Tag: easy sides
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Orange Cream & Cranberries
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Transfer the sprouts on to a lined baking sheet. Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle salt. Mix well and roast for about 20 minutes till soft and golden brown.
- ¼ cup cream
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Zest of one orange
- Salt
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
Heat a wide frying pan with the oil. Add the garlic and orange zest. Saute on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cream and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the Brussels sprouts and cranberries and mix well. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt to taste and serve.
Sauteed Zucchini with Mustard Seeds and Curry Leaves
- 3 medium zucchini, cut into ½ inch slices
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 10-12 curry leaves
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
- Salt
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Juice of half a lemon
In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Saute for 30 seconds on medium high heat or till the seeds begin to sizzle. Add the zucchini slices and sauté on high heat 5-6 minutes, till the slices begin to brown. Add the salt, coriander powder and cayenne pepper. Mix well and turn the heat off. Add the lemon juice and check for seasonings before serving.
Lime and Cilantro Rice
I made chicken quesadillas served with peach salsa and this delicious lime and cilantro rice. I love Mexican and Latin food. I love the bold flavors of this very vibrant cuisine. It reminds me of Indian food which is the cuisine I grew up with. I have always been attracted to strong flavors and love Thai, Indian, Mexican, Spanish.. I guess so far I have yet to meet a cuisine I haven’t liked.
I like eating salads and tacos at Qdobas. It is one of the few chains that actually has healthy and decent food. I am able to go on their website to inquire about calories and nutrition. They serve a cilantro rice with their burritos that is very delicious.
While making the quesadillas, I thought about making some rice and I immediately thought of the rice they serve at Qdobas. I started with jasmine rice and used a mixture of chicken broth and the juice and zest of a lime…. which is the key flavor to this delicious rice dish. I finished it with chopped cilantro. It complemented the quesadillas really well and completed the meal in a delicious way.
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Zucchini and Squash Saute
This is a great summer side dish. Perfect with the burgers or any other grilled protein. I come up with these concoctions after I have gone crazy at the farmers market.
In this case, I purchased a lot of gorgeous looking zucchini and yellow squash. After thinking about it for a while, I came up with this quick and delicious dish.
I wanted to use very few ingredients and not lose the fresh squash taste. I sliced an onion and grated some ginger- somehow I wasn’t in the mood for garlic. I wanted the taste to be clean and simple and so that is all I did. I sauteed everything lightly and finished the dish off with some lemon juice- it tends to wake up all the flavors in a dish.
This concoction will be perfect with pasta as well. Add some al dente penne and you have a complete meal. You could add some fresh herbs to make it even yummier- either way, you can’t go wrong with this simple dish…
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Rice with Cilantro and Dill
Although I didn’t serve this rice with the fish tacos and bean salad, I think it would go really well with that meal.
This dish is probably the simplest to make and has tons of flavor. The two main ingredients are fresh cilantro and dill.
I always have a huge bunch of cilantro in my fridge. When you bring a bunch home, the key is to wash the cilantro and spread it on your countertop over a thick towel. Let it dry completely- then roll it up in some paper towels and store in a zip lock bag. It keeps in my crisper for a long time and is ready whenever I need it- which is almost everyday.
I have started keeping dill in my fridge as well- I love it’s earthy flavor in rice dishes, curries and especially paired with fish or shrimp. In fact, this summer I am growing some in my backyard. I can’t wait to pick some and add it to a fresh salad- yum!
Anyway, back to the rice dish. You simply make your rice – I like to cook mine in chicken broth to give it an extra boost of flavor. Once the rice is almost done, add some frozen peas on top and place the lid back on. The peas will thaw and soften and won’t over cook. Once the rice is room temperature, add the cilantro and dill- that is it. It is super simple, but the flavor is unbelievable.
Try it with a grilled meal outside- it will go perfectly well with some grilled chicken!
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