Tag Archives: parsley

White Bean and Garlic Dip

May 29, 2010 admin 1 Comment

This is great served with sliced up veggies or pita chips. It has a nice mellow flavor and makes a great snack or appetizer.

8 – ¼ c servings
71 calories per serving

10 cloves garlic
1 19 oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 T low fat sour cream
2 T lemon juice
2 t sesame oil
½ t ground coriander
¼ t salt
¼ c chopped parsley
1 t paprika

In a small pot of boiling water cook the garlic for 3 minutes. Drain and reserve 2 T of the cooking liquid. Peel the garlic and in a food processor mix the garlic, reserved cooking liquid and beans and mix until you have a smooth puree. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, oil, coriander and salt and process to blend. Serve sprinkled with parsley and paprika.

Dinner, Lunch, Salads, Sides

Warm Potato Salad with Bacon Dressing

May 9, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Did somebody say BACON???? Hehehe The bacon in this dressing gives the dish a nice rich flavor. But mostly what you taste here is the ground mustard. If you’re a mustard fan, then you will love the taste of this potato salad.

6 servings
153 calories per serving

2 lb. red potatoes cut into large chunks
2 strips bacon chopped
1 shallot chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T cider vinegar
3 T apple juice
1 T stone ground mustard
¼ c parsley chopped
1/8 t salt
2 scallion, thinly sliced

Steam potatoes 20 minutes or until tender then cool for 10 minutes. Cook bacon 3 minutes and then add onion and garlic and cook until crisp then reduce heat to low and add vinegar, juice, mustard, parsley and salt and cook 2 minutes. Pour over the potatoes and toss well. Garnish with scallions and serve immediately.

Mexican, Sides

My Salsa Verde

May 2, 2010 admin 1 Comment

When I first had this in a Brazilian restaurant I came home and scoured the net to find a recipe that was similar to what I had just tasted. After much trial and error, this is the recipe that grew out of many test batches.

When this is paired with meats and fishes, it makes the meal super refreshing and turns the simplest of grilled meats into a flavor sensation – it is soooo good ! But beware – this does leave you with some pretty heavy duty garlic breath – this is not a good recipe for date nite !

Just a tablespoon or 2 served with grilled beef, chicken or fish is a taste treat you won’t soon forget !

15 servings
39 calories per serving
(1 serving=1T)

7 cloves garlic
2 c fresh parsley
2 c fresh cilantro
10-12 T fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
¼ c olive oil
¼ – ½ c vinegar
Fresh ground pepper to taste

Place garlic in a good processor and mince finely. Add parsley and cilantro and mince finely – so fine that the mixture is more of a paste than chopped herbs. Place in a bowl and mix with all the other ingredients. Refrigerate 1 hour to overnight to let the flavors mingle.

Dinner, Sides

Lentil and Corn Pilaf

April 26, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Lentils are healthy and filling, but it seems you either like them or you don’t like them – – there is no in between. I think it’s because of the dry consistency. I am a lentil lover 🙂 If you’ve never had them, give them a try ! They’re in the bean family and they are very tasty.

7 servings
130 calories per serving

2 c water
1 c dried lentils, sorted and rinsed (sorted means taking out any small rocks or bad lentils)
1/2 c chopped red or orange bell pepper
1 c corn kernels
3 T chopped parsley
¾ t chili powder
½ t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring water to a boil and add lentils. Reduce heat and cover and simmer 20 minutes or until lentils are tender and if there is any water remaining, drain it the stir in the rest of the ingredients and cook on low 3-4minutes or until all is heated through.

Appetizers, Italian, Lunch, Snacks, Vegetables

Zucchini Pizzas

March 29, 2010 admin 1 Comment

These were just fabulous ! The big cheese flavor makes you forget that you have a zucchini under there instead of a crust. And using tomato paste instead of sauce really makes for a rich flavor. You get a whole zucchini’s worth for just 90 calories !!

36 pizzas
90 calories per serving (1 serving = 12 pieces)

3 medium zucchinis each sliced into 12 pieces
6 oz. can tomato paste
36 thin slices 1 inch square part skim mozzarella cheese
1/3 c parmesan cheese
Mixed Italian herbs (oregano, basil, parsley)

Preheat broiler. Parboil zucchini slices 1-2 minutes and then drain on paper towels. Place on a baking sheet and top each piece with 1 t tomato paste and one slice cheese. Then top with ½ t parmesan and herbs. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Dinner, Salads, Sides

Couscous Salad

March 27, 2010 admin 2 Comments

I usually have couscous heated but this salad is served cooled or chilled and it is a new and different flavor experience. Couscous is just a tiny pasta, almost like pastina. And you can find it boxed and usually in with the rices and rice mixes at your grocery store. Give it a try for something different !

(I just noticed that with all my couscous recipes, I photograph it in the same dish…what’s with that? hehehe I guess it’s THE couscous star.)

4 servings
131 calories per serving

1/2 c whole wheat couscous
1/2 c boiling water
1 c canned diced tomatoes
1/2 c diced English cucumber
1 T fresh oregano, chopped
1 T fresh parsley, chopped
1 T fresh basil, chopped
2 T red wine vinegar
4 t extra virgin olive oil
1/4 t salt
1/4 t freshly ground pepper

Combine couscous and water in large mixing bowl and let sit until water is absorbed. Mix together vinegar, salt and pepper and oil. When couscous is cool, fluff with a fork and add the remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Serve as is or chill for a bit before serving.

Dinner, Pork

Pork Piccata

March 19, 2010 admin 3 Comments

The lemony piccata sauce is just made for pork ! And this couldn’t be easier to put together – – yet you get a fancy, restaurant quality meal.

4 servings
216 calories per serving

1 lb. pork loin in 8 thin slices
2 T flour
1 T oil
1 t cornstarch
½ c chicken broth
3 T lemon juice
3 T chopped parsley
½ t salt

Heat oil in skillet. Dredge pork in flour and add to skillet browning each side. Stir together cornstarch, broth, juice, parsley and salt and add to pan along with pork and simmer 1 minute.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Steamed Potatoes with Garlic Sauce

March 12, 2010 admin 2 Comments

The garlic sauce makes ordinary potatoes come to life ! And the steaming creates a really nice consistency for the potatoes – almost creamy without being mushy or mealy. This is a great side dish when entertaining.

4 servings
237 calories per serving

Water
8 small potatoes, unpeeled
2 heads garlic (whole heads)
2 t skim milk
1 t oil
1 t light margarine
2 t chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Place a steamer basket in a medium pot and add 1-2 inches of water. Make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the steamer basket – you want the potatoes to steam, not boil. Place potatoes in the steamer basket. Separate the cloves of garlic from the head, but do not remove the paper thin skins then scatter the garlic in with the potatoes. Cover and steam 20 minutes or until fork can be easily inserted into potatoes.

Remove garlic from pan and remove skins by squeezing the garlic up with your fingers and pushing the pulp out. Mash pulp with milk, oil and margarine and warm slightly over low heat. Remove potatoes from pan and cut in half and toss well with the sauce and parsley, salt and pepper.

Sides

Mushrooms and Wild Rice

March 11, 2010 admin Leave a comment

The nutty flavor of the wild rice really mixes well with the mushrooms and makes this a great side for just about any dish.

6 servings
156 calories per serving

1 c wild rice or wild rice mix, cooked
2 T oil
1 lb. sliced mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 T chopped parsley
1 T lemon juice

Cook rice according to package instructions. Heat oil in skillet on medium high heat and add mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper, garlic powder and onion powder and cook until mushrooms are browned, about 15 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds and then stir in cooked rice and remove from heat. Add parsley and lemon juice and stir well. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

Salads, Sides, Snacks, Summer, Vegetables

Celery Parsley Salad

March 10, 2010 admin Leave a comment

A simple dish with a simple combination of flavors that can be paired with anything. And at only 18 calories per serving, it is insanely low in calories. I always wondered if celery really was a negative calorie food..hmmmm???

4 servings
18 calories per serving

4 celery stalks sliced thin
¼ c packed parsley leaves
1 ½ t sherry vinegar
1 t oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all in a bowl and mix well.