Mung Bean Salad with Sun-Dried TomatoesBy foodjoyaWe especially enjoy Silvena Rowe’s cookbook Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume (Harper Collins 2011). The inspiration for this recipe is Ms. Rowe's delightful Mung Bean salad with Caramelized Onions and Nigella Seeds. See id. at 197. We’ve modified the original recipe to uncover the new flavors. We added more mung beans, reduced the onion, and probably quadrupled the sun-dried tomatoes. We also brought in mint and cilantro, thyme, lemon juice and a fresh chili pepper and omitted nigella seeds. This versatile, protein-rich salad makes a delicious and nutritious entree. But if you prefer serving it as a side, the Mung Bean Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes complements fish, chicken, flourless tortillas, roasted sweet potato wedges, or a baked sweet potato. Our Mung Bean Salad recipe makes generous 6 servings as a main dish. And if you are lucky to have any leftovers, they will keep surprisingly well for 3 days in the fridge.Herbed Cauliflower, Zucchini, Carrots: Tender DelightBy foodjoyaHerbed Cauliflower with Zucchinis and Carrots is a dance of elegant, silky veggies with just the right crunch. Enhanced with the herbs, our cauliflower develops a complex flavor with only a hint of sweetness. Because it’s cooked on the skillet, the cauliflower remains juicy and firm, not dry or mushy. With the help of the herbs and a leek, the herbed cauliflower develops a spectacular flavor. Though cooked without any cream or butter, it feels velvety. Are you curious what inspired this dish? Only one thing: My Mom’s love for the veggies and herbs. Make this recipe yours and enjoy! Asparagus with Indian Spices: a Perfect MatchBy foodjoyaThere is something poetic in shiny asparagus spears arranged in a row. But wait until you try our broiled Asparagus with Indian Spices. After a crunchy bite, you discover succulent, steaming core ... and you are in heaven! In our experience, broiled asparagus is the juiciest of all. To complement the caramelized skin, we use coriander and cumin. We brighten up the color of the broiled asparagus with a generous squeeze of lemon juice. In just 10 minutes of your time, you are ready to admire and chow down the Asparagus with Indian Spices. Vegan Tomato Fennel Soup: Best and Lightest!By foodjoyaThe Vegan Tomato Fennel Soup will impress you (and your S.O.) with creaminess, sweetness, aroma, and subtle anise flavors. And yet, this soup is made without cream, cheese, sugar, sweeteners or substitutes. Not a dollop, not a pinch. Try this luscious easy Vegan Tomato Fennel soup! It's perfect as an appetizer or light lunch. Before you start, note that we roast tomatoes until they are soft, but not burned. To intensify sweetness, we finish the pureed tomatoes on the stove. Do you agree that soups should be light and flavorful without dairy fat or sugars? What is your favorite tomato soup?Green Beans with Almonds, Parsley and GarlicBy foodjoyaGreen Beans with Almonds, parsley, and garlic is an easy, foolproof way to cook the green beans. Bite by bite, this recipe yields a delicious taste and a slightly crunchy texture. The beans turn out perfectly tender - not mushy and not watery. The secret to our Green Beans with Almonds is that we first blanch them using the technique from The Cook's Illustrated cookbook. See Cook’s Illustrated, Perfect Vegetables (2003).Paleo No Bake: Dried Plums with Walnuts and CreamBy foodjoyaThis Paleo No Bake Dessert - the dried plums (aka prunes) stuffed with walnuts and served with whipped cream and chocolate - originates from my native Moldova. You can find the original on this site (in Romanian). No matter what delectable desserts were on the menu, stuffed prunes with cream and shaved chocolate were the only dessert I'd ever order in a Moldovan restaurant. I learned how to make this dessert from my aunt and over the years perfected it. First, to make it a really healthy Paleo no bake dessert, I omit the sugar used in the original version. To add complexity to the taste of the dried plums, I presoak them in a little cognac. Finally, to achieve some sweetness, I melt high quality semi-bitter chocolate over the dried plums. The best part: this sugar-free, super-easy, paleo no bake dessert is packed with nutrients from the superfoods like prunes, walnuts, and dark chocolate! Make it and you're guaranteed to love it!
