Green Goddess “Tuna” Salad Sandwich

This vegan lunch is so yummy!! If your not vegan just use tuna in place of the hearts of Palm.

• 1/4 c basil leaves
• 1/4 c parsley leaves
• 1/4 c tarragon leaves
• 1/4 c mayo
• 1/4 c sour cream or vegan sour cream
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 can hearts of Palm or tuna

• Celery stalk
• Shallot
• 1 clove garlic
• Salt and pepper
• Lettuce
• 4 slices whole grain bread, toasted

Purée basil, parsley, tarragon, mayo, sour cream, lemon zest, juice, and 2 tbsp oil in a blender until smooth.

In a food processor chop hearts of palm, celery, shallot in garlic until chopped finely. Toss with dressing until coated.

Top toasted bread with lettuce and heart of palm mixture.

Serves 2.

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Grilled Romanesco Salad

This salad is so good I love the combo of hot and cool and soft and crunchy.

• 3 c parsley sprigs
• 1 c basil sprigs

• 1/3 c plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin • 3 cups loosely packed parsley sprigs

• 1 cup loosely packed basil sprigs

• 1/3 olive oil

• Salt  andPepper
• 2 c 1 1/2-inch Romanesco florets
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 head of butter lettuce, leaves torn
• 1/2 c cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 medium, firm-ripe Hass avocado, diced

Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Tie the parsley and basil together with kitchen string to make a bouquet. Drizzle with
1 tbsp of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

In a medium bowl, toss the Romanesco with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the Romanesco over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until crisp-tender and charred in spots, 8 to 10 minutes; return to the bowl.

Grill the herb bouquet, turning often, until charred in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer the bouquet to a work surface, discard the string and stems and chop the charred leaves.

In a large bowl, combine the chopped herbs with the garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice. Whisk in 1/3 c of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the Romanesco, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado to the bowl and toss to coat; serve.

Serves 6.

Grilled Lamb Burgers in Pita

These were inspired by a recipe I found in Bon Appetite. The only change I would make is find a thicker pita bread or make your own. I served it with Eggplant with Yogurt Sauce.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground lamb
1 onion, very finely chopped
¾ c chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tspground cumin
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp salt
Pepper
4 thick medium pita breads, split open

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl except the pita. Mix well.

Divide into 4 patties and pita, and press to the edges. 

Grill over medium heat for 5 minutes each side. Watch for the hot spots so you don’t charge the pita too much.

Serves 4.

Shaved Fennel Salad

This is wonderful light and refreshing salad!

Ingredients:
3 tbsp lemon juice
4 small fennel bulbs, and fronds
1/2 c parsley, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
4 oz firm sheeps milk cheese, grated

Fill a 6 cup container with 1 quart of cold water and the lemon juice. Slice the fennel very thin on a mandoline and place in the water. Chill until ready to use.

Drain the fennel and toss with enough olive oil to coat and salt. Arrange on a plate, top with parsley, fennel fronds and cheese.

Serves 4 – 6.

Green Lentils with Asparagus

This is inspired by Ottelenghi! So good, so healthy, and great for lunch.

Ingredients:
1 c green lentils, cooked and drained
2 c baby spinach
2/3 c parsley
2/3 c light olive oil or walnut oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper
1 bunch of asparagus, steamed and cut into 1/4 inch segments
3 1/2 oz pecorino, grated
Lemon wedges

Combine spinach, parsley, garlic, oil and salt and pepper in a food processor. Purée and place in a large bowl. Toss with lentils and asparagus. Serve with lemon and cheese.

Serves 6.

Grilled Steak with Rice Tabbouleh

  
Another winner from Jamie Oliver’s Everyday Superfoods- love the rice! I served with roasted Brussels sporuts.

Ingredients:
3/4 c brown rice
½ a bunch mint, chopped
1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 spring onions, sliced thin
1 lemon
Olive oil
½ pomegranate, seeds only
1/4 c shelled unsalted toasted pistachios
7 oz roasted peeled red peppers, jarred
7 oz fillet steak
1/4 c feta cheese, crumbled

Cook the rice according to package, drain and put into a bowl. Stir herb, Pom seeds, onions, lemon zest and juice, 1 tbsp of oil and a pinch of black pepper. 

Heat a grill o high heat.

Drain the peppers, open them out and grill on both sides, then remove to a plate. Rub a little oil and a pinch of sea salt and pepper into the steak, then griddle for 2 to 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare, turning every minute, or until cooked to your liking. Rest the steak for a couple of minutes on top of peppers. Toss the steak and peppers in the resting juices, slice up the steak, add both to the platter and crumble over the feta. 

Serves 2. 

Chicken with Sumac and Onions

  
Another winner from Ottolenghi! This chicken dish is easy, packed with flavor and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Start the chicken in the morning and bake it when you get home.

Ingredients
2 lb chicken thighs
2 red onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp sumac
1 lemon, thinly sliced
scant 1 c chicken stock
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp za’atar
6 tbsp pine nuts toasted
4 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley, minced

In a large bowl, mix the chicken with the onions, garlic, olive oil, spices, lemon, stock, salt, and pepper. Leave in the fridge to marinate for a few hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 400. Transfer the chicken and its marinade to a baking sheet large enough to accommodate all the chicken pieces lying flat and spaced well apart. Sprinkle the za’atar over the chicken and onions and put the pan in the oven. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is colored and just cooked through.

Transfer the hot chicken and onions to a serving plate and finish with the chopped parsley, pine nuts, and a drizzle of olive oil. Sprinkle on more za’atar and sumac.

Serves 4 – 6.

Fragola and Artichoke Pilaf

  
This is from Plenty More by Ottolenghi – and just like every other recipe of his, it is perfect. It is  great weeknight meal – it took me about 40 minutes and a lot of it unattended. You can buy fregola at Amazon.

Ingredients:
9 – 10 oz canned artichokes, chopped
1 TBSP olive oil
1 onion, sliced thin
1 TBSP butter
8 oz fregola, rinsed
2 c vegetable stock
1 1/2 TBSP red wine vinegar
1/2 c kalamata olives
1/2 c sliced, toasted almonds
1/2 c parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper

Green Chile Sauce
3 green chiles, seeded
1 clove pf garlic
1 small preserved lemon, seeds removed
1 TBSP lemon juice
3 TBSP olive oil
1 c flat leaf parelsy

In a food processor, add all sauce ingredients and pulse until it forms a rough paste.

Place oil in a large sauce pan on medium high heat. Add onions and 3/4 tsp salt, cook for 10 minutes with the lid on, stirring frequently until carmelized. Add butter and stir until melts. Add the artichokes, fregola, stock and pepper, stir once. Cook over low heat for 18 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed. 

Remove from heat, let sit covered for 10 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve with a generous spoonful of child sauce.

Serves 4.

Mushroom Tortilla

  
This is from F&W by Jose Andres. It is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients:
3 TBSP olive oil
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
Salt
Pepper
3/4 lb cremini mushrooms, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 c coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
4 large eggs

In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender and golden, about 7 minutes. Stir in the 1/4 cup of parsley.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the eggs into the skillet and cook over moderate heat, gently stirring and lifting the tortilla, until the edge is set and the center is still loose, about 7 minutes.

Put a large, flat plate on top of the skillet and carefully invert the tortilla onto the plate. Slide the tortilla back into the skillet and cook until the center is set, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Slide onto a serving plate, brush with olive oil and garnish with parsley. Serve right away.

Serves 2 – 4.

Fregola with Herbs and Grilled Corn

  

This is the perfect salad for a picnic or BBQ, the herbs compliment the smoky corn perfectly.

Ingredients
1 c walnuts, toasted
1 c fregola or Israeli couscous
Salt
4 ears of corn, husked
2 TBSP plus ¼ c olive oil
Pepper
7 oz Halloumi cheese, sliced lengthwise ¾-inch thick
3 scallions, thinly sliced
½ c coarsely chopped fresh parsley
¼ c basil leaves
¼ c mint leaves
2 TBSP lemon juice
2 TBSP white wine vinegar

Cook fregola in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain (do not rinse) and spread out on a baking sheet to let cool.

Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Rub corn with 1 Tbsp. oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and let cool.

Meanwhile, brush cheese with 1 Tbsp. oil and grill, turning once, until lightly charred in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to platter with corn; let cool.

Cut kernels from cobs and place in a large bowl. Add scallions, parsley, basil, mint, walnuts, and fregola. Using your hands, tear Halloumi into bite-size pieces; add to bowl and toss to combine. Add lemon juice, vinegar, and remaining ¼ c oil. Toss to coat; season with salt, pepper, and more vinegar, if desired.

Serves 8.