Need a mid-day energy boost? These easy, no-bake Maple Walnut Energy Balls combine walnuts, oats, dates, maple syrup and are rolled in diced walnuts for added crunch. Recipe by Crowded Kitchen.
Ingredients
2 cups walnuts, plus 1/4 cup for coating
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup Medjool dates, pitted (about 7 dates)
3 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
Add 2 cups walnuts, oats, dates, maple syrup, vanilla and salt to a food processor. Blend until smooth and the dough forms together into cohesive balls, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Finely dice the remaining 1/4 cup walnuts and add to a plate.
Form the dough into 16 balls and roll each ball in the diced walnuts to coat. Store the energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.
Ditch traditional bread for sweet potato slices for this gluten-free take on classic avocado toast. Diced walnuts offer some added crunch while red pepper flakes kick things up with a little heat. Recipe by Crowded Kitchen.
Ingredients
2 sweet potatoes
2 avocados, thinly sliced
1/2 cup walnuts, diced
1-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, plus more if desired
4 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon flaky salt
Instructions
Slice a small plank off one side of each sweet potato lengthwise. This will act as a base, so you can cut the sweet potato into toast slices easily. Prop the sweet potato on the flat side you created and slice each potato into planks about 1/4 inch thick.
For toaster preparation, pop the sweet potato planks in the toaster and toast until tender. This may take a few times, depending on your toaster.
For oven preparation, preheat your oven to 350° F. Lay the sweet potato planks on a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Roast for 6-7 minutes per side, until they are easily pierced with a fork.
When they’re done toasting, lay the sweet potato toasts on plates and top with sliced avocado. Mash the avocado gently with a fork. Sprinkle with diced walnuts, red pepper flakes and drizzle with olive oil. Top with flaky salt.
Baked apples are a classic fall dessert and this version is made sweeter (and more nutritious) with pecans. Combine pecans, brown sugar and fresh apple slices for a comforting dessert that can be served on its own or alongside ice cream.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup raw pecan pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room-temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
5 apples, cored and cut in half
3 1/3 cups vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch-by-13-inch casserole dish.
In a bowl, combine pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Stir to combine. Using a fork, cut the butter into the brown sugar mixture until it resembles pea-sized crumbs.
Add the apple halves to the prepared casserole dish. Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the top of the apples. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
Serve warm. If you’d like, top each apple with around 2/3 cup ice cream and a generous drizzle of the caramelized brown sugar mixture at the bottom of the pan.
With just a few simple ingredients, whip up these cherry pecan energy bites in under 10 minutes for a nutritious, power-packed snack! Chock full of super foods including pecans, cherries and oats – they’re deliciously packed with nutrients.
Ingredients
1 cup toasted pecan halves or pieces
1 cup dried cherries
4 medjool dates, pitted
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tablespoon cacao powder, plus more for coating
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor.
Pulse until the ingredients begin to bind and form a loose dough-like ball.
Roll into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in cacao powder (optional) and transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 10 to 12 energy bites.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute 1/4 cup of certified gluten-free old-fashioned oats.
The energy balls will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
A fresh Atlantic salmon is gently drizzled with olive oil, lightly coated with a sweet honey and topped with finely crushed pistachios. Recipe by Chef Jesse Brune.
INGREDIENTS
10 ounces of fresh Atlantic salmon (a little more than half a pound)*
½ tablespoon olive oil (optional)
1 tablespoon raw honey
1/4 cup pistachios, finely crushed and chopped
Salt and pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Cut salmon in half to make two 5-ounce pieces. If salmon has skin still attached, leave it on to lock in extra moisture.
Gently drizzle olive oil on salmon, leaving an extremely light coat.
Lightly season with salt and pepper.
Pour honey over salmon halves and gently rub honey into meat using the back of a spoon.
Spread chopped pistachios over flat surface of plate and place glazed portion of the fish onto the pistachios, generously covering surface.
Place pistachio-covered salmon into an oven-safe dish or on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Place in heated oven for 10 minutes or until done (shouldn’t take more than 12 minutes max).
To make sure the salmon is done, gently press surface of fish with a fork. There should be a firm bounce.
Sheet pan dinners make for easy weeknight meal-prep and clean-up. Prepare simple pecan-crusted salmon fillets and Brussels sprouts and place on a single baking sheet for a full meal that’s prepped and cooked in just over 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1/3 cup raw pecan pieces
4 (4 to 6-ounce) salmon filets, skins, removed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup raw pecan halves
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and lightly grease a large baking sheet pan. Place pecan pieces in a wide, shallow dish.
Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper and brush top sides with about 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Press salmon fillets top-side-down into the finely chopped pecans to coat. Arrange salmon fillets in the center of prepared baking sheet.
In a medium bowl, combine Brussels sprouts, remaining olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, pecans halves, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine, then transfer to the sheet pan in a single layer, not touching the salmon.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until Brussels sprouts are fork-tender and salmon is cooked through.
While salmon is baking: in a medium sauce pan bring balsamic vinegar to a boil, continue to boil, stirring throughout, for about 10 minutes until liquid has reduced by half. Remove from heat, stir in honey, and allow to cool until ready to serve. Drizzle over salmon and Brussels sprouts just before serving.
The Italians are renowned for incorporating nuts into pasta, whether pesto or a nut and breadcrumb, parmesan crumble. Often meals in Italy won’t have meat, and the addition of nuts in a vegetable pasta adds protein and lots of other valuable nutrients. The key is finding the right nut for the right vegetable – Brazil nuts are wonderful with mushrooms, peas, cauliflower, broccoli and so much more. Discover your own perfect match!
INGREDIENTS
1 pound preferred pasta (fettuccini, pappardelle, tagliatelle or other long flat pasta are best)
Olive oil
½ cup coarsely chopped Brazil nuts
4 sprigs sage, leaves sliced, saving 4-6 whole
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Zest and juice of ½ lemon
1 large or 2 small shallot, diced
14 ounces wild mushrooms – chanterelle, maitake, oyster, etc.
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook pasta according to directions on packet. Drain and toss through a little olive oil.
Clean the mushrooms and tear into large pieces.
Heat a large fry pan over medium high and add the Brazil nuts. Toss a few minutes to just brown (you’ll smell them becoming aromatic). Transfer to a bowl and toss with the chopped sage, parmesan and lemon zest. Set aside.
Heat a splash of oil in the same pan and fry the whole sage leaves for a few seconds until crisp, it happens quickly. Place on a paper towel.
Add the shallot to the sage scented oil in the pan and cook over medium heat for 1 minute until just softening.
Add the mushrooms and turn heat to high. Cook, stirring till mushrooms start to soften, 4-5 minutes. Add lemon juice and toss through.
Add pasta and Brazil nut mixture and mix until just warmed through adding a little splash of wine if mix is dry.
California walnuts add flavor and texture to crushed herbs and warm pasta in this classic Italian dish. Adapted from Chef/Owner Ethan Stowell, Union Restaurant, Seattle, WA. Kitchen Hack: Use an ice cube tray to save leftover sauce.
INGREDIENTS
3 1/2 cups California walnuts, toasted
4 cups Italian parsley leaves, packed
2 cups Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, freshly grated
4 garlic cloves
1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
4 pounds pappardelle pasta, fresh
1 1/2 cups California walnuts, toasted, chopped
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Place half of the walnuts, parsley, cheese and garlic in food processor; process until finely chopped.
With motor running, slowly pour in half of the oil; purée until smooth. Transfer to bowl and repeat with remaining ingredients, making a total of 2 batches. Season with salt and pepper; set aside. (Makes approximately 4 cups).
Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente, about 3 to 4 minutes. Drain, reserving some of the cooking water. For each serving, toss 2 cups cooked pasta with 1/4 cup Walnut Pesto adding some of the reserved cooking water as required to thin the pesto; toss well to coat evenly.
Transfer to warm pasta bowl; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts and shaved or grated cheese, as desired. Serve immediately.
What’s not to like about this exotic, golden yellow rice bowl, packed with powerful flavors and nutrients, compliments of pistachios, chickpeas, spinach, avocado, and cranberries? Just cook up the flavorful rice, and add the toppings right before eating it. You can also meal prep this recipe and create ready to go meals for lunch or dinner. Recipe by Sharon Palmer, RDN, The Plant-Powered Dietitian.
INGREDIENTS
Turmeric Rice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup brown rice, uncooked
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons turmeric
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups water
1 cube vegetable bullion
1 teaspoon agave syrup
½ lemon, juiced
Toppings
1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed, drained
1 cup pistachios, shelled
½ cup dried cranberries
1 avocado, sliced
1 cup fresh spinach
Extra virgin olive oil (if desired)
INSTRUCTIONS
To Prepare Turmeric Rice
Heat olive oil in a medium pot. Add rice, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and black pepper and sauté for 2 minutes. Add water, vegetable bullion, and agave syrup. Stir well, cover, and cook over medium heat—stirring occasionally to prevent from sticking—for about 40 minutes, until just tender, but not mushy. Stir in lemon juice and remove from heat.
To Prepare Bowls
Divide turmeric rice into bowls (2 for large servings, or 4 for small servings). Divide the toppings among the servings (2 or 4) and arrange on top of the rice: chickpeas, pistachios, dried cranberries, avocado slices, and spinach. Top with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil if desired.
