HEALTHY MEALS
Introducing my first episode of healthy meals on Basics! My advice is stick to lean proteins, green vegetables, and cut out as much sugar as you can.
Special Equipment List
High powered blender (for cashew cream)
Shopping List
Cashew Cream
16 ounces cashews (raw and unsalted)
Water
Salt
Overnight Oats
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup cashew cream, diluted with 3/4 cup water to make cashew milk
Vanilla Extract
Artificial sweetener of your choice
Pinch of kosher salt
Berries and mint for topping
Turkey Bacon BLT
4 slices low-fat turkey bacon
3 Tbsp cashew cream with sprinkles of mustard powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper (to make "mayo")
1 heirloom tomato, thinly sliced
Sprouted whole wheat bread, lightly toasted
Spinach or butter lettuce
Cashew Chicken Salad
3 chicken breasts, butterflied and pounded to a uniform thin-ness
2-3 Tbsp cashew cream
1 apple, diced
4 green onions, minced
2-3 Tbsp minced parsley
Sprinkle of curry powder
Kosher salt and black pepper
Shrimp Pasta with Garlic and Basil
4 ounces red lentil pasta
2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined (shells optionally reserved)
1 shallot, finely minced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp dried oregano
8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup packed basil leaves, minced
1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
1/4 cup cashew cream
1/4 cup packed parsley, minced
Method
Cashew Cream
Place cashews in a large bowl, and cover with enough water to fully submerge the cashews. Allow to soak for at least 4 hours, up to overnight (to quicken this process, you can use boiling water and allow the cashews to soak for 30 minutes).
2. Drain the cashews and place in a high-powered blender. Add just enough water to cover the cashews along with a generous pinch of salt, and blend on high speed for 1-3 minutes, until completely creamy. Allow to cool completely, jar, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Overnight Oats
Put ½ cup of old fashioned oats, ¼ cup chia seeds, and ¼ cup cashew cream (diluted with 3/4 cup water) in mason jar.
You can also add about a teaspoon of vanilla extract, an artificial sweetener of your choice, and a pinch of Kosher salt.
Close and give a good shake, put in fridge, and let sit overnight.
Add berries of your choice and mint to top it off!
Turkey Bacon BLT
Cook 4 slices of low-fat turkey bacon to your liking.
Put a couple tablespoons of cashew cream in small bowl. Add sprinkles of mustard powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to make it taste a bit more like mayo. Lightly whisk together and taste test your creation.
Thinly slice your heirloom tomato while you lightly toast your whole wheat bread.
Spread your “mayo” on the bread.
Place spinach or butter lettuce, turkey bacon, and tomato on bread to assemble. Finally add toothpicks and cut diagonally to enjoy!
Cashew Chicken Salad
Butterfly 3 chicken breasts, press them between sheets of plastic, pound them to a uniform thin-ness using a meat pounder or frying pan.
Add chicken to a pot of not-quite-yet boiling water, about 185°F. This will lower the temperature so keep the heat on until water is at 185°F again. Cover the pot and after about 15 minutes check if the chicken is at 165°F internally.
Let chicken cool off for about 15-20 minutes. Then, place them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and put in fridge for about an hour to chill completely.
After chicken is cool, chop up into bite sized pieces and add a few Tbsp of cashew cream.
Chop up an apple into bite sized pieces, finely mince 4 green onions and 2-3 Tbsp parsley, and add to chicken and cashew cream. Sprinkle curry powder, Kosher salt, and black pepper to your liking.
Stir and enjoy!
Shrimp Pasta with Garlic and Basil
Cook the pasta according to package directions, until just shy of al dente, and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Set aside.
Optional: In a large, high-walled sauté pan, add shrimp shells and just enough water to cover. Simmer for 25 minutes, until liquid is reduced by half and opaque, and drain - set aside, and use in place of white wine to finish the pasta.
In a large sauté pan, heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil over medium flame until shimmering. Add the shrimp, sautéing 1-2 minutes on each side, until pink and cooked through. Set aside and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
In the same sauté pan, heat the remaining olive oil over medium flame until shimmering. Add the shallot and sauté for 1-2 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and oregano, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cherry tomatoes and sauté for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the tomatoes have blistered and softened, adding a bit of water to the pan if the contents begin to burn.
Reserving a teaspoon for garnish, add the basil, and return the shrimp to the pan to warm through. Add the pasta, wine or shrimp stock, 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water, and the cashew cream. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes, tossing frequently, until the sauce has thickened and the pasta has absorbed most of the cooking liquid. Remove from heat and toss in parsley. Garnish with remaining basil and serve.