Appetizer Vegetarian · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Salad · Vegetable sides · Vegetarian pasta

Buckwheat noodles with ginger and miso

Recipe by David Tanis

“Buckwheat noodles are often served cold in Japan and Korea, and are especially welcome during hot weather. To appreciate buckwheat’s delicious nutty flavor, look for 100% buckwheat noodles in Asian groceries. The bright, gingery dressing needs a little spiciness, so use a good pinch of cayenne or other hot pepper. This version is meant to be a small first-course salad. Add slices of grilled chicken to make it more of a meal.”

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Photo by Karsten Moran for the New York Times

4 small servings

3 tbsp red miso
1 2-inch piece ginger, finely grated
2 tsp sugar
⅛ tsp cayenne
2 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving
1 3-inch piece daikon radish, coarsely grated
8 oz buckwheat noodles
6 small red radishes, thinly sliced
¼ cup radish sprouts, trimmed
¼ cup thinly sliced cucumber
Salt
A few shiso leaves, for garnish

Make the dressing: Put miso, ginger, sugar, cayenne, mirin, soy sauce and lime juice in a small bowl. Mix together, and stir in grated daikon radish. Set aside.

Boil the noodles in abundant salted water until cooked but still firm. Drain and rinse well with cold water. Blot dry.

Divide noodles among four small bowls. Top with radish, radish sprouts and cucumber slices. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
Garnish with torn or chopped shiso leaves.
Serve with dressing and lime wedges on the side.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Poultry

Filipino grilled chicken

I love these sort of chicken dishes, with so much flavor and very easy to make.

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Serves 8
3 cups water
1 cup coconut vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce
1/4 cup Asian fish sauce
10 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp crushed red pepper
1 tbsp black peppercorns
5 whole star anise pods
5 bay leaves
Two 3 1/2-pound chickens, cut into 8 pieces each
Canola oil, for brushing
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large, sturdy resealable plastic bag, combine all of the ingredients except the oil, salt and pepper. Shake to evenly distribute the chicken and adobo marinade; seal the bag, pressing out the air. Refrigerate overnight.

Remove the chicken from the marinade. Pat the chicken dry and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, light a grill. Brush the chicken with oil and season with salt and black pepper.
Grill over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest parts registers 165°, about 30 minutes.
Transfer the chicken to a platter and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Dairy-free · Grains · Nuts · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

Turmeric-roasted cauliflower with dates and pistachio gremolata

Recipe by Emily Connor
“This recipe is a low-effort, high-impact dish that’s so striking in flavor and presentation. Freshly grated turmeric brings an earthiness to the dish that I love, but if you can’t find it, ground turmeric is a fine substitute.
The pistachio gremolata and pomegranate arils add so much freshness and zing, and I like to use them liberally to make the dish a little salad-like. When pomegranates aren’t in season, either omit, or omit the dates and use currants or dried cranberries in place of the pomegranate arils. “

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Serves 4

1 large head of cauliflower, trimmed and cut into bite-sized florets
2 tbsp finely grated fresh turmeric (from about three 3-inch pieces), or 1 tsp ground turmeric (or as needed to fully coat the florets)
3 tbsp olive oil
Kosher salt, to taste
6 Medjool dates, pitted and halved (or quartered if large)
1 large lemon (finely grated zest plus juice)
1/3 cup shelled pistachios, raw and unsalted are ideal but roasted work too
½ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
¼ cup pomegranate arils
½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper, or to taste

Heat oven to 425°F.

Toss the cauliflower with the turmeric and olive oil on a sheet pan, season with salt, and arrange in a single, even layer.
Roast for 15 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven.
Add the dates, toss everything together, and redistribute in a single, even layer.
Continue roasting until the cauliflower is nicely browned and tender, and the dates and little bits of grated turmeric are starting to caramelize, about 10 minutes more.
Remove pan from oven, and squeeze half a lemon (zest it first—you’ll need it for the gremolata in Step 3!) over the whole dish; add more lemon juice and salt, to taste.

Meanwhile, make the pistachio gremolata:
Toast the pistachios in a small skillet over medium heat, until they’re fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and when cool enough, chop them into fine yet irregular pieces with a knife.
In a small bowl, toss together the pistachios, lemon zest, parsley, pomegranate arils, and Aleppo pepper; season with a pinch of salt.
Arrange the cauliflower and dates on a large serving platter, and scatter the pistachio gremolata over the top.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

Accompaniments · Appetizers · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Nuts · Vegan

Chipotle and rosemary spicy nuts

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You can double or tripe these amounts for a bigger batch. None of these measurements for the nuts have to be exact. Put in more of the nuts you really love.

4 oz cashew nut pieces
4 oz Macadamia nuts
5 oz pecan halves
5 oz walnut halves
3 oz whole almonds, skin on
4 oz pumpkin seeds
4 oz pistachio nuts
3 oz sunflower seeds
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup light brown sugar
6 tbsp avocado oil
2 tsp Kosher salt
6 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
2 tsp chipotle powder
1/2 tsp cayenne

Preheat the oven to 325F
Put all the ingredients in a very large mixing bowl and mix well with your hands
Transfer to a lined roasting tray or large cookie sheet and spread out the mixture evenly.
Roast for 15 to 17 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the nuts turn a dark brown.
Remove, stir in 1 tsp more of salt, taste and sprinkle with a little more cayenne pepper if you would like more of a kick.
Leave to cool in the tray, stirring from time to time.
Once cool, transfer to an airtight container.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

“Greens” braised in coconut milk and ginger

This recipe yields collards that are tender, creamy, and incredibly flavorful. They’re a perfect accompaniment to a simple beans and rice dinner or a bowl of chili. Add more chili flakes for a little extra spice. Recipe by Gena Hamshaw

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Serves: 4

1 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 pound collard greens, stems removed, cut into ribbons
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup vegetable broth, plus more as needed
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp tamari, to taste
1 pinch salt, plus more to taste
1 pinch red chili flakes, to taste

Melt the coconut oil over medium-high heat in a large wok or skillet.
Add the onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, or until it’s clear and soft.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring frequently, for another minute.
Add the collard greens to the pan. Stir frequently for a minute or two, until the collards are just wilting (if it helps to wilt the greens, you can cover the wok or skillet for a moment).
Add the coconut milk, vegetable broth, lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of tamari to the wok or skillet and stir everything well.
When the mixture is simmering, reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the greens are totally tender.
If the simmering liquid starts to dry up, add a few splashes of vegetable broth as you go along.
Season the greens to taste with extra tamari, if desired, as well as salt and red chili flakes.
Serve

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Salad · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

Blood Orange, Beet, and Fennel Salad

A twist on a Moroccan recipe.

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Serves 4 to 6

2 medium red beets, tops trimmed
2 medium golden beets, tops trimmed
3 blood oranges
1 medium navel orange (preferably Cara Cara)
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 small fennel bulb, very thinly sliced crosswise on a mandoline
1/4 red onion, very thinly sliced on a mandoline (about 1/3 cup)
Good-quality extra-virgin olive, pumpkin seed, or walnut oil (for drizzling)
Coarse sea salt, such as fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro and/or chervil leaves

Preheat oven to 400°.
Wash beets, leaving some water on skins. Wrap individually in foil; place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until beets are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Let cool.

Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, cut all peel and white pith from all oranges; discard. Working over a medium bowl, cut between membranes of 2 blood oranges to release segments into bowl; squeeze juice from membranes into bowl and discard membranes. Slice remaining blood orange and Cara Cara orange crosswise into thin rounds. Place sliced oranges in bowl with the segments. Add lemon juice and lime juice.

Peel cooled beets.
Slice 2 beets crosswise into thin rounds. Cut remaining 2 beets into wedges. Strain citrus juices; reserve. Layer beets and oranges on plates, dividing evenly. Arrange fennel and onion over beets. Spoon reserved citrus juices over, then drizzle salad generously with oil. Season to taste with coarse sea salt and pepper. Let salad stand for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Garnish salad with cilantro leaves.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Nuts · Salad · Vegetable sides · Whole30 compliant

Carrot and Beet Slaw with Pistachios and Raisins

Another beauty of a recipe that use beets in a very different way.
(Recipe by Joshua McFadden & Sara Kramer, Photo by We Are The Rhoads)

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Serves 6
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
6 medium carrots (about 1 lb.), peeled, julienned
2 medium beets (any color; about 1 lb.), peeled, julienned
1/2 cup (packed) fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup (packed) fresh mint leaves
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup unsalted, shelled raw pistachios

Preheat oven to 350°.
Spread out pistachios on a small rimmed baking sheet; toast, stirring occasionally until golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Let cool; coarsely chop.

Combine garlic, raisins, and vinegar in a large bowl; let sit 1 hour.

Remove garlic from raisin mixture and discard. Add carrots, beets, pistachios, parsley, mint, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Add oil; toss gently.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

Meet my beets.

This is such a lovely (and quick) recipe with a really super combination of flavors

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Recipe and photo c/o Lakshmi Sundar on the website “Food 52”

Serves: 4
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min

2-3 beets
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, cleaned
4 tbsp freshly grated coconut (or 2 tbsp coconut milk)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1-2 dried chili pods
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
1 tsp salt (or to taste)

Wash and peel the beets and cut into small cubes.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add the mustard seeds and dried chili pods to the hot oil.
When the mustard seeds start popping, add the beets, salt, and turmeric powder. Stir, cover and cook till the beets are cooked, yet crunchy (about 10-15 minutes).
Add the spinach, fresh coconut or coconut milk and toss a few times.
Serve

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Gluten Free

Roast eggplant with green tahini dressing

Eggplant and tahini always play well together, and this fresh fibre-loaded salad by Yoni Kalfus is no exception. A lovely low-calorie dish.

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Serves 4

2 eggplants, cut into wedges, flesh lightly scored
2 tsp mild paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained
250g punnet cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup (35g) flaked almonds, toasted
Mint leaves, flat-leaf parsley leaves and lemon wedges, to serve

Green Tahini Dressing
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
1/2 cup (140g) tahini
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup (125ml) lemon juice
1 garlic clove, chopped

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

2. For the green tahini, whiz all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.

3. Place the eggplant in a bowl, add the spices and oil, and toss to combine. Season with salt. Place in a single layer on a baking paper-lined baking tray with chickpeas and roast for 30 minutes or until tender and golden. Add tomatoes for the final 5 minutes of cooking. Cool slightly.

4. Arrange the eggplant, chickpeas and tomatoes on a platter.
Top with the almonds, mint, parsley leaves, and sumac.
Drizzle with green tahini dressing to serve.

Dairy-free · Dessert · Gluten Free · Nuts · Whole30 compliant

Paleo grilled peaches with coconut cream

I scraped my bowl clean. It reminded me of peach cobbler without the crust. Even simple desserts can pack a lot of flavor.

These very low calorie, sugar-free grilled peaches are delicious topped with coconut cream for some added sweetness, with a sprinkle of cinnamon and nuts. They have a bright flavor for a refreshing end to a meal.

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Serves 1

3 medium ripe peaches, cut in half with pit removed
1 tsp good vanilla essence
1 can coconut milk, refrigerated
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Cinnamon (to taste)

Place the peaches on the grill with the cut side down first. Grill on medium-low heat until soft, about 3-5 minutes on each side.

Scoop the cream off the top of the can of chilled coconut milk. Whip together the coconut cream and vanilla with handheld mixer.
Drizzle over each peach.
Top with cinnamon and chopped walnuts to garnish.