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Vegetarian dish number three- this is a really delicious one…. it is hard to remember it is made without any meat. One of my husband’s favorite pasta dishes is pasta primavera. It is typically made with seasonal vegetables, a delicious marinara sauce and pasta of choice. I have made many different versions of it over the years but I have to say, this one is my favorite.

I roasted some red pepper, squash and zucchini with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roasting vegetables brings out the nutty, sweetness which is delicious in this dish. I mixed the veggies in a mixture of pesto and homemade marinara sauce. To make even more different, I tossed the pasta with some chopped fresh mozzarella.

I then roasted the dish in the oven till the cheese became soft and oozy. I served it with some delicious garlic bread and a yummy red wine… and we did not miss the meat…
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Recipe number two. I made this dish at a cooking class for a gentleman who wanted to learn vegetarian dishes so he could feed his family healthy food. I suggested a Moroccan dish called Tagine. It is typically made with meat and cooked in ‘Tagine‘, which is a special ceramic cooking pot with a cone like lid. It is nice to have one at home but it isn’t necessary to make a delicious tagine  at home.

We started with a spice mix consisting of cumin, coriander, turmeric and cayenne pepper. We then sautéed some onions, garlic, tomato paste and harissa- a moroccan hot paste. We added potatoes, turnips, carrots and chickpeas to the mix including some broth.

This is a delicious dish for a crowd, especially with some whole wheat couscous. Try it next time you are entertaining…
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I thought it would be good idea to highlight some vegetarian dishes to highlight healthy eating. I am not for giving up meat or anything else unless medically necessary but I do believe in moderation and incorporating a bit of everything in ones diet.

I try to make a vegetarian meal once or twice a week. Indian food is a great way to do so. I usually cook some beans or lentils as well as some delicious vegetables. I pair it with fresh whole wheat rotis and I am able to serve my family a delicious, well balanced meal.

So, the first one today is made with sweet peppers and potatoes. It is a very simple to make. I started with some oil and cumin seeds. I added onions, garlic and tomato sauce to the mix. Potatoes and peppers were next followed by a variety of spices.

This dish can be an entree or a side dish. It is perfect with any fish or meat…. but we are sticking to vegetarian options this week… another one to follow tomorrow.
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Here is another yummy, healthy chicken dish. This particular one  has Latin flavors. I started with marinating the chicken- I do think it is the key to amazing flavor every time. I marinated the chicken in orange juice, lime juice, agave, smoked paprika and garlic. I later made a sauce out of the left over marinade- always a good idea! To thicken the sauce, I dredged the chicken pieces in a bit of flavor before cooking. The dish came together in no time at all and it was delicious.

I served the healthy chicken breasts with citrus broccoli and some sweet potato oven fries.
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Nothing like a delicious chicken curry to start off the New Year. Chicken curry invokes great childhood memories of yummy meals my Mom made. A balanced Indian meal includes some protein, vegetables and some healthy whole grains. In this case I made the chicken, lentils with spinach. I also made a quick tomato salad. I also made fresh whole wheat rotis. It was a delicious, balanced meal. How did I make the curry, you ask? Well, it was quite easy.It helps if you can marinate the chicken in advance- it gives the dish amazing flavor.

The curry part of the dish was simple- made with onions, tomatoes and chicken broth. I also added some spices like cardamom and cloves.

The dish was delicious and very easy to make- and healthy!
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