Archive for June, 2015

This delicious, nutritious salad from Donna Hay’s Fresh and Light is a great combination of flavor and textures. Add wilted kale and fresh parsley to cooked red quinoa and toss with a smokey paprika dressing. Top with some grilled halloumi cheese and you have a wonderful side dish or vegetarian entrée. Halloumi is a semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese typically made from goat’s milk, sheep’s milk and, sometimes, cow’s milk. Because it has a high melting point, it is great for grilling or frying. Cook’s note: arugula would be a good substitute for kale in this salad.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Read the label on the cheese to ensure it does not contain additives or colour. Make sure the smoked paprika does not contain colour.

Pour boiling water over the kale to wilt it slightly

Cooked red quinoa, parsley and smokey lemon dressing

Halloumi has a high melting point, so it is great for grilling or frying

Toss quinoa, kale and parsley with dressing

Fry the halloumi for a few minutes on each side, until browned

Red quinoa, kale and halloumi salad

Ingredients:

5 oz (150 g) kale, trimmed

2.5 cups (750 ml) cooked red quinoa

½ cup (125 ml) flat-leaf parsley leaves

1 lb. (500 g) halloumi, thinly sliced

Olive oil, for brushing

For the smoky lemon dressing:

2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice

1 tsp (5 ml) sweet smoked paprika

1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil

Preparation:

Cook the quinoa according to the package directions and set aside.

Cut the kale into large pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Pour boiling water over and allow to stand for five minutes. Drain and pat dry. Toss the kale with the quinoa and parsley.

To make the dressing, combine the lemon juice, paprika and oil. Pour over the salad and toss.

Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. Brush the halloumi with oil and cook until golden. Divide the salad between serving plates and top with the halloumi to serve. Serves 4.

From Fresh and Light by Donna Hay

This stir-fry from Real Simple magazine combines economical chicken thighs with scallions, cucumber and noodles. The crispy garlic garnish adds flavour and crunch.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for a chicken stock with no additives, preservatives or artificial flavour. I use Imagine Organic brand. Instead of soy sauce use tamari, which is preserved with alcohol instead of sodium benzoate.

Fry the garlic until crispy

Cook the chicken and set aside

Stir fry scallions and ginger

Add cucumber and stir-fry until tender

Serve over noodles

Ingredients:

8 ounces (250 g) linguine

¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 pound (500 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into thin strips

2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornstarch

Kosher salt

6 scallions, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) lengths, plus additional sliced scallions for serving

2 tablespoons (30 ml) finely chopped fresh ginger

1 English cucumber, sliced into half-moons

1/3 cup (75 ml) low-sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons (45 ml) soy sauce

Preparation:

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the garlic to paper towels with a slotted spoon. Reserve the oil.

Combine the chicken, cornstarch, and ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of salt in a bowl; toss to coat. Heat 2 tablespoons of the reserved garlic oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the chicken in an even layer. Cook, without touching, until browned on the bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir and cook until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Add the scallions and ginger to the skillet. Cook over high heat, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cucumber and cook, stirring, until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken, pasta, broth, and soy sauce. Cook, stirring, until coated and hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Top with the sliced scallions and crispy garlic. Serves 4.

From Real Simple

This colourful salad from Chatelaine is a great side dish with grilled meat or seafood, and it would also be a good vegetarian entrée. Roast squash and toss with peppery arugula, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and feta. Drizzle with an apple juice-Dijon vinaigrette and enjoy.

Roast the squash until tender and beginning to brown

The squash and sweet dressing complement peppery arugula

Top with crumbled feta and dried cranberries

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for a Dijon mustard without benzoate of soda or sulfites – I use President’s Choice Old-Fashioned Dijon. Make sure the feta does not contain preservatives and that the cranberries do not contain sulfites. I used Ocean Spray craisins, which are additive-free.

Ingredients:

¾ cup (174 ml) apple juice

2 tbsp (30 ml) cider vinegar

2 garlic cloves, minced

5 tbsp (75 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

2 tsp (10 ml) Dijon mustard

1 butternut squash, about 1.4 kg, washed well

1 tbsp (15 ml) honey

½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt

4 cups (1 L) baby arugula

1 cup (250 ml) crumbled feta

¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted raw shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

2 tbsp (30 ml) dried cranberries

Preparation:

Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. Preheat to 400 F (200 C). Line 2 large baking sheets with foil.

Boil apple juice with vinegar and garlic in a small saucepan. Boil until reduced to ¼ cup (60 ml) about 10 min. Remove from heat and whisk in 3 tbsp (45 ml) oil and Dijon.

Cut a large, shallow slit through the skin of squash. Microwave on high to make it easier to cut, 3 to 5 min. Slice unpeeled squash in half and discard seeds. Cut into 1/3-in.-thick (0.8 cm) slices. Toss with remaining oil, honey and salt until coated. Spread out on prepared baking sheets. Roast until just tender and edges are starting to brown, about 15 min.

Divide arugula among plates. Top with warm squash. Drizzle with dressing. Top with feta, pepitas and cranberries. Serves 4.

From Chatelaine