Entrees

Easy Indian Lentil Dal

September 10, 2018 by healthienut 2 Comments

I am all about simply, easy & quick meals right now considering I will be a full-time dorm living college student in a week. Quick and easy meals shouldn’t have to sacrifice taste so here is one of many recipes to disprove that.

A creamy, flavorful, and perfectly spiced indian lentil dal paired with spiced rice, and topped with freshly chopped green onion, vegan yogurt, and lemon.

As I start moving into my dorm next week I want to come up with countless instant pot, microwave friendly, and dorm friendly recipes. Although it will be difficult, I want to prove that you can still eat fun and balanced meals while in a confined space with limited supplies. Let me know if you have any recommendations on recipes or ways to cook them based on what equipment you have available!

This lentil dal is super easy and only uses one-pot and a rice cooker (optional). Uses easy to find and affordable ingredients. …

Sweet Potato Ravioli with Creamy White Sauce

September 6, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

Nothing is quite as special as homemade pasta. A soft, chewy, and tender dough that melts in your mouth regardless of the sauce you pair with it. `

Homemade ravioli, however, is on a whole other level. You don’t only smother it in any sauce of your choice, but you have endless varieties of fillings.

My choice? A creamy and rich sweet potato filling topped with silky smooth white sauce infused with tarragon and garlic and sprinkled with toasted pine nuts, more fresh tarragon, and freshly cracked pepper. It really is a mouthwatering combo.

Making ravioli from scratch may seem intimidating, but I assure you it is way simpler and easier than you think.

I go the easier route and use my ravioli cutter opposed to cutting it by hand.

Start by rolling out a piece of dough in your pasta maker or by hand. Place a thin sheet of dough over the ravioli cutter, spoon in filling into the divets, place another sheet of dough on top and use the rolling pin to cut them into squares. Viola, you’re done! There are also plenty of youtube videos and tutorials on how to roll and cut ravioli, so don’t be afraid to get a little educated beforehand!…

Spicy Italian Chickpea Pasta

August 28, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

A flavorful pasta dish is all I need in life. Fresh herbs, a creamy light tomato sauce, and crunchy chickpeas…I could eat that for the rest of my life.

Not going to lie I love my traditional tomato sauce with spaghetti noodles…but sometimes it’s best to switch things up and kick it up a notch. Add a bit of heat, crunchy beans, and fresh tarragon and you got yourself a damn good pasta dish.

With a light flavorful tomato sauce, fresh herbs, and spicy chickpeas this dish will amaze your taste buds. Pair with some fresh cherry tomatoes and it will be the perfect end of summer dish!

It is fun to get in the kitchen and play around with fresh herbs. I had a lot of fresh oregano and tarragon on hand so I thought what better way to use it up then throw it in an Italian-inspired dish?

Crunchy chickpeas are my favorite topper on a dish and the texture pairs perfectly with the chewy noodles.

Adding a bit of cayenne to the chickpeas adds the perfect heat and kick to the dish as well!…

Vegan “Fish” Tacos with Creamy Corn Salsa

August 16, 2018 by healthienut 1 Comment

I wasn’t a huge fan of fish before I was vegan, but I could have gone for a few fish tacos here and there. A tender, crispy, & chewy fish usually paired with a light citrusy slaw, or in my case a creamy corn salsa.

You might be wondering what I used to substitute the fish in this recipe…believe it or not it is tofu! You’ll just have to keep reading to find out how this magic happened.

A crispy battered & baked tofu topped with an ultra creamy corn salsa w/ zucchini dressing. Sprinkled with a bit of fresh parsley & green onions. Finished with more dressing and a squeeze of lime. It is truly the perfect summer meal!

The fishy quality of the tofu is obtained through blending nori sheets into a rough powder. It is then mixed into the panko breadcrumbs. Tofu is first dunked into a wet batter, then tossed in the breadcrumb mixture. It is baked until golden brown and is ultra crispy.

Since it is corn season then, of course, I had to make a corn salsa to top on the crispy tofu. …

Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Chimichurri

August 2, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

Surprisingly, I used to be a meat and potatoes kind of girl. That definitely isn’t the case anymore. Instead, I use the potatoes as the main star and add a bit of veggie and a flavorful dressing/sauce for that extra boost. There is nothing my heart and satiating then an uber crispy potato with a perfectly tender and soft inside.

I discovered the “trend” of smashing boiled potatoes a few months ago from a vegan Instagrammer Mississipi Vegan. I couldn’t take my eyes off of how crisp and mouthwatering his potatoes looked. So a few months later I decided to hop on that trend and create my own original and also mouthwatering recipe.

A tender inside and golden brown crispy skin. Topped with light and flavorful chimichurri and cheesy, salty tofu crumbles. Super easy and simple to make!

Now keep in mind this recipe will have oil in it, but don’t let that scare you away! The secret to getting these potatoes perfectly crisp is a drizzle of oil on the baking sheet, and a light drizzle on top of the potatoes once they’re smashed.

This chimichurri is filled with fresh herbs like mint, parsley, and cilantro. Adding to it is the right amount of acidity from red wine vinegar. To top it all off the freshly roasted garlic adds another layer of delicious flavor.

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Sesame Mushroom Noodle Bowl

July 25, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

Give me some noodles and I’ll use them up right away. They are so versatile as they can be dressed in numerous sauces from Thai curry sauce to Asian-inspired dressings. Throw on your favorite veggies and you got yourself a damn delicious meal!

Some thick Asian noodles tossed in a bit of rice vinegar, topped with seared oyster mushrooms, and sauteed veggies. All dressed in an uber creamy tahini sesame dressing. I am all over this!…