Pad Thai Noodles with Sesame-Ginger Almond Butter Dressing

This Pad Thai noodle dish is coated in a flavorsome sesame-ginger dressing made from an almond butter base with hints of lime and garlic, plus red chili flakes for a powerful kick. Edamame beans are added to this dish to provide a great source of plant-based protein. This recipe makes about 4 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients for noodles:

• 8 oz of pad thai noodles (I used 1 whole packet of Lotus Foods black rice noodles)
• 1 Tbsp of sesame oil
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cups of red cabbage, chopped
• 2 cups of shredded or spiralized carrots
• 1/2 cup of green onions, chopped
• 1 cup of edamame beans
• 1/4 cup of cilantro, chopped
• sesame seeds for garnish

Ingredients for dressing:

• 1 Tbsp of sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar
• 3 Tbsp of honey
• 2 heaping Tbsp of almond butter
• 2 Tbsp of soy sauce
• 1″ piece of ginger, grated
• 2 tsp of red chili flakes (use more or less depending on spice preference)
• 1/4 tsp of minced garlic
• juice of 1/2 a lime
• dash of black pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook noodles according to package. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, make the dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk all of the dressing ingredients together and set aside.
3. Heat the 1 Tbsp of sesame oil in a wok. Sauté the red bell pepper, red cabbage, carrots, and green onions for 5-6 minutes on medium-high heat until the veggies become soft and cooked through.
4. Add the edamame beans and cilantro and continue to stir the veggies around the wok for 2-3 minutes.
5. Turn the heat to low-medium. Add the noodles and sauce to the wok. Continue stirring the noodles so that everything is evenly combined and heated through.
6. Serve the noodles in bowls. Top with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds.

Benefits of this recipe:

-Carrots are very high in Vitamin A, which protects eye health and vision. They are high in antioxidants, can help lower cholesterol, help protect against cancer, improve immunity, boosts skin health, and helps improve brain function.

-Edamame beans are high in protein, helps lower cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, and prevents migraines.

-Cabbage boosts the immune system, fights inflammation and arthritis, reduces osteoporosis risk, and promotes a healthy gut.

The information on the benefits of the ingredients was researched from http://www.healthline.com and http://www.draxe.com

 

 

Chickpea Noodle Soup

The weather is finally becoming chilly here in California, which motivates me to make lots of soups. This high-protein soup is a vegan alternative to the classic chicken noodle soup. Enjoy!

Preparation + Cook Time: 50 minutes

Makes 8-9 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 small yellow onion
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp minced garlic
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• 3 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup of chopped parsley
• 1 Tbsp of finely chopped oregano
• 1 tsp of dried thyme
• 2 cans of chickpeas, drained
• 6 cups of vegetable broth
• juice of 1 lemon
• 3 cups of cooked macaroni (or any kind of noodle)
• salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. In a large soup pot, sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil until they are soft.
2. Add the carrots and celery. Sauté for about 4-5 minutes. Now add the parsley, oregano, thyme, and chickpeas. Keep on medium heat for an additional 4-5 minutes and continue to stir the vegetables around in the pot.
3. Slowly add the vegetable broth and lemon juice to the pot whilst stirring the veggies. Once all the liquid is added, bring to a boil.
4. Once at boiling point, turn the pot down to low and put the lid on. Simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Add the cooked noodles to the pot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Continue to simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
6. Serve up!

Benefits of this recipe:

-Chickpeas help control blood sugar levels, improves digestion because of high fiber content, helps protect against heart disease, is a good source of protein, and contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals such as zinc, folate, phosphorus, and B vitamins.

-Carrots are high in vitamins which are great for your eye sight, skin, and hair.

-Celery helps lower cholesterol, lowers inflammation, treats high blood pressure, protects liver health, and helps digestion.

The benefits of these ingredients were researched from http://www.draxe.com