Tag Archives: zucchini

Pasta and Cece Beans

January 5, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Cece Beans is just the Italian name for Chick Peas or what the Spanish call Garbanzo Beans – all the same thing 🙂 They are a great source of fiber, healthy and a great addition to many meals. This dish is somewhere between a soup and a pasta tossed with veggies – I guess it is like a gruel, though that has a negative connotation and there is NOTHING negative about this dish. It’s healthy, filling, has super flavor and is one of the best dishes I’ve made in a while !

6 servings
316 calories per serving

1 T olive oil
1 c chopped onion
2 c sliced leek
1 t rosemary flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 c water
4 c vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste
1 t garlic powder
¼ – 1 t red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you like it)
14 oz. cece beans, undrained
1 c diced zucchini
1/2 c frozen petite green peas
1/2 c frozen baby lima beans
1/2 c frozen green beans
2/3 c uncooked orzo
2 T chopped parsley
1/4 t pepper
2 T pesto (available in the refrigerated section of your market)
2 T grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a Dutch oven and cook onion, leak, rosemary and garlic 10 minutes. Add tomato, water, broth, spices, salt and pepper and ceces and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat and simmer ½ hour then add zucchini, peas and beans. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Bring back to a boil then stir in pasta and parsley and cook 8 minutes at a low boil. Spoon into bowls and top with 1 t pesto and 1 t parmesan.

Appetizers, Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Zesty Zucchini and Parm

December 13, 2011 admin Leave a comment

These make a perfect appetizer or even a great side dish – this is a great recipe to use up all those garden zucchini !

2 servings
101 calories per serving

1 t oil
2 zucchini sliced 1/4 inch thick
Salt and pepper to taste
Red pepper flakes to taste
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
Pam

Preheat broiler. Spray baking sheet with Pam and lay zucchini rounds down in a single layer. Sprinkle with red pepper, salt, pepper and cheese. Broil 5-6 minutes until cheese is browned.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Sauteed Escarole with White Beans

December 4, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I have a lot of recipes pairing white beans and escarole – but this one is just a bit more – this one adds extra veggies and the dish is totally different than plain old sautéed escarole. The creamy texture of the beans just goes great with the crisp zucchini and corn.

4 servings
210 calories per serving

2 heads escarole, rinsed well and chopped
2 oz. pancetta or bacon, chopped
1 zucchini, quartered and cut into julienne strips
1 garlic clove, minced
1 c frozen corn kernels , thawed
15 oz. can white beans, rinsed and drained
1 T red wine vinegar
1 t olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
Pam

Heat a large skillet and spray with Pam. Add escarole and cook 6 minutes to wilt. Remove and set aside. Cook bacon 2 minutes then add zucchini and cook 4 minutes. Add garlic and corn and cook 1 minutes. Add back the escarole then mix in parsley, beans, salt, pepper, garlic powder, vinegar and oil. Toss well and serve.

Dinner, Fish

Quick Whitefish and Vegetables

November 20, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Fish smothered in diced veggies. What a great pesto flavor shines through for using so little of it. This was an awesome meal and it is very quick to prepare !

4 servings
180 calories per serving

4 4 oz. tilapia or other white fish filets
1/4 c low fat Italian dressing, divided
1 T pesto (prepared pesto is available in the refrigerator section at your grocer)
1 green or red pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 c grape tomatoes, halved
3 T chopped basil or parsley
Pepper to taste

Brush fish with half the dressing and sauté 4-5 minutes per side or until done. Remove from pan and keep warm. Add veggies, pesto, pepper and the rest of the dressing and sauté 5-7 minutes or until slightly tender. Garnish with basil or any other fresh herb.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Veggies and Noodles

October 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Cooking the garlic in the dressing gives this dish a great flavor, so full of garlic, but the flavor is not biting, it is mellow and perfect.

4 servings
105 calories per serving

2 large zucchini
2 large carrots, peeled
1 c egg noodles
1/4 cup light Italian dressing
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel zucchini and carrots into long ribbons using a vegetable peeler. Cook noodles according to package instructions and add veggie ribbons to the boiling water the last minute. Drain and return to pot.

Saute garlic and dressing 2 minutes and then pour over the noodles and veggies and sauté 2 minutes to heat through. Add salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Zucchini Fries

October 16, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Though in a typical aioli the mayo is made from scratch by whipping the eggs, you can make a quick version with low fat mayo, garlic and lemon zest and you’ll be in dipping heaven. The zucchini fries are perfect with the sauce. Try serving next to a chicken or turkey burger for a saintly version of a burger and fries.

8 servings
108 calories per serving

1 lb. zucchini (about 3)
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
1 pack Shake and Bake
1 egg
1/2 c low fat mayo
1 t lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pam

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam. Cut zucchini into ¼ inch ‘french fries’. Mix cheese with Shake and bake and place in a zip loc bag. Whisk egg and toss with zucchini then drain off any excess egg and working in batches place zucchini in zip loc and shake to coat. Spread zucchini on baking sheet and cook 12-13 minutes turning half way through.

Mix mayo, lemon and garlic and serve as a dipping sauce.

Dinner, Lunch, Sides, Vegetables

Curried Slaw

September 6, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a great dinner or lunch side. The curry and apples give it nice surprise flavor.

16 servings
120 calories per serving

1 c Miracle Whip
1 T curry powder
¼ of a medium head of green cabbage, shredded
¼ of a medium head of napa cabbage, shredded
1 medium zucchini, shredded
1 large carrot, shredded
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 Granny Smith apples, thinly sliced

Mix dressing and curry then add all the other ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate several hours so flavors mingle well.

Dinner, Sides, Summer, Vegetables

Summer Squash Deluxe

August 31, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Crisp summer veggies with a twist ! The lemon, pepperoni and feta cheese add a nice Greek flair to this dish. If you have garden fresh zucchini, this tastes even better 🙂

4 servings
69 calories per serving

1 medium zucchini
1 medium yellow squash
1 medium cucumber
½ t salt
2 T sliced basil
1 T oil
1/2 t grated lemon zest
1 t lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 oz. sliced turkey pepperoni
1/4 c crumbled feta cheese

Peel the zucchini, cucumber and squash and then using a vegetable peeler, peel off thin strips or ribbons and place in a bowl When you get down to the seeds, discard the remainder. Sprinkle with salt and let sit. Whisk together basil, oil, lemon juice and lemon zest and then add to the zucchini. Heat a skillet and crisp up the turkey pepperoni and then garnish the zucchini with the pepperoni and cheese.

Dinner, Soups, Summer, Vegetables

Summer Soup

August 3, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a perfect summer soup – full of great fresh garden offerings…zucchini, squash, parsley, basil. Just a bit of pasta and cheese make this perfectly amazing.

4 servings
304 calories per serving

6 c vegetable broth
3 c water
6 oz. uncooked pasta (ditalini, orzo, elbows – anything small)
2 c diced yellow squash
2 c diced zucchini
1 T chopped parsley
1/3 c chopped basil
1 T lemon juice
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 t onion powder
1 t thyme flakes
1 t oregano flakes
Red pepper flakes to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
½ c grated parmesan cheese

In a large soup pot bring broth and water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 5 minutes less than the suggested cooking time and then at that point, add squash, green beans, zucchini, chopped parsley and basil, lemon, onion powder, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to the broth. Cook for 5 minutes and then place in bowls. Sprinkle with cheese.

Appetizers, Dinner, Italian, Vegetables

Grilled Antipasto

July 17, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a super savory, super healthy dish and a perfect summer dinner. The platter is just stunning to look at and this makes a great dish for entertaining. Serve as a full dinner or as an appetizer.

4 servings
291 calories per serving

6 T lemon juice
3 T white balsamic vinegar
2 t oil
¼ t kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 plum tomatoes
2 red peppers, quartered
2 yellow peppers, quartered
2 zucchini cut lengthwise into thick slices
1 red onion cut into thick slices
1 large eggplant cut into thick slices
Pam
4 oz. prosciutto slices
1 oz. peppered ham
2 oz. fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
Basil as a garnish
6 green olives
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the first 5 ingredients as a marinade and dressing for the veggies. Take ¼ c of the dressing and brush it over the veggies. Spray a grill rack with Pam and grill veggies 5 minutes a side or until they have a bit of char on them. Place veggies on a platter and brush with the rest of the dressing and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the rest of the items to the platter and serve immediately.