Chimichurri Sauce

This is great as a dip, side, or topping, Classic, from Argentina. 

YOU NEED:

• 1 cup (packed) fresh Italian parsley
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup (packed) fresh cilantro
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• OPTIONAL: a bit of lime juice, a bit of hot sauce. 

either all chopped SUPER finely, or put in a food processor. 

TRY IT ON STEAK!

Bacon, Basil & Egg Salad

So easy and so good!

YOU NEED:

6 eggs, hard-boiled

4 strips bacon, fried and crumbled

a handful fresh chopped basil

2 tablespoons low fat sour cream

a bit of lemon juice

salt, pepper

OPTIONAL: green onion, celery, sun-dried tomatoes

Meditteranean Fried Fish with Greek Salsa

This is a great way to use up some bland fish. 

YOU NEED:

fish: firm, and white: tilapia, cod, haddock, snapper, etc

greek seasoned flour: 1 cup flour with dried oregano, garlic powder, dry basil, salt, pepper, thyme. 

olive oil for frying

GREEK SALSA:

1 chopped tomato

half a chopped cucumber

1 smal chopped red onion

a bunch of chopped kalamata olives

fresh chopped parsley

feta cheese

1/4 cuplemon juice

a dash of oil

1 clove minced garlic

oregano

salt, pepper

fry fish until crisp, pop in the oven for 10-15 mins to finish.

Pico De Gallo

SOOOO EASY. Compliments  everything.

2 cups tomatoes (seeded and chopped)
1/4 cup red or green onion (chopped)
1 jalapeno (seeded and chopped)
1 clove garlic (chopped)
1 lime (juice)
1 handful cilantro (chopped)
salt and pepper to taste 

VARIATIONS?

add feta

add queso fresco

use habanero instead of jalapeno [HOT!!!]

add artichokes, cucumbers, or pickles

add some mango

add some black beans or refried beans

creamy: add sour cream

italian: add salami chunks and  cured meat

Chorizo Guacamole

Ohhhh god. best thing ever. I make guac like a boss, this one is EVEN BETTER.

YOU NEED:

2 large chorizo sausages

4 avocados, ripe

2 tomatoes

3 jalapenos, or 1 habanero, or just some salsa. depending on spice preference.

1 green bell pepper

juice of 2 limes

1.4 cup sour cream 

salt 

pepper

cilantro, chopped
cumin

COOK SAUSAGE, MIX, ADD THE REST!

Tomato Pesto Guacamole

OH this will get murdered at your next potluck.

YOU NEED [ for 2 people as a side, increase as needed]

2 tomatoes, chopped

2 tablespoons pesto, chopped

juice of 1 lime

a couple leaves fresh basil, finely chopped

1 red onion, chopped

salt

2 avocados, chunked

if need be, more garlic

a handful cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

MASH AND MIX!

garnish with some toasted pine nuts or walnuts, and some cheese if you want. 

Thousand Island Dressing

NO MORE STORE BOUGHT CRAP!

YOU NEED [for a rather huge portion]

1 cup Mayo [hellman's, light is good]

1 large tablespoon chili sauce

chopped parsley

1 or 2 green onions, finely chopped

a few dill pickles, finely chopped

a few chopped capers

1 egg, hard boiled

a squeeze of lemon juice

[alternately... just throw it in a blender or food processor]

OPTIONAL

garlic

olives

bell peppers

tomato paste

season with salt and pepper.

Chive Dijon Spread

Great for sandwiches or dip.

YOU NEED:

1.4 cup sour cream or low fat mayo

2 tablespoons dijon, grainy or not

1 clove minced garlic

salt, pepper

3 stalks chives, chopped

a bit of lemon juice

Mango Jalapeno Salsa

Great with fish tacos; a twist on boring old salsa. just mix and serve!

YOU NEED:

• 1 mango - peeled,  chopped
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 
• 1 green onion, chopped [or red]
• a handful chopped cilantro 
• 1 tomato, chopped

• 1 fresh jalapeno chile pepper, finely chopped 
• 2 tablespoons lime juice 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 clove minced garlic 

Sour Cream Tzatziki

Ditch the traditonal yogurt and use sour cream for a thicker,creamier tzatziki.

MIX TOGETHER

500 mls low fat sour cream

4 cloves finely minced garlic

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon dry oregano

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1 seedless, peeled and chopped cucumber

salt and pepper

Tarator

Tarator is a middle-eastern sauce made with nuts. for this one, I use walnuts. 

Blend together, in a food processor:

1 clove garlic

1⁄2 cup  walnuts

1⁄2 cup breadcrumbs

1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1⁄4 cup low-fat greek yogurt

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

3-4 tablespoons white wine vinegar

VARIATIONS? 

With cucumber and dill weed

pistachio and honey

parsley and cracked wheat instead of breadcrumbs

almond & feta cheese

pecan & pomegranate

Mexican Mezze

Great for a dip platter!

1. get tortillas, or a taco salad bowl. 

2. fill, on the bottom, with refried beans or taco meat. 

3. top with guacamole, tomato salsa, sour cream, chopped olives, and pimento or sharp cheddar cheese. 

Thai Grilled Calamari

if you LOVE calamari, as  do I, here is what to do with it.

1. get squid, cut into slices.

2/ mix together 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 1/2 tablespoon lime juice, a pinch of chili flakes, salt, pepper, garlic, and fresh chopped cilantro. optional: thai basil, lemongrass, peanut butter.

3. baste squid with marinade, grill or fry.

4. keep basting until done, 10 mins or so.

5. serve with dip, chili, hot-sour sauce, or peanut sauce. 

Spicy Popcorn Shrimp

A slight variation on boring old popcorn shrimp. Baked, not fried, so it's healthier!

1. get shrimp, peel skins.

2. lay put 3 bowls.

one: flour, salt, pepper, and a bit of corn starch

two: 2 whipped eggs, 1 tablespoon more or less hot sauce, or spiocy mustard

three: panko breadcrumbs, a bit of red pepper flakes.

3. preheat oven to 400 F.

4. coat shrimp in each, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, just a tiny bit!

5. bake for 15 mins, flip, bake for another 10 until crispy on both sides. 

Tacos with Thai Shrimp, Mango & Cherry Chipotle Salsa

A sweet and savoury combination! Spicy, too. A strange blend of thai and mexican, but sooo good.

CHERRY CHIPOTLE SALSA: 

in a food processor, blend:

2 small chipotle peppers

1/4 cup sour cherries

1 clove garlic

1 small tomato

salt, pepper

a pinch of cumin

THAI SHRIMP: 

marinate in lime juice, garlic, a bit of peanut butter, fresh cilantro, and basil. 

grill or fry or bake, basting with marinade until done.

TOPPINGS:

mix some chopped romaine with sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, cilantro and a dash of balsamic. 

ASSEMBLE!

Spicy Sweet Corn Salsa

YOU NEED:

2 cooked corn cobs, or 1 can corn, in kernels.

MIX WITH:

2 chopped tomatoes

1 chopped red onion

1 green bell pepper 

1 chopped chili pepper

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 cloves minced garlic

1 and 1/2  tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon oil

salt and pepper to taste

Spicy Fried Potatoes & Chorizo

Mmm, great on it's own, or in a sandwich, or taco, or fajita, whatever.

YOU NEED:

2 spicy chorizo sausages, FRESH

1 chopped tomatoes

1 chopped cucumber

2 sprigs green onion

2 potatoes, sliced

1 bell pepper

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

a pinch of salt, pepper

a packet taco seasoning mixed with water

fresh cilantro

1. slice everything, sausage too.

2. heat a bit of oil, add minced garlic,  fry sausage and potatoes together. drain excess oil. 

3. add in chopped onion, bell pepper, taco seasoning with water, according to package. salt and pepper if needed. 

4. serve, top with chopped tomatoes, green onion, cucumber, fresh cilantro.

Spicy Peanut Chili & Ginger Dip

An AMAZING dip for cold rolls, spring rolls, vegetables, anything asian. Even add some lime juice to make it a salad dressing!

1. mix together 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter, with 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts [toasted, or not]

2. mix in 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon or more sriracha or chili sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, a small piece of grated fresh ginger, and 1 teaspoon lime juice. 

3. add 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 teaspoon rice vinegar.

4. ready!

FOR DIP: add a couple sprigs chopped green onion, and 1 tablespoon softened cream cheese.

FOR SPRING ROLL DIP: add more lime juice until more liquid, red pepper flakes.

FOR BBQ: add 1/4 cup tomato paste to thicken, and a pinch of corn starch, with breadcrumbs on whatever you're cooking. 

PASTA SALAD: cool, add extra lime juice, toss with Soba or rice noodles, and vegetables. 

THAI COLESLAW:

cabbage, onion, mango, cucumber. add more rice vinegar and lime juice to the sauce, toss.

HEALTHIER PAD THAI: heat noodles and whatever else with sauce. lighter, for sure!

Feta Cheese Dips

A trio of greatness.

ROASTED RED PEPPER & FETA DIP: \

bake 2 red peppers in oven with balsamic vinegar until caramelized and browned, about 15 minutes, cut in halves.

put in food processor with 1/3 cup crumbled feta, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 cloves minced garlic.

FETA HUMMUS: 

Blend together 1 can drained chickpeas, 1/3 cup feta cheese, 1 tablespoon tahini, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 cloves minced garlic, a pinch of rosemary and thyme and black pepper.

OLIVE & FETA DIP:

Blend together 1/4 cup pitted black kalamata olives, 1/4 cup feta cheese, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves minced garlic, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. 

more feta dips?

CARAMELIZED ONION & MUSHROOM FETA DIP:

fry  5 chopped  mushrooms and  1 chopped sweet onion in a pan with 2 cloves minced garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar until golden and sweet. 

Blend in food processor with 1/2 cup feta cheese, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

BACON & FETA DIP:

Cook 5 strips bacon, chop into small pieces.

Blend in food processor with 1/3 cup feta cheese, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon low fat sour cream, a couple sprigs chopped green onion.

FETA TZATZIKI:

Peel and chop 1 small cucumber. 

Blend with 1/3 cup greek yogurt, 1/4 cup feta cheese, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, black pepper, and a bit of fresh mint. 

Melitzanosalata

Another amazing greek dip. Easier to make than to pronounce, honestly...

YOU NEED:

1 eggplant, cooked 

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 medium-sized cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup quality olive oil

1/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped

salt & pepper

Puree everything together in a food processor. serve!