Tag: healthy

Green Blender Review

Green Blender Review

  I’ve always been into smoothies and juicing, but every once in a while I fall out of routine.  Then my Vitamix just SITS there. After all, it takes time to plan to purchase all the fresh produce you need for smoothies, and then it […]

Khoshaf (Dried fruit salad) خشاف

Khoshaf (Dried fruit salad) خشاف

  This is a common starter in Egyptian homes during the months of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, which during these long summer days is over 16 hours long! When we break our fast, it is the tradition of the Prophet […]

Creamy lentil soup (shorbat ads)

Creamy lentil soup (shorbat ads)

Shorba means soup in Arabic. Ads means lentils, so shorbat ads translates literally into soup of lentils.

shorbat ads with lemon and pita

This popular soup is a Ramadan staple and will be found at Iftar (the daily meal of breaking the fast during Ramadan) tables quite frequently in the Arab world. It is a beautiful, creamy, yellow soup that is both hearty and healthy. It is naturally vegetarian and vegan, has virtually no fat, is gluten free, and is full of heart healthy fiber and vegetables. So almost every diet will love incorporating this dish.

Red or orange lentils

Shorbat Ads or yellow lentil soup
Garnish with cilantro and paprika; serve with pita chips and lemon.

yellow lentil soup

 

The velvety texture might surprise you because there is no fat, milk, or cream added. The orange lentils, along with the aromatic root vegetables of carrot, onion, and garlic are what scent and flavor this delicious soup. I’ve already discussed what a fantastic legume lentils are for your diet in my recipe for lentil  pilaf, and you can read more health benefits here. This creamy lentil soup is often found in many Middle Eastern restaurants nowadays, and while the flavors can vary, this is surely going to be the best recipe.

This recipe comes straight from my Egyptian grandmother’s kitchen (Teta), God rest her soul. While turmeric is used in many modern recipes today, it is actually not a part of this authentic recipe. I presume it is used to boost the yellow color, and it certainly does not hurt to add it. I use it because I love the nutritional benefits of fresh turmeric root, but beware it will dye your fingers and spoons yellow 😀 Chopped tomatoes are added to the recipe to boost the flavor and the secret ingredient I incorporate is chicken or vegetable stock. Water is perfectly fine, but I find the broth gives an extra depth of flavor. I don’t use any Maggie cubes or other MSG catch all seasoning with who-knows-what in it, so I definitely prefer the flavors added by the tomato, broth, turmeric, and root vegetables. 

Root vegetables: carrot, onion, garlic, tomato
The flavor companions clockwise: yellow onion, carrots, garlic, tomato.

root vegetables and tomato

The delicious base of this soup’s fantastic flavor starts by simply sautéing the vegetables in some olive oil over medium heat, just until fragrant. Pour in the broth or water, the lentils, and spices and you’re pretty much done. I used to shred the carrots and turmeric, but I realized this isn’t neccesary because I blend the entire soup into a velvety smooth texture at the end of the simmer anyway. So a rough chop of all the vegetables is perfectly okay!

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Prepare the lentils by picking them over for dirt particles, and wash thoroughly then drain.

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sauteed vegetables
Lightly sauté in a teaspoon of olive oil until fragrant.
let it simmer...
Let it simmer…

 This soup quickly simmers until the lentils break down into a creamy consistency, which takes all but 20 minutes. The orange shelled lentils cook soft very quickly,  unlike the brown shelled lentils. So be sure to use the correct lentils.

Soup simmering.
Simmer on low, until thickened.
Puree the soup.
Puree with an immersion blender.

I then puree the entire mixture once it is cooked soft, into a thick and velvety consistency. The soup thickens significantly when sitting so be sure to stir in some extra water over low heat before serving if this happens. Like many grandmothers love to do, my Teta went the extra mile and added another step to make this soup REALLY lip smacking good. In another pot, she would brown some delicious tiny vermicelli noodles (sha3reya in Arabic) in butter, then pour the pureed soup over it and simmer until the noodles are cooked. This tastes really great and adds a nice texture.  However, I typically omit this step because I am trying to keep the soup healthy and paleo- and mostly because I don’t want to wash another pot! But I will usually do this for guests because it makes the soup extra special 😀

I serve with pita chips on the side, which is optional.

yellow lentil soup. Dip a pita chip. Dip a pita chip.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice is a must, if you ask me!

Lemon on soup.
Squeeze some lemon juice.

Lemon on soup.

Enjoy! Bil Hana wil Shifaa (Arabic for with health and healing)

Creamy Lentil Soup- Shorbat Ads
Serves 4
A creamy lentil soup full of flavor and healthy vegetables is hearty and filling!
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Print
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 cups of red lentils (they are actually orange, but called red)
  2. 3 cups of broth (or water)
  3. 4 cups of water, plus more to thin later
  4. 1 tsp cumin
  5. 1/2- 1 tsp salt (to taste)
  6. pinch of pepper
  7. 1 tsp minced turmeric root, or 1/2 tsp powder (optional)
  8. 2 large carrots, diced
  9. 1 tomato, diced
  10. 1 yellow onion, diced
  11. 4 cloves of garlic, diced
  12. 1 tsp olive oil
Instructions
  1. First sort the lentils for any stones, grains, or sand. Wash thoroughly and drain.
  2. In a large pot, over high heat, add the olive oil and onions with carrots and toss lightly until yellow and fragrant. Only sautee until soft; do not brown it.
  3. Add the garlic, turmeric, and tomatoes and stir for another minute.
  4. Immediately add the lentils, broth, water, and spices. Stir well.
  5. Once the soup begins to boil, reduce to medium-low heat. Allow it to simmer for about 15-20 minutes, covered.
  6. Once the lentils are softened and cooked, puree with a blender, and remove from heat. If the soup looks too thick to you, you can add more water over low heat and stir until homogenous.
  7. Serve immediately with lemon wedges, a cilantro garnish, and optionally pita chips.
Notes
  1. Soup will thicken when it sits or when refrigerated. Simply add some water when reheating, and stir.
  2. By Noha ElSharkawy
  3. www.SugarandGarlic.com
Adapted from Teta and Mom
Adapted from Teta and Mom
Sugar & Garlic https://sugarandgarlic.com/

Stuffed Cabbage Leaves (Malfoof or Mahshy Kromb)

Stuffed Cabbage Leaves (Malfoof or Mahshy Kromb)

 One of the best dishes to originate from Middle Eastern cuisine, this delicious and savory blend of rice, fresh herbs and tomatoes wrapped in a juicy cabbage leaf will leave everyone begging for more! This healthy dish is easily an all time favorite and comfort […]

Egyptian Mulokhia, a super food (Jews mallow; Jute leaves)

Egyptian Mulokhia, a super food (Jews mallow; Jute leaves)

Do you know about this super food? This dish is a classic favorite for Egyptians and is prepared in its uniquely flavored broth and usually served over rice, or with pita bread. Its savory, garlicky flavor is an instant hit and its slipper texture makes it […]

Veggie Tuna Salad

Veggie Tuna Salad

This is a refreshing and filling veggie tuna salad that you can eat on its own right out of the bowl, or you can wrap it into a flat bread for a quick and easy sandwich, or melt some provolone cheese over it to make a warm and toasty tuna melt! Yum!

tuna saladThis tuna salad is so easy to make with fresh ingredients and lots of flavor. We load up on veggies that give this a nice crunch. The recipe is an inspiration based on a green bean tuna salad recipe written by the fabulous Giada de Laurentiss and made for me by a more fabulous friend:) I made this at home with some of my fresh and favorite veggies: red bell peppers, green beans, asparagus, tomatoes, and parsley . I omitted red potatoes to reduce the carbs and cooking steps, used fresh crunchy green beans, and added some kick with chopped fennel instead of celery. This was awesome.

Oh and I use plenty of fresh squeezed lemons, almost 1 whole lemon per can of tuna. In my book, the more lemon the better. But it is possible to add too much lemon so don’t get carried away!

I use “Wild Planet” tuna, which is a brand I love because it is sustainably caught (pole and troll), non GMO, no liquids or fillers are added (as is with the common Chicken of the Sea and other major brands), and it is stored in BPA free cans. There are also many other wonderful healthful varieties stored in olive oil. You want to avoid the kinds stored in water, because many of the heart healthy omega 3 fats are lost and nutrients are not retained as well (neither is the taste actually). I use about 5 6 oz cans in the recipe which is enough to feed at least 5 adults; the volume is tripled with all the fresh chopped vegetable ingredients we add!

chopped veggies
parsley, tomatoes, scallions, and garlic

Tuna salad veggies; in this variation I included chopped asparagus!
Tuna salad veggies; in this variation I included chopped asparagus!

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If you let your kids dice and stir this salad with you, they are always more likely to eat what they make. They always love the bright colors in the salad too.

green bean tuna salad

red bell pepper
red bell pepper and diced fennel
tomatoes and garlic
layers of flavor with tomatoes and garlic

Veggie Tuna Salad
A fresh and delicous tuna salad that is heart healthy and easy to make in no time!
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Prep Time
10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 4-5 6 oz cans of tuna, packed in olive oil
  2. 2 red bell peppers, diced
  3. 1 bunch of parsley, finely chopped
  4. 1/2 cup fresh fennel, diced
  5. 1 cup of fresh green beans, trimmed and chopped into 2 inch pieces
  6. 1 cup tomatoes, diced
For the dressing
  1. 3/4-1 c fresh squeezed lemon juice, to taste
  2. 1 tsp salt
  3. 1/4 tsp black pepper
  4. 1/2 tsp cumin
  5. 1/2 c olive oil
  6. 2 tbsp fresh garlic, minced
Instructions
  1. Toss all the chopped ingredients with the tuna in a large bowl.
  2. Stir the dressing together and pour all over the tuna salad.
  3. Serve in wraps, on toast, on crackers, or eat it as it is as a healthy and filling salad!
Adapted from Giada de Laurentiis
Sugar & Garlic https://sugarandgarlic.com/

Garden Vegetable Linguine

Garden Vegetable Linguine

This delicious linguine pasta dish features spinach, pea shoots, onion, and garlic, with some hearty portabella mushrooms and sweet red bell peppers.  Pasta is such an essential go-to dish to create a flavorful and easy meal with a variety of vegetables and fresh ingredients. I […]

The BEST Ful Mudammas (stewed fava beans) from scratch

The BEST Ful Mudammas (stewed fava beans) from scratch

Ful mudammas (pronounced f-ool, rhyming with pool or tool, but why would I spell it like that, or foul?!)  is a vegetarian dish that is a staple food item in Egypt. It is the national dish of Egypt. You cannot go to Egypt without trying ful at […]

Mango Ice Cream

Mango Ice Cream

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YUM! This is my absolute favorite concoction EVER. My kids could not get enough of this. Even the baby enjoyed it (probably felt great on her teething gums!) I have been avoiding dessert lately, and if you know me, that is nearly impossible. So coming up with delicious and healthier alternatives is my current goal in life (among other things!) I  have been blending frozen fruit a lot lately because I learned that I can save much of our produce from spoilage and the trash bin by just freezing it at its peak.

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 While I have yet to find good mangoes in the midwest, I got some bags of frozen organic mango chunks from Trader Joe’s and they smell and taste incredible! You  just blend these with some frozen sweet strawberries and a dash of heavy whipping cream. The cream whips the frozen fruit into a creamy ice cream consistency. It really is delicious! No sugar added! If you are looking for a fat free treat as well, you could omit the cream and just enjoy this as a sorbet, but the creaminess was just divine. You can try this with frozen bananas and cocoa (coming soon!), frozen strawberries and frozen bananas, coconut and frozen pineapple, the possibilities are ENDLESS. Beware, you will need to have a powerful blender such as the Vitamix or Blendtec so that you do not break your blender!
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Mango Ice Cream
Home-made, fresh, and delicious, this is the perfect treat to brighten up your day!
Write a review
Print
Prep Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 c frozen mango
  2. 1/2 c frozen strawberries
  3. 2 tbsp of heavy whipping cream
Instructions
  1. Blend all ingredients together in a blender. You may need to stop the blender once in a while to push down the frozen fruit with a spoon, or if you have a Vitamix, use the stick feature.
  2. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
  1. Omit the cream and add 2 tbsp of coconut water to enjoy as sorbet!
Sugar & Garlic https://sugarandgarlic.com/

Lentil Pilaf

Lentil Pilaf

Cooking with lentils adds so much versatility to your diet and menu. There are many benefits to using lentils in your repertoire, mainly being that they are a nutrient rich legume full of protein and low in calories. Since I started cutting back on the […]