Southern vegetable staple okra is everywhere this time of year at Bay Area farmers markets, and it's perfect in everything from Summer skillet stir-fries to soothing, slow-cooked tagines like this one.
The key to this tender vegetable braise is lots of patience and a fiery, full-bodied garlic and pepper paste known as harissa. Use it to add layers of savory complexity to this slow-cooked vegetable stew. For the recipe, keep reading.
Sometimes when I want to get crazy with my pasta dishes, I swap out the usual spaghetti or penne for orecchiette — it's one of my favorite pasta shapes.
Throw in some nutty broccoli rabe and chickpeas (garbanzo beans), toss in a light, garlicky sauce, and you have a healthy vegetarian dinner that's a cinch to make.
For the recipe, keep reading.
For me, September doesn't only mean back-to-school time; it's also back-to-cooking time. For dinner inspiration I am loving Martha Rose Shulman's new cookbook, The Very Best of Recipes For Health. Don't let the word "health" in the title fool you; her recipes are big on flavor and easy to make.
Since I'm eating meat-free for the FitSugar Give It Up Challenge, I have been looking to beans for protein. Nothing beats chickpeas as a filling dinner; remember, garbanzo beans are a dieter's friend. Add some spicy harissa and you have a memorable dish.
A hectic start to the week calls for a laid-back Monday night meal that's light on time and fuss. Make it both meatless and stress-free by composing a basic pasta dish from last night's leftover zucchini, as well as pantry items you've already got on hand.
Rather than overpowering the mellow flavors of garbanzo beans and zucchini, dress them simply with salt and your favorite olive oil, then infuse the oil with garlic and red pepper for a bit of bite. Toss in al dente pasta and grated Parmesan, and you've got a drama-free dinner. Want the recipe? Get it now.
Don't be afraid of marinades that involve yogurt. The live cultures and lactic acid help tenderize the meat and ensure moistness. This version marinates chunks of chicken in a yogurt, garlic, and cumin mixture. The resulting grilled chicken is flavorful and succulent.
The recipe pairs the kebabs with a quick garbanzo bean salad, but feel free to serve the chicken with a side of your choice. Fragrant couscous with grilled vegetables or a Mediterranean-style pasta salad would work wonderfully. To kick-start your weekend with this meal, get the recipe.
If you're dieting and looking for filling, high-fiber, low-fat fat foods, then the simple chickpea is a dream food come true. These beans have been shown to help dieters stay on track and avoid unhealthy snacks. Inspired by this news, I created a simple side dish featuring roasted chickpeas, because I think they taste so much better that way. This salad makes a perfect side dish or a light lunch.
To see the recipe, just read more
While there is no magic weight loss pill, the common chickpea seems to come close — at least as a natural diet supplement.
According to a small study published in the journal Appetite, the garbanzo bean helped keep dieters on track. Participants in the study who ate a half cup of chickpeas daily, which contains 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein, consume fewer calories from high fat, low fiber foods; but once they stopped eating the beans, the participants began to snack more on less healthy fare.
My advice is to go gonzo for garbanzo beans and here are a few recipes to help with that task:
Tell me how you enjoy garbanzo beans in the comments section below.
Whoever first conceived of quesadillas is a genius: It's virtually impossible to go wrong with the combination of skillet-toasted flour tortillas, diced vegetables and meat, and warm, melted cheese.
Take advantage of last night's versatile roasted chicken and vegetables like mushrooms and spinach to create a filling Monday night supper. If you don't have time to grab those, make your life easier: Plenty of other mix-ins, like bell peppers, roasted piquillos, beans, or cooked broccoli would work, too.
Serve it alongside fresh salsa, and you've got a symphony of well-balanced flavors — as well as a nutritionally balanced meal. Make this in minutes when you read on.
