Friday, January 21, 2011

Lunch ideas - part three

These following recipes are all very popular in my house and almost every week one or more of these either get packed (for school and work) or served, for lunch. Using loads of colorful vegetables and whole grain pasta, tortilla, brown rice, and flavourful condiments make all these very wholesome lunch options.

Smoked salmon and Ricotta cheese on bruschetta

  1. Toast slices of french baguette till lightly brown and crisp.
  2. Spread ricotta cheese flavored with dill and cracked black pepper.
  3. Top with a slice of smoked salmon. Mmmmm.
  4. Spread lingonberry sauce on another slice and top with smoked salmon.
  5. Serve alongside sugar snap peas and carrot sticks.



Greek-inspired pasta salad
Ingredients: (Serves one)
3/4 cup dry whole grain fusilli or bow tie pasta
1 cup sliced rainbow peppers
1 small tomato chopped
4 pitted kalamata olives sliced
2 square inch piece of feta cheese crumbled
1 clove garlic chopped
1/2 tsp dry oregano and basil
1 tsp olive oil
salt to taste
Red chili flakes (optional.)
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  1. Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  2. In a pan heat olive oil and add garlic and herbs. Saute for 30 seconds.
  3. Add peppers and salt and stir for 2-3 minutes just till peppers get coated with all the herbs but still remain crisp.
  4. Take it off heat and add tomatoes, olives, feta, vinegar. Stir to mix.
  5. Serve hot sprinkled with red pepper flakes.


Black bean Burritos
Ingredients: (Serves four)
4-5 whole wheat flour tortillas
1 can black beans drained
1 small red onion chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 small green pepper chopped
1 jalapeno pepper chopped (optional)
1/2 cup grated cheese (any kind your choice)
1 tbsp oregano
salt to taste
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tbsp lime juice
  1. In a pan heat olive oil and add garlic, red onion, green pepper, oregano, salt, and cumin.
  2. Cook for 2-3 minutes stirring constantly till green pepper softens a bit. Add tomatoes and beans and mix well.
  3. Take off the heat and add lime juice. cool this mixture completely before adding the grated cheese in it.
  4. To assemble heat the tortilla in the microwave for 10 seconds to make it pliable. Spread it on a chopping board and spoon the bean mixture in the center. Add jalapenos and hot habanero sauce on top.
  5. Option 1 Roll the wrap burrito style and serve topped with lettuce, olives and a spoon of plain yogurt (or sour cream if you prefer).
  6. Option 2 wrap burrito style and heat it on a nonstick skillet on medium heat till crisp and slightly brown. Serve topped with lettuce and olives and a spoon of plain yogurt.


Brown rice pulao
Ingredients:(serves 4)
1 1/2 cups Brown basmati rice
4 cups chopped vegetables (carrots, celery, red and green pepper, green onions, lima beans, peas)
2 tbsp olive oil
chopped garlic
1 tsp dry thyme
salt to taste
1 tbsp hot sauce
lime juice to taste
1 can black beans, drained  OR 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham(optional)
  1. Boil rice with 1 tsp salt according to package instructions. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
  2. In a large pan, heat oil and add garlic and thyme. stir for 30 seconds.
  3. Add all the vegetables and a bit of salt and cook stirring constantly for 5-7 minutes till tender crisp.
  4. Add boiled rice and hot sauce, lime juice. Stir to coat the rice with all the other ingredients for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Optional mix the beans Or ham in the rice and serve hot.


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