healthienut

A guide to help you become healthier and happier

Entrees

30-Minute Thai Red Curry

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I am a full-time student and I have two jobs, so sometimes I do not have a lot of time to make meals. I am sure a lot of you understand, even if you are not in my place. I do not like sacrificing taste! In that case, I make sure that any easy & quick recipes I make are just as delicious as if I were to make one that took 1+ hours. 

This Thai curry is definitely one of those meals. Only took 30 min. to make and came out tasting just as good (or even better) then when I make my own curry paste and it taking 45 min-1 hour. 

It is ultra creamy, smooth, and comes with beautiful aromas. The cauliflower is nice and tender and adds the perfect texture to every bite. Topped with some fresh basil, red chili flakes (I like that heat!), cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. …

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The Best Veggie Burger with Grainy Mustard Aioli​

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Finding a good veggie burger that doesn’t taste like a mouthful of black beans or chopped veggies is hard. Most of them fall apart as you eat them and don’t give you that smoky umami flavor you are looking for. 

However, I did a bit of recipe testing and not to toot my own horn, but I nailed it. This burger will NOT fall apart and it has a delicious smokey, hearty flavor. Slathered with a tangy whole grain mustard aioli and vegan cheese…I mean can it get better than that? …

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Polenta Two Ways: Creamy + Grilled

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That creamy corn stuff that you usually call grits? A classic southern dish loaded with butter, cream, and salt? Nope, not that recipe here! Polenta and grits are not the same thing and originate almost on opposite sides of the world. Grits is a classic southern dish, while polenta is an Italian staple. 

Polenta can be prepared and plated in a whole variety of ways, as the corn doesn’t have a prominent taste so you can serve almost anything with it! It can be cooked on the stove top, baked, grilled, pan-fried…you name it. 

Polenta is a perfect food that can be prepared ahead of time and result in more than just one meal. That is why I decided to show you two ways you can prepare polenta (or fine cornmeal) and create two stunning and delicious dishes! 

One is super creamy, silky, and smooth topped with roasted garlic tomatoes & crunchy Italian-spiced chickpeas. The other is firmer and grilled to perfection. Topped with smoky mushrooms, and drizzled with a bit of truffle oil. That is what I call a menu! …

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Easy + Creamy Avocado Pasta

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I love pasta…like a lot, but sometimes I feel that I am always making the same sauces. Basic tomato, alfredo, or pesto. So why not throw an avocado in the blender, add a few other ingredients, blend, and create an ultra creamy and delicious sauce to pour over your favorite noodles? I am in!

This avocado pasta is super easy: only requires a blender & saucepan, takes 15 min. or less, but still tastes like you tried way harder than that….

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Crispy Sesame Soy Tofu w/ Kaffir Lime Leave Pesto

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Now I have to say it is pretty hard to make tofu actually taste good. Tofu is so bland as it is, and unless you make it really crispy and marinate it for a long time then it will just taste like a wet sponge. 

This recipe shows you that tofu can taste good and make you want to come back for more. By marinating it for at least an hour (longer is better, but I try to create easier recipes for you), crisping it up by baking AND pan-frying it, pairing it with a rich and delicious kaffir lime leave pesto….well it could not get better than that! …

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Asian Noodle Stir Fry w/ Lemon Peanut Sauce

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I didn’t realize how many lemon recipes I had on my blog till I felt like I have written “lemon” in my blog post title numerous times before…oops! I guess I have a thing for lemons. 

This is a deliciously perfect recipe to make on weekdays, as it’s super simple and most of the ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen!

Flavorful buckwheat soba noodles paired with a light, slightly zesty & creamy lemon peanut sauce. The crunch of the chopped toasted peanuts, crunchy baked tofu, and hints of sesame are some of the perfect additions to this dish.…

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Pesto Stuffed Pasta w/ White Sauce

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Pasta on pasta on pasta…I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of pasta honestly.

I recently went grocery shopping and found these huge Lumaconi pasta shells and knew right away that I had to create a delicious recipe with them!

I’ve never cooked them before, but let me tell you….this recipe came out amazing!

Pesto and pasta….plus a creamy and cheesy white sauce…I love my carbs that’s for sure!…

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Mediterranean Meatballs with Spiced Rice

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Coming at you with a fridge clean out recipe…for real though! 

It has been a bit since I have posted a savory recipe on here and I had some time on my hands today so I thought I would try to pull something off. Let me say….it turned out absolutely delicious! 

A delicious, savory, spiced, and hearty Mediterranean take on meatballs with a flavorful spiced rice and saffron cinnamon sauce.…

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Basil Ricotta Lasagna in a Mug

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Lasagna in a mug?! That’s right! and it’s absolutely delicious! This is a perfect recipe for college or high school students who don’t have time to wait for the lasagna to cook in the oven or don’t want to make a huge batch.  

This recipe doesn’t call for any fancy or hard to find ingredients, most of them should already be in your pantry. Just make sure you have that fresh basil on hand because it adds such a delicious fresh flavor to this dish. …

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Lemon Orzo with Crispy Sage

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A new recipe already? That’s right! I am spending my day in the kitchen making some homemade focaccia bread to pair with some homemade tomato soup for dinner.

As for a lunch, I decided to go for orzo. I haven’t made orzo in so long and I have been meaning to make some crispy sage, so this was a perfect combination! 

Lemon + mint + pine nuts + crispy sage = the best flavor combination 

It is rich, nutty, and slightly tangy which results in a melt in your mouth goodness. …

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