Asparagus with Sesame Citrus Dressing

By Jen, on April 24th, 2011%

When cooking fresh asparagus, I’ve found that simple recipes are best. A quick roast in a hot oven and a drizzle of flavorful dressing is all that’s needed. Here’s an easy recipe for roasted asparagus with homemade sesame citrus dressing.

Asparagus with Sesame Citrus Dressing
1 pound fresh asparagus
2 teaspoons organic safflower oil
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh tangerine or orange juice
1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds or gomasio

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Trim and discard woody ends from asparagus. Arrange asparagus in single layer on shallow baking sheet. Drizzle with safflower oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roll asparagus on baking sheet to distribute the oil and seasonings. Bake 10 to 15 minutes until asparagus is tender and lightly browned. Place roasted asparagus on serving plate.

For dressing, whisk together juice, tamari, sesame oil and maple syrup. Drizzle dressing over asparagus. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Makes 4 servings

Tip: Gomasio is a combination of toasted sesame seeds with sea salt. Added garlic or seaweed (sea vegetables) can also be found in some types of gomasio seasoning.

Recipe Link:
Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar from Two Peas and Their Pod
Roasted Asparagus

Product Link:
Eden Foods Organic Gomasio

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Roasted Butternut Squash

By Jen, on December 28th, 2010%

Roasted butternut squash is a simple and tasty side dish. Just toss chunks of butternut squash with a little oil and some spices, then roast until tender. I love the spice combination of coriander, cumin and cinnamon in this recipe, but you could substitute chili powder, curry powder or garam masala for an equally delicious dish.

Roasted Butternut Squash
2 pounds butternut squash (1 medium)
1 tablespoon canola or safflower oil
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 13 x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Peel and seed the butternut squash; cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Place squash chunks in baking dish. Drizzle oil over squash chunks and stir to coat. In a small bowl stir together coriander, cumin and cinnamon. Sprinkle spice mixture, salt and black pepper over squash; stir to evenly distribute seasonings. Bake 35 to 45 minutes until squash is tender, stirring occasionally.

Makes 6 servings

Similar Recipe: Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Oxo Good Grips Swivel Peeler

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Ancho Roasted Sweet Potatoes

By Jen, on October 12th, 2010%

Sweet potatoes have a great nutrition reputation, often touted as a superfood. They’re full of good stuff like complex carbs, fiber, vitamin E and beta carotene. Sweet potatoes are also a powerful food in the kitchen- delicious in everything from soups, breads, side dishes and even desserts. One of the simplest ways to enjoy the tasty superfood is to simply roast sweet potatoes. Here’s an easy roasted sweet potato recipe flavored with ancho chile pepper, lime juice and a touch of honey.

Ancho Roasted Sweet Potatoes
2 pounds sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons canola or safflower oil
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 13 x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into bite-size pieces (1 1/2-inch chunks); place in baking dish. Drizzle oil over sweet potatoes and stir to coat. Sprinkle with ancho chile powder, salt and black pepper; stir to evenly distribute seasonings. Bake 40 to 50 minutes until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer potatoes to a serving dish. Drizzle with honey and lime juice; stir gently to coat.

Makes 6 servings

Tip: Ancho chile powder is simply ground dried ancho chiles. If you don’t have ancho chile powder you can substitute a chili powder blend. If your chili powder blend contains salt, omit or reduce the amount of coarse salt called for in the recipe.

The Best of Clean Eating: Over 200 Mouthwatering Recipes to Keep You Lean and Healthy

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