Tag: rainbow

  • The rainbow test

    The rainbow test

    The rainbow test

    Color your menu!

    Does your meal pass the rainbow test? What’s the rainbow test, you ask? Check out the colors on your plate—when it comes to fruits and veggies, the brighter the colors, the more nutrient dense your meal is. Try out these recipes—and you’ll pass the rainbow test with flying colors!

    Beautiful Rainbow Prawn Salad

    Chock full of healthy ingredients, this salad is a bell ringer that’ll satisfy the fussiest of eaters. Heart-healthy antioxidants with enormous eye appeal and delicious flavor—what more do you need in a dish?
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    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    Salad
    • 3 cups spring greens washed and spun dry
    • 1 small, raw red beetroot peeled and spiralized
    • 1 small carrot peeled and thinly shaved on the diagonal
    • ½ cup sugar snap peas blanched in lightly salted water
    • 4 large red radishes thinly shaved
    • 2 Belgian endive separated into leaves
    • 1 Persian cucumber cut into matchsticks
    • ½ cup thinly shaved red onion
    • ½ cup pea shoots
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 8 large prawns tail on, peeled, and deveined
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons toasted cashews chopped
    • 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
    Dressing
    • ¼ cup tahini sauce
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1 small garlic clove smashed and minced
    • Pinch of salt

    Method
     

    1. On large serving platter, scatter spring greens. Top with beet, carrot, snap peas, radishes, endive, cucumber, red onion, and pea shoots. Lightly toss to mix. Set aside.
    2. In skillet, heat oil. In bowl, toss prawns with cumin and smoked paprika. Tumble into skillet and stir-fry over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until almost opaque. Transfer to plate and cool. Season with a little salt.
    3. In blender, combine dressing ingredients. Whirl until creamy. Add a splash or two of water, if necessary, to thin dressing as you like.
    4. Place prawns on rainbow salad. Drizzle with dressing and scatter chopped cashews and sesame seeds overtop.

    Notes

    Each main course serving contains: 254 calories; 10 g protein; 15 g total fat (2 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 24 g total carbohydrates (8 g sugars, 6 g fiber); 281 mg sodium

    Delicious Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Bake

    This dish is a satisfying “bowl-in-one” supper. It’s low in calories, high in fiber, and a valuable source of vitamin C, manganese, and B6. You can even bake the squash ahead of time for an easy weekday meal.
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    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 medium spaghetti squash each cut in half horizontally
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
    • 1 medium sweet onion finely diced
    • 3 large garlic cloves smashed and minced
    • 1 7-ounce package plain tempeh crumbled
    • 2 large yellow or red bell peppers seeded and finely diced
    • 8 inch long unpeeled zucchini finely diced
    • 1 tablespoon coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
    • 3 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves chopped
    • ½ cup ricotta cheese
    • ¾ cup shredded mozzarella divided
    • ¼ cup grated Parmesan

    Method
     

    1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Scrape seeds from cut squash and discard. Brush insides of squash halves with 1 tsp oil. Place cut side down on baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until cut edges are turning golden. Baking time will depend on size of squash. You want the rind to give a bit when pressed with your finger. Remove and set aside until cool enough to handle.
    2. While squash bakes, in heavy saucepan, heat remaining 2 tsp oil over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft. Do not brown. Add garlic, crumbled tempeh, and finely diced pepper and zucchini. Continue to saute until tempeh is golden-tinged and vegetables are soft, about 7 minutes. Stir in coconut aminos (or a little less soy sauce, if using) and seasonings. Fold in chopped spinach, cover, and remove from heat.
    3. Scrape inside of baked squash with fork to remove spaghetti-like strands and place strands in clean dish towel, reserving squash boats. Squeeze strands until barely moist and place on cutting board. Coarsely chop. Add to tempeh/spinach mixture along with ricotta and half the mozzarella. Fold together until evenly mixed. Add more seasonings to taste, if you wish.
    4. Place squash boats, cut side up, on baking sheet. Spoon mixture evenly into boats. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over each.
    5. Increase oven temperature to 425°F. Bake for 20 minutes or until piping hot. Then turn oven to broil, and broil squash until cheese is bubbly and golden, about 30 seconds.

    Notes

    Each serving contains: 366 calories; 24 g protein; 18 g total fat (7 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 32 g total carbohydrates (12 g sugars, 5 g fiber); 440 mg sodium

    Vegan Blueberry Crumble Top Tart

    Eating a rainbow of colorful foods, including dark blue and purple, is essential to good health. Considered the king of antioxidant-rich foods, the rich blueberries in this delectable tart are especially amazing health givers.
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    Servings: 10
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup oat flour
    • ½ cup almond flour
    • ½ cup coconut flour
    • ¼ cup coconut or raw sugar
    • ⅓ cup coconut oil softened, plus extra for oiling tart pan
    • 2 tablespoons plain coconut or tofu yogurt
    • 2-3 tablespoons ice water
    • 3 cups fresh blueberries
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 3 tablespoons sliced natural almonds

    Method
     

    1. Preheat oven to 400°F. With coconut oil, grease 9 inch high-sided tart pan with removable bottom.
    2. In food processor, combine oat, almond, coconut flour, and coconut sugar. Pulse to blend. Add softened coconut oil and yogurt and pulse until crumbly. Add ice water, 1 Tbsp at a time, until mixture begins to stick together. Remove 1/4 of the mixture and place in small bowl. Refrigerate while preparing tart shell. Place remaining 3/4 of dough into oiled tart pan, pressing mixture into bottom and halfway up the sides.
    3. In another bowl, combine blueberries with cornstarch. Toss to evenly coat. Tumble into prepared tart pan. Remove remaining quarter of dough and add sliced almonds. Toss to mix. Sprinkle berries overtop. Place tart pan on baking sheet and bake in lower third of preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until crust is golden. Remove to rack to cool. Refrigerate.
    4. To serve, remove tart pan sides from chilled tart and cut tart into wedges. It’s delicious with coconut yogurt infused with lemon zest.

    Notes

    Each serving contains: 235 calories; 5 g protein; 12 g total fat (7 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 29 g total carbohydrates (11 g sugars, 6 g fiber); 4 mg sodium

    By Irene McGuinness

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Go glam for Mother’s Day

    Go glam for Mother’s Day

    Go glam for Mother’s Day

    A fresh, fab day of feel-good food for Mom

    These recipes are beautiful, delicious, and flexible, which means plant-based or vegetable-forward moms can be treated to a special occasion meal that will leave them feeling their best. Glam, doable, and oh-so-good recipes that will bring a smile to Mom’s face—this truly special lineup will be one to remember, share, and gush over, year after year.

    One-Bowl Cashew Milk Pancakes with the Fixins

    “Special” doesn’t mean challenging or a sink full of dishes—even kids can mix up this simple pancake batter and prep a toppings bar for mom to glow up her plate as she pleases.
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    Servings: 6
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    Pancakes
    • 2 cups light spelt flour or 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
    • ¼ cup coconut sugar
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 1 ½ cups unsweetened cashew milk plus more to thin
    • ¼ cup coconut oil or butter melted, plus more for pan
    • 2 large eggs or 2 flax eggs (see method)
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    Glam toppings (optional, but recommended)
    • Maple syrup
    • Plain yogurt (nondairy or dairy)
    • Fresh fruit such as berries or sliced bananas
    • Natural nut butter
    • Coconut oil or butter
    • Grated dark chocolate bar

    Method
     

    1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Acquire and assemble toppings so they’re ready to go when pancakes are cooked.
    2. For pancakes, in large bowl, stir to combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Mix in milk, melted coconut oil or butter, eggs (or for plant-based, 2 Tbsp flaxseed mixed with 1/2 cup water), and vanilla, stirring until fully combined. If batter is too thick to stir, thin with additional milk, as needed. The batter should be similar in texture to a bowl of oatmeal (on the thick side but still spoonable).
    3. To cook, preheat nonstick griddle or large pan over medium heat. Brush with additional melted coconut oil. Add dollops of pancake batter into pan, nudging corners with your ladle to spread out a bit. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes and flip once bubbles appear all over the surface. Lower heat, as necessary, to avoid burning. Flip and cook on the other side for another 2 minutes, until puffed and cooked through. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining batter.
    4. Serve pancakes warm with toppings of choice.

    Heirloom Veggie Grain Bowls with Chicken and Seared Halloumi

    A fresh lunch inspired by the warmer weather, all components of this dish can be made ahead, even packed for Mom and her family to take on a Mother’s Day picnic. The bowl gets glam with the addition of microgreens (or sprouts), heirloom veggies, and meaty halloumi cheese.
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    Servings: 6
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    Dressing
    • ½ cup olive oil plus more for brushing
    • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 1 ½ tbsp maple syrup
    • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
    • 1 garlic clove peeled and grated
    • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
    Bowls
    • 9 oz packaged herb and garlic or plain halloumi (halloom)
    • 1 head red leaf lettuce washed, dried well and torn
    • 3 cups cooked sprouted quinoa, brown rice, or millet
    • 2 colorful heirloom tomatoes sliced
    • ½ English cucumber peeled and diced
    • 1 large purple or orange carrot peeled and sliced
    • ½ cup raw or cooked corn kernels or green peas
    • 2 cups cooked chicken cold and shredded
    • 1 cup microgreens or colorful sprouts

    Method
     

    1. For dressing, to sealable jar or bowl, add all ingredients and shake or whisk to combine. Mix again before using.
    2. For bowls, slice halloumi into 1/4 in slabs and brush with a bit of olive oil. Heat large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat and sear halloumi in batches until golden brown on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes a side. Set aside.
    3. In large bowl, toss lettuce with enough dressing to coat, and then add to 6 shallow bowls (such as pasta bowls) or plates followed by a scoop of cooked quinoa. Arrange tomatoes, cucumbers, carrot, and corn or peas on top in any pattern, then top with chicken, seared halloumi, and dressing, to taste. Garnish with microgreens or sprouts and serve.

    Rainbow Fruit and Veggie Platters with Two Plant-Based Dips

    More fun than a side salad, it’s a spread of the good stuff in a burst of glam color, with two dipping sauces: one sweet for the fruit and one savory for the veggies. Don’t forget to use Mom’s favorite fruits and veggies! Below are some suggestions to get you started.
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    Servings: 10
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    Sweet Vanilla, Cardamom, and Coffee Dip
    • 1 cup raw cashews soaked for 2 hours, drained
    • ¾ cup recently boiled water plus more to thin
    • 1 tbsp coconut oil
    • 6 soft Medjool dates pitted, soaked for 2 hours, drained
    • 2 tsp lemon juice
    • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
    • ½ tsp instant coffee (optional)
    • ¼ tsp ground cardamom
    • ⅛ tsp salt
    Savory Vegan Artichoke Dip
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 garlic cloves peeled and minced
    • 14 oz can artichoke hearts drained well
    • ¾ cup raw cashews soaked for 2 hours, drained
    • ½ cup unsweetened nondairy milk (cashew, oat, or coconut milk)
    • 2 tbsp lemon juice
    • 1 tbsp miso paste
    • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • Pinch of Aleppo-style pepper or red pepper flakes to serve
    Fruit Platter
    • 1 bunch of red or green seedless grapes halved if desired
    • 2 cups fresh blueberries
    • 2 cups fresh raspberries
    • 1 cup fresh blackberries
    • 1 melon such as cantaloupe peeled, seeded and cubed
    • 1 pineapple peeled, cored, and cubed
    Vegetable Platter
    • 5 stalks sliced
    • 2 large watermelon radishes sliced
    • 2 lbs rainbow carrots peeled and sliced
    • 1 English cucumber sliced
    • 1 head of broccoli or cauliflower cut into florets

    Method
     

    1. For sweet dip, to high-speed blender, add all Sweet Vanilla, Cardamom, and Coffee Dip ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. Add additional water to thin until desired fruit dip consistency. Transfer to serving bowl, cover, and chill completely, about 4 hours or up to 4 days.
    2. For the savory dip, in saucepan, heat olive oil over medium, add garlic, and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Immediately add drained artichoke hearts and saute for 3 minutes, until warmed through.
    3. To high-speed blender, add soaked and drained cashews, milk, lemon juice, and miso paste and blend until smooth. Add cooked artichoke mixture and parsley, and briefly pulse to chop but not blend completely. Transfer to serving bowl and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.
    4. For platters, arrange fruit and vegetables on separate platters or one extra-large platter in a pattern of your choice. Keep each fruit or vegetable in its own section (as opposed to mixing them all together) to create the rainbow appearance. Serve fruit with sweet dip and veggies with savory dip.

    By Allison Day

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Rainbow Veggie Onigirazu

    Rainbow Veggie Onigirazu

    Rainbow Veggie Onigirazu

    Are you tired of the same old lunch options? Do you want to add more plant-based protein to your diet? Look no further than this Rainbow Veggie Onigirazu recipe, featuring tempeh!

    For those who are unfamiliar, onigirazu is a Japanese rice ball sandwich that’s wrapped in sheets of seaweed called nori instead of bread. It’s a convenient and portable option for lunch on-the-go. Plus, it’s easy to customize with your favorite fillings.

    In this recipe, we’re using colorful veggies like carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage, along with tempeh, a fermented soy product that’s packed with protein and nutrients. Tempeh has a nutty flavor and a firm texture, making it a great meat substitute for those who are trying to cut back on animal products.

    Not only is this Rainbow Veggie Onigirazu recipe beautiful to look at, but it’s also delicious and satisfying. The combination of nutty tempeh, crunchy veggies, and fluffy rice is a match made in heaven. Plus, it’s a great way to pack in a variety of nutrients in one meal.

    Give this recipe a try for your next lunch or meal prep session. You won’t be disappointed!

    onigirazu

    Rainbow Veggie Onigirazu

    For this recipe, use a variety of colorful veggies like carrots, bell peppers, and purple cabbage, along with some tempeh for protein. The result is not only visually stunning but also incredibly tasty!
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    Prep Time 1 hour
    Servings: 8
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    Rice:
    • 2 cups sushi rice
    • 3 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons cane sugar
    • 3 tablespoons furikake sushi seasoning (see notes)
    Pickled Vegetables:
    • 1/2 cup red bell pepper 2-inch julienne
    • 1/2 cup orange bell pepper 2-inch julienne
    • 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper 2-inch julienne
    • 1/3 cup julienned carrots
    Pickling Liquid:
    • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons cane sugar
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 large garlic clove minced
    • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red chilies
    • 8 12-inch square nori sheets
    • 1/3 cup vegan sriracha mayo
    • 2 8-ounce blocks seasoned tempeh
    • 1/2 cup cucumber 2-inch julienne
    • 1/3 cup purple cabbage shredded

    Method
     

    1. Place rice, water, and salt in a medium pan and bring toa simmer. Cover and reduce heat to low, cooking for 15-18 minutes. Turn offheat and allow rice to rest for 10 minutes.
    2. Whisk together the pickling liquid ingredients and tosswith vegetables. Allow to rest for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    3. Stir together rice vinegar and cane sugar untildissolved. Place rice on a large baking sheet and pour over mixture, sprinkleon furikake, and fold rice to incorporate. Divide rice mixture into 16 evenportions.
    4. To assemble: place a nori sheet on a dry surface, lay arice portion in the center creating a flat 3-inch square shape, use wet handsto keep rice from sticking. Next, dollop 2 teaspoons sriracha mayo in thecenter then place a piece of tempeh on top. Arrange pickled vegetables,cucumber, and purple cabbage to form a rainbow pattern. Finish off with anotherportion of rice, forming it into a square and covering the fillings. Fold upnori sides, using water to seal the seams. Tightly wrap completed sandwich inplastic film and allow to rest for 15 minutes before eating.

    Notes

    Furikake seasoning contains fish. For a vegan version, use toasted sesame seeds and crushed nori.

    Recipe Courtesy of INFRA