Herby Rice Salad

 
Recipe from Julia Maiten
Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen
Makes 1-2 servings

This is just the perfect salad in that it can be made in advance, it’s great for meal prep day, it can use up left over grains and veggies, and it can be taken on a picnic, a pitch-in or in a lunchbox for work or school.  It’s full of good-for-you ingredients too.  To top it all off, this salad is absolutely delish!

Toasted Coriander Dressing:
½ teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted in a dry pan
Juice from ½ lemon
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1-2 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (You can cut back on the fat by substituting aquafaba for half of the olive oil.)
1 clove of garlic, finely minced or grated
good amount of salt & pepper

Salad:
Cooked brown rice, cooled (I used a brown rice-wild rice mix.)
Crispy chickpeas (I didn’t have these, so I substituted steamed & blanched fresh peas.)
3-4 radishes, thinly sliced
½ red onion, thinly sliced (I used Sumac Onion Salad instead of the plain red onion.)
Fresh mint, finely chopped
Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Fresh dill, finely chopped
Small handful toasted seeds or nuts (I used pistachios.)

Optional:  I added veggies that I had left over (blanched broccoli, cauliflower and ½ bell pepper.)

Method: 
Grind the coriander in a mortar & pestle or in a spice grinder until fine. Add to a small bowl with the other dressing ingredients and mix until combined. 
Add the salad ingredients to a large bowl and mix with the dressing. 

Bean and Zucchini Salad with Fresh Mint and Toasted Pecans (vegan/vegetarian)

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart Living Everyday Food 
Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen
Serves 4

This is one of my absolute favorite salads and I’m ashamed to admit that when it’s on the table I really don’t wish to share it with anybody.  It is fabulous and it takes less than 20 minutes to make!  The combination of flavors (especially the lemon and mint) and textures (the creamy beans and the crunchy pecans) will make your mouth tingle. 

1/8 cup olive oil
1/8 cup fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1¼ pounds zucchini, thinly sliced (about 2 medium)
1 can (about 2 cups beans) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
½ red onion, sliced very 
1 large bunch fresh baby spinach or kale leaves, rinsed well and spun dry
¾ cup pecans, toasted and chopped
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (use vegan Parmesan cheese to make this vegan)
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, the lemon juice, salt and pepper.  Add the zucchini slices, onion, and beans and toss to coat.  Allow them to marinate while you prepare the rest of the salad.
Place the pecans in a dry skillet.  On medium heat, stir the pecans around until they become toasty and fragrant. Remove the pecans to a cutting board and coarsely chop.
Add the greens, the Parmesan and the mint to the zucchini/bean mixture.  Toss well and then top with the toasted pecans.  Serve.

Greek Salad with Oil-Free Greek Dressing and Feta (vegan)

Author: Brand New Vegan
Adapted and Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen 
Serves 4-6

Instead of discarding the water (aquafaba) from the chickpea can, save it and use it to make the dressing for the salad.  The dressing goes perfectly well with this Greek style salad.  I added a heaping tablespoon of hummus to the dressing to give it a bit more body.  The salad ingredients are pretty typical for a Greek salad, but I think adding some bow tie pasta would be an especially nice addition.  Make this for your next work day lunch or a picnic.

Dressing:
⅓ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup aquafaba (garbanzo bean water/juice)
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 heaping Tablespoon hummus
¾ teaspoon dried basil
¾ teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon chopped kalamata olives 

Salad:
2 English cucumbers, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
15 oz can drained chickpeas, saving the liquid (aquafaba)
Handful fresh spinach
¼ cup kalamata olives, sliced 
¼ cup crumbled vegan feta

Drain the water/juice (aquafaba) from a can of Garbanzo Beans and save (we'll need ¼ cup for the dressing).  Save the beans too and we'll add those to the salad. 
Mix all Dressing Ingredients together.  Whisk or shake until thoroughly mixed and set aside. 
Chop cucumbers and bell pepper into bite-sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl.  Thinly slice the onion, and cut the cherry tomatoes in half and mix into the salad.  Add the chickpeas, spinach, and the dressing and toss to coat.  
Add as little or as much feta as desired and garnish with sliced Kalamata Olives, fresh Basil and/or Parsley. 

Notes:
Artichoke hearts, couscous, or bow tie pasta would make nice additions to this salad.
Reviewers added pepperoncini and sliced beets with good results.
One reviewer substituted capers for the olives in the dressing.

Nutritional Information: (1 of 6 servings) 140 calories; 4 g fat; 35 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 512 g sodium; 5 g sugars; 6 mg cholesterol; 6 g fiber; 51 mg vitamin C; 112 mg calcium

Spring Couscous Salad (vegan)

Recipe from Yasmeen Ali 

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen
Yield: 2-3 servings 

Now this is what I call a beautiful spring salad! It is loaded with bold, fresh flavors of mint, parsley, arugula and onions.  I love the crunch of the pistachios and garlicky “marinade” that is tossed in just before serving.  Because I keep Sumac Onion Salad in the fridge on a regular basis, I used that instead of the red onion/lemon mixture listed in the recipe. Both have the same lemony flavor, so either will work.  I’m sure any greens will be dandy in this salad as well as any nuts or seeds.  Za’atar and sumac are spices that can be found in most supermarkets or specialty stores.

Red Onions (I used Sumac Onion Salad in place of this.) 
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon kosher salt 

Couscous & Greens
1 cup fresh English peas (frozen, thawed peas will also work)
1 cup pearl couscous (plus 1½ cups water and 1 teaspoon kosher salt)
1 cup arugula, roughly chopped
½ cup firmly packed parsley, finely minced
½ cup firmly packed mint, finely minced
½ cup roasted pistachios, roughly chopped 

Marinade
4 Tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 
2 teaspoon za’atar* 
½ teaspoon ground cumin 
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 
Sumac for serving, if desired

Instructions
Start off by blanching* the peas in boiling water. Drain the peas and set aside, and then cook the couscous in the same pot you used for the peas. 
Cook the couscous. Pour the couscous and 1½ cups water into the pot, along with 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to boil on high heat, then reduce to low, partially cover the pot, and let simmer for 8-10 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Cover the pot and let it sit off the heat for 5 minutes. Then fluff with a fork and toss with 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil to prevent the couscous from sticking.
Prep the onions. To a bowl, add in the onions, lemon juice, zest, and salt. Toss together and set aside. 
While the couscous cooks, prep the herbs, arugula, and pistachios. Once the couscous is done, add it to the bowl of onions, along with the arugula, herbs, and pistachios. 
Make the marinade. Rinse and pat dry the pot you used for the couscous and add in the garlic and olive oil (I like to use the same pot to save on dishes). Gently fry the garlic over medium heat until it just starts to brown. Remove from the heat and stir in the zaatar, cumin and kosher salt.
Toss and serve. Pour the marinade over the salad and toss to combine. Season to taste with sumac and kosher salt, if desired.

Notes
*If you can’t find za’atar, mix together 1 tsp each sumac, sesame seeds, dried oregano, dried thyme, cumin, coriander, and 1/4 tsp kosher salt.
*To blanch to the peas, place them in boiling water for 1½ minutes.  Drain and rinse with ice cold water. 
 

Oven Roasted Vegetables (vegan)

Here we have Oven Roasted Vegetables served along with
15-Minute Quick & Easy Vegan Mac & Cheese. 

Recipe from Well Plated 
Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen
Servings: 6 servings
  
You’ll certainly get your rainbow of vegetable colors in when you serve this tasty side dish.  You can make the dressing in advance and on prep day, you can cut all the veggies and store them in the fridge.  (The sweet potatoes should be stored in water, covered to keep them from discoloring.  Just drain, rinse and pat dry before adding them to the mix.)

2 medium bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces (I recommend red, yellow, or orange)
2 medium zucchini, ends trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 small sweet potato, scrubbed and cut into 3/4-inch pieces (You can peel them or not.)
1 small red onion, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 small head of broccoli, cut into florets or swap cauliflower or 8 ounces trimmed Brussels sprouts

3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard  
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning   
1 teaspoon kosher salt  
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

3 Tablespoons Homemade Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven (if using two sheets) or the center of the oven (if using one). Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Generously coat two large, rimmed baking sheets with non-stick spray or use parchment paper.
Place the vegetables in a great big bowl (or you can toss them right on the two baking sheets, dividing the ingredients between each). 
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, mustard, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and pepper.  Pour the mixture over the vegetables and toss well to coat. (Pay special attention to the broccoli florets and make sure they get an adequate amount of oil, as they are more prone to burning.)
Divide the vegetables evenly between the two sheets, spreading them into a single layer. (You want them to roast and not steam, so make sure they’re in a single layer.)
Roast the vegetables at 400 F for 25 to 35 minutes (or if you have the convection option, do a convection bake at 375 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes). Toss the vegetables, rotate the pans 180 degrees, and switch the pans' positions on the upper and lower racks halfway through. The vegetables should be turning brown and crispy at their edges and tender inside (the cooking time may vary based on your oven). 
Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Enjoy hot or at room temperature, with additional salt and pepper to taste.
 
Nutrition (1of 6 servings) Calories: 164kcal; Carbohydrates: 21g; Protein: 5g; Fat: 8g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 5g; Potassium: 743mg; Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 8g; Vitamin A: 6736IU; Vitamin C: 156mg; Calcium: 90mg; Iron: 2mg


 

Fingerling Potato & Lentil Salad (vegan & gluten-free)

Recipe from This Savory Vegan
Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen
Makes 5 servings

This Fingerling Potato & Lentil Salad is a beautiful salad, good enough for company.
 
For the Potatoes
1 pound fingerling potatoes (The colorful ones are especially nice.)
2 Tablespoons olive oil (To cut back on fat, lightly spray olive oil over the potatoes.)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the potatoes to a stock pot and cover with water. Place on the stove and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook for 5 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let them cool for a couple minutes.
Cut any of the larger potatoes in half lengthwise - leave the smaller ones intact. Place them on the prepared baking sheet with the oil and dry seasonings. Toss to coat and place in the oven for 25 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.

For the Dressing (This was the dressing in the original recipe.  I didn’t wish to use so much oil, so I used Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Dressing to lightly dress the salad.  I don’t know why you couldn’t use your favorite dressing in this salad.)
½ cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1-3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar to taste
2 cloves garlic minced
2 Tablespoons chives finely chopped
1 lemon, juiced
¼ teaspoon pepper

While the potatoes are cooking, add all of the dressing ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine - it might taste extra tart, but try to avoid adjusting the flavors, once tossed with everything as they will mellow out.

For the Salad
2 cups fresh kale, stems removed and chopped (I used baby kale as it’s more tender.  You could use any of your favorite greens for this salad.)
2½ cups cooked lentils, chilled (I like to use French lentils for salad recipes.)
½ red onion thinly sliced (I used Sumac Onion Salad for an even better flavor pop!)
2 small avocados, sliced
Fresh chives, sliced, for serving

Add the lentils, kale and dressing to a large bowl and toss to combine. Place in the fridge until the potatoes are ready.
Add the potatoes, red onion & avocado to the kale/lentils and gently toss. Taste and adjust the dressing as needed - you can add more lemon juice, olive oil, salt or pepper. Plate the salad and top with more chives.

Nutritional Information: (1 of 5 servings) Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 34g

Pulled Jackfruit (Vegan)

Pulled Jackfruit stacked on corn tortillas, with vegan yogurt;
purple cabbage slaw; cherry tomatoes; avocados
served along side sweet corn and grapes.

Recipe from LazyCatKitchen

Husband-Tested in Alice's Kitchen

Makes 8-10 servings

This dinner made the husband VERY happy.  I loved it too.  It is not something to serve on a first date unless you plan to hose each other down afterwards.  Anyway, this tastes fabulous. It is so interesting to me that when prepared like this, jackfruit tastes amazingly like a pulled pork.  But no little piggy was harmed in the making of this dish. 

The thing is, this jackfruit recipe can be and should be prepared the day before you plan to serve to get optimal flavor.  The recipe below is for the jackfruit portion with suggestions about what to serve it with.  Be sure to purchase jackfruit in brine and not syrup.  I buy cans of jackfruit in brine at Trader Joe's.  

4 Tablespoons olive oil

1 medium red onion, finely diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 heaping teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 pinch ground cinnamon

2-3 pinches ground cloves

1 teaspoon sambal oelek (This is Indonesian chili paste that we think tastes amazing.  It can be found in the Asian section of a supermarket.  It comes in a jar.  It keeps for a long time in the fridge once open. You can substitute chili powder, if need be.)

2 Tablespoons tomato paste

2 (20 ounce) cans jackfruit in brine

4 Tablespoons soy sauce

3 Tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper

2 teaspoons liquid smoke

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

For the best flavor, prepare this a day in advance.  Drain and rinse the jackfruit.  (The jackfruit pieces will be triangular in shape.  The pointy part of the triangle is part of the core, perfectly edible.  You can mince this if you wish, but I don't bother.  I just pull the triangles apart into shreds.  The jackfruit will become quite tender like pulled pork once it's cooked. There are also little round seed-like pieces as well.  We eat them too.)  Shred the jackfruit pieces after rinsing in water.  Set aside.  

Heat the olive oil in a medium, heavy bottomed pan.  Saute the onion until softened and lightly caramelized.  Add the garlic and saute until fragrant. Add the cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, cinnamon, cloves to the onion mixture.  Saute for a minute or so.  Mix in the tomato and chili paste.  Now add the prepared jackfruit along with the soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and apple cider vinegar.  Stir well.  Season with the pepper.  Simmer the mixture gently for another 10-15 minutes.  (If it gets too dry, you can add a couple of tablespoons of water.)  Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.  Place the jackfruit mixture in the fridge overnight.

Just before you are ready to assemble the tacos/sandwiches, preheat the oven to 390F.  Spread the jackfruit mixture on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a little browned.  

Serving suggestions:  Corn tortillas or whole-wheat flour tortillas or whole-grain hamburger buns; vegan or dairy yogurt or sour cream; purple cabbage slaw* (directions below); tomatoes; avocado chunks; Quick Pickled Red Onions; salsa; lettuces; lime wedges; cilantro; Homemade Guacamole

*Purple Cabbage Slaw:  Shred some purple cabbage into a large bowl.  Squeeze the juice of one lime over the cabbage.  Sprinkle with salt, to taste.  Massage the cabbage for about 1 minute.  It will become more limp and tender.  Add some minced cilantro, if you wish.  Set this aside or chill in the fridge until ready to serve on the tacos.

Quick Pickled Red Onions

Here we have Slow Cooker Seasoned Black Beans; 

Kale & Red Cabbage Slaw; 

Roasted Potatoes & Carrots with Spicy Paprika Rub

Recipe from Good Eatings

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

1 (2-cup) Mason jar*

Just taking a few minutes to make a jar of delicious pickled onions (plus some hangout time in the fridge) will take your next humble salads or sandwiches to a whole other level. The eye-popping color will add a little zing to your plate too.

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 teaspoons maple syrup or agave nectar

½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

3-4 medium onions, sliced and separated into rings

Place the ingredients except the onions into a jar* and stir to dissolve the salt and to infuse the flavors.  Then add the onion rings, as much as will fit into the jar, pressing down to submerge the onions into the vinegar mixture.  Seal the jar with a tight fitting lid.  Shake the jar vigorously.  Refrigerate and enjoy the next day and for several weeks ahead.  Use the leftover vinegar for dressings and other sauces.

*Note:  I started out with two large onions, and ended up having to make up two jars, which was a good thing ;-)

Chickpea Sunflower Sandwich Filling (with Garlic Herb Sauce)

Recipe from Minimalist Baker

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

Makes 3-4 sandwiches

This prep-ahead filling makes a very substantial meatless sandwich.  It’s mildly sweet which goes nicely with the garlicky herb sauce for healthful lunch perfection.  My husband and I LOVED this!

Sandwich Filling

1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

¼ cup roasted unsalted sunflower seeds

3 Tablespoons vegan mayo (tahini may be used as a substitute for a more earthy, nutty flavor)

½ teaspoon Dijon or spicy mustard (If using tahini instead of mayo, use half as much mustard.)

1 Tablespoon maple syrup (or substitute agave syrup or honey, if not vegan)

¼ cup chopped red onion

2 Tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped or 1 Tablespoon dried dill

Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Garlic Herb Sauce

¼ cup hummus

½ medium lemon, juiced, about 1 Tablespoon

¾-1 teaspoon dried dill (2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Water or unsweetened almond milk (to thin)

Sea salt to taste, optional

Sandwich Addition Options

Whole Grain Toast or Bread

Whole-Grain Tortilla

Sliced Tomato

Avocado Slices

Lettuces or Spinach

Onion Slices

Prepare the Garlic Herb Sauce, by mixing the ingredients well, and set aside.

Add the chickpeas to a mixing bowl and lightly mash with a fork for texture.  Then add the sunflower seeds, mayo, mustard, maple syrup, red onion, dill, salt and pepper and mix with a spoon.  Taste and adjust the seasonings. Use right away or store in an airtight container for a few days.

To make a sandwich, toast some bread.  Spread some of the Garlic Herb Sauce on the toast.  Add lettuce, tomato, avocado and/or onion.  Spoon on some of the Chickpea Sunflower Filling.  Top with another piece of toast.  Serve.

Nutritional Info (1 of 3 servings without bread) 311 calories; 16 grams fat (1.7 grams saturated fat); 107 mg sodium; 26 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams fiber; 7.3 grams sugars; 11.5 grams protein