You might be a hardcore meat lover but your meals will be incomplete without the element of fresh vegetable side dishes boasting of vibrant colors and nutrition. The heaviness and the powerful flavors of meat should always be balanced beautiful tanginess and crispiness of side dishes. The best part about any side dish is that it takes the minimum possible preparation time, but makes a maximum impact on the palate.
Here are some meant to be meat-vegetable side dishes combinations you should absolutely cook the next time you are in the kitchen.
Baked potato/ roasted carrots for chicken roast
The perfect vegetarian companion of your chicken roast is either a baked potato dish or the classic roasted carrots. The baked potatoes can be cooked in olive oil, seasoned with fresh herbs and salt-pepper. The carrots on the other hand can be roasted with oil and with a dash of garlic, thyme, vinegar and salt and pepper. The potatoes add a smooth texture in the dish, whereas the glazed carrots are a crunchy boost you might be looking for.
Crispy asparagus for salmon
The one pan recipe of baked salmon infused with the buttery garlic and crispy asparagus is just what you need, if you’re in no mood to have heavy meat dishes. The succulent salmon with the crunchy asparagus is light and refreshing.
Coleslaw for lobster
A creamy coleslaw is a classic addition to the Lobster dish. Some shredded cabbage, capsicum (red or green), carrots, mayonnaise, vinegar and salt-pepper whisked together makes the whole meal scrumptious. The clean flavors of the coleslaw and the meatiness of the lobster is a perfect combination for a Sunday brunch.
Roasted beans/ roasted broccoli for steak
Your juicy slow cooked steak is best accompanied with roasted beans or roasted broccoli. You can cook them both in butter or olive oil, with herbs, garlic, pepper and salt. You can experiment with various flavors by incorporating lemon, cheese, vinegar, honey or mayonnaise. These roasted side dishes are a way to refresh your palate along with the luscious steak packed with mighty meaty flavors.
Couscous salad for lamb
A fluffy couscous salad is the perfect side dish to serve along with the lamb. You can make it more interesting by adding tomatoes, chickpeas, parsley, mint, feta, and you can experiment with the seasoning by making it spicy or tangy. If you seem to be unsure about experimenting you can use the classic Greek or Moroccan couscous recipe to serve along with your lamb.
We are a coffee-drinking nation and every form of the beverage – decaf, regular, expresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and ristretto is consumed everyday by millions of us. It’s the first thing we need in the morning and the last (for some) after dessert. Black, with cream, with sugar, no sugar, flavored, each of us has a preference with regard to strength. Nespresso’s taken heed of this and given us a gift in a pod with the Nespresso capsules. Available in the regular Arabica and Robusta capsules, they have some amazing seasonal flavors as well.
Nespresso capsules are hermetically sealed in a capsule that holds 5-7 gms of coffee – enough for one serving of coffee. They offer five ranges in Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml), Decaffeinated (40 ml and 110 ml) or Flavored (40 ml).
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Ristretto range are:
Ristretto Origin – Made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has toasted flavors with cocoa notes and woody undertones.
Ristretto Origin India – A blend of the finest Arabicas with a smidgen of Robusta from Southern India, this full-bodied coffee has hints of spices.
Ristretto Intenso – A strong blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabicas, the Ristretto Intenso is a full-bodied coffee with a creamy texture and peppery notes.
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Espresso range are:
Espresso Origin Brazil: A pure Arabica coffee, it has a mild sweet flavor.
Espresso Leggero: A blend of South American Arabicas and Robusta, it has smooth notes of cocoa and cereal.
Espresso Forte: Exclusively made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has an intensely roasted balance of espresso and fruity notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Lungo range are:
Lungo Leggero: Lightly roasted East African, South and Central American Arabicas, with mild notes of jasmine is what makes up this delicious brew.
Lungo Forte: A complex mix of South and Central American Arabicas, this coffee has heavy roasted notes with a slight hint of fruit.
Lungo Origin Guatemala: A mix of Arabica and washed Gourmet Robusta coffee, Lungo Origin Guatemala is smooth and well balanced with dry and malty cereal notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules in the Decaffeinated range are:
Espresso Decaffeinato: Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta enhances the cocoa flavors and roasted cereal undertones of this decaffeinated espresso.
Lungo Decaffeinato: This is a slightly more complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas. It includes toasted cereal and sweet notes with subtle and floral hints of East African Arabicas.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Flavored range are:
Espresso Vanilla: This silky-flavored coffee is the result of a base of Espresso Forte, which is a complex and heavily-roasted blend of South and Central American Arabicas and a slightly caramelized aroma of vanilla. Espresso Caramel: On a base of Espresso Forte, this complex and intensely roasted blend made from South and Central American Arabicas has the sweetness of caramel.
Here are a few easy and healthy recipe ideas that are both quick to make and light to digest on hot summer days. With very few ingredients, the preparation of these recipes is a breeze. So go on, enjoy these easy, healthy recipes that are brimming with nutrition and taste heavenly too!
Greek Cucumber Rolls
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
This is popular among easy and healthy recipes. Slice cucumber into thin flat strips using a vegetable peeler and arrange them in slices of two on a clean tray. Smear the hummus on top of each slice, then toss some feta cheese, black olives and cut tomatoes on each of the cucumber strips. Squeeze a little lemon juice and sprinkle some finely chopped dill and cilantro. Finally, roll the strips, serve the Greek cucumber rolls and see them being gobbled up by the young and old alike!
Flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
Cook the fettuccine pasta according to the directions on the label. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped garlic and shallots. After about a minute or so, add the other vegetables along with salt and toss them gently for a few minutes. The vegetables must cook and be crunchy at the same time. When they are done, add the cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, and some freshly ground black pepper to it and mix well. Serve this flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables for lunch or dinner as a filling, yet light meal.
Sunshine juice
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Direction
Squeeze juice from the oranges and blend the strawberries in a juicer. Then in a pitcher, take the orange juice, strawberry juice, and chilled water together and mix well. Refresh yourself with this yummy sunshine juice with ice cubes on a hot day.