Showing posts with label Salads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salads. Show all posts

(Easy) Greek Rice Salad

July 14, 2022

(Easy) Greek Rice Salad



It’s summertime and the high temperatures have already made their way through our windows.
Global warming is causing heat waves to be more frequent and longer and since there’s no way to prevent the sun from shining bright and making our days hotter, the only thing we can do is to keep ourselves cool and hydrated.
Lemonade, iced tea, watermelon, high-water fruits and vegetables, all combined together can help you face a dreaded heat wave. However, here’s another recipe that you can add to your list to get you through the summer: Greek Rice Salad.

Chicken Salad with Almonds Apple and Apricots

August 16, 2019

Chicken Salad with Almonds Apple and Apricots


I do love me a good chicken salad and I am always working on new and different versions.
Fact is, there are probably as many recipes for chicken salad as there are cooks in the world. It’s one of those great dishes that you can basically whip up from anything. As long as there’s chicken in the equation of course.

Curried Chickpeas

November 23, 2018

Curried Chickpeas


This recipe come from Joan’s on Third, a specialty food store and restaurant located in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. A great little place with a refreshing yet comfortable atmosphere and a great menu selection.
I am obsessed with the curried chickpeas at Joan's on Third. They are the best curried chickpeas ever. I’ve been there three times and every single time I’ve ordered them as part of the salad trio (a selection of three salads from their daily specials on the marketplace menu). But truth to be told I should order just the chickpeas because they're all I ever want to eat (well, that and the carrot cake.)
Luckily for me, I found the recipe on the LATimes and I was able to recreate it home — meaning that I don’t have to fly to LA if I get a curried chickpeas craving.

Italian Farro Salad

July 26, 2018

Italian Farro Salad


If you’re not familiar with it, farro is a grain similar to pearl barley, but it’s dried in such a way that instead of being fluffy and spongy, it becomes a bit chewy and has an incredible nutty flavor.
Farro is a pure form of wheat with the husk intact.
It’s been a staple in the Mediterranean diet for centuries, in fact it was a major food for the ancient Romans, who used it to make bread and soups before shifting to wheat.
It’s incredibly versatile and pretty healthy too. It contains a lot of fiber which proves to be very good when it comes to digestion and cardiovascular health. It’s also exceptionally high in protein for a grain and supplies more than 10 different vitamins and minerals.
It used to be pretty hard to find, but nowadays almost all grocery stores carry it. From Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods to Walmart, look for it in the natural-food or special selection sections.

Greek Pasta Salad

July 18, 2018

Greek Pasta Salad

Pasta salads tend to get a bad rap, but I find that the more I think of them as cold and fresh summer dishes and the less as mayo-laden bowls of suspicious ingredients offered in delis around the country, the more inviting they become, not only for picnics and potlucks but for an awesome Friday night.
I actually made this Greek Pasta Salad for a BBQ this past weekend, everyone raved about it, and wanted to know how to make it.
In my book, I always know that something works when people ask for the recipe. Then again, I’m not sure if they are ever going to make it but sure enough, they’ve enjoyed it.
I love when people get so excited about something that is so simple to make and so fresh.

"Blow Your Mind" Grilled Chicken Marinade

May 28, 2018

"Blow Your Mind" Grilled Chicken Marinade


Sometimes simplicity is the best. Like the easy breezy grilled chicken marinade I invented the other day.
As a person who loves chicken dishes and couldn’t get tired of them, ever, I’m constantly looking for different and original methods to cook chicken so I can serve it more often without the risk of getting bored. My goal is always the same, juicy, tender, succulent chicken that packs a flavor punch.

Fancy Egg Salad

November 24, 2017

Fancy Egg Salad


I’m going to make a confession guys, this egg salad is (as the title suggests) fancy and high-maintenance.
Made from a few ordinary ingredients it's more than the sum of its parts: well balanced, with bright fresh flavors, and a texture that spans from rich and creamy to crunchy.
It really has it all.

(Vegan) Buddha Bowl with Lemon Parsley Dressing

June 20, 2017

(Vegan) Buddha Bowl with Lemon Parsley Dressing
Like the spiritual guru it’s named after, Buddha bowls (sometimes referred to as glory or hippie bowls) are filling dishes that usually include raw or roasted veggies, legumes, healthy grains, sometimes they include toppings such as nuts or seeds, and are usually dressed with a vinaigrette style dressing for added texture and flavor.
Though Buddha bowls can contain a whole array of ingredients and can be seasoned in any number of ways, the basic formula remains the same.

Pesto Rice Salad Bowls with Tomatoes, Green Beans and Feta

July 20, 2016

Pesto Rice Salad Bowls with Tomatoes, Green Beans and Feta


Pesto. Pesto. PESTO.
Did I just said pesto?
Arguably one of my all time favorite condiments/sauces in the entire world. And it’s totally the star of these Pesto Rice Salad Bowls with Tomatoes, Green Beans and Feta.
I think what I love most about pesto, aside from the wonderful flavor and vibrant green color, is how easy it is to make at home.
It’s one of those things people end up buying pre-made at the grocery store out of convenience, not realizing how simple it is to make it. Especially at the height of summer, when basil is abundant and cheap.
Plus, when you’re making it at home, you have the ability to really control the amount of ingredients that you’re adding.
You can make it sans garlic or use less cheese. You’re in control, you decide.

Pesto Chicken Salad

July 6, 2016

Pesto Chicken Salad


Even though I’m swamped with work at the moment — dealing with tons of deadlines, endless paperwork, emails, and all sort of tiresome things on my real life agenda — I’ve decided to focus my daydreaming on something more aspirational: what to cook on a lazy summer evening.
And though the current heatwave we’re experiencing is not too bad, I’m not brave enough to venture outside of my air-conditioned cave, fire up the grill, and make some grub.
Instead, I stayed in and made some delicious mayo-less Pesto Chicken Salad.

Tzatziki Potato Salad

June 15, 2016

Tzatziki Potato Salad


I know I told you like a year ago what my favorite potato salad was but as it turns out, I’ve got room in my allegiances for another. Though this may not be the classic potato salad most people grew up with; like a month ago I was asked to bring potato salad to a cook-out and decided to try this one.
I knew that it was full of picky eaters who want traditional food with no changes or anything “exotic”. If I had told them ahead of time what was in this salad they wouldn't have eaten it.
Instead they inhaled it and asked for more.
Who made this potato salad? It’s delish!

Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad with Sesame Seed Dressing

June 8, 2016

Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing


The other day I looked at the thermometer outside my kitchen window and it read 100°F.
Clearly, I need a new thermometer.
And yet, even if it isn't that hot out (to be honest today it’s actually pretty chilly), it's definitely been getting warm enough that my water consumption is starting to increase dramatically while I almost lost my appetite — okay not really but you know what I mean, right?
We’re entering that time of the year when a light and fresh salad is exactly what (and all) I need.

California Chicken Avocado and Red Quinoa Bowls

March 14, 2016

California Chicken Avocado and Red Quinoa Bowls


In the never-ending cross-country rivalry, the West Coast wins hands down when it comes to the weather — because you know of all the sunshine and low humidity.
And though I love me a good old cold snowy winter, whenever I see on social media a “friend” grilling outdoors wearing shorts, a tee, and a pair of flip-flops in February/March, I realize that The Mamas & Papas were right all along when they were singing: “I'd be safe and warm If I was in L.A.”
Seriously people, I feel the desperate need to flee the rain, the cold, the darkness. I want some sun-induced warmth. I want to be outdoors. I want to barbecue something. Anything really.

Grilled Chicken Arugula and Pear Salad with Toasted Walnuts

January 29, 2016

Grilled Chicken Arugula and Pear Salad with Toasted Walnuts


Though I like to consider myself a somewhat navigated blogger, many things I do on this blog point in the opposite direction.
Such as struggling to reply in a timely manner to your comments and emails or like I’m still having some serious problems with social media: such as forgetting to post new pictures on IG (ouch!), not engaging enough with the readers, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera…
But what really I’m bad at, is planning ahead.
I know for a fact that almost all of my fellow food bloggers have scheduled posts for the next weeks, months, years to come.
And I’m also fairly certain that they have already planned next week’s social media updates. You don’t believe me? Ask ‘em!

Chicken Souvlaki Grilled Veggie and Quinoa Bowls with Tzatziki-Feta Sauce

January 15, 2016

Chicken Souvlaki Grilled Veggie and Quinoa Bowls with Tzatziki-Feta Sauce


Though I’m reasonably certain that the internet doesn’t need another recipe for chicken souvlaki — I did my fair share of research and there are thousands and thousands of different recipes for the seasoned Greek kebabs, including mine.
I still feel that the interwebs (as mom calls it) might benefit from just one more souvlaki recipe that includes chicken (obvs) but also grilled veggies, quinoa, and a delicious tzatziki sauce made with feta; everything served in a bowl.
I know you’re drooling, so am I — and I just had it for lunch.
That’s the only acceptable reaction one can have at the sight of so much awesomeness.

Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa and Spinach Salad

November 2, 2015

Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa and Spinach Salad


I’ve confessed again and again that I’m just the kind of person that way too often hits on something that can't stop eating. For days, weeks, months.
It happened with coconut curry chicken, garlic mushrooms, creamy mashed cauliflower, and now this salad.
I’m telling y
ou, if I had a butternut squash right now at home, instead of writing this post, I’d be peeling, chopping, and roasting it.
No kidding.

Burnt Eggplant with Tahini, Pomegranate and Sesame Seeds

September 25, 2015

Burnt Eggplant with Tahini, Pomegranate and Sesame Seeds


Autocorrect is awesome at turning your garbled typing into coherent messages.
Except when it's not.
Take for instance my friend Shashi. For the past week or so she asked on more than one occasion how I ‘twerked’ a particular recipe — I know that she meant ‘tweaked’ but clearly her phone was acting on its own volition.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love twerking just as much as the next person (well, not really) but I honestly have no idea how to twerk a recipe.
What are you supposed to do?
Let’s not forget that twerking presupposes dancing in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.
Does that mean that in order to twerk a recipe you take a cookbook and rub your booty against it?
I dunno, I dunno.
I might need to ask Miley Cyrus for guidance...she knows a thing or two about twerking, right?

Green Goddess Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese

September 11, 2015

Green Goddess Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese

It seems that this blog is finally working for me: I have an archive of recipes I love, largely ones that work as they should, and the answer to “What should I eat today?” is now, quite often “Aw man those turkey koftas were legit. Let’s have them again!

Soy-Lime Chicken Bowls with Cilantro Lime Dressing

August 7, 2015

Soy-Lime Chicken Bowls with Cilantro Lime Dressing
I’m typing this post while sitting in a café in Berlin.
It’s sunny outside and there’s even a light breeze. Though it's supposed to get very warm today (temperatures will rise to near 100 degrees), I'm enjoying the cool morning.
There are so many things I want to tell you about this wonderful city but I feel like it’s too early.
I’ll have a post dedicated to this vibrant city next week. Be patient.

Avocado Caprese Salad with Balsamic Reduction

July 10, 2015

Avocado Caprese Salad with Balsamic Reduction




It’s easy to overeat during lunch time. You’ve been up since 6am, work is stressful, you’ve already eaten your daily intake of healthy snacks but you’re still starving.
And you know what? Everyone makes bad decisions when they’re starving.
Your mouth is watering, the stomach aches with hunger.
You walk into the Deli.
The options are endless.
Everything looks good.
Even things you normally don’t eat look good. Like Fried Chicken Sandwich or the Italian Meatball Sub with Double Provolone Cheese — you know, just to throw some examples out there.