Chickpea "Tuna"

Chickpea “Tuna”

Serves: 2

Time: 5 min.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of chickpeas

• 1 Tbs. mayo

• 1 tsp. lemon juice

• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Mash up the chickpeas with a fork. Add the mayo, lemon, juice, salt and pepper and mix it all together. I also love adding chopped apples and celery, as well as chopped fresh herbs (basil, dill, or parsley). You can put it on a sandwich, a wrap, or on a salad!

Quick Lentil Curry

It’s warm, flavorful, and just the right amount of spicy (coming from someone who doesn’t handle spice very well). This recipe can be served with brown rice, quinoa, or with naan. I also added a spoonful of plain whole milk Greek yogurt to balance out the rich flavor of the curry. I hope you enjoy this quick, healthy, and budget-friendly meal!

Quick Lentil Curry

Serves: 4

Time: 15 min.

Ingredients:

• 1 onion (.50)

• 2 cloves garlic (.15)

• 1.5 Tbs. curry powder (.50)

• 1 can tomato paste (.50)

• 1 can full fat coconut milk (2.99)

• 1 cup cooked lentils (you can buy pre-cooked from TJ’s) (.69)

• 2 cups spinach (1.00)

• 1/2 lime, juiced (.50)

• 1/2 tsp. salt (.05)

Instructions:

1. If the lentils aren’t already cooked, begin by boiling 3 cups water or broth. Once boiling, add the lentils, then cover and simmer until tender (about 15 minutes).

2. Wash the onion and chop into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Heat 1 Tbs. oil in a cast iron pan over medium-low heat.

3. Sauté the onion until translucent, then add the minced garlic. After another 5 minutes, add the tomato paste and curry powder. Stir until evenly distributed.

4. Add the coconut milk, cooked lentils, spinach, lime juice, and salt. Let everything simmer for 5-10 minutes.

5. Serve with rice, quinoa, or naan. Garnish with chopped parsley and plain yogurt.

Chickpea Brown Rice Burgers

I love how versatile veggie burgers are. You can eat them on a bun, on a piece of toast, on salad, or just plain. They also taste delicious with a wide array of toppings, such as avocado, sauces, tomatoes, etc. This particular veggie burger recipe has a simply, earthy flavor. They freeze really well, and make a super quick and easy meal. You can basically eat them with anything you have in your fridge at the moment! 

Ingredients:

• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 c. pre-cooked brown rice or quinoa (you can cook your own, but I bought a pre-cooked package from the store to save time).
• 1 small onion
• 1 c. mushrooms
• 3/4 c. walnuts or pecans
• 4-6 cloves minced garlic (or 1/2-3/4 tsp. garlic powder)
• 1 Tbsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. dill (sub with turmeric or coriander for another flavor variation)
• 1 Tbsp. tahini sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 tsp. each)

Directions:

1.  Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until well combined. If you don't have a food processor, finely chop all of the ingredients and mash with a potato masher or fork.
2. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until browned and slightly crispy. 

COconut cashew energy balls

Do you ever find yourself craving something sweet during the day? I think the answer for most people is YES. Unfortunately, a lot of us, including me, have a definite sweet tooth. The only problem is that our bodies really don't need sugar (especially processed sugar), and would be much better off without it. I am a firm believer in eating sweet things in moderation, but it's so easy to want sugar more than we should probably be eating it. As a way to curb some of my sugar cravings, I came up with these coconut cashew energy balls. They have a way of feeling sweet and satisfying, without really containing much sugar at all. Also, they are full of healthy fats to keep you satisfied for a long time. I added a little bit of maple syrup for flavor and slight sweetness, but they could do just as well without it. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1 cup toasted coconut flakes, or shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• 2 Tbs. coconut oil
• 1 Tbs. maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor, and blend until well combined.
2. Roll into bite size balls and place in the fridge.