Did you see this one coming? This recipe is a combination of my recipes for pico de gallo, refried beans and fried eggs (or scrambled, you choose) on top of a crispy baked corn tortilla. Need I say more?
Ok, I’ll go on. I love Mexican cuisine and its endless variations on basic components. These vegetarian breakfast tostadas are such a fun breakfast option for weekends! They look impressive but each component is quite simple to make.
In fact, if you have leftover pico de gallo and refried beans, these are easy to pull off on a regular weekday. Pile them together and breakfast is served (or dinner!).
The idea for this recipe came from a local restaurant called Tavern. It’s right next door to a bicycle shop where I had been looking for a new bike. At that point I had looked at every bike on the internet and available locally, and my patient boyfriend and I got hungry.
We went next door to Tavern and ordered their “breakfast nachos,” which didn’t look like I thought they would. They were made with crisp, flat, mini corn tortillas piled up like you see here—like mini tostadas! They hit the spot and I knew I had to recreate them.
The post Simple Breakfast Tostadas appeared first on Cookie and Kate.
Say hello to this super easy sugar snap peas with lemon side dish. This sugar snap peas recipe is my go-to side dish recipe when I don’t have a lot of time for preparing a healthy side dish. It comes together in 10 minutes and can be paired with so many of your favorite entrees.
Do you struggle with making dinner? For many, it’s relatively easy to think of the main entree and to keep it clean and healthy. But, for some reason, people run out of ideas when it comes to side dishes and so they stick with the classic options that are not always healthy. You know…fries, mashed potatoes, white rice, pasta, all those usual suspects.
Does this sound familiar?
While these options may be tasty, they are not always very healthy or nutritious. And, while I still like to enjoy them every now and again, on a regular basis, I prefer healthier and more nutritious side dishes, like this sautéed sugar snap peas recipe.
If you’re anything like me, you love to eat fresh, raw snap peas right out of the bag. Guilty. As. Charged. If so, I’m pretty sure you’ll very much enjoy this side dish. It’s the next best thing.
These little snap peas are SO delicious. And this sugar snap peas recipe is simple, flavorful, and super easy.
The lemon zest adds the perfect strong, yet delicate, flavor to the sweet, crunchy snap peas.
Sometimes, if I have it on hand, I also like to throw in some fresh thyme leaves right at the end to add some extra oomph to the snap peas.
All in all, this recipe for snap peas makes a great side dish and takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish. Winner!
Okay — wondering what snap peas and snow peas are and how they’re different? Snap peas and snow peas are both members of the legume family. Also, both of them are climbing plants and are related to garden peas. They are similar, but not the same.
The most noticeable differences are their look and their taste, but the recommended cooking styles for snap peas and snow peas are also different from the cooking style of garden peas.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Snap peas, or sugar snap peas, are basically a cross between garden peas and snow peas. The whole pod is edible and they have a crunchy flavor and sweet taste.
What to do with snap peas:
Eat them raw as a snack <—- LOVE! Use them to make simple side dishes, like this sugar snap peas with lemon Slice them diagonally and toss in a salad for extra crunch.Snow peas, also known as Chinese pea pods, are flat and they have very small peas inside. They have a mild flavor and, as in the case of snap peas, the whole pod can be eaten.
What do to with snow peas:
Eat them raw as a snack. Use them in stir-fries.
Ok, snap peas are delicious but what are the snap pea health benefits? I mean…are snap peas healthy?
Thanks for asking. You know I love ya!
Snap peas are healthy, yes. And they also have numerous health benefits.
Wanna talk about them? Yeah? Ok. Mwah.
Snap peas…
Are high in fiber, which means they help your digestive system to work properly and they regulate your blood sugar levels. Are low in calories. One cup of snap peas contains only 60 calories. Are fat-free and they contain folate. Folate helps to lower the levels of amino acids in your body. Are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C boots our immune system and prevents cold and flu. Contain carotenoid. Carotenoid promotes eye health. Contain calcium. Calcium is good for bone health. Contain iron, which can help in combating anemia.Snap pea nutrition per serving (serving size – 1 cup)
Calories – 60 Fat – 0 Cholesterol – 0 Potassium – 0 Carbs – 10.5g Dietary fiber – 3g Sugars – 4.5g Vitamin A – 8% of the recommended daily dose Vitamin C – 18% of the recommended daily dose Calcium – 6% of the recommended daily dose Iron – 13% of the recommended daily doseAs you can see, sugar snap peas are undoubtedly good for you.
Oooohhhhh SNAP! (Had to!)
I like to buy snap peas that are already de-stringed because it makes them just that much easier to prepare. And… because I can be a little lazy with things like that. At least I’m honest, right?
However, if you want to learn how to trim sugar snap peas, I can teach you. When I’m not lazy, I do it myself. So don’t worry I know how to do it.
How to trim sugar snap peas:
Start with a snap pea in one hand and a paring knife in the other hand. Make sure the inside curve of the pod faces you. Sever the top of the snap pea and you’ll see a tough string that runs along the pod. Pull that string out.That’s it. There’s no need to remove the other string but you can do it if you want.
See? It’s not hard and I know it isn’t but it takes time and, sometimes, I really don’t have that much time on my hands.
Bwahahaha: sometimes!
If you’re not the type of person who enjoys raw snap peas, you’ll need 2 things:
learn how to cook snap peas snap peas recipesThis sautéed sugar snap peas recipe is my top recommendation, but if you learn how to cook snap peas, you’ll have tons of delicious options.
Sugar snap peas are best when they are briefly cooked. Cooking them for too long means ending up with soggy and bitter snap peas. Bleh! You don’t want that so make sure you don’t overcook them.
Perfectly cooked snap peas are green and they maintain a slight crunch. Basically: You want them to — snap — when you bite into them.
Now here are some cooking options for you:
Sauté them for 2 or 3 minutes with olive oil. Season them with salt and pepper and enjoy them. Or, if you want more flavors, use my sugar snap peas recipe. Grill them for 2 or 3 minutes on each side. Season them with salt and pepper and serve them as a side dish. Roast them in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. You can season them with lemon zest or parmesan for extra taste.
Lemon zest is the perfect addition to making snap peas and I LOVE it in this sugar snap pea recipe.
Speaking of lemon zest… Do you know how to zest a lemon properly?
First, you should know that zesting lemons can be done with many kitchen tools like…
lemon zester lemon grater vegetable peeler paring knife kitchen grater microplanerSecondly, follow the steps below if you want to zest a lemon properly:
Wash the lemon thoroughly. Dry the lemon with a paper towel. Make sure that when you’re zesting the lemons, you’re taking off only the yellow part. The white part is bitter and you want to avoid grating it. Tip: to prevent the lemon zest from sticking to the zester or grater, wrap the tool in plastic wrap before grating. When you’re done, pull the plastic wrap from the grater and shake it to transfer the lemon zest to a plate.If you want to use a vegetable peeler or a paring knife to zest lemons…
Carefully peel thin slices of lemon skin. Make sure you stay peel only the yellow layer. Chop finely.
This sugar snap peas recipe is proof that side dishes can be healthy and delicious at the same time. Also quick and easy to make. Do I have other similar side dish recommendations? Of course I do. Here they are:
LEMON ROASTED ASPARAGUSThis Lemon Roasted Asparagus recipe is another side dish recipe that is ready in 10 minutes.
Gotta love these 10-minute recipes, am I right? But that’s not all. This recipe is also easy to prepare, it does not require many ingredients, it tastes super yummy. Oh, the clean up is also super easy. Get the recipe.
GARLIC PARMESAN GREEN BEANSThis Garlic Parmesan Green Beans recipe is not another 10 minutes recipe. It is a 15 minutes recipe.
Green beans are delicious and crunchy, easy to cook and, when paired with garlic and parmesan, they make an amazing side dish for your favorite main dish recipes. Get the recipe.
ROASTED BROCCOLIYou cannot have a healthy side dishes list without a broccoli recipe. So here’s my Roasted Broccoli recipe.
The flavor and texture of this baked broccoli are amazing and I know this side dish will become one of your favorite side dishes. Get the recipe.
Say hello to this super easy sugar snap peas with lemon side dish. This sugar snap peas recipe is my go-to side dish recipe when I don’t have a lot of time for preparing a healthy side dish. It comes together in 10 minutes and can be paired with so many of your favorite entrees.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the snap peas and toss to coat. Cook snap peas for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the lemon zest, salt and pepper (and thyme, if you wish) and cook an additional 3-5 minutes, until the snap peas begin to puff up and are crisp, yet tender. Serve immediately.This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
The post 10 Minute Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon appeared first on A Sweet Pea Chef.
This loaded veggie quesadilla recipe is one the tastiest around—and it’s packed with veggies! It’s perfect for healthy dinner ideas for kids, and adults too.
This post was created in partnership with Applegate. All opinions are our own.
Alex and I try to avoid the “sneaking veggies” into food philosophy and go the other way: loading them in! And this loaded veggie quesadilla recipe is here to prove it. We designed it as a lunch or healthy dinner idea for kids. But honestly: it’s one of my favorite things we’ve made lately! So let’s just say it extends to all people, no matter your age. It’s full of sweet potato, black beans, spinach, cumin, and garlic, and features a new natural American Colby cheese variety that’s just come on the market. Put it over the top and make our Homemade Spinach Tortillas to up your veggie quotient even more! This quesadilla also works for packing in a healthy kids lunch. Keep reading for the recipe and a bit more about the cheese.
OK, so maybe you’re thinking why does anyone need a quesadilla recipe? A quesadilla is as simple as putting two tortillas together and adding cheese! We do agree with you there. On the flip side, we eat a lot of those throw-together quesadillas, and there’s not a lot of nuance in flavor. They satisfy, but lack depth. Now I am not exaggerating when I say that this veggie quesadilla recipe is one of the best quesadillas I’ve had! The reason is that it’s flavored very intentionally, and each component adds something special. Here are all the secrets to this loaded veggie quesadilla recipe:
Cheese: If you’re going to make a standout veggie quesadilla, it’s got to have high quality cheese. We used the American-Style Colby from Applegate’s new Naturals line. Both Alex and I were pleasantly surprised at how well developed the flavor was. It is just the right fit for this quesadilla — we’d recommend trying to find it at your local grocery. While it’s a little non-standard to use cheese slices instead of shredded cheese in a quesadilla, we love how easy it is and that there was no mess on our stovetop! If you prefer shredded cheese, there’s also a shredded variety in Applegate’s Naturals line. Sweet Potato: Sweet potato is our new trick to making a supremely delicious veggie quesadilla. Why? Not only does it add a lightly sweet flavor, it makes the entire quesadilla fluffy and gooey without the need of additional cheese. Plus, it’s packed with nutrients. Black Beans: No real secrets here, but who doesn’t love the perfect combination of sweet potato and black beans? Spinach: Greens are nutrient-dense and undeniably one of the best things for you. This recipe doubles up on spinach, using sauteed spinach in the veggie filling and then spinach in the tortillas themselves! If you have time, making our Homemade Spinach Tortillas is a fun project–especially with kids.We’d recommend making this veggie quesadilla once and measuring all the quantities so you see the general idea. Then later you can get away without measuring and adding in your own veggie substitutes!
Alex and I created this healthy veggie quesadilla recipe using an American-Style Colby in Applegate’s new Naturals line of cheese. Alex and I are pretty picky about the brands we buy and in terms of sustainability, animal welfare, and overall quality. Applegate recently launched a new natural cheese line, with higher standards for cheese sourcing and production. Here’s more about what this cheese line has to offer:
Applegate Naturals Sliced and Shredded Cheese is made with a transparent, traceable milk pool sourced from pasture-raised cows on independent farms in the Midwest. The cows are humanely raised in small herds on pastures, and are never administered antibiotics or growth hormones. The cheese has no added colors, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. To ensure traceability and meet the highest possible standards for GMO avoidance, the new cheese line has been third-party verified by The Non-GMO Project.Where to buy it? Here’s where to buy Applegate Naturals; enter your zip code to find stores.
This veggie quesadilla recipe is great for healthy dinner ideas for kids (and adults, honestly). It went over very well in our house! If you’re looking for more healthy dinner ideas for kids, see these recipes:
Vegetable Hummus Tortilla Rollups (vegan) Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup with Stars (vegan, gluten free) Bliss Bites (vegan, gluten free)
This recipe is…
This Loaded Veggie Quesadillas recipe is vegetarian.* For gluten free, use corn tortillas.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 quesadillas (8 wedges)
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis loaded veggie quesadilla recipe is one the tastiest around—and it’s packed with veggies! It’s perfect for healthy dinner ideas for kids…and adults.
Cook the sweet potato: Cook it in an Instant Pot (note that this method requires 4 sweet potatoes to be cooked at once for the timing to be accurate). Or, you can bake it using these baking instructions, or prick holes in it and microwave it on high for 8-10 minutes until tender, turning halfway through. (Eo this step in advance and refrigerate the sweet potatoes before cooking the quesadilla; the cook time below does not include this step.)
Cook the spinach: Roughly chop the spinach. Warm the olive oil in a skillet and add the spinach, garlic powder, cumin, and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook until spinach is wilted and bright green, about 2 minutes, then remove it to a bowl.
Assemble the tortilla: Cut the sweet potato in half and slide off the skin: place the flesh into a bowl and mash it with a fork. Spread 1/4 cup of the mashed sweet potato onto one tortilla. Drain and rinse the beans, then top the sweet potato with 1/4 cup of the black beans. Sprinkle sweet potatoes and black beans with a pinch of kosher salt. Then top with sprinkles of the cooked spinach (use your hands and leave any liquid at the bottom of the bowl). Top with 2 slices of cheese, tearing it as necessary to fit onto the tortilla. Cover with the second tortilla. Then repeat these instructions for the second quesadilla.
Lightly coat a skillet with olive oil and heat it to medium heat. Place one quesadilla in the pan, cheese side down. Cook for 2 minutes per side until lightly browned and the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and serve. (Note: For lunch boxes, you can keep the quesadilla wedges refrigerated for a few days and place them into lunch boxes each morning.)
*Note: This cheese is made with rennet, which is not fully vegetarian. If you are a strict vegetarian, look for a vegetarian cheese.
Keywords: Quesadilla, Veggie Quesadilla, Healthy Quesadilla, Quesadilla Recipe, Sweet Potato, Black Beans, Spinach Quesadilla, Sweet Potato Quesadilla
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A Couple Cooks - Recipes for Healthy & Whole Living
