Thai Coconut Curry Lentil Soup

I love this simple recipe from the Modern Proper. It’s the perfect dairy free, easy peasy nutritious soup that’s perfect for your Meatless Monday dinner. It whips up in a flash and is packed with flavor. I think you will love it too!
  • Serves: 4-8
  • Prep Time:  15 min
  • Cook Time:  30 min
Coconut Curry Lentil Soup
Dairy Free Meatless Monday Soup packed with flavor

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups dried green lentils
  • 2 (13.5 oz) cans coconut milk (I use lite)
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken stock or vegetable broth (for vegan)
  • 2 cups sweet potatoes, about 2 small potatoes, peeled and 1 1/2″ cubed
  • 4 cups packed kale, stems removed and torn into 2″ pieces
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp salt (or as per your taste)
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 3 tbsp yellow curry powder
  • 1 cinnamon stick, or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method

  1. In a 5 quart soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes). 
  2. Add all other ingredients except for kale and bring to a boil before reducing to a simmer. 
  3. Allow the soup to simmer covered for 20 minutes.
  4. Add in kale and simmer uncovered for another 5-10 minutes. Serve with warm bread and enjoy! 

If using a slow-cooker, add all ingredients (except kale) and cook on low for 4 hours. Add kale for the last 30 minutes of cook time.

Nutrition Info

  • Calories 506 (if serving 4)
  • Protein 17 g
  • Carbohydrates 48 g
  • Total Fat 28 g
  • Dietary Fiber 13 g
  • Cholesterol l0 mg
  • sodium 327 mg
  • Total Sugars 15 g

Lentil soup is packed with nutrition, and this one in particular packs a nutritional punch. Vegan and vegetable-loaded, it’s a healthy, hearty power house. Here’s why lentils are so good for you:

  • Eating lentils may help to lower cholesterol, and having low cholesterol is associated with a lower risk for heart disease.
  • High in insoluble fiber, lentils take a long time to digest. This means that they can help to stabilize your blood sugar, and just generally are good for your digestive health.
  • Lentils are an excellent vegan source of protein! 26% of the calories in lentils come from protein. For this reason, lentils make a great vegan or “meatless Monday” option.
  • They’re also a great source of iron.

Asian Slaw with Cilantro Lime Ginger Dressing

My husband and I recently embarked on a “clean eating” journey. We vowed to eat more veggies and less processed foods. Clean eating doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good taste. Here is a savory salad that we found in the Standard Process Purification Cookbook. The combination of granny smith apples and citrusy lime cilantro dressing are the secret to this tasty asian slaw. Leftovers store well in the fridge too!

Ingredients

4 cups (8 oz.) thinly sliced savoy cabbage

2 cups (6 oz.) thinly sliced red cabbage

2 medium carrots (4 oz.), peeled and cut into very thin matchsticks

1 large Granny Smith apple (8 oz.), unpeeled, cored, and cut into thin matchsticks

½ tsp sea salt

2 T. plus 1 tsp. lime juice

2 T. apple cider vinegar

1 ½ tsp. stevia powder

2 T. Olive oil

1 large red onion, thinly sliced (2 cups)

1 pinch salt, optional

1 T. plus 2 tsp. minced fresh ginger

1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves

1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts, optional (not during cleanse)

Preparation

1. Combine savoy cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, and apple in large heat-proof bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Whisk together apple cider vinegar, lime juice, 2 Tablespoons. water in small bowl.

2. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and salt, and cook 7 to 8 minutes, or until onions are browned and bottom of pan has brown bits. Add ginger, and cook 30 seconds. Add vinegar mixture to deglaze, and cook 15 to 25 seconds, using spatula or spoon to scrape up brown bits. Remove from heat, and spread onion mixture over cabbage mixture. Toss with tongs until slaw is well combined and cabbages begin to wilt.

3. Add 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, and toss to combine. Let stand 5 minutes, then serve garnished with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and peanuts, if using.

3 Step Lentil Soup

What could be better than an easy and savory soup that’s chock full of vitamins and nutrients? It’s low in fat and high in fiber and protein too. Sometimes I modify this recipe and toss in a handful of cherry tomatoes while cutting in half the amount of crushed tomatoes. I make up a large batch and store it in the fridge for a quick but satisfying meal during the week. It also freezes well.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped in 1/2 inch dice
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 T fresh)
  • 2 cups dry lentils (I like red)
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • salt to taste (maybe 1/4 tsp or so)
  • ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  • Step 1. Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
  • Step 2. Stir in lentils*, and add water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until lentils are tender, at least one hour.
  • Step 3. When ready to serve, stir in spinach and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar and season with salt and pepper; taste and adjust as needed.

* Don’t forget to rinse the lentils well before placing in the pot as this removes some of the indigestible sugars that can cause you to feel bloated and gassy and also removes any dirt or debris.

Nutrition Facts 

Per Serving:

Lentil Soup Nutritional Facts

Servings Per Recipe: 8
Calories: 349

% Daily Value *

Protein: 18.3g 37 %

Carbohydrates: 48.2g. 16 %

Dietary Fiber: 22.2g. 89 %

Sugars: 3.3g 

Fat: 10g 15 %

Saturated Fat: 1.4g 7 %

Vitamin A 85 %

Niacin Equivalents: 5.7mg 44 %

Vitamin B6: 0.5mg 33 %

Vitamin C: 13.3mg 22 %

Folate: 333.7mcg. 83 %

Calcium: 98.1mg 10 %

Iron: 6.2mg 34 %

Magnesium: 104.4mg 37 %

Potassium: 969.5mg 27 %

Sodium: 130.5mg. 5 %

Thiamin: 0.4mg 39 %

Calories From Fat: 90.1

Spicy Southwestern Salad

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spicy southwestern salad with avocado dressing


  • creds: pinch of yum
  • prep time: 15 mins
  • cook time: 20 mins
  • total time: 35 minutes
  • yield: 4 large salads

DESCRIPTION

This easy to prepare Spicy Southwestern Salad recipe has roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, lettuce, and creamy avocado dressing!


INGREDIENTS

FOR THE SALAD

  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 heaping teaspoon each cumin and chili powder (plus a sprinkle of cayenne if you like it hot)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 14-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 14-ounce can sweet corn, rinsed and drained (or use shredded carrots if you prefer)
  • a handful of cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 avocado (optional)
  • 1/2 a head of romaine lettuce, chopped

FOR THE CILANTRO DRESSING:

  • half an avocado
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (optional)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves and stems
  • 1 small clove of garlic
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
  • a squeeze of lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel the sweet potatoes and chop into bite-sized pieces. Mix the olive oil, cumin, and chili powder together in a small bowl. Brush mixture on sweet potatoes. Roast for 10 minutes. Stir or shake the pan. Turn heat up to 425, and roast for another 10-15 minutes. The sweet potatoes should be just barely roasty-brown on the outside.  cook another minute or two if needed.  Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Meanwhile, pulse all the dressing ingredients in a food processor until mostly smooth.
  3. Toss the beans, corn, lettuce, and sweet potatoes with the dressing. Serve with the other half of the avocado!

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Bean and Kale Minstra

Bean and Kale Minstra
This yummy soup brings back fond memories of spending Christmas with my sister, Tomi and her family in Washington DC.  We had an unseasonably warm Christmas one year.  All the kids and parents went to the park and played flag football and then came home to a warm bowl of Tomi’s minstra.  Recently, my daughter, Dani texted me while studying abroad in New Zealand, to request “Auntie Tomi’s delicious bean soup”.  This recipe is a favorite that’s easy enough for a college student to prepare and nutritious too.

Bean and Kale Minestra

Serves 6 to 8

½ pound kale (about 4 cups, chopped—we used lacinato)
4 large garlic cloves, minced
olive oil to coat the bottom of your soup pot
6 cups cooked (2 cups dry) cannellini (white kidney beans—we used navy beans)
4 to 5 cups bean water, vegetable or chicken stock or water
2 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
6 fresh sage leaves (½ tsp if dry)
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
freshly ground pepper
½ cup finely ground cornmeal
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or to taste)
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Continue reading

Best Vegetable Chili Ever

best vegetable chili ever

Vegetable Chili

Serves 8

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil
2 zucchini, cut into ½ inch dice
2 onions, cut into ½ inch dice
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 large bell peppers, cored and cut into ¼ inch dice (I like to use one red and one yellow)
1 large can Italian plum tomatoes, w/ juice
1 ½ lbs. ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch dice
2 T chili powder
1 T ground cumin
1 T dried basil
1 T dried oregano
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fennel seeds
½ cup fresh Italian (flat leaf) parsley, chopped
1 can canned dark red kidney beans, drained
1 can canned chick-peas (garbanzos), drained
½ cup fresh dill, chopped
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese, grated (optional)
4 scallions (green onions), white bulb & 3  inches green, sliced diagonally (optional)

 Directions

Continue reading

Basil Artichoke and Sundried Tomato Frittata

Basil Artichoke and Sundried Tomato Frittata

Basil, Artichoke and Sundried Tomato Frittata

 

Ingredients

6-8 eggs (I use 6 jumbo)
4 tbsp. sun dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup freshly chopped basil
1 cup artichoke hearts (optional)
1 tsp. olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

 Instructions Continue reading