Baked Gnocchi with Peas, Mint, & Ricotta

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If you are a Trader Joe’s fan, you know that their cauliflower gnocchi has a cult-like following. The gnocchi tastes light and fluffy and is a healthy alternative compared to the potato original. The one problem that we have with the gnocchi is that they are nearly impossible to cook correctly. They go from cooked to mush in just a few seconds, so if we are boiling them or cooking them on the stove top, there is just about a minute to nail the timing of the recipe so that it all turns out perfectly. We are not into these stressful cooking scenarios, and tried to make these gnocchi in an alternative way so that there is more wiggle room for the recipe to be successful. By roasting them in the oven with some olive oil, they get a crispy exterior while still maintaining their fluffy texture inside. We tossed them in a brown butter sauce and topped them with fresh peas, mint, and lots of lemon. To take this dish over the top, we have added a dollop of whipped ricotta to the bottom of the serving dish. It provides the perfect salty and creamy punch and helps meld all of the ingredients together.

Baked Gnocchi with Peas, Mint, & Ricotta



An exciting vegetarian entree for summer. We love the combination of the crispy gnocchi, snappy fresh peas, and fluffy whipped ricotta.

Ingredients

  • 1 package frozen cauliflower gnocchi
  • 2 tbs butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • juice and zest from 1 lemon
  • pinch of chili flakes
  • 1 cup fresh peas
  • 1/4 cup lightly packed mint leaves, stems removed and minced
  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a cooking sheet well with cooking spray and lay the frozen gnocchi in a single layer on the cookie sheet and season them with salt and pepper. If there are pieces that are frozen together, do your best to separate them. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, removing after 15 minutes into cooking to flip the gnocchi before placing back in the oven .
  2. Make the whipped ricotta. Put the ricotta into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer on medium-high speed to whip the ricotta until it is light and fluffy. about 3 minutes. If you continue to whip it and it isn’t changing texture, add a teaspoon or two of water at a time until it is light and airy and has very few lumps in it. Set aside.
  3. Make the brown butter sauce. Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. It is very important to brown the butter slowly – if you try to do this over high heat you’re likely to burn it. Cook the butter for about 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until the butter is light golden brown. It is ready when it starts to smell nutty. Remove the butter from the heat until you are ready to finish the dish (the gnocchi should have about 5 minutes left of the 25 minutes).
  4. To finish the dish, bring the pan with the butter back onto medium heat. Add the garlic, lemon zest and juice, pinch of chili flakes, peas, and mint to the butter. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until the peas are slightly tender. Season the peas with salt and pepper to taste. When the gnocchi comes out of the oven, add it to the brown butter and pea mixture and toss everything well to coat.
  5. Use a spoon to put a big dollop of whipped ricotta onto each of two bowls. Add the gnocchi and pea mixture to each of the bowls and garnish with additional fresh mint leaves, if desired.

Cauliflower Adobo Tacos

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Recently we were at a brewery in Columbus that had the best honey adobo chicken fingers. They were so tasty that we have talked about them at least a half a dozen times since we first ate them. When brainstorming what we wanted to make for Cinco de Mayo this year, we knew we wanted to combine the flavors of that honey adobo sauce with cauliflower for tacos. We have been really into subbing cauliflower as a meat-free alternative, and find with the right flavors we rarely notice we are eating vegetarian. We love the combo of flavors in our version of honey adobo sauce- the honey and vinegar are the perfect combination with the smokey chiles and tangy tomato paste. They are sweet and spicy and an excellent centerpiece for Cinco de Mayo or any taco night.

Cauliflower Adobo Tacos

  • Servings: 6-8 taco portions
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Sweet and spicy cauliflower tacos that pack a punch!

Ingredients

  • 2 tbs olive oil, divided
  • 1 large head of cauliflower, large stem and leaves removed and cut into large bite-sized pieces
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup chipotles in adobo, diced
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 taco-sized tortillas
  • your favorite taco toppings: avocado, red onion, cilantro, queso fresco, etc…

Directions

  1. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbs of olive oil and lay the cauliflower florets in a single layer in the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 7-8 minutes on one side, or until the cauliflower is brown but not burnt. You’ll want to check the cauliflower during this 7 minutes and adjust the heat as necessary to get the cauliflower to the correct color. After the 7 minutes has passed, flip the cauliflower over and repeat the same thing on the other side. Remove the cauliflower into a large bowl and gently tent with foil until later in the recipe.
  2. Add the remaining 1 tbs of olive oil to the pan along with the minced garlic. Saute for 2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the tomato paste to the pan and cook another 2 minutes. Add the chipotles in adobo, water, apple cider vinegar, and cumin to the pan. In the ingredients above we give the option to use between 1/4 and 1/2 cup of honey. If you are making this for younger kids or people with a more spice sensitive palate, use the full 1/2 cup. If you really want to bring the heat go for 1/4 cup. Like Goldilocks we went right in the middle at 1/3 cup and found that it was just right. Whisk well to combine and cook for another 3 minutes on medium heat, or until the sauce is starting to become sticky.
  3. Add the cauliflower back into the pan and toss well to coat. Cook for another 2 minutes so that the cauliflower can absorb the sauce.
  4. Serve the cauliflower in tortillas along with your favorite taco condiments. We particularly like the cauliflower with avocado, queso fresco, freshly sliced red onion, and cilantro.

Sweet Potato Shawarma Bowls

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Thanks to our love of cooking, one of the gifts we most often receive are oils and spices from our friends and family after they go on a vacation. Over the years we have accumulated paprika from Hungary, tzatziki blends from Greece, olive oil from Italy, and more red spices from the Middle East than we could possibly know what to do with. To try and keep things fresh in our kitchens, we made a resolution to start using all of these pantry items up! While it’s fun to save them from memories of our own travel, the truth is that items like olive oils really are meant to be used as oils go rancid and spices lose their flavor over time.

One of the spices that we acquired was a shawarma seasoning blend. We love these flavors and cook with them often, but rarely use this spice mix. To mix things up from the traditional chicken shawarma that we know and love, we decided to make these vegetarian sweet potato bowls. The bowls are filled with crispy chickpeas, an herby tomato and cucumber salad, and of course, sweet potato fries. Everything comes together with a homemade tahini dressing for a lunch or dinner that is exploding with tons of flavor. We promise that this dish makes healthy eating truly enjoyable.

Sweet Potato Shawarma Bowls

  • Servings: 4
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  A hearty and healthy vegetarian recipe that is bursting with shawarma flavors.

Base ingredients for the Bowls

  • 2 sweet potatoes, cut into large french fries
  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup neutral oil (avocado or vegetable)
  • 1/4 cup shawarma seasoning
  • 6 cups lightly packed arugula or your favorite leafy green
  • 2 cups cooked farro

Ingredients for the Tomato Cucumber Salad

  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 3 Persian cucumbers, diced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbs red wine vinegar
  • 1/3 cup fresh mint, chopped
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients for the Tahini Dressing

  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • zest and juice of 1 large lemon
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1/4 cup cold water (or more if you prefer a looser dressing)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Drizzle the sweet potatoes and chickpeas with the neutral oil and sprinkle with the shawarma seasoning and salt to taste. Toss well to coat. Lay the sweet potatoes and chickpeas on a large cookie sheet, making sure that there is enough room for the sweet potatoes and chickpeas to lay side by side in a single layer. If you need to divide amongst two cookie sheets, no problem. Bake the sweet potatoes and chickpeas for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the sweet potato fries with a spatula and toss the chickpeas; cook another 10 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are cooked through and crispy on the outside.
  3. While the sweet potatoes are cooking, make the tomato and cucumber salad. Combine the ingredients (tomatoes – parsley) in a medium mixing bowl. Gently stir the ingredients and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  4. Make the tahini dressing. Combine the dressing ingredients (tahini – 1/4 cup water) in a small blender. Blend to thoroughly combine and break down the tahini until it is nice and smooth. Depending on how you like the consistency of the dressing, you may add additional water to thin it to your desired consistency. Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Make the bowls by layering 1 1/2 cups arugula (or other leafy green) and 1/2 cup cooked farro into each of four bowls. Divide the tomato cucumber salad, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas amongst the four bowls as well. Drizzle with a generous amount of tahini dressing to serve.

Tempeh Buddha Bowls with Peanut Sauce

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We love a good weekend of splurge eating but after a few days of decadence we like to reign it back a bit and get our health on track to start the week. Monday’s tend to be the day for clean eating in our houses, which means incorporating a lot of veggies to our menu. We make these “buddha bowls” in about a dozen variations, but we love this one for winter because of the hearty vegetable selection and creamy coconut peanut dressing. Getting in vegetables during the winter can feel like a challenge, but recipes like this- with heartier ingredients- make the challenge easier to achieve. As with all of our recipes, we encourage you to use what you have on hand and substitute ingredients in the bowl as necessary.

Tempeh Buddha Bowls With Peanut Sauce

  • Servings: 2
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One of our favorite winter vegetarian dishes, the peanut sauce cannot be beat!

Ingredients For The Bowls

  • 1 package tempeh
  • 1 tbs sesame oil
  • 1 tbs soy sauce
  • 1 tbs Sriracha or chili sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked farro or your favorite grain
  • 1 large carrot, grated
  • 3 cups cabbage coleslaw mix
  • 1/2 avocado, sliced
  • 1/2 cup frozen edamame, thawed

Ingredients For The Peanut Dressing

  • 1 cup coconut milk + the thick coconut cream on the top of the can
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tbs fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 tbs peanut butter
  • 1 tbs Sriracha or chili sauce
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • salt to taste

Directions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sesame oil, soy sauce, and chili paste to the pan. Cut the tempeh into segments and add them to the pan. Sear the tempeh for about 5 minutes per side, or until it is heated through. Set aside and wipe the pan clean.
  2. Make the peanut dressing. In the same pan that you just cooked the tempeh, add the coconut cream from the top of the can of coconut milk. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté them for about 4 minutes, or until they are fragrant and starting to caramelize. Add the peanut butter, sriracha, and soy sauce to the pan. Stir to melt the peanut butter and then add the remaining cup of coconut milk. Whisk to combine all ingredients and let the sauce cook until it has thickened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Assemble the bowls. Layer the ingredients for the buddha bowls into two large serving bowls. Drizzle generously with peanut sauce and serve immediately.

Cauliflower & Chickpea Enchiladas

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We have seen a lot of New Year’s resolution posts on our social media accounts, and one of the most common food goals people are talking about is the desire to eat more plant based. Eating plant based has a number of benefits for our bodies and the environment; including a reduced carbon footprint and greenhouse emissions. Our mom eats mostly plant based and we will never forget when she ordered the surprise vegetarian dinner at a steak house only to have a bowl of pasta served to her. We view cooking plant based meals as a fun challenge; we like to experiment with new ingredients and flavors and not just replace meat with pasta or other empty carbs. When we have a successful dish like these enchiladas, we don’t even miss the meat.

Cauliflower & Chickpea Enchiladas

  • Servings: 4
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A plant based recipe that everyone will love. These enchiladas are so delicious we promise you won’t be distracted they are vegetarian.

Ingredients

  • 1 head of cauliflower, stem removed and florets chopped into bite sized pieces
  • 4 tbs olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 chipotles in adobo, minced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed (we love Trader Joe’s frozen roasted corn)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 large burrito-sized torillas
  • enchilada sauce (anywhere from 10 – 16 oz)
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • chopped green onions, for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Drizzle the cauliflower with 2 tbs olive and season well with salt and pepper. Lay the cauliflower in an even layer and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is roasted and fork tender. Leave the oven on and reduce the head to 350 degrees, as you will need to bake the enchiladas after they are assembled.
  3. While the cauliflower is cooking, heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining olive oil and onion to the pan. Cook for about 4 minutes, or until the onion starts to caramelize. Add the chipotles in adobo, cumin, coriander to the pan; mix to combine and let the spices toast on the bottom of the pan.
  4. Add the chickpeas, sour cream, and water to the pan. Stir to combine and cover. Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes to soften the chickpeas. Remove the lid and mash half the chickpeas with a potato masher or a large fork. Add the corn and gently fold in the with a spatula to combine. If the cauliflower has not finished cooking by this point, remove the pan from the heat until the cauliflower is cooked. When the cauliflower is roasted and tender, to the pan and mix everything well to combine.
  5. Lay the four tortillas onto your counter top or cooking space. Divide the cauliflower mix amongst the four tortillas. Do the best you can to roll them into burritos.
  6. Spray a pyrex baking dish with cooking spray. Use a spoon to layer about 1/3 cup of the enchilada sauce onto the bottom of the baking dish. Add the four burritos to the pan in an even layer. Top the burritos with the remaining enchilada sauce and sprinkle with the shredded cheese. Spray a piece of foil with cooking spray and cover the baking dish. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, the first 15 minutes covered in foil and the last 5 minutes uncovered to let the cheese get melty and bubbly. Top with green onions, cilantro, or avocado if you wish and serve immediately.

Vegan(ish) Mexican Sweet Potato Grain Bowls

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We are back with another fun vegan(ish) recipe! We say vegan(ish) because we did add cheese to this recipe, but it can easily be omitted or substituted with a vegan alternative. One of the keys to eating vegan is attempting to reject the traditional concept that a meal needs to be “a protein, carb, and veggie”. It’s easy to feel stuck trying to fit that mold. Instead, we try to focus on changing the terminology to eating “plant-based”, where a meal can be made up of a bunch of different vegetables. This recipe has a bunch of different veggies and proteins that we bring together with a kick-ass, cilantro lime vinaigrette. These bowls are filling and really tasty; so much so that we promise that when you eat it you won’t be missing the meat.

Vegan(ish) Mexican Sweet Potato Grain Bowls

Makes: 4 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients for the Bowls:

  • 2 medium-large sweet potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups mixed grains (we used brown rice and farro but use what you have)*
  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained, patted try with paper towel
  • 1 tbs chili-lime seasoning (Tajin), divided
  • 3 tbs olive oil
  • 4 cups arugula
  • 1 avocado, quartered
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese (you can leave this off if you want the recipe totally vegan)
  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients for the Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • juice of two limes
  • 1/2 cup packed cilantro
  • 1 tbs honey
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Lay the sweet potatoes on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with 2 tbs olive oil and 2 tbs of the chili-lime seasoning. Toss to coat. Lay in a single layer and bake in the oven until tender, about 30 minutes.
  3. While the sweet potatoes are cooking, cook the grains. Heat 3 cups of water to a boil and add the grains you are using with a pinch of salt. Cook until tender, about 30 minutes.
  4. Prepare the chickpeas by laying them on a second cookie sheet. Drizzle 1 tbs olive oil and the remaining 1 tsp chili-lime seasoning over top. Toss to coat and lay them back in a single layer. When the sweet potatoes have cooked for about 20 minutes, add the chickpeas to the oven. Cook for the remaining 10 minutes with the sweet potatoes.
  5. While the chickpeas are cooking, prepare the dressing. Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a small blender. Blend until smooth and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  6. When the grains, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas have finished cooking, prepare the bowls for serving. Layer 1 cup arugula, 2/3 cup of the mixed grains, and 1/4 of the sweet potatoes in each of four bowls. Top each bowl with approximately 1/4 cup chickpeas, 1/4 of an avocado, a few slices of red onion, and 2 tbs of crumbled Cotija. Divide the dressing among the bowls and serve immediately.

**You can buy frozen, pre-cooked brown rice or quinoa and save a step by just reheating to serve.

Semi-Homemade Vegan Burrito Bowls

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Tuck’s dad watched the documentary “Game Changers” on Netflix a few weeks ago and has been trying to eat vegan as much as possible since. Inspired by our usual Chipotle order, we made these tofu burrito bowls. We love the taste and texture of the tofu – it is loaded with spices and crumbled to resemble taco meat.This recipe falls into the semi-homemade category because we have purchased a majority of the burrito bowl toppings pre-made at the grocery store. We have included a recipe for the black bean and corn salsa, but you can purchase a similar product at the grocery store if you want to skip that step as well. Thanks to these grocery store helpers, this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and is a healthy, filling recipe for a weeknight dinner. 

Semi-Homemade Vegan Burrito Bowls 
Makes: 4 servings 
Prep Time: 30 minutes    Total Time: 30 minutes 

Ingredients for the Burrito Bowls: 

  • 1 box firm tofu
  • 1 packet taco seasoning 
  • 1 package cilantro lime Right Rice (can sub pre-cooked brown rice) 
  • pico de gallo 
  • guacamole (you can use our recipe or buy it pre-made from the store!)

Ingredients for the Corn & Black Bean Salsa 

  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 
  • 1 large ear of corn, kernels removed 
  • juice of 2 limes 
  • 1/4 red onion, diced 
  • 1/2 cup lightly packed cilantro 
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil 
  • 2 tsp cumin 
  • salt and pepper to taste 

Directions: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 
  2. Remove the tofu from its packaging and drain any excess water. Use paper towel or a kitchen towel to press the tofu and remove as much liquid from it as you can. Crumble the tofu and put it onto a cookie sheet, sprayed with cooking spray. Season the tofu well with taco seasoning, using your hands to coat well. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until it is crispy but not dry. 
  3. While the tofu is cooking, cook the Right Rice according to package directions. It will take about 12 minutes to cook once you bring the water to a boil. 
  4. While the Right Rice is cooking, make the black bean and corn salsa. Gently mix all of the ingredients in the salsa (black beans – cumin) together in a large mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.  
  5. Assemble the burrito bowls. Divide the Right Rice, tofu, and black bean salsa evenly amongst four bowls. Top with guacamole, pico de gallo, and any of your other favorite taco bowl ingredients. 

Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowls

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Tuck’s family has been on the road for about six weeks now, moving apartments every two weeks because baseball season likes to keep us on our toes! Part of the challenge of “settling” somewhere, even though we don’t know how long we are staying for, is buying the correct amount of groceries. If we buy too much we might have to throw away perfectly good food that just won’t make the drive. If we buy too little we are eating out every meal which gets expensive and old after a few days. 

To try and balance out these problems we try to make meals that mix the perfect amount of fresh ingredients with pantry ingredients that we have on hand. This grain bowl uses farro and chickpeas from the pantry and arugula, onion, and parmesan cheese to freshen things up. We’ve tossed the bowl ingredients with a creamy, garlicky lemon vinaigrette that gives some zing to ingredients that seem a little plain on the outside. What started as a solution to a packing problem is now a bowl we will have on repeat all summer long. 

Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl 
Makes: 2 entree servings 
Prep Time: 30 minutes    Total Time: 45 minutes 

Ingredients For The Salad: 

  • 1 cup uncooked farro 
  • 4 cups lightly packed arugula 
  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 
  • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, cut into thin chunks  

Ingredients For The Chickpeas: 

  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 
  • 3 tbs olive oil 
  • 1 tsp cumin 
  • 1 tsp garlic powder 
  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes 
  • salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients For The Dressing: 

  • 1/3 cup olive oil 
  • juice and zest of 1 lemon 
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced 
  • 1 tbs mayo 
  • salt and pepper to taste 

Directions: 

  1. Heat a medium pot with 2+ cups water. Cook the farro according to package directions (anywhere from 10-30 minutes). If you have excess water, drain the farro and fluff it with a fork to cool it down. 
  2. While the farro is cooking make the dressing. Whisk the olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and mayo in a small mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside. If you are making the salad in advance refrigerate the dressing until you are ready to use. 
  3. After the dressing make the chickpeas. Make sure the chickpeas are drained and rinsed well. Gently pat them dry with paper towel or kitchen towel. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the 3 tbs olive oil and let it get hot before adding the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas, cumin, garlic powder, and red chili flakes. Season the chickpeas with salt and pepper and give everything a good toss to coat. Cook the chickpeas for about 5 minutes- they should be crispy but not rock hard. Remove the chickpeas from the pan onto a paper towel to keep them crispy and drain any excess oil. 
  4. Once all of the ingredients are prepped it’s time to make the bowl! Layer about 3/4 cup of farrow and 2 cups of arugula into each of two bowls. Add a bit of the dressing and toss. Top the bowl with the chickpeas, red onion, parmesan cheese, and the rest of the dressing. Serve immediately. 

Spring Risotto with Carrot & Asparagus Salad

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On top of everything else in the world making us feel a little crazy, nothing can ever beat Denver weather. On Saturday we were in shorts and t-shirts getting sunburned and by Sunday morning the ground was covered in snow. During this time of year, we like to have meals that can help us transition with the weather and this Spring Risotto does just that. The warm, cheesy rice makes the dish feel warm and savory while the carrot and asparagus salad adds a much needed cooling crunch to the dish. Hopefully you are in better weather than us, either way we know this dish will satisfy.

Spring Risotto with Carrot & Asparagus Salad 
Makes: 4 servings 
Prep Time: 10 minutes    Cooking Time: 35 minutes      Total Time: 45 minutes 

Ingredients for Risotto: 

  • 2 tbs butter 
  • 1/2 cup white onion, small dice
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups Arborio rice
  • 6 cups warm chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1 cup fresh peas (or frozen peas thawed) 
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tbs shaved Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste 

Ingredients for Carrot Salad: 

  • 6 stalks asparagus, chalky ends removed 
  • 2 large carrots, peeled 
  • 2 tbs olive oil 
  • juice and zest of 1 lemon  
  • 1 tbs fresh dill, minced 
  • 1 scallion, cut on the bias into thin strips 
  • salt and pepper to taste 

Directions: 

  1. Start by making the carrot salad: use a vegetable peeler to create thick ribbons of asparagus and carrot. Toss them in a medium mixing bowl with the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and dill. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside. 
  2. To make the risotto, heat a large, deep pan over medium high heat. Add the butter to the pan along with the onion, shallot, and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes or so. Add the rice to the pan and cook another 4-5 minutes, or until the rice begins to caramelize and smelly nutty. Add the wine to the pan and stir with a wooden spoon until it is absorbed. Begin adding the chicken stock, 1 cup at a time, and stirring with a wooden spoon until it is completely absorbed before adding another 1 cup. It will start to look very velvety and expand quite tremendously. 
  3. When you add the final 1 cup of chicken stock, add the 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and peas to the pan. Stir to combine everything and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve in a large bowl with the remaining 2 tbs Parmesan and carrot salad on top. 

Detox Bowls

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After a long weekend of carb overload, it’s time to get the week back on track. We love a good “bowl” recipe at Tuck & Tate. We often find tasty flavor profiles and use what we have in the house to make it a weeknight dinner or lunch to take to work. This recipe is exactly like that. Take what you like of this recipe and change the things that don’t do it for you. If tofu makes you cringe, use a roto chick or leftover turkey if you’re still holding on strong with Thanksgiving leftovers. Here we talk you through making each of the ingredients from scratch, but if you don’t have time for that during the week, buy frozen cooked quinoa/ brown rice or pre-cooked beets in the salad section at the grocery store to expedite your cooking process. Keep the dressing recipe because that stuff is the bomb. It goes with literally anything you choose to put in the bowl and will keep all of your healthy eating dreams alive for another day. 

Detox Bowls 

Makes: 4 servings  

Prep Time: 35 minutes     Total Time: 35 minutes 

Ingredients for Bowls: 

  • 1 package firm tofu 
  • 1 tbs garlic powder 
  • 3 tbs olive oil 
  • 2 sweet potatoes, cut into french fry wedges 
  • 3 large beets, peeled and cut into large, bite-sized pieces
  • 6 cups kale 
  • 2 cups quinoa 
  • 2 avocados, sliced 
  • 1/2 small red onion, cut into thin strips 

Ingredients for Dressing: 

  • 1/2 cup olive oil 
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced 
  • 3/4 cup packed fresh herbs- use what you have on hand, we used parsley 
  • zest and juice of one lemon 
  • salt and pepper to taste 

Directions: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 
  2. Cut the tofu into large, bite-sized pieces. Put the sweet potato wedges and tofu onto a cookie sheet. Drizzle with 2 tbs of the olive oil and garlic powder and season with salt and pepper. Put the beets into a pouch of foil so that they can be completely covered during the cooking process. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and place on the sweet potato cookie sheet. Cook for 25 minutes. 
  3. While the hearty vegetables are cooking, cook the quinoa. Bring two cups quinoa to a boil in a sauce pan with 4 cups water. Simmer on high until cooked through. If you end up with extra water, drain through a sieve as you would pasta. 
  4. Make the dressing. Combine all of the ingredients for the dressing. You can do this by hand or with a small mixer. The winner in the battle of man power over dishes to wash is up to you. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Assemble the bowl by layering the ingredients in the bowl. We usually start with the kale and quinoa and work our way through the ingredients. Drizzle with dressing and enjoy!