There’s been a big push in recent years to eat seasonally, and it’s not hard to see why. Summer’s strawberries and winter’s leafy greens have so much more flavor (and nutrients!) than their out-of-season counterparts. While it’s true that you can find asparagus on grocery store shelves year round, this spring vegetable is technically only in season from late April to June. I’m admittedly late to the game and have only recently begun to appreciate asparagus’ amazing versatility. But when it comes down to it, it’s hard to find a dish that the addition of this green doesn’t make better—and the best asparagus recipes are all the proof you need.

From grilling skinny spears at the family barbecue to shaving plump asparagus stalks into salads, asparagus leaves you with plenty of room to experiment. When it comes down to it, you really can’t go wrong with this naturally delicious veg. Keep scrolling to see how many ways you can take asparagus from ordinary to extraordinary. Of course, if you want to keep things simple and streamlined, asparagus will never let you down. And I’d love to know in the comments—what’s your favorite way to cook asparagus?

Featured image by Suruchi Avasthi.

The Best Asparagus Recipes to Make This Spring

Spring Potato Pizza with Asparagus and Burrata

Why We Love It: If you aren’t putting potatoes on your pizza, you’re doing it wrong. This is the perfect pizza for spring, with its mix of greens, crunch veg (asparagus!), and creamy, delicious burrata. It’s easy enough for a special weeknight meal and will be right at home at your Saturday night dinner party.

Hero Ingredient: Again, the potatoes bring the party. They lend sustenance to this pizza that’s perfectly balanced by those spring greens and asparagus. I mean, when are they ever a bad idea?

One Pot Parmesan Orzo

Why We Love It: Haven’t cooked with orzo yet? It’s time to get familiar. Contrary to popular belief, though it looks like rice, orzo is actually pasta. This cheesy, hearty one-pot meal is lightened up with the addition of seasonal veggies. In addition to asparagus, you have zucchini, leeks, peas, and kale to balance out all the heavy ream and parmesan.

Hero Ingredient: The freshest green peas, please.

Grilled Peach and Asparagus Salad with Spicy Pepitas, Cashew Mozzarella, and Goji Chipotle Dressing

Why We Love It: This salad is the definition of fresh. Sweet peaches, bright lemon peel, blanched asparagus, and creamy cashew mozzarella make a perfect lunch.

Hero Ingredient: Goji chipotle dressing is the ideal mix of sweet and spicy.

Big Green Immunity-Boosting Vegetable Soup

Why We Love It: We have a thing for soups at Camille Styles. They’re an easy (and delicious!) way to pack a ton of nutrients into one delicious bowl. Plus, of course, most recipes are a breeze to make. If you’ve never thought of asparagus as a veggie to add to your soup, think again. And be sure to try this deliciously simple (and endlessly versatile) take.

Hero Ingredient: Soaked cashews bring body and creamy goodness to this virtuous soup.

Spring Herbs and Roasted Potato Salad

Why We Love It: This isn’t your grandmother’s potato salad (although we love a retro recipe). If you find yourself in a salad rut, working with what the season gives you is a good place to start. This salad packs plenty of bright flavor from the tahini-herb dressing and gets bulked up thanks to the baby Yukon gold potatoes. Consider yourself inspired.

Hero Ingredient: Mint, parsley, dill, chives—the herbs bring so much, it’s hard to pick a favorite.

Pesto Pasta Primavera

Why We Love It: Nothing says spring quite like peas and asparagus. Paired with one of our favorite pasta shells, this recipe will take you straight to flavor town.

Hero Ingredient: Tahini is the surprising creamy centerpiece that ties this pasta together. Spoon up a plate and take this light pasta to the patio to enjoy with a chilled glass of white. It just screams spring.

Asparagus, Quinoa, & Rice Salad with Goat Cheese & Maple-Tahini Dressing

Why We Love It: Black rice paired with crunchy almonds and asparagus spears is a textural match made in heaven. Drizzle with some good olive oil and add lemon juice for a zesty touch.

Hero Ingredient: Roasted and salted almonds bring all the crunchy texture.

Asparagus Gruyere Frittata

Why We Love It: Frittatas are the easiest way to make the most of the season’s produce—and to clean out the vegetable crisper before anything goes bad. This simple six-ingredient dish pairs fresh asparagus with nutty gruyere for the perfect spring dinner. Pair with a green salad and a crisp glass of wine for the ideal weeknight meal.

Hero Ingredient: Mild and creamy, gruyere was made for frittatas.

Asparagus and Gruyère Tart from What’s Gaby Cooking

Why We Love It: We’re all about sweet tarts, but this savory version has us rethinking them altogether. Try it and taste the difference for yourself. I guarantee you’ll be back for seconds.

Hero Ingredient: Store-bought puff pastry lets this tart come together in no time. It’s perfect for a quick appetizer, lunch, or light dinner.

Farro Salad with Grilled Asparagus from Love & Lemons

Why We Love It: All of spring’s bounty, all in one dish. The creamy Dijon dressing takes it to the next level.

Hero Ingredient: Never doubt capers’ briny beauty. They’re the tart and salty hero of this salad. Sprinkle them on generously.

Lemony Shaved Fennel Asparagus Salad from The First Mess

Why We Love It: This salad is proof of asparagus’ endless versatility. Fresh, thin wisps of asparagus and fennel are made extra hearty mixed in with farro, white beans, and ground pistachios. It makes for a lovely light lunch or works as a tasty side to any main dish you’re serving this spring.

Hero Ingredient: Bits of salty pistachios in every bite? Yes, please.

This post was originally published on April 17, 2015 and has since been updated.

The post Spring Into the Season With These Swoon-Worthy Asparagus Recipes appeared first on Camille Styles.

There’s nothing quite like treating yourself to an ice cream cone as soon as the warm weather hits. Sweet, creamy, rich, and cooling, you simply can’t beat this classic treat. We’ve located 25 healthy ice cream recipes that are just as delicious as the real deal— minus the feeling that you’ve devoured a pure dairy and sugar bomb (which from experience, is not ideal while trying to fall asleep on a hot night).

These healthful alternatives put a lighter spin on some of our favorite ice cream flavors. (No sacrificing taste here!) And one of the nice things about DIY’ing your own ice cream situation is that you’ll know that your cone or cup will be totally free of any preservatives or artificial sweeteners.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

And before you think that not owning an ice cream maker takes you out of the homemade, dairy-free ice cream cake, don’t fret. Most of these healthy ice cream recipes can be done with a hand mixer, blender, or just some good old-fashioned elbow grease. And while we’ve included a few “nice cream” recipes involving frozen bananas, there’s no shortage of gluten-free, keto, paleo, and vegan options below.

So regardless of your or your loved ones’ dietary restrictions, everyone can enjoy one of these scrumptious and healthy ice cream recipes.

25 Healthy Ice Cream Recipes to Satisfy Your Summer Sweet Tooth

Golden Milk Latte Ice Cream

Why We Love It: Turmeric is chock-full of health benefits, and it’s the star of this luscious ice cream recipe. The spice also boasts an impressive mix of cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and peppercorns to drive home the flavor.

Hero Ingredient: Parle-G biscuits are the unsung hero of this delectable dessert. Or, if you prefer Biscoff cookies like me, crush up a few extra for mix-ins. And use lots of candied ginger. It’s like Cold Stone Creamery, at home.

Mango Basil No-Churn Ice Cream

Why We Love It: This refreshing ice cream recipe is dairy-free and uses coconut milk as its base. And, you can make it all in the blender! Since it uses frozen mango, all you have to do is blend it up and you can enjoy right away. My kind of dessert.

Hero Ingredient: The basil shines here and delivers a nice herbal tone, complementing the sweet/tart mango really well.

Mango Melon Sorbet

Why We Love It: Get out your food processor, because this mango melon sorbet is the perfect summer dessert. All you need for this vegan delight is some melon, mango, bananas, and coconut syrup. This silky sorbet is best enjoyed poolside.

Hero Ingredient: I’m going with the bananas here. They bring a creamy texture to this sorbet that might be unexpected but is definitely appreciated.

Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Ice Cream from Eating Bird Food

Why We Love It: Oatmeal raisin cookies are one of my go-to desserts, and this ice cream is giving all of their flavors and more. Thanks to the frozen bananas used as this sweet-treats’ base, this ice cream is high in fiber and low in sugar.

Hero Ingredient: A hint of cinnamon makes this ice cream taste like you’re biting into a cozy oatmeal cookie.

Paleo Blueberry Crumble Ice Cream From Fed and Fit

Why We Love It: This ice cream takes all the beloved flavors and textures of a blueberry crumble and puts them into ice cream form. What could be better? Creamy and crumbly, all wrapped up in one delicious scoop.

Hero Ingredient: We can’t get enough of this gorgeous tart blueberry jam swirl and cashew cookie crumble.

Chocolate Tahini Banana Soft Serve From Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: Soft serve is ice cream at its best. Not only is this chocolate and tahini take on “nice cream” absolutely delicious, but all you need is 5-10 minutes, one bowl, and four ingredients to make this healthy ice cream recipe.

Hero Ingredient: A pinch of sea salt pulls out all of that nutty tahini flavor and enhances the richness of this tasty treat.

Chunky Monkey Banana Ice Cream From Food Faith Fitness

Why We Love It: Whip up this peanut butter banana ice cream in just five minutes then top with gluten-free brownies and nuts. Healthy, delicious, and ready to eat.

Hero Ingredient: Lots of salty peanuts are the garnish you’ve been looking for. They hold the key to texture-town when it comes to this ice cream.

Chocolate Sweet Potato Ice Cream From Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Why We Love It: Sweet potato gives this healthy ice cream recipe a smooth, creamy texture as well as tons of nutrients. Just grab some chocolate, coconut sugar, and coconut milk and you’re ready to go.

Hero Ingredient: Vanilla and sea salt pull all of that chocolatey goodness to the forefront.

Chocolate and Pomegranate Ice Cream from Food Faith Fitness

Why We Love It: Arguably one of the most delicious healthy ice cream recipes that’s easy to make and gluten-free. Sign us up.

Hero Ingredient: A little bite of pomegranate in every bite is a welcome surprise.

Coconut Keto Ice Cream From The Recipe Critic

Why We Love It: If you’re a fan of coconut, then this is the recipe for you. It’s creamy, decadent, and tastes just as good as it looks. Plus, it’s a super basic recipe with only four ingredients and 15 hands-on minutes standing between you and a cool treat. Who’s drooling now?

Hero Ingredient: Because this recipe is super simple, it leaves lots of room for customization. Feel free to throw in whatever ingredients you have on hand or are craving. Some that come to mind are cherries, peaches, graham crackers, nuts, and hot fudge… yum.

Chocolate Coffee Nice Cream from Half-Baked Harvest

Why We Love It: Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and oh-so-delicious. All you need are six ingredients, five minutes, and patience as your nice cream firms up in the freezer. The last step is definitely the most difficult.

Hero Ingredient: Dates lay the foundation for this nice cream right alongside the bananas. They counterbalance the cocoa powder and bring a welcome sweetness, though they’re not overly saturating. If you’re not a fan of dates, though, maple syrup makes for a good substitute.

Cookie Dough Blizzard Ice Cream from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: Although a blizzard could possibly fall in the milkshake camp, I firmly believe it’s an ice cream treat. This vegan, gluten-free recipe features a banana base and just a few additional ingredients that you probably already have in the pantry.

Hero Ingredient: The cookie dough, obviously.

Cherry Ice Cream From Erren’s Kitchen

Why We Love It: To say that I’m obsessed with this cherry ice cream recipe is an understatement. It utilizes the juice from frozen cherries to make simple syrup, sweetening the ice cream without adding extra sugar. YUM!

Hero Ingredient: The cherries are definitely delicious, and this recipe’s namesake, but you can get playful with other fruits and flavor combinations. Think blackberries and lime zest, frozen peaches, blueberries, and lemon zest. The list goes on.

Butterscotch Swirl Pumpkin Cookie Dough Ice Cream from Full of Plants

Why We Love It: You might be looking at this ice cream and wondering, “how on EARTH is that healthy?” The ice cream base is made of raw cashews and coconut cream and it’s sweetened with coconut syrup that gives it a delicious caramel flavor. The proof is in the pudding… er, ice cream.

Hero Ingredient: Just look at that salted caramel. I have no words.

Vegan Chocolate Nice Cream From Fit Foodie Finds

Why We Love It: On the opposite end of the complexity spectrum, this recipe keeps it simple and vegan with just almond milk, bananas, cocoa powder, and vanilla. An everyday ice cream, if you will. Make a big batch of this tasty treat to enjoy all week long!

Hero Ingredient: This is another blend-and-enjoy recipe, so you don’t even have to wait for it to freeze. Talk about a hero method.

Healthy Ice Cream Sandwiches from Fork and Beans

Why We Love It: Ok, I know it’s technically not just ice cream—it’s even better. Ice cream sandwiches (gasp)! And, the peanut butter cookies are healthy, too, so you can consider your bases covered.

Hero Ingredient: The peanut butter oatmeal cookies provide the best foundation for that creamy banana ice cream. The best part? It’s all handheld.

Coffee Coconut Ice Cream from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: I don’t know about you, but coffee is one of my favorite ice cream flavors. This recipe combines it with coconut milk, vanilla, and sugar to make a delicious treat that incorporates that unbeatable coffee flavor.

Hero Ingredient: Strong coffee is key.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream From Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: It wouldn’t be a complete list of healthy ice cream recipes without mint chocolate chip. A classic combo, this recipe lightens things up with almond milk, coconut milk, maple syrup, and cashew butter. And, it’s completely vegan, so those following a vegan diet can enjoy it, too. Make your minty dreams a reality.

Hero Ingredient: Chocolate shavings top things off in style. And they literally melt in your mouth.

Chai Coconut Ice Cream From Cookie and Kate

Why We Love It: Get your tea brewing, because this recipe has all the warm chai notes that are great year-round. Honey is the only sweetener here, so you don’t have to worry about added sugars, and coconut milk is the creamy agent that makes this so yummy.

Hero Ingredient: The spice mix is next level. Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and allspice. Yum, just yum.

Healthy Blender Raspberry Ice Cream from Primavera Kitchen

Why We Love It: Greek yogurt, raspberries, honey, almond milk (or a sub of your choice), and bananas are probably all things you have on hand, which is what makes this healthy ice cream recipe so great. If you’re in need of a cool, tart treat, this recipe is definitely for you.

Hero Ingredient: I’ve always liked the idea of using honey to sweeten things up. You get a nice floral flavor that sugar just can’t provide.

Protein Ice Cream from Eating Bird Food

Why We Love It: If you’re anything like me, you know it can be a daily challenge to meet your recommended protein intake. What better way to incorporate a bit of extra protein than in your mid-day snack or dessert?

Hero Ingredient: Throw in any chocolate protein powder of your choice.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Coconut Milk Ice Cream From Heartbeet Kitchen

Why We Love It: Coconut is quickly becoming a flavor I strive to incorporate in all of my desserts. This recipe only takes eight ingredients and is naturally sweetened. Bonus points for also being vegan!

Hero Ingredient: Crunchy chocolate chips are never a bad idea.

Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream from Sandhya’s Kitchen

Why We Love It: Ice cream and cheesecake— two of my all-time favorite sugar-filled desserts. This ice cream is the best alternative I’ve found to the sugar crash that comes with normal cheesecake, made from fat-free cottage cheese and unsweetened almond milk.

Hero Ingredient: This recipe wouldn’t be the same without fresh (and frozen) strawberries!

Vegan Chocolate Avocado Ice Cream from Jessica in the Kitchen

Why We Love It: You may be skeptical about throwing avocado into something as sacred as ice cream, but trust me, it won’t disappoint. Avocado is a rich and flavorful alternative that keeps this recipe dairy-free. As a result, this ice cream is full of healthy fats and no refined sugar.

Hero Ingredient: Avocado takes the cake as the top ingredient in this recipe.

Dairy-Free Rocky Road Ice Cream from Feasting on Fruit

Why We Love It: I will always be a rocky road girl at heart, but sometimes loads of unhealthy ingredients that make this ice cream so delicious steer me away. Luckily, this recipe takes the same nostalgia-inducing flavors and creates a lighter and healthier alternative.

Hero Ingredient: Coconut cream is the key to your ultra-creamy base.

This post was originally published on May 14, 2021, and has since been updated.

The post Get Ready to Melt Over These 25 Healthy Ice Cream Recipes appeared first on Camille Styles.

While eating gluten-free has become a widespread dietary approach, learning to cook gluten-free isn’t always a walk in the park. But cutting gluten out of your diet or cooking for a gluten-free family member doesn’t mean eliminating delicious foods—in fact, far from it. While countless recipes exist for delicious gluten-free entrées, we always find it a little more challenging to come up with unique and flavorful gluten-free side dishes. So as we’ve honed in on our favorites through the years, we’ve rounded up the best-of-the-best so you can return to them for every menu-planning occasion. With this cheat sheet in hand, you’ll never have to worry about accidentally “glutening” your gluten-free friends again.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

What is gluten?

I’ve been cooking gluten-free dishes for family members for quite a few years now. But the most commonly asked question I get when mentioning a gluten-free dish is, “what is gluten?” Put simply, gluten is a protein found in the majority of grain-based foods we eat. It acts as a binder that holds foods together and adds a quality of elasticity (think of your soft and pullable loaf of sourdough).

Fortunately, gluten-free alternatives for wheat-filled favorites like bread and pasta are fairly simple to find in your local grocery store. If you’re looking for gluten-free inspo for your next family meal or dinner party, look no further! These gluten-free side dishes are ready to be savored by everyone.

25 Gluten-Free Side Dishes for Every Occasion

Grilled Zucchini with Chile Mint Vinaigrette

Why We Love It: One of the peak moments of my early adulthood was realizing zucchini’s potential. Grilling this veggie adds a crunchy texture that complements its soft interior. The chile mint vinaigrette takes zucchini to the next level with a tiny kick of heat.

Hero Ingredient: The lemon zest adds the perfect tanginess to this vinaigrette.

Gluten-Free Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Why We Love It: Cauliflower rice is one of those cooking pains I typically avoid making from scratch. Luckily, this recipe leaves the option for subbing in a bag of frozen rice as a faster alternative. A variety of delicious toppings pair perfectly with the lemon and mustard seed vinaigrette that together create one of the most well-flavored side dishes for spring!

Hero Ingredient: Dried cranberries bring a great burst of flavor.

Roasted Heirloom Carrots With Wild Rice And Tahini

Why We Love It: Simple, delicious, and bonus— they’re super healthy! Nutrition consultant Edie Horstman knows the best ways to keep blood sugar balanced with her tasty recipes. To keep this dish gluten-free, wild rice is the way to go. Additionally, you could make this dish vegan by omitting cheese or using a plant-based option.

Hero Ingredient: Tahini is the perfect pairing for any root vegetables, including these tasty roasted carrots.

Spring Crudité with Green Goddess Dressing

Why We Love It: Crudité, (translation: “raw things”) is a plate full of amazing fresh ingredients and a delicious dipping sauce. This crudité is perfect for spring and beyond—consisting of chopped veggies and a savory green goddess dressing that’ll have your friends begging for the recipe.

Hero Ingredient: Greek yogurt is the perfect tangy and sweet base for this green goddess dressing.

Strawberry & Arugula Salad With Spring Herbs & Goat Cheese

Why We Love It: Everything about this strawberry and arugula salad screams warm weather. Gluten-free side dishes like these are the perfect party pleaser for all of your upcoming get-togethers. The dressing for this salad is filled with zesty and sweet flavors like Dijon mustard and honey.

Hero Ingredient: Goat cheese is an elite topping for any spring salad.

Sweet & Sour Cider Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Dates & Pecans

Why We Love It: Hot take— Brussels sprouts have never been my favorite. Call it immaturity or undeveloped taste buds, but unless they’re packed with flavor, I’ll probably pass. These Brussels sprouts—spicy and charred—are one of the exceptions. Their crispiness combats any fear you may have about soggy and flavorless veggies.

Hero Ingredient: One cup of apple cider may change the way you think about Brussels sprouts. (At least, I’m tempted to think so.)

Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey-Shallot Vinaigrette

Why We Love It: Chopped salads are a simple way to include tons of nutrient-filled toppings into just one bowl. This recipe uses marinated chickpeas (a great recipe to keep in your cookbook!), goat cheese, and a honey-shallot vinaigrette. Kale, spinach, or any fresh greens of your choice will make a great base for this salad.

Hero Ingredient: Chickpeas aren’t just delicious, they’re also a great source of fiber and protein!

Mango and Feta Salad

Why We Love It: This mango and feta salad is perfectly refreshing and won’t keep you tied up in the kitchen over a side dish. Sometimes all you need is fresh fruit to reset your gut (and maybe your mood). Feta cheese adds a bit of creaminess that doesn’t overpower your fruit.

Hero Ingredient: Chopped pistachios add a lovely nuttiness to this simple salad.

Salt & Vinegar Crispy Potatoes

Why We Love It: I don’t know if it’s reasonable to love an ingredient as much as I love potatoes. They’re one of my go-to sides simply because of their versatility. It couldn’t be easier to whip up a gluten-free side than these potatoes, which only require apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, baby potatoes, and olive oil.

Hero Ingredient: Top with chives for a bright green garnish.

White Bean & Raddichio Salad

Why We Love It: Raddichio is one of the most Instagram-worthy ingredients you absolutely need to try this season. Cannellini beans are an excellent nutrition bump-up, providing everything from fiber to iron to magnesium.

Hero Ingredient: Parmigiano Reggiano? A top-tier topping.

Clarksville Kale Crunch Salad from Swedish Hill

Why We Love It: Whenever I see a kale salad on the dinner table, I know that it’s unlikely I’ll be disappointed. Kale pairs well with so many bold flavors, such as this recipe’s delicious hot honey dressing.

Hero Ingredient: I couldn’t imagine this salad without roasted pumpkin seeds.

Carrot Turmeric Hummus

Why We Love It: Hummus is one of those side dishes that everyone gets excited about when it appears on the table. With the health benefits of turmeric and the flavor of fresh lemons and carrots, this recipe is sure to be a hit wherever it’s served.

Hero Ingredient: Fresh vegetable crudités pair well with this mouth-watering hummus. The crunchy/creamy combo is unmatched.

Whole Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Why We Love It: Roasted sweet potatoes are a versatile side that pairs well with almost any cuisine. Creamy toppings like sour cream and crunchy toppings like nuts and seeds complete this stunning starch.

Hero Ingredient: Add a pinch of salt or a dash of red pepper to enhance your sweet potato flavor.

Grilled Peach and Asparagus Salad With Spicy Pepitas 

Why We Love It: Fruit in salads is highly underrated, and these grilled peaches attest to that statement in full force. This salad is the perfect summer side that’s balanced with sweet and spicy flavor profiles.

Hero Ingredient: Spicy pepitas add a lovely texture to this already gorgeous salad.

Squash Hummus With Whole Tahini & Pumpkin Seeds

Why We Love It: Squash as a base for savory hummus is a great way to divert from the traditional hummus flavors. Tahini paste and sauce add great flavor while still keeping this delicious dip gluten-free.

Hero Ingredient: Tahini sauce, served in the center of your spread, is more than just a pretty topping.

Vegan Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

Why We Love It: Mac & cheese is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. This recipe is a healthy twist on the homey dish we all know and love. This dish is easily made gluten- (and dairy) free by subbing in gluten-free pasta.

Hero Ingredient: I love sprinkling my mac & cheese with a bit of paprika for a smoky flavor.

Glazed Pear Flatbread with Prosciutto, Walnuts & Goat Cheese

Why We Love It: Hot take: flatbreads don’t have to be reserved for an entrée. I love a good flatbread as an appetizer before a hearty meal. This gluten-free flatbread contains fresh flavors like pear and prosciutto that won’t leave you uncomfortably full.

Hero Ingredient: Peppery arugula is a gorgeous green addition.

Shredded Kale & Cranberry Salad with Crispy Tofu

Why We Love It: Crispy tofu is great on its own, but it’s a game-changing addition to bowls and salads. I’m a bit obsessed with this kale salad and its citrus-ginger dressing that brings all the tanginess and flavor.

Hero Ingredient: I love the addition of fresh herbs to this bright and zesty salad.

Faux Parmesan Cauliflower “Potatoes”

Why We Love It: Given their creamy texture and rich flavor, you’d never guess these “potatoes” are a virtuous swap to the heavier classic. These faux mashed potatoes use cauliflower as their base for a healthier and lighter alternative.

Hero Ingredient: Yes, they’re lighter than regular mashed potatoes, but don’t you dare skimp on the butter!

Mint Tzatziki with Endive, Romaine, & Sugar Snaps

Why We Love It: The traditional Greek dip, known as tzatziki, serves as a great side, dip, or topping for a variety of different foods. From fresh veggies like romaine and sugar snaps to grilled chicken or lamb, tzatziki does it all and doesn’t disappoint.

Hero Ingredient: Mint delivers fresh flavor that’s oh-so-springy.

Green Pea Guacamole

Why We Love It: Guacamole never goes uneaten in my house. This recipe makes pleasing a crowd beyond simple and avoids some of the unhealthier ingredients you may find in traditional guac.

Hero Ingredient: Bet you’ve never seen green peas in your guacamole!

Creamy Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: Everything about this caramelized onion dip has my heart. It’s creamy, salty, sweet, and irresistibly satisfying. It’s also made with silken tofu, so you can count on this dip to be packed with protein.

Hero Ingredient: I add caramelized onions to just about everything.

Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip from Eating Bird Food

Why We Love It: I never fail to get excited when I see spinach artichoke dip on the table. While this is a healthier version of the classic dip, it still contains the creamy texture we know and love. Serve with any gluten-free chip of your choice!

Hero Ingredient: Sub your traditional cream cheese for Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. It’s lighter, with a little more tang.

The Best Vegan Nachos from Rainbow Plant Life

Why We Love It: A good platter of nachos will make anyone happy, and keeping this dish gluten-free makes it a healthy and delicious side. Use tamari as a sub for soy sauce to keep this platter free from gluten.

Hero Ingredient: Vegan queso is easy on the digestive system and packed with flavor.

Gluten Free Au Gratin Potatoes from The Rustic Foodie

Why We Love It: Au gratin potatoes are pure comfort food. By making them gluten-free, they become a side dish that virtually anyone can enjoy. These potatoes are cheesy, creamy, and simply divine.

Hero Ingredient: Gruyère cheese will enhance just about any dish.

The post 25 Gluten-Free Side Dishes For Every Mood and Every Meal appeared first on Camille Styles.

Summer’s arrival marks a special time for the culinary world. Summer fruits and veggies are coming up roses and it’s time to use them to their fullest. We know all about the abundant benefits of eating seasonally, so it’s time to incorporate all of our favorite produce into vegan lunch ideas for lunch on the go, at the desk, or al fresco. Consider this your guide to incorporating seasonal foods into your diet without dedicating an entire afternoon to making healthy meals a reality.

Lunchtime looks different for everyone, and for me, it looks different almost every day. It’s such a joy when I can dedicate a few minutes in the afternoon to take an intentional lunch break. Actually sitting down, unplugging from a busy day, and savoring my midday fuel is just the brain break I need to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the afternoon.

But as much as I’d love to make that the standard, life usually finds a way to throw a wrench into my bliss. (Relatable? Thought so.) To preserve said bliss, I find that being intentional about my weekly meals allows space for that enjoyment on even my busiest days. And that’s exactly where vegan lunch ideas come into play.

Featured Image by Michelle Nash.

30 Vegan Lunch Ideas to Maximize Your Lunch Hour

In addition to busy weekdays, being too enthusiastic during my Sunday grocery run almost always leads to trouble at the end of the week. Those mushrooms and tomatoes I bought with every intention of making something healthy frequently fall victim to a pre-prepped meal from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s—which I can take from fridge to fork in under 10 minutes. But when it’s all said and done, I can’t stand the guilt of both money and food wasted as my produce drawer serves some up serious side eye. It’s just devastating.

To combat that guilt-inducing waste and incorporate more fruits and veggies into my diet, I often turn to meals that are full of produce without sacrificing precious daylight hours in the making. If—like me—you find yourself struggling to maximize lunch hour, these vegan lunch ideas are your answer to healthy midday meals in a snap.

Need some go-to meal prep tips? Camille shares the meal prep secrets that help her get ready for the week ahead.

Vegan Salads and Bowls

Einkorn Salad with Charred Squash

Why We Love It: Our new favorite low-gluten wheat grain, einkorn stuns in this simple salad. Its nutty flavor profile lays the foundation for charred kabocha squash, radishes, pine nuts, and a whole slew of herbs to take the stage. This salad is hearty, healthy, and just what you need to combat #SadDeskLunch. You heard it here first.

Hero Ingredient: The pine nuts play really well with the nutty einkorn. Plus, they add a buttery texture that’s to die for.

Gluten-Free Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Why We Love It: Quick, easy, and fresh, this cauliflower tabbouleh is a weekday winner. It’s full of good-for-you ingredients that don’t skimp in the flavor department. We’re talking cauliflower, cucumbers, celery, green onion, and all the herbs. Plus almonds, dried cranberries, and sesame seeds join the mix for a little texture and a whole ‘lotta flavor.

Hero Ingredient: The lemon and mustard seed vinaigrette is so, so delicious. It perfectly coats everything here without over-saturating this gluten-free salad.

Cumin Chickpea Salad With Mint Chutney

Why We Love It: This is a recipe where when I say “full of flavor,” I mean full of flavor. Every component is elevated to its maximum potential and works in harmony with its counterparts. As in, the chickpeas are sautéed in a toasted spice mix and the mint chutney coating the salad is next-level. It may take some tinkering to find your perfect balance, but a chutney this delicious is worth the extra love.

Hero Ingredient: Hero method: you can chop all the veggies during your weekly meal prep so assembly time is minimal.

Shredded Kale & Cranberry Salad With Crispy Tofu

Why We Love It: If you’re wary about tofu, this is the recipe for you. It takes on the best texture and flavor that’s complemented by the savory kale salad that surrounds it. With green onions, fresh herbs, tart cranberries, cucumbers, peanuts, and more, this salad is a real lunchtime stunner.

Hero Ingredient: The citrus-ginger dressing is drinkable—seriously.

Malibu Farm Rainbow Vegan Chop Salad

Why We Love It: Who doesn’t love a chop salad? I know I do, largely because everything being roughly the same size is both comforting and practical. And this one is loaded with veggies. Butternut squash brings the creaminess while marinated beets introduce an acidic flavor that plays perfectly with the other components. Then creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and watermelon radishes finish things off beautifully.

Hero Ingredient: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: making extra dressing is never a bad idea. This classic chop dressing is light, fresh, and full of flavor that’s applicable to salads to come.

Simple Green Salad (Inspired By Via Carota)

Why We Love It: This green salad is about as “green salad” as you can get, in the best way possible. It’s so simple that you might be shocked by how good it tastes. With a mixture of various lettuces, herbs, and toasted walnuts, it’s peak green salad perfection. Keep it simple or elevate the salad with cherry tomatoes, more toasted nuts, grated carrot, or thinly-sliced cucumber. The list goes on…

Hero Ingredient: The shallot vinaigrette is the tastiest topper to all those greens.

Charlie Bird Farro Salad

Why We Love It: Full of spring veggies like arugula, radish, and tomatoes, this farro salad is an ideal addition to your lunch rotation. It’s hearty and filling without feeling heavy thanks to the high veggie count. You can make your farro at the beginning of the week, but wait to layer it with the other components until you’re ready to eat. That way, everything is just as fresh as it should be.

Hero Ingredient: Skip the parmesan shreds to keep things vegan!

Sunshine Detox Salad

Why We Love It: Keeping on the detox train, this salad delivers all the veggies you could ever dream of in the most delicious way. Use whatever you have on hand, or go with the tried-and-true combo of purple cabbage, carrots, cherry tomatoes, mixed herbs, and avocado. The tahini-orange vinaigrette beautifully coats those components to keep things oh-so-creamy and succulent.

Hero Ingredient: If you’re planning to enjoy this throughout the week, wait to dress the salad until you’re ready to serve. That way, each ingredient can keep its freshness.

Toasted Tandoori Spice Chickpea Grain Bowl

Why We Love It: Grain bowls aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and for good reason. They’re loaded with nutrients and flavors that you just can’t beat. In this case, we’re looking at tandoori toasted chickpeas, farro, steamed kale, fresh herbs, and any veggies you can conjure up. To keep this one totally vegan, skip the halloumi and layer it up with veggies.

Hero Ingredient: Toasting the spices allows those aromas to wake up and infuse the chickpeas with the most gorgeous flavors.

Vegan Pasta Recipes

Creamy Vegan Pasta With Tomatoes And Basil

Why We Love It: This pasta is seriously magical. In some lucky twist of fate, it holds just as much creaminess as any pasta should—minus all the heavy ingredients needed to make that happen. It swaps cream and butter for a walnut sauce you’ll actually want to drink. Or at least keep in your repertoire to impress your friends at your next dinner party.

Hero Ingredient: The tomatoes maintain that just-burst texture that’s truly divine.

Vegan Cauliflower Mac And Cheese

Why We Love It: A mac and cheese recipe without the guilt? Sign me up. This cauliflower mac is next-level creamy and delicious. With almond milk, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, white miso, turmeric, cashews, and more constituting the “cheese” sauce, trust that you’re in good hands.

Hero Ingredient: Two words: twenty minutes. That’s all it takes to deliver this masterpiece to a giant bowl to savor at your desk.

Mushroom and White Bean Vegan Meatballs

Why We Love It: Meatballs may seem a little heavy for lunch, but this vegan variety strikes the perfect balance between indulgent and lunch-appropriate. And they’re a real gem—skipping the larger-than-life ingredient list that other recipes offer in favor of simplicity and wholesome eating. There are no eggs nor are there a ton breadcrumbs to bind them together. Instead, shiitake mushrooms and cannellini beans prove that a vegan meatball doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious.

Hero Ingredient: All the Italian spices are so comforting.

Green Goddess Pasta Salad

Why We Love It: Pasta salad is the ultimate weekly lunch item. It’s easy to make, relatively cost-efficient, keeps well in the fridge, and tastes great straight out of the container. What more can we ask for? In this green goddess variety, all the green veggies take pasta salad’s flavors, textures, and health specs to the next level.

Hero Ingredient: As the name denotes, we’re using green goddess dressing. And yes, that means you should probably double (or triple!) your dressing. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Use it on wraps, sandwiches, salads, crudités, roasted veggies, and more throughout the week. The pasta-bilities are endless.

Summer Pasta Salad

Why We Love It: Once again, pasta salad earns its stripes among vegan lunch ideas. This one is chock full of summer veggies that you can pick up from the farmer’s market or grocery store alike and prep in a pinch. All this recipe involves is making your favorite seasonal selections to char up on the grill, prepping your noodles, and tossing everything together with a light vinaigrette to finish it off. It’s a lunchtime stunner.

Hero Ingredient: To keep this one vegan, omit the mozzarella pearls.

Vegan Sandwiches and Toasts

Avocado Toast With Kale Pesto And Crunchy Veggies

Why We Love It: We all have our tried-and-true avocado toast variations. Personally, I gravitate toward a soft-boiled egg, everything seasoning, and lemon zest situation when I’m low on inspiration. However, I highly encourage you to take a step outside your comfort zone and give this kale pesto and fresh veggie combination a try. It’s light and fresh and totally going to outshine your go-to avo toast. I don’t make the rules.

Hero Ingredient: To fulfill the “crunchy veggie” category, you can use fresh radish, thinly-sliced cucumber, or another crisp veggie of choice.

Vegan Flatbread With Roasted Carrot And Red Pepper Hummus

Why We Love It: With pita at the base, you’re almost always in good hands. And that’s exactly the case with this vegan flatbread. You’ll start by warming your pita (or charring on an open flame), smearing with a dreamy carrot hummus, and topping with any fresh veggies you have on hand. This recipe is tailor made for emptying your veggie drawer, so feel free to get creative! It makes the process that much more rewarding.

Hero Ingredient: You’ve gotta make extra carrot hummus. It’s so nice to have on hand for wraps, sandwiches, veggie dipping, and appetizers for the rest of the week.

Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Why We Love It: Hearty and healthy, chickpea salad is the perfect vegan lunch. The texture is so spot on and it’s simply unbeatable when layered between soft sandwich bread. The upgraded vegan mayo amps up the creaminess, while celery and onion bring a savory bite to the mix. Then, you’ve got dried cranberries adding just the right amount of tang and sweetness to take the salad to the next level. It’s exactly what you want in your fridge for a quick and healthy lunch on the go.

Hero Ingredient: Cannellini beans amplify the creamy texture to the max and make things all the more satisfying.

Mushroom Toast With Arugula & Lemon

Why We Love It: We’ll never stop loving mushrooms for their plethora of vitamins, antioxidants, and more. In this toast, the funghi are celebrated for the mighty heroes they are. They sit atop a toasty piece of sourdough that’s smeared with vegan ricotta, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, olive oil, and lemon juice. The entire thing is ready in almost no time, making it that much better.

Hero Ingredient: I love that the arugula is served warm on this toast. It’s a welcome change from arugula salads which, while we love them in the summertime, can get old if you don’t switch it up.

Classic Easy Bruschetta

Why We Love It: Bruschetta for lunch is the biggest treat to yourself. Trust me, I’ve tried it. Fresh, juicy tomatoes combined with shreds of straight-from-the-garden basil are one of nature’s biggest gifts. And when they’re layered over crisp sourdough? Game over.

Hero Ingredient: I love a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the top. It’s magical.

Whole Roasted Sweet Potato With Avocado And Onion

Why We Love It: A bread-free toast look-alike? We’ll take it, because there are few things more satisfying than the humble sweet potato. It’s beautifully simple and makes the perfect base for all the toppings your heart desires. The best part? You can throw one in the oven about an hour before lunch and come back to an almost-ready meal. In this case, all you have to do is slice up some avocado and red onion, assemble, and top with fresh herbs and everything seasoning. Vegan lunch ideas never felt so good.

Hero Ingredient: When you slice your potato open, it’s a good idea to add a little olive oil and salt. This adds a nice flavor without much effort.

Vegan Soups and Stews

Vegan One Pot Spicy Corn Soup

Why We Love It: Summer is peak corn season, which means it’s time to celebrate it to its fullest. In this soup, corn shines as the namesake ingredient it is. This recipe is another one-pot wonder that you can whip up at the beginning of the week to enjoy in no time. It’s got a healthy dose of heat, which combats corn’s natural sweetness to keep things interesting.

Hero Ingredient: The texture here is what makes it. The coarseness is really enjoyable, as it makes the soup feel heartier.

Vegetarian Black Bean & Sweet Potato Chili

Why We Love It: I repeat for emphasis: sweet potatoes are heavenly. In this chili, they’re joined by black beans to create a hearty and healthy soup you can enjoy all week long. It’s full of more plant-based protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals than you could count, and it tastes so delicious that you won’t even bother. Just know they’re there.

Hero Ingredient: A couple of subs here: instead of honey, you’ll want to use agave. And be sure to leave off the goat cheese or replace it with your favorite vegan-friendly alternative. It’s equally tasty any way you slice it.

“Creamy” Vegan Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger & Coconut Milk

Why We Love It: If you’re not familiar with the idea of a detox soup, allow me to introduce you. This butternut squash soup is the reset you didn’t know you needed—until now. It works behind the scenes to deliver some anti-inflammatory bliss and a healthy dose of veggies in the most appealing format ever. Skip the juice cleanse and head straight to this soup cleanse… you’ll be glad you did.

Hero Ingredient: The coconut milk makes the soup so creamy without any actual cream.

Braised Indian Chickpea Stew

Why We Love It: Nisha Vora graciously shared her go-to vegan chickpea stew recipe with us, and we’re forever thankful. It’s the coziest vegan meal to have on hand for a quick lunch. With bold Indian flavors coming together in a wholesome plant-based form, this simple stew is exactly what vegan lunch ideas called for.

Hero Ingredient: Cabbage (yes, cabbage) takes the cake here. Before I lose you, it’s not rubbery or bland, but instead takes on a buttery texture that’s so rich and succulent. Dig it.

Channa Masala

Why We Love It: The weather might be warming up, but there’s nothing wrong with sitting down to lunch with a cozy bowl. In this case, it’s a one-pot wonder you can batch cook in about an hour at the beginning of the week. From there, all that’s left to do is reheat for a vegan lunch you can savor.

Hero Ingredient: The abundant spices are just perfect.

Vegan Tacos and Rolls

Vegan Chorizo Tacos

Why We Love It: Wrapped in a cassava flour tortilla, chickpea and lentil “chorizo” is the main component of these inventive vegan tacos. Lentils and chickpeas are sautéed with apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, herbs, and a chorizo oil that’s liquid gold. It adds just the right amount of umami flavor to keep these vegan tacos very interesting.

Hero Ingredient: Seriously, the chorizo oil is amazing. It’s made from garlic, cumin seeds, paprika, turmeric, jalapeño, and olive oil to perfectly infuse a little heat into this dish.

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos With Cilantro Pesto

Why We Love It: Cauliflower has come a long way since its days of being sad, boiled, and bland. Instead, these tiny trees are beautifully charred and caramelized before making waves in taco form. Layered with sliced avocado, cilantro pesto, pickled red onion, and sliced peppers, the cauliflower is the perfect vegan taco base.

Hero Ingredient: The cilantro pesto really elevates things here. It’s full of fresh herbs that breathe life into the tacos. Dollop generously.

Mushroom & Black Bean Tacos

Why We Love It: More vegan tacos for all! Like those that came before, this vegan taco recipe is a stunner. With antioxidant-rich mushrooms and fiber-laden black beans, these tacos are just as good on the inside as they are at face value. The simple veggie base is layered with creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, and pickled red onions before being wrapped in a warm corn tortilla blanket. It’s a heavenly combination that deserves to be savored.

Hero Ingredient: The pickled red onions bring the most beautiful bite and dash of acidity to cut through those rich main ingredients.

Spicy Peanut Brussels Sprout Tacos

Why We Love It: This unbeatable taco features roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed avocado, crisp radish, and a spicy peanut sauce you’ll want to drink. For meal-prepping purposes, feel free to prep everything beforehand, but save assembly for lunchtime. That way, everything tastes as fresh as possible.

Hero Ingredient: Pickled red onion is a non-optional (but optional) topping that elevates things to the next level. The vinegar-laced bite seals the deal on these tacos’ unbelievable flavor.

Honey Sriracha Tempeh Spring Rolls

Why We Love It: I’m all about a handheld lunch situation and these spring rolls are the perfect iteration. Not only are they fun to eat, but they’re so fun to make and leave you with a veggie-powered lunch you’ll be excited to enjoy. They have rice noodles, tempeh, and any fruit/veggie combo you can dream up. Cucumbers, mango, cabbage, carrots—you name it.

Hero Ingredient: Be sure to sub in agave for the honey if you’re keeping it vegan.

The post Vegan Lunch Ideas That Are So Good, You’ll Forget They’re Healthy appeared first on Camille Styles.

It would be a lie to say I’m not a fan of avocado toast. In fact, it used to be my go-to morning meal when I couldn’t be bothered to whip up anything more elaborate. That all changed when I uncovered the true potential of toast recipes and discovered just how many variations existed. The possibilities are endless when seeking out tasty toast toppers, and we’ve compiled the perfect list to get your creative juices flowing.

Good quality bread is a great way to take toast to the next level, but feel no shame if all you have in your pantry is a store-bought loaf. Once you’ve selected your bread, bold flavors and unique textures make it easy to curate the ultimate toast. From ricotta to smoked salmon, you’ll want to wake up to these toast recipes all week.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

8 Toast Recipes That Are Actually Worth The Hype

Mushroom Toast with Arugula & Lemon

Why We Love It: Mushroom toast recently took the internet by storm. The nutritional benefits of mushrooms make them a great topping to incorporate into your morning routine. Add a pop of green with fresh arugula and pile your toppings on a layer of creamy ricotta.

Hero Ingredient: The shiitake mushrooms are the key to a rich, umami morning toast.

Yogurt Toast with Peanut Butter and Banana

Why We Love It: Greek yogurt, with its tangy and velvety texture, is the perfect partner for crunchy toppings like granola and sweetness from peanut butter. These toast toppings incorporate protein and easily digestible ingredients to enjoy any time of day.

Hero Ingredient: A sprinkle of granola adds a great element of texture to this toast.

Scrambled Egg and Mushroom Toast

Why We Love It: If you struggle to incorporate enough protein into your morning meal, the powerful combo of mushrooms and eggs makes things a bit easier. A good-quality nonstick pan will transform your life (trust me), and if you’re short on time, feel free to cook all of these ingredients together.

Hero Ingredient: Arugula and mushrooms is a top-tier combination.

Sautéed Garlic, Carrot, and Hummus Toasts

Why We Love It: This savory toast brings me back to one of my favorite childhood snacks. Carrots and hummus are a classic and simple way to throw together an afternoon snack that doesn’t fail to excite.

Hero Ingredient: Fresh carrots bring the perfect crunchiness.

Tuna and Avocado Toast with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto

Why We Love It: This recipe is a far cry from your basic brunch. Inspired by the classic summertime favorite salad niçoise, this toast combines the flavors of the traditional recipe with creamy avocado and spoons it all on crusty sourdough bread. Truly, what’s not to love?

Hero Ingredient: It’s the sourdough for me. Not only will I take any excuse to enjoy my favorite bread, but it makes this dish 100% picnic-friendly.

Burrata Toasts with Caramelized Walnuts and Mint-Pomegranate Pesto

Why We Love It: I could eat pesto on its own, but pairing it with fresh fruit flavors like pomegranate brings this classic topping to a whole new level. Burrata cheese balances these bold flavors in the best way possible, but feel free to add these toppings to anything from sweet potatoes to salmon!

Hero Ingredient: Biting into a juicy pomegranate seed is an unmatched pleasure.

Bruschetta with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes and Ricotta

Why We Love It: Ah, bruschetta. This topping never fails to make me feel as if I’m sitting seaside at a restaurant in Italy. Slow roasting your cherry tomatoes is the key to enhancing all the juicy flavors this fruit has to offer.

Hero Ingredient: Fresh sourdough is necessary for the best bruschetta toast.

Smoked Salmon Toast with Mustard and Herbs

Why We Love It: If you haven’t expanded your palate and tried quality smoked salmon, this recipe will change that. Inspired by the widely-loved smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel, this recipe uses mustard as a zesty and light base and pumpernickel bread that pair together to brighten up your morning.

Hero Ingredient: A good-quality mustard goes a long way.

The post Goodbye, Basic—These Creative Toast Recipes Could Replace Your Avo Toast Addiction appeared first on Camille Styles.

A nutritionist’s hot take: superfoods aren’t all they’re chalked up to be. (More on that below.) In a world of food trends and aesthetic marketing, the term continues to swirl around the health sphere. However, more often than not, those in pursuit of a healthier diet are left unsure of what to include on their grocery list. But despite the controversy, superfood smoothies are a great way to pack healthy ingredients into a filling breakfast, quick snack, or mid-day meal. Because while superfoods are no magical cure, blending up a few nutrient-rich foods into one delicious drink is a surefire way to energize your morning.

To get the (true) scoop on superfoods, we spoke to Nutrition Consultant Edie Horstman who shared the ins and outs of blending these powerhouse ingredients into tasty superfood smoothies. Keep reading for tips to help you up-level your go-to beverage and whip up superfood smoothies versatile enough to sip on at home or wherever your day takes you.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

What makes certain foods “superfoods?”

As Horstman notes, nutritionally speaking, there aren’t actually superfoods. Instead, the word is used as a marketing term coined to influence food trends. To be clear: it is not a scientific classification. But that doesn’t mean these foods aren’t worth including in a healthy, well-rounded diet. The term refers to foods packed with a high concentration of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc.).

While superfoods are not a cure-all, these nutrient-dense ingredients are generally considered to be an important part of a healthy diet.

She remarks that these foods “are often considered to have exceptional health benefits, and are thought to promote overall wellness and longevity.” They come in a variety of forms: including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains. So while superfoods are not a cure-all, these nutrient-dense ingredients are generally considered to be an important part of a healthy diet.

A Nutritionist’s Favorite Superfoods

Below, Horstman shares the superfoods she loves for boosting energy, stabilizing blood sugar, and promoting overall well-being. (Psst… these are the same heavy-hitting ingredients that’ll supercharge your superfood smoothies!)

• Blueberries. Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, blueberries are great for brain health and the immune system.
• Kale. This green veggie is packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, calcium, and antioxidants. It may help lower cholesterol and support bone health.
• Almonds. These nuts are high in fiber, protein, healthy fats, and magnesium. These are helpful for keeping blood sugar stable and reducing hunger.
• Avocado. Rich in healthy fats and fiber, avocado can lower cholesterol levels, improve heart health, and promote healthy skin.
• Sweet potatoes. These delicious root vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium. They’re a great source of lasting energy.
• Spinach. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and vitamin K, spinach can help prevent anemia and support bone health.
• Chia seeds. These tiny seeds are high in fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. They may also help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
• Greek yogurt. A great source of protein, calcium, and probiotics, Greek yogurt can improve digestive health and support bone health.

The Tastiest Superfood Smoothies to Fuel Your Day

Almonds

In addition to almonds’ many nutrition benefits, these tasty nuts also pair well with rich flavors like chocolate for healthy sweet tooth satisfaction. I’ve always been a lover of sweet smoothies with a bit of peanut butter as an added source of protein. This recipe takes a few of my favorite flavors (with healthier ingredients) to create a smoothie that is perfect to drink before the gym, or prior to anything that requires an extra bit of fuel.

Recipe: Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Smoothie

Avocado

Avocados are a great kitchen staple to enjoy at any time of day. And good news—they go way beyond your favorite toast topping. This superfood smoothie is filled with so many sweet nutritious ingredients. Bonus: this recipe is dairy-free, vegan, and kid-friendly! (Just ask Camille—she swears it’s a family favorite.)

Recipe: Tropical Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie

Spinach

I add spinach to just about every meal I make. It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and vitamin K. And when it comes to this smoothie, don’t let the name deceive you. It includes a wide variety of healthy ingredients. This smoothie just might replace your traditional morning bev thanks to the added cold brewed coffee.

Recipe: Chocolate Green Smoothie

Chia Seeds

I love sneaking chia seeds into my oatmeal, sprinkled on top of sweet toast, and of course, incorporating them into my superfood smoothies. One of Horstman’s own recipes, this fall-flavored smoothie will keep your mornings balanced and your taste buds happy. While this recipe calls for flaxseed, chia seeds can be subbed in as a powerful superfood addition.

Recipe: Get Figgy With It Smoothie

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is an essential ingredient in many of my recipes. Its creamy texture and balancing flavor make it a great complement so a variety of flavors and cuisines. Along with their bloat-beating powers, these three smoothies use Greek yogurt to complement unique flavors. Choose from Tropical Turmeric, Matcha Plant Power, or Strawberries and Cream—there’s something for everyone here! So make your gut happy and start your morning with one of these delectable drinks.

Recipe: Three Smoothie Recipes to De-Bloat

Sweet Potatoes

If you find yourself fighting the afternoon energy crash, sweet potatoes are your answer. Rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium, they’re a great source of lasting energy. And while this smoothie recipe calls for pumpkin purée, steamed sweet potatoes are an easy swap. With pumpkin pie spice and almond milk, you’ll still get the same warm and sweet flavors.

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Blueberries

Not only are blueberries an inexpensive and convenient superfood to have on hand, but they can also be purchased and used frozen or fresh. (When it comes to making superfood smoothies, we recommend opting for the latter. They’re oftentimes cheaper and just as good as fresh, if not better!) This recipe contains plenty of healthy fats and easy-to-digest ingredients that accompany several superfoods. Collagen powder helps create radiant skin, while protein powder gives you fuel to get through busy days. It’s hard to turn down a smoothie that brings so much to the table.

Recipe: Blueberry & Avocado Fascia-Boosting Smoothie

Kale

This smoothie is perfectly balanced with a delicate sweetness that complements the earthy flavors of kale and ginger. For an added element of creaminess (and an extra superfood), throw in a scoop of your favorite Greek yogurt.

Recipe: Kale, Peach, and Coconut Smoothie

The post These Nutritionist-Approved Superfood Smoothies Will Raise Your Morning Vibe appeared first on Camille Styles.

Is it just me, or is the world of plant-based milks incredibly confusing? We know the basics, like what they’re made of (for the most part) and which we like in our morning coffee. But do we really know the nitty gritty of non-dairy milks? I know I didn’t, which is why I felt it was high time to find the best non-dairy milk for all your household uses. Consider this your guide to finding the best non-dairy milk for you.

Let me start by saying that I truly do love dairy milk (gasp, I know). I’ve never been one to shy away from a good old glass of two percent and I’m not ashamed to say it. But with that glorious glass often comes some not-so-friendly gut issues (as I’m sure many of you are no stranger to). I’ll spare you the details, so let it suffice to say that I’ve enjoyed watching non-dairy products rise to fame. Where we used to be limited, we now have so many options for yogurts, cheeses, milks, butters, condiments, etc.

But with so many options, it can be difficult to decide. To spare you the headache (and stomach ache), I took a deep dive to help locate the best non-dairy milk for you.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

Found: The Best Non-Dairy Milk

Aside from dairy milk, I’m a devout oat milk drinker. I drink it every single day in my coffee and occasional smoothie and I. Am. Hooked. I love the taste, creaminess, and overall feel of oat milk. You can’t beat the Midas touch it brings to everything it’s added to, IMHO. That said though, I’ve never stopped to consider exactly what I’m putting into my body until now. Is oat milk really the best non-dairy milk? Are there others with better benefits? What should I look for when buying non-dairy milk? The questions go on.

To help you meet your match made in dairy-free heaven, I broke it down into a digestible format that you can use to bring the best non-dairy milk into your life. Here’s what we’re taking into account:

• Taste
• Ingredients
• Nutrition specs
• Cook-ability

What to Look For in a Non-Dairy Milk

Added Sugar

Like it or not, the processed food industry is overrun by added sugars. They’re in way more things than we’d like them to be. (As in, almost everything.) And while more options are finally becoming available, it’s still important to stay diligent when you’re shopping. This is especially important when you’re finding your best non-dairy milk. Steer clear of sweetened or flavored varieties and be sure to glance over the ingredients list before adding one to your cart. Some sugars are naturally-occurring during the process of going from *insert milkable food here* to milk, but many brands will still sneak in added sugars. Stay vigilant, friends.

Protein

Unlike cow’s milk, plant-based milks don’t typically contain a lot of protein. Soy milk contains the most protein of plant-based milks, while almond, oat, and hemp milk contain anywhere between one and four grams per cup. The protein content of dairy-free milks is important to note—especially if you’re accustomed to receiving protein from cow’s milk. If you like to use non-dairy milk in your post-workout smoothie for example, be mindful of the protein gap. Since you won’t get that extra protein from the milk, you could consider adding protein from other sources like protein powder or nut butter.

Main Ingredient

When you’re figuring out the best non-dairy milk for you, it’s a good idea to play the field. While you might enjoy the protein boost inherent in soy milk, you may not love the consistency as much as, say, an oat or pistachio milk. Experiment with plant-based milks as much as you can before setting your mind on one particular kind. And be aware that one particular kind might not be enough for you and all the amazing things you’ve got going on. Just know that the non-dairy milk world is your oyster—seriously, it’s huge!

Consistency

Again, consistency, consistency, consistency. Not every plant-based milk will work in your dairy-free brownies (sigh), so it’s important to be mindful of what you’re buying for what use. You may prefer a thinner milk to add to your granola or cereal, but a milk with more froth-ability to pour over your matcha. At the end of the day, it comes down to catering to your preferences so you can milk the most enjoyment (had to) out of your own best non-dairy milk.

Best Overall Non-Dairy Milk: Oatly Original Oat Milk

It’s tricky to select just one plant-based milk as the be-all and end-all. We know they come in lots of different forms that highlight different strengths and weaknesses, so it’s hard to select one above the others. That said, this pick for the best overall non-dairy milk goes to a fan-favorite oat milk.

Oat milk is probably the most dairy-similar alternative milk—with a neutral flavor, creaminess, and vitamin profile that are pretty unbeatable. And although oat milks may contain additives like emulsifiers, stabilizers, or gums to give it that creamy texture, it’s a great foundation for those starting their alternative milk journey to build upon. It’s also really good for the environment! Check out its carbon footprint here.

Oatly Original Oat Milk

Oatly’s Original Oat Milk is tasty enough to enjoy by the whole dang glass. It’s creamy, frothable both hot and cold, and full of vitamins and minerals like vitamin D, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and riboflavin.

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Best Almond Milk: Elmhurst Unsweetened Almond Milk

When you hear the words “alternative milk,” does your mind go straight to almond milk? Because same. Probably because it’s long been the most popular plant-based milk around. Almond milk is the most-sold alt milk in the United States, accounting for more than half of the total plant-based milk sales in the U.S.. It’s no secret why. Similarly to oat milk, almond milk is a pretty neutral plant-based milk that plays well with its surroundings. It has a slightly nutty flavor profile, rich and creamy texture, and is totally equipped to fluff up baked goods and your morning latte alike.

Those of us who live in Austin are obsessed with creamy and pure Fronks Nut Milk (you can also get it in other parts of Texas via Farmhouse Delivery), but if you’re out of Fronks range, there’s another solid grocery store alternatives.

Elmhurst Unsweetened Almond Milk

You can’t get simpler than Elmhurst’s Unsweetened Almond Milk. It contains a whopping two ingredients (almonds and water), so you know exactly what you’re consuming. With a great taste and texture, Elmhurst wins the prize here with the added bonus that its production process is zero waste.

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Best Coconut Milk: Califia Farms Go Coconuts Coconut Milk

For some, coconut milk can be a little off-putting due to the strong coconut taste that many varieties boast. However, it’s full of nutritional value, with a low-calorie count and high calcium content. It’s also frothable, blendable, and so deliciously creamy. Since it’s not super coconutty in taste, it’s super easy to incorporate into your cooking and baking. Or, you can enjoy it plainly by the glass. It’s that good.

Califia Farms Go Coconuts Coconut Milk

To combat an overly coconut-forward taste, Califia Farm’s Coconut Milk is actually a blend of coconut milk and coconut water—giving it a light texture that’s comparable to skim milk. It’s complementary to whatever you’re adding it to and gives it a refreshing flavor that’s smooth and simple.

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Best Oat Milk: MALK Organic Oat Milk

Oat milk is loaded with good-for-you whole grains and maintains a natural creaminess thanks to the oats themselves. The taste is subtle, which means it mixes well with almost anything. With only three ingredients, MALK’s Organic Oat Milk proves just that. Its mild taste and commendable ingredients list earn it the award for best oat milk. It doesn’t separate like other brands may due to sneaky additives, froths well both cold and hot, and has a plain taste that is delicious on its own or mixed with baked goods, coffee, or tea.

MALK Organic Oat Milk

Chances are, you’ve probably seen this one in a coffee shop lately. And for good reason. MALK’s Organic Oat Milk contains only three ingredients: filtered water, organic gluten-free oats, and Himalayan salt. It’s simple and straightforward—as non-dairy milk should be.

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Best Soy Milk: Silk Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk

Compared to other non-dairy milks, soy milk typically contains the most protein of the bunch. Because soy itself naturally contains protein, it transfers into the milk without any extra bells and whistles. In Silk’s Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk, you’re getting eight grams of protein per cup, which is more than impressive. The taste is subtle, though the consistency is thinner than some of the others in this list. Be careful about using soy milk when baking, as it could impact your final product, but use it freely in coffee, tea, smoothies, etc. for an added protein punch.

Silk Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk

Silk’s Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk ticks all the boxes. It’s high in protein, contains zero sugar, and even packs in nutrients like vitamin B12, calcium, and more. While the packaging leaves something to be desired, it’s a testament to the timelessness of soy milk!

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Best Rice Milk: Rice Dream Original Organic Rice Drink

Rice milk is one of the most basic and low-key non-dairy milks out there. It’s stood the test of time over and over again and continues to weave itself into many people’s daily lives. With a super mild taste, it’s a favorite among plant-based milk enthusiasts for good reason. Despite its name, rice milk usually doesn’t boast an overly rice-y taste. In this variety, the brown rice actually lends the milk more of a wheat-forward flavor that’s very neutral and blendable. With a solid vitamin D and calcium content, rice milk is a good alternative to dairy milk for those looking for something that closely resembles skim milk.

Rice Dream Original Organic Rice Drink

Organic and non-GMO, Rice Dream’s Original Organic Rice Drink has been around for a long time, which is a testament to its non-dairy milk prowess. For those looking for a neutral taste that blends well with whatever you’re using it in, this one is your winner.

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Best Flax Milk: Good Karma Non Dairy Unsweetened Flaxmilk

Flax milk is an underrated non-dairy milk, if you ask me. It’s smooth, creamy, neutral, and blends perfectly with whatever you’re adding it to. It’s also a great source of vitamins like vitamins D2 and B12. In terms of taste, flax milk has just the right amount of seedy flavor without overdoing it, which means you don’t have to worry about it taking over. It’s beautifully mild and naturally flavorful, to put it plainly. While it may not be as thick as an oat or almond milk, it has a great consistency that works well in baked goods, beverages, or on its own.

Good Karma Non Dairy Unsweetened Flaxmilk

Good Karma’s Flaxmilk is a subtle plant-based milk with a great nutritional profile. It’s woven with pea protein to give it that extra protein boost, plus plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. It’s equipped for baking, coffee, smoothie uses, and more.

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Best Hemp Milk: Pacific Foods Hemp Original Unsweetened Plant-Based Beverage

Hemp milk wins the prize for excellent nutritional value. With three grams of protein per cup, plus extra omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (something hemp seeds are known for), you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. It’s also low on the calorie and carb count. With a neutral taste, it blends well with anything you’re using it in. If you like the taste of hemp seeds, you’ll love hemp milk! Because, well, it’s made of them.

Pacific Foods Hemp Original Unsweetened Plant-Based Beverage

A little nutty and a lot of delicious, Pacific Foods Hemp Milk is a real winner. It’s thinner than some of the other best non-dairy milks on this list, but it still blends beautifully with smoothies, coffee, tea, cereal, and more.

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The post The Essential Guide to Finding the Best Non-Dairy Milk for You appeared first on Camille Styles.

When my Instant Pot first came into my life, my world transformed. Meal prep was suddenly stress-free and I had what I needed to get a (delicious) dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. With the help of my favorite kitchen appliance, I could curate a quick and healthy meal any night of the week. And because we’re not ones to gatekeep, I’m sharing my favorite healthy Instant Pot recipes that highlight all this hands-off kitchen gadget has to offer.

Garlic press? Check. Greens and herbs stripper? Definitely a necessity. Avocado slicer? I have three. But nothing has changed the game more than my Instant Pot, and I’m definitely not alone. It’s the top electric pressure cooker that spans the ability of all culinary functions (steam, sauté, slow cook, ferment, bake, braise—you name it!). And the recipes you can make… don’t get me started. But start I will, and there’s no better place to begin than with these 20 healthy Instant Pot recipes.

Featured image by Suruchi Avasthi.

20 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes That Are Easy and Full of Flavor

Kitchari

Why We Love It: Kicking off our roundup of healthy and simple Instant Pot meals is kitchari. Filled with detoxifying ingredients and easy-to-digest fiber, this recipe gives the perfect amount of warmth that can be enjoyed every season. While this recipe can also be cooked on the stove, for maximum ease and minimal cook time, we highly recommend trying it out in your Instant Pot.

Hero Ingredient: Tumeric is an essential ingredient, featuring anti-inflammatory properties and a gorgeous golden color.

Turkey Chili Verde

Why We Love It: Another recipe that won’t have you standing for hours in the kitchen is this turkey chili verde. This chili avoids traditional, and often inflammatory, ingredients found in many classic chili recipes to create a nutrient-filled pot of deliciousness. Be sure to freeze any leftovers to enjoy throughout the week!

Hero Ingredient: Diced green chiles add flavor and heat to this one-pot meal.

Channa Masala

Why We Love It: Suruchi, our food editor and resident kitchen genius, set out to recreate the channa masala of her childhood. While her mom’s recipe is inexact, more so relying on taste and a deeply-held appreciation and knowledge of food, Suruchi translated her early food memories into this genius recipe. And thank goodness she did—it doesn’t get more delicious than this.

Hero Ingredient: For me, it’s all about the masala. While the channa gives this dish major spice, cooking the tomato sauce in olive oil gives everything a richer, deeper flavor.

Millet and Amaranth Porridge with Figs and Papaya

Why We Love It: If you’ve given up on the possibility of porridge being a sexy breakfast, this recipe will transform how you think about the morning staple. Instead of the expected oats, this recipe swaps in the combo of millet and amaranth. While any pair of grains will do, it’s noted that grains become a bit more palatable when there’s more in the mix. Hey, variety’s the spice of life, right?

Hero Ingredient: I love topping my porridge with a spoonful of yogurt. The creamier, the better.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry from Rainbow Plant Life

Why We Love It: One of my favorite things about cooking with my Instant Pot is that all it takes are a few minutes of hands-on prep to turn out a masterpiece of a meal. Total prep time for this vibrant, veggie-filled recipe? 15 minutes. And when the final product is a gorgeous bowl of perfectly-spiced curry, you’ll do what you can to carve out 15 minutes in your day.

Hero Ingredient: You can thank quite a few of the ingredients for the stunning, sunshine-soaked color of your curry. But in terms of flavor and presentation, nothing gets the job done quite like turmeric.

Mujadara from Feasting at Home

Why We Love It: Again, with the ratio of low effort to high reward. Mujadara is a classic Arabic recipe that does delicious simplicity to a tee. The dish consists of a humble mix of lentils and rice and gets all the more crave-worthy thanks to a mix of Moroccan spices. It’s cozy and comforting—as all the best things in life are.

Hero Ingredient: Leave it to lemon zest to always brighten things up.

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto from Damn Delicious

Why We Love It: This gal is a forever fan of mushroom risotto. Well, any risotto really, but the combo of hearty, almost meat-like mushrooms mixed with luscious, but-with-a-bite arborio rice is truly food heaven. Bonus: This recipe weaves a little green into your plate thanks to the addition of spinach and peas.

Hero Ingredient: Parmesan is the perfect match for this risotto’s creamy components.

Instant Pot Lentil Soup from Love & Lemons

Why We Love It: In all my years, I’m not sure I’ve ever met a lentil soup I didn’t love. The tried-and-true formula relies on the humble pulse for all the meaty texture—minus the meat. This recipe takes things a step further with a rainbow of beautiful veggies. Be sure to snap a pic of the inside of your Instant Pot before setting it to work: the aesthetic quality of this dish is unmatched. Second thought, don’t worry—every bowl’s a stunner.

Hero Ingredient: A can of diced, fire-roasted tomatoes keeps things rich, fiery, and full of flavor.

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes With Thai Peanut Butter Sauce from A Couple Cooks

Why We Love It: Sweet potatoes are the endlessly customizable tuber of my dreams. I could eat them again and again, meal after meal, thanks to all the different spins you can put on them. With the help of the Instant Pot, the spuds get super creamy. Plus that Thai-inspired peanut sauce? An easy, delicious win.

Hero Ingredient: Lime juice gives everything a bit of zippy, sour zest.

Miso Oatmeal With Kale and Avocado from Love & Good Stuff

Why We Love It: Holding out on joining our sweeping obsession with savory oatmeal? Time to take the plunge. Ditch the apples and cinnamon or maple syrup and brown sugar and discover this gut health-promoting recipe.

Hero Ingredient: I’ve always loved the common Japanese practice of leaning into savory dishes for the first meal of the day. While I’ve historically opted for sweet, it’s the miso paste in this recipe that has me changing my tune. Fermented and filled with plenty of probiotics, miso will help make your digestive system work for you.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala from Full of Plants

Why We Love It: I love the warming comfort and spice of a just-from-the-stovetop bowl of Tikka Masala. And though I may be outnumbered in this opinion, I love the plant-based magic of relying on a whole head of cauliflower for the main source of mouthfeel this dish gives. 30 minutes in your Instant Pot, and the result is tender, melt-in-your-mouth cauliflower. Fully filling, minus the chicken.

Hero Ingredient: Looking for a way to make fenugreek leaves a part of your regular dinner rotation? Start with this recipe. The flavor profile is fascinating and will send your taste buds on a journey of delicious epiphany. Get ready for something surprisingly similar to maple syrup. Bitter and nutty, but wonderfully sweet.

Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans from The Modern Proper

Why We Love It: There’s nothing better than a pot of well-cooked beans. In search of more (and better) flavor, I ditched canned beans in favor of dry years ago. The result? Creamy, hearty beans that can serve as the base for so many meals. Oh, and did I mention they’re ready in under an hour? Beats the whole “soak overnight” thing.

Hero Ingredient: Taco seasoning does the trick.

Warming Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: If you’re anything like me, holding onto that last bit of spring chilliness before summer is complemented by hearty soups. Sweet potatoes are pretty much the coziest addition to any meal, especially when paired with creamy elements like coconut milk. Just when you thought this recipe couldn’t get any better, these ingredients combine to provide a great source of healthy fiber.

Hero Ingredient: Warming spices like cinnamon and clove make this soup extra cozy.

Instant Pot Quinoa Burrito Bowls from Detoxinista

Why We Love It: Grain bowls are never a bad idea for lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Making these burrito bowls in an Instant Pot is a life hack that everyone needs to know about, espeically when it comes to meal-prepping. The protein-filled base pairs well with a variety of fresh and healthy toppings like avocado and fresh cilantro.

Hero Ingredient: Quiona ties this burrito bowl together.

Instant Pot Cashew Chicken from Fit Foodie Finds

Why We Love It: It’s hard to turn down a meal that takes less than an hour to cook while still being utterly delicious. If you’re feeling takeout, but want to keep it healthy, this cashew chicken will do the trick. Serve the stir-fryed veggies and chicken over a bed of your favorite healthy grain to complete this bowl.

Hero Ingredient: Top with cashews for the perfect crunch.

Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch Slaw from Pinch of Yum

Why We Love It: Although the combination isn’t exactly traditional, I think tacos and slaw are an underrated pair. This Instant Pot recipe uses pineapple as a natural sweetener to complement the spiciness of the chicken. Don’t be afraid to veer from your traditional coleslaw sauce to try the jalapeño ranch dressing. (Trust me on this one, you won’t have regrets.)

Hero Ingredient: Adding a jalapeño to your Instant Pot chicken gives these tacos the perfect kick.

Instant Pot Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps from Foodie Crush

Why We Love It: Another takeout favorite made from healthy ingredients and whole foods are these orange chicken lettuce wraps. These wraps are an easy meal prep option that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or an on-the-go snack. While adding a grain is optional, I love the addition of brown rice or quinoa for a healthier carb addition.

Hero Ingredient: One cup of fresh orange juice for the sauce will go a long way.

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef from What Molly Made

Why We Love It: Mongolian beef is a dish that I always look forward to making, but seldom have the time or ingredients to excecute. The Instant Pot makes this recipe much more accessible and minimizes the cook time to only 30 minutes! High in protein and B vitamins, this recipe is sure to make its way onto your weekly menu.

Hero Ingredient: Sweeten with honey as a healthy alternative to processed sugars.

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup from The Clean Eating Couple

Why We Love It: Chicken soup is one of the best ways to pack plenty of healthy veggies into one bowl. What’s unique about this soup is the versatility of grains you can add. From orzo to quinoa, you’ve found yourself a soup that’s filling and delicious.

Hero Ingredient: Lemon in soup is one of the best ways to fight a cold.

Tofu Broccoli Bowls With Carrot Ginger Dressing from Love and Lemons

Why We Love It: This plant-based bowl is one of my favorite healthy Instant Pot recipes. It’s bright, flavorful, and filled with good-for-you additions. Pressing your tofu and seasoning thoroughly before cooking is also a great way to ensure it ends up crispy and tasty.

Hero Ingredient: The world is your oyster when adding toppings to this bowl, but don’t skip out on the carrot ginger dressing.

This post was originally published on March 6th, 2022, anded has since been updated.

The post These 20 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes Make Mealtime A Breeze appeared first on Camille Styles.

Rotisserie chicken is one of my stealthiest weeknight cheats to get dinner on the table FAST. (And I have a feeling I’m not alone.) It’s ready to go at the grocery and succulent and juicy. What’s not to love? There’s no need to simply put a whole chicken on your dinner table when a world of quick and delicious rotisserie chicken recipes is practically begging to be whipped up.

I will say that the flavor of the chickens can vary quite a bit from store to store. My favorites in Austin are from Central Market—the Hatch Chile is next-level falling-off-the-bone good. But no matter where you live, any good grocery store will likely have a decent version. On the days when I want nothing more than to pick up a fast-food meal, I’ll simply cut up a rotisserie chicken and serve it with a salad and sweet potatoes that I baked in my meal-prepping that week.

When you have just a little more time or are feeling a burst of cooking inspiration, try one of these 9 recipes that take your store-bought bird and turn it into something that tastes like you’ve been slaving at the stove all day.

Featured image by Ashleigh Amoroso.

9 Rotisserie Chicken Recipes to Streamline Weeknight Cooking

Thai Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

Why We Love It: I have yet to find a dish that spicy peanut sauce doesn’t pair well with. The toppings are endless with this summer-style salad: cut up a fresh avocado or dice a ripe and juicy mango. Whatever you choose to decorate your salad, the colors and flavors don’t disappoint.

Hero Ingredient: This salad’s claim to fame? Its spicy peanut dressing. If you’re not big on the heat packed into this dressing, opt for a little less sriracha.

Hoisin Chicken Cabbage Tacos

Why We Love It: Not only is this recipe a perfect way to use up your rotisserie chicken, but lettuce wrap tacos are also a great way to utilize the remaining romaine that always seems to linger in the fridge. Top with spices like chili and red pepper flakes for a kick and cucumber and lime to keep these tacos light, fresh, and flavorful.

Hero Ingredient: Hoisin sauce flavors this chicken to perfection.

Turmeric Chicken Soup

Why We Love It: If you’re looking to wind down with a warm and cozy but still healthy dish, look no further than this turmeric chicken soup. We love turmeric and all of its benefits in just about every dish. Nutrient-packed ingredients like ginger and chicken broth make this soup one to keep on your radar during cold and flu season, or whenever you need a little pick-me-up (spring allergies are real).

Hero Ingredient: Buckwheat soba noodles are the new elevated take on your classic chicken soup noodle.

Lime-y Chicken Tacos with Carrot, Jicama, & Mint

Why We Love It: I find chicken tacos to sometimes be a hassle, especially when I’m on a tight schedule. Rotisserie chicken is the perfect option that can be used in a pinch for these delicious cilantro-lime tacos.

Hero Ingredient: Don’t pass up the chipotle aioli!

Pesto Chicken Cobb Salad, Family-Style

Why We Love It: This family-style salad is a great way to throw together a variety of healthy ingredients in a short period of time. Rotisserie chicken and soft-boiled eggs bring the protein component to this hearty salad and fresh toppings like red onion and lemon juice add a touch of brightness.

Hero Ingredient: Pesto is the base of this simple dressing, and trust us, it will bring this (or any) summer salad to the next level.

Thai Chicken Pizza from The Modern Proper

Why We Love It: This recipe has my heart. Thai flavors, specifically those found in pad thai and pad see ew, rank high on my all-time favorite dishes. Pizza is right behind those dishes on that list, so what better than combining both and serving them as one? Savory Thai peanut sauce coats this chicken and creates a mouth-watering contrast to the hoisin sauce.

Hero Ingredient: Top with dry roasted peanuts for a crunchy textural addition.

Salsa Verde Chicken and Zucchini Enchiladas with Mango from Half Baked Harvest

Why We Love It: While recipe curator and creator of Half Baked Harvest Tieghan Gerard uses baked chicken in her recipe, this is a great opportunity to sub in a rotisserie chicken to save time and maximize flavor. These enchiladas have a bit of a kick, the flavors are mellowed by sweet toppings like mango and acidic additions like lime juice.

Hero Ingredient: Homemade or store-bought, salsa verde is your key to the most delicious enchiladas.

BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad from What’s Gaby Cooking

Why We Love It: Quinoa salads are one of my favorite ways to keep my meals filling while not consuming unhealthier grain options. This loaded recipe tosses your cooked chicken in a bit of BBQ sauce for a tangy and sweet flavor. Plus, it uses toppings like corn and avocado to give the bowl a bit of a southwestern vibe.

Hero Ingredient: Garnish with cilantro for a pop of green goodness.

White Bean Chicken Soup from The Modern Proper

Why We Love It: This garlicky white bean soup is the perfect dish to wind down with after a jam-packed day. Cannellini beans are a great source of protein in addition to your rotisserie chicken, and bold flavors like jalapeno and lemon juice will have your tastebuds dancing.

Hero Ingredient: Minced garlic should not be skipped.

This post was originally published on October 17, 2018, and has since been updated.

The post 9 Delicious Dinners You Can Make With a Rotisserie Chicken appeared first on Camille Styles.

When it comes to warm-weather food, my mind usually goes to seasonal faves like burgers, watermelon, tomatoes, grilled hot dogs, and corn. But there’s another super springy ingredient that it would be a shame to forget about: pesto! Basil is about as fresh as it gets. And even though you can get great jarred pesto year-round, there’s nothing like some freshly blended pesto in the warmer months to jazz up even the simplest of meals. Since we could all use a little more pesto in our lives, we’ve rounded up the best pesto recipes we could find.

Pesto and pasta go together beautifully, but there is actually so much more that you can do with this delicious condiment. You can drizzle it over a buddha bowl, use it as the base of a pizza, or serve it alongside any protein or veggie. Much like hummus, there are lots of variations on traditional pesto recipes, but today we’re mainly sticking with the OG (barring a few standout exceptions).

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

How to Make Pesto You’ll Want on Everything

Hailing from Genoa, Italy, pesto sauce traditionally consists of crushed garlic, pine nuts, salt, basil, and a hard cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino, all mixed together with oil. If you’ve got a food processor, then this is the best time to use it. But that doesn’t mean you can only use pesto on Italian dishes. It goes well with just about everything!

And while the traditional addition of cheese means this tasty spring and summer staple is off-limits for vegans, we have a plant-based recipe that everyone will be raving about. Try this quick and easy vegan pesto recipe that you can whip up at home. And keep reading for 15 of the best pesto recipes on the internet that’ll give you all kinds of inspiration for what to do with it.

Pro tip: Eat the pesto immediately or store it in a sealed jar for up to a week. If you’re storing for later use, pour a generous amount of olive oil atop the pesto to form an oily seal. It will prevent the pesto from turning dark. Stir the oil into the sauce before using it.

The Best Pesto Recipes on the Internet

Pesto Gnocchi Skillet Bake

Why We Love It: A good weeknight pasta recipe is a must during the spring and summer—seasons when you’re trying to minimize your time spent in the kitchen. I kid you not, this recipe calls for only six ingredients and just a few minutes of hands-on time (most of the work is done in the oven). Serve it alongside a fresh green salad with a zippy dressing. Dinner plans, made.

Hero Ingredient: I’m a gnocchi lover, so anytime I see the potato pasta called for in a dish, I instantly swoon. They’re the perfect base for any sauce—pesto in particular.

Peach, Pesto, and Balsamic Pizza

Why We Love It: Homemade pizza always hits the spot, and this recipe is a delicious homage to our favorite summer flavors. The combination simply cannot be beaten. You get an herby zing from the pesto, a salty, creamy bite thanks to the mozz, a burst of sweetness from the peaches, and a tang from the balsamic glaze. Yum!

Hero Ingredient: The peaches steal the show on this fantastic pizza recipe.

Pesto Parmesan Potatoes

Why We Love It: In need of a perfect spring side that goes well with just about anything? These pesto-parm potatoes take your favorite flavors, jazz them all up, and a few minutes later, you have a delicious, satisfying side dish that’s sure to please everyone.

Hero Ingredient: With only five ingredients, all the components of this dish shine. But what really steals the show? Nothing compares to the creamy bite of perfectly-cooked potatoes. Fingerlings are my fave.

Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts & Kale Pesto

Why We Love It: This dish is perfect for large groups—it’s easy to double and can be served at room temp. The flavors are unexpected and unmatched. I guarantee everyone will be asking for the recipe.

Hero Ingredient: I won’t lie: I didn’t expect to love this kale-ified pesto as much as I do. It’s a bit heartier than your standard pesto, and it coats and clings to each tube of rigatoni perfectly.

Orange-Chili Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Carrot Pesto and Grilled Carrots

Why We Love It: Prefer carrots as your pesto base? Stay with me. After charring carrots on the grill, you’ll add them to a food processor or blender with mint, garlic, walnuts, olive oil, honey, zest, and the juice of an orange. The flavors are so unique and blend well with this dish’s other players. It’s sweet, spicy, and just a little bit smoky. I won’t blame you if you go in with a spoon.

Hero Ingredient: A sprig of mint in the pesto and to garnish add beautiful fresh flavor.

Farinata with Caramelized Onions and Pesto

Why We Love It: This is a great option if you’re entertaining gluten-free guests. Chickpea flour serves as the base for your farinata, creating a nutty and substantial foundation that you get to pile high with jammy caramelized onions and a hazelnut-arugula pesto that perfectly encapsulates the flavors of spring.

Hero Ingredient: When it’s bright and fresh flavor I’m craving, only arugula will do.

Avocado Toast with Kale Pesto and Crunchy Veggies

Why We Love It: Add a little something special to your everyday breakfast staple with this delicious spin on a classic. Pile toasted sourdough with a thick layer of avocado, vegan pesto, a squeeze of honey to taste (just trust), and cucumber or radish for texture. It’s easy to make, colorful, tasty, satisfying, and healthy.

Hero Ingredient: Is your avocado toast really complete without everything spice?

Pesto and Goat Cheese Frittata

Why We Love It: Frittatas are the perfect brunch food, but if you’re like me, then you love to eat them just as much for dinner as well. It’s a one-pan meal that’s easy to throw together, filling, healthy, and satisfying. The pesto gives this frittata a bright, herby zing that goes perfectly with a goat cheese tang.

Hero Ingredient: Goat cheese just makes everything better, don’t you think?

Burrata with Pesto and Figs

Why We Love It: A burrata appetizer is always a crowd-pleaser, but the addition of pesto and figs really kicks it up a notch. It’s an incredibly simple dish that nevertheless feels very elegant. Since figs have a short season, feel free to swap them out with cherries, peaches, or pears.

Hero Ingredient: I bet you thought I was gonna say burrata, but surprise—it’s the figs. Make sure they’re really ripe and sweet since they are the star of this dish.

Burrata Toasts with Caramelized Walnuts and Mint-Pomegranate Pesto

Why We Love It: In need of an elegant appetizer but short on time? Look no further. These simple toasts are piled high with creamy burrata, sweet and crunchy walnuts, and fresh mint pesto. Because pomegranates are in season during the colder months, feel free to omit if you can’t find them. Who doesn’t love a monochromatic snack?

Hero Ingredient: Okay, this time it’s the burrata.

Pesto Pasta Primavera

Why We Love It: It’s so much easier to make than it looks, so you can whip together a seriously impressive dish with minimal effort. As if that weren’t enough, it’s bursting with flavor, is nutritious and healthy, and easy to clean up. Just be sure to chop all your veggies so they’re about the same size to help them cook evenly. You want crisp, tender veggies that don’t get mushy.

Hero Ingredient: Lemon zest is technically an optional garnish, but it adds a brightness and acidity that you won’t want to miss out on.

Baked Pesto Salmon with Broccolini 

Why We Love It: As healthy as it is flavorful, this baked salmon recipe only uses five ingredients and still manages to be hearty and filling. It’s the perfect weeknight meal and the salmon makes an excellent vessel for our beloved pesto sauce. Treat yourself to a delicious, flaky protein in just 15 minutes flat!

Hero Ingredient: Broccolini’s tender stalks cook much quicker than broccoli but it’s just as rich in vitamins like A, C, and K, while also being a great source of calcium.

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Cilantro Pesto

Why We Love It: Not only are these tacos packed with nutritious ingredients, but they’re a delicious and filling meal that satisfies the weekly taco hankering. The tacos happen to be vegan and gluten-free, with a cilantro pesto that puts a twist on your everyday recipe.

Hero Ingredient: Roasted cauliflower is incredibly versatile and never more so than when it transforms a taco.

Roasted Butternut Squash Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Figs, and Pesto

Why We Love It: While I love any and all opportunities to devour butternut squash, I’m not in love with the laborious process of peeling, chopping, and de-seeding the squash. Good news: this recipe streamlines the process. And when your dish is complete, you’re left with a perfectly caramelized vehicle for all your favorites: tangy goat cheese, fresh and salty pesto, figs, and pine nuts for that non-negotiable crunch.

Hero Ingredient: As I said, pine nuts: non-negotiable crunch.

Zucchini Noodle Pesto Pasta

Why We Love It: Sometimes you just want something that gives you the essence of pasta but isn’t as heavy. That’s where zucchini noodles come in. This is a light and delicious recipe that is easy to throw together and tastes like a dream.

Hero Ingredient: If you’ve never tried zucchini noodles then let this dish be your intro. They’re easy to make if you have a spiralizer. But if you don’t have one you can generally find them already pre-spiraled at your local grocer.

This post was originally published on July 1, 2021, and has since been updated.

The post 15 Delicious Ways to Use Pesto—and Exactly How to Make Your Own! appeared first on Camille Styles.

Saturday night is notorious for taking on so many different forms. Maybe your Saturday nights are occupied with get-togethers, movie marathons, spending time with your kids, or a mixture of all three. But no matter how you enjoy your weekend evenings, Saturday night dinner ideas always keep me stumped. Regardless of how much I’ve planned during the week, I find myself spending far too much time pondering what to put on the dinner table when I’m not in the mood to go full-on chef mode. For those of you in the same boat, allow me to share my favorite festive yet simple Saturday night dinner ideas that always reignite my culinary fire.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

What makes a good Saturday night meal?

No matter your diet, it’s important to keep your Saturday night dinners balanced and fun. Keeping prep time relatively low means you’ll be less discouraged if you’ve spent the day lounging on the couch. If you’re anything like me, Saturday also means my grocery inventory is limited, so minimal-ingredient recipes are always a good idea. Even though energy levels may be sub-par on this sacred day, Saturday is a great time to try new dishes and incorporate ingredients you may not be motivated to try during the week.

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply putting food on your table for the family, serving a crowd can be intimidating. Big-batch dishes and one-pot meals make being a host less of a hassle. Having a stunning table salad or appetizer and a simple dessert are sure to satisfy.

Below, you’ll find Saturday night dinner ideas for larger groups, vegetarian showstoppers, recipes for two, and quick and easy dishes for those lazy weekend evenings. (Don’t worry, we didn’t forget dessert!) And regardless of your typical weekend mood, I think we can all agree that less is more when it comes to our time off.

After working hard all week, the weekend is reserved for relaxation. The recipes below embrace the beauty of low-effort/maximum reward offerings. Digging it? Keep reading for our picks of Saturday night dinner ideas that help you kick your feet up and savor the weekend.

42 Saturday Night Dinner Ideas for the Family (And Friends!)

Sweet & Spicy Braised Short Ribs

Why We Love It: These braised short ribs pack so much flavor into every bite (your tastebuds will be thanking you). This dish yields a large amount of food, perfect for hungry families. Not to mention that these short ribs pair perfectly with practically any side you can imagine.

Hero Ingredient: Be sure to have a bottle of dry red wine on hand for this savory sauce.

Pesto Gnocchi Skillet Bake

Why We Love It: This cheesy and gooey one-pot recipe couldn’t be easier to throw together on a Saturday night. It requires minimal yet mouth-watering ingredients that you likely have in your refrigerator. What’s not to love?

Hero Ingredient: Store-bought or homemade, pesto is a must.

One Pot Garlicky Mushroom Pasta with Sausage & Arugula

Why We Love It: This one-pot sausage pasta is downright delicious. With a short ingredient list, each component shines through to complement one another beautifully. Arugula, baby portabella mushrooms, Italian sausage, and lots of lemon juice are the stars of the show, with craveable textures and flavors. And even though this pasta features rich Italian sausage, it’s surprisingly light.

Hero Ingredient: Don’t be shy with the red pepper flakes.

Turkey Chili Verde

Why We Love It: Danielle Walker shared this cozy turkey chili verde recipe with us and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you all. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and paleo-friendly, which means it’s nutritious and enjoyed by all—even your pickiest eaters. The best part? This entire chili comes together in less than 30 minutes. It also freezes and reheats well, so you can make a big batch in advance and slowly reap the fruits of your labor.

Hero Ingredient: Since a paleo diet excludes legumes, it can be tricky to get a chili to thicken properly. The solution? Simmering white potatoes in the base with little bits of cauliflower sprinkled throughout. The starch helps the chili transform from brothy to silky.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Why We Love It: The most flavorful, nourishing, and low-effort/high-reward sheet pan recipe you’ll ever find, these fajitas deserve a spot in your weekly lineup. Marinated chicken, bell peppers, onions, and poblano peppers roast together until slightly charred and caramelized. Then, everything is wrapped up in a warm corn tortilla and finished with as many toppings as your heart desires. Make your Tex-Mex dreams come true at home!

Hero Ingredient: A lot of lime is the secret to success. You might think you’re going overboard but don’t worry. The acidity in the citrus works behind the scenes to tenderize the chicken without you having to lift a finger.

Creamy Polenta Bowls with Garlic and Mascarpone

Why We Love It: Chilly early spring nights call for comforting meals, and this recipe provides just that. Since it uses ingredients you probably have on hand, there’s nothing standing between you and total coziness on a Saturday night. Choose your own adventure with the veggies, and don’t be afraid to try something unexpected! With a base as delicious as this creamy polenta, you can’t go wrong.

Hero Ingredient: Roasting a head of garlic alongside the veggies gives it that nutty, almost-sweet flavor and spreadable texture. Be sure to save some for baguette spreading.

Lemony Sheet Pan Chicken With Artichokes and Spring Veggies

Why We Love It: In the world of lazy Saturday night dinner recipes, sheet pan dishes are king. This chicken version with artichokes, cherry tomatoes, garlic, red onion, and green olives is just divine. It’s Mediterranean-inspired and full of bursting flavors you’ll want to sop up every bit of.

Hero Ingredient: Herbs de Provence drives home the savory chicken flavor that you won’t want to miss.

Creamy Lemon Pasta

Why We Love It: Pasta al Limone is a lovable classic that never goes out of style. Camille lovingly calls it a pantry pasta, meaning you don’t have to look far for the ingredients. All it takes is a little lemon juice, noodles, heavy cream, butter, parmesan, and fresh herbs to take this one from pot to plate. Once you’ve had a forkful, you’ll come back craving more.

Hero Ingredient: Any herbs you have on hand go well in this pasta. Basil? Yes. Chives? Absolutely. Invasive mint that’s taking over your flower bed? Yes, please.

Easiest Ever Black Bean Soup

Why We Love It: When it comes to Saturday night dinner recipes for the family, this one’s a real winner. It couldn’t be easier to make, and kids love it with a cheese quesadilla on the side to soak up all that broth. The best part? This soup uses the entire can of black beans—juice and all—to form the base. It’s seriously that easy and is completely cozy for chilly fall nights.

Hero Ingredient: If you prefer a thicker soup, blend up the mix with an immersion blender or in batches in a stand blender. Silky smooth soup is calling your name.

Saturday Night Dinner Ideas for Two

Butternut Squash and Ricotta Tart

Why We Love It: If you’re searching for a unique main course that’s both delicious AND beautiful, look no further than this butternut squash tart. Ricotta gives a perfect creaminess that complements the squash’s sweet and earthy flavor.

Hero Ingredient: Sprinkle with red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.

Spinach and Ricotta Pizza with Garlicky Olive Oil

Why We Love It: Try your hand at homemade pizza dough and prepare to be amazed. The flavors are impeccable—with spinach, creamy ricotta, garlic confit, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil coming together in harmony. This recipe is dynamic, comforting, and so easy to throw together on a busy weekend. This pizza is the perfect size for two to enjoy, so you don’t have to worry about storing leftovers.

Hero Ingredient: The garlic confit definitely wins the prize. It’s baked low and slow until caramelized and beautifully spreadable. Pro tip: Make a little extra for sandwiches, wraps, toasts, salad dressings, or good old-fashioned bread spreading.

Slow Roasted Cod with Broccolini, Winter Squash, and Mint

Why We Love It: Perfect for date night, an easy weeknight dinner, and quick pan-to-plate offerings—this roasted cod is effortlessly romantic. Your oven does all the work to transform seasonal ingredients into a nourishing meal you’ll want to bookmark. Flaky cod, delicata squash, broccolini, and plenty of herbs and flavors meld together to create a healthy dinner you and your meal partner will love.

Hero Ingredient: Don’t be shy with the lemon juice. All that roasted goodness is made even better with a little citrus.

Shredded Kale & Cranberry Salad with Crispy Tofu

Why We Love It: Sweet, savory, tangy, fresh, and all-around delicious, this kale salad has got it going on. The kale base is loaded with dried cranberries, salted peanuts, refreshing cucumber, and sautéed tofu that’s so much better than you (probably) think it is. To top it all off, a citrus-ginger dressing brightens up everything underneath it. Help yourself to a big serving of this nutrient-dense salad for a dinner that will have you glowing from the inside out.

Hero Ingredient: Thoroughly massaging your kale is key. It breaks down all that toughness and gives you tasty, tender leaves you’ll love munching on.

Bacon, Apple, & Sweet Potato Pizza with Crispy Sage

Why We Love It: Bacon, apples, and sweet potatoes might not be your first thought when it comes to pizza toppings, but the combo might surprise you. The flavors they bring together are nothing short of magical. Smoky bacon meets sweet apple and cozy sweet potato, all working together over a crispy pizza crust. Then, crispy fried sage brings an herbal tone to the mix. Don’t knock it until you try it.

Hero Ingredient: Did I forget to mention the goat cheese? Those flavors are only enhanced by the tanginess of creamy goat cheese that brings things to new heights.

Kitchari

Why We Love It: Kitchari is a combination of lentils (or split mung beans), rice, spices, and ghee that’s pretty much a hug in a bowl. It’s perfect for quiet Saturday nights when you need a little comfort. Bonus: it couldn’t be easier to make. It’s composed entirely in one bowl! With ten minutes of hands-on time, you can go from pot to plate in no time.

Hero Ingredient: Garam masala, red chili powder, turmeric, hing, cumin seeds, and ajwain seeds constitute the spices for your kitchari.

BLT Salad with 8-Minute Eggs & Avocado

Why We Love It: Get your BLT fix in salad form with this ggrfb BLT (BLEAT?) salad. Crunchy bread, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, jammy eggs, creamy avocado, and buttery lettuce come together under a simple vinaigrette in a way that’s almost addicting. You have all kinds of flavors and textures complementing each other in one harmonious salad. I don’t know about you, but my mouth is watering.

Hero Ingredient: The eight-minute egg is not to be overlooked. It’s the jammy yolk that makes each forkful pure perfection.

Hummus, Greens, & Avo Bowl

Why We Love It: This bowl might just be the definition of nourishment. You’ve got fiber-rich kale, protein-packed eggs, fatty avocado, and more coming together to work for your body from the inside out. Plus, it’s just as delicious as it is nutrient-dense! Savory hummus and charred broccolini bring serious flavor that’s only enhanced by the salty sunflower seeds sprinkled over top. It’s a dynamic bowl that gives you that extra boost of goodness on a Saturday night.

Hero Ingredient: Again, the egg is unbeatable on top of this bowl. By soft-boiling it, you’re left with just the right amount of yolk to spread over your greens.

Vegetarian Saturday Night Dinner Ideas

Damn That’s a Keeper Winter Vegetable Lasagna

Why We Love It: Who said it was impossible to enjoy lasagna on a plant-based diet? This recipe uses both fresh produce and fresh pasta (Yes, you can do it. From-scratch pasta is worth it). What better time to whip up a homemade dish like this than Saturday night?

Hero Ingredient: Butternut squash is a perfectly plant-based root veg to incorporate into this lasagna.

One-Pot Vegetarian Moroccan Stew

Why We Love It: If end-of-winter weather is giving you a case of the blues, the sniffles, or the shivers, this stew is your calling card. It’s a meatless main that’s packed with nutrient-rich veggies and warming flavors that are perfect for this time of year. It’s a one-pot dish that’s gluten-free, vegan, and full of fiber. And don’t think the lack of meat means lack of flavor—garlic, lemon, lots of spices and herbs hold it down in the flavor department. Trust me, even the most dedicated meat lovers won’t miss it.

Hero Ingredient: The variety of veggies in this stew also brings valuable flavor. You’ve got cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, and onions working together to flavor the broth to perfection.

Creamy Vegan Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil

Why We Love It: If you think “creamy” and “vegan” are mutually exclusive, think again. This pasta with tomatoes and basil is coated in a walnut sauce that’s so much more than the sum of its parts. Garlic and onions are sautéed until caramelized then blended with walnuts, lemon juice/zest, and a splash of water until smooth. Then, the sauce is poured over the pasta and lovingly coated over each al dente noodle. Combine that with just-burst tomatoes and lots of herbs, and you’ve got a decadent pasta for Saturday night dinner. Yum.

Hero Ingredient: The finishing touch is a shower of lemon zest, chopped basil, and red pepper flakes. Don’t be shy—these edible accessories finish this dish off beautifully.

Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Yogurt, Herbs, and Everything Spice

Why We Love It: Gone are the days of bland sweet potato mush. These crispy roasted sweet potatoes are roasted in the oven until tender, but the crowning glory is their pan-fried finish. In a big cast iron skillet, warm a little butter and honey before placing the potatoes face-down in the mixture. The flesh crisps up on top and even gets a little charred in the best way. Then, you can top with Greek yogurt, avocado, sriracha, everything bagel seasoning, fresh herbs, or anything else you can conjure up. Each bite is simply blissful.

Hero Ingredient: While the recipe calls for honey, hot honey would be absolutely amazing. The subtle heat and sweetness would complement that charred sweet potato so well.

Vegan Flatbread with Roasted Carrot and Red Pepper Hummus

Why We Love It: Switch up your dinner offerings with a veggie-forward flatbread that’s equally healthy and delicious. Each flatbread is topped with a red pepper hummus that you’ll want to make extra of (trust me) and veggie galore. The hummus is made with roasted carrots, red bell pepper, roasted garlic, and several spices that tie it all together before it’s layered with fresh veg and herbs. Crunchy vegetables fare really well here, so think cucumber, snap peas, radishes, green onions, etc.

Hero Ingredient: For the hummus, all the vegetables are roasted together on a sheet pan, which couldn’t be easier. Hero method, anybody?

“Creamy” Vegan Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger & Coconut Milk

Why We Love It: This recipe is all about the creamy pureed soup that boasts zero cream in sight. It uses coconut milk and warming spices to give it that satisfying richness without the extra heaviness that comes from cream. Combine that with cozy butternut squash and carrots, sharp ginger, and sweet honey, and you’ve got a simple, delicious soup.

Hero Ingredient: Fresh orange juice brings a vibrant zing to the party that will wake up all the senses.

Healthy Flatbread Pizza with Eggplant and Ricotta

Why We Love It: Another unexpected twist on pizza, this flatbread with eggplant and ricotta is the minimal-cook dinner you’ve been looking for. It’s a miracle recipe that takes very little time to assemble and rewards you with a decadent dinner. It uses eggplant, ricotta, garlic, heirloom tomatoes, and more to create something so much greater than the sum of its parts.

Hero Ingredient: If the extra effort involved in eggplant scares you, don’t fear! There’s no salting or drying involved here—just a simple broil that keeps the outside crispy and the inside tender and free of bitterness.

Sweet Potato Falafel Veggie Burgers

Why We Love It: Bland veggie burgers, be gone. This sweet potato veggie burger brings the flavor and texture to a cult classic dish: the humble burger. It all starts with chickpeas, sweet potato, panko breadcrumbs, and lots of spices, which constitute the patty. Then, smear a little feta yogurt dressing on your buns and top with red onions, charred veggies, tomatoes, fresh cucumber, or anything else that strikes your fancy.

Hero Ingredient: Ground cumin, coriander, and red chili powder bring the flavor to each tasty patty.

Spicy Peanut Brussels Sprout Tacos

Why We Love It: It can be tricky to find a vegetarian taco recipe that’s actually filling, but this recipe proves it is possible and enjoyable. Brussels sprouts, radish, and onion build the foundation here for lots of goodness to follow. They’re roasted until slightly crispy, layered with mashed avocado plus a spicy peanut sauce, then wrapped up in a warm corn tortilla blanket. Top with as many edible accessories your heart desires.

Hero Ingredient: Should you choose to double the sauce (although you’ll likely have some leftover anyway), keep it on hand for stir-fry, spring rolls, crudités, and salad dressings all week long.

Vegetarian Coq Au Vin

Why We Love It: Romantic, cozy, and utterly mouth-watering, this coq au vin is the ultimate comfort dish to spice up your evening. Braised with red wine and served with warm fresh bread or mashed potatoes, this take on a traditional French dish will be the highlight of your evening.

Hero Ingredient: Any red wine will do (even zero-proof!).

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Bowl with Feta Yogurt

Why We Love It: Bowls never fail to make a great throw-together meal that always hits the spot. This chickpea and sweet potato bowl is a great meatless alternative for vegetarians that still includes a good amount of protein and carbs.

Hero Ingredient: The feta yogurt changed my life—seriously.

Quick and Easy Saturday Night Dinner Ideas

Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

Why We Love It: Sweet potatoes in any form have my heart. They’re a super simple way to add substance to any meal, and their mildly sweet flavors pair well with a variety of different flavors and textures. If a full-fledged meal seems too heavy for your evening, give these loaded sweet potato fries a go.

Hero Ingredient: Drizzle a bit of sour cream on top for added richness.

Hot Honey Glazed Salmon With Coconut Crunch

Why We Love It: Interesting doesn’t always mean complicated, which rings true in this salmon. The fish is caramelized under the broiler before being brushed with a vibrant honey glaze that wakes up each and every taste bud. Couple that with roasted sweet potatoes, fluffy rice, and a coconut crunch that’s so addicting you can eat it straight out of the pan. Pure bliss.

Hero Ingredient: That coconut crunch is seriously phenomenal. All you have to do is sauté a little garlic, sliced chili, and coconut flakes until everything becomes sweet, nutty, and fragrant. Your life might just be changed forever.

Apple Walnut Salad

Why We Love It: Bitter arugula is layered with sweet apple slices, sharp red onion, toasty walnuts, creamy goat cheese, and more in this addictive salad. Coming together in 15 minutes or less, this salad is great to keep in mind for Saturday night dinner ideas, on-the-fly gatherings, or make-ahead lunches/dinners throughout the week.

Hero Ingredient: The sweet/salty flavor combo in salad form is unmatched. Here, you’re getting lots of that with the tart cranberries, toasted nuts, creamy cheese, and spicy red onion working together in harmony. It’s a flavor dynamic to behold.

Sunday Night Avocado Toast with a Jammy Egg

Why We Love It: Toast for dinner? You betcha. This Sunday Saturday night avocado toast checks all the boxes on flavor, texture, and comfort. It takes less than 15 minutes to go from bread to dinner (a miracle in and of itself!). With creamy avocado, salty everything seasoning, just-burst tomatoes, and jammy yolk running over top, there’s so much to love.

Hero Ingredient: The jammy egg is not to be taken lightly. It’s like a warm blanket coating all that goodness underneath.

Paneer Tikka Kebabs

Why We Love It: Cheese kebabs sound like a dream, no? These paneer kebabs are stacked with salty, melty cheese, caramelized bell pepper, and charred red onions for a quick dinner that’s sure to satisfy. The paneer is marinated overnight in a mixture of yogurt and spices that gives it a punchy flavor you won’t want to miss. Ergo, don’t skimp on the spices.

Hero Ingredient: A squeeze of fresh lime juice over each kebab ties all those flavors together perfectly. I’d call it magical, but you’ll have to see for yourself.

Spaghetti alla Nerano

Why We Love It: All it takes to make this simple vegetarian pasta is a little garlic, shallot, zucchini, spaghetti, and parmesan cheese. I guarantee: it’ll make your pasta dreams come true. The key to success is the technique, though this recipe deviates from the original to keep things short and sweet. The zucchini is pan-fried with olive oil until golden brown and about a third gets blended with pasta water and basil for the sauce. It’s blissfully simple and equally satisfying.

Hero Ingredient: A pat of butter and lots of grated parm finishes this dish off to perfection. Swirl it in at the end and enjoy the effortless elevation.

Mushroom, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Frittata

Why We Love It: If you need an excuse to empty your vegetable drawer, look no further. This frittata comes together in under 30 minutes—perfect for lazy Saturday nights. It’s simple to make, full of vegetables and is composed entirely of ingredients you (probably) already have.

Hero Ingredient: A heavy sprinkle of fresh herbs over top polishes off the dish. Use whatever you have on hand—you can’t go wrong here!

Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey-Shallot Vinaigrette

Why We Love It: Fresh greens, spicy marinated chickpeas/carrots, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, queso fresco, and more come together in salad matrimony. It’s a chopped salad, which means each forkful is loaded with a little bit of everything. Toss it all together in that luscious honey-shallot vinaigrette for a dynamic salad that goes well by itself, topped with protein, or as a side to Taco… Saturday?

Hero Ingredient: Toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds on top bring the crunch factor.

Miso Tomato Pasta

Why We Love It: Five ingredients and one pot are all that stand between you and this low-effort/maximum-reward pasta. It uses simple ingredients to create something more flavorful than you might think possible. The trick is to roast your tomatoes and garlic low and slow with lots of olive oil. Miso in the sauce brings a lovely umami flavor, which is complemented by that caramelized garlic, salty parmesan cheese, and a little pasta water to bind it all together. Simple perfection.

Hero Ingredient: In terms of noodle selection, a bucatini noodle is ideal. The little hole through the middle of each nood gives you ample opportunity to slurp. Let loose and enjoy, people!

Bonus: Dessert!

Summer Fruit Fools

Why We Love It: Light and refreshing, this dessert is a great way to please a crowd without slaving over an elaborate dessert. With only four ingredients (none that require baking), it’s hard to turn this delicious treat down when the temperature starts to warm up.

Hero Ingredient: The juice and zest of a lemon add a tangy twist to the sweet fruit and cream filling.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Brownies

Why We Love It: Brownies never fail to make their way onto my weekly menu. They’re the best bite-sized snack for when you’re a bit too full for a large-scale dessert. This recipe takes brownies to the next level and keeps this delicious treat gluten and dairy-free.

Hero Ingredient: A bit of sea salt is the perfect contrasting bite to the brownies’ richer flavors.

Orange-Walnut Olive Oil Cake

Why We Love It: I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too familiar with olive oil cakes until trying this one, and let me say: I’ve been changed for the better. It’s light and fluffy with a crunchy texture from the chopped walnuts that I would have never thought to incorporate into a cake.

Hero Ingredient: Honey naturally sweetens this treat.

No Bake White Chocolate Lemon Cardamom Slices

Why We Love It: Lemon desserts are one of my go-to ways to create a fruity dessert in a pinch. Plus, with no baking required, these lemon cardamom slices are a quick, light dessert that will save you hours in the kitchen. (Enjoy your evening and thank us later.)

Hero Ingredient: Top this delicious dessert with lemon sugar and whipped cream.

Raspberry Tiramisu

Why We Love It: It goes without saying that tiramisu is a widely-loved addition to any evening meal. This recipe is a breeze to make (no baking required!) and uses rich flavors like espresso and vanilla bean to contrast the fresh raspberries.

Hero Ingredient: Chocolate shavings are a picture-perfect topping.

Double Chocolate Skillet Cookie

Why We Love It: Skillet cookies are highly underrated, but they yield enough dessert to make everyone full and happy. (Kidding, everyone’s going to want more of this after-dinner treat.) This double chocolate cookie skillet is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth without messing up your kitchen late at night.

Hero Ingredient: With ice cream as a topping, there’s no turning down this dish.

This post was originally published on October 22nd, 2022, and has since been updated.

The post 42 Saturday Night Dinner Ideas for Every Weekend Mood appeared first on Camille Styles.

There are very few ways to go wrong with lemon. There’s something about this tart citrus fruit that makes it hard not to incorporate into almost every dish I make. Whether it be a sweet glaze or fresh fruit compote, when life gives you lemons, there’s no doubt they’ll be put to use in the most delectable lemon dessert recipes. With the weather warming up, these treats will satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping things light and fresh.

Working with lemons is fairly simple, but a few tips can bring your dessert to the next level. When a recipe calls for lemon juice, be sure to roll out your lemon until it has a squishy texture, as it will release the juice that much more easily. If lemon zest is what you’ll need, using a Microplane zester is recommended, but a box grater or vegetable peeler can do the job in a pinch.

Featured Image by Suruchi Avasthi.

11 Bright and Bold Lemon Dessert Recipes

Gluten-Free Lemon Bars

Why We Love It: Trust me: you can always use another lemon bar recipe—especially when they can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions. Traditional lemon bars are a springtime staple thanks to their simplicity and balanced sweetness. These bite-sized treats use a gluten-free graham cracker crust and tapioca starch, both of which keep this recipe easy to digest and enjoy.

Hero Ingredient: No lemon bar is complete without the zest of one whole lemon.

Lemon Tarts + Orange Blossom Whipped Cream (Dairy-Free)

Why We Love It: The struggle is real for all dairy-free people who suffer from an insatiable sweet tooth. Luckily, this recipe will satisfy your sugar craving while keeping your dietary needs in check. The tartness of the lemon is the perfect flavor partner to a visually stunning whipped cream topping.

Hero Ingredient: Coconut oil is my savior in dairy-free desserts.

Lemon Ricotta Poundcake with Candied Lemon Slices

Why We Love It: Ricotta is one of those ingredients with an infinite amount of potential, especially in dishes where you wouldn’t expect to find it. (Case in point: this pizza and Camille’s go-to spring appetizer.) Pairing sweet and light flavors with this airy cheese creates a delicate and fresh dessert perfect for when warm weather rolls around.

Hero Ingredient: Your taste buds will thank you after trying these candied lemon slices.

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Why We Love It: If you’re short on time and baking supplies, these cookies have you covered. With a flavorful, simple glaze made from lemon juice and powdered sugar to complement this classic dessert, we doubt there will be many of these cookies left over.

Hero Ingredient: One tablespoon of fresh rosemary is all you need to bring these cookies to the next level.

No Bake White Chocolate Lemon Cardamom Slices

Why We Love It: No-bake desserts always find their way onto my weekly menu. I mean, how can you deny something so delicious and even more simple? Although no-bake fillings can sometimes be tough to master (we’re looking at you, cheesecake), this recipe uses white chocolate to bind everything together in a stress-free way.

Hero Ingredient: Gently fold in whipped cream to keep your slices from getting too dense.

Flourless Pistachio Cakes with Honey-Lemon Yogurt Glaze

Why We Love It: These pistachio cakes take nutty flavors and sweet notes like honey to create a simple, gluten-free dessert. (For the gluten-free crowd, we know simple desserts don’t come around too often.) Pair these delicious cakes with an evening tea or morning coffee to start or end your day on a sweet note.

Hero Ingredient: If you’ve never tried the Greek yogurt and honey combination, have you really lived?

Mini Dutch Babies + Blueberry Lemon Compote (Dairy Free!)

Why We Love It: Fruit-filled desserts are a great option when you’re feeling something on the lighter side. These light and fluffy Dutch babies are filled with a minimal-ingredient blueberry and lemon compote, but the choice of fruit is truly up to your heart’s desire.

Hero Ingredient: This recipe keeps it dairy-free by using vanilla almond milk as a binding ingredient and natural sweetener.

Fig & Lemon Crostata

Why We Love It: This crostata, or Crostata di Marmellata, is a sweet rendition of a staple dessert you can find in any Italian kitchen. While any variety of ripe, fresh fruit will do for this dessert, this crostata uses fig jam and lemons to curate a tangy and sweet flavor profile.

Hero Ingredient: With any good lemon dessert recipe, lemon zest is an essential ingredient.

Meyer Lemon Breakfast Panna Cotta with Stovetop Granola

Why We Love It: This lemon dessert is superbly sweet and filled with protein (thanks, Greek yogurt!). Construct this sweet, mousse-like dessert in mason jars or small containers for the perfect grab-and-go dessert to snack on throughout the week.

Hero Ingredient: Serve with raspberry preserves for an additional burst of fruit.

Phyllo Napoleans with Strawberries and Lemon-Vanilla Cream

Why We Love It: These crispy and sweet napoleons are the summer dessert you’ve been searching for. When pulp from vanilla beans meets the tart and flavorful taste of fresh strawberries, it’s hard to eat just one of these jam-packed treats.

Hero Ingredient: If you’ve yet to dip your toes into baking with rhubarb, now’s your chance! (For more ideas, get inspired here.)

Raspberry & Pistachio Cake with Lemon Glaze

Why We Love It: This cake is giving all the spring vibes we’ve been craving since the sun started to peek back out. Divying this batter into two small mini cakes allows for even baking and distribution of prominent and rich flavors. Almost an olive oil cake, this treat will come out perfectly moist and ready to please a crowd.

Hero Ingredient: Raspberries and lemon are a perfect match.

The post 11 Bright and Zesty Lemon Desserts to Savor This Spring appeared first on Camille Styles.

It’s that time of year. Easter is just around the corner and with it comes all the cheeriness of spring’s best menu offerings. Carrot cake is back, veggies like asparagus and arugula are sprouting up, and al fresco dining has returned with all its joyful might. And while it might be a little stressful to plan your Easter menu, you can breathe easy with these vegan Easter recipes in your repertoire.

Whether you’re a vegan eater or simply looking to pack in more daily veg with easy recipes, these vegan Easter recipes are real stunners that bring just as much joy to your table as the holiday itself ushers in.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

25 Vegan Easter Recipes to Brighten Up Your Table

Traditions vary, but my family typically enjoys our Easter meal during mid-afternoon. That way, the morning takes a laid-back pace and there’s just enough time between lunch/dinner to “rest your eyes,” as my dad would say. (Although we all know that means nothing less than nap.) There’s no rush to organize a proper brunch situation, and you can basically just graze your way through the afternoon and into dinnertime. It’s the best of both worlds, really. But that said, more power to you brunch people! There’s nothing like a spring table in the early afternoon to brighten up the day and spark joy.

Can I let you in on a secret? Each of these recipes is equally enjoyable at any time during this lovely holiday. We’ve got something for everyone on this list, and you can rest assured that no dietary needs will be left unmet. From simple cocktails to dazzling desserts and everything in between, these vegan Easter recipes are must-makes this spring season. Hop to it, folks!

Salty Dog Cocktail

Why We Love It: Grapefruit, vodka, and agave come together to create a vibrant cocktail that’s perfect for spring. It’s blissfully simple to make and so refreshing thanks to the tart grapefruit. The best part? You can batch it with everything but the sparkling water, which you can add to each glass just before serving. That way, everyone at your table gets a bubbly bev to sip on and savor alongside good company and conversation.

Hero Ingredient: We’re calling for regular salt here, but feel free to spice things up with chili salt or even sugar for a dash of sweetness.

“What’s Up Doc” Carrot-Ginger Cocktail

Why We Love It: Born from carrot and lime juices, simple syrup, peeled ginger, and a mixture of coconut and silver rums, this cocktail is a springtime stunner. As Camille shares in the recipe, this one is just as delicious as a mocktail, so those of you sans alcohol can enjoy a sprightly beverage that’s both tasty and celebratory. Just look at the color! Unmistakably spring. Unmistakably fun.

Hero Ingredient: Don’t worry, the ginger doesn’t live in the final product. You’ll strain it out, but be sure to give it an extra-vigorous shake to infuse your bevvy with its sharp flavor.

Elderberry Spring Cocktail

Why We Love It: Vodka, St. Germain, meyer lemon juice, and sparkling water are all you need to make this simple sipper that’s a real showstopper for spring. It’s uber-festive with those gorgeous floral ice cubes, so I highly encourage you to give those a try if you have the resources. Dainty chamomile flowers make the cutest cubes, but feel free to experiment with other offerings! Lavender, forget-me-not’s, thyme, the possibilities are endless.

Hero Ingredient: That meyer lemon is much more subtle on the tartness than your typical lemon.

Salt and Vinegar Crispy Potatoes

Why We Love It: It’s not an exaggeration to say that these are the best potatoes I’ve ever had. As a devout sea salt and vinegar chip fan (these are my current obsession btw), I was immediately inclined to give this OG potato version a try. And let me say, they did not disappoint. Not only are they easy to make, but the recipe only calls for four ingredients that I almost always have on hand. Run, don’t walk to make these—you will not regret it.

Hero Ingredient: That lip-smacking salt and vinegar flavor? It’s made possible by apple cider vinegar… which means it’s healthy, right? I’m going with yes.

Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Why We Love It: Yes, vegan mashed potatoes are possible and delicious! Here, you’re getting all the buttery, potato-y goodness of traditional mashed potatoes without the actual butter. That’s right—these mashed potatoes let the tuber itself shine with lots of olive oil-laced flavor and texture. They’re silky smooth and so indulgent tasting, plus you get the privilege of a healthier version without any sacrifice on taste. Total win-win.

Hero Ingredient: Garlic, and a lot of it.

Vegan + Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies from Café Gratitude

Why We Love It: A vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookie that’s actually good? Few and far between. This one from Café Gratitude? Living proof that it’s very much possible. With oats, almond butter, maple syrup, and more, these bad boys have got it going on. P.S. They’re best enjoyed straight out of the oven, or after an hour or so in the sun. Melty chocolate chips for all!

Hero Ingredient: Toasting the walnuts before adding them to the dough is a small step that makes a big difference.

Gluten-Free, Vegan, Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Why We Love It: So about that carrot cake I mentioned earlier… this is it in miniature, grab-and-go form. On top of that, this recipe is a cleaned-up classic that you can come back to over and over. With oat milk, maple syrup, walnuts, and shredded carrots (duh), this muffin’s practically perfect in every way. It’s on the denser side with a full 12-muffin tin, so keep it to six if you like a fuller muffin (and can limit yourself to fewer muffins, which is a challenge honestly).

Hero Ingredient: Flax eggs mimic regular eggs when baked, which is an impressive feat.

Vegan Nutty Banana Muffins

Why We Love It: Talk about miniature versions, these banana muffins are essentially individual little banana breads. And what’s the best part about banana bread? Using up those bananas you enthusiastically bought at the beginning of the week and never touched. (Tell me I’m not the only one). With lots of nutty flavor from tahini and the nut crumble, they’re pretty addictive, and that’s a warning.

Hero Ingredient: You didn’t hear it from me, but some vegan chocolate chips snuck into this batter is life changing.

One Bowl Baked Banana Cashew Oatmeal

Why We Love It: You know all about chilled overnight oats, but let me introduce you to a warm-style oatmeal bake that you can meal prep for your gathering. This banana cashew oatmeal truly fires on all cylinders. It combines banana, peanut butter, cashews, and cinnamon to deliver in the flavor department, plus oats and ground flax seed to bulk up the health benefits. You can prep this entirely beforehand, then either bake it immediately and reheat the next day, or refrigerate and wait to enjoy it straight out of the oven. You can’t go wrong with either.

Hero Ingredient: Those bananas on top become perfectly caramelized and I will be aiming for as many as can fit in a single scoop.

Einkorn Salad With Charred Squash

Why We Love It: What’s einkorn, you might ask? Einkorn is a wheat grain that’s use dates back thousands of years. It boasts a low gluten content, which has resulted in the popularity of einkorn flour. In this salad, einkorn berries straight from the husk are tapped as a textural topping that complements each beautiful element in play. You’ll cook the entire kabocha squash until it’s tender throughout, then layer with radishes, mustard seeds, pine nuts, herbs, and—of course—the einkorn. Consider this your new favorite spring salad, unlocked.

Hero Ingredient: Use any herbs you’ve got on hand here. Clean out that produce drawer, people!

The Best Simple Green Salad

Why We Love It: This simple green salad with walnuts and fresh herbs is the ideal sidekick to any other vegan Easter recipes you’ve got on your table. It’s elegantly simple enough to complement mains without overpowering any flavors. Pro tip? Shake up that dressing the night before so you can drizzle it over the lettuces right before serving with no stress.

Hero Ingredient: Never forget to season your salad! It really brings things to the next level.

Farro Salad With Spring Veggies from NYC Restaurant Charlie Bird

Why We Love It: Arugula, cherry tomatoes, pistachios, farro, radish, mint, and more—yes, more—come together to make this stunning salad that’s primed and ready to elevate any Easter table. It boasts the perfect balance of heartiness from the farro and freshness from the veggies, with fresh herbs and crunchy pistachios sealing the deal on flavor and texture. It’s a salad to behold.

Hero Ingredient: Don’t forget to nix that parmesan or sub with a vegan-friendly alternative.

Malibu Farm Rainbow Vegan Chop Salad

Why We Love It: This vegan chopped salad is bursting with color, texture, and seasonal flavor that makes it ideal for spring gatherings. Appearing in Helene Henderson’s cookbook, Malibu Farm Sunrise to Sunset, it’s absolutely packed with seasonal veg and freshness. We’re talking cherry tomatoes, watermelon radishes, beets, avocado, chickpeas, butternut squash, and more. You’ll get your greens on in the most delicious way possible.

Hero Ingredient: The classic chop dressing is simple, yet flavorful enough to bring all those veggies to life.

Pea Salad With Mint and Microgreens

Why We Love It: Whether you’re Team Pea or Team Anti-Pea, you can’t help but admire this gorgeously green side dish. Like the simple green salad above, this one makes a great companion to the vegan Easter recipes you’ve got lined up as mains. It’s chock-full of springtime veggies like peas (duh), spinach, and sugar snap peas. Plus, it totally oozes spring vibes, no?

Hero Ingredient: A hearty dose of garlic in the dressing amps things up in the flavor department.

Classic Easy Bruschetta

Why We Love It: As a recent tomato fan (used to hate them, sorry), I’m all about bruschetta as an appetizer. It’s simple to make as the host and guests always gobble it up. This classic bruschetta is, well, classic. All it takes is fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar to bring those bruschetta dreams to life. Oh, and toasty sourdough to house these gorgeous toppings. It’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer that you definitely can’t go wrong with!

Hero Ingredient: You could toast your sourdough like normal, but it’s even better on the grill. Trust me.

Carrot Turmeric Hummus With Veggies

Why We Love It: This carrot turmeric hummus is bursting with seasonal joy and nutrition with its gorgeous color and nutrition specs. It’s one of those snacks that makes you feel just as good on the inside as it does upon entry. It boasts anti-inflammatory turmeric in addition to a whole slew of carrots and lots of lemon juice. It’s bright, seasonally appropriate, and so fun to enjoy with fresh-from-the-garden/market veggies. Or store-bought—you do you.

Hero Ingredient: Top with lots of toasty sunflower seeds for a dose of crunch with each dip.

Green Goddess Pasta Salad

Why We Love It: This pasta salad is a lean, green, and not-so-mean staple for any and all pasta salad lovers. The green content is off the charts, so you can pack in lots of veggies in a different format than your typical salad. It celebrates artichokes, avocado, peas, cucumbers, and a whole slew of fresh herbs to tie it all together.

Hero Ingredient: If you’re willing to break up the green, you could add in bell peppers, radishes, baby corn, the list goes on…

Vegan Flatbread With Roasted Carrot and Red Pepper Hummus

Why We Love It: For a heartier plant-based offering, this vegan flatbread is so simple and enjoyable. If you blitz up that hummus beforehand (highly recommend), all that’s left to do is warm your pita, smear on copious amounts of hummus, and top with your favorite veggies. You can go lots of different directions with your toppings. If you prefer bright and crunchy, think snap peas, cucumbers, radishes, asparagus, etc. Or, you might opt for the pickled route, which could entail shallots, red onion, carrots, etc. Totally your prerogative, but use this recipe as inspiration for your next great creation.

Hero Ingredient: If/when you meal prep your hummus, I highly recommend doubling the batch. That way, you’ll have it on hand for wraps, sandwiches, salads, and general snacking throughout the week.

Vegan Pesto

Why We Love It: I like to call this one “anytime pesto” because it takes about ten minutes to go from blender to bowl and enhances just about anything you pair it with. You could use this to top the aforementioned bruschetta, on crudités, or as a “sauce” option with your Easter spread. Whichever way you choose to take it, be sure to top this pesto with lots of toasted pine nuts and fresh basil.

Hero Ingredient: A touch of nutritional yeast boosts immunity, nutrient absorption, and protein intake.

Roasted Cauliflower With Garlic Tahini, Chimichurri, and Dill

Why We Love It: We’ve come a long way with the humble cauliflower, and this recipe proves just that. With caramelized roasted cauliflower, garlicky tahini, caper-studded chimichurri, and fresh dill to top it all off, there’s nothing holding you back from a decadent plant-based meal. This one is a great main option or side dish to whatever vegan Easter recipes you’ve got in the queue.

Hero Ingredient: Garlicky tahini lays the foundation for all those flavorful additions to come into their own.

Gluten-Free Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Why We Love It: Boom! More cauliflower. In this cauliflower tabbouleh, you’re getting lots of tasty veggies and complementary elements that send it over the top. Cucumbers bring the crunch, dried cranberries bring the tartness, and sliced almonds top things off with just the right amount of texture. It’s a delicious vegan side that you can enjoy on its own, in a wrap, or alongside just about anything on your table.

Hero Ingredient: I’m a big fan of dried cranberries, so I love how they bring in a touch of sweetness and tartness to this refreshing salad.

Simple Citrus Salad

Why We Love It: I’ll never stop raving about this easier-than-pie citrus salad. All you have to do is peel and slice up a mix of citrus fruits, top with shaved red onion and marcona almonds, and finish with olive oil, salt, and pepper. That’s it! It’s a whole that’s so much greater than the sum of its parts and it makes a stunning centerpiece to any table.

Hero Ingredient: If you’re feeling inspired, a teensy drizzle of white wine vinegar elevates those bright flavors even more.

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Cilantro Pesto

Why We Love It: This might seem like cauliflower overkill, but it’s just so easy to praise. In these vegan and gluten-free tacos, crunchy and caramelized cauliflower steals the stage as the superstar it is. Surrounded by creamy avocado, pickled red onion, and a cilantro pesto that’s to die for, these tacos make a great main dish to your Easter lineup.

Hero Ingredient: Almonds and pumpkin seeds constitute the nutty component in the pesto, which sets it apart from a traditional pesto. For this recipe, you gotta give it a try. It’s perfection.

Raw Carrot Salad with Dates, Walnuts and Aleppo

Why We Love It: This carrot tower is a stunner for your Easter table. With carrot strips, date pieces, crunchy walnuts, and a touch of red onion, this veggie creation makes a beautiful starter or side on your menu. It’s simple to make and even simpler to enjoy for everyone at your table. Don’t forget the extra sprinkle of Aleppo pepper over top—it’s the kiss of heat that ties this one together.

Hero Ingredient: The dressing here is so perfectly crafted. It takes a simple lemon vinaigrette with garlic, lemon, honey, and olive oil and kicks it up a notch with a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper. The heat is just right and complements each simple element underneath.

Roasted Mushrooms with Thyme and Smoked Salt

Why We Love It: In case you missed it, mushrooms are the new superfood. And in this recipe, they’re superstars as well. You’ll take the little gems to the skillet with olive oil, garlic, and thyme and sauté until they’re caramelized and slightly crusted. Then, you’ll add in a touch of ghee, apple cider vinegar, and grainy dijon mustard. You can serve these alongside a vegan main or eat them as-is—either way is stunning.

Hero Ingredient: Did I forget to mention the flaky smoked salt? Oh yeah, it’s happening. And it’s nothing short of earth-shattering.

Got any favorite vegan Easter recipes? Drop them in the comments—we want to hear what you’re loving this spring!

The post Look No Further, These Vegan Easter Recipes Create the Perfect Plant-Based Menu appeared first on Camille Styles.

Supplements are a hot topic in the health world, and experts still disagree about their efficacy. Despite the unknowns, one vitamin in particular, tends to make it on every list of sought-after supplements due to its scientifically proven effects on the body. Whether it’s used to fight a stubborn cold or brighten your complexion, vitamin C is loved by many for its numerous health benefits. Since our bodies can’t produce this vitamin, meeting the recommended daily dosage can be tricky. Fortunately, vitamin C can be found in many of our everyday foods, making upping your intake just a bit easier.

We called in registered dietician May Zhu to break down everything you need to know about this powerful vitamin. Zhu says that it’s easiest to meet the RDA of vitamin C through food, but supplementation is available. Read on for answers on everything you might be wondering about vitamin C and 15 foods that you can find it in!

What Are the Benefits of Vitamin C?

Vitamin C doesn’t just cover one area of health. Zhu says that this vitamin can strengthen immunity, which can be particularly beneficial during cold and flu season. vitamin C can also improve iron absorption, as this process determines how efficiently our body uses energy. Stimulation of collagen production is another benefit that vitamin C reaps, which can enhance overall skin health.

Should we be taking vitamin C supplements, or getting it from whole food sources?

Zhu says, “When it comes to vitamin intake, we always recommend a food-first approach before supplementation. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin which means our bodies do not store it in large amounts, so after the body absorbs what it needs, anything in excess gets flushed out.” Therefore it isn’t a good idea to over-supplement this vitamin. Zhu also shared that the current Tolerable Upper Intake Level (aka the max daily intake unlikely to cause harmful effects on health) for vitamin C is 2000 mg a day. She notes that the RDA for adults 19 years old is 90 mg (men) / 75 mg (women). For pregnancy, the amount increase from 85mg to 120 mg daily. 

Zhu says that an easier way, however, to make sure vitamin C requirements are met and not exceeded is to regularly consume it through food, ideally through fruits and vegetables. She says that consuming 1-2 fruit and vegetables in every meal can help maintain vitamin C levels in the body. However, supplements can always be considered if you have a diet that is insufficient in vitamin C or find it harder to consume fruits and vegetables regularly.

What Are Signs That You’re Deficient in Vitamin C?

Although rare, vitamin C deficiencies can occur, typically in less developed countries. However, there are warning signs of a deficiency. These may include:

• Slow healing wounds
• Bruising on skin 
• Bleeding (red) gums/tooth loss
• Weak immunity 
• Scurvy 
• Iron-deficiency anemia

15 Vitamin C Foods To Give You A Boost (Plus Recipes!)

As Zhu mentioned, the best way to meet the ideal RDA of vitamin C without going overboard is through food. This list consists of a variety of healthy and tasty options that are high in vitamin C and easy to incorporate into your weekly menu.

Oranges

1 medium orange contains 83 mg of vitamin C, meaning you can easily meet your daily amount with a quick snack. Oranges can also be added as a garnish or pressed into juice if eating them raw isn’t quite your style.

Recipe: Chaat Masala Citrus Salad

Why We Love It: This citrus salad doesn’t stop at just oranges, it also includes a variety of fresh fruits like grapefruit and avocado that are jam-packed with nutrients of their own.

Bell Peppers

One red bell pepper or 1/2 cup of slices contains 95 mg of vitamin C, making it a great ingredient to include in your weeknight dinners.

Recipe: Samosa Stuffed Bell Peppers

Why We Love It: Stuffed bell peppers are a versatile way to incorporate a healthy ingredient that pairs well with flavors from virtually any cuisine.

Lemons

You can get up to 30 mg of vitamin C from 1/2 cup of lemon juice. While that may seem like a whole lot of lemon, this fruit is used more often than you may realize when baking and cooking.

Recipe: Feta Salad with White Beans and Lemon Relish

Why We Love It: This recipe appreciates all of the lemon, including its juice, to create a tangy relish.

Papaya

One medium papaya contains 95 mg of vitamin C. Slice it up or add it as a garnish, but papaya never disappoints with its buttery and sweet flavor.

Recipe: Sarah Copeland’s Millet and Amaranth Porridge with Figs and Papaya

Why We Love It: We’ve never seen a more stunning take on porridge than the one Sarah Copeland shared with us. While this recipe calls for 1/2 papaya, more could be added to increase your vitamin C intake.

Kale

Did you know kale is a type of cabbage? Even if you did, I doubt you knew that 1/2 cup of this gorgeous green contains 53 mg of vitamin C.

Recipe: Kale Citrus Salad

Why We Love It: There are so many health benefits that kale has to offer. This salad will help you on your way to meeting that RDA through whole foods. With a salad this delicious, it isn’t a challenge to incorporate plenty of vitamins into your weekly menu.

Grapefruit

It only takes 1 small grapefruit for up to 69 mg of vitamin C, just about reaching that RDA.

Recipe: Radish & Fennel Citrus Salad

Why We Love It: This stunning salad is the perfect bowl of healthy ingredients we’re bringing to the table this spring. Chef Seamus Mullen says that supreming your citrus fruit is the perfect way to use the fruits’ juices to create a perfectly balanced and tart vinegarette.

Broccoli

To preserve its nutrients, including vitamin C, we recommend steaming, sauteeing, or baking broccoli, as boiling can affect the nutrients preserved after cooking. 1/2 cup of this ingredient contains 50 mg of vitamin C. That’s a perfect amount for a delicious side or snack.

Recipe: Spicy Chili Lime Miso Broccoli

Why We Love It: You might find yourself eating this broccoli straight off the pan after tasting these delicious flavors. Spicy flavors are tamed by the lime acidity and complemented by the homemade miso dressing.

Brussel sprouts

I’m a firm believer that if you still have a vendetta against Brussels sprouts as an adult, you haven’t cooked them properly. A 1/2 cup of cooked Brussels sprouts has 48 mg of vitamin C (but we think you’ll eat more).

Recipe: Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts

Why We Love It: This recipe avoids those soggy steamed Brussels sprouts of your nightmares by shredding and cooking them instead. The core ingredients of Cacio E Pepe — butter, parmesan, and lemon — bring a bit of brightness to this underrated veggie.

Cabbage

While one cup of raw cabbage is only 33 mg of vitamin C, we’re sure that you’ll find yourself eating more of this veggie when it’s paired with bold flavors and hearty protein.

Recipe: Hoisin Chicken Cabbage Tacos

Why We Love It: I’m always looking for ways to incorporate fruits and veggies to replace unnecessary carbs in my meals (but by no means am I a carb-hater). If you’re skeptical about cabbage leaves replacing a traditional tortilla in this recipe, the filling will win you over, consisting of hoisin sauce, shredded chicken, and a variety of delicious toppings.

Cauliflower

One cup of raw cauliflower is 52 mg of vitamin C, but let’s be honest, who can only eat one cup of this veggie?

Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Cilantro Pesto

Why We Love It: This vegan and gluten-free recipe is a perfectly plant-based way to incorporate nutrient-filled ingredients into a meatless diet.

Strawberries (1 cup): 98mg 

Strawberries are surprisingly high in vitamin C, containing 98 mg in only 1 cup. This fruit makes it easy to meet your RDA, as it can be incorporated into every meal of the day.

Recipe: Strawberry & Arugula Salad with Spring Herbs & Goat Cheese

Why We Love It: This strawberry and arugula salad couldn’t be more picture-perfect. If you’re looking for a simple way to meet that RDA of vitamin C, make sure that you slice up one cup of this fresh fruit for your summery salad.

Kiwis (2 kiwis): 137 mg

Two kiwis contain 137 mg of vitamin C, making for an easy snack that meets your RDA!

Recipe: Raspberry & Chia Seed Superfood Parfait

Why We Love It: This superfood parfait is the breakfast I want to wake up to every day. It’ll leave you full and energized to start your day on the right foot.

Guava

Guava is another vitamin C superfood. 1 medium Guava contains 165 mg of vitamin C, making it a great ingredient used to help balance out blood sugar levels and boost heart health.

Recipe: Baby Greens with Beet Leaves, Soft Boiled Egg, and Hot Guava Dressing

Why We Love It: This salad screams spring and doesn’t skimp on bold flavors — a perfect complement to fresh greens. This hot guava dressing can be used on everything from proteins to sandwiches.

Cantaloupe

While 1 cup of cantaloupe is only 17 mg of vitamin C, if you’re like me, you’ll eat far more of this fruit in one sitting. It’s the perfect snack I crave on hot summer days or in a greek yogurt bowl in the mornings.

Recipe: Prosciutto Wrapped Melon

Why We Love It: These prosciutto-wrapped melon slices use stunning radicchio leaves to garnish this savory and sweet snack.

Parsley (1 cup): 133 mg

One cup of parsley is a fool-proof way to incorporate foods high in vitamin C into your meal. With 133 mg per cup, your dishes won’t be lacking in flavor or nutrition.

Recipe: Chimichurri Fish Tacos

Why We Love It: This recipe’s chimichurri uses 1/2 bunch of fresh parsley, stem included. Pair with fish of your choice (we chose halibut), and you’ll be blown away with the flavor.

The post A Strong Immune System and Glowing Skin—A Dietician Says to Eat These 15 Vitamin C-Packed Foods appeared first on Camille Styles.

It’s official, rhubarb is in season! That means it’s time to put this tart, stalky, often overlooked ingredient to use. How to use rhubarb is a question that seems to circulate in the cooking world. So, what does one do with this red-tinted, celery-esque plant? If you’re like me, you might need a nudge in the right direction to figure out exactly how to incorporate this unique ingredient into dishes beyond desserts. We’ve put together rhubarb recipes for every occasion that are sure to win you over.

When I think about rhubarb, my mind goes straight to The Great British Baking Show. If you haven’t binged the show (yet), imagine a day spent baking with your grandmother in the breezy English countryside, using some of the UK’s favorite kitchen staples. I’m talking sticky toffee pudding, lemon drizzle cakes, mincemeat pies, plus plenty of trifles. And, the contestants of the world’s most peaceful competition love to use one fruit, er, vegetable in particular: rhubarb.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

As we all know, rhubarb finds its way into a lot of desserts—often sharing the stage with strawberries or ginger. But what you might not know is that it’s no coincidence that the spring fruit appears in these sweet treats. Not only is it the host of a wealth of vitamins and minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins C, K, and B, to name a few), rhubarb is a really powerful digestive aid. It’s no wonder we see it in so many pies and cobblers! Who knew the key to improving gut health was hiding under a buttery, sugary crust?

How do you prepare and cook rhubarb?

The cardinal rule of preparing rhubarb is to first get rid of its leaves. While they look similar to rainbow chard leaves, rhubarb’s leafy greens contain toxic levels of oxalic acid and should definitely not be eaten. But don’t fear! The vibrant veggie’s flavor comes from its reddish stalks. Give them a wash, chop off those dry ends, and your rhubarb is ready to use.

In terms of cooking, rhubarb is usually (but not always!) used as a fruit would be. It’s often added to pies, sauces, muffins, cakes, jams, and crumbles. Probably because its tart flavor is a nice balance for these sweet desserts. But just because these uses are more traditional doesn’t mean rhubarb is limited to desserts. In fact, rhubarb makes a great addition to meats, cocktails, and breakfast items alike.

Do you have to peel rhubarb before you use it?

Nope! In fact, rhubarb is ready to use as-is (without the leaves, of course), and the skin actually holds a lot of color and flavor that you won’t want to miss. It may seem tough on the outside, but rhubarb breaks down as it cooks to bring that gorgeous red hue and tender consistency forward.

How do you store fresh rhubarb?

Go ahead and trim those leaves whenever you bring your rhubarb home, but leave the stalks whole. From there, you have three options for storage, depending on when you plan to use it. Whether it’s within a few days, a week, or a month, we’re breaking down the different storage methods.

For a Few Days: If you want to store rhubarb for a few days, you can leave it on the counter. Unwrapped, room-temperature stalks should last about a week. Wrapping the rhubarb can trap in unwanted moisture, so it’s probably better to let your veggie dry out a little than to risk mold growth. Yuck.

For a Week: Rhubarb should keep in the fridge for about three weeks. In fact, this is the optimal way to store the veggie. The only caveat here is that, like many other vegetables, rhubarb ripens more quickly when it’s wrapped. But, it also benefits from the right amount of humidity. So if yours comes in a plastic bag, poke some holes to strike that balance between moisture and freshness.

For a Month: If you want to freeze your rhubarb to keep for a month or more, you have a few options. If you don’t want the stalks to stick together, place them on a small baking sheet and pre-freeze for a couple of hours. This will keep moisture at bay and give you individual stems to grab and go without thawing. If that sounds too time-consuming, place your stalks in airtight containers or freezer bags and toss them in the freezer. Simple as that! Keep in mind, rhubarb is best from about April to June, so there’s no better time to get your hands on some and get cooking!

Now that you know how to pick, prep, and store your rhubarb, let the baking begin! Dive into these 15 delicious recipes that answer the oft-asked question: how to use rhubarb.

Savory Rhubarb Recipes

Crispy Rhubarb Lemon Chicken Bake from Cotter Crunch

Why We Love It: OK, I know I just said not to peel rhubarb before you use it, but this recipe actually uses the shavings to bring a crunchy topping to the roasted chicken. Go figure. The bare stalks are also used in a tasty marinade that caramelizes the chicken for an unmatched flavor. And the whole thing is one-pan, paleo-friendly, and gluten-free. It’s the little things.

Hero Ingredient: Pearled onions are slightly sweet, which is a nice addition to the savory chicken and tangy rhubarb.

Baked Salmon With Rhubarb from Feasting at Home

Why We Love It: You can prep and cook this delicious dish in 30 minutes or less, and it’s striking enough for date night or a weeknight dinner alike. Thank you, rhubarb!

Hero Ingredient: Garlicky, lemony wilted chard makes the most perfect sidekick for the salmon.

Honey Roasted Rhubarb Power Greens Salad from Cotter Crunch

Why We Love It: This colorful creation can definitely be filed as a dynamic salad. It’s loaded with goodness from slivered carrots, goat cheese crumbles, sunflower seeds, and roasted rhubarb to send it over the edge. Enjoy it as-is to keep things vegetarian, or top it with grilled chicken for a more hearty meal.

Hero Ingredient: I’m definitely a goat cheese fanatic, but the sunflower seeds here win for the texture they bring.

Sea Bass With Rhubarb Slaw from SheerLuxe

Why We Love It: Another good choice for date night dinner, this sea bass with rhubarb slaw is perfectly light and flavorful, making it great for spring dinners. It’s also quick and simple to prepare, so you can make it any night of the week.

Hero Ingredient: Again, walnuts bring a nice crunch to the plate. And, not to mention, they’re oh-so-buttery.

Rhubarb Cocktail Recipes

Refreshing Rhubarb Cocktail with Tequila and Lime from Family Style Food

Why We Love It: Without a doubt, this cocktail screams summer. This recipe uses rhubarb to create a simple syrup that adds a subtle sweetness to contrast the tequila and lime. While this syrup pairs great with tequila, feel free to substitute for rum, gin, or any liquor of choice.

Hero Ingredient: The jalapeno garnish is a cherry on top.

Rhubarb Lemon Fizz Cocktail from Vindulge

Why We Love It: Four ingredients and five minutes are all it takes to shake up this spritzy springtime sipper. It’s fresh, fun, and festive.

Hero Ingredient: Here’s where it gets interesting… rhubarb simple syrup is the fruity liquid sweetener you’ll want on hand all spring long. It’s great in cocktails, drizzled over yogurt or oatmeal, or mixed into ice cream for a unique take on the classics.

Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail from Food Duchess

Why We Love It: As if rhubarb simple syrup doesn’t sound appealing enough, this cocktail involves making a blackberry rhubarb syrup (yum!). As a whole, it’s refreshing, summery, and perfectly balanced.

Hero Ingredient: Slap your mint to wake up those flavors and aromas. It’s essential.

Rhubarb Basil Cocktail from The Kitchn

Why We Love It: This cocktail combines the herbaceous flavor of basil with the tartness of our new favorite spring vegetable. And bubbles to tie it all together, of course.

Hero Ingredient: Lightly muddling the basil maximizes its flavor.

Rhubarb and Honey Pisco Sour from Le Petit Eats

Why We Love It: This recipe starts with a rhubarb honey simple syrup and, if you can believe it, gets even better from there. Shake it up with pisco, bitters, lime juice, and a little egg white to create a perfectly light and flavorful cocktail that leaves room for a few fun garnishes.

Hero Ingredient: When it comes to cocktails, nothing creates a more elevated feel than a frothy egg white topper. An extra, but essential layer.

Rhubarb and Elderflower Cocktail from Lena’s Kitchen

Why We Love It: Elderflower is a lovely floral flavor to come across, especially when it’s combined with rhubarb simple syrup in this yummy bev. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, you’ll be sipping on this refreshing cocktail all spring and summer long.

Hero Ingredient: Sprinkle some elderflower blossoms over your glass for a floral garnish that’s beautiful and uplifting—just like spring!

Sweet Rhubarb Recipes

Rhubarb Meringue Cake

Why We Love It: Just when you thought that this gorgeous rhubarb meringue cake couldn’t get any better, surprise! It’s only six steps! This cake can be made in advance and in one layer or two. Feel free to get creative!

Hero Ingredient: Add a bit of orange juice to your rhubarb compote.

Bumbleberry Galettes with Cornmeal Crust

Why We Love It: We love a simple galette that takes far less effort than your traditional pie. The fresh fruit filling is a burst of flavor in every bite, and the thinner crust puts a galette on the lighter side.

Hero Ingredient: A bit of granulated sugar sprinkled on the crust of this galette is the perfect touch of sweetness.

Phyllo Napoleans with Strawberries and Lemon-Vanilla Cream

Why We Love It: This dish takes comforting elements and bright summer flavors, and assembles them into an Instagram-worthy dessert. If you’re looking for a lighter way to indulge when the temperatures are up, look no further than tangy lemon cream and fresh strawberries.

Hero Ingredient: Warmer months wouldn’t be the same without lemon.

Overnight Buckwheat Waffles With Roasted Rhubarb Compote

Why We Love It: Overnight yeasted waffles are a real joy for a number of reasons. First, most of the work gets done the night before, so there’s minimal prep to be done while getting your morning coffee fix. This is essential. And second, an overnight batter makes a waffle that’s fluffier on the inside and crispier on the outside, which is just about perfect. Also, you can freeze leftovers to pop in the toaster for those mornings where the only thing on your mind is getting your coffee fix. Mondays, for example.

Hero Ingredient: Buckwheat flour brings a nuttiness to these waffles that pairs well with the deliciously sweet rhubarb compote. You can also opt for savory, if you prefer, by topping your waffle with a poached egg, sautéed mushrooms and spinach, and/or caramelized onions and bell peppers. The world is your waffle.

Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Crisps

Why We Love It: Another breakfast/dessert hybrid, these yummy crisps are best served straight from the oven with a dollop of whipped cream (or, dare I say, ice cream), and a cup of coffee. Enjoy at your own risk—this one’s addicting.

Hero Ingredient: Roughly chopped almonds elevate the crumble topping by keeping their hearty crunch.

Gluten-Free Creamy Oatmeal With Rhubarb & Ginger Preserves

Why We Love It: The oatmeal here is pretty standard, but the real star is those rhubarb and ginger preserves. Not only are they delicious, but they showcase two anti-inflammatory superfoods. Start your day by beating the bloat.

Hero Ingredient: Ginger knows no bounds.

Gluten-Free Healthy Rhubarb Muffins from Jar of Lemons

Why We Love It: Gluten-free, dairy-free, and absolutely delicious, these muffins are perfectly sweet and simple to make for breakfast or a midday snack. With dates and bananas joining the mix, they’re healthy enough to enjoy anytime. Another great tip for this recipe is that you can use fresh or frozen rhubarb, so if you followed those freezing instructions from earlier, you’re in luck! The time has come to put your frozen stalks to use.

Hero Ingredient: Almond butter gives the muffins a moist, creamy texture.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: These healthier treats are perfect for breakfast and dessert alike, with a crust that’s unbelievably indulgent. Top that with a sweet, tart rhubarb filling and crunchy oat crumble, and you’ve got a bar that you can munch on throughout the day without any guilt. Pro tip: dollop a little coconut whipped cream over the top to take things to the next level.

Hero Ingredient: The crust here is reminiscent of graham crackers in all the best ways.

Strawberry Rhubarb Chia Overnight Oat Parfaits from Love & Lemons

Why We Love It: Again, overnight oats are a morning hero. They do all the work for you! All you have to do is prepare them in advance and wake up to a healthy breakfast made just for you. The oats by themselves are delish, but adding a handful of granola brings in a really nice crunch.

Hero Ingredient: Strawberry rhubarb chia jam is the sweet, tart, and all-around tasty topping you’ve (probably) been missing. The recipe makes about two cups, so you can use it to top your morning oatmeal, as a sub for peanut butter in this yogurt toast, or on a yummy stack of pancakes. The possibilities are really endless.

Rhubarb Mango Crumble with Almond Coconut Topping from The First Mess

Why We Love It: Rhubarb and mango are a flavor combination you don’t want to miss out on. When you need something that isn’t too much, this dessert does the trick. Light flavors like almond and coconut create a sweet but subtle contrast to these fresh fruits.

Hero Ingredient: I can’t help but to add shredded coconut to all of my desserts when the weather gets warmer.

Rhubarb Cobbler with Mint

Why We Love It: Cobblers make for a crowd-pleasing dish that’s hard to turn down on a hot summer’s day. There’s a certain warmth and coziness in this dessert that brings out the flavor of the fruit filling. For the best results, don’t skimp on butter or cream when curating your perfect cobbler crust.

Hero Ingredient: Mint adds a unique flavor profile to this dish.

This post was originally published on April 7th, 2022, and has since been updated.

The post 15 Rhubarb Recipes We Love for Spring—and Exactly How to Cook With It! appeared first on Camille Styles.

If you google the health benefits of turmeric, you might think you’ve stumbled upon the secret to a happy, healthy life. From less inflammation to improved memory to pain reduction, the benefits of turmeric look a lot like my personal health goals. But how you may ask, do you add turmeric recipes to your diet? Fear not, we have you covered for every meal of the day to incorporate this golden goodness.

Curcumin is what gives turmeric its yellow coloring, and is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. However, this real-life pixie dust is unfortunately difficult for the body to absorb. Enter: black pepper. Piperine, which is found in black pepper, can reportedly lessen nausea, headaches, and poor digestion, but its true power lies in its ability to assist in curcumin absorption. The combo is truly a dynamic duo, so you’ll notice that a lot of turmeric recipes also call for black pepper.  

Obviously, adding turmeric to your morning coffee won’t be a cure-all for your life, but if you’re looking to make it a part of your healthy-living routine, look no further. These turmeric recipes are all you need.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

12 Turmeric Recipes to Reap Its Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Curcuma Golden Mylk

Why We Love It: Herbalist and holistic chef Rachel Musquiz shared this golden milk recipe with us, and now we use it in just about everything. Add it to your morning coffee for a morning immune boost, or sip on it post-workout to enjoy its anti-inflammatory benefits.

Hero Ingredient: Golden milk is a crucial ingredient in curating the best bev.

Haldhi Doodh Ice Cream

Why we love it: This is a golden milk latte in ice cream form. Haldhi means turmeric, and Doodh means milk, in case you were curious. Suruchi, the creator of this deliciousness (and our resident food editor), calls herself a “self-professed ice cream obsessive,” and she gives this recipe the golden seal. The flavor is floral and sweet, with a creeping heat that comes from the ginger and pepper to spice it up. If homemade ice cream is something you’re wanting to try, make this recipe, stat.

Hero Ingredient: Don’t doubt the power of a cinnamon stick.

Orange Juice Wellness Elixir

Why we love it: Feeling under the weather? Skip the DayQuil and whip up this wellness elixir. The orange juice provides a boost of vitamin C and electrolytes while the turmeric fights inflammation. It’s health in a cup and I could drink it every day, regardless of how I feel. 

Hero Ingredient: Black pepper is a great addition to help kick your cold to the curb.

Turmeric Roasted Kabocha Squash Salad

Why we love it: Who doesn’t love a delicious, filling, and hearty salad? This recipe uses turmeric to season the squash, which is truly the star of this salad. I could eat the squash alone for an entire meal. But combined with figs, cranberries, goat cheese, and kale? The result is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Hero Ingredient: Rich goat cheese brings this salad together.

Turmeric Tahini Roasted Cauliflower

Why we love it: Let me introduce you to your new favorite way to make cauliflower. The tahini gives it that yummy earthy flavor, while the dates add just the right amount of sweetness. And, of course, the turmeric gives it a gorgeous yellow/orange hue, plus all of those great health benefits. Bonus content: This post describes the easiest and best way to serve cauliflower to guests. (You’re welcome.)

Hero Ingredient: Toasted slivered almonds add the perfect crunch.

Carrot Turmeric Hummus

Why we love it: My go-to snack is hummus with celery, carrots, pita… or anything else I find in my fridge/pantry. This legume-free carrot hummus, however, puts my grocery store version to shame. It’s full of veggies and spices that give it a major anti-inflammatory boost. Even though homemade hummus may sound intense, this healthy snack comes together way faster than you’d think.

Hero Ingredient: How could you live without garlic in your hummus?

Turmeric Chicken Immunity Soup

Why we love it: This soup embodies the phrase “food is medicine.” It uses a rotisserie chicken to save you some time, but doesn’t skimp on flavor… or anti-inflammatory and antibiotic ingredients. The ginger and turmeric, combined with the pepper, of course, go to work in this healing soup. 

Hero Ingredient: Soup and cilantro and an elite combination.

Anti-Inflammatory Berry + Turmeric Muffins

Why we love it: Say hello to healthy, anti-inflammatory baked goods for breakfast. On top of turmeric, these muffins are full of anti-inflammatory berries, walnuts, coconut oil, chia seeds, and apple cider vinegar. They’re also totally void of butter and granulated sugar. Plus, as long as you get the substitute flour’s measurements right, making these gluten-free is a total breeze.

Hero Ingredient: Frozen fruit of any kind (we love cranberries and blueberries) brightens up these muffins.

Turmeric Tea Latté

Why we love it: This recipe makes the most delicious, spiced almond milk I’ve ever had. All you do is blend almond milk, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, and coconut oil in a blender, heat and sweeten it in a saucepan, then serve with a shot of espresso. It might just be the easiest way to incorporate turmeric into your everyday diet, especially since you can pre-make and save the milk. Your morning (or afternoon) coffee will never be the same.

Hero Ingredient: A fresh vanilla bean pod may change your life.

Anti-Inflammatory Ginger & Turmeric Carrot Soup from Simply Quinoa

Why we love it: This soup is creamy, comforting, and colorful while being dairy and gluten-free. It’s perfect to reset your diet/gut after an indulgent holiday or weekend, as it is great for digestion and easy on the gut. The ginger and turmeric add flavor and anti-inflammatory properties, while the carrots, squash, fennel, and leeks make it hearty and smooth. 

Hero Ingredient: Lite coconut milk keeps this soup from being overly heavy.

Tumeric Chickpea Curry from Rainbow Plant Life

Why We Love It: Curry is a cozy staple we love to enjoy all year long. The health benefits of this recipe are just the cherry on top, with a variety of delicious ingredients that can be easily swapped for whatever is in your refrigerator.

Hero Ingredient: Sweet potatoes are a must-have ingredient.

Roasted Tandoori Chicken from The Modern Proper

Why We Love It: This whole roasted chicken incorporates warming flavors into a simple marinade. Along with turmeric, the tandoori-spiced yogurt sauce includes immune-boosting ingredients like lemon, fresh ginger, and black pepper.

Hero Ingredient: Greek yogurt is essential in this sauce.

Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas from Half-Baked Harvest

Why we love it: This recipe is the key to an ultra-delicious, warming, vegan comfort meal (yes, it really is possible!). This recipe sits somewhere between a soup and a stew, made creamy with coconut milk and more soup-ish with extra broth.

Hero Ingredient: The crispy spiced chickpeas combined with the turmeric rice make every bite a total flavor explosion.

Fire Roasted Eggplant Dal from Full of Plants

Why We Love It: Eggplant is a great way to increase your protein intake while keeping it plant-based. The smoky flavors in this recipe combine perfectly with the balanced grain base of your choice. Garnish with fresh basil, and enjoy!

Hero Ingredient: Add a sweet touch with dairy-free yogurt or coconut cream.

Golden Turmeric Tahini Dressing from Eating Bird Food

Why We Love It: Tahini dressing is one of my favorite ways to spice up a bowl or salad. Adding turmeric makes it practically irresistible. Bottle this up and keep it in your fridge to use on anything and everything made during your week!

Hero Ingredient: Don’t go crazy, but a bit of cayenne goes a long way.

Fire Cider from Fare Isle

Why We Love It: With an apple cider vinegar base, this cider is sure to give you all the health benefits you’ve been searching for. Feel free to add in whatever medicinal ingredients you may have, but this recipe recommends rosehips, raw honey, and of course, turmeric!

Hero Ingredient: Elderberries are an unmatched ingredient.

Roasted Carrots & Rice with Zingy Turmeric Broth from The First Mess

Why We Love It: When a delicious soup recipe meets a hearty bowl, the result is a nutritious and filling recipe. Add a bit of chili for heat, or keep it sweet with a roasted root, but whatever you choose, it’s sure to be undeniably delicious.

Hero Ingredient: Juice from 1/2 a lemon makes this bowl tangy and meets your daily intake of vitamin C!

Cozy Turmeric Porridge from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: Cozy breakfasts are highly underrated and make for a great opportunity to start your day with a good amount of protein. When you top it with fresh fruits and add in creamy ingredients like Golden Milk, waking up will be a breeze.

Hero Ingredient: Fresh pomegranate seeds are the best burst of flavor.

This post was originally published on February 17th, 2022, and has since been updated.

The post 18 Sweet and Spicy Turmeric Recipes to Incorporate This Superfood Into Your Diet appeared first on Camille Styles.