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21 Simple, Quick, & Easy Meals
All tagged Vinegar
This Chopped Kale Salad with Creamy Goat Cheese, Apple, and Pumpkin Seeds is both beautiful and so quick and easy to make. If you don’t eat a lot of salad, a solution is to chop the salad greens into very small pieces- the greens become more tender and you get to savor the salad toppings (sweet apple, pear, crunchy pumpkin seeds, and creamy goat cheese) with every bite!
This White Peach Vinegar Spritz with Blood Orange is sweet, a little tart and makes for a delicious (and beautiful) sparkling tonic to enjoy before a meal. Whip this refreshing drink up for yourself or multiply the recipe and serve as the perfect mocktail at your next party 😊 You can find White Peach Balsamic Vinegar at your local oil and vinegar shop.
Local tomatoes from QuintaMKE (@quintaMKE) taste like sweet summertime! Roasted Tomato Couscous Salad pairs perfectly with big slices of heirloom tomatoes, dressed with olive oil and fresh basil. Serve for lunch, a light dinner, or as a stunning addition to brunch with family and friends!
Serves: 4-6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
What (your ingredients):
Couscous:
1 1/3 cup Israeli couscous
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cup boiling water
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes:
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Drizzle of olive oil
Pinch of salt
Pinch of dried thyme
Dressing for Roasted Tomato Couscous Salad:
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
10 basil leaves, thinly sliced
Pinch of pepper
Fresh Heirloom Tomatoes:
2 heirloom tomatoes
Sprinkle of seasoned salt (Crazy Jane’s Mixed Up Salt or Garlic Salt)
Pepper to taste
5 basil leaves, thinly sliced
How (your directions):
Preheat oven to 400 °F.
Meanwhile, in a large pan, sauté couscous and olive oil for 3-5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly.
When couscous is toasted and slightly brown, add salt and boiling water.
Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 12 minutes.
Add cherry tomatoes to a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and dried thyme.
Toss to combine, then roast for 10 minutes.
Once the couscous is finished cooking, turn the heat off, and add the roasted cherry tomatoes (and juices from roasted tomatoes!).
Add the couscous dressing ingredients (olive oil, vinegar, basil leaves, pepper) and stir to combine. Set aside.
Slice the heirloom tomatoes into large slices and place onto a large platter.
Season with salt and pepper to taste, drizzle with olive oil, and top with fresh basil.
Pour the Roasted Tomato Couscous to the platter next to the fresh heirloom tomato slices.
Enjoy warm, room temperature, or cold!
Why (the science): Roasted tomatoes are high in lycopene, which helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley is the perfect meal prep dip that can last 3-4 days in the fridge. It’s highly versatile, too! Serve with your favorite veggies on a crudité platter, spread on a sandwich, or even dress a salad with it. And what’s even better is that Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley get whipped up in a blender or food processor in 30 seconds 😊
Serves: 6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
½ hemp seeds
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh dill
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
How (your directions):
Add all ingredients to a blender or small food processor, and blend on high for about 30 seconds.
Serve with your favorite veggies, as a salad dressing, or even spread on your next sandwich!
Why (the science): Hemp hearts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are a heart-healthy fat that can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Omega-3’s are also important for healthy brain development!
This recipe is a crowd-pleaser! Colorful and delicious, Mexican Fiesta Quinoa Salad is the perfect recipe for healthy meal prepped lunches, quick weeknight dinners, or part of a festive summer BBQ!
Serves: 6-8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth
1 15.5 oz can black beans
1 cup fire roasted corn
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
How (your directions):
Add quinoa and vegetable broth to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover, lower heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, add black beans, corn, olive oil, vinegar, cumin, chili powder, and salt to a large bowl. Stir to combine.
Once quinoa has finished cooking, turn heat off and allow to sit, covered, for another 5 minutes.
Add quinoa to the black bean and corn mixture. Top with thinly sliced spring onions.
Enjoy warm, room temperature, or cold! Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
Why (the science): Quinoa and black beans are rich in protein, making this a satisfying lunch throughout the week!
This salad is so yummy and refreshing, and full of heart healthy fats to keep you full! And it only takes 5 minutes and 7 easily accessible ingredients to quickly slice, assemble, and drizzle 😊
Serves: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
2 cups butter lettuce and radicchio (I use a prewashed mix from Trader Joe’s)
10 cherry tomatoes
½ small ripe avocado
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
1 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar (the older, the sweeter)
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of Crazy Jane’s Mixed Up Salt (or any seasoned salt- this one is a blend of garlic, onion, salt, and spices)
How (your directions):
Onto a large plate, place the 2 cups of butter lettuce and radicchio blend.
Slice cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise, then distribute evenly on top of the lettuce.
Slice a small, ripe avocado in half. Using the half without the pit (save the half with the pit, covered, in the fridge for another time), remove the skin. Place halved avocado cut-side down onto cutting board, then slice thinly. Fan the avocado slices and place in the center of the salad.
Sprinkle hemps seeds over the salad, then drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season to taste with a pinch of salt or seasoned salt.
Enjoy immediately!
Why (the science): Hemp seeds are a rich source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. You can sprinkle hemp seeds on savory dishes (from salads to pastas to soups) and sweet dishes (top a smoothie or bowl of oatmeal for added crunch).
Full disclosure: I’m always intimidated to make salads, because I worry that they won’t be near as good as what I can order from a nice restaurant. But THIS is the recipe that changes everything! Easy? Check! Café-quality? Check! Elegant but fast to throw together? Check! Kale and Quinoa Salad with Fig and Walnuts will be your go-to “I’ll bring the salad” dish to show off to all your friends 😊
Serves: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 bunch kale, torn into pieces
1 tablespoon pomegranate balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons walnut pieces
2 dried figs, cut into small pieces
1 oz. goat cheese
1/3 cup quinoa, cooked
How (your directions):
Place kale pieces into a large bowl. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Massage the kale for 2-3 minutes. Tip: Massaging kale allows it to become more tender and slightly sweeter!
Transfer salad to a plate, then top with walnuts, figs, crumbled goat cheese, and quinoa.
Enjoy immediately or the next day!
Why (the science): Quinoa is a complete protein, making it a great replacement for brown rice and other starches!
Strawberry Pepper Gazpacho is sweet with a kick! The strawberries balance the spiciness of the jalapeno, and the peppers add body and texture to this bountiful summer soup. I poured my gazpacho into two clean pasta sauce jars, making these the perfect grab-and-go meals or afternoon snacks. Because it can be enjoyed cold or room temperature, strawberry pepper gazpacho can be enjoyed anywhere, be that work, school, outdoor festival, or picnic!
Serves: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
What (your ingredients):
1 lb. strawberries, rinsed (keep the green stems on!)
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
6-8 small tomatoes
1 jalapeno, veins and seeds removed
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
How (your directions):
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until almost smooth but leaving a little texture.
Serve immediately or keep in the fridge for 4 days.
Enjoy!
Why (the science): With colors like orange, yellow, and red, this soup is truly overflowing with vitamin C and antioxidants 😊
*Recipe updated from Purple Carrot
Serves: 4-6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 4 hours of marinating
What (your ingredients):
1 lb. fresh summer green beans
1 lb. cherry tomatoes
1 tablespoon excellent extra virgin olive oil
½ tablespoon champagne white vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (or a spicy brown mustard works well too)
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
How (your directions):
In a large pot, bring 5 cups of water to a boil with a pinch of salt. Place fresh green beans into boiling water and set a timer for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water and set aside. Once beans are cooked, immediately transfer to the ice bath (blanching stops the cooking process and prevents the bright green color from fading or changing to a greyish-olive color).
While the beans sit in the ice bath, prepare the marinade.
In a large serving bowl, combine olive oil, champagne white vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk until combined.
Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place in marinade.
Using tongs, transfer the green beans to the bowl with the tomatoes and toss until well combined and the marinade has coated each vegetable.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Serve cold or room temperature as a side to your favorite summer entrée!
Why (the science): Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin K, one of the fat-soluble vitamins, and is important for proper blood clotting. Each cup of green beans provides more than 20% of your daily vitamin K needs!
Nothing tastes more like the comfort of Fall than apples and spices! It’s too easy to make your own chutney, which serves as the perfect accompaniment to Quick-Brined Rosemary Pork Chops. Add even more flavor using spiced jam from the Preserving Place, a beautiful locally-owned and operated artisan store located in the Westside district of Atlanta and conveniently ships all across the country!
This sesame peanut sauce is not lacking for flavor-it’s rich and complex flavors of sesame, soy, ginger, and vinegar compliment the creamy peanut butter for a fantastic Asian-inspired dish. Pair with your favorite noodles, and you have a fantastic dinner ready in 15 minutes!
