Moroccan Roasted Vegetables With Toasted Sesame & Herbed Couscous Pilaf

It's a quiet time to reflect on God and spirituality. We stand still, exhaling into splendid solitude. I don't typically shout about religion from the rooftops like I do my cross stitch patterns or recipes. Vanity, my potty-mouth and an unparalleled addiction to red lipstick have followed me to operating rooms and they'll chase me to my grave. In my spiritual life, I've chosen a single path: a Good Guidebook. 

Moroccan Sweet Potato Bisque

Vibrant, soul-satisfying sweet potato soups are a favorite of mine. This one has the luscious texture of a bisque, but none of the cream. You're free to add some heavy cream or coconut cream if you'd like. But you won't miss it. I promise. I adore this soup! I hope you'll give it a go.

Two common spices, cinnamon and cumin, infuse this recipe with Moroccan flavors. Fresh ginger brings a bit of heat. It's relatively easy to prepare too. Everything is chopped and dropped into a pot to simmer. The soup can even be made ahead of time.

Ethiopian Style Chickpea Stew

It's cold, dark and rainy outside, but my kitchen is filled cozy aromas. A comforting Ethiopian stew is simmering on the stove. Assertive spices infuse this recipe with fall flavor. Roasted chickpeas, creamy potatoes and caramelized onions make it so delicious and satisfying.

Easy Indian Chicken Curry

A simple chicken curry with creamy coconut milk and perky ginger is what's for dinner tonight. Coconut milk is a rich source of antioxidants and certain minerals, including iron and potassium. Vitamins C, E and many B vitamins are abundant in coconut milk too. This a light curry in that it doesn't contain lots of butter or cream. You'll feel energized after you've enjoyed a bowl of it.   

Chicken curry can be on your table in no time. A potato gives it substance. It's mild and mellow with great flavor. Even if you've never made Indian food, you can prepare this delicious dish without much effort.  If you've got fresh mint growing in your garden, sprinkle some on top. A squeeze of fresh lime juice is a must!  If you're serving guests who like a little more heat, you can offer them some thinly sliced chilis or sriracha sauce. Get your curry on!  

Three Indian Inspired Chutneys

I've got three Indian-inspired chutneys for you. Bright and summery...the bomb diggity spooned over salmon. Serve them with chicken or your favorite protein. Think of them as chopped salads or salsas to enjoy with warm chapati, tortilla chips or pita bread. Toss some beans into them for a light vegan meal. The mango chutney is spiked with creamy coconut milk.

A welcome addition to Indian meals as well as backyard bbq's, each one has its own character. They all share the warmth of sesame and the heat of chili in common. Cool and crunchy, the chutneys are a nice choice during the warm weather months.

Easy Indian Chickpea And Spinach Curry

I used to work every evening as a counselor/administrative assistant in a crisis center. Stress eating was the norm there. On busy nights, the staff (myself included) subsisted on vending-machine snacks, greasy pizza and take-out Chinese. We all wondered why our waistlines were ever expanding? Why we felt tired? Why we were never satisfied by what we ate?

Summer Squash With Thai Coconut-Chil Sauce

Fresh, light, easy and tasty....this is summer eating at its best. Quickly roasted to bring out the sweet flavors, a generous platter of patty pan squash and zucchini is served with a cool and creamy coconut sauce. The Thai-inspired sauce is spiked with chili, lime, ginger and basil. Enjoy this lovely dish over rice for a light lunch or dinner. Serve it alongside fish or chicken. The sauce alone is great on almost anything.

Sesame-Sriracha Turkey Meabtalls

I enjoy cooking all kinds of juicy, light and flavorful turkey meatballs. They're easy, healthy and tasty. Everyone loves them. This recipe weaves some favorite Southeast Asian flavors into a quick and satisfying meal. Thai basil (or regular basil), sesame seeds, soy sauce and ginger show up here. A drizzle of sriracha and a squeeze of lime juice finishes the meatballs off with citrus-tang and chili-heat. I serve them with my Chopped Salad and steamed Jasmine rice.

Lemon Roasted Asparagus

This is a healthy, light, easy and fresh asparagus recipe. Roasted spears are quickly tossed with perky ginger and tangy lemon juice. A red chili pepper finishes things off with heat and more flavor. If you're in the mood, a sprinkle of sesame seeds adds warmth and crunch. This dish is wonderful in warm weather and springtime. It's good hot, cold or at room temperature.

Thai Red Curry Lentils

Eight reasons to love Thai vegetable and bean curries:

1. They're easy to prepare
2. They're economical
3. They're healthy, clean and completely delicious
4. They're fun, punchy and fresh
5. They're creamy and satisfying
6. They're protein packed, especially when served with rice
7. They reheat well for workweek meals
8. They're filled with vitamins, minerals and fiber

Thai Chickpea Curry

Do you love Thai food? I adore it. The sunny flavors of curry paste, creamy coconut milk, perky ginger and fresh lime juice are refreshing in summer and real mood-boosters in winter. This wholesome and healthy chickpea curry is bright and tasty. It comes together in about 30 minutes. Everything is simmered in one pot for easy cooking. Pair the curry with steamed rice for a complete protein. I love it with Jasmine rice. For me, using a rice cooker makes this dinner even easier to prepare. The curry reheats well for workweek meals too.

Thai Chickpea Curry Recipe

Makes About 5 Cups

Some Notes & Tips:

Find a Thai curry past that you like. I love Maesri brand. 1 1 /2 tablespoons of it in this recipe is plenty spicy for me. It's a well rounded and flavorful curry paste that comes in small cans for convenience. This is not a sponsored post. It's just my recommendation. I find it in Asian supermarkets and online. It comes in green, red and yellow.

I use a microplane zester to mince the garlic and ginger.

You can use light coconut milk, but it won't be as creamy and the sauce will be thinner.

In winter, you can substitute canned chopped tomatoes for fresh.

Ingredients

• 2 16-ounce cans of chickpeas rinsed and drained
• 1 can of full fat coconut milk
• 1-2 tablespoons of red, green or yellow Thai curry paste.  I use Maesri brand. 
• 1 medium red or white onion, chopped. I use red.
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated
• A large handful of fresh Thai basil, regular basil or mint, chopped
• Oil for cooking. I use a scant tablespoon of sunflower oil.
• Salt to taste

To Serve:
lime wedges
a splash of soy sauce, shoyu or tamari for umami flavor
steamed Jasmine rice

Instructions

Put some oil in a pot or sauce pan and saute the onions, with a pinch of salt, until soft. Add the chickpeas, coconut milk, curry paste, tomatoes, garlic and ginger. Adjust the salt to your taste. Bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, cover the pot and simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve with fresh basil and a few squeezes of lime juice.

Bon Appetit!

xx ~ Jilly  

Sesame-Lime Soba Noodles

I'm half Lebanese, so eating healthy, whole foods comes natural to me. I love cooking with seasonal vegetables and whole grains. It's not so easy curbing my sweet tooth. But that's another story for another time.

Real soba noodles are made with buckwheat flour. They're much less caloric than regular pasta. They contain important vitamins, minerals and protein. They're satisfying too. Give them a go the next time you're in the mood for pasta.

Chili Garlic Glazed Salmon

Asian flavors are made for salmon. This easy and healthy recipe comes in handy when you're wondering what to serve for dinner. It's a foolproof dish that's ready in 30 minutes from start to finish. Steam some Jasmine or sushi rice, toss some sliced cucumbers with sesame oil, a drizzle of honey and rice vinegar and you've got a tasty dinner that's special enough to serve to company.

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Coconut Cream & Sriracha

Nothing says comfort to me more than soup. I come close to slurping it 365 days a year. This luscious sweet potato soup is a gift to yourself or people you love. It's rich and velvety like a bisque. It's satisfying, but not heavy. Cinnamon and coconut lend their warm notes. Perky lime and sriracha sauce counter the sweetness of the potatoes and wake up the taste buds. It hits all the right flavors and textures: creamy, spicy, tangy, sweet.

Vietnamese Vegetable Soup with Coconut Rice

By now, you know how much I adore soup. My Vietnamese vegetable soup is a quick take on traditional slow simmering pho ga. Chicken is added for protein. Tofu or shrimp work well too. Here, a light and flavorful broth is loaded with lots of tender-crisp Asian vegetables, spicy ginger and a finish of fresh lime. Soft hints of warm spices lend an authentic taste to the soup. Earthy mushrooms and soy sauce give it an umami flavor. 

This glorious soup leaves me feeling restored and content, especially during cold and flu season. It's a deliciously nutritious meal. It's ready in under 30 minutes and you control the sodium level. As the rice cooks and the soup simmers, the kitchen fills with sunny aromas. If you're in need of a reboot, put on your PJ's, line up your favorite movies, make a big pot of Vietnamese soup and slurp your stress away.

Asian Noodle Soup

I work with a beautiful nurse who's my best friend. She's everything a friend and a nurse should be; kind, respectful and insightful. She looks 20 years younger than her actual age. Her fountain of youth springs from her youthful soul. This soup may also have something to do with it. She calls it her "Chinese Woman Soup." A wise Chinese lady told my friend that the soup keeps her healthy. I riffed on her recipe.

Fresh Pea Soup With Coconut Milk & Thai Chili

When you’re in need of warmth and brightness, turn to this soup. If you find yourself yearning to see and taste something fresh and green it will come to your rescue. 

A stop at the market to pick up some flowers, frozen green peas and a few other ingredients is an easy plan to cure the blues. This creamy soup has a beautiful mellow flavor. It’s healthy, but you’d never know it by the rich taste. A scattering of whole peas, tossed in at the end, create a bright pop in your mouth. This dish is particularly good in winter, when you need a fast-green-fix. It’s equally welcome during spring.