Summer is here! The sizzling heat of the season will tempt many to indulge in greasy, fast-food restaurants and while an occasional hamburger in the heat is always welcome you should also work on creating healthier fare at home. Taste and nutrition sometimes miss the mark since appetizing doesn’t always mean healthy, and nourishing meals may taste like wood! How does one find a happy medium? Prepare meals by using herbs as the main flavor enhancer. Herbs are usually subtle flavors that go great with lighter food and vegetables. Perfect for hot days or grilling, here are a few recipes that are quick, easy, delicious, and nutritious.
Photo courtesy of AllRecipes
Israeli Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Complexity is the name of this dish’s game. This is not a bowl of tossed mixed greens slathered in harmful fat. This salad’s leafy-greens are those wonderful herbs called parsley and mint. The recipe calls for a nice quantity of the herbs too: one cup of parsley and three tablespoons of mint. The other ingredients are four Roma tomatoes, four English cucumbers, half a purple onion, two tablespoons of garlic, and one red bell pepper. It is coupled with a healthy dressing made of heart smart extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. If you don’t have a whole lemon, lemon juice or even lemon oil will work to give it that tart flavor. If you’re cooking with essential oils, doTERRA says a little drop can go a long way. Just be sure to get it to that perfect flavor combo you like. Chop up the food, sprinkle the dressing and dine!
Simple Garlic and Basil Pesto
In this dish, basil is king! It requires a full three cups of chopped up fresh goodness to give it its subtle flavor. Other components of the concoction include one cup of extra virgin olive oil, a half cup of pine nuts, an eighth cup of Brazil nuts, two-thirds cups of Parmesan cheese, two tablespoons of finely chopped garlic, and half a teaspoon of chili powder. Put all these ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth. Versatility is this pesto’s modus operandi. Cook it with practically anything–from chicken to pasta dishes and enjoy the essence of excellent eating!
Photo courtesy of Kitchn
Lemon Rosemary Salmon
This lovely entrée is a heavenly feast for two that takes only 30 minutes to make. To create this main attraction to a delectable dinner, the cook would need a lemon, two salmon fillets, salt, and one teaspoon of olive oil. The herbal player in this meal is four sprigs of rosemary. The lemon slices along with the rosemary fill the kitchen with their aroma as they season the salmon that is baking in a 400 degree Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) oven for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the olive oil on the salmon to complete it.
Healthy eating doesn’t require great sacrifices in time, money, or taste. It requires a creative mind to combine foods and ingredients like herbs to achieve satisfying results. Enjoy the summer and the chow!
We have added this summer recipe article to the Summer Fun Event!
