Black bean chili garlic spinach; Meatless Monday.

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I think this post is all done.I have said it all in the title of the title!Really, there is very little left to say after that! It truly is as simple as that! This is a very simple, flavorful dish wherein the steamed spinach is sautéed with some black bean chili garlic oil. There is nothing else that you need to add. This dish makes for a great side during the holidays when there is so much indulgence in rich, fatty food and most of the dishes are  non-vegetarian or meat. This gives the meal the much needed balance by adding plant-base nutrients and fiber. This is a quick and super-easy dish.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

Spinach: 1 bunch
Sesame oil: 1 tsp ( you can use any cooking oil if you don't have sesame oil).
Garlic: 2 cloves, chopped
Black bean chilli garlic oil: 1-2 tbsp
Salt: to taste 
Sugar: 1/4 tsp

Method:

Wash spinach thoroughly to get rid of any residual sand/dirt in it.

Steam it for 6-8 mins.

Heat sesame oil in a sauté pan/ frying pan.

Add the chopped garlic and sauté for a minute until it sweats.

Now add the black bean chilli garlic oil. Then add in the steamed spinach, a little salt( as needed) and a pinch of sugar. Sauté for 2 mins so that it all comes together.

Serve hot with rice/ potatoes/pasta .

Enjoy!

Cooking made easy:

You can make the above recipe with most greens, for example: Bok Choy,  broccolini, mustard greens etc.

Tip for  healthy living:

Even one serving of leafy green vegetable in your daily diet goes a long way towards maintaing a healthy body.Leafy green vegetables are rich in fiber therefore adding bulk to your meal, making you fuller faster. The roughage helps prevent constipation and helps keep the GI system optimally functioning. All this also helps lose weight, lower cholesterol and maintains blood sugar levels. Leafy green vegetables are rich in calcium and potassium thereby keeping the bones strong. They are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin which help keep the skin and hair healthy. Leafy greens are also rich in vitamins A,B,CE and K.

Food for thought:

The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows. Aristotle Onassis

Creamy spinach with mushrooms; Meatless Monday & Thanksgiving Special!

Week nights are hectic. I come home only around 7 p.m. I then cook dinner. Why cook that late? Because I like my family to eat fresh food whenever possible. That is why I like to make simple quick meals. This is another one of those dishes that is simple, quick and easy to make and absolutely delicious. Everyone at home loves it! You can eat it just like that with some bread/toast, eat it as a side with some rice or mix it in with any pasta/noodles of your choice.This would make for a great side for Thanksgiving. You will get some much needed vegetables( fiber too) amidst all the meat that is consumed!I am bringing this to Simple Supper Tuesdays.I am sure many people will be pondering about some easy quick last minute sides for their Thanksgiving meal!

The idea for this recipe is courtesy Ruchi Airen, a fellow food blogger, whose most recipes I like. She is a woman after my own heart! Her recipes are simple and easy to make. You can find the original recipe here. As usual, I have tweaked the recipe to my taste to make it creamier.

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

Spinach: one medium bunch.
Mushrooms: one 8 oz container ( you can choose Cremini or baby Bella; both taste good).
Onion: 1 small, chopped fine
Garlic: 2-3 cloves, minced
Butter: 1 tsp
Olive/ coconut oil: 1 tsp
Fresh parsley: 1 tbsp, chopped( optional)
Oregano: 1/2 tsp ( optional)
Salt: to taste
Black pepper: 1/4 tsp ( adjust as per individual spice level)
Milk: 1/2 cup
Corn flour: 1 tsp

Method:

Wash the spinach, steam it for 5-8 mins ; drain and keep aside.

Wash the mushrooms ,slice them into big slices, keep aside.

Dissolve the corn flour into the milk and keep aside.

Heat butter & oil in a sauté pan. Add the garlic, sauté for few seconds.

Add the chopped onions and sauté until it turns transparent.

Now add the sliced mushrooms; sauté for 3-4 mins.(Don't overcook the mushrooms as when cooked too much they tend to become very small and also leave a lot of water).

Add in the steamed spinach. Mix well.Add the salt, black pepper.

Add the milk-corn flour mixture to the pan. Simmer and let it cook until the sauce thickens. 

Add in the herbs, mix well.

Serve hot with rice/ bread/ pasta.

Here, in this picture I have tossed the creamy mushroom spinach with angel hair pasta and topped it chooped avocado, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.

Cooking made easy:

You can use any fresh/ dried herbs into the above dish. While I like fresh herbs and prefer to use them, I also keep a mix of dried herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano which I use to season my fish, in pastas and dishes such as above. These are herbs that I don't use that often and therefore would go bad if I bought them fresh.

Tip for healthy living:

Mushrooms are good for us as they are a great source of Selenium which has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and liver-detoxifying properties.Mushrooms are the only vegan source of vitamin D.It is also rich in vitamin B complex and minerals like phosphorus, iron, potassium and copper.It is also a great source of dietary fiber. it is rich in beta-glycans which have a role in anti-inflammation, reducing insulin resistance and reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Food for thought:

Life in abundance comes only through great love. Elbert Hubbard

Meatless Monday Garlic Sautéed Spinach With Slivered Almonds

This is a really long name for a simple dish with very few ingredients. This dish was inspired by a dish by the name of " Catalan Spinach". I came across this dish in allthatsdelicious, a blog by Priyadarshini. Once I saw this , the name " Catalan spinach" kept going in circles in my head. It was as if I was haunted by the name. The funny part is that I had not even paid attention to the recipe. After days of being haunted, I decided to give this ghost a rest. I went looking for the blog and the recipe. Once I looked at it, I liked what I saw and decided to give it a try. I of course didn't have all the required ingredients and being a firm believer in using what is available in your kitchen, I modified the recipe. The end result was this quick,simple  yet amazingly tasty dish.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

Spinach: 1 bunch
Olive oil: 1tbsp
Butter: 1 tsp
Garlic: 6 cloves chopped and then lightly crushed.
Almonds:6 -8 slivered
Red Raisins: 1 tbsp
Chilli pepper flakes: 1/2 tsp
Sugar: 1/2 tsp
Salt: 1/2 tsp
Vinegar: 1tsp

Method:

Clean the spinach thoroughly to get rid of any residual sand. Boil 4 quarts water with 1/2 tsp salt. Add the spinach to boiling water. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes.

Then blanch it by putting it in cold water, drain and keep it aside.

Heat a sauté pan/ frying pan on medium heat. Add the butter and the olive oil.

Now add the garlic and sauté  until you smell the fragrance of garlic. 

Add the raisins, chilli flakes and slivered almonds. Sauté until they turn a little brown. 

Now add the drained spinach, sugar,vinegar an sauté for 3-4 minutes until the spinach is warm. 

Add salt as needed.

Serve warm with hot rice/ bread/ baked fish/ bake chicken.

Cooking made easy:

To clean greens effectively ,soak them in cold tap water with a few drops of vinegar for 3-5 minutes. This will make the sand/mud/dirt in the green settle at the bottom.Then rinse couple more times . Chop the greens after cleaning them. This ensures that you don't lose the essential nutrients and vitamins.

Tip for healthy living:

All fruits and vegetables are best cleaned by soaking it for 2-3 minutes in cold water with a few drops of vinegar. Then rinse and air-dry them.

Food for thought:

Once bitten, twice shy.(unknown).