Aloo Baingan

April 22, 2022

Credits

Ingredients

Amount	Ingredients
50g	oil
245g	onion, chopped
1¾ tsp	salt
300g	tomatoes
1 T	garlic, minced
1 T	ginger, minced
1	serrano pepper
1 tsp	cumin seeds
1 tsp	cumin powder
½ tsp	coriander powder
½ tsp	turmeric
½ tsp	black pepper
¼ tsp	cayenne
400g	potatoes, diced
360g	eggplant, diced
½ tsp	chaat masala
½ tsp	coriander seeds, crushed
¼ cup	cilantro, fresh, chopped
1 T	lemon juice, fresh
~2 cups	water, as needed

Process

sauté onions and salt in oil until golden brown
add tomatoes, ginger, garlic, serrano pepper; saute until fragrant and tomatoes begin to break down
add all the spices listed from cumin seeds – cayenne; cook for a few minutes
add potatoes and eggplant, cook down until the oil starts separating from the tomato gravy; at that point, add a ½ cup of water and keep cooking until potatoes and eggplant are tender
add chaat masala, crushed coriander seeds and turn off heat
add cilantro and lemon juice

Nutrition

Per 100g of salan: 118 calories

Notes

ground spices can burn easily, so it’s good to have them measured out and set aside so they can be added in one go in step #3
in step #4, you can cover the pan to help steam the vegetables and speed things along
keep ~2 cups of water on standby and add as necessary to deglaze pan, add steam, etc. at ANY point in this cooking process; use about a tablespoon or two at a time. you may not use all of it.
cook until potatoes and eggplant have reached your preferred consistency

better than takeout ○ calories calculated ○ desi ○ pakistani ○ photo ○ vegetarian

Quasi-Caprese Bagel

April 19, 2022
Ingredients

Amount Ingredient
1 bagel, toasted
25g boursin, cracked pepper
~4 tomatoes, cherry
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 basil leaves, fresh, ribboned

Process
1. toast bagel
2. spread each slice with boursin; layer other ingredients on top
Nutrition

470 calories

Notes
- I used and recommend an everything bagel
- you can use any flavor of boursin, but I recommend the cracked pepper one; if you don’t have it, crack some fresh black pepper on top of whatever flavor boursin you have, after spreading
- can turn it into a breakfast sandwich by adding an over easy fried egg on top
Mains // Oven // Recipe

better than takeout ○ breakfast ○ calories calculated ○ italian ○ photo ○ quick ○ sandwich ○ vegetarian

Amount	Ingredient
1	bagel, toasted
25g	boursin, cracked pepper
~4	tomatoes, cherry
1 tsp	balsamic vinegar
3	basil leaves, fresh, ribboned

Charred Asparagus with Beets, Dates, & Goat Cheese

April 10, 2022

Credits

Recipe adapted from Bon Appétit

Ingredients

Amount	Ingredients
2	beets, sliced thin
1	lemon, juice + zest of
¼ tsp	salt
15g	extra virgin olive oil
450g // 1 lb	asparagus
1 tsp	black pepper, fresh cracked
½ tsp	red chili flakes
55g	dates, pitted, sliced
85g	goat cheese, crumbled
2 T	mint, fresh, ribboned

Process

Toss beets in lemon juice, lemon zest, salt; set aside
Char asparagus in olive oil over medium-high heat
Sprinkle fresh cracked black pepper, chili flakes
Add chopped dates, cook til softened (about 3 minutes)
Add beets along with juices in bowl
Turn off heat; top with goat cheese, mint

Nutrition

Total recipe: 650 calories
Per 100g: 102 calories

Notes

85g goat cheese makes it quite decadent; this can easily be reduced

Charred Asparagus with Beets, Dates, & Goat Cheese

Mains // Recipe // Stovetop

better than takeout ○ calories calculated ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian

Spicy Cheddar Arugula Toast

January 18, 2022
Layer upscale flavors on light, rustic toast for a boutique bistro experience. Great for breakfast as it’s light on the stomach.

Ingredients

Makes 1 serving

Amount Ingredient
57g Pane Turano Italian bread, toasted
32g red pepper fruit spread
40g cranberry white cheddar
~¼ cup arugula

Products

Aldi
- Pane Turano Italian Bread
- Specially Selected Red Pepper Fruit Spread
Costco
- Maple Leaf Cheese Cranberry White Cheddar
Assembly

Layer bread with ingredients in the order listed.

Nutrition

393 calories

Notes
- Ingredients as listed makes 2 decent sized toasts, though only one is pictured.
Airfryer // Mains // Meal Ideas

better than takeout ○ breakfast ○ calories calculated ○ low effort ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian
Chickpea Salad with Citrus Tahini Dressing

January 16, 2022
Ingredients

Chickpea Salad

Amount Ingredients
180g chickpeas, dry^*
320g cucumber, diced
45g tomatoes, diced
22g shallots or red onion, finely diced
20g cilantro, chopped
^*Can replace with ~2 15oz cans of chickpeas (drained), or 450g cooked & frozen

Citrus Tahini Dressing

Amount Ingredients
75g tahini
50g lime juice, fresh
40g lemon juice, fresh
26g water
½ tsp sumac
to taste salt

Process
1. If using dry beans, add them to instant pot, cover with water by several inches, add salt and seal lid.
```
Pressure: High
Time: 40 minutes
Release: Quick
```
1. Prepare all the ingredients (chop, dice, juice, etc.)
2. Toss everything together and taste for seasoning
Notes
- This dish is best served cold, so if using dry chickpeas, prepare them in the morning or the night before and refrigerate
- Shallots are milder than onions but super expensive; use red onions if you’re not a Rockefeller
- Can use all lemon juice or all lime juice, if that’s all you have on hand
Instant Pot // Mains // No Cook // Recipe // Salad // Stovetop

arab ○ better than takeout ○ cold ○ middle eastern ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ vegetarian
Corn Tortillas

December 5, 2021
Credits

Recipe adapted from Simply Mamá Cooks

Ingredients

Amount Ingredients
175g corn flour, nixtamalized (masa harina)
15g cornstarch
3g salt
1 cup water, warm

Process
1. In a bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients
2. Add warm water, reserving a couple of tablespoons, and begin mixing/kneading the dough
3. If needed, use the remainder of the water to fully hydrate the dough and form it into a ball; cover in plastic wrap and set aside to hydrate for ~30 minutes
4. Tear off chunks of dough and form into smaller balls (or weigh out 30g portions for street taco size tortillas)
5. Preheat tuvva, comal, griddle or dry frying pan on medium high heat
6. Set dough balls between plastic and shape using tortilla press
7. Place flattened tortillas onto dry pan and cook a few minutes on each side; if they puff up, press them down with a spatula. Do not overcook
8. When done, take off heat and immediately cover in aluminum foil; stack tortillas one atop the other
Nutrition

100g (cooked) = 218 calories

Notes
- Masa Harina is a type of corn flour which uses nixtamalized corn; do not use cornmeal
- The cornstarch helps keep the tortillas soft, highly recommended
- Take a sandwich bag, cut off the zip top and slit out the sides so that you have one long plastic sheet; use this to sandiwch your tortilla between on the tortilla press.
- Steaming the tortillas in aluminum foil helps keep them warm and pliable. Do not skip this step
- If you do not have a tortilla press, you can just squash the balls of flour with a heavy pot, use a rolling pin, or even just your hands; the press just makes things easier
Accompaniments // Recipe // Specialized Equipment // Stovetop

better than takeout ○ bread ○ calories calculated ○ mexican ○ pantry ingredients ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian

Amount	Ingredient
57g	Pane Turano Italian bread, toasted
32g	red pepper fruit spread
40g	cranberry white cheddar
~¼ cup	arugula

Amount	Ingredients
180g	chickpeas, dry^*
320g	cucumber, diced
45g	tomatoes, diced
22g	shallots or red onion, finely diced
20g	cilantro, chopped

Amount	Ingredients
75g	tahini
50g	lime juice, fresh
40g	lemon juice, fresh
26g	water
½ tsp	sumac
to taste	salt

Amount	Ingredients
175g	corn flour, nixtamalized (masa harina)
15g	cornstarch
3g	salt
1 cup	water, warm

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

November 29, 2021

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

Amount	Ingredient
3 T	butter
1 large	onion, diced
2 stalks	celery, diced
1	bell pepper, red, large, diced
1 tsp	garlic, minced
4 tsp	Better Than Bouillon no-chicken base
30oz	water
30oz	tomatoes, diced
¼ cup	basil, fresh
2½ T	tomato paste
1 tsp	salt + to taste
1 tsp	fresh ground black pepper
2 T	balsamic vinegar + to taste
½ tsp	MSG + to taste
½ cup	Parmesan cheese, fresh grated
½ cup	heavy cream

Process

Instant Pot

set Instant Pot to sauté mode, melt butter and sauté onions, celery, and bell pepper until tender
add garlic, cook 1 minute until fragrant
add the rest of the ingredients (except Parmesan and heavy cream)

Pressure: high
Time: 5 minutes
Release: quick

purée contents with immersion blender until smooth
stir in Parmesan and heavy cream, let warm through; serve hot

Stovetop

Use a heavy-bottomed pot and instead of pressure cooking in step 3, simmer until everything is tender and starts to break down.

Nutrition

Calories = 1,215 total recipe (152 per serving)

Notes

blend less for chunky soup
use (1) 28oz can or (2) 14 oz. cans for the tomatoes. 2 oz less than the full 30 called for in the recipe isn’t a big deal but the difference can be made up with fresh tomatoes so a third can isn’t opened unnecessarily
a 30oz box of stock can be used instead of the BTB base + water
a large carrot can be substituted for the red bell pepper, though the latter is tastier

See the freezing guide for tips and information on freezer-safe food storage.

Instant Pot // Recipe // Soup // Stovetop

better than takeout ○ calories calculated ○ freezer friendly ○ italian ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ vegetarian

Cherry Almond Scones

November 25, 2021

Credits

Recipe adapted from Everyday Gourmet with Blakely.

Ingredients

Makes 4 scones

Amount	Ingredient
120g	flour, all purpose, unbleached
25g + 6g	sugar, divided
1tsp	baking powder
⅛ tsp	salt
28g	butter, cold
1 tsp	vanilla extract
⅛ tsp	almond extract
90g	milk
½ cup	cherries, fresh, pitted, halved
15g	almonds, slivered

Process

Preheat oven (or toaster oven / airfryer) at 425° F.
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Add cold butter and work into the dry ingredients with your hands until all the butter has become little bits.
Mix in vanilla and almond extracts, milk, cherries, and almonds.
Turn dough out onto parchment paper and press into a rough square of even thickness. Wet hands with water if dough is sticking.
Cut an “X” shape into the dough to form 4 triangle pastries.
Wet the tops with water (or milk) and dust with the 6g of sugar.

Bake: 20 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: 240 per scone

Notes

If using raw almonds, cover with water and microwave for 1 minute, remove skins, then sliver
Rotate tray halfway through bake time if browning is uneven; this varies by oven.

Oven // Recipe // Sweets

baking ○ better than takeout ○ breakfast ○ calories calculated ○ pastry ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian

Thai Basil Fried Rice with Chicken

November 25, 2021

Credits

Recipe adapted from a combination of this Allrecipes.com listing and Hot Thai Kitchen.

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

Amount	Ingredient
3 T	oyster sauce
3 T	fish sauce
1 tsp	sugar
12 oz	chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw
42g	oil, neutral, divided
½ cup	onion, chopped
1 cup	bell pepper, red, chopped
½ cup	carrot, shredded
2	Serrano peppers, slit
1 T	garlic, minced
680g	rice, Jasmine, cooked
1 T	soy sauce, less sodium
½ cup	cilantro, chopped
¼ cup	Thai basil, fresh

Process

Prep

Mix oyster sauce, fish sauce and sugar in small bowl; use half the mixture to marinate the chicken.
Prep the rest of the vegetables and ingredients (chop onion, bell pepper, slit Serranos)

Cook

In a large wok, heat HALF the oil until shimmering and add marinated chicken along with any marinade that’s settled in the bottom of the bowl (NOT the rest of the mixture which was set aside in step 1)
Saute chicken until mostly cooked through and no longer pink on the outside. Cut into a piece to see if it’s cooked. Remove from wok and set aside.
In the same wok, without cleaning, add the remaining oil and stir fry the onions, bell peppers, carrots, Serrano peppers and garlic to desired doneness.
Add rice and continue to stir fry.
Add marinade mixture set aside in step 1, plus soy sauce; stir to distribute sauce evenly.
Add chicken back to wok (with any accumulated juices), cilantro, and Thai basil; stir fry until chicken is cooked through.

Serve hot with sliced cucumbers and fresh lime wedges

Nutrition

Calories: 300 per serving (⅙th of recipe)

Notes

1 mini cucumber = 10 calories, juice of half a lime = 6 calories
Go easy on the serrano if you can’t tolerate heat very well
If your wok or frying pan is small, make the recipe in batches

Mains // Recipe // Stovetop

asian ○ better than takeout ○ calories calculated ○ chicken ○ meat ○ photo ○ quick ○ rice ○ stir-fry ○ thai

Caprese Salad

November 25, 2021
Ingredients

Makes 1 serving

Amount Ingredient
100g Mozzarella, fresh
½ tomato, medium
to taste salt
½ T olive oil, extra virgin
1 T Balsamic vinegar
3 T basil, fresh, ribboned

Process
1. Slice tomato into rounds, sprinkle with salt and layer with the mozzarella.
2. Distribute basil evenly and drizzle with oil and vinegar.
Nutrition

Calories: 350 (whole recipe)

Notes
- You can reduce balsamic in a small pot to concentrate it down and thicken the consistency; it will become a balsamic glaze and be a little sweeter.
- 25g of spinach will add 5 calories.
No Cook // Recipe // Salad

better than takeout ○ calories calculated ○ cold ○ italian ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Nutrition

Notes

Ingredients

Process

Nutrition

Notes

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Nutrition

Notes

Ingredients

Products

Aldi

Costco

Assembly

Nutrition

Notes

Ingredients

Chickpea Salad

Citrus Tahini Dressing

Process

Notes

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Nutrition

Notes

Ingredients

Process

Instant Pot

Stovetop

Nutrition

Notes

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Nutrition

Notes

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Prep

Cook

Nutrition

Notes

Ingredients

Process

Nutrition

Notes