Rice and side dishes Archives

Quinoa Cilantro Tabbouleh – An easy and nutritious salad

One of my favorite summer salads, quinoa cilantro tabbouleh is nutritious, simple to make and pairs easily with other ingredients as a side dish or entree. Quinoa seeds are a good source of complete protein for vegeterians, offering eight grams of low fat, cholesterol-free protein per cup. So, this salad makes a great entree. Toss with sauteed tofu, grilled shrimp, chicken breasts, smoked salmon or your favorite protein for a real treat. Quinoa cilantro tabbouleh A twist on a Mediterranean favorite, swap parsley with cilantro and cous cous with quinoa. 1 cup red quinoa (or 1/2 each of white and…

Pressure cooker quinoa rice with sausage

This pressure cooker quinoa rice with sausage recipe is inspired by the Dominican dish "locrio de longaniza" (rice with sausage). Since I love quinoa, I have been looking for ways to incorporate it into meals gradually, so it is not rejected by the rest of the family. Mixing rice with quinoa is a great way to achieve this. My daughter loves it! This dish can be made the same way in a rice cooker, using regular settings If you don't own a pressure cooker. Follow my instructions on how to cook stove top rice if you don't own either. This…

Braised eggplant

If you are an eggplant lover like me, you might have tried it fried, stir-fried, baked, and of course braised. Braised eggplant (or berenjenas guisadas) was my favorite dish growing up, as a side to black bean rice. This dish goes well with rice or quinoa, though I suspect it is also delicious with flat breads like pita or naan. In the Dominican Republic, eggplant is widely used as a meat substitute, despite its low protein content. Its meaty texture and flavor are only two of many good reasons to eat eggplant. This vegetable is packed with antioxidants, vitamins B1,…

Shrimp mofongo recipe

Shrimp mofongo is a simple and delicious dish that will add an exotic flair to your dinner. If you have friends from the Caribbean or watch Saturday Night Live, you might have heard of, or even enjoyed Mofongo lately. This easy to make dish is considered gourmet and is found in traditional Dominican restaurants in the Dominican Republic and around the world. What is Mofongo? Mofongo is made from green plantains that are fried, then mashed with garlic and other ingredients depending on the type, using a pestle and mortar. Mofongo can also be made from yucca root, but traditional…

Zucchini noodles with fish in ginger sauce

Here is a simple recipe for zucchini noodles with fish fillet in ginger sauce. Quick and healthy for lunch or dinner! Zucchini noodles are easily made using a vegetable spiralizer or a julienne peeler. Alternatively, you could slice pieces of zucchini thinly with a peeler or knife, line the slices and cut them into noodles. Now let's get cooking: Zucchini noodles with fish in ginger sauce For the noodles:3 green zucchini1 table spoon of olive oil1/2 tea spoon of sea saltFor the fish:1 1/2 lbs. of fish fillet of your choice1 teaspoon of thinly sliced ginger2 large cloves of garlic…

Cold noodle salad

This Asian-inspired cold noodle salad includes cellophane mung bean noodles, minced cucumbers and your choice of additional vegetables, with a traditional Chinese dressing. Turn this salad into an entrée by adding shrimp, shredded meat or tofu. Perfect dish for a warm day or evening. Cellophane or glass noodles are transparent noodles made from mung bean, cassava root, yam or potato starch. This recipe uses mung bean noodles. They are gluten-free, paleo-approved and absorb the flavor of the sauce you serve them with. They are ready in a minute and can be added to a variety of dishes, including soups, stir…

Rice with red quinoa rice cooker recipe

Rice with red quinoa is a delicious side dish that is a breeze to make in a rice cooker. If you do not own one, see my post on how to make stove top rice. Most of us are familiar with the nutritional properties of quinoa (gluten-free, high fiber, high protein, low glycemic index, etc.) Quinoa is in short, a supergrain. However, when it comes to texture and flavor, it can be an acquired taste, particularly for children and adults with timid palates. A great way to introduce quinoa in your diet is by mixing it with rice (white or…

Chinese green onion pancakes: perfect meal companion

Chinese green onion pancakes make a great companion to saucy and spicy meals, they work as appetizers or can be served with cold meats for a full meal. Everyone in my family loves green onion pancakes. I suspect they could be healthier if made with whole wheat flour (or you could experiment with adding flax seed meal or using gluten-free flour), but since we don't have these every day, I wouldn't want to compromise the flavor everyone has come to love. These are simple to make and can be frozen for long storage, as they reheat very well. Watch my…