Meatless meals can be so darn good! Spinach and Feta Shakshuka is a quick and easy vegetarian meal that has a crazy amount of nutrition packed into it. Eggs on their own are very nutritious, add in spinach, leeks and legumes and you’ve got a healthy dose of vitamins A, C, K and D, not to mention loads of protein and fibre. This lovely dish packs a lot of flavour too, plus it’s prime for serving for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
There are plenty of green shakshuka variations out there, but I love the classic feta and dill combination of this one. It’s bursting with fresh flavours of dill and lemon, and the spinach is a great pairing with the eggs. I’ve opted to use cannellini beans, however, other legumes such as chickpeas would be great as well. I find the beans round out the dish and make it rustic and very satisfying. I also suggest serving this dish with crusty, toasted bread. You’ll need it to dunk into the perfectly soft eggs and scoop up the saucy greens. Enjoy!
Thinly slice the leeks and green onions. Heat oil in a large shallow skillet or braiser. Add leeks and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until starting to soften. Stir in broth, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. Simmer for 4-5 until leels are tender and most of the broth has cooked out.
Add spinach and toss gently with leeks until wilted. Stir in beans, dill and squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Make 6 large indentations and crack an egg into each. Sprinkle evenly with feta cheese. Cover and cook on medium heat until egg whites are just set and the centers still jiggle, about 4-5 minutes.
Sprinkle with sliced green onions and the remaining tbsp of fresh dill. Serve with toasted bread.
Notes
-I used cannellini beans for this recipe and enjoyed them in the dish. Chickpeas would be another great choice.
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Well, we’re already into the first month of the new year and for many the new year brings the resolution to eat better, get more exercise etc. So for those looking for a healthy low fat, yet satisfying lunch option I’ve got a lovely Edamame and Chickpea Sandwich Filling. It’s made with protein packed edamame and chickpeas, which along with the fibre they provide, helps to keep you feeling full and satiated. Avocado gives it a bit of creaminess to help hold it all together and provides good monounsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals. Avocados are also quite high in fibre and contain little sugar, again helping to keep you feeling full. A little feta cheese, garlic and cumin round it out with flavour and salt. It’s a darn tasty sandwich filling that makes a great lunch and will keep for several days well covered in the fridge. Although I enjoy my Edamame and Chickpea Sandwich Filling on multigrain bread, it’s also great stuffed in a tomato or eaten on sliced cucumbers if you’re wanting to cut out the bread all together. So let the healthy eating begin!
I have to honestly say I didn’t have a new year’s resolution this year. Certainly not that I couldn’t have used one, like taking better photographs or drinking less wine. There’s always something to improve upon and goals are important. My real problem was time, no time to reflect and decide what goal was most desired and no time to process a thoughtful plan to put into action. Time…..we never have enough it seems. So in hindsight while I write this post, I believe time will be my focus for the year ahead, and maybe a little less wine too, but I fear I have little resolve for that my friends!
Recipe source for Edamame and Chickpea Sandwich Filling: Compelled To Cook
In a food processor combine 1/2 cup edamame, 1/2 cup chickpeas, avocado, feta cheese, garlic, lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper and process until almost smooth. Add remaining 1/4 cup of edamame and chickpeas and pulse a few times to combine, leaving a chunky texture.
Spread filling thickly onto desired bread and top with pea shoots and fresh cilantro. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and freshly cracked sea salt. Top with bread.
Recipe Notes
I used a 300g bag of frozen edamame to yield 3/4 cup shelled edamame. Cook edamame as per package directions. Submerge in cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and shell.
Should you prefer a smoother texture, process all the edamame and chickpeas together in the first blend.
Yields approximately 2 cups of filling which will make 4-6 sandwiches.
Beet Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing is a lovely use of your fresh beet bounty this summer. For the fresh garden beets that are the star in this recipe, I give thanks to my mother in-law, who at 76 still maintains a huge yard and garden. It was from her wonderful garden that I was able to hand pluck my beets, wishing with each pull that I had endless time and energy to use more. Throughout the season my husband and I are lucky to enjoy fresh beans, carrots and potatoes even though we only use a very small fraction of what she grows. Her other lucky recipients include neighbours, bridge club and church friends. Plus, family get together meals at her house are laced with a dose of fresh buttery peas, pickled beets and tomato wedges. I am a very lucky gal and grateful to benefit from all her hard work.
Gardening is a great hobby to have, but a tremendous amount of work as it is with her large garden. So while I enjoy this Beet Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing I recognize her efforts and the importance of maintaining a residential garden no matter how big or small. I believe the skills and knowledge to grow a successful garden are not passed down by generation as they once were and that tradition is slowly slipping away. I suppose we have Google and You Tube now to help us out, but something tells me it’s not the same as having your parent or grandparent help you position the pitch fork “just right” underneath that hill of potatoes, show you why you need wire mesh for the peas or sending you out to cover up the tomatoes. So hats off to all those who still maintain their own fruit and vegetable gardens and take the time to share their knowledge and their bounty!
Recipe source for Beet Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing: Compelled To Cook
Cook beets in lightly salted simmering water until fork tender, approximately 15-18 minutes depending on size. Prepare dressing while beets are cooking. Drain and cool with cold running water. Once cool to the touch, trim off top and bottom and peel off skin, which should remove easily. Place beets onto a paper towel lined plate to absorb any run off beet juice. Cut beets into large bite size chunks.
Arrange approximately 2 cups of mixed greens onto plate. Cut apple half in half and remove core. Slice into 1/4" slices and spread half of the apple over mixed greens. Top with half the beets and sprinkle with 2 tbsp of pistachios. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with additional fresh dill fronds. Season with freshly cracked pepper and sea salt if desired. Serve immediately.
Dressing
Using a blender or mini food processor, blend together all ingredients except feta until combined and smooth. Add feta and pulse a few times to combine yet retain some feta texture. Keep chilled until ready to use.
Recipe Notes
-I used the elongated cylindra beets which cook quickly and peel easily. Globe style beets can be used, just adjust cooking time according to size of beet.
-This recipe makes about 2/3 cup of dressing which may be more than you need, however it is difficult to blend smaller amounts. Use any extra on sweet potato fries or lamb burgers.
-This recipe makes 4 starter size salads if desired.
I read recently that fresh raw asparagus is underrated! I believe this observation is very true. So if you’re lucky to have a bundle or two, let Fresh Asparagus Toast entice you to discover all that fresh raw asparagus can offer. The first hurdle for me to eating raw asparagus is the fact that fresh asparagus is simply not a staple vegetable in my crisper drawer for most of the year. For me, those crisp spears are not something you reach for to munch on like a stick of celery or carrot. Second, when I do have a bundle or two of fresh asparagus I’m always cooking it by default….delicious in its own right, but still cooked. So let’s look at a new way!
Fresh Asparagus Toast will change the way you view your asparagus. Not only does fresh raw asparagus make a quick, healthy lunch, it’s surprisingly addictive with a bright zesty lemon dressing. This magical combination is the perfect balance with salty cheese, avocado and crisp sprouts. If you’ve never had raw asparagus, it’s time, and you’ll be wondering why you haven’t done it sooner. Enjoy!
In a medium bowl mash feta and cream cheese together using a fork until well combined but some little bits remain of the feta. Set aside. (avocado is added at the end to avoid oxidization)
In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, shallots, salt and pepper. Set aside. Peel asparagus into thin strips by holding the bottom woody portion of the spear and using a vegetable peeler, peel towards the tip in one motion. Continue to peel off thin strips until the spear is too flat and the peeler won't dig in. Turn what's left of the spear onto its side and continue to peel once or twice. You should be left with 1-2" of woody stem that was used as the handle. Discard this unused portion. In a medium size bowl toss together shaved asparagus and dressing. Set aside.
Turn oven to broil and position oven rack to 8" from the top. Brush each bread slice with olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Broil for 2-3 minutes until just starting to turn golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes. While toast is cooling, mash avocado into cheese until incorporated. For each piece of bread, spread with a generous 2 tbsp of cheese spread, top with 1/4 cup of asparagus, top with your favourite sprouts or micro greens and a sprinkle of pine nuts. Add freshly cracked pepper if desired and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Toast pine nuts in a single layer in a 350℉ oven for 10-12 minutes. Can omit or substitute in toasted almond slices if desired.
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