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 | Appetizers, Fish, Sauces
This is one of the few recipes my mom brought with her from Sweden. The name actually comes from the way salmon was prepared back in the old viking days. The Salmon back then with all the spices were buried in a “grave”, for curing. It is simple to prepare. It basically takes care of itself for 3-4 days.
Ingredients:
- Two 1.5 lb. filets of salmon with skin on preferably mid-section – need to match when placed together (skin side out)
- ½ cup (organic) sugar
- ½ cup salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (or cracked) larger chunks
- 1 tsp ground white peppercorns
- 3 cups of chopped dill with stems (to make a thick blanket on all sides)
Directions:
Mix sugar, salt and pepper. Rinse and pat dry the salmon filets. On a piece of tinfoil, thick blanket of dill the same size of the salmon, then you sprinkle liberally ⅓ of the salt/sugar mixture. Place first piece of salmon, with skin down. Then cover with the top of the salmon with ⅓ dill and sprinkle liberally with another ⅓ of the salt/sugar mixture. Place then next salmon filet, on top with skin to the outside. Place last ⅓ of dill and last ⅓ of the salt/sugar mixture on top of the skin of the 2nd piece. Cover with another piece of tinfoil, and seal the edges of the foil loosely so it has some air to breathe (since it’s not quite dead yet…still needs to be buried ;-). Place salmon in a plastic bag. Next place the bagged salmon in a shallow dish and add a heavy weight on top, you can use an iron skillet or flat stone if you have access to one. Place salmon with weight in the fridge for 4 days, turning over salmon once a day. When slicing the salmon be sure to slice against the grain in super thin slices.
Sauce:
Coming soon – I have to get some help from my mom on this, that has never written it down.
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
