Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Green Herb Sauce

This roasted cauliflower dish is coated in a creamy herb sauce with zesty hints of lemon, topped with a crunch of slivered almonds. This recipe makes about 5 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower, chopped into bite size pieces
• A drizzle of olive oil
• 1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro
• 3/4 cup packed fresh parsley
• 1 avocado
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 1/2 tsp of minced garlic
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of chopped white onion
• 1/4 cup of water
• salt & pepper
• slivered almonds

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the chopped cauliflower onto a baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cauliflower is cooked and slightly golden.
3. In the meantime, make the herb sauce by blending the cilantro, parsley, avocado, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, onion, water, and desired amount of salt & pepper together in a food processor.
4. Once the cauliflower is done cooking, remove from the oven and transfer to a large bowl. Pour the herb sauce on top and mix until everything is evenly coated. Top each serving with slivered almonds.

Benefits of this recipe:

-Cauliflower helps lower cancer risk, fights inflammation, decreases risk of heart disease, provides high levels of vitamins and minerals, improves digestion and detoxification, helps balance hormones, and preserves eye health.

-Avocado protects heart health, aids in better digestive health, protects from diabetes, balances hormones naturally, and boosts your mood. It is also great for keeping your hair, skin, and eyes healthy.

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

 

Pesto Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed cauliflower seems to be a huge buzz right now in the food world. It is a great lower calorie and lower carbohydrate version of mashed potatoes, but tastes just as delicious. I wanted to create a twist to this recipe by making a pesto version of this dish. Enjoy!

Makes 4 servings as a side dish

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower, chopped
• 1 tsp of minced garlic (if you are sensitive to garlic, reduce the amount)
• 1 Tbsp of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil, packed
• 1.5 oz of pine nuts
• 2 tsp of nutritional yeast
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a dash of salt to the pot. Add the chopped cauliflower into the pot. Cover the pot, bring to a simmer, and cook until the cauliflower is fully cooked.
2. Drain the water from the pot and let the cauliflower cool for several minutes.
3. Put the cauliflower in a food processor along with the garlic, olive oil, basil, pine nuts, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and desired amount of salt and pepper. Purée until smooth and creamy, but not liquidy.
4. Transfer the mashed cauliflower back into the pot and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes to incorporate all of the flavors. Serve warm.

Benefits of this recipe:

-Cauliflower helps lower cancer risk, fights inflammation, decreases risk of heart disease, provides high levels of vitamins and minerals, improves digestion and detoxification, helps balance hormones, and preserves eye health.

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

 

Maple Balsamic Brussel Sprouts with Dates & Pistachios

Brussel sprouts are on my list of my all time favorite vegetables! They are very high in nutrients and super easy to cook. I decided to season them in a maple balsamic dressing, sweetened with dates plus pistachios added for some texture. This Brussel sprouts dish tastes great accompanied with some marinara pasta and red wine. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 6 cups of Brussel sprouts, washed and cut into quarters
• 2 Tbsp of olive oil (divided)
• 1/2 a red onion, diced
• 1/4 tsp of minced garlic
• 12 pitted medjool dates, chopped
• 2 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp of maple syrup
• 1 tsp of dried sage
• 1 tsp of dried parsley
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 1/4 cup of pistachios
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper. Put your chopped Brussels on the tray. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the Brussels are cooked through and golden on the edges.
3. Meanwhile, heat a skillet on medium-high heat. Sauté the garlic and onions in 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Once they are soft and are starting to brown, add the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, dates, sage, parsley and lemon juice. Continue to cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes to incorporate all of the flavors together.
4. Once the Brussel sprouts are cooked, remove from the oven and directly transfer them into the skillet. Add the pistachios as well. Mix with a wooden spoon to fully coat the Brussels in the maple balsamic dressing.
5. Serve warm.

Benefits of this recipe:

-Brussel Sprouts are one of the best suppliers of Vitamin K (which keeps your bones healthy), Vitamin C (which boosts immunity),balances blood sugar, improves brain function, and protects eye & skin health

-Dates have high levels of soluble fiber which optimizes digestion. They also decrease cholesterol, boost energy, and boost bone health.

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