High Protein Israeli Couscous Salad with Asparagus and Cherry tomatoes

Israeli couscous is actually a type of toasted pasta, and can be used in different ways, besides the most obvious one, which is to serve it as a starchy side dish. In the following recipe, I’ve used it as a base for a high protein colorful salad. The protein in the salad comes from the mix of tofu, chickpeas and Lupini beans. This combination of legumes and grain is highly nutritious, yet fairly light, compared to other proteins.

Cannellini beans, Tuna and Pasta Salad

The tasty pairing of tuna and beans in a salad is known in the Italian kitchen, and it is one of my favorites. As I’m also a fan of tuna-pasta salad, I’ve decided to combine both, as you can see in the following version.

A Few Dishes with Dandelion Greens

Dandelion is known mostly as a seasonal plant, of which all its parts have been used in cooking and traditional medicine from ancient times. To many who are unfamiliar with the plant, the greens are many times considered an invasive weed in fields and gardens, but they are in fact edible and highly nutritious. As I’m not a gardener myself, nor a forager of wild greens, I’ve never tried them, until I recently found them at the store, and decided to buy a bunch.

Artichoke Hearts with Shrimp Saffron Salad

Artichoke season is here, and as I’m a big fan of this unique vegetable (actually, an edible flower bud from the thistle family), I always try to find new ways to serve it. This time I’ve decided to use the artichoke hearts as a bed for serving a tasty shrimps salad.

Pan Fried Turkey Cutlets with Israeli Couscous-Lentil Salad and Roasted Okra

The following dishes can be made and served on their own, or, as I have done here, served together as a quick summer dinner.

BLT Sandwich and Salad

BLT stands for Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato, which are placed between two slices of toasted white bread spread with mayonnaise. It is one of the most popular American sandwiches, and by now is known in many other countries as well. The very simple combination of the main ingredients works so well together, with the saltiness of the bacon, slight acidity and sweetness of the tomatoes and the fresh and crisp lettuce.

Broiled Boneless Chicken Thighs with Two Eggplant Salads

Broiling is a method of cooking that many of us tend to avoid, despite the fact it’s easy to use and can produce quick and tasty dishes, with grill-like flavor, in any ordinary kitchen.

Fennel, Pomelo and Mango Salad with Pan Roasted Honey-Mustard Salmon

This quick and tasty dish combines two simple dishes, that can be served on their own, into one.

Farro, Corn and Crab Salad

A couple of months ago, I’ve decided it’s time to experiment with Farro, an ancient type of wheat that I haven’t yet used. I bought a package and planned to use it, but, as it happens so very often, I forgot all about it. So when I saw THIS recipe for farro and corn salad, on the excellent “Frugal Hausfrau” blog, it immediately caught my eye.

Romaine Lettuce Salad with Halloumi Cheese

On a hot summer day, a fresh salad with some filling additions is all that is needed for lunch or dinner. This colorful salad is full of flavors and textures, and is the perfect example for such a dish.

Celeriac-Apple Soup and Salad

In the winter, I’m always on the look for a nice plump celeriac (also known as celery root), but too often I find small ones, that are only suitable for flavoring vegetable soups and don’t have enough substance to be cooked on their own.  This week I finally got lucky and found one that I could use to make one of my favorite soups – celeriac and apple.