by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Appetizers, Salads
If you are looking for a healthy protein appetizer for the holidays, here is a fun little crostini with some lemon dressed arugula, cannellini beans (white kidney beans), organic chicken breast and slices of parmesan cheese. I actually mainly use organic ingredients for most of my dishes, including this one. I used the Eden organic brand beans as they pack them in bisphenol-A (BPA) free can linings. I also found a great canned organic chicken breast by Valley Fresh Organic White Chicken Breast or you can also use the breast from a baked chicken.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 1 tsp of sugar or ½ tsp of raw honey for the Paleo fans
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups baby arugula
- 1 can of organic Cannellini Beans (or white kidney beans)
- 1 can (12.5 oz.) of organic chicken breast
- ½ cup sliced Parmesan Cheese
- 16 crostini (Make sure they are not too thick)
Mix the first 4 ingredients into a large bowl. Split the dressing in half. Add in arugula to one bowl lightly toss. Add the beans, chicken and parmesan into the second bowl of dressing and toss. Add some salt and pepper to the bean and chicken mixture. Place a pinch of the arugula onto the crostini, then add a heaping tablespoon of the chicken and bean mixture. For decoration you can also add one slice of the parmesan on top of the chicken. If your crostinis are too thick or hard, I tried spooning some of the dressing on them before stacking ingredients, as it softens up the bread a little. (Be sure to account for additional dressing if you do this). Test it out to see what works best for you before you serve this to your guests.
by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Appetizers, Meats, Salads, Vegetables
For all the Paleo lovers out there…here is a great little wrap for you!
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- pinch of sugar or ½ tsp of raw honey for the Paleo fans
- salt and pepper
- 8 thinly sliced roast beef (8 oz.) halved crosswise
- 4 cups baby arugula
- 1 oz. of Parmigiano-Reggiano, shaved
In a large bowl, whisk together lemon, sugar (or honey) salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil. Arrange roast beef on a work surface. Add arugula to dressing and toss. Taste to see if it needs more salt or pepper. Divide arugula among the beef slices with a few leaves extending beyond edges of the roast beef. top with shaved parm cheese and roll into cylinders and serve.
by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Appetizers, Dips, Vegetables
I have always loved hummus, but sometimes the chick peas or garbanzo beans can get a bit filling. So I looked around to see what else would pair well with tahini and found a great zucchini recipe. I have made some alterations to the one I found, as I thought it needed more tahini, added parsley and less cumin. So here are the ingredients:
- 3 medium zucchinis
- ⅓ cup chopped parsley leaves
- 1- 16 oz. jar of tahini (I prefer organic)
- ½ cup of lemon juice
- ¼ cup EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 ½ tsp of salt
- 1/2 tsp of cumin
- ¼ tsp of cayenne pepper or add to taste
In a food processor with an “S-blade”, blend the zucchini, parsley, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and cumin until smooth and creamy. Add in the cayenne slowly and taste to make sure it meats your preferred level of heat. Store in a container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. This can be served with crackers or carrots sticks. Also great as a spread on a grilled chicken sandwich.
by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Salads, Sauces
Here is a simple recipe I found for homemade Caesar dressing. It’s really easy to make and this batch can last in the fridge for a few days. It’s not too fishy or garlicky.
Ingredients:
- 4 Cloves of minced Garlic
- 1 tsp of Anchovy Paste
- 2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp of dijon mustard
- 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup of mayonnaise (favorite is Hellmann’s Real)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Add in the mayonnaise, cheese, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. I normally add the croutons to the lettuce before adding the dressing, as it softens them up a bit. When adding dressing to your romaine lettuce, start with a small quantity. A little goes a long way, and you want to make sure your salad does not get too soggy or over dressed. You can then add thin slices of parmesan, and your sliced chicken to each plate. (I’ll be sure to include my favorite breaded chicken milanese recipe for you to try next).
by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Appetizers, Dips, Vegetables
My favorite organic Hummus. Ingredients (all organic):
- 2 cans garbanzo beans
- 16 oz jar of tahini
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup of flat leaf parsley leaves
- 4 medium cloves of garlic
- ¼ tsp Paprika
- ⅔ cup EVOO
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp of salt (add 1 at a time)
Place garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon, parsley and garlic into blender and paprika, puree until chopped. Slowly add olive oil while blending, make sure it is well incorporated. For a smooth consistency, slow add water until you reach desired consistency. Add 1 tsp of salt, and taste. If more salt is required add second teaspoon. Sprinkle with a dash of paprika for presentation. Serve with Pita bread, or julienned vegetables.
My favorite Food Processor by Breville
