Black Bean Salad

One of my favorite things about summer are all of the BBQ’s, parties, potlucks, and picnics. I feel like our neighborhood is a lot more social during the summertime. One of my favorite recipes to make during the summertime is this Black Bean Sala…

One of my favorite things about summer are all of the BBQ’s, parties, potlucks, and picnics. I feel like our neighborhood is a lot more social during the summertime. One of my favorite recipes to make during the summertime is this Black Bean Salad. It is my go to because I love it and because…

Spicy Mushroom Black Bean Fritters

Looking for a wholesome, spicy, satisfying weeknight meal? We’ve got you covered. These black bean fritters combine savory mushrooms, hearty quinoa, and spicy cayenne pepper in a delicious, freezer-friendly fritter. What’s not to love!? 
Just 10 i…

Spicy Mushroom Black Bean Fritters

Looking for a wholesome, spicy, satisfying weeknight meal? We’ve got you covered. These black bean fritters combine savory mushrooms, hearty quinoa, and spicy cayenne pepper in a delicious, freezer-friendly fritter. What’s not to love!? 

Just 10 ingredients and simple methods required for these vegan and gluten-free fritters, friends. They pair perfectly with our new sweet potato “rice” and are just begging to be dipped in avocado crema or guacamole.

Spicy Mushroom Black Bean Fritters from Minimalist Baker →

Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce Wraps always remind me of the restaurant P.F. Changs. Anyone else? Their lettuce wraps are nostalgic for me. I ordered them MANY times during my college years. I haven’t been to that restaurant in years because lettuce wraps are SO easy t…

Lettuce Wraps always remind me of the restaurant P.F. Changs. Anyone else? Their lettuce wraps are nostalgic for me. I ordered them MANY times during my college years. I haven’t been to that restaurant in years because lettuce wraps are SO easy to make at home and they taste just as good, maybe even better!…

Hummus

Hummus is a chickpea paste from Far Eastern cuisine. Currently, it is trendy due to its health-promoting properties. Chickpea paste is rich in minerals such as zinc, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sodium, copper, iron, and calcium. It is also an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and those from group B. Humus also contains …

Hummus is a chickpea paste from Far Eastern cuisine. Currently, it is trendy due to its health-promoting properties. Chickpea paste is rich in minerals such as zinc, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sodium, copper, iron, and calcium. It is also an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and those from group B. Humus also contains folates ( the synthetic name of the form in tablets is folic acid) which is especially necessary for expectant mothers. Suppose I had known that I would have been eating hummus when I was expecting a child ;). Nothing is lost because legumes, including chickpeas, also contain phytoestrogens, which are very helpful in relieving the symptoms of menopause in women. So, dear ladies, it is worth introducing this magical dish to your diet.

How to choose the best ingredients for Hummus

Chickpeas: If you have the option, choose organic chickpeas with smaller grains. So the smaller grains in legumes are more velvety after cooking and cook for less time.

Lemon: Lemon here, we will only use juice, but I also recommend using lemon zest, e.g., to refresh the dishwasher. If you put the lemon zest, you will restore the dishwasher and make the smell of the washed dishes slightly lemon. I love it, and I recommend giving it a try. It’s natural, and you don’t have to buy artificial flavors.

Tahini: You can buy tahini, preferably organic. However, you can also do it yourself. Sesame paste can be used in a variety of dishes and can be stored for a very long time. I keep it in a glass jar in the fridge. I use it for spreads, soups, and desserts. How to make the perfect tahini can be found on my blog.

Garlic: garlic is essential in chickpea paste. However, it cannot dominate the effects, so one clove is added, and the variety does not matter here.

Lemon juice: lemon juice overpowers the taste of chickpeas and tahini. It goes perfectly with cumin. You can read how to squeeze lemon juice in tips and tricks effectively.

Cumin: cumin is supposedly included in hummus recipes as an optional addition, but I encourage you to add it if you don’t like the smell of this. I have a problem with one spice, and even though I know it has many health properties, I can’t eat the dish. So I give it a wide berth.

Tips and Tricks for Hummus

  • If you don’t use canned chickpeas, you need half of the dry chickpeas, about 150 gr.
  • I prefer this method, so I do it because I use a little treatment to make the chickpeas work well with my digestive system
  • First, soak chickpeas in water with half a teaspoon of baking soda to cook them well. To speed up this process, you can pour hot water over it, then overnight soaking is limited to 2-3 hours. Soaking the grains in baking soda also speeds up the cooking time, and the grains become super soft and easier to blend, and the hummus will be smoother.
  • In addition, if you want your hummus to be super smooth, then after cooking the chickpeas, throw the seeds into cold water, then the skin of the chickpeas separates and floats to the top. You can then separate it from the chickpeas.
  • Cumin is supposedly optional (if you don’t like its taste) but necessary because it soothes digestive ailments after chickpeas. Hummus is supposed to give joy to eating, not problems. Try and decide. Just peeling chickpeas from the skin and soaking them in baking soda can significantly reduce this process.
  • Hummus can be stored in the refrigerator in a tightly closed container or jar for up to 5 days.
  • Lemon to squeeze the juice from the lemon well, first roll it on the countertop, pressing it gently, and only after this procedure, cut it in half and squeeze the juice.
  • If you do not add cumin to hummus, it can be used for dessert, e.g. by mixing with dried fruits such as dates or chocolate cream, or if you add honey, peanut butter, or cocoa.
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Hummus

Hummus is the perfect chickpea paste, perfect for a dip for fresh vegetables or added to pasta as an element of salad dressing. Hummus is very healthy and, at the same time, tasty, so keep the recipe for this chickpea paste with many uses.
Course dip
Cuisine Indian
Keyword hummus, the best hummus
Prep Time 12 hours
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 10 portion
Calories 190kcal

Ingredients

  • 300 g cooked chickpeas
  • 1 pieces lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp tahini
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 5 tbsp  olive oil
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Soak the lentils, preferably overnight (at least 12 hours), with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Then rinse well under running water. Boil the soaked beans in fresh, unsalted water until tender (1.5 -2h). If foam accumulates during cooking in the water, it should be removed regularly – these are impurities that need to be removed. If you want the hummus to be perfectly smooth, drain the cooked chickpeas from the water they were cooked and pour them with cold water. Then it will be easy to separate the skin, which you can easily remove from the water's surface.
  • I don't mind the skin because I can have an imperfectly smooth chickpea paste, but this trick can help those who prefer this smoothness in pastes.
  • Once you peel the lentils, throw them into the blender bowl, adding extras such as lemon juice, olive oil, a little boiled water if needed, and cumin and salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 281mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg

Mediterranean chickpea salad

Mediterranean chickpea salad is full of vitamins and protein that can be a good light dinner or lunch. It is ideal for a summer meal, where we do not feel like eating something fresh, tasty, and wholesome but not hot. How to choose the best ingredients for Mediterranean chickpea salad Chickpeas: I like to prepare …

Mediterranean chickpea salad is full of vitamins and protein that can be a good light dinner or lunch. It is ideal for a summer meal, where we do not feel like eating something fresh, tasty, and wholesome but not hot.

How to choose the best ingredients for Mediterranean chickpea salad

Chickpeas: I like to prepare chickpeas for hummus or salads because I know what I eat, and they have no preservatives. In addition, I have one interesting trick, thanks to which our digestive system will better absorb it. However, I use canned chickpeas when I don’t have time and want to prepare something healthy quickly. 

Tomatoes: I recommend these small cherry or baby plum because they look nice and do not fall apart when mixing. However, if you don’t have it, you can use regular large tomatoes, only finely chopped.

Cucumber: I recommend cucumber salad so that it does not have thick skin; it will be tastier. I also recommend not peeling the skin but washing it well; it looks better in a salad and stays fresh longer.

Parsley: Parsley is present in my kitchen almost daily, and I like it very much. It gives spiciness and expressiveness to dishes and makes us add less salt. I was hoping you could choose the best fresh and not wavy version because, in my opinion, the wavy parsley version is more suitable for decoration than eating. Moreover, my taste buds don’t like it at all.

Onion: Red onions are ideal for salads because they are sweeter and more delicate than the usual brown or white ones. So it’s essential in this salad. Only replace it if you like the spicy taste of onions.

Black olives: Black olives can be hollowed out here, which is even more recommended because it will be easier to cut them in half.

Feta: Feta is a long topic; which one to choose? I generally like Greek salad cheeses because they are perfect and give the taste ideally.

Tips and tricks for Mediterranean chickpea salad

  • If you cook chickpeas yourself, soak them, preferably for 12 hours. Adding half a teaspoon of baking soda to soak it will be more absorbable for the digestive system, and you will not have any surprises ;).
  • Water in which you soak the chickpeas, rinse the chickpeas thoroughly and pour fresh water over them.
  • To get 400 g of chickpeas after cooking, you must soak about 180 g.
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Mediterranean chickpea salad

A quick, easy, and very healthy salad, and exceptionally delicious. What more could you want?
Course Appetizer, diner, lunch
Cuisine Mediterranean
Prep Time 12 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 248kcal

Ingredients

  • 400 g cooked or canned chickpeas
  • 300 g small tomatoes can be baby plum tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 pieces salad cucumber
  • 1/2 bunch parsley
  • 1/2 piece red onion
  • 20 pieces black olives
  • 100 g feta

Dressing

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  •  juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Wash all vegetables thoroughly. Cut the tomatoes into quarters, cut the cucumber lengthwise, and do not try to peel the quarters. Then the cucumber will keep its firmness longer.
  • Wash the parsley well and remove only the youngest sprigs. We chop very finely.
  • Peel the onions, cut them in half, and cut them into feathers.
  • Drain the olives from the excess brine and cut lengthwise in half.
  • Fete crumble or cut into cubes, and it's up to you.
  • We put everything into a bowl.
  • To prepare the dressing.
  • Pour the olive oil, a teaspoon of vinegar, and the juice of half a lemon into the jar.
  • Peel the garlic and squeeze through the press or finely chop (if we use a press, we can also finely chop the remains that were left in the press and put it in the dressing)
  • Close the jar and shake vigorously so that the ingredients are well combined.
  • Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Sodium: 654mg | Calcium: 185mg | Vitamin C: 28mg | Vitamin A: 1108IU | Sugar: 3g | Fiber: 6g | Potassium: 394mg | Cholesterol: 22mg | Calories: 248kcal | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Fat: 15g | Protein: 10g | Carbohydrates: 20g | Iron: 2mg

Crispy smashed potatoes with yogurt dip

Fancy a delicious, simple spring-smelling dish? Now with the ingredients available all year round, you can bring up any time with this simple crispy smashed potatoes with yogurt dip in your home. The flavors may be a bit revolutionized, but they remind me of many visits to my grandma, where baby potatoes were served with …

Fancy a delicious, simple spring-smelling dish? Now with the ingredients available all year round, you can bring up any time with this simple crispy smashed potatoes with yogurt dip in your home. The flavors may be a bit revolutionized, but they remind me of many visits to my grandma, where baby potatoes were served with curdled milk. Here we replace curdled milk with yogurt and do it as a spicy dip.

How to choose the best ingredients for Crispy smashed potatoes with yogurt dip

Baby Potatoes: I recommend young potatoes with a low starch content (it also makes the yellow inside easier). This detail will make the potatoes soft enough after cooking and keep their shape.

Olive oil: Olive, I recommend the one you like from the best quality olives extra virgin. I like Italian and Greek oils. When you choose an olive, check where it was produced and, most importantly, where the olives come from (there are situations where the production is in Italy and the olives come from plantations in Africa.).

Tips and tricks for Crispy smashed potatoes with yogurt dip

  • Mash the potatoes while they are warm (when they cool down). They will be less flexible and may fall apart.
  • Mashed potatoes can be lightly sprinkled with pizza cheese to enrich the taste. I prefer to saute versions, but you check them out. I’m waiting for your opinions.
  • You can sprinkle the baking potatoes with fresh thyme for flavor.
  • You can also try other dips based on yogurt, e.g., tzatziki. You can find my delicious tzatziki recipe here.
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Crispy smashed potatoes with yogurt dip

Crispy smashed potatoes with yogurt dip is an American classic, and in fact, the success lies in the quality of the potatoes or the additions.
Course Appetizer, dinner, lunch, Side Dish
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories

Ingredients

  • 1 kg baby potatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and paper for taste
  • a sprig of rosemary (optional for flavoring)

Yogurt dip

  • 1 tsp chili flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 200 ml Greek yogurt
  • 4 tbsp Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper for taste

Instructions

  • Do not peel the potatoes. Just wash them thoroughly. Cook until tender in salted water.
  • Prepare a baking tray for potatoes – line it with paper and grease the paper with olive oil.
  • Drain the boiled potatoes, gently crush the bottom of the jar or glass, and place them on the previously prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in the oven at 200 C for about 20-25 minutes.
  • While the potatoes are baking, prepare a spicy dip based on Greek yogurt.

Yogurt dip instructions:

  • Salt and pepper the yogurt to taste.
  • Chop the garlic clove and fry it with chili flakes in heated olive oil for about 1-2 minutes.
  • Pour the olive with the previously prepared yogurt.
  • Bon Appetite

Spring Strawberry Salad

I love spring, the sun, and fresh young vegetables. Some strawberries grow in the sun and taste entirely different than those available all year round. That’s why I like to prepare this salad in spring when everything tastes and smells like spring. The taste of spicy cauliflower and radishes is mixed with sweet, juicy strawberries. …

I love spring, the sun, and fresh young vegetables. Some strawberries grow in the sun and taste entirely different than those available all year round. That’s why I like to prepare this salad in spring when everything tastes and smells like spring. The taste of spicy cauliflower and radishes is mixed with sweet, juicy strawberries. We combine all this with a very simple dressing, but you don’t need anything else in this salad. The taste of the sauce is complemented by egg yolks that gently melt. Everything is perfectly composed for spring, healthy lunch.

How to choose the best ingredients for Spring Strawberry Salad

Lettuce: choose the lettuce you like. The best for me will be the slightly crunchy one, i.e., romaine or iceberg lettuce. It can also be a salad mix. Romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce will keep their shape longer in a salad. Still, it isn’t necessary because this composition of vegetables is so delicious that it will only stay on the table for a short time.

Eggs: choose the best quality eggs you have available.

Radishes: If you can choose the type of radishes, choose the spicy ones.

Strawberries: strawberries choose the ones that will hold their shape in the salad and will be sweet. I like the Sonata variety, but you can choose the one that suits you. The strawberries must be firm.

Cauliflower: Young cauliflower will be the best, small, where the flowers are compact. There should be no discoloration on the cauliflower.

Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt or fresh sour cream will be best for the dressing. Other yogurts will be too low in fat, and the consistency will not be correct because the strawberries will definitely release their juice, diluting the sauce in our spring strawberry salad.

Mayonnaise: choose the best quality you have, and you can also prepare it yourself at home. Then, it will certainly be healthier. Step-by-step instructions on how to prepare mayonnaise can be found here.

Tips and tricks for Spring Strawberry Salad

  • Sometimes there are worms in the cauliflower to get rid of them. It is good to immerse it in well-salted water for about 1 hour.
  • If you have radish leaves, don’t throw them away. You will make delicious pasta pesto out of them.
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Spring Strawberry Salad

Spring strawberry salad is something you must try. I love combining vegetables and fruits in salads, which are simple and unique. Try it, and you'll see for yourself.
Course Appetizer, lunch
Cuisine european
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 52kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pieces Iceberg
  • 3 pieces Eggs
  • 8 pieces Radishes
  • 10 pieces Strawberries
  • 1/2 Cauliflower
  • 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp Mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tsp Sugar

Instructions

  • Eggs are best cooked half hard
  • Wash all vegetables thoroughly.
  • We tear the salad into pieces.
  • Cut the cauliflower into small pieces, it is best to give birth to whole sticks, and then it will look lovely in a salad.
  • Cut strawberries into halves or quarters, depending on size.
  • To prepare the Greek yogurt salad dressing, we can optionally add mayonnaise, giving a more spicy taste. Then add sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 50mg | Potassium: 256mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Simply Baba Ghanoush

The classic baba ghanoush is made from fire-roasted aubergines, which gives it a slightly smoky flavor. However, in the era of modernity, we can replace this method as we have gas cookers or ovens. Maybe a bit will be missing this smoky aroma, but this paste will surely retain its good taste qualities. There are …

The classic baba ghanoush is made from fire-roasted aubergines, which gives it a slightly smoky flavor. However, in the era of modernity, we can replace this method as we have gas cookers or ovens. Maybe a bit will be missing this smoky aroma, but this paste will surely retain its good taste qualities. There are many schools, and as to this recipe, whether to serve with cilantro or parsley or add tahini. I offer my version, and you can experiment with your variety and see which kind suits you best.

How to choose the best ingredients for Simply Baba Ghanoush

Aubergines: choose ripe, healthy aubergines without any spots on the skin. They should also not be dry, i.e., the skin should not be wrinkled.

Tahini: you can buy tahini or make your own according to my recipe.

Oil of olive: good quality olive oil is characterized by the country of origin, Italy, Greece, or Spain. However, look not only at where it was produced because often the cheaper ones are produced in the countries mentioned above, but from African olives, making them worse in quality and cheaper.

Lemon juice: there are no exceptions here, and the lemon juice has to be freshly squeezed.

Tips and tricks for Simply Baba Ghanoush

  • If you want to speed up the baking of the eggplant, poke holes with a fork.
  • You can wrap the eggplants in foil, speeding up the baking time.
  • You can also toast the eggplant over gas or use a torch for creme brulee.
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Simply Baba Ghanoush

I present to you a quick, simple version of Baba Ghanoush or eggplant paste. Good for any occasion, ideal for bread or an addition to wraps or can be served as a dip for grilled meat.
Course Appetizer, dip, pasta
Cuisine Indian
Keyword Baba Ghanoush, eggplant paste, Mutabal, patlıcan salatası, simply Baba Ghanoush
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 71kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pieces Eggplants
  • 2 Cloves of garlic
  • 3 tbsp Tahini
  • 3 tbsp Lemon juice
  • Optional pomegranate

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 180-190 degrees. Wash the eggplants thoroughly under running water, pierce and wrap them in foil and bake in a preheated oven for about 45 minutes.
  • The eggplants will be ready when the skin is thin, and it may sometimes wrinkle and even fall away from the flesh.
  • Remove and cool the prepared eggplants. Then cut it in half and scoop out the dough with a spoon. Put in a blender with tahini, chopped garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Blend well. The paste prepared in this way can be eaten as an addition to sandwiches or a dip for vegetables. Optionally, sprinkle with chopped parsley and pomegranate.

Nutrition

Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

Crispy Quinoa Root Vegetable Fritters

Ever received a CSA box full of root vegetables and had no idea what to do with them? Problem solved: Make fritters! These fritters are so tasty you’ll fall in love with each of these underused veggies.
Super colorful, savory, lightly sweet fritt…

Crispy Quinoa Root Vegetable Fritters

Ever received a CSA box full of root vegetables and had no idea what to do with them? Problem solved: Make fritters! These fritters are so tasty you’ll fall in love with each of these underused veggies.

Super colorful, savory, lightly sweet fritters that are perfect as an impressive appetizer and require just 30 minutes from start to finish! We ROOT for you to make these crispy root vegetable fritters ASAP!

Crispy Quinoa Root Vegetable Fritters from Minimalist Baker →

Easy and Delicious Lobster Rolls Recipe

These mini lobster rolls are a delightful play on the New England … Read more
The post Easy and Delicious Lobster Rolls Recipe appeared first on Sugar and Charm.

These mini lobster rolls are a delightful play on the New England ... Read more

The post Easy and Delicious Lobster Rolls Recipe appeared first on Sugar and Charm.