Tag Archives: sweet

Yellow Eye Bean Salad with Sorghum

Beans are a great source of protein. I enjoy experimenting with different beans to bring variety into my diet. Yellow Eye Beans are high in dietary fiber and iron, low in sodium, and contain no sugar, saturated fat, or cholesterol. One cup of Yellow Eye Beans (boiled) is approximately 250 calories. This recipe can be made with another bean if you cannot find Yellow Eye Beans.

I hope you enjoy this light yet satisfying bean salad. The flavors and textures make each bite enjoyable. Serve with Gluten Free crackers or rolls if you wish to add carbohydrates to the meal. Traditionally Yellow Eye Beans are cooked with honey or molasses and are made into a baked bean side dish. I love this recipe as it allows the flavor of the bean to shine, rather than overpower it with sugar. If your local store does not have dry yellow eye beans, you can find them for sale on Amazon.

Enjoy this YogaLean recipe and find others at HealthyRecipeVariations.

Screen Shot 2015-09-30 at 10.52.21 PM

Base Ingredients:

2 cups of DRY Yellow Eye Beans

3 cups of water

3 cups of low sodium vegetable broth

1 bay leaf

4 cups of vegetables – cut in even sizes – I used a variety of bell peppers, onion, garlic, and sweet potato.

Olive oil for sautéing vegetables

1 cup of low sodium vegetable broth for preparing the vegetables

2 cups of spinach

1 cup Sorghum ( I use Bob’s Red Mill)

Screen Shot 2015-09-30 at 10.52.52 PM

Variations:

Substitute your favorite bean for the Yellow Eye Bean

Substitute red cabbage (diced) for the spinach

Substitute quinoa or millet for the sorghum

Vegetables: Staples include onion or shallot and garlic

Combinations can include:

mushroom, bell pepper, and basil

carrot, sweet potato, and tarragon

leek, sweet potato (or potato), and parsley

 

Instructions: After the beans are hydrated, it takes 30 minutes or less.

Rehydrate the beans (and bay leaf) in the liquid. I like to do this overnight.

After the beans have hydrated, slow cook them until they get soft…but still have an amount of firmness. The cooking stopping point is a moment to reflect on personal preference. If you want a little bite to your bean salad, stop cooking before the beans crack open and get soft. If you wish the soft texture to the bean salad, allow them to cook longer. Coking time is 1-2 hours.

Prepare the sorghum according to package directions (3 to 1 ratio). For the liquid, I use a combination of water and low sodium vegetable broth. This takes 30 minutes or so.

After the beans and sorghum are ready, dice the vegetables you wish to use.

Add the vegetables to a pan with 2 TBSP olive oil. Sautee and stir for 3 minutes then add 1 cup of low sodium vegetable broth. Allow the vegetables to soften some with the liquid.

When the liquid is almost absorbed by the vegetables, add the sorghum, and 3 cups of cooked beans. Stir.

Serve on a bed of spinach, stir spinach in the mixture and serve, or put the mixture in a “to go” container and take with you as a work-day lunch!

The dish is wonderful warm or cold. Garnish with sesame seeds or sunflower sees for added texture!

Screen Shot 2015-09-30 at 10.52.52 PM

Spinach Quinoa Salad

Quinoa is a complete protein that is very versatile. When paired with spinach, kale, or mixed greens it can become a satisfying main dish salad that provides protein, fiber, Omega 3’s, and anti-inflammatory nutrients.

 

Quinoa, like risotto, is a great way to use up small amounts of vegetables that you have left in the kitchen.  If you cook the quinoa ahead of time, you can sauté vegetables to create your desired flavor profile and add some cooked quinoa at the end of the cooking process.

 

In this dish I used okra, onion, garlic, zucchini, and sweet potato. Experiment with the flavor profiles that you prefer, perhaps trying a new vegetable in a small portion in a dish like this to see if you like it and wish to add it to your repertoire.


Enjoy this YogaLean recipe after a workout. Pair it with a Gluten Free roll or crackers. For a beverage, water with lemon or herbal tea (hot or cold) would be a nice pairing with this salad. Read other YogaLean Gluten Free recipes at Healthy Recipe Variations.

Base Recipe Serves 2:

I Cup COOKED QUINOA

3 Cups Evenly Diced Vegetables…the smaller the cuts the better  

4 TBSP Olive or Walnut Oil

1 Cup Vegetable Broth (low sodium)

4 Cups Baby Spinach

 

Garnish:

Basil, Rosemary, Tomatoes, Dried Fruit, Seeds or Nuts

Instructions:

Cook the quinoa according to package directions. I like to substitute low sodium vegetable broth for half of the water.

Evenly dice the vegetables and sauté them in chosen oil.

Add the broth and let the vegetables steam until the broth is almost absorbed. This leaves the vegetables el-dente if you cut them thin enough.

Add the cooked quinoa and stir to combine.

Rinse the spinach and pat dry. Divide evenly between two plates.

Top with the quinoa mixture in the center of the bed of spinach.

Serving Suggestions:

Garnish with seeds and nuts for added crunch if you wish.

Add dried fruit for a sweeter garnish.

Add tomatoes if you wish a touch of acidity.

Top with basil or rosemary, if you desire, for additional flavor.

You can top with oil and vinegar or allow the moist quinoa mixture to flavor the salad.