Edamame Chickpea Feta Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

Whoa! WHOA! I was looking for a dish full of protein that we could eat alongside the Weight Watchers Cabbage Soup. Found it! Full of protein and fiber, and it's delicious!

6.5 oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (1/2 of a 15oz can) (I used the whole can)
1 1/2 c edamame, shelled and cooked
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 english cucumber, seeds removed, chopped (I used a regular cucumber)
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 c fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 c red-fat crumbled feta cheese

For the Lemon Tahini Dressing:1/3 c tahini1 lemon, juiced1 garlic clove1/4 tsp sea salt
4 tbsp water (more or less depending on the texture of the dressing you want)1 teaspoon olive oil

In a large mixing bowl combine the first 7 ingredients (chickpeas through the feta cheese) and mix. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. In a blender blend together the ingredients for the lemon tahini dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine and serve.

Original recipe found here.

Chickpea Curry & Coconut Rice

Oh. My. Gosh. I have had this pinned on my Meatless Main Dishes Pinterest board forever now. I finally decided to give it a try this week. I knew it would be tasty, but this was AMAZING! I've never made anything like it before. I just can't get over how delicious this is.

Coconut Rice

1 1/2 c jasmine rice (I used basmati)
1 1/2 c light canned coconut milk
1/2 c coconut water salt, to taste

Coconut Curry
1 tbsp coconut oil (I just used olive oil)
2 leeks, cleaned, trimmed + sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
salt & pepper, to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger (I use that kind in a tube!)
2 tbsp red curry paste
1/3 c sugar snap peas, cut into thirds
1 (14-oz) can full-fat coconut milk
1 can cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
3 tbsp freshly torn cilantro

Coconut Rice
Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat and add rice, coconut milk, coconut water and salt. Stir, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and let cook for 15-18 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.

Coconut Curry
While the rice is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Stir in the leeks, red peppers, salt and pepper and stir to toss. Cover and cook until the vegetables have slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, ginger and curry paste and stir to coat. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the peas and coconut milk. Increase heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and cilantro and cook for 5 minutes more. Serve immediately with the coconut rice!

Original recipe found here.

Homemade Falafel with Tahini Sauce

YUM! These are deliciously crispy and Will and I agreed it was one of our new faves. You can't have just one falafel sandwich!! I also made basmati rice and roasted squash/zucchini.

2 c roughly chopped white onion
6 garlic cloves
2 c cooked chickpeas, drained
1 c lightly packed parsley leaves
1 c lightly packed cilantro leaves
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp baking powder
½ c all-purpose flour
canola oil, for sauteing 
pita bread, for serving
1¼ c plain nonfat Greek yogurt
¼ c tahini (sesame paste)
2 tbsp lemon juice

For the tahini sauce:
Add the onion and garlic cloves to the bowl of a food processor and pulse just until they are finely minced. Remove the mixture and set it aside. Add the chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, salt, chili powder, and cumin to the bowl of the food processor and pulse until they are roughly blended but not pureed.

Return the onion mixture to the food processor, along with the baking powder and just enough flour so that when you pulse the processor, the mixture begins to form a small ball and is not sticky. (Note: Start by adding ¼ cup of flour, and then the remaining ¼ cup. You can add more if the mixture is still too wet.

Transfer the falafel mixture to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 1 hour. While the falafel mixture is chilling, prepare the tahini sauce by whisking together the yogurt, tahini and lemon juice. Season it with salt and pepper, cover it and place it in the fridge.

Once the falafel mixture has chilled, use a small ice cream scoop or spoons to form the mixture into balls (roughly 3 Tablespoons per ball). (Note: You can also add additional flour at this point, if the mixture is too wet to scoop.)

Set a large sauté pan over medium heat and add a liberal amount of canola oil so that the pan is well-coated. Let the pan pre-heat for 3 minutes then add the falafel one by one, browning them on the first side for 3 minutes, then flipping them once and browning the second side until the mixture is cooked throughout.

Transfer the falafel to a paper towel-lined cooling wrack and immediately season them with salt. Repeat this process until you have cooked all of the falafel.

Place three or four falafel inside a halved, warmed pita and drizzle with the prepared tahini sauce. I also used a few red onions and sprinkled on some more parsley.

Original recipe found here.

Orzo Salad with Chickpeas and Feta

This is delicious! I made this to take for lunch. Will got home, tried it, and now he has to take it for lunch too. It's that good. Very healthy as well. In fact, it's so good I feel like I should take it to a family event soon or something. The original recipe was Minted Orzo Salad with Chickpeas and Feta. I don't like mint unless it's with chocolate or something sweet, so I left it out.

4 cups chicken broth (this is to boil the orzo in... just use water if you want)
1 1/2 c dry orzo pasta
1 (15oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 c crumbled fat-free feta cheese
3/4 c finely chopped red onion
½ c chopped celery
2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped

Red Wine Vinaigrette
1/4 c red wine vinegar
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp honey
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic

Cook orzo in boiling chicken broth until tender, or just according to package directions in water. Whatever. Drain and rinse orzo. Combine with chickpeas, feta, red onion, celery, and basil in a large bowl. Set aside. Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a blender and pulse until well combined. Pour over the orzo salad and toss to coat. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Original recipe found here.

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Chickpeas

These are so good and healthy for you. Tons of fiber and protein for not too many calories. These will need to be my new munch food. They are so crispy and filling. The website I saw this on shows four different ways to season the chickpeas: Sesame Soy (which I would have done if I had sesame oil), Honey Cinnamon, Garlic Parmesan, and Smoky Spice Blend. I will have to try the other 3 at some point for sure.

1 can chickpeas (or however many for the amount you want to make)
olive oil spray (or reg olive oil)
1 tbsp grated Parmesan
1 tsp garlic powder
sprinkle of salt & pepper

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Drain and rinse chickpeas and lay them on a paper towel to dry. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and move chickpeas to cookie sheet when dry. I let mine dry on a towel for about 10 minutes. Bake 45 min - 1 hour. I checked mine at 45 min and they weren't completely crispy yet. If they are even a little soft in the middle keep baking. When they are finished, immediately spray with olive oil and toss with cheese & seasonings.

Original website found here.