Monday, June 18, 2012

Green Beans with Chili, Mushrooms, and Pecans

The past couple of weeks have been pretty crazy, filled with a visit from a close friend from the states, long work days, and eventful nights in and around Tel Aviv.  I'm wiped out to say the least.  I can still feel vibrations pulsing through my body and buzzing ringing in my ears, remnants from a weekend full of loud music and lots of dancey Israelis.  However, I watch my email inbox build before my eyes and am reminded that a new week has started.  Back to the grind.

On another note, the humid Tel Avivian heat has officially hit (forgot quite how moist it gets here) and it has become hard to breath or do anything outside for that matter. Awesome.  I will say though, the hotter it gets, the more I crave fresh, crispy fruits and veggies.  With deliciously rich dairy products and opportunities to buy fresh baked breads and pitas on every corner,  it is beyond easy to indulge in a satisfying diet exclusively consisting of bread and cheese here in Israel.  Fortunately, the country is even more famous for its produce.  Notorious for its large exports of oranges and dates globally, Israel really does grow some of the most delicious fruits and veggies in existence.

Lucky for me, I live near a number of produce stores and the largest shuk (outdoor market) in Tel Aviv where I can find fresh, affordable products.  So, to start the summer off right, I have vowed to start cooking more so I can utilize the season's natural treasures!

Last night, to my dismay I opened my fridge only to find a bag of string beans and a few mushrooms left over from last week's shopping trip.  So instead of heading to a restaurant, I did what I love to do...I scraped together a healthy meal with some creativity and cabinet staples.  I pulled out some frozen lentils from my freezer, almond butter and soy sauce from the fridge, roasted pecans and chili flakes from the cabinet, and of course the string beans and mushrooms.

It was a little unconventional, but really tasty and very filling!
(Serves 1)
Ingredients:
2-3 cup green beans, cooked
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup lentils, cooked
1-2 T natural almond butter (natural peanut butter will work fine here as well)
1/4 cup + 2 T water
1 TB low sodium soy sauce
handful pecans, chopped
crushed chili flakes (amount to your liking)
1/2 T olive oil

Directions:
In a pan, heat olive oil.  Add mushrooms and cook until softened.  Spice with crushed chili flakes to your liking.  Add green beans and 1/4 cup water.  Let cook until green beans are al dente.  Add cooked lentils, stir, and remove from heat and pour into a shallow bowl.


In a mixing bowl, combine almond butter, 2 T water, soy cauce, and chili flakes to your liking,  Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.

Pour almond sauce over green bean mixture and sprinkle pecans on top.  Enjoy! : )








Monday, May 21, 2012

New Country, New Knowledge, New Food...Quinoa Stuffed Peppers and Israeli "Caprese" Salad

It has been exactly four months since my last post!  To say the least, there have been quite a few life changes to date.   


Since January 21st, I...


1. moved to Tel Aviv, Israel
2. miraculously found an apartment on my own
3. danced next to Israel's most well known celebrity chef...at a club at 4am
4. have been pulled over twice for "crossing white dotted lines..."?
5. experienced credit card fraud (awesome)
6. bumped into an American cousin visiting Israel who I have literally met once before  
7. recently learned how to play a somewhat annoying, yet addicting card game called "Taki"
8. learned that oven-safe cooking pouches are called "kookies" 
9. FINALLY have a functioning stove and oven after 6 weeks of gas/electricity/installation issues


The list could go on and on.  Moving to Israel has been a rollercoaster of ridiculousness, complete elation, and immeasurable stress.  It's been quite the adventure.


One of the things that brings me continual joy and peace of mind is my ability to stroll over to numerous delicious restaurants, falafel and juice stands, and produce kiosks in my area.  Tel Aviv has become a hub for quality, fresh, healthy, vegetarian/gluten-free friendly, and of course delicious foods and restaurants.  


Just down my street, I can find the best voted juice stand in Tel Aviv, across from my building, an awesome cafe with a mean cafe hafuch (late'),  and my very block is home to one of the most highly rated restaurants in Tel Aviv.  It's grand.  I'm so inspired by Tel Aviv's fusion of middle eastern flare with cosmopolitan modernity, especially in regards to food.  


In honor of my newly installed stove and oven, tonight I insisted on cooking up a fresh, affordable meal for a friend and myself!  Cooking again and it feels so good...


Dishes included:


Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. ground cumin                                                                                                                                                                                     
1 Tbs. sweet paprika                                                                                                                                                                                   
1/2 Tbs. ground black pepper                                                                                                                                                                       
2 cloves garlic, minced                                                                                                                                                                              
1 10-oz. spinach                                                                                                                                                                                          
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes                                                                                                                                                                     
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained                                                                                                                                        
1 box sliced mushrooms                                                                                                                                                                     
3/4 cup quinoa                                                                                                                                                                                             
3 large carrots, grated (1 1/2 cups)                                                                                                                                                    
4 large bell peppers (any color)                                                                                                                                                            
2 cup water
Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat.                                                                                                                          
Add mushrooms and cook until soft.



Add cumin, pepper, paprika, and garlic, and sauté 1 minute.

Stir in spinach and tomatoes.
Cook 5 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.
Stir in chickpeas, quinoa, carrots, and 1.5 cups water.
Cover, and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until quinoa is tender.
Season with salt, if desired.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Pour remaining 1/2 cup water in bottom of baking dish.

Fill each bell pepper with quinoa mixture until just overflowing, and place in baking dish.
Cover with foil, and bake 1 hour.  Uncover and transfer stuffed peppers to serving plates, and drizzle each with pan juices before serving.
Israeli "Caprese" Salad


1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved     
large handful basil leaves, chopped                                                                                                
bulgarian cheese, cubed (portioned to your liking)      
ground black pepper                                                                                                                                  
1 Tbs. olive oil
Combine all ingredients and serve! 
בתאבון (bate' avon)-Enjoy!
Goldstars, of course









Saturday, January 21, 2012

Yet another butternut squash variation...this time "Butternut Squash with Coconut Milk and Peanuts"

Happy Weekend!

I know. I know. I've already cooked up two butternut squash dishes in the last few weeks, but it's just too good! I can't stop buying my pre-chopped squash!  Last night, I wanted to attempt something rich (yet, healthy of course), so I knew coconut milk was the way to go.  This side is so easy, so creamy, and incredibly flagrant!


Butternut Squash with Coconut Milk and Peanuts

(Serves 4-6)


Ingredients:

24 oz. chopped butternut squash
2 Tbsp olive or grapeseed oil
1 onion chopped
2 Tbsp diced green chiles (mild, canned)
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 cup peanuts (halved)
10 oz. unsweetened coconut milk
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
5 bay leaves


Directions:


1. In a pan, heat 1 Tbsp oil. Add squash and saute over medium-high heat until golden brown (about 8 minutes).  Remove pan from heat.




2. At the same time, in another pan, heat 1 Tbsp oil. Add onion and saute over medium heat until softened and browned (about 10 minutes).  Add bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and chiles and stir for about 3 minutes.  Add cumin, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Mix.






3. Place butternut squash pan over high heat and add onion mixture. Stir. Pour coconut milk into pan and bring to a boil.  






4. Cover pan and reduce heat to very low and let sit for about 10 minutes until squash is softened.  Remove from heat.

5. Squeeze juice of a lemon into the pan and distribute the 1/4 cup of halved peanuts, stir, and serve.




Bon Appetit! 

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Butternut Squash with Shelled English Peas

I'm not a huge pea lover.  They're full of carbs and calories with little return on protein and fiber, so I rarely ever eat them.  But, the tables turned the other day at Costco, when I noticed beautiful bags of fresh shelled English peas, which I've heard are delectable.  Eeeeeven though I typically don't go for the green guys, I decided to try these because I knew if I used them with other vegetables I love, they would probably be delicious.


So, I headed home with my pound o' peas and pondered about what to do with them.


Aha!


I knew they would look vibrant and probably taste so if paired with butternut squash.  So, I made a second run to the grocery store, but this time to just to my local Trader Joe's.  I came back with my favorite ready-to-go vegetable of all time....chopped butternut squash in a bag!


I gathered some ingredients from my kitchen to create a dish with the squash and peas and VOILA.... an Indian inspired creation full of flavor and anti-oxidants.  It was really tasty if I do say so myself.

Butternut Squash with Shelled English Peas

(Serves 4-6)


Ingredients:


1 Tbsp olive oil
1 box sliced mushrooms
16 oz. chopped butternut squash
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 cup fresh English peas (or frozen peas)
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp tumeric
2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1tsp+1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp+1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup water


Directions:








1. In a heated skillet, add 1/2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat.  Place the chopped onion into the skillet and saute until translucent.  Add sliced mushrooms and saute until soft.  Season with 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside on a plate.




2. In the same skillet, add the other 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil.  Place butternut squash into the skillet and cook on high for 7 minutes.  Add cumin, tumeric, cinnamon, paprika, and remaining salt and pepper to squash.  Pour 1/2 cup water and stir.  Cook over high heat until majority of the water absorbs.





3. After most of the water has absorbed and has created a thickened sauce, add the peas and the mushroom mixture to the squash.  Cook through another 5 minutes on low-medium heat.






4. Serve and enjoy!