lemon cilantro hummus

I am up to my ears in cilantro!  It is growing so fast and we can’t eat it fast enough!  I wish I could say the same is true for the rest of our veggies but something has been munching on the beans, red leaf lettuce and kale :(

I’ve been adding cilantro to salads, juices and soups but today I decided to throw it in hummus instead.  Hummus is so easy to make at home!  Not to mention it’s a lot cheaper!  Traditional hummus uses tahini, which is ground sesame seeds.  To most, sesame seeds are just “decoration” on bagels but they carry a lot of nutritional benefits.

sesame

Sesame seeds are believed to be one of the oldest foods dating back to prehistoric times.  Egyptians used sesame as medicine around 1500 B.C. and the oil was considered sacred.  Sesame seeds were first introduced to the United States in the 17th century.  They contain fiber, monounsaturated fats, minerals (iron and calcium) and a  lot of protein including the amino acids methionine and tryptophan.

However, the superstar of sesame seeds are lignans, an antioxidant that inhibits cholesterol to be manufactured in the liver as well as reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the diet.  This is good news for those who have high cholesterol!

Also, in Chinese medicine sesame seeds are believed to increase milk production in breastfeeding mothers.

Sesame seeds can be added to salads, granola, baked goods or in the form of tahini which is great in hummus and salad dressing.

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Lemon Cilantro Hummus

1 can chickpeas

1/2 cup packed cilantro leaves

1/4 cup liquid from canned chickpeas

1/4 cup olive oil

juice from one lemon

3 heaping tablespoons tahini

1 large garlic clove

salt and pepper to taste

cilantro lemon hummus

-Reserve 1/4 cup of liquid from canned chickpeas.

-Drain and rinse chickpeas and place in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients.

-Blend until smooth, occasionally scraping down sides.

-Add salt and pepper to taste.

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Somebody really like wearing it…I mean eating it!

www.beginwithinnutrition.com

not your traditional tater tots

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Remember those little nuggets from your childhood???  I recreated them using only the healthiest ingredients!  I left out the white starchy potatoes and substituted chickpeas and flax meal making for a super nutritious kid approved meal.  Unlike traditional tater tots, these contain a ton of fiber…no constipated kids here!

Also included in this recipe is miso paste and nutritional yeast.  If you are unfamiliar with these ingredients don’t be scared off of trying this recipe!  Both items can be found at a health food store and are easy to work with!  I talk a little about the benefits of miso here :)

 Nutritional yeast is an inactive yeast, not to be mistaken with brewer’s yeast or baker’s yeast.  It is a great vegan/vegetarian source of vitamin B12 and protein.  In just 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast there is 9 grams of protein, that’s more protein than in one egg!  It also contains fiber making for a happy digestive system!  Nutritional yeast has a mild cheesy flavor.  It is great dusted over popcorn or added into salad dressings.  Give it a whirl!

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Not Your Traditional Tater Tots

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)

1/4 cup onion (minced)

3 tablespoons flax meal

1 tablespoon miso paste

2 tablespoons flour (I used GF flour)

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for frying)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

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-In a food processor, blend chickpeas until a paste is formed.

-Add in remaining ingredients (except quinoa) and blend until well mixed.

-Remove “dough” from the food processor and add to a bowl with cooked quinoa, mix well.

-Spoon out a handful of dough and roll into a “log” shape and slice into 1 inch pieces.

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-In a heavy frying pan or skillet heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium low heat.

-Add pieces of “tater tots” to the skillet and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until crispy.

-Serve hot with organic ketchup and enjoy!

tatertots

~Note: I fried mine in two batches.  I added 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet between batches.~

www.beginwithinnutrition.com

curried sweet potato hummus

Sweet Potatoes are a budget friendly way to get your daily dose of goodness!  They come packed with an abundance of potassium, beta-carotene, vitamin E and C.

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Potassium helps regulate blood pressure by ridding the body of excess sodium and regulating the heartbeat.  It is also an electrolyte, which maintains fluid balance in the body.

Beta-Carotene is a powerful antioxidant that protects and repairs cells.  It is great for vision health and may prevent macular degeneration.

The vitamin E and C are responsible for the sweet potato’s title of “beauty food” making for glowing skin and vibrant hair.

We’ve been really enjoying this version of sweet potato hummus!  Hummus is a great addition to a meal secondary to its high protein and fiber content.  It’s a nice alternative to plain hummus!

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Curried Sweet Potato Hummus

2 sweet potatoes

1 can chickpeas, rinsed

5 tablespoons tahini

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon curry powder (more if you like a strong curry flavor)

½ teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt

juice from ½ lemon

water

Peel and cube sweet potatoes, drizzle with olive oil and sea salt.

Place in a 375 oven for 45-60 minutes (or until tender).

When cooled, blend sweet potatoes in a food processor adding a tablespoon of water at a time until a smooth consistency is achieved.

Add chickpeas, curry powder, lemon juice, tahini, sesame oil and sea salt.  Blend until smooth, slowly adding water as needed.

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Great for dipping with vegetable sticks or try making collard wraps!

 curried sweet potato hummus

De-stem a large collard leaf, place a couple tablespoons of hummus in the center, add sliced veggies such cucumbers, peppers and carrots.  Roll like a tortilla wrap and Enjoy!

 collard wraps, curried sweet potato hummus

It’s been a hit with Noah too!  He’s been eating it for breakfast, right off the spoon!

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