Rachel Allen’s Smoked Mackerel, Apple and Fennel Salad

rachel-rocket-recipes_2

 

Rachel’s warm winter green salad with Caesar dressing, smoked bacon and a poached egg #ballymaloe 🥰🇮🇪

 

Chrissy Teigen’s Roasted Butternut Squash & Pomegranate with Garlicky Honey-Dijon Dressing

 

 

Serves 4 – 6

Ingredients, Squash

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups ½-inch cubes peeled butternut squash (1½ pounds; from a 2¼-pound whole squash, if that’s where you’re starting from)

1½ teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste

Ingredients, Dressing

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 clove garlic, grated or smashed into a paste

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

Ingredients, Salad

5 cups baby arugula

½ cup pomegranate seeds* (see Tip)

¼ cup pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted

½ small red onion, thinly sliced

½ cup crumbled goat cheese (4 ounces)

Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Roast the squash. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and pour 2 tablespoons of the oil on the lined sheet. Place the oiled sheet in the oven (yep, nothing on it) and heat until very hot but not smoking, about 8 minutes.

In a large bowl, toss the squash with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the salt, pepper, and cayenne until coated. Using an oven mitt, remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and quickly pour the squash onto the sheet (you should hear some sizzling); take a few extra seconds to make sure the flat sides of the squash are hitting that hot oiled pan. Roast until the undersides are golden, about 15 minutes. Remove the squash from the oven, shake the pan (or flip the squash with tongs if you’re down with OCD, yeah you know me), return to the oven, and roast until the new underside is golden brown,10 to 15 minutes. Let cool to room temp or just warm (so it doesn’t murder the greens when you drop them on).

Make the dressing. In a screw-top jar, shake the vinegar, mustard, honey, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil until it’s creamy. (If it separates, just shake it again.)

Makes the salad. Arrange the arugula on a platter. Top with the roasted squash, pomegranate seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Scatter the onion and goat cheese on top. Drizzle with the dressing to taste and sprinkle with pepper.

*Or finely diced green apple if you can’t find pom seeds.

Based on excerpts from Cravings: Hungry For More by Chrissy Teigen, with the permission of Clarkson Potter, a division of Penguin Random House. Copyright © 2018.

 

 

Recipe: Guacamole Goes Mediterranean @ClevelandClinic

Mix up your favorite guac by adding feta, rice vinegar and oregano!

Traditional guacamole gets a Mediterranean makeover in this mouth-watering dip. Adding flavorful feta cheese, rice vinegar, oregano and parsley will satisfy the cravings of both avocado lovers and feta addicts!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped avocado (1–2 avocados)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar (flavored with basil and oregano)
  • 1 1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese

Directions

  1. In a bowl, gently stir together avocado, onion and garlic.
  2. Mix in parsley and oregano.
  3. Gently stir in olive oil, vinegar and feta. Refrigerate or serve immediately.

Ingredient health benefits

  • Avocados: Sometimes, good things come in small, bumpy packages. Adding avocados to any dish is a rich, creamy way to get some important nutrients in your body. They’re loaded with unsaturated fats and potassium, which support your heart and protect it from disease, as well as vitamins K, C, E, B6 and B9 (folate). These vitamins support many essential aspects of your well-being, from your eyes and immune cells to strong bones and soft skin. And speaking of head-to-toe health, avocadoes are also high in insoluble and soluble fiber, which your digestive tract will greatly appreciate!
  • Onions: It’s easy not to look past the potent, eyewatering qualities of this common ingredient, but your efforts won’t be in vain! Onions are packed with important nutrients like vitamin C, fiber and flavonoids, which promote immunity, lower inflammation and keep your heart healthy. The fiber in onions also works with prebiotics to bolster your “good” gut bacteria and “smooth your moves.” And a flavonoid called quercetin may suppress the growth of “bad” bacteria that can make you sick.
  • Garlic: Another aromatic allium, garlic is so nutritious that some consider it a superfood! It can boost your immune system when eaten regularly with lots of fruits and vegetables, and it may help regulate your blood pressure. There are also plenty of antioxidants that help decrease unwanted inflammation and keep your cells in peak condition, and certain natural compounds might protect you from harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.
  • Parsley: Even herbs can have some benefits of their own! Parsley is a natural diuretic, so it helps your body get rid of extra fluid when nature calls, and there are flavonoids to help preserve your heart and brain health.
  • Olive oil: It’s well known that olive oil is a prime choice when it comes to cooking oils, but have you ever wondered why? Well, it’s chock full of heart-healthy fats that help lower your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and raise your “good” (HDL) cholesterol, as well as fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins D and K. Olive oil is also rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant. And while all olive oil is nutritious and delicious, consider going for the extra virgin variety (EVOO) if you can, as it has the highest concentration of these benefits.
  • Cheese: What’s not to love about a food that also loves you? Cheese is a meat-free source of omega-3s, essential fats that fuel every cell in your body and may decrease your risk of certain cancers and eye diseases. Whey, casein and calcium support strong bones and muscles so they can support your needs. And vitamin A and vitamin B12 are responsible for keeping your eyes, brain and blood cells in top shape, while the minerals selenium and zinc help strengthen your immunity.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Makes 5 servings
Serving = 1/4 cup

Calories: 123 (72% calories from fat)
Fat: 11 g
Saturated fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 105 mg
Carbohydrates: 7 g
Dietary fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 1 g
Protein: 3 g
Dietary exchanges: 1/2 starch, 2 fat

— Recipe from Speaking of Women’s Health.

Chrissy Teigen’s Roasted Butternut Squash & Pomegranate with Garlicky Honey-Dijon Dressing

 

 

Serves 4 – 6

Ingredients, Squash

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups ½-inch cubes peeled butternut squash (1½ pounds; from a 2¼-pound whole squash, if that’s where you’re starting from)

1½ teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste

Ingredients, Dressing

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 clove garlic, grated or smashed into a paste

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

Ingredients, Salad

5 cups baby arugula

½ cup pomegranate seeds* (see Tip)

¼ cup pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted

½ small red onion, thinly sliced

½ cup crumbled goat cheese (4 ounces)

Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Roast the squash. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and pour 2 tablespoons of the oil on the lined sheet. Place the oiled sheet in the oven (yep, nothing on it) and heat until very hot but not smoking, about 8 minutes.

In a large bowl, toss the squash with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the salt, pepper, and cayenne until coated. Using an oven mitt, remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and quickly pour the squash onto the sheet (you should hear some sizzling); take a few extra seconds to make sure the flat sides of the squash are hitting that hot oiled pan. Roast until the undersides are golden, about 15 minutes. Remove the squash from the oven, shake the pan (or flip the squash with tongs if you’re down with OCD, yeah you know me), return to the oven, and roast until the new underside is golden brown,10 to 15 minutes. Let cool to room temp or just warm (so it doesn’t murder the greens when you drop them on).

Make the dressing. In a screw-top jar, shake the vinegar, mustard, honey, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil until it’s creamy. (If it separates, just shake it again.)

Makes the salad. Arrange the arugula on a platter. Top with the roasted squash, pomegranate seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Scatter the onion and goat cheese on top. Drizzle with the dressing to taste and sprinkle with pepper.

*Or finely diced green apple if you can’t find pom seeds.

Based on excerpts from Cravings: Hungry For More by Chrissy Teigen, with the permission of Clarkson Potter, a division of Penguin Random House. Copyright © 2018.

 

 

Rachel’s warm winter green salad with Caesar dressing, smoked bacon and a poached egg #ballymaloe 🥰🇮🇪

 

Rachel’s warm winter green salad with Caesar dressing, smoked bacon and a poached egg #ballymaloe

 

Rachel Allen’s Smoked Mackerel, Apple and Fennel Salad

rachel-rocket-recipes_2

 

Rachel Allen’s Smoked Mackerel, Apple and Fennel Salad

rachel-rocket-recipes_2