Lentil Salad

Lentil Salad

This healthy salad, inspired by the tastes of the Mediterranean, is a wonderful accompaniment to grilled lamb or chicken. Use green lentils for this recipe because they hold their shape when cooked; red lentils do not.  Serves 8

Ingredients
1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp (5 mL) chili flakes
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) green lentils
Water to cover
1 bay leaf
2 slices lemon, about 1/2-inch (1-cm thick)
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Dressing
3 tbsp (45 mL) lemon juice
1 tbsp (15 mL) grated lemon rind
½ cup (125 mL) olive oil
1 tbsp (15 mL) fresh oregano, chopped

Garnish
6 oz (175 g) feta cheese, crumbled
½ cup (125 mL) black olives pitted and sliced
2 tsp (10 mL) chopped fresh oregano or ½ tsp (2 mL) dried
½ red pepper, finely diced
½ green pepper, finely diced
½ yellow pepper, finely diced

Directions:
In a pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until fragrant. Stir in chili flakes.

Add lentils and cook, stirring, until lentils are coated with the seasoning mixture.

Add water to cover lentils, add bay leaf and lemon slices, squeezing them gently. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.

Season well with salt and pepper. Drain off any excess water and remove the lemon slices and bay leaf.

Mix together dressing and toss with warm lentils. Cool and then sprinkle with feta cheese, black olives, oregano and peppers. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve on platter.
Serves 8

Rainbow Slaw

Rainbow Slaw

Salting the cabbage before making the salad draws out excess moisture, so your slaw won’t be watery.

Ingredients:

½ small head green cabbage (about 1 ¼ lb.)
½ small head red cabbage (about 1 ¼ lb.)
1 large carrot, peeled
1 Tbs. kosher or coarse salt
2 Tbs. mustard seeds
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
¼ tsp. chili flakes
½ cup cider vinegar
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (about 1 ½ cups)
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips (about 1 ½ cups)

Directions:
1. Slice cabbage into thin strips. Grate carrot on largest holes of box grater.

2. Combine cabbage, carrot and salt in large colander set over bowl. Refrigerate 1 1/2 hours. Rinse off salt under cold water. Pat dry.

3. Put mustard seeds, oil and chili flakes in small skillet; cover and cook over medium-high heat 1 minute, or until seeds start to pop, shaking constantly. Remove from heat and continue shaking pan until popping subsides. Cool in bowl. Whisk in vinegar, sugar and mustard. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Combine cabbage, carrot and bell peppers in large bowl. Add dressing, and toss to coat. Adjust seasonings. Serve immediately, or store up to 1 day in refrigerator.  Serves 8

Teriyaki Chicken Meatball Kebabs

Ingredients:

1 pound ground chicken

1/2 cup panko or Italian breadcrumbs

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce

1 carrot, shredded

1/2 red onion, shredded

1 clove garlic, minced

1 egg

Salt and pepper to taste

1 red pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks

1 yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks

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 Directions:

To make the meatballs, mix together the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, teriyaki sauce, carrot, red onion, garlic, egg, salt, and pepper. Then, take 1-tablespoon scoops and form them into small meatballs. (If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit more breadcrumbs until the meatballs keep their shape.)

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Refrigerate the meatballs for about 20 minutes, or while you’re cutting the veggies and preheating the grill (medium heat) or oven (375 degrees F).

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Thread each skewer with a meatball, pepper, meatball, and alternate leaving enough room on each end of the skewer for picking up with your hands.

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If you want to grill the skewers, spray the grill with nonstick spray or brush with olive oil. Then, gently place the skewers on the grill and grill for about five minutes on each side – make sure to test the meatballs to be sure the center is cooked.

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If you want to bake the skewers, then lightly grease a baking sheet and gently place the skewers on it. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the meatballs are golden brown and cooked all the way through. Turn the skewers halfway through the baking process.

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Serve with rice and extra teriyaki sauce for dipping, if you’d like.

Oriental Salad .... This salad is a great crowd pleaser.

If you have invited company for lunch or are going on a picnic, take along this salad, a nice crusty baguette, and a bottle of chilled Chardonnay wine.

Oriental Salad

Dressing:

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons sugar

3 Tablespoons rice vinegar

1/2 cup salad oil

seasoning packet from chicken or pork ramen noodles

1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions:

Place ingredients in jar and shake well then refrigerate. Do not substitute the sesame oil.

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Salad

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced

4 green onions sliced

2 Tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1 package ramen noodles, crushed

Salad greens of choice

fresh pea pods, trimmed

1 can water chestnuts, sliced

fresh parsley or cilantro

1/2 cup peanuts

1 red pepper, cut in strips

1 yellow pepper, cut in strips

Directions:

Place ramen noodles in skillet with just enough butter to toast. Stir often. Set aside to cool.

Assemble the salad ingredients and toss with dressing.

This is a complete meal and so refreshing.