Posts tagged ‘tomato’
Cayenne shrimp with a tomato & yellow pepper sauce + chickpea pan bread
You’re either a fan of shrimp or you’re not…Growing up, I hardly ate shrimp because my mother didn’t like how it looked – tails and all. But now that I’ve been cooking for myself, I have a new found respect for this ingredient. It can turn something mundane into something special. I realized I haven’t blogged about a main dish in quite some time now, so for this week we have an Italian-inspired dish that has cayenne shrimp served with a tomato and yellow pepper sauce. All topped off with some crumbled goat cheese and parsley. On the side – a simple chickpea pan bread that can be cooked up in minutes!
Grilled chicken wrap with lemon-garlic sauce
Happy Monday! I know, Mondays aren’t usually “happy”, but there are always way to make them better. Eating something you’ve been craving is definitely one of them!
I’ve been craving shawarmas for a while now, but I don’t have all the ingredients nor a meat spit to make an authentic one at home. But you know that doesn’t stop me! Why bother getting takeout, when you can make something at home quicker? This grilled chicken wrap is inspired by the Middle Eastern shawarma and frankly – it tastes pretty darn good. It’s got a nice kick from the fresh garlic and chilli and the lemon zest adds unbelievable freshness. Plus it’s a heart-healthy dish for those of you who are trying to stick to your new year’s resolutions!
Beauty Eats- How it all began…
I never really thought about eating for beauty before I met Connie from the Beauty Nerd. We have all heard the old adage that “we are what we eat”, but do we really think about that when we grab that deep-fried onion ring smothered in mayo or a piece of that creamy cheesecake? Do we realize that not only do those choices affect our health, but our appearance too?
As you may already know, Connie and I started a series called Beauty Eats a few months ago. It’s all about eating skin-friendly ingredients, but in interesting and delicious ways. Want to know more about how it all began? Read on for the Beauty Eats story and our top 5 recipes!
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I started thinking about eating for beauty several years ago. Due to the growing interest in overall health and wellness and incorporating these concepts into beauty, various beauty companies have launched supplements, smoothies and even gummie bears, all advocating this new concept of ‘beauty from within’.
As a beauty enthusiast, I tried many of them and I have yet to find one that tastes good enough for me to consume repeatedly and long-term.
But one day, I had an epiphany. I thought, why are we trying to torture ourselves with overly processed dietary solutions, when we can achieve something much more delicious with real foods? From that day on, it was my mission to search for smarter ingredient choices that are skin-friendly and incorporate them into recipes that you would want to eat.
The only problem was that I’m not a great cook and have zero creativity in the kitchen. As fate would have it, I met Divya, who is truly a creative cuisine guru. She has the foresight to be able to picture how ingredients would taste and work together. Every time I propose skin-friendly ingredients, she whips up mouthwatering recipes in an instant. When I found out she was starting a food blog, I proposed that we start doing collaborated posts featuring beauty foods. Beauty Eats was born and quickly became our regular weekly Wednesday posts. We love this marriage between beauty and food and we hope that you are enjoying it just as much as we do!
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Connie firmly believes that beauty comes from within first and if we take care of what’s inside, it will be reflected on the outside. I absolutely agree with her and I’m so glad (and thankful!) that she’s been able to convince me to change the way I eat. I’ve definitely taken a step in the right direction thanks to her. I’ve been eating more skin-friendly veggies and other anti-oxidant rich foods since I met her and I have to admit, my skin definitely looks better! Whenever I have a “junk food” blip, my skin takes a toll and it shows. No more unhealthy food habits!
We all know that making healthy food choices is important, but if your food tastes like “health food” it’s hard to actually eat it on a daily basis. Beauty Eats is about making skin-friendly ingredients come together to make dishes that you’ll want to eat and won’t feel like you’re being deprived.
“This series is a step towards making healthy eating for your skin a lifestyle.”
We’ve handpicked a few of the top recipes from this series to give you a flavour of what Beauty Eats is about. Here goes:
1. Whole wheat penne with herbed chicken and butternut squash sauce
This is one of my favourite recipes since it’s a great way to add a number of anti-oxidant rich ingredients to your diet all at once. It’s made with butternut squash, red pepper and tomatoes with a number of dried herbs. Butternut squash makes an unusual base for a pasta sauce and makes this pasta dish somewhat “special” in my opinion. It has a rich flavour without the extra calories. Best of all, this dish tastes even better the next day. Leftover heaven!
2. Watermelon and grape granita
Granitas are a good way to get some respite from the summer heat, but can be the perfect palate cleanser in the winter. There’s no need to shy away from frozen goodness just because it’s cold outside. This recipe is sweet and fresh and the cherry on the cake is that it has NO ADDED SUGAR! It’s rich in resveratrol (from the grapes) and has plenty of other phytonutrients.
3. Tomato and asparagus frittata
Looking for a quick brunch that isn’t loaded with sodium or animal fat? Try this veggie frittata that’s not only healthy but also easy to make on a lazy Sunday morning. Since the tomatoes are cooked, it increases the amount of skin-friendly lycopene. I’d say yes to that..
We all know that alcohol doesn’t exactly work any wonders for our skin, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a virgin cocktail. This “sangria” is made with coconut water instead of wine and I’ll have to admit, I didn’t miss the alcohol at all. Fresh, light and fruity – sounds like the perfect drink to me.
5. Salmon with roasted red pepper and dill sauce
I had to put a salmon dish in the top 5 list! After all, salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids and we all know what wonders those do for your skin. This dish pairs rich salmon with a tangy red pepper sauce and some whole wheat couscous. Delish!
We wanted to take this opportunity and reach out to our lovely readers. Do you enjoy the Beauty Eats series? What do you like? What do you want to see more of? Have any suggestions to make this series even better? Or do you have a recipe that would be the perfect beauty “dish”? All comments and suggestions are welcome. We would REALLY LOVE to hear from you! Click HERE to comment.
Shrimp tostadas
Fresh flavours and lots of crunch are the beginnings of any great summer appetizer and these tostadas fit the bill perfectly! Crunchy wholewheat tortillas fried till crisp and topped off with spicy shrimp, cilantro and mint as well as tomatoes and onions – you won’t be able to stop at one. For those of you who haven’t had a tostada before, it’s a traditional Mexican dish made with a crunchy corn or wheat tortilla that is topped off with numerous toppings such as beans and salsa. This is my take on a tostada dish and it’s inspired by the bold flavours of Mexico.
Chipotle tomato chutney (with a hint of cocoa…)
I’ve always been intrigued by chutneys since they can have dozens of ingredients that blend together perfectly. For me the best part of making chutney is that there is no right or wrong way – just go with the flow and you never know what you’ll come up with! I’ve been meaning to make chutney for a while since I made my mango chutney, but never got around to it until today. Since there have been so many beautiful tomatoes available in the market recently, I was inspired to create a tomato chutney (but with a twist of course!). This time my inspiration came from the Mexican flavours of chipotle chilli and cocoa.
Spicy chicken and vegetable orzo
Are you tired of the usual weekday pasta dinners? Why not try orzo? It’s a type of pasta that looks like large rice grains and is really easy to make. You can cook it the way you would normally cook pasta and then use it in recipes that call for pasta, or use it as a rice substitute – the possibilities are endless. As you know, I love spicy food, so this dish is inspired by the Italian arrabbiata sauce. It’s a spicy chicken and vegetable orzo with a touch of heat and plenty of tomato flavour just like an arrabbiata dish. To take things up a notch, why not bake the orzo with ooey-gooey mozzerella cheese on top? How’s that for a delicious weeknight meal?
Currylicious meatballs
Who doesn’t love a good meatball? You can never go wrong with succulent meat served with a rich tomato sauce – it’s the perfect comfort food. This dish is my take on meatballs so it has a globally-inspired twist. I love spicy food so I looked to Indian cuisine for my inspiration. Serve these with basmati rice and some mint yogurt on the side and you’ve got a great weekday dinner. Or try these with spaghetti or even couscous for some fusion on your plate!
These meatballs are inspired by meatballs or “koftas” which are popular in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Koftas are usually made with onions, spices, ground meat and sometimes even some rice or vegetables. They are served on their own or in a spicy gravy similar to the one in this dish. There are literally hundreds of different ways to make koftas – perhaps you could experiment with the spices you have at home!
To make this recipe heart-healthy, I used extra lean ground chicken, but feel free to substitute with any other ground meat.
Beauty Eats- Trio of global dips with crunchy tortilla chips
My friend Connie from “The Beauty Nerd” and I started a new series called “Beauty Eats” two weeks ago. In this series, we will explore foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics that will leave your skin with a healthy radiance! If you missed the earlier posts, you can find them in the “Discover” menu under “Food and Beauty”.
For the third post of the series, enjoy a trio of dips inspired by global cuisine with crispy tortilla chips. These dips are quick and easy to make as they require no cooking – which makes them perfect for those unexpected guests!
Spicy chicken burger with a tomato-ginger-onion sauce…
Happy long weekend to all my North American readers! What better to cook on the weekend than a juicy burger oozing with flavour? I wanted to put my own spin on the traditional burger, so I created a recipe that is inspired by the flavours of India. The spicy chicken paired with the rich tomato-ginger-onion sauce makes it a finger-licking burger that won’t disappoint. You won’t even realize that the cheese is missing!
As you know, I like to keep my recipes fairly healthy, so I opted for extra-lean chicken. Extra-lean chicken has less fat in it than other meats such as pork or beef, so it’s harder to prepare a juicy burger. The trick is to try to retain the moisture in every possible way. A few tips:
- Ensure the pan is actually hot before placing the burger patty on it. The heat should sear the meat and seal those juices in.
- When frying the chicken burgers, resist the urge to press down on them! It’s hard to resist, but trust me on this 
. Pressing down will lead to a dry, chewy burger patty.
- Make thinner burger patties. The patties will cook through more easily this way. Less time on the pan/grill = more juices!