Roasted Cauliflower-White Bean Spread with Lemon Zest

If you have a food processor or blender, you have everything you need to make probably 1/2 the recipes I ever attempt. Here is a new one I tried because I had a head of cauliflower sitting in my fridge that I really needed to use before it started looking a little strange. I am not a big fan of the vegetable when it's raw, but roasting it makes all the difference. This spread is great on melba toast, crackers, or a baguette. And SO healthy!!

Roasted Caluflower-White Bean Spread with Lemon Zest

Ingredients:

Before pureeing

For the roasted cauliflower:

-2 cups cauliflower florets

-1 tablespoon olive oil

-1 teaspoon salt

-1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper

-1/2 teaspoon paprika

-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

-1 teaspoon parsley

For the rest:
-1 can of white beans, drained and rinsed

-1 medium garlic clove

-2 tablespoons tahini

-1 tablespoon olive oil

-4 teaspoons lemon zest

-3 teaspoons lemon juice

-2 teaspoons fresh thyme

-salt and pepper

Method:

Heat oven to 400F. Combine cauliflower florets with oil and spices in a bowl and mix with your hands til coated, then spread out evenly onto a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until a bit browned.

Meanwhile, put garlic clove into food processor to chop it up a bit. Then add all other ingredients into your food processor. Add in the florets and process until very well combined. Taste to see if it needs more salt, zest, or lemon juice and season to taste.

Don't all those ingredients look delicious?!

Sesame-Ginger Spinach Rice Bowl

Another easy meal-in-a-bowl which took almost no time at all and holds up so well as leftovers! I am really into these "throw it all in and mix" type meals because they have everything you need nutritionally and taste fantastic.

Sesame-Ginger Spinach Rice Bowl

Ingredients:
-6 cups baby spinach
-1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
-1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
-1/2 package of smoked tofu, cubed (optional)
-1/2 a large cucumber, diced with skin on
-2-3 large scallions, sliced
-1 avocado, diced
-handful mushrooms, sliced
-2 tsp black (or regular) sesame seeds (optional)

Dressing:
-2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp ginger powder
-1 tbsp. sake
-1 1/2 tbsp. rice vinegar
-1 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
-1-3 tsp. Sriracha or sambal olek chili (optional, to taste)

Method:
Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, put spinach, beans, tofu, cucumber, scallions, avocado and mushrooms in a large bowl.

Put all dressing ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake until emulsified. When the rice is ready, add into the large bowl, pour dressing all over and stir to combine. Serve and top with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

Meal in a Bowl: Easiest "Salad" Ever

There are literally NO STORES open in most German cities on Sundays, except some gas stations. So when you (i.e. me) forget to plan what you are eating on Sunday in advance, you (i.e. me) are SOL. I happened to have some random ingredients around and ended up throwing this "salad" together and it was amazing. I will definitely make it again.

Baby Spinach-Quinoa Bowl
(Yields about 4 large servings)

Ingredients:
-1 cup uncooked quinoa
-6 cups baby spinach
-1/2 white onion, chopped
-handful of mushrooms, sliced
-2 tsp. lemon zest
-smoked tofu, cubed (I used 1/2 a package)

Dressing:
-6 tbsp. olive oil
-2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
-2 tsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. cumin
-1 clove garlic (mashed into a paste, or finely chopped)

Method:
First boil 2 cups of water and then add quinoa, lower heat, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Throw chopped onion, spinach, mushrooms, and tofu into a very large bowl.

Put all dressing ingredients into a jar and shake til emulsified. Then pour the dressing over the spinach salad.

When the quinoa is done, make sure it has fully absorbed the water and fluff with the lemon zest. The steam coming off of it now should smell heavenly. Fold the quinoa into the spinach salad and mix completely. Now everything should have a very light coat of the garlic-lemon dressing.

Serve with fresh pepper and a breadstick!