Betsy Nelson
LATEST STORIES
Sautéed Fish With Sesame
You can use any firm white fish for this recipe, including corvina, Alaska pollock, catfish, or haddock. For an easy side dish, take advantage of the fragrant golden oil remaining in the pan: Add a handful of dark leafy greens to the oil after you have removed the fish, and sauté briefly to wilt.
Yellow Split Pea Dal
Dal is a soup or creamy side dish made from dried peas or beans that is often served alongside Indian meals. This soup version is subtle in flavor and comforting. Add more or less jalapeño to adjust spiciness.
Fresh Coconut Chutney
This creamy chutney adds brightness to any Indian recipe, and is especially tasty on a lamb curry.
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts With Coconut
This dish is great alongside grilled meats or fish. Freshly grated coconut adds rich flavor, but if you don’t have fresh coconut, look for frozen grated coconut at Indian or health-food markets to use instead. If you have only dried coconut, soak it overnight in 1/4 cup coconut water.
Oven-“Fried” Chicken
Fried chicken is a picnic classic, and this oven-baked version is a nice, nongreasy option. The crispy, gluten-free crust seals in the heat and moisture of the chicken, which reheats well the next day. If you want to spice up your chicken, add a teaspoon of hot-pepper sauce to the buttermilk and more cayenne pepper to the crumb mixture.
Korean BBQ Pork Cabbage Wraps
Korean tacos are popping up at restaurants and food trucks around the country. This recipe skips the flour tortillas in favor of a wrap of fresh cabbage leaves or other sturdy greens.
Tandoori Chicken Skewers
Colorful, richly flavorful, and a cinch to pack, these skewers are easy to adapt. Try other marinades like Thai peanut or Italian herb, and experiment with your favorite veggies.
Build a Smorgasbord
If you don’t have much time for meal prep, try the smorgasbord approach. These sturdy foods hold up well in summer heat.
Pan-Seared Lamb Chops
Good-quality lamb needs little adornment. A simple drizzle of balsamic reduction and some fresh seasonal vegetables (like the spring combo below) are perfect. If your lamb chops are on the smaller size, or have significant bones, plan to serve more chops per person.
Thai Lamb Stir-Fry
This zesty mixture is great over a bed of brown-rice noodles or brown rice. Update this dish through the year by using seasonal vegetables at their peak.
Merguez Sausage
Versatile enough to serve with eggs or on pizza, this merguez sausage has remove uses North African spices and is easy to make. It doesn’t even need to be stuffed into a casing: Simply form it into patties and cook.
Lamb Curry Stew
This light and fragrant stew easily changes with the seasons. Simply use your favorite seasonal vegetables.
Spicy Lamb Ribs
A terrific appetizer, this dish becomes a meal when served with a salad of shredded cabbage and pomegranate seeds. When purchasing the lamb ribs, ask your butcher to cut a couple racks of lamb for you, separating the bones from the top of the rack and the chops.
Greek Lamb Burgers
For a different take on hamburgers, try this recipe that adds Greek flavors to the mix.
Provençal Roast Leg of Lamb
A roast leg of lamb doesn’t have to be an all-day process. If you’re time pressed, ask your butcher for a boneless leg, which requires a shorter roasting time and allows you to work the seasoning more thoroughly throughout the roast. Serve with a green salad.
Quinoa, Avocado, and Citrus Salad
This spring salad can morph with the seasons: Use cubes of fresh melon or diced tomatoes in the summer, or cubes of roasted squash in the fall or winter. You can also add a cup of diced chicken, smoked ham, or shrimp.
2 Avocado Breakfast Pudding Recipes
Purée an avocado, banana, or mango, and mix with chia seeds for a tropical, fresh breakfast. Or try a chai version. Make ahead and store in small canning jars for a healthy breakfast on the go.
Zucchini Noodles With Avocado Sauce
A light and refreshing alternative to pasta, “noodles” made from zucchini — or turnips or other root vegetables — taste terrific topped with an herbed avocado sauce.
Avocado-Mint Sherbet
Avocados make a great base for this creamy frozen dessert, which doesn’t require dairy or eggs. If you like the combination of mint and chocolate, add 1/4 cup raw cacao nibs to the mix before freezing.
Grilled Lamb Kabobs with Avocado-Mint Sauce
Seasoned with Middle Eastern spices, skewered and grilled grass-fed lamb, chicken, beef, or pork kabobs are terrific with a refreshing avocado mint sauce Serve with cauliflower “couscous.”
Avocado Tacos
These simple, healthy tacos are a snap to prepare. They make a great family meal and can be assembled according to each person’s preference. Add grilled meat as an option if you like.