Showing posts with label Side dish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Side dish. Show all posts

Lemon Rosemary Rice & Quinoa

Right around this time each year is when I start mentally bookmarking new entertaining recipes and ideas. I especially love playing around with easy side dishes that are perfect for serving during Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday party season.

For this month’s collaboration with Carolina® Rice, I decided to share a quick and delicious Lemon Rosemary Rice & Quinoa side dish that can be paired with a number of different mains. This recipe uses one of Carolina’s newest products—Jasmine Rice with Quinoa, which combines fragrant fluffy Jasmine rice with the protein-packed nutrients and nutty flavor of quinoa.

This bright and savory rice dish would be wonderful for soaking up the juices of your favorite roasted turkey and gravy, a holiday ham, or a juicy prime rib. I love that it can be made in advance (so key when cooking for a party!) and is just as delicious hot off the stove as it is served cool as a rice salad. Serve this at your next gathering with friends or family or pack it up and bring to the office holiday potluck.

Another great thing about this easy rice recipe? It cooks quickly—just 15 minutes on the stove and a few more to let it cool and mix in the flavorings. Grated garlic, fresh lemon zest, and rosemary add tons of flavor, and cooking it with broth instead of water means that each individual grain is savory and delicious.

Because we’re usually cooking for a crowd this time of year, I use two packages of the rice & quinoa blend for this recipe, but feel free to cut this in half if you’d like to make a smaller portion. I do find that this reheats very well, so you can also make half to freeze or refrigerate for later!


Lemon Rosemary Rice & Quinoa
Serves 10

Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (substitute vegetable broth)
1 large lemon, zested and juiced (keep juice and zest divided)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 1/2 cups Carolina Jasmine Rice with Quinoa (from two 8.8oz packages)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, finely minced OR 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 small handful Italian parsley, finely minced (about 1/4 cup)
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Lemon slices and fresh herbs, for garnish

Directions
Combine broth, lemon juice (reserve zest), and salt in a medium saucepan (with lid) and bring to a boil. Add the dried Carolina Jasmine Rice with Quinoa, stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Let cook 15 minutes.

Transfer cooked rice into a shallow baking dish or large bowl and spread out. Let rest at room temperature about 5 to 10 minutes to allow the rice to release steam and cool down slightly before dressing. Once rested, add the olive oil, lemon zest, grated garlic, rosemary, parsley, and black pepper. Toss well to evenly distribute ingredients, then taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper, as needed.

Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with lemon slices and sprigs of fresh herbs.


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Coconut Lime Cabbage Slaw

This Coconut Lime Cabbage Slaw recipe was a collaborative effort between one of my friends and I.

I created the coconut lime dressing to use on a carrot salad I often served as part of my menus at Good Commons, the retreat center my friend owns where I cook during the summer. She fell in love with the dressing and started using it with shredded cabbage as a vegan coleslaw to serve during a annual bbq she caters every year.

I helped out with the event one summer, and fell in love with the way she used the dressing on cabbage. I then took THAT idea, added a few touches of my own (cilantro! coconut flakes!) and a new favorite coleslaw recipe was born!

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Roasted Chimichurri Parsnips

Parsnips look like white carrots, but taste like magic. They are peppery, slightly floral, and just a tiny bit sweet. I love them pureed or in soups, but simply roasted is one of the easiest and best ways to prepare them.

And if you want to take them up a notch even further? Toss them with some freshly made chimichurri sauce!

If you've spent any time on this blog, you've probably already encountered chimichurri sauce. My love for this garlicky herb sauce runs deep. I've used it as a quick pasta sauce, a fish taco-topping, and a marinade. It's even great with roast chicken!

Blitz up a quick batch of it (it takes seconds--everything into a blender!) and then use it all week long to make your meals taste amazing.

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Coconut Mango Couscous Salad (+ Ideas for a Tropical Fall Party Menu!)

This weekend, I invited a few of my favorite people over for a cozy and relaxed Fall lunch party at home. After a busy summer, it felt really great to finally relax and catch-up with friends over delicious food and drinks.

My party menu was inspired by a new product I've been working with this season called Dole Fruit n' Spice, which is a line of spiced frozen fruit that combines fruit like mangos, pineapple, and apples with spices like chili and cinnamon. It's a new product and I hadn't heard about it until I started working with them, but I'm genuinely obsessed with how good they are, and with all the ways you can use them to make both sweet and savory recipes.

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Baked Potatoes in Garlic Cream

When Eugene and I got married 5 years ago, one of the gifts we got was a fancy mandoline slicer. It was the kind that came with multiple blades and plates for making everything from waffle fries to diced vegetables and matchsticks. Despite all the extra bells and whistles, the one blade we used most often was the simplest one that made perfectly thin slices of whatever vegetable you put in it.

The vegetable we chose was the potato, and we went through a period of making thinly sliced potatoes au gratin nearly everyday for far too long. I love that recipe. It's a simple mix of thinly sliced potatoes, garlic, butter, and cream, roasted until the potatoes are super crisp.

Over the years, I set that mandoline aside (it's currently collecting dust in a cabinet--er...sorry whoever gave that to us) in favor of a $15 handheld mandoline that makes the thin slices we love with a lot less fuss. I use it for cucumbers and radishes, and just about anything else that it will take.

A few days ago, I was hunting around the fridge for something to cook,  when I came across a few fogotten potatoes and decided to resurrect that long ago favorite recipe.

Only problem? I was already baking a cake for a party we were going to and didn't want to change the oven temp. Hence this lovely baked potato dish. Same ingredients as the gratin, but slightly different technique and lower bake.

And the results? Ohmygodsogood.

We ate half of these for dinner, then the rest with breakfast the next day. Rich. Decadent. Easy. So good.




Baked Sliced Potatoes in Garlic Cream
serves 4

Ingredients
3 large Idaho potatoes, washed and unpeeled
6 garlic cloves
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons butter, sliced thinly plus more for greasing pan
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
Salt and pepper
Minced chives for garnish, if desired

Directions
Butter an 8" round baking dish all along the bottom and sides. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Set your mandoline to the thinnest level possible and slice your potatoes (skins on) into paper-thin slices. Place in a bowl filled with ice water.

In a blender, combine the garlic and heavy cream. Puree until smooth. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Layer the potato slices with just a light overlap all the way around your baking dish, covering the bottom completely. Scatter with a few slices of butter and some of the rosemary, then repeat with the rest of the potatoes. Top with a few final slices of butter and a generous sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper, then pour in the garlic cream, allowing it to soak down on all sides.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top of the dish is slightly golden and the whole dish is bubbling. Scoop into dishes and top with minced chives.

Enjoy!


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Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges with Pistachios, Goat Cheese & Pomegranate Glaze

I have a thing for dishes that bring together sweet and salty flavors in one bite. It's like every mouthful hits all the right notes and sends you going back for more (and more and more!).

I first tried these Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges topped with Pistachios, Goat Cheese and Pomegranate Glaze at an event I went to last week sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios (yes, they of the amazing TV commercials!), where we all teamed up to make a bunch of delicious winter recipes featuring pistachios.

You can read more about that party here, but if it's the recipe you're looking for, scroll down!

I have made this easy sweet potato side dish twice since the party last week, and am already thinking about doing it again for Christmas or maybe even our New Year's party. It is THAT good.

The sweet potato wedges are crispy on the outside and tender inside, and paired with the salty roasted pistachios and goat cheese. And then the perfectly sweet and spicy pomegranate juice glaze ties the whole magical thing together. Ahh...SO GOOD!

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Warm Kale, Sausage & Butternut Squash Salad

Can something with sausage in it still be called a salad? I think yes.

This Warm Kale, Sausage & Butternut Squash Salad needs to happen in your kitchen soon. It's the kind of dish that's supposed to be a side, but which can totally satisfy all on it's own.

It's a good weeknight dinner. It's a great weekday lunch.

I know, because after I took these photos, I sat down and ate the whole thing. The whole time I kept thinking that I should stop and save some for Eugene, but then there was none left to save.

Ooops.

This dish cooks all in one pan. You start with the sausage--obviously. I like a spicy Italian sausage, but use your favorite--turkey, chorizo, heck...even soyrizo if that's your thing!

Saute until brown, then add the squash and let that cook. The kale is last, along with some seasonings--salt, pepper, a little balsamic vinegar--and a bit of grated cheese, if you'd like.

(I like.)

Into a bowl, then onto a table. Or if you cook it in a pretty cast iron pan, it can go straight from stove to table.

Even easier!

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Loved this recipe? Here are three other Winter Salad Recipes you might like:


And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading


Warm Kale, Sausage & Butternut Squash Salad
Serves 4-6

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound hot Italian sausage, removed from casings
3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
1 yellow onion, diced
8 cups chopped kale
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and brown for about 5-7 minutes. Add the butternut squash and onion (and a bit more oil if there isn't much fat in the pan--this will vary based on the sausage you use), and cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender. Stir in the kale, letting the heat from the pan wilt it slightly. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a serving dish, drizzle with balsamic and sprinkle on the parmesan. Serve immediately.








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Carrot Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

I love carrot salads like this one--easy and colorful and popping with bright and tangy flavor that compels you to keep going back in for one more forkful. (And another. And another...)

After some carrot cake baking this past weekend, I found myself with a bunch of extra shredded carrots, so figured a Carrot Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette was definitely in order.

I think carrot salads usually tend to be too sweet--often seasoned with sugar and warm spices, but what I was craving was something light and acidic. This easy dijon mustard vinaigrette whips together in just a few seconds, and works perfectly with the sweet shredded carrots. A bit of a fresh parsley and it's done!

I used pre-shredded carrots that I bought for the cake this past weekend (I love a good shortcut and was not in the mood to wash my food processor afterward), but you can use carrots you shred yourself. Or you can even just slice them thinly. Whatever works best for you.

The one thing I will advise is that you make this at least two hours before serving. Carrots are a hard vegetable, and they need a couple hours to soak in the dressing and soften up a bit. It's good right away, for sure, but it's GREAT a couple hours later. Trust me on this.

I love this salad on its own as a side dish, or as a condiment--use it as a topping on sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, or fish tacos. There are seriously so many good uses for this easy dish.

Enjoy!

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Loved this recipe? Here are three other Winter Salad Recipes you might like:

And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading



Carrot Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
Serves 4

Ingredients
5 cups shredded carrots
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/3 cup apple cider or red wine vinegar
1/3 cup neutral flavor oil (grape seed, avocado, vegetable, etc.)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, oils, and honey until well combined. Add the shredded carrots and parsley and toss well to coat. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper, then toss again. Cover, and let sit at room temperature 2 hours. Toss again and serve.
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Chipotle Coca-Cola Sweet Potatoes for 5 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas

Let's talk about Thanksgiving for a minute, OK?

I think a lot of us make this holiday way more complicated than it needs to be. We spend days (or even weeks!) seeking out new recipes, creating elaborate menus, and figuring out fancy techniques to bust out on the big day.

And the weird part is that, often, the thing people love most about Thanksgiving are the old favorites!

All that work, and your brother just wants the same old stuffing. Bummer, right?

So this year, we're going to keep things simple. (But we're still going to have some fun!)

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of my solid favorite Thanksgiving recipes, but showing you a few creative ways to mix them up and serve them. So your family gets to enjoy their favorites, and you still get to play around in the kitchen.

Everybody wins!

First up are these Chipotle Coca-Cola Sweet Potatoes. This season, I've partnered with Coca-Cola to share some favorite holiday recipes and party inspiration so this felt like the perfect recipe to start off this series. I've been making this easy sweet potato recipe for about 7 years, and it has never let me down.

And the best part? SO easy. You puree a few ingredients, pour them over the sweet potatoes, and bake.

I'm NOT even going to make you peel the potatoes! Awesome, right?

And I promised you fun, right?

Because while these sweet potatoes are amazing served as-is (seriously...I'm talking spicy, smokey, and a little bit sweet...so perfect!), they're also a great base for some super creative (and easy!) serving ideas.

I love this because it gives you a chance to personalize and customize your dish, while still keeping everyone happy.

Read on, and get inspired!

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Chopped Asparagus with Pancetta & Garlic

I got a lost on the way to meet a couple friends for lunch yesterday (long story), so by the time I finally arrived, the appetizers were already being placed on the table.

This restaurant offers up a variety of vegetable appetizers, and they selected a few simple ones--broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans--each prepared in a different way.

It was the kind of thing I probably wouldn't have thought to order myself, which I loved, because it reminded me just how impressive good, in-season vegetables can be when prepared well.

At home, I've been doing things with vegetables a lot lately. It always happens around this time. After months of cold, dreary weather and not much in terms of seasonal offerings, the burst of Spring warmth gets me excited to be back in the kitchen.

Asparagus, chopped into small-ish pieces, and sauteed with pancetta, garlic and chilies is a new favorite of mine. I cook them briefly--just until a bit tender, then scoop onto a platter and shower with fresh lemon zest and freshly grated parmesan cheese.


I love this on its own as a side, or topped with a fried egg or two for breakfast (or any meal, actually). You can also toss this with cooked pasta or rice for an easy veggie entree.

Simple, yet satisfying, because that's what Spring cooking is all about!

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Loved this recipe? Here are three other vegetable recipes you might like:

And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading

Chopped Asparagus with Pancetta and Garlic Recipe
Serves 4, as a side

Ingredients
2 large bunches asparagus
3 oz pancetta or bacon, diced (about 1/3 cup)
3 large garlic cloves, sliced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes + more for garnish
Kosher salt and black pepper
Zest of 1/2 lemon, freshly grated
1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Trim the woody ends off the asparagus, then chop what remains into about 1" pieces.

In a heavy-bottom pan over medium-high heat, cook the pancetta or bacon until the fat is rendered. Add the garlic and saute for one minute until fragrant. Raise the heat and add the asparagus pieces and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper, and saute for about 5 minutes or until pieces are slightly tender, but still bright green.

Serve on a large platter, then sprinkle with the fresh lemon zest and parmesan. Sprinkle with a few additional chile flakes before serving.
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Spiced Roasted Carrots with Ras el Hanout

Last winter I shared with you a recipe for popcorn with dark chocolate, almonds, and ras el hanout--a North African spice blend that is one of my firm favorites.

In that post, I actually talked about how I fell in love with it when I used it on some roasted carrots in place of the cumin that had run out earlier that day.

It took me a full year to realize that while I may have mentioned that recipe for the Roasted Carrots with Ras el Hanout...I never actually shared it with you!

What a tease! Am correcting this today, and I urge you to give it a try as soon as possible.

Ras el hanout is a somewhat sweet and savory spice mix that's absolutely wonderful with roasted vegetables. For this dish, I roughly peel the carrots (I used gorgeous multi-colored rainbow carrots, but any kind will do!), then rub them with olive oil, salt, and the spice. I also add a bit of cayenne because I love heat, though you can skip it if you don't.

Into a very hot oven they go for about 20-25 minutes, depending on how fat your carrots are (mine weren't very fat at all). Give them a toss about halfway through--you want to get the char marks on all sides, and then pull them out when they start to look just a tiny bit wrinkled.

I serve them all jumbled on a platter with a side of whipped Greek yogurt sprinkled with sumac or sesame seeds or whatever else is on hand.

(The tangy yogurt with the sweet and spicy carrots is perfections. Seriously.)

If you have some fresh mint, a few leaves torn on top would be lovely.

Serve this as a side with a lovely roasted main, and you'll have a wonderful winter meal.

Shopping tip: Ras el Hanout is pretty commonly found at well-stocked supermarkets like Whole Foods, online, or at spice shops. Note that the mixes can vary based on the spice combination, so shop around and find the one you like best.

Personally I go for the ones that are a little sweeter without too much cumin or turmeric (so look for something brown--not yellow). If you can't find it, Indian Garam Masala OR Chinese Five Spice would also work well in this recipe (each with slightly different, but similar, flavor profiles.) Buy Ras el Hanout online here.


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Loved this recipe? Here are three other vegetable recipes you might like:


And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading


Roasted Carrots with Ras el Hanout
Serves 4, as a side

Ingredients
2 pounds medium-sized carrots, peeled
Extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons ras el hanout
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Greek yogurt & flaky sea salt, for serving

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Peel the carrots and arrange on a large metal baking sheet. Drizzle generously with olive oil, then sprinkle with ras el hanout, cayenne, and salt. Toss carrots to coat evenly.

Roast 15 minutes, toss once, then roast another 10 minutes, or until carrots are slightly charred and wrinkled. 

Place on a serving platter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Serve with Greek yogurt on the side for dipping.

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23 Best Last-Minute Thanksgiving Side Dishes

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