Category Archives: Vegetables

Roasted Peppers and Garlic

June 18, 2010 admin Leave a comment

When you roast peppers, you make them ultimately sweet and bring out tons of natural flavor. When paired up with some simple oil, garlic, and seasoning, you get quite a treat !

If you only have one color pepper, don’t let that hold you back from roasting them up. In the line up of most sweet to least sweet, you have the red, orange, yellow and green bell pepper. All have a very distinct flavor and all are delicious ! I add a bunch more garlic to these than the recipe calls for – just because 🙂

4 servings
97 calories per serving

1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
2 T oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
½ t oregano flakes
Coarse salt
Ground pepper
Handful of basil leaves

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Halve the peppers and remove the seeds. Place cut side up on a cookie sheet and drizzle with oil. Add garlic slices to pepper halves along with oregano, salt and pepper. Roast 35 minutes or so (or until skin starts to blister) and then remove from oven and sprinkle with a handful of fresh torn basil leaves.

Dinner, Italian, Pasta, Vegetables

No Bake Lasagna

June 14, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Even my non-lasagna-loving kid had to have seconds of this one. It is just cheesy enough without that part being overpowering. Much like the physical layers of the lasagna, there are great flavor layers here since the cheese mix, zucchini mix and tomato mix are all flavored independently. This was a really superb dish !

4 servings
376 calories per serving

½ c low fat ricotta cheese
3 T parmesan cheese
3 T plus 2 t oil
Coarse salt
Pepper
8 lasagna noodles broken in half
1 garlic clove, minced
2 pints grape tomatoes, halved
½ t red pepper flakes
2 zucchini, thinly sliced
½ t garlic powder
1 T basil leaves, torn

Mix cheeses and 2 t oil. Add salt and pepper. Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions and then drain. Heat 2 T oil in a skillet and cook garlic and tomatoes with some salt and pepper and the crushed red pepper about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and then add 1 T oil and zucchini to the skillet, season with garlic powder, and cook about 8 minutes then remove to a bowl and add basil. Place some tomatoes on plates and top with a noodle and a small spoonful of ricotta and a spoonful of zucchini and then some more tomatoes. Repeat layers twice and then top with the rest of the noodles and tomatoes and garnish with basil.

Asian, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Korean Bean Sprout Salad

June 13, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Serve next to just about anything !

6 servings
68 calories per serving

1 lb. fresh bean sprouts
1 T sesame seeds, toasted
1 T sesame oil
2 T soy sauce
1 1/2 T finely chopped scallions
1 1/2 T sugar
1 small clove garlic, finely minced
1 t salt

Place sprouts in boiling salt water for 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add all other ingredients and mix well. Chill at least ½ hour.

To toast sesame seeds, just stir fry them for a few minutes in a hot skillet.

Asian, Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Veggie Stir Fry

May 30, 2010 admin 2 Comments

Stir fry is a nice way to add a veggie side dish without it being a green salad or just a can of veggies opened up and heated. They don’t take much time (especially if you buy pre-chopped veggies at your supermarket). And I like that you can throw in just about anything and easily change it up – try adding some baby corn, or water chestnuts or bean sprouts (all available in the canned in the Asian section of your market) and you have a whole new dish – the same sauce still works !

4 servings
34 calories per serving

¼ c chicken broth
1 T orange juice
1 T soy sauce
1 ½ t cornstarch
1 ½ t grated ginger root
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ t red pepper flakes
1 ½ c small cauliflower florets
1 c julienned carrots
1 c zucchini, halved and thinly sliced
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
½ t garlic powder
2 t chili garlic sauce (available in the Asian section of your market)
Pam

Stir broth, juice, soy and starch together and set aside. Spray a large skillet with Pam and heat on medium high – then add ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds or so. Then add cauliflower and cook 2 minutes. Then add carrots and cook another 2, then add zucchini and cook 2 more. Stir in the broth mix and bring to a simmer then cover, add the chili garlic sauce and cook 1 minute or until the sauce is thick and turns glossy.

Sides, Vegetables

Cucumber Raita

May 27, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This Indian condiment / sauce is great served next to any spicy dish. It will remind you of tzatziki because of the cucumber and yogurt, but the similarity ends there with a whole different flavor combination from the green peppers and cilantro. This is so refreshing and at 23 calories per serving, you can serve it next to just about anything.

7 ¼ c servings
23 calories per serving

8 oz. plain low fat yogurt
2 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely chopped or grated
¼ c finely chopped green bell pepper
2 T finely chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
¼ t ground cumin
Black pepper
¼ t salt

Whisk yogurt and add all the rest of the ingredients other than the pepper. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled. Sprinkle with pepper just before serving.

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Summer, Vegetables

Tomato, Egg and Cucumber Salad

May 27, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Though the dressing is a simple vinegar and oil mix, this salad does not lack in flavor. The egg yolks and tomatoes give this most of its flavor. Try making a nice big serving dish instead of placing on individual bowls – it makes a pretty centerpiece to a party table 🙂

4 servings
190 calories per serving

4 large eggs, hardboiled and sliced
½ c balsamic vinegar
4 t oil
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
½ head lettuce separated into leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Set on medium heat and bring to a boil. Cover and keep at a low boil 2 minutes. Shut heat, but leave eggs in pan and covered for 13 more minutes. Then rinse eggs under cold water. Refrigerate eggs for ½ hour as they will peel easier this way. Combine oil and vinegar. Place the lettuce leaves down and then add the tomatoes and cucumbers to the plates. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then pour over the dressing. Finally place the egg slices on top of each plate.

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Lemon Curried Pea Salad

May 21, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a great salad to serve next to eastern inspired dishes such as Chicken Satay.

8 servings
80 calories per serving

Salad:
15 oz. can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
11 oz. can corn, drained
½ c chopped red onion
½ c thinly sliced celery
1 t finely shredded lemon peel

Dressing:
2 T lemon juice
1 T water
1 t oil
1 clove garlic, minced
½ t curry powder
½ t Dijon mustard
1/8 t pepper

Mix salad ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together dressing ingredients and toss with salad. Cover and refrigerate several hours for flavors to mingle.

Asian, Lunch, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Asian Garden Salad

May 19, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Simple, low cal, nutritious and a nice change from your regular green salad!

6 servings
126 calories per serving

1/3 c thinly sliced scallions
4 T soy sauce
3 T water
2 c boiling water
1 ½ t sesame oil
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t red pepper flakes
1 3 oz. package low fat ramen noodle soup
2 c boiling water
2 c fresh pea pods, halved crosswise
1 c fresh bean sprouts
1 c sliced mushrooms
8 oz. can baby corn, drained and halved crosswise
1 red bell pepper cut into small strips
3 c shredded Chinese cabbage

Combine green onions, soy, water, oil, garlic powder and red pepper flakes and set aside. Break up ramen noodles and discard seasoning packet. Add peapods and pour 2 c boiling water over the mix and let stand 1 minute and then drain. Combine noodles, pea pods, bean sprouts, mushrooms, corn and peppers in a bowl. Shake dressing and toss with the noodle mix. Cover and chill 2 – 24 hours. Just before serving add cabbage.

Asian, Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Sesame Pea Pods

May 17, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Crunchy, lite and colorful – – this makes a great side to just about any dinner.

6 servings
45 calories per serving

1 T sesame oil
½ lb. snow pea pods, strings removed
1 T sesame seeds
1 medium yellow bell pepper cut into thin strips

Heat oil in a skillet and add pea pods and oil and cook 2 minutes. Stir in pepper and cook 2 minutes more.

Lunch, Sandwiches, Vegetables

Grilled Garden Sandwiches

May 14, 2010 admin Leave a comment

For only 260 calories you get a big, beefy sandwich just packed with veggies that are sooooo flavorful. And the mozzarella cheese is just the ‘icing on the cake’ here !

4 servings
260 calories per serving

8 slices whole wheat bread
1 medium zucchini cut lengthwise into ¼ inch thick slices
1 small red bell pepper halved
½ small eggplant, peeled and cut into ½ inch thick slices
½ c fat free Italian dressing
¾ c shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat broiler. Brush one side of the veggies with dressing and broil dressing side up for 5 minutes. Turn, recoat and broil another 5 minutes. Then cut everything into bite sized pieces. Toast bread and sprinkle 4 pieces with cheese then top with the veggies and cover with the rest of the bread.