied by a couple of veggies creates the best “scrambled eggs” I’ve ever tasted. This scrambled tofu with spinach and bell pepper is absolutely delicious and it’s ready in less than 15 minutes. For seasoning this tasty dish, I use turmenic, cumin, chili and garlic powder. The golden turmenic is not only used for its flavor, but it also brings this vibrant, “eggie” color to the dish. The steps are so simple. You sautee the onion and the pepper in a skillet, you add the spinach and you braise it for a couple of moments. Finally you add the crumbled tofu and you season it to perfection. That’s all! Simple, nutritious and incredibly delicious!

Ingredients (for 2 servings):

  • 200g extra firm tofu
  • 1/2 red onion (50g)
  • 1/2 red bell pepper (70g)
  • 2 handfuls of spinach (50g)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp water / vegetable soup
  • 1/2 tsp turmenic
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 pinch of chili
  • salt to taste

Method:

  1. Pat tofu dry using a clean paper towel. Cover it with paper towel and place something heavy on top (I used some cans).
  2. Chop the onion and the bell pepper. Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Add the onion and the pepper and sautee for about 3 minutes.
  3. Wash the spinach, pat it dry and add it to the skillet. Cover with a lid and cook for 2 – 3 minutes or until soft.
  4. Unwrap tofu and crumble it using your hands. I a small bowl prepare a sauce by mixing the spices with water / veggie soup.
  5. Move the vegetables to one side of the skillet using a spatula and add the crumbled tofu to the empty side. Pour the sauce over the tofu and stir.
  6. Continue to cook over high heat until tofu begins to brown (for about 3 – 5 minutes).
  7. Serve immediately. I served my scrambled tofu with a large slice of homemade challah bread. Best breakfast ever!



  1. Source: www.minimalistbaker.com

Farro Salad with Mushrooms and Pickled Onion

Farro (also known as emmer) is an ancient grain with a chewy texture and a subtle nutty flavor. Farro is an excellent source of fiber, protein, vitamin B complex and microelements (such as magnesium, iron and zinc).

Farro is usually cooked like pasta, so it is practically boiled in salted water. The cooking time usually varies between 25 and 45 minutes, it is ready when it’s tender but still a little bit chewy. Today I served it in a divine salad, topped with sauteed mushrooms and pickled onion. This salad is simple yet elegant, light yet hearty, packed with nutrients and bold flavors. I started the salad by boiling the farro and while the farro was on the stove, I pickled the onion slices in a brine made with water, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. To this brine I added a sliced beet which gave the onion ribbons a wonderful, almost hypnotic strawberry-red color. While my farro was simmering and my onion was pickling I sauteed some champignon mushrooms in some chili-flavored olive oil. And this is how my all-time favorite salad was born!

Ingredients (for 2 servings):

  • 150g uncooked farro
  • 250g champignon mushrooms
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp chili powder
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 small red beet

Method:

  1. Fill a large saucepan with water, add 1 Tbsp of salt, cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Add the farro, reduce the heat to minimum and simmer for 25 – 45 minutes (cook according to the instructions on the package; farro is cooked when it’s tender but still a little bit chewy).
  2. Meanwhile peel the beet with a vegetable peeler, slice it and place it in a small saucepan. Peel the onion, halve it, slice it finely and add it to the saucepan. Add 1/2 cup of water, 2 Tbsp of sugar and 2 Tbsp of vinegar. Place it on the stove over medium heat and bring it to a simmer. Lower the heat to medium and simmer it for 1 minute. Leave it aside to marinade.
  3. Clean the mushrooms with a clean sponge. Remove the stems and halve the caps. In a large skillet heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season it with chili and add the mushrooms (caps + stems). Sautee until the mushrooms become golden brown and the liquid has evaporated. Add the minced garlic and chopped thyme and cook for further 60 seconds, stirring continuously. Deglaze the pan with 1 Tbsp lemon juice and leave aside to cool down.
  4. When the farro is cooked, drain the excess water, rinse under cold water and drain well using a colander.
  5. Remove the excess liquid from the pickled onions and discard the beet slices.
  6. To assemble the salad mix together the farro with the sauteed mushrooms. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil and season with salt. Divide the salad between two plates and garnish with pickled onion ribbons.
  7. Place the leftovers (if any) in a bowl, cover with cling film and refrigerate for up to 2 days.




Source: www.cookieandkate.com

Butter Bean, Tuna and Cherry Tomato Salad

This butter bean and tuna salad is simply divine! It’s very tasty, nutritious and hearty. It is a rustic, unpretentious salad, but at the same time the flavor and texture combination give it a particular charm. It’s so easy to make and to gain some time, I start the recipe by roasting the cherry tomatoes just until they caramelize nicely and burst with flavor. While my tomatoes brown patiently in the oven, I make the creamy mustard dressing and I chop the rest of the ingredients and the dinner is ready. Or the lunch. Or the brunch, if you’re as greedy as I am. I serve this lovely salad on a garlicky whole-wheat toast and I enjoy every last bite of it. Continue reading Butter Bean, Tuna and Cherry Tomato Salad

Tomato Soup with Smoked Sausage and Poached Eggs



Tomato soup with smoked sausage and poached eggs, a rustic soup with a great flavor profile. Nothing reminds me of my childhood more than this soups. It’s the soup of those sore – throat mornings and it’s the soup of those long days of July. It’s definitely a soup of contrasts, the refreshing tomato juice, the fragrance of the basil, the earthiness of the shallot and the smoked sausage. The perfect geometry of the homemade square noodles and the imperfect beauty of the poached egg.

Why I love tomato soup with smoked sausage and poached eggs:

  • it’s simply delicious, it’s hearty and fragrant
  • it’s ready in less than 30 minutes
  • it prepares almost by itself
  • it takes about 5 budget-friendly ingredients
  • it’s great all year round

Continue reading Tomato Soup with Smoked Sausage and Poached Eggs

Lamb’s Lettuce with Mushrooms, Grapes and Halloumi

Salad - eating

Salad - close up

I’ve declared my eternal “love” for salads on many other occasions. I’m still not a fan but I still eat them regularly, only for their health benefits. On the other hand, this salad is quite tasty, extremely easy to make and packed with nutrients. It has so many bold flavors and the consistency of the halloumi cheese is simply addictive.
Continue reading Lamb’s Lettuce with Mushrooms, Grapes and Halloumi