Tag

salt

Browsing
30 Minutes or Less

Swiss Chard Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

By
swiss chard salad on a plate with a fork and sunflower seeds on the side

This Swiss chard salad is light, fresh, and crunchy! It’s loaded with healthy vegetables and dressed with a simple red wine and dijon vinaigrette.

swiss chard salad on a plate with a fork and sunflower seeds on the side

Why Swiss Chard?

Swiss chard is a nutritional POWERHOUSE! It’s jam-packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. But before I really get into how healthy this Swiss chard salad is for you, let’s first talk about its taste. Swiss chard is sort of a cross between kale and spinach. It’s not quite as tough as kale, but also not as light as spinach. Swiss chard is most commonly cooked or sautéed to help break down its hearty texture. Though, like any raw fruit or vegetable, when you cook Swiss chard, you lose much of its nutritional benefits.

Admittedly, Swiss chard can be tough to chew when raw. HOWEVER, the method in the Swiss chard salad recipe below provides this veggie with the right ingredients and steps to break down on its own – without any exposure to heat. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s a total win WIN. Swiss chard is a warm-weather vegetable, peaking from early spring to late fall. Unlike other lettuces, it can withstand hotter temperatures making it the last-man-standing during brutal July/August heatwaves. My parents have harvested a large amount of this hearty green vegetable over the last few months. And aside from its health benefits, that was one of the main reasons why I came up with this easy salad recipe!

Ok now back to the nutritional benefits! Swiss chard is full of:

  • Calcium (builds strong bones and teeth)
  • Vitamin C (aids in growth, development, and repair of all body tissues)
  • Iron (gives you energy and is vital to growth and development)
  • Vitamin E (big time antioxidant and protects body against free radicals)
  • Magnesium (supports a healthy immune system and muscle function)
  • Potassium (maintains heartbeat and a healthy blood pressure)
  • Vitamin A (great for skin health and cell growth!)
  • Folate (helps convert carbs into energy)
  • Vitamin K (positively contributes to bone, cognitive, and heart health)
  • Fiber (regulates hunger and blood sugar)

What You Need To Make Swiss Chard Salad

Sunflower Seeds – The sunflower seeds give this easy vegan salad recipe an irresistible crunch! Raw, cooked, unsalted, or salted will all taste equally as delicious in this dish – so use whichever kind you’d like. I went with roasted and salted sunflower seeds and they tasted incredible. This easy-to-find seed acts as a healthier crouton in this Swiss chard salad recipe. However, if you don’t have sunflower seeds, feel free to use any kind of seed or nut you’d like!

Red Wine Vinegar – The acidity in this vinegar is what helps to break down the fibers in swiss chard, therefore making it easier to eat and digest. Red wine vinegar is delightfully tangy, a little fruity, and has just a touch of sweetness. Additionally, I should probably mention just a few of the health benefits of red wine vinegarl. Red wine vinegar has been proven to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as cholesterol. Therefore, as if the swiss chard wasn’t enough, this dressing addition makes this salad even healthier!

Swiss Chard Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Print

Swiss Chard Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Chilling Time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

This Swiss chard salad is light, fresh, and crunchy! It’s loaded with healthy vegetables and dressed with a simple red wine and dijon vinaigrette.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped

  • 1/2 cucumber, sliced

  • 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

  • 4-5 radishes

  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, see Notes

  • For the vinaigrette:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, see Notes

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Mix all vinaigrette ingredients together in a large bowl then add in the vegetables and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes before serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Sunflower Seeds: Feel free to use whatever kind of seed or nut you’d like in place of the sunflower seeds in this recipe! Pumpkin seeds, chopped walnuts, or sliced almonds would also make great additions.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: If you don’t have red wine vinegar, you can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar instead.

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

Other Easy Salad Recipes You’ll Love

View Post
By
30 Minutes or Less

Avocado Crema

By
avocado crema being scooped from a bowl with a tortilla chip

This avocado crema is tangy, creamy, and delicious! Whip this naturally vegan recipe together for friends and family with just five super simple ingredients.

We love a good guac around here. And while yes, guac is pretty easy to make, this avocado crema is even easier! It requires just five easy-to-acquire ingredients and is blended together in a few minutes. Before I forget, I must mention my most FAVORITE thing about this simple recipe. You know how when you make guacamole it pretty quickly turns brown? Well friends. this avocado crema stays bright green for hours! The lime juice gives this recipe a delightfully tangy flavor and helps to preserve the color of this dish. I just love throwing this easy dip recipe together when friends or family come over. Not only does everyone go crazy for it, but it looks delicious and appetizing until it’s all gone!

What You Need To Make Avocado Crema

Avocados – Use perfectly ripe avocados in this recipe. To know when an avocado is ripe, gently but firmly press on the outside. If the avocado gives a little without feeling too mushy, then you know it’s ripe and ready to eat! However, if the avocado feels hard, place it in a plastic bag with a bunch of bananas to help it ripen quickly (typically in a day or two).

Lime Juice – If you love a ton of lime in your guac, you’re gonna go insane for this avocado crema recipe! Loaded with fresh lime juice, it’s incredibly zesty and bright. However, feel free to adjust the amount of lime juice to your preferences. And while fresh lime juice is always best, bottled lime juice will work in this recipe as well.

Garlic – If you’re anything like me, you add garlic to literally everything. A single garlic clove contributes a bit of spice and an essence of that delicious garlic flavor to this simple dip recipe. If you’d like, you can add even more garlic to this recipe or leave it out altogether!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Add Dairy: If you’re not dairy-free, you can add 1/2 cup sour cream to make this avocado crema even creamier!
  • Sub Cilantro: I know a handful of you are averse to cilantro, therefore you can easily swap the cilantro in this recipe for some fresh parsley instead.

Ways To Enjoy This Avocado Crema

  • with chips
  • in tacos
  • in burritos
  • over chicken
  • in salad
  • …or by the spoonful!
Avocado Crema
Print

Avocado Crema

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Total time

5

minutes

This avocado crema is tangy, creamy, and delicious! Whip this naturally vegan recipe together for friends and family with just five super simple ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 4-5 medium-sized ripe avocados

  • 3 tablespoons lime juice

  • 1/4 cup cilantro

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 garlic clove

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Store any leftover avocado crema in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

Other Super Easy 5 Ingredient Recipes

View Post
By
Appetizers

Gluten-Free Baked Tortilla Chips with a Hint of Lime

By
Gluten-Free baked tortilla chips with a side of salsa and beer.

This super easy method to make gluten-free baked tortilla chips at home will have you skipping a trip to the store for the bagged version! With just a hint of lime, these chips are perfectly seasoned and dip well in virtually anything. These gluten-free baked tortilla chips are also much healthier than their deep-fried counterparts.

Gluten-Free baked tortilla chips with a side of salsa and beer.

The Story Behind This Recipe

Not going to lie here, I’m a BIG bagged chip girl. I love a good bag of extra salty potato chips, and that will never change. But when it came to tortilla chips, I’ve always been picky. Trader Joe’s has the best bagged tortilla chips in my opinion, they’re perfectly crispy with a hint of lime. And those were the inspiration behind these gluten-free baked tortilla chips. They taste just as good as the TJ’s ones, but are baked, making them way healthier! These chips taste great with literally EVERYthing. Hummus? YUM. Salsa? Duh! Guacamole? YES PLZ. My next venture will be turning these gluten-free baked tortilla chips into gluten-free and dairy-free nachos! Oh boy, I’m drooling already.

What You Need To Make Gluten-Free Tortilla Chips

Corn Tortillas – Corn tortillas are the gluten-free alternative to flour tortillas. They also yield an incredibly crispy texture once baked, making them just perfect for this recipe!

Spray Cooking Oil – Feel free to use olive or avocado oil instead, but spray cooking oil will make your life a whole lot easier. Simply give the tortillas a quick spritz of oil then continue on with the recipe.

Lime Juice – This ingredient is totally optional, but totally recommended. Lime juice is how we make these gluten-free baked tortilla chips taste like those ones from Trader Joe’s that I was talking about earlier. There’s something about a little lime drizzled over a salty chip that makes it completely irresistible.

How To Make Gluten-Free Tortilla Chips

  • Start by slicing corn tortillas into triangles (aka into the shape of tortilla chips).
  • Then, line them up in a single layer on a baking sheet. It’s important that you do not overcrowd your baking sheet with parchment paper, otherwise your chips won’t be as crispy.
  • Either spray or drizzle the tortilla triangles with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt, and finish off with a drizzling of lime juice. Feel free to add any other seasonings you’d like in this step!
  • Transfer the tortillas to an oven set at 375° Fahrenheit and bake them for at least 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, check your tortilla triangles to see if they’re nice and golden brown all over. If they’re not completely golden brown, continue baking for a few more minutes.
  • Lastly, remove the gluten-free baked tortilla chips from the oven and let them cool on a baking sheet for 30 minutes. The chips won’t be super crispy when you remove them from the oven, but they will continue to crisp up as they cool! Do not cut the cooling time short, use the full 30 minutes before serving.
Gluten-Free Baked Tortilla Chips with a Hint of Lime
Print

Gluten-Free Baked Tortilla Chips with a Hint of Lime

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

24

ounces
Cooking time

15

minutes
Cooling Time

30

minutes
Total time

45

minutes

This super easy method to make gluten-free baked tortilla chips at home will have you skipping a trip to the store for the bagged version! With just a hint of lime, the sechips are perfectly seasoned and dip well in virtually anything. These gluten-free baked tortilla chips are also much healthier than their deep-fried counterparts.

Ingredients

  • 16 corn tortillas, see Notes

  • spray cooking oil, see Notes

  • 1 tablespoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cut each tortilla into 6 triangles.
  • Place the tortilla triangles in a single layer on the baking sheet and spray with cooking oil, drizzle with lime juice, then sprinkle with salt.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cool on baking sheet for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Corn Tortillas: If you’re not gluten-free, you can use flour tortillas instead!
  • Spray Cooking Oil: If you don’t have spray cooking oil, you can use a drizzle of olive oil or avocado oil instead.

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

More Easy Gluten-Free Recipes You’ll Love

View Post
By
30 Minutes or Less

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

By
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

These air fryer sweet potato fries possess that deep-fryer crispiness, without actually being deep-fried! I played around with cooking times and can confidently say I’ve achieved the crispiest air fried sweet potato fries possible. Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, I’ve included an oven baked option that still yields incredibly crispy fries – you’re welcome!

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

The air fryer is truly the kitchen device of the century. I only just got my hands on one a couple months ago and holy moly it changed the homemade fry game for me, forever. The secret to these crispy sweet potato fries is working in batches when you air fry them. Just a single layer at a time, avoiding cramming too many into the air fryer, will give you the crispiest non-deep-fried sweet potato fry of all time.

No air fryer? No problem! See below for an oven baked option.

What You Need To Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet Potatoes – The star of our show! You can use any variety of sweet potatoes you’d like for this recipe. Just remember, peel them and then slice them into thin matchsticks. Thinner = crispier. And try your best to cut them as evenly as possible, so that they “fry” evenly.

Olive Oil – My oil of choice, but you can use whatever kind of oil you’d like here. Just one tablespoon is all you’ll need, that’s A LOT less oil than if you deep-fried these!

Salt – Duh! Salt is non-negotiable for fries of any kind. I start small with the salt in this recipe and add a little more when my fries are done. You can, of course, salt to your preference.

Garlic Powder – This is my little special touch. I love the extra flavor farlic powder gives these fries, and I promise you will too. Though if you’re not a garlic fan (how?!), then you can leave this ingredient out.

Sweet Potato Fries Steps
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Print

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

These air fryer sweet potato fries possess that deep-fryer crispiness, without actually being deep-fried! I played around with cooking times and can confidently say I’ve achieved the crispiest air fried sweet potato fries possible. Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, I’ve included an oven baked option that still yields incredibly crispy fries – you’re welcome!

Ingredients

  • 2 Large Sweet Potatoes, see NOTES

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

  • 1 Teaspoon Salt

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Directions

  • In the air fryer:
  • Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit. While the air fryer preheats, peel and slice sweet potatoes into 1/4-inch sticks.
  • Toss sweet potatoes in a bowl with olive oil, salt and garlic powder. Make sure each fry is evenly coated in oil and spices.
  • Transfer a third of the potatoes to the air fryer, then spread in an even layer and cook for 15 minutes. Pause air fryer to shake pan halfway through.
  • Remove fries and repeat for remaining batches.
  • In the oven:
  • Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit. While the air fryer preheats, peel and slice sweet potatoes into 1/4-inch sticks.
  • Toss sweet potatoes in a bowl with olive oil, salt and garlic powder. Make sure each fry is evenly coated in oil and spices.
  • Spread potatoes in an even layer on a large baking sheet – space fries about 1/8-inch apart.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Notes

  • Sweet Potatoes: Use any variety of sweet potatoes you’d like, white sweet potatoes are my favorite!

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

Other Easy Recipes You’ll Love

View Post
By