Shaved Cauliflower Salad

I had this salad at Americano last week and knew immediately I had to recreate it. My friend Jordan and I walked down to the restaurant at The Joule after meeting Serena Wolf at her book signing downtown. It only made since to have Jordan back over for dinner to test out my recreation.

Y’all. This salad is just great. Despite just being cauliflower it’s filling and satisfying. Would be killer with some salmon on it or as a side with barbecue or anything grilled. It’s heavy on the lemon which I personally love for the dead of winter (citrus is so good for you in cold months), but will be just as good this summer.

The key to the salad is the shaved cauliflower. You can use a mandolin, but if you know me, you know my experience with mandolins has not been pleasant…However it will work. I suggest using a food processor fitted with the slicing attachment. It makes this salad incredibly easing by just forcing the cauliflower florets through the food tube. To be honest I had actually never used the slicing attachment, until I made this. I’ve had my food processor for mmm 4 years now and had to take the protective sticker off the slicer. It has now ben christened and I plan to use it far more.

Shaved Cauliflower Salad adapted from Americano
yields 3-4 as a main or 6 as a side dish

Ingredients:
3 cups white cauliflower florets (about one small head of cauliflower)
2 cups of purple cauliflower florets
2 cups of orange cauliflower florets
½ cup raw shelled pistachios
½ cup plump golden raisins
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1¼ salt, divided
¼ tsp. red chili flakes
1 tbsp. chopped chives, plus more for serving

Directions:
In a cereal sized bowl, pour hot water over golden raisins and let set aside to “plump" for 10-15 minutes. While the raisins are plumping, add pistachios and ¼ tsp. salt in a dry frying pan over medium heat. Toast your pistachios, stirring them around often for about 3-4 minutes, keeping a close eye on them as they can burn easily.

Thinly shave your cauliflower in your food processor with the slicing disk attached or on a mandolin. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with lemon juice and 1 tbsp. of salt. Let sit for 5 minutes to marinate.

Drain your raisins. Into the cauliflower, stir in the olive oil, pistachios, plump raisins, chives and chili flakes. Garnish with extra chives and salt.

Best if made at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors have time to come together. Will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days.

TBH cauliflower is hard to measure. The recipe calls for 2-3 cups of florets that will then be shredded. Don’t stress, just eyeball what looks like about 2-3 cups and you can adjust seasonings as needed.

Annie

Turmeric Chicken Zoodle Soup

I originally published this post in January 2017. After partnering with CeCe’s Veggie Co. I knew this was the perfect recipe to use their zucchini noodles in and decided to update the post and photos. Enjoy!

I first developed this recipe in January 2017 right after being gifted a spiralizer for Christmas. While a spiralizer is a great invention, I can’t say I’ve used it much since, well, January 2017. Sorry Santa *cough mom and dad cough*. It was all bright shiny and new at the time, but it’s a bit of a chore to pull out when I’m trying to make an easy dinner.

Enter CeCe’s Veggie Co. They have created packs of already spiralized zucchini, sweet potato, butternut squash, beets, riced cauliflower and more. I’m usually not one to buy pre-cut vegetables or fruit, but this is one I can get behind. I’m willing to pay a little extra for a healthy swap from the traditional noodle and of course for the convenience.

I love using CeCe’s Zucchini Spirals in this soup instead of weighing down what could be a healthy soup with starchy noodles. The turmeric addition gives it that quintessential yellow color and is an added boost to what people think of as a cold-curing meal. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory meaning it helps soothe sore muscles, stomach aches, helps with cramps and bloating, and is a natural detoxifier of the gut. Warning, be careful when using turmeric because it can stain everything! Wash your pots and pans immediately after using them. I’ve been left with a neon yellow woden spoon from the recipe that I’m not sure I can salvage.

Turmeric Chicken Zoodle Soup adapted from Damn Delicious
yields 4-6 servings

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks or 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
salt and pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small yellow onion or 1/2 a large onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced
1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
4 cups chicken bone broth
1 cup water
1 package CeCe’s Organic Zucchini Spirals (or 3 zucchini if you are spiralizing yourself)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 sprig fresh rosemary, some leaves reserved
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions:
This soup comes together quickly so you want everything ready to go. Start by dicing your chicken (or shredding if you are using a rotisserie chicken) and veggies.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season diced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the stockpot and cook until golden, about 6-8 minutes. Remove from pot and place on a plate to set aside.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the stockpot. Add garlic, onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5-6 minutes. Stir in the turmeric, thyme and add the sprig of rosemary. Let simmer until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add in chicken stock and 1 cup of water; bring to a boil. Stir in zucchini noodles* and chicken; reduce heat and simmer until zucchini is tender, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove the sprig of rosemary. Serve garnished with extra rosemary and parsley, if desired.

*If you are meal prepping this soup, omit adding your zucchini noodles until right before you serve. When ready to serve, ladle your soup into a bowl and add a handful of zucchini noodles. As you reheat the soup the zucchini will become tender. The soup will stay good for one week in the fridge.

Annie

Thank you Cece’s Veggie Co. for letting me work with you. While I was compensated for this post, all thoughts and words are 100% my own.

3-Bean Salad

One of my best friends has been following a vegan diet for the past few months and claims she has never felt better. I eat vegetarian accidentally all the time and have tried eating vegan once before. There is a ton of information out there about the benefits of veganism, so I thought I’d challenge my self to eat plant based last week. I prepped some delicious overnight oats, and this delicious 3-bean salad, but dinner got away from me when I ended up at a new Dallas hot spot and dove into enchiladas completely forgetting about my “vegan” diet. OOPS!

Anyway, back to this salad. I love beans, but I feel like they can get a bad rap. For vegans and vegetarians, beans are an incredible source of protein. Even for meat eaters, I think we should all love a bean now and then. There was a little sandwich spot at OU that my friends and I loved to go to. I’d almost always order a 1/2 sandwich and salad combo with my salad choice being their 3-bean salad. It wasn’t a popular opinion amongst my fellow 20 year olds, but I loved the kidney bean, green bean and chickpea salad they served.

I’m going down a rabbit hole and I’m not surprised if I lost you, but if you are still here, I’m basically just here to tell you that this 3-bean salad is great. Great for lunch balanced with some berries or apple on the side, would be great as a side at a barbecue or could even make a great dip with Fritos or tortilla chips kind of like a Texas Caviar situation.

3-Bean Salad
yields about 4, 1 cup servings

Ingredients:
1 -15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1-15 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1-15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 avocado, cubed
2-3 Tbsps. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste (I use a decent amount)

In a large mixing bowl add first six ingredients. If serving immediately add avocado. If serving later, wait to add avocado until time to eat. Add in olive oil, lime juice and salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Serve as an entree with fruit, a side dish or with chips for a dip!

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Will stay good for 5-7 days (without avocado). I take this salad as lunch and divide amongst 4 of my favorite jars and take 1/4 of an avocado with me to add day of right before I eat.

Annie

Verde Chicken + Black Bean Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Healthy 👏easy 👏weeknight 👏meal! This dish has burrito bowl vibes, but cuts the cals with cauliflower rice. I add cumin, lime juice and fresh cilantro to the “rice” to amp it up a bit and the whole thing comes together great.

I keep it green with salsa verde, lots of cilantro, lime and avocado. I’m on a black bean kick, so those were a must and add an extra protein boost next to the chicken. Considering I bought the salsa instead of making my own and used a rotisserie chicken, this dish is e a s y.

Verde Chicken + Black Bean Cauliflower Rice Bowl
yields 4 servings

Ingredients:
3 cups frozen riced cauliflower
2 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie works great)
15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 avocado
salsa verde
salt and pepper

Directions:
In a non-stick pan over medium low heat, sauté your cauliflower rice for about 3-4 minutes. You do not need any oil in the pan. Stir in the cumin, freshly squeezed lime juice and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Divide the “rice” evenly amongst 4 bowls. Top each bowl with chicken, black beans and salsa verde. Add avocado slices, the rest of the chopped cilantro and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Annie

Lite Bite: Asian Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies

Asian Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies
serves 2 (with leftover veggies)

Ingredients:
2, 4 oz Wild Caught Salmon Filets, boneless, skinless
1 lb. asparagus spears, ends trimmed
1 lb. baby carrots or veggie of your choice (broccoli, sweet potatoes or bok choy would be great
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos
1 Tbsp. almond butter
1/2 tsp. agave or honey
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper
sesame seeds

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. On a parchment lined baking sheet arrange veggies and salmon so everything is on an even layer. Season the salmon and veggies with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl whisk coconut aminos, almond butter, agave, ground ginger and garlic powder. Brush 1/2 of the sauce over the salmon and veggies. Bake for 10 minutes, then brush with remainder of the sauce. Bake for another 5 minutes.

Divide among plates, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

Annie