Snack Attack: Quinoa Tabbouleh!

Image via examiner.com

Are you ready for this week's installment of the Snack Attack? I'm a big fan of Mediterranean food, and when I think 'Mediterranean', I think tabbouleh! Tabbouleh is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. If you've only had tabbouleh at a restaurant or bought it pre-made from the grocery store, then you better sit down because this tabbouleh will blow your mind! 

This recipe for Quinoa Tabbouleh is another one of my favorites from Ella Nemcova's 'Cleanse Cooking Class' at Freshmade NYC. It's great because it has a variety of ingredients that all have excellent nutritional benefits. Here's just a preview of some of the main ingredients...

QUINOA - Quinoa is an excellent source of plant-based protein (and it's a complete protein, meaning it contains ALL 9 essential amino acids!).

TOMATOES - The lycopene in tomatoes acts as an antioxidant in the blood, reducing the risk of heart disease.

CUCUMBERS - The extensive variety of antioxidants in cucumbers fight cancer-causing free radicals, while also fighting inflammation throughout the body.

PARSLEY - The volatile oils in parsley have been shown to inhibit tumor growth in animal studies, especially tumors in the lungs.

MINT - Mint acts as a digestive aid, while also cleansing the blood.

Are you ready to make some tabbouleh? Here we go!

Cook 1 cup of quinoa according to package directions (or check out my instructions here). 

It should look nice and fluffy when you're done. 

While the quinoa is cooking, chop everything else up - 2 large tomatoes (diced), 2 seedless cucumbers (diced), 2 bunches of scallions (chopped), 1 bunch of parsley (chopped), 1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves (chopped), 2 lemons (sliced in half) and...

...1 clove of garlic, crushed or pounded with salt. Sprinkle sea salt on the garlic and use the side of your knife to press down on the garlic repeatedly, creating a paste.

In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, parsley, mint and garlic. Mix in approximately 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil.

Now squeeze the lemons in.

Grab your seasonings... sea salt and black pepper (to taste) and 1 Tbs. dulse flakes (optional). FYI: Dulse is a type of seaweed. Sprinkling the flakes on your food provides you with an additional source of protein, vitamins and minerals. You won't even taste it in this dish!

Mix everything together...

...and serve with your favorite pita chips (or make them homemade with my recipe here).

Snack Attack: Spicy Baked Chickpeas!

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In honor of full-disclosure, I should tell you a few things...

1) No matter how health-conscious I become, I will never say 'no' to a good snack.

2) If I ever have the pleasure of being invited to your home, I WILL (no doubt about it) sneak a peek inside your pantry to assess your 'snack factor'. 

3) If your snacks are savory, kiss them goodbye.

4) If they are sweet, breathe a sigh of relief. You're in the clear.

5) I consider a person's 'snack factor' very important when choosing a mate... and you should too!

It's pretty clear I love to snack. I can barely get through the hugs and hello's when I go home to see my parents without making a beeline for the pantry to see what's up. It's shameful but true (right, mom?). So since February is all about the   L-O-V-E and snacks are my one true culinary love, why not spend the month featuring my favorite healthy treats?

Last week, I went back for more of Ella Nemcova's 'Cleanse Cooking Class' at Freshmade NYC. We started things off with her recipe for Spicy Baked Chickpeas. This snack is reminiscent of munching on a handful of your favorite nuts, without the high fat content! Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are a great source of protein. Just 1 cup provides you with 30% of your daily requirement! In addition to protein, chickpeas are packed with fiber, antioxidants, potassium (for heart and kidney health) and thiamin (for brain health and mood regulation). Could this snack be any more impressive?!?

The onset of Blizzard Nemo last weekend left me with all the time in the world to try making them on my own. Did I forget to mention that they're SUPER EASY too?

Here's the play-by-play...

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and arrange a rack in the middle of the oven. You'll need 2 cans of chickpeas (again, chickpeas, garbanzo beans... same thing) and extra-virgin olive oil (try to use the good stuff)!

Drain and rinse your chickpeas well. Then pat them dry with a paper towel or clean dishrag and throw them in a large mixing bowl.

Add 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil.

Sprinkle with 1 tsp. ground cumin, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper and 1/2 tsp. sea salt. Mix well to evenly coat.

Place the chickpeas in an even layer on an ungreased baking sheet...

...and bake 30-40 minutes until crisp. Just watch carefully at the end so they don't burn!

Look at that beautiful snack! This basic recipe has endless possibilities! Next time I'm making a sweet version!

Snack away, my friends! There's no shame in THIS snack!

Join the Cleanse Cooking Class: This Wednesday, February 6th!

One more thing! If you would like to attend Ella Nemcova's last class of The Ellavation Cleanse Cooking Series this Wednesday, February 6th at 6:30 pm at Freshmade NYC, please call Cara at 212-475-0500 or email info@freshmadenyc.com. There are a few spots left!

This class will cover snacks, smoothies and other gentle sweets you can eat while detoxing!

Ellavation Cleanse recipes are based on the principles of the elimination diet. Ellavation is easy to do; no starvation, no fasting and no gimmicks. The recipes feature only real food, and best of all, these recipes are delicious, so you'll want to incorporate these body-changing secrets into your lifestyle for good.

About Ella: After spending a year traveling to over 30 countries, Ella Nemcova, a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, honed her global palate and paired it with her passion for nutritious foods. The result? Her fabulous plant-strong catering and fine foods company, Regal Vegan Inc., which is currently enjoying success with their signature product: Faux Gras™ and their newest sensation, Basilicotta™ - an herb-infused cashew cheese. Ella is a whiz at finding the magic balance between decadent food and holistic nutrition. Through both her product line and her cooking classes, Ella creates incredible food that delights, heals, and inspires people to live more uncompromisingly healthier lives.

Classes are held at:

Freshmade NYC

636 Broadway, 5th Floor, Suite 516

(btw. Bleecker and Houston)