It's time to upgrade your standard bowl of steamed edamame. Roasting the fiber-filled soybeans brings extra crunch and flavor and serves as a satisfying post-workout snack or creative salad topper. Keep reading for this healthy recipe.
This simple ribboned carrot salad might not be the first thing to jump off the beautifully photographed pages of Louisa Shafia's much-lauded cookbook The New Persian Kitchen, but skimming past it would make for a small tragedy. Vinegary and bright, with a nutty, roasted note from the toasted sesame seeds and oil, it's not only visually stunning, but also delightfully balanced and far more nuanced than its simplicity would suggest.
Even better, it's quick (and easy) to prepare and can hold up to an overnight stay in the fridge, making it weeknight dinner- and brown-bag lunch-friendly, a rare and impressive feat. So what are you waiting for? Bust out the vegetable peeler, and get down to it.
Mouth-puckeringly tart, slightly sweet, cool, and creamy, the mango lassi is a natural pairing with spicy Indian dishes as its dairy base quells fiery bursts of heat. Thankfully, like its smoothie kin, it's a simple recipe to master and, likewise, worth considering beyond the dinner table.
Thinner than a typical smoothie (thanks to a healthy dose of milk), a lassi isn't an exact analogue per se but ticks many of the same boxes. For those only familiar with it as Indian-restaurant fare, it might seem like an odd choice for breakfast, but I bet once you try your hand at the easy recipe, you'll want to enjoy it morning, noon, and night.
Pungent, salty, and bright, the caesar salad at Zuni Cafe — a much-lauded San Francisco restaurant — is an absolute must-order dish and my desert-island salad. Add the dressing to ribboned asparagus, and it's near unbeatable.
Unlike whole asparagus spears, ribboned asparagus is very delicate in texture, so make certain to dress the salad shortly before serving, as the acid will soften the ribbons. Feel free to add crispy croutons or extra whole anchovies to the salad, though I find it pretty much perfect as is.
Loading up on a hefty dose of the white stuff isn't exactly the best way to start your morning. Baked goods like scones and quick breads tend to be high in sugar and fat, so if you're craving a homemade treat from the oven, then bake up a batch of these oatmeal breakfast bites. They're sweetened with banana and a touch of maple syrup, but each chewy bite has only 2.6 grams of sugar and 0.3 grams of saturated fat.
Is there any more beloved vegetable right now than dark, leafy kale? It's the star of one of the signature dishes at Napa Valley Grille, the kale chopped salad. Host Brandi Milloy goes behind the scenes with the restaurant's executive chef, Taylor Boudreaux, to find out what goes into this guest and celebrity favorite. Spoiler: it's shockingly fast and simple! Watch how it's made, then print out the recipe.
Today's Spring-centric soup might look unassuming or even ascetic at first glance, but what it lacks in flash, it more than makes up for in flavor. It hails from New York Times writer and Chez Panisse alum David Tanis, whose produce-centric recipes seem to hit the spot without fail.
The next time you're hankering for a light but lovely meal, stop off at the farmers market and snap up some short-lived ramps; in next to no time, you'll have a bowl of springtime essence on your table.
For a sweet treat that cuts back on calories, fat, and sugar, bake a batch of light and airy low-calorie red velvet cupcakes. While there's still a tablespoon of agave nectar used, the high-sugar content of traditional cupcakes is brought down with the addition of Stevia to the mix. This recipe only makes four cupcakes total, but consider it a blessing — this way you won't be tempted to chow down on all the leftovers lurking in the kitchen.
Keep reading for this sweet Stevia cupcake recipe.
A recent food fixation in the form of a simple tartine, composed of hearty whole-wheat toast slathered with creamy hummus, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh pea shoots, inspired today's creation. This fast and easy option saw me through breakfasts, snack hours, and lunches aplenty but wasn't exactly the sort of food one would serve to company. How, I mused, could I transform this satisfying snack into an elegant appetizer?
A simple swap of a seeded baguette for sandwich bread makes these diminutive bites visually enticing, bite-size, and party-friendly. Chances are, I won't abandon this perfect storm of creamy, crisp, and candy-sweet sun-dried tomatoes in its large-scale iteration any time soon, but I will embrace its entertaining-friendly turn in addition. Get the easy recipe, and follow suit.
Keep your pup in great shape with these healthy low-fat dog biscuits, which are easier than you think to make. Instead of heading to the store for artisan treats, you can toss these together with simple organic ingredients that only cost a couple of bucks. Plus, you can easily tailor the biscuits to your pup's taste.
Free of sugar, oils, additives, and preservatives, these munchies are just the right thing to keep your loyal friend happy, healthy, and begging for more. Rather than using peanut butter as a base, these healthy low-fat dog biscuits are made with organic pumpkin puree and fresh spinach. Pumpkin is beneficial to your pup's digestive health, full of antioxidants, and aids in keeping your dog at his ideal weight. And spinach is packed with vitamins and iron.
