Lunch Archives - Page 9 of 43 - De Ma CuisineDe Ma Cuisine

Thursday

28

May 2015

Customizable Panzanella Salad

Written by Rachel, Posted in Beans, Beef, Bread, Cheese, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Eggs, Fish, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Legumes, Low Carb, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Nuts, Pork, Poultry, Quick and Easy, Quinoa, Salads, Sides, Toasting, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

There are so many things that this salad can be. It can be vegan, paleo, low-carb, gluten-free, high-protein… It all depends on what you add to it.

I made some baguettes a few weeks ago that I wasn’t thrilled with. They’re prefect for croutons though. If you prefer to avoid bread, quinoa or tofu would be great bread replacers. Or, if you’re eating gluten-free, your best gluten-free bread will be just perfect.

To make up the bulk of this salad, I opened this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box then pulled a few things from the produce drawer. But this is where there are so many ways you can make this salad your own.

Beyond tons of veggie options, here are a few ways you could adapt this dish:

Protein a Plenty: Add beans, quinoa (instead of or alongside the bread), tofu, hard boiled eggs, meat (tuna, beef, chicken, turkey, pork), nuts, cheese.

Paleo: Add eggs, meat, and nuts instead of the bread.

Vegan: Leave as is, or add quinoa or tofu.

Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free bread, or swap out the bread for quinoa.

All the Veggies: I used nopales, onion, carrot, green beans, radish, and summer squash. You could also add: snap peas, greens, tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, eggplant, cucumber… or any other veggies that are in season and you think would taste great.

I love the combination of a really good quality olive oil like Bari’s along with balsamic vinegar. But, a mixture of red wine vinegar and lemon juice, or balsamic and lemon juice would also be great. Customize it to make it your own!

Riiiiiight before serving add the bread. Or to really avoid soggy bread, put the bread on the plate and top it with salad, letting the dressing soak in slowly. The lesson I learned today: only add as much bread as you’re going to eat. The leftovers will get way soggy (#freetofail).

This is one of my favorite ways to welcome summer. But, come fall or winter, just trade the summer veggies for some roasted winter ones and you’ve got a winner all year round.

Happy Eating!

Customizable Panzanella Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4

Customizable Panzanella Salad

Ingredients

3-4 C stale bread (any kind - or could sub 2-3 C quinoa or tofu), cubed
1 t olive oil
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1/4 to 1/2 C balsamic or red wine vinegar (or half vinegar half lemon juice)*
1 1/2 t dijon mustard
pinch cayenne (optional)
2 cloves garlic, diced
to taste salt
to taste pepper
2 T to 1/4 C olive oil*
3-4 T fresh herbs (basil, parsley, chives, oregano, thyme), chopped
4-6 C any of the following (cubed, chopped, grated, or torn): summer squash, nopales, snap peas, green beans, greens, radishes, tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, eggplant, cucumbers, red onions, nuts, hard boiled eggs, nuts, chicken, beef, tuna, pork, mozzarella, parmesan, cannellini beans, garbonzo beans)

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 400F. Toss bread with 1 t olive oil, salt, and pepper, Place on a baking sheet, bake for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for about 5 minutes more (or until they're golden and toasty).
Whisk balsamic vinegar through pepper. Stream in oil as you whisk. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Toss salad contents (except bread, if using quinoa or tofu, add it now) with dressing. Add bread just before serving.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/customizable-panzanella-salad/

Monday

18

May 2015

5

COMMENTS

Veggie and Garbanzo Bean Shakshuka

Written by Rachel, Posted in Beans, Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, One Dish Dinners, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

If there’s not a carton of eggs in my refrigerator, I feel a little lost when it comes to meal planning. I use eggs for all of the regular things, like adding them to pancakes, using them in an egg wash for a Chicken Pot Pie or Fish Wellingtons, or whisking them into a silky mayonnaise. But, I also count on them as a staple for our meals.

Fried eggs are one of my favorite foods. I love it when the yolk is still runny (I’m an “over-medium” order) and it spills over the food it’s covering, creating a creamy sauce. They’ve created a way for me to love some foods that I didn’t think I even liked (turnips!). Eggs for the win!

One of the meals I’ve discovered over the past year or so is called Shakshuka. I love it because it feels like an old world dish, similar to peasant food. It’s simple and straightforward, but also super versatile.

You can make it with just tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil. But, if you want to add more to it, you can add tons of veggies. This time I wanted to pack it with a little extra oomph. I added greens, fennel, and asparagus to the usual. And then, garbonzo beans. It’s a dish that’s loaded with nutrients, protein, and great flavor.

I could eat it everyday.

The veggies and beans don’t need to cook for too long – a little under 20 minutes will do. They just kinda stew there in the olive oil, getting all soft, flavors combining… man I’m hungry!

And then the eggs are added. Normally, when I fry eggs, I do it in a screaming hot cast iron. But, since there are other components in the pan, for this dish, I turn the heat down, add the eggs, and cover (so the whites will set).

Eggs, veggies, beans, cast iron… be quiet my grumbling stomach!

And if you thought things couldn’t get any better, it gets topped with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Happy Eating!

Veggie and Garbonzo Bean Shakshuka

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 24 minutes

Total Time: 34 minutes

Yield: 2-4

Veggie and Garbonzo Bean Shakshuka

Ingredients

1 T olive oil
1 medium onion or leek, chopped
1 C assorted veggies (like fennel, asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms), chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1-2 C tomatoes (fresh or canned), diced
1 C garbonzo beans
2 C greens (chard, kale, collards, spinach etc...), roughly chopped
1-2 eggs/serving
to taste salt
fresh herbs (dill, parsley, chives, basil), chopped, for serving
lemon slices, for serving

Instructions

Heat skillet then add oil. When oil is hot, add onion through pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
Add garlic through greens and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Turn the heat down to low and make a small well for each egg. Add eggs, one per well. Season with salt. Cook covered until eggs are done (about 3-6 minutes, depending on how runny you like the yolk).
Serve topped with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/veggie-and-garbonzo-bean-shakshuka/

Monday

11

May 2015

0

COMMENTS

Nopales Wraps

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Low Carb, Lunch, Main Dishes, One Dish Dinners, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

It’s nopales time again! Who knew that cactus leaves could be so fun to eat?! Last week I made them into a relish. I also used them in Borscht. Today, I’ve sautéed them with onions, added scrambled eggs, and wrapped it all in a lettuce leaf.

Nopales have an interesting taste. Kinda like if a green bell pepper was crossed with a green bean, okra, and a lemon. They’re bright, citrusy, and oh so slimy. You can boil them to take away the slime. Or, if you don’t care too much, just pop ’em in the pan. Totally up to you. I wanted to keep this one super quick and easy, so I didn’t bother with boiling.

I really wanted eggs with this dish. But, you could totally make this a vegan dish by crumbling some tofu into the veggies.

All there is to it is to crack the eggs, whisk them to combine, and add to the cooked veggies in the skillet.

We’re on our way to a super simple meal!

I used lettuce for wrapping this time. But, of course tortillas would be a great option too, depending on what you’re craving. If you don’t have lettuce or tortillas, another large, sturdy green leaf will do (like chard or kale). Whether or not you will need a fork and knife will depend on the sturdiness of the wrapping device. With this lettuce picking it up wasn’t an option. The messiness factor was heightened by topping the wrap with Nopales and Tomato Relish, fresh tomatoes, and parsley, rather than adding them to the filling.

A squeeze of lemon is one of my favorite ways to finish off a dish. And this one’s no different. Bright and citrusy, it’s a great way to complete an interesting and fun take on nopales.

Happy Eating!

Nopales Wraps

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 2

Nopales Wraps

Ingredients

1 T olive oil
1/2 to 1 C nopales (or bell pepper), chopped
1 onion, chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
pinch cayenne
2 eggs/person (or 7 oz. firm tofu, drained and crumbled)
pinch salt
2-4 lettuce leaves, washed and dried (tortillas, chard, or kale could also be used)
1 tomato, chopped, for topping
fresh parsley, chopped, for topping
Nopales Relish, for topping
lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

Heat a skillet over medium-low. Add oil. Once oil is hot, add nopales through cayenne. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until veggies are tender, stirring occasionally.
Turn heat to low. Whisk together eggs. Pour into skillet. Sprinkle with salt and stir gently until eggs are cooked and set (about 3-5 minutes).
Divide filling between lettuce leaves. Secure with a toothpick. Top with relish, parsley, and a squeeze of lemon.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/nopales-wraps/

Friday

24

April 2015

0

COMMENTS

Chamomile and Honey Pancakes

Written by Rachel, Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, One Dish Dinners, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian

I’ll let you in on a secret. I don’t really love tea. Ugh, I know. It annoys me too. I try. And really, I’ve come a long way. I drink it occasionally and usually enjoy it. But, the problem, especially with chamomile tea, is that I drink it when I’m sick. Negative association issues here.

So, I needed something to do with chamomile that doesn’t involve sickness, sniffles, or a stuffy head.

I’m pretty excited about this recipe, because it can be hard to be creative with something that’s we only use for one thing. I took my ideal chamomile tea, which always has a big scoop of honey, and a good squeeze of lemon, and turned it into gluten-free cornmeal pancakes.

This is an idea I can get behind.

I used my basic cornmeal pancake recipe, but used honey instead of maple syrup. The batter comes together in no time. It’s a simple dry ingredients whisked together first, wet ingredients whisked together second kinda recipe. They get mixed separately so that they combine properly – no pockets of baking soda please!

They don’t need long to cook, so this makes for a super quick meal. About a minute or less per side will do.

I like to make them small, so they’re easier to flip. About 2-3 T of batter will is perfect. You could even do less and make super minis. The kids might like that. Ok, I’d like that too. Then you can eat like 8 of them, which is way more fun to say than saying you ate 2.

For serving, I liked them with just honey and lemon, but they were even tastier with some homemade Blueberry Jam, chopped apples (or whatever fruit is in season), a drizzle of honey, and a squeeze of lemon. They were also great the next day with some nut butter, Greek yogurt, and jam.

I think pancakes make for a great meal any time of the day. They’re quick, easy, and you can customize them to suit your family’s tastes.

Happy Eating!

Chamomile and Honey Pancakes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes

Total Time: 14 minutes

Yield: 2

Chamomile and Honey Pancakes

Ingredients

1/2 C cornmeal
1/2 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1 T lemon zest, diced
pinch salt
1 t dried chamomile
1 egg
1/2 T honey
1 t coconut oil (plus more for cooking)
1/4 C buttermilk (or 1 T white vinegar and pour in milk to 1/4 C, stir with a fork and let sit 5 min)
jam, for serving
apple (or cherries, berries, peach, plum, orange, apricot) chopped, for serving
lemon juice, for serving
honey, for serving

Instructions

Whisk together cornmeal through chamomile. In a separate bowl whisk egg through buttermilk. Add wet ingredients to dry. Stir to combine.
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a bit of coconut oil. When oil is hot add about 2-3 T of the batter (to make each one about 2" diameter). Cook for about 1 minute on first side (or until bubbles form and do not pop), then another minute (or less) on the second side. Cook in batches until all batter has been used.
Serve topped with jam, fruit, lemon juice, and honey.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/chamomile-and-honey-pancakes/

Monday

20

April 2015

1

COMMENTS

Warm Beet and Walnut Salad

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Nuts, Potlucks, Quick and Easy, Quinoa, Rice, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

It’s spring. But, here in L.A. it seems like the weather’s not sure what it wants to do. One week it feels like summer, the next, we’re back to our winter weather.

But, this salad can be eaten rain or shine.

It’s a simple one. And it goes kinda like this…

You start with a grain: Quinoa, brown rice, bulgur wheat, wild rice, or couscous.

You choose your veggies (any or all): Beets, carrots, greens, tomatoes (ok, technically a fruit), or summer squash.

Then you choose your add ins: Walnuts, almonds, raisins, apples, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.

Fresh herbs are added: Parsley, basil, or thyme.

And you’re ready to eat!

Since we get beets year round here, we can eat this hearty salad whenever we want. I had golden beets on hand, but red beets would work well too.

I love the feeling of sunshine that golden beets bring to my kitchen. They’re such a happy root veggie.

Veggies are cooked in a skillet – easy! Beets are a pretty dense root veggie, so be sure to give them enough time to cook (20 minutes or so seemed to do the trick for me).

I love raw walnuts, so they were a perfect choice. Some raisins and apples added a bit of sweetness to the already sweet beets and carrots. Sweet, but not too.

For my grain, I chose quinoa. Packed with protein, it seemed like a great fit for a vegan dish.

Some quality olive oil and a good squeeze of lemon brighten and round out the dish.

The finished product is a warm salad. The beets warm the add ins slightly, while the add ins cool the cooked veggies. You could also refrigerate and eat it a few hours later.

Quick and easy to prepare, packed with nutrients and protein, this one was a hit at our house. Even Tim, who isn’t crazy about beets, thought it was really good.

Happy Eating!

Warm Beet and Walnut Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 3-4

Warm Beet and Walnut Salad

Ingredients

1 C water or vegetable stock
1/2 C uncooked quinoa (rinsed) (or couscous, wild rice, bulgur wheat, or brown rice with appropriate amount of water)
1 T olive oil
1 C golden beets (red beets would work great too), peeled and chopped
1 C carrots (or summer squash), chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
3 C greens (like spinach, chard, or kale), chopped
sprinkle cayenne
1 t fresh parsley, chopped (divided)
1 t fresh basil, chopped (divided)
2 T raisins, chopped
1/4 C apple, chopped
1 C walnuts, chopped
1/2 C pumpkin seeds (optional)
1 T olive oil
2 T lemon juice
lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

Bring the water to a boil. Add the quinoa. Bring back to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, or until done. (If using other grains, cook according to package's instructions.)
Heat a skillet over medium-low. Add olive oil. When the oil is hot add the beets through pepper. Cook for about 20 minutes (or until veggies are tender), adding greens after about 10-15 minutes (depending on type of greens - more tender greens will require less time to cook).
Remove skillet from the heat. Stir in half of the herbs (reserving the rest for topping), and then raisins through lemon juice, and cooked quinoa. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold, with a lemon wedge for squeezing over.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/warm-beet-and-walnut-salad/

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Lunch Archive

28

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Customizable Panzanella Salad

Happy Eating!

18

5

Veggie and Garbanzo Bean Shakshuka

Happy Eating!

11

0

Nopales Wraps

Happy Eating!

24

0

Chamomile and Honey Pancakes

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20

1

Warm Beet and Walnut Salad

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