Skip to main content

Plant-Based Twists to Classic Summer Dishes

Plant-Based Twists to Classic Summer Dishes

    With people more focused on wellness and nutrition these days, interest in a plant-based diet is hotter than ever. One easy way to get in on the trend: Pair summer produce with simple ingredients like pecans for a dish the whole family will enjoy.Pecans are a versatile ingredient and are naturally sweet with a rich and crunchy texture. As each one-ounce serving of the nuts offers three grams of fiber and protein, essential vitamins, minerals and heart-healthy benefits, pecans also happen to be one of the tastiest ways to elevate the nutrition of any recipe. IN fact, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts – including pecans – as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. A one-ounce serving of pecans has 18g unsaturated fat and only 2g saturated fat.Add a sweet and nutritious crunch to this Mediterranean Pecan Pasta Salad, or swap meat for Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with a nutty and nutritious pecan pesto. 

Mediterranean Pecan Pasta Salad Serves 10 Prep time: 15 mins Cook Time: 12 mins 1/4 cup salt 12 ounces pasta 4 cups radicchio, sliced 1 cup halved marinated olives 1/2 cup marinated artichoke, bite-size pieces 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes 1 cup pecan pieces 3/4 cup chopped parsley or mint 6 ounces feta cheese 1 orange, sliced 2 cups chopped spinach Lemon vinaigrette and fresh cracked pepper (optional) 1. Bring a pot of water to a boil with 1/4 cup of salt. When water is boiling, add in pasta, and cook about 10 minutes. When pasta is cooked, set aside. 2. In a large, clear bowl, layer half the radicchio, and half of the olives, artichoke, and tomato on top. Next, add half the pasta, 1/2 cup of pecans, half of the parsley, 3 ounces of feta, and the orange slices. 3. Add the spinach, then repeat layering with the radicchio, olives, artichoke, tomato, pasta, pecans, parsley, feta, and orange. 4. If using dressing, add after layering is complete. 5. Add fresh pepper and refrigerate before serving. 

Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Pecan Basil Pesto Serves 8 Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes 2 heads of cauliflower, cut into 8 1-inch cauliflower steaks 1 tablespoon pecan, avocado or olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste For the pesto: 2 cups fresh basil 1/4 cup raw pecan halves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 garlic clove 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1/2 cup pecan or olive oil 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese 1. Preheat grill to medium high heat, about 375 to 400 degrees F. 2. Brush sides of cauliflower steaks with oil and add salt and pepper. 3. Grill each side of steak for 4 minutes. 4. Remove from grill and let rest. 5. Make the pesto: in a food processor, pulse the basil, raw pecans, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon zest until finely chopped. Add olive oil and blend. 6. Transfer pesto to a bowl and add parmesan cheese. 7. To serve, top cauliflower steaks with pesto. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Low-Carb Swaps for A Guilt-Free Holiday Season

5 Low-Carb Swaps for A Guilt-Free Holiday Season       With the holidays just around the corner, you might be worrying about how to get through all the parties and cookie exchanges without derailing your healthy lifestyle. It can be a struggle to avoid temptation, particularly when you’re busy, stressed, sleep-deprived, or all three. At times, you might consider giving up and just diving into the dessert tray. But with a bit of motivation and creativity, you can whip together some festive treats that are both delicious and carb-conscious.Courtney McCormick, Dietitian at Nutrisystem, offers five low-carb swaps to keep you healthy and happy through the holidays:      1. Try veggies when you’re craving a crunch. We’re all guilty of lingering too long at the chips and salsa bowl at a holiday party. If you’re craving something crunchy such as a pretzel or chips, try carb-conscious snacks with a crunch – brussel sprouts chips, kale chips, veggies such as cucumber, zucchini, and carrots – th
Post a Comment
Read more

Meat Shortages Mean It’s Time to Try Plant-Based Protein

Meat Shortages Mean It’s Time to Try Plant-Based Protein       During times of change, many of us find comfort in simple pleasures. Like a great burger.           Yet, some of those simple pleasures have been compromised by the dramatic changes caused by COVID-19, including the disruption of the animal meat industry. Meat plants are closing, causing meat to be harder to find and its prices to rise. Some grocers are limiting the amount of meat shoppers can buy to curb pantry loading.           I know these issues will be resolved as the pandemic subsides. The animal meat industry will recover, and supply chains will be restored. But right now, you may be asking: What do I do without meat? Now is the time to try plant-based protein. Made from simple ingredients you know, Light life     P lant-based meat is as nutritious as it is delicious. And you can find the products in your grocer’s meat case.      To be clear, I’m not against the animal meat industry. I believe we’re all trying to so
Post a Comment
Read more

Americans Would Prefer to See a Chiropractor Than Primary Care Doctor for Certain Conditions, Study Finds

Americans Would Prefer to See a Chiropractor Than Primary Care Doctor for Certain Conditions, Study Finds To hear news outlets tell it, the majority of Americans are overwhelmingly unsatisfied these days. So it’s worth noting that a study in the Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics found that a whopping 83 percent of households surveyed were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with chiropractic care. Among the factors? Displaying “concern about a patient’s overall health, and the extent to which (they) explain the condition and the treatment.” In fact, even as the number of Americans attracted to chiropractic care for its drug-free, hands-on and non-invasive approach to caring for neuro-musculoskeletal conditions continues to grow — virtually tripling in the past two decade s — evidence of patient satisfaction continues to pour in: • Nine out of 10 patients in a recent BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders study on upper cervical chiropractic care for neck pain, headaches
Post a Comment
Read more