Tag: healthy meal

Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Instant Pot, Italian, Lightened Up, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Slow Cooker

Comfort Food: Meatballs & Potatoes Edition (Instant Pot)

Annie

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I love this recipe for Italian Meatball Stew over Smashed Potatoes. I haven’t had it in a few years, but this is one that my mom made regularly in the slow cooker. I decided to switch things up and use meatballs instead of chicken Italian sausage after spotting meatballs when doing a last-ditch quarantine preparedness run at Wegman’s. (Let me just interject that their prepared beef meatballs are mini and cute and delicious.) I made the potatoes extra creamy using mascarpone instead of EVOO. Using an Instant Pot allows for a much faster simmer compared to a stovetop or a slow cooker. This is quite aromatic and your kitchen will smell amazing during while cooking this stew, only adding to its maximum comfort level during this crazy self-quarantining and social distancing time. If you’re feeling industrious, trying making bread to pair!

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Asian, Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Meal Prep

Meal Prep These Rainbow Veggies & Chicken Buddha Bowls

Annie

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This might be my new favorite meal prep. If you have the brown rice and chicken cooked ahead of time, it’s beyond easy to steam some colorful veggies, combine, and add a yummy sauce. I haven’t really used coconut aminos before, but it’s fermented coconut sap with a dash of salt for a slightly sweeter version of soy sauce, but with only a fourth of the sodium. A dash of coconut aminos with some sriracha made a quick and easy blend of sauces. I like steaming the vegetables because it’s so much faster, less oil and clean up are involved, and the veggies are still as tender as ever. Here’s Rainbow Chicken Buddha Bowls, packed with veggies, whole grain and lean baked protein to brighten up your meal prep days.

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Entrée, Gluten-Free, Lightened Up, Meal Prep, Mexican, One Pot Dish, Soup

Making Green Chili for Dinner

Annie

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Have you ever tried a Chicken Chili Verde or green chili? It’s so worth it if you haven’t. A green chili is a fun change with white beans, hominy, quinoa and chicken. The salsa verde, a tomatillo-based salsa, limes and cilantro bring a totally different flavor from your traditional chili. Using rotisserie chicken and already prepped salsa instead of tomatillos, this chili is truly a dump, stir and dish up kind of recipe. Top with a little plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream), lime and extra cilantro. You’re going to want seconds before you’ve even finished.

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Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Hearty Vegetarian Indian Dal

Annie

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Mmmm, I love curry. There’s something about the spice seasonings and the heat that continually draws me in. For my love of curry and Indian food, I actually hadn’t heard of dal until I stumbled on Half Baked Harvest‘s version when I saw her Instagram post. Obviously enticed, I saved the recipe for the perfect time. I like making big batch meals and ones that are meatless. This Butternut Squash Tomato Indian Dal is just that; it’s cozy, spicy, hearty and filling. I served the dal with half of my two-ingredient flatbread because the Greek yogurt in the bread cut the spice of the dal and complimented it nicely.

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Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Craving Some Curry Pumpkin Soup

Annie

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Happy meatless Monday! Here’s a fun “pumpkin” recipe that you’d never know there’s pumpkin in it: Curry Pumpkin Soup with Swiss Chard. Pumpkin purée is a great way to naturally thicken a soup, make it heartier and add a bit more nutrients to it. I’m a curry fan Red Swiss chard was on sale at Whole Foods and it just looked too pretty not to add. I only had less than a cup of arborio rice, which is normally used for risotto (from vegetable risotto), and I tossed it in; it makes the soup much thicker than traditional rice. Overall, this is quite filling and bursting with flavor. It’s one of those fun dump, stir and simmer recipes that’s easy to meal prep and enjoy during the week.

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Asian, Better Than Takeout, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Instant Pot, Lightened Up, Meal Prep, Slow Cooker

Killin’ It with These Korean Rice Bowls

Annie

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Happy meal prep with these popping flavors! The spiciness from the meat, the sesame from the spinach, the acidity of the kimchi . . . Although seemingly complicated, I really enjoyed the simplicity of this Korean Bibimbap Bowl. Bibimbap is a Korean rice dish served with seasonal fresh or sautéed vegetables, a red chili paste and an egg. Here’s a healthy (but definitely not authentic) twist using ground turkey, jasmine brown rice and fresh veggies. This is not your traditional bibimbap, since I swapped ground turkey for ground beef. I added a poached egg because I was lazy about cleaning another pan by frying an egg, and I’m trying to perfect my patching technique in the microwave. I found jarred kimchi at Trader Joe’s for quite cheap. Plus, you have it on hand and you’re not fussing about pickling napa cabbage and making something extra.

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Breakfast/Brunch, Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Vegetarian

Simply Savory Smoked Sweet Potato Shakshuka

Annie

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Mmmm, Smoked Sweet Potato Shakshuka. Same shakshuka as before as a base, but updated with some delicious sweet potato and smoked paprika for a more savory version. I love shakshuka because it’s so easier to throw together fast and it’s usually with budget-friendly, simple ingredients. If you don’t have fresh tomatoes, use two cans of diced tomatoes instead, which you probably have in your pantry. For a heartier meal, add another egg and/or some bread for dipping. I’m thinking a curried chickpea version may be in the distant future . . .

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Asian, Better Than Takeout, Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Lightened Up, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Seafood, Vegetarian

Peanutty “I-Can’t-Believe-They’re-Kelp Noodles” Bowl

Annie

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I’m on a kelp noodle kick. This time I switched it up and made a version with shrimp and edamame in a peanut sauce. Yummmm. Even though it’s pretty low-carb, these bowls are packed with protein to keep you feeling full. (If you’re like omg that’s it? Split between 2 servings instead of 3 or add another pack of noodles.) I really like how these noodles have a distinct crunch and adopt whatever flavor profile you’re using. They’re perfect for a Thai-inspired dish, so have at it and dig in to Peanut Shrimp Kelp Noodle Bowls.

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