Food & Drinks

3 healthy dishes that will also make your loved one happy

A while ago, I received an incredibly sweet message from a loyal reader. The best part about this email was that she enthusiastically shared that not only she, but also her boyfriend enjoyed the healthy recipes that I share with you. See, you really don't need to throw a big piece of meat or a mountain of fried potatoes on your lover's plate to score points. Maybe I should invite some men to my table then... Especially for you, girlfriends, and for the lost male reader, three recipes that you can make not only for yourself but also for your love, date, or brother happy as well.

1. Burrito bowl

  • 100 grams brown rice
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 sweet potato
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • A handful of cherry tomatoes
  • A can of black beans
  • A bunch of coriander
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 5 tbsp Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp harissa
  1. Cook the rice until done and set aside.
  2. Cut the sweet potato into cubes, place them in a bowl, and season with salt, pepper, and paprika powder. Then add a drizzle of olive oil.
  3. Roast the potato until done in half an hour.
  4. In the meantime, cut the avocado, bell pepper, and tomatoes into pieces and set them aside.
  5. Drain the black beans and rinse off the liquid.
  6. Mix the yogurt with the harissa.
  7. Take two bowls and divide the rice between them.
  8. Then distribute all the ingredients in sections over the rice and garnish with a spoonful of yogurt and some coriander.
  9. Can your love not do without the piece of meat? Add a piece of grilled chicken.

2. Super quick pasta Putanesca

  • 150 grams whole wheat spaghetti
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 2 cans of peeled tomatoes
  • 1 can of tomato puree
  • 1 jar of capers
  • 1 can of anchovies
  • A generous handful of parsley
  1. Cook the pasta al dente.
  2. Chop the onion and finely chop the garlic. Sauté these in the oil from the anchovies.
  3. Chop the anchovies and capers finely and add them to the onion mixture.
  4. Stir well and add the peeled tomatoes and the puree to the pan with the rest of the ingredients.
  5. Let it simmer nicely so that the flavors are well absorbed.
  6. Drain the spaghetti and add it to the sauce.
  7. Divide the pasta onto the plates and garnish with parsley and possibly some grated parmesan.

3. Spinach salad with freekeh, falafel, and coriander

  • 100 grams freekeh
  • Bag of spinach
  • Pack of falafel
  • Drizzle of olive oil
    1 eggplant, diced
  • 1 clove of garlic
    2 yellow bell peppers
    3 stalks of celery, chopped
  • Juice and zest of 2 limes
  • 150 grams feta, crumbled
  • 2 bunches of coriander, roughly chopped

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

  1. Roast the bell peppers in the oven until they are blackened. Let cool, peel, and cut them into strips.
  2. Prepare the freekeh according to the package instructions. Drain and let cool quickly on a large plate.
  3. Fry the falafel in some olive oil until golden brown.
  4. In the frying fat, cook the eggplant until done. Stir in the garlic and let it simmer on low heat for a while longer.
  5. Mix the spinach, eggplant, bell peppers, and celery into the freekeh. Add the juice and zest of the limes and the olive oil.
  6. Finally, sprinkle the salad with the crumbled feta, coriander, salt, and pepper (to taste) through the salad.