Besides being fabulously healthful, tofu is one of those foods that can be transformed into a delicious, flavorful dish with just a handful of ingredients.
Soybean curd is one of the most versatile items that you can find in the refrigerator, taking on the flavors of whatever sauces or marinades you decide to cook it with.
In this article, you’ll find three effortless recipes for whipping up teriyaki tofu in no time at all.
Cooking with Tofu
Did you know that there quite a few different types of tofu out there that you can even find in the grocery store?
Soybean curd is available to purchase in different varieties, ranging from smooth and creamy silken tofu to the more common “meat substitute” extra-firm block types.
The three recipes featured in this article all require extra firm block tofu, which is not to be confused with extra firm silken tofu (yes, that actually exists!). Since you’ll be subjecting the tofu to high temperatures, it needs to be extra firm to withstand the cooking process.
Extra-firm blocks are also the best type to use when you want to achieve a mouth-wateringly delicious dish, since they absorb the most liquid even if you don’t have hours to spend marinading them beforehand.
You’ll also need to press the tofu before you start cooking it to remove any excess moisture. You can use a tofu press, such as this TofuBud one, or go the old-fashioned route and place the tofu between two plates with a weight on top.
3 Teriyaki Tofu Recipes
You can, of course, use tofu in all sorts of recipes, not just Asian-inspired ones. Teriyaki sauce, however, is a bit of a comfort food staple, so if you’re looking for something tasty and easy to whip up after a busy day at work, it’s the perfect choice.
1. Sticky One-Pan Teriyaki Tofu
You will need:
1 x 14 oz block extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed
1 x tbsp oil
4 x tbsp soy sauce
1 x tbsp white wine vinegar or mirin
3 x tbsp water
1 x garlic clove, minced
½ x tsp ginger, minced
1 x tbsp brown sugar
¼ x tsp Chinese five spice
Instructions
1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the tofu cubes and cook until golden and crisp all over, turning regularly to ensure even cooking (appx. 10 minutes in total). Don’t worry if your tofu looks dry at this stage; it will re-hydrate when you add the teriyaki.
2. Leaving the tofu in the pan, add the ginger and garlic. Simmer for 1 minute.
3. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring to ensure the sauce mixes well. Continue to simmer for 2-3 more minutes until sauce is thicker and sticky in texture.
1 x 14 oz block extra firm tofu, pressed and cut into 1-inch strips
1 ½ x tbsp cornstarch
½ x tsp garlic (powder or minced)
½ x tsp onion (powder or minced)
½ x tsp salt
¼ x tsp black pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine 1 ½ tablespoons of cornstarch, garlic and onion, black pepper, and salt, then stir to create an even mixture. Add the tofu, stirring carefully to coat.
3. Transfer the tofu to the baking tray, spray with cooking spray, and bake for appx. 25-30 minutes, flipping midway.
4. In a saucepan, combine the maple syrup, garlic and ginger, soy sauce, water, and lemon juice. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
5. Mix the remaining cornstarch with water, then add it to the sauce. Continue to simmer the teriyaki mixture until the sauce has thickened well.
6. Remove the cooked tofu from the oven, then add it to the saucepan, stirring well to coat on all sides.
7. Serve with rice, noodles, and steamed veggies.
3. Teriyaki Tofu with Broccoli
Ingredients
For the sauce:
3 x tbsp water
2 x tbsp maple syrup
2 x tbsp rice vinegar
1/3 x cup soy sauce
1 x garlic clove, grated
1 x tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 x tsp water
½ x tsp sriracha
¼ x tsp ginger
For the tofu:
1 x 14 oz block extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed
2 x tsp soy sauce
2 x tsp cornstarch
1.5 x tsp extra virgin olive oil
For the broccoli:
3 x cups broccoli florets
1.5 x tsp extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and fresh black pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a baking tray with non-stick cooking oil
2. Add the tofu into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, soy sauce, and add the cornstarch. Mix well to ensure even coating.
3. On one half of the baking tray, arrange the tofu in an even layer.
4. Using the same bowl, add the broccoli, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Mix until broccoli is well coated.
5. Add the broccoli to the empty half of the baking tray, spreading out to an even layer. Transfer the tofu and broccoli to the oven and cook for approximately 25 minutes, until the tofu is golden brown and crisp. Turn the ingredients midway.
6. Place a saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce, except for the cornstarch and water mix. Bring to a boil, then stir in the mixture.
7. Reduce heat and simmer, continuing stirring to ensure the sauce thickens well. Remove once desired consistency is achieved
8. Using the original mixing bowl, pour the sauce over the baked tofu and broccoli. Mix well and serve hot over brown rice.
Notes on the Recipes
In all three of these recipes, you can choose to air fry your tofu and veg instead of baking/frying them; just ensure you adjust the cooking times accordingly. If broccoli isn’t your favorite vegetable, feel free to substitute it with another type that can be easily baked, such as butternut squash.
Honey adds a unique and delicate floral taste to a number of foods. This includes baked goods, appetizers, salad dressings, and sauces. The high levels of sugar in honey makes it an excellent substitute for sugar. In fact, it is just as sweet as sugar. The following are 5 ways to incorporate honey into your recipes.
Honey Salad Dressing
If you like salad dressing, with a twist, consider adding honey. It will provide a savory, sweet taste to your dressing. Just mix honey with vinegar and olive oil. Then, drizzle the salad dressing over your favorite salad. It will give your salad dressing a magnificent taste. Not only that, it will also add a variety of health benefits to your diet. This includes lowering triglyceride levels as well as blood pressure.
Make a Glaze for Your Ham
Glazed meat is a traditional food handed down from generation to generation. It is often eaten during the holidays or on other special occasions. A delicious glaze can be made using honey. Just mix one cup of honey, a half cup of Dijon mustard, two cups of packed light brown sugar, two tablespoons of unsalted butter, and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, in a small mixing bowl. Place the mixture in a medium saucepan and allow it to simmer, for twenty minutes. It should be ready after 20 minutes, then apply it to your cooked ham.
Baked Bread
Honey added to bread gives it an amazing taste. It can be served with any meal, or at any time of the day. Not only does honey add a special taste to bread, but it also keeps it moist as well. Just add yeast to warm water, in a mixing bowl. Then, add a half cup melted butter, a half cup of honey, two eggs, one teaspoon of salt, and four cups of flour, to a mixing bowl. Mix it, for at least 30 seconds. Then, add additional flour, to soften the dough. Knead the dough, for about 5 to 7 minutes. Then, bake it, for 25-30 minutes.
Honey Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a delicious side food that can be added on a barbeque sandwich. It also goes perfect with fried fish, grilled meats, and even with a variety of sandwiches. When honey is added to coleslaw, it gives it such a unique and wonderful taste. To make a delicious honey coleslaw, only four ingredients are required. To create the coleslaw dressing, just add vinegar, honey, and mayonnaise, to a small mixing bowl and whisk them together. In a large bowl, add shredded coleslaw mix and pour the dressing on top. Toss them together and serve immediately, while the cabbage is still fresh and crisp. If you prefer, add pineapples, apples, poppy seeds, or other nuts and fruits as well.
Honey Muffins
Honey muffins are delicious, especially, when they are nice and warm. They are great desserts for any occasion. Just add two cups of flour, a half cup of sugar, three teaspoons of baking powder, and a half teaspoon of salt, to a large mixing bowl. Then, in a small mixing bowl, combine one-fourth of honey, one-fourth of melted butter, one cup of two percent milk, and one large egg. Then, place the mixture in the oven, and allow them to bake, for at least 15 to 18 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Honey recipes are very satisfying, sweet, and savory. They will help improve your mood and brighten up your day. It can be easily added to any delicious cuisine, meal, or recipe. It will not only liven up your meals, but it will also give them a rich and unique taste.
If you’ve got a new grill, then you’re in the position to seriously widen your culinary horizons. Grills are perfect for all sorts of delicious meals, from American classics to more exotic dishes. There’s no sense letting your new grill go to waste, so plan a week of delicious meals that will have your yard smelling better than it ever has before. Here are the seven foods that make for the best grilled delights.
Hot Dogs
It’s not for nothing that this simple food has always been an American classic. We don’t always know exactly what they’re made of, but we don’t really care. All we’re worried about is the fact that a well-grilled hot dog is absolutely delicious. While your average boiled hot dog has its own charms, there’s something about a grilled dog that makes it extra special. Served on a toasted but with ketchup, relish, and mustard, this simple favorite is among the best a grill can offer.
Hamburgers
This is another favorite in the pantheon of classic barbecue dishes. Nothing says “summer” like a hot, juicy burger fresh off the grill. You can stock up on premade patties, or you can buy hamburger meat and pat out the burgers yourself. One major benefit of the “do it yourself” method is that you can incorporate spices within the patty itself. After a little experimentation, you’ll land on your unique burger that has its very own flavor. Everybody has their own preferences when it comes to burgers, but you can’t go wrong with American cheese, a piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and a little bit of onion.
Grilled Chicken Breast
There are countless ways to prepare chicken, but grilled chicken breasts have an especially zesty flavor. If the breasts are particularly large, you might consider slicing them into thinner pieces before tossing them on the grill. Not only is grilled chicken delicious in its own right, but it also goes well in salads, quesadillas, and other dishes.
Grilled Fish
Almost any type of fish will taste delicious if grilled. Salmon, known for its amazing flavor and gorgeous pink color, is a particularly popular choice. Trout tastes similar, and you might even be able to catch it yourself. For a heartier meal, try grilling up some swordfish steaks. Whatever species you try, it will almost certainly taste better for having been prepared on the grill.
Quahogs
This popular style of clam is traditionally used in clam chowder and clams casino, two popular seafood dishes. Quahogs also provide a simple, easy, and delicious meal when prepared on the grill. All you have to do is place the live shellfish on the hot grill and wait for their shells to open up. Once they’ve opened, you know they’re ready to eat. Try dipping them in melted butter to maximize the flavor.
Shish Kabobs
This is a great option for anyone hoping to make an entire meal in a single go. The idea is simple: Put small pieces of various foods on a metal spit, then cook them together on the grill. Steak or chicken can provide the protein, while vegetables like peppers, onions, and carrots will round out the meal.
Grilled Corn On The Cob
While there’s nothing wrong with boiled corn, preparing this summer favorite on the grill will make it taste even better. The smokey, zesty flavor of the kernels is truly special, and the grilled corn often seems to melt in your mouth. While it might not be a full meal in its own right, it would serve as a wonderful compliment to any of the other dishes on this list.
If you have become like many other people and joined the keto diet craze, you are probably always in search of some new and exciting recipes. Considered to be one of the healthiest wellness trends to come along in recent years, keto diets are used by many of the world’s best-known celebrities and star athletes. If you are looking to get into great shape in 2021 and want to do so while still eating plenty of delicious food, try some of these excellent keto recipes as you go through 2021.
Quick Keto Chocolate Mousse
If you want to combine your keto and still have your chocolate too, you won’t be able to resist making a quick keto chocolate mousse. Easy to make since you won’t need to pre-whip any heavy cream, you’ll be able to just toss everything into a bowl and give it a few stirs. Best of all, you won’t need to eat very much to feel satisfied.
Keto Smothered Chicken Thighs
While we may have started you off with dessert, don’t worry. After having some chocolate mousse, you can turn things around and try your hand at making keto smothered chicken thighs. Along with its creamy sauce, you’ll love this dish that is topped with green onions, bacon, and mushrooms.
Keto Berry-Pecan Cheesecake Bars
If you love cheesecake, you will not be able to resist these keto berry-pecan cheesecake bars. Whether you choose to include the berries or just want to savor the combo of cheesecake and pecans, this is one keto dessert option that continues to get rave reviews.
Keto Pepperoni Pizza
Since pizza is one food nobody ever wants to give up, the good news is that you won’t have to once you start your keto diet. Therefore, make plans to fix a keto pepperoni pizza for dinner one night. Low-carb, it also contains a fathead crust for added texture. For best results, use a sugar-free pizza or marinara sauce, and try shredding your own mozzarella cheese.
Keto Cocoa Mug Cake
Yes, you can have your cake in a mug and eat it too. For a different twist on your next cake, put your dessert-making skills to the test and make this easy keto cocoa mug cake. Considered to be one big cup of chocolate just waiting to be consumed, it’s gluten-free as well as dairy-free, making it a true favorite of those who want to follow a strict keto regimen. Once you make this dessert, it’s virtually guaranteed even your kids will get turned on to keto.
Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs
Should you have some leftover ham in your fridge that you are trying to figure out how to put to good use, consider using it in these keto chicken cordon bleu meatballs. The chicken meatballs, which are ham-stuffed and topped with a Swiss cheese sauce, are best when served over mashed cauliflower or zucchini noodles.
Keto Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Another recipe where you can use up some leftovers and other stuff you may have had in your pantry for awhile, the keto chicken and broccoli casserole is very popular with many keto devotees. When preparing, you can use any combination of white or dark chicken meat. While most people use chicken thighs in their casserole, you can also use breasts if you prefer.
Now that your mouth is watering for these delicious keto dishes, it’s time to head to the kitchen and start doing some cooking. Whether you make your main dish or dessert first, there’s no doubt that your taste buds will thank you for these great-tasting keto menu items.
The versatility when it comes to finding a table companion is one of the main characteristics of rosé wine. Due to the mildness that usually characterises it (which varies depending on the option chosen), rosé wine usually pairs with a wide menu of dishes, ranging from the lightest, such as salads or grilled fish, to other fattier options, like meats.
Here, the experts from PAFWine.com suggest 5 great dishes with which to pair rosé wine.
Salads
Freshness is the main characteristic of the salad. Based on this, you will find the balance when combining it with a dry rosé wine, with greater acidity and less fruit load.
If you go for this option, remember to limit the use of lemon-based dressings or wine vinegar, since they can be bitter. Go for sauces such as cocktail, yoghurt or Caesar, olive oil or balsamic vinegar.
Pasta
Pasta makes a great dish, and the choice of wine in this case always depends on the sauce, but the truth is that a rosé goes well with any pasta dish. When selecting which rosé, remember that there must be a harmony between the recipe and the drink.
For example, seafood sauces tend to pair better with a drier and lighter option, such as salad, as do spicy preparations. If the sauce has sweeter nuances (because it contains caramelized onion or is made with a sweet tomato base, for example), you can afford a more fruity rosé option.
Fish and shellfish
The young rosé made from tempranillo grapes is a great companion to seafood and white fish such as cod, sea bream, monkfish or turbot. However, the list does not stop there. The blue ones such as tuna, mackerel, mullet, trout or herring are also a good option, and allow pink rosé to be less light, to have more body.
Within this group, sushi is also a successful choice to pair with this type of wine. If it is cold pieces, you will obtain a freshness effect similar to that of salads. With hot pieces, the key is to enjoy the contrast that is generated.
Desserts
When it’s time for dessert, rosé is always a hit. There are people who prefer more acidic drinks to increase the contrast with the sweetness of the food, and others who seek more harmonious alternatives, with more fruity, denser and more full-bodied rosés, with hints of red fruits and flowers.
Cheeses and meats
If you want to be safe when it comes to accompanying cheeses and meats, choose a full-bodied red wine and you will be alright. However, softer cheeses such as brie or camembert, for example, are great companions to rosé. Pork, chicken, and smoked meats also pair very well with this variety.
For example, try combining some barbecued or roasted ribs with a fruity rosé made with tempranillo grapes. You will be surprised, especially if the recipe incorporates some sweetness, such as a honey-based or barbecue sauce.
Rosé can be a flexible and surprising companion to many delicious dishes – choose well – and enjoy!
Who does not like to eat slow-cooked meat, pork buttery corn combined in BBQ sauces and filled with smoky flavour?
And I am a complete lover of barbecue dishes, but when I started trying my hands on it, I came across so many types of these BBQ saucesand it’s different throughout all countries. However, here is a list of some of its types which are incredibly delicious and different from each other in flavours.
Sauces with Tomato as Base
The tomato gives sauces both sweet and tangy flavour, which provides the BBQ with treats the perfect taste.
These sauces are made using tomato and vinegar in them and are thinner in consistency.
These are generally used as basting liquid for your pork’s an1d meats.
St. Louis BBQ sauce which is made with tomato ketchup, apple cider vinegar and brown sugar is a thin sauce which is tangy in taste and is used for grilling or smoking pork ribs and lamb.
Texas barbecue sauce is the thinner sauce which is slightly sweet to taste and is made with tomato spices, celery and onions.
Few more tomato-based sauces are made by combining sugar with tomatoes. They are thicker and sweeter to taste and because of sugar in it caramelise and burn easily and are best when used within a few minutes of cooking.
Kansas City barbecue sauce consists of tomato ketchup and molasses that gives BBQ sauce candy sweetness and tanginess. It is mixed with chilli powder, cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to give it a spicy kick to BBQ sauce and when combined with pork and chicken make it taste best.
Memphis BBQ sauce is made with molasses and tomato sauce infused gives your meat and pork that sweet and tangy flavour. They also use honey barbecue sauce infused with molasses to give it sweetness.
Sauces with Vinegar as Base
The vinegar is mixed with tomatoes and Mustard to give tangy flavour to your BBQ sauce.
Piedmont BBQ sauce is excellent to be used in smoky pork and meats slaw. It is made using tomato ketchup which gives it a sweet taste and vinegar that makes it vinegary and makes it deep red in colour.
Southern vinegar BBQ sauces are thin in consistency and are made by blending in a mixture of vinegar, lemon, oil, salt and pepper without any tomatoes in it. This gives shine to pork, beef, lamb and chicken.
North Carolina sauce is made by combining a mixture of vinegar, tomato ketchup, worcheshire sauce, butter, brown sugar and chillies. This is greatly used as dips and works best on chicken sandwiches and pulled pork.
Eastern Carolina sauces used as a mopping sauce that is used to baste cooking meat and works as a dipping sauce. This BBQ sauce is made using vinegar, chilli pepper flakes and black pepper; it is a hot spicy BBQ sauce.
Florida BBQ sauce is made using heavy vinegar and spicy and tropical elements of the Caribbean.
The classic creation is made using apple cider vinegar, lemon and lime and Worcestershire sauce. This sauce gives your grilled fish rich taste and smoky touch.
Sauces with Mustard as base
These are made using vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and other seasonings. This is mixed in with yellow Mustard. Don’t cook it for a long time; it just needs to be soaked in vinegar overnight to make its flavours rise.
South Carolina barbecue sauce is made using Mustard soaked in vinegar and then thinned out. The sauce is flavourful and is rich, spicy and tangy without any sweetness in it. It is a classic choice to cook your pork ribs or chicken legs.
Georgia mustard BBQ sauce can be both sweet and spicy. You can make its sweeter version by adding honey barbecue sauce to Mustard and vinegar or add red chilli flakes and pepper for spicy touch in combination with tabasco sauce or brown sugar.
Which BBQ sauce you choose for your party depends mainly on the type of meat you use.
You can buy all these sauces online or prepare on your own. However, don’t worry about trying some new flavours for your barbecue.
Peking Duck is such a popular dish in Asian culture that people sometimes overlook other dishes prepared with duck meat. Below are four alternative duck dishes people may want to try the next time they don’t know what to have for dinner.
Ginger Duck
Ginger duck is the primary ingredient in a soup that is especially popular in Taiwan. The soup contains strong rice wine and ginger flavors in addition to large chunks of duck meat still on the bone. Although no one knows its history for sure, legend has it that ginger duck originated in the Chinese province of Fujian.
Taiwanese cooks prepare ginger duck soup in a large clay pot and serve it communal style. Other ingredients that give the meat and broth their strong flavor include dry fruit, fresh herbs, and sesame oil. Ginger duck is a warm and comforting food during winter in Taiwan.
Tea Smoked Duck
The original purpose of smoking foods in China was to preserve them to eat in the future. The Chinese soon discovered that they enjoyed the taste of smoked food so much that chefs decided to refine the process and serve entire meals that had gone through the smoking process. Tea smoked duck is just one example.
Preparing tea smoked duck involves roasting a marinated duck over tea leaves and twigs that come from an evergreen tree known as Camphor. This tree is native to China and several other Asian nations. In addition to marinating the duck meat, chefs also roast, smoke, and fry it. It is rare for people to prepare tea smoked duck at home since it can be complex to make. The most common places to find it are Sichuan restaurants and banquets.
Chao Vit
As a traditional Vietnamese dish, chao vit contains rice porridge with steamed or cooked duck meat pieces. These are the primary ingredients. Others include:
Black pepper
Broken rice
Carrots
Coriander
Fish sauce
Ginger
Green onions
Shallots
Some street vendors in Vietnam serve chao vit with coagulated blood chunks but this is not common. Like ginger duck, chao vit is most popular in the winter. Items accompanying this meal often include rice crackers topped with sesame seeds, dipping sauce for the crackers, and banh trang.
Duck Bulgogi
This national dish from Korea is well-known for its savory, sweet, and garlic flavors. Although duck is a popular meat to use when preparing bulgogi, the recipe also works well with beef, venison, and several other types of skinless red meat. Here are the primary ingredients for duck bulgogi:
Several large chunks of duck meat
Soy sauce
Rice vinegar
Sesame oil
White and green chopped onions
Garlic cloves
Fresh chopped ginger
Sugar
Cooked white rice and kimchi
Optional black sesame seeds
The chef combines all ingredients except the duck meat into a blender and allows them to marinate for up to 24 hours. When it’s time to serve dinner, the duck meat should sit next to kimchi and rice on a plate. Sprinkling the duck meat with marinade sauce before serving adds even more flavor.
The good news for anyone looking for new duck dishes is that dozens of additional possibilities exist for those willing to do the research.
Food is a big part of South East Culture. And Singapore is one of those cities that has a lot to offer when it comes to cuisine. Singapore is a boiling pot where cultural influences from all-over South-East Asia come together. This can be felt in Singapore’s wide range of food. You will find dishes with influences from loads of regions. Thanks to this, food in Singapore is exciting, unique, and brimming with all kinds of flavors.
Gorging yourself on the local cuisine is part of the experience when you go to Singapore. Today, we are going to talk about the best 10 Singapore food to eat here. We’re going to be focusing on unique dishes that do justice to the local flavors.
#1 Chili Crab
Seafood is really common in Singapore since it’s right next to the ocean. And Singapore’s national dish comes from the ocean as well. Chili crab is a popular delicacy that can be found in many areas of the city. This local delicacy consists of a whole crab doused in chili sauce or black pepper sauce. The dish is served with mantous buns that complete the dish very well.
#2 Hainanese Chicken
This succulent chicken dish hails from the Hainan province of Singapore. This dish consists of juicy and tender steamed chicken that is served with fragrant rice. The chicken is steamed to perfection and cut into thin strips. The dish is usually accompanied with chili garlic sauce, light soy sauce, and a handful of fresh vegetables.
The dish is simple yet wholesome. It’s loaded with traditional Singaporean flavors and will leave you feeling fulfilled.
#3 Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak is a rich and hearty rice dish that is loved throughout Singapore. This dish consists of rice cooked in a pandan leaf and coconut milk. This dish is paired with a variety of side dishes. You can have it with fried fish or chicken, or with different kinds of local condiments.
A typical serving of Nasi Lemak is heavy and loaded with flavor. This dish is best enjoyed by people who have big appetites.
#4 Otak Otak
Singapore has a fair bit of Chinese culture ingrained into it thanks to its history with Chinese immigrants. Otak Otak is a Chinese inspired dish that is basically a steamed fish cake. The cake is made by mixing fish paste and tapioca starch to form a patty. This patty is then wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed.
Otak Otak gets its name from its unique texture. Otak Otak means brains in Malay. While the name’s meaning might leave some feeling unsettled, this dish is certainly great to have. It can be eaten as a snack or as a main meal.
#5 Bak Kut Teh
If you’re a fan of rich broths then Bak Ku Teh will please your taste buds. This is another Chinese dish that is commonly found in Singapore. Bak Kut Teh has juicy pork ribs that are left to boil in a complex herbal broth. The soup is a blend of spices and flavors and is quite hard to make. It’s rich and peppery flavor can leave anyone feeling fulfilled.
#6 Kaya Toast and Kopi
Singapore even has its own unique jam. Kaya jam is made from eggs, coconut milk, sugar, and pandan leaves. This jam has a mild yet delicious flavor and is a popular item in Singaporean breakfasts. A sandwich with kaya jam, butter, and a side of coffee is one of the simplest yet most wholesome breakfasts that you can have in Singapore.
#7 Biryani
Biryani is a popular dish that can be found in the sub-continent and parts of the middle east. This dish has found its way into Singapore as well. The name Biryani is derived from the Persian word Berya, which means to roast or to fry. The dish itself consists of fried rice that are heaped with fragrant spices and meat. A single serving of biryani can take your taste buds on a rollercoaster ride.
#8 Roti Pratha
This is another dish that made its way to Singapore from the sub-continent. Roti Paratha is basically a flatbread that is common throughout the sub-continent. It can be eaten with various kinds of main dishes. Roti paratha makes for a superb side dish.
#9 Fried Hokkien Mee
Hokkien hails from China’s southern province Hokkien. It’s a versatile dish that is prepared differently by every region. In Singapore, Hokkien Mee is a stir-fried combination of egg noodles and rice. These two main ingredients are further combined with onions, squid, prawns, and a variety of other ingredients. All of this gets topped with a rich and thick sauce that is made from dried prawns and shrimp.
#10 Pork Satay
Singapore’s favorite late night food, Pork Satay is simple yet fulfilling. It consists of grilled pork skewered on bamboo sticks. The pork is eaten with spicy dipping sauce and fresh cucumbers and onions.
Secret recipe. Close up photo of chef hands with several tattoos adding a sauce to italian pasta Carbonara. Food concept
Italians are known all over the globe as the creators and masters of cooking delectable dishes like pasta and pizza. It is the home of meals that food lovers and enthusiasts absolutely love. There are even various gastronomic guides posted on the web that can be used by tourists to figure out the best restaurants to visit.
It is undeniable that Italian meals are superb, but some are not the best food you should take if you want to be healthier. Nowadays, a lot of people are investing a lot of money, time, and effort to have a more nutritious diet. Various diet trends, like intermittent fasting and keto diet, have now surfaced and the demand for healthier food and recipes has increased.
If you have decided to recreate and make Italian dishes at home, there are recipes online, like A Guide For Your 20s, that you can follow. Most of these recipes include traditional cooking and recipes. If you want to make it more nutritious, there are ways to accomplish that.
Here are 4 ways to make Italian recipes healthier:
Add High-Protein and High-Fiber Food
Instead of adding meat to your sauce and pasta, you can use beans and legumes which are rich in protein. By adding lentils, chickpeas, and peas, your Italian dish can be cooked with more nutrients like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Also, when making pasta bolognese, you can use beans as a meat-alternative.
Adding more fiber-enriched food into your recipe can also help make your dish healthier. Fiber is a healthy carbohydrate that can reduce the chances of colon cancer and improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels. It is also an excellent nutrient that can aid you in losing fat and weight. If you’re into Italian salads, you can put spinach, beets, almonds, or sunflower seeds to create a high-fiber meal.
Use Gluten-Free Ingredients
Italians are world-renowned for their pasta dishes. They have carbonara, lasagna, puttanesca, and more pasta recipes that are also served in Italian-inspired restaurants all over the globe. This food is indeed delicious and versatile, though, pasta is high in carbohydrates that are more difficult to be digested by the body and also results in high blood sugar.
Fortunately, you can stop eating regular pasta and munch on gluten-free pasta instead. These are often made of chickpea, quinoa, corn, and lentils. You can purchase these organic and healthier kinds of pasta in the market. If these are not available in stores near you, you can also choose to make your own homemade pasta, which is indeed healthier than instant pasta or noodles.
Chicken Over Pork and Beef Meat
To create a delicious, healthy, and meaty Italian recipe, it is better to use white meat than dark meat. Instead of using pork to create meatballs, you can choose to add chicken or turkey. While it is true that dark meat contains tons of nutrients like Vitamin B12, white meat is healthier as it contains less saturated fat and it is an excellent source of protein.
It is also best to broil meat instead of frying it. The process of frying includes the use of cooking oil, which contains a considerable amount of fats and calories that can be unhealthy for the body. This is not only applicable to meat but vegetables and pasta as well. Choose to include broiling and baking in your recipes to create a more nutritious meal.
Use Honey and Fruits For Desserts
Have you ever heard of tiramisu, panna cotta, and semifreddo? These are just a few of the famous desserts the Italians have created and mastered. However, everyone knows desserts and sweets are the enemies when you’re trying to be more conscious about your health and fitness. They contain high contents of sugar that are indeed unhealthy, particularly if you have medical conditions like diabetes.
As an alternative for sugar, you can opt to use honey as a sweetener for your desserts. Because it contains antioxidants, honey is great for improving cardiovascular and digestive health. In addition to that, you can also use fruits to make your Italian dessert more scrumptious and nutritious at the same time. Incorporating ingredients that are good for one’s health in your recipes, such as greek yogurt and dark chocolate, is another great way to make your body nourished while consuming sweets.
Conclusion
These ways to make Italian recipes healthier are also applicable to other types of dishes. Instead of dining in restaurants and fast food establishments, you can easily recreate Italian meals with a more nutritious twist in your home.
Hemp plants, specifically its stalks, stems, and flowers, contain cannabidiol or CBD, a compound that has been intensively researched for years now. Several studies had already proved how CBD plays a critical role in preventing cancer, cardiovascular-related conditions, neurological disorders, and other fatal diseases, thanks to its anti-inflammatory benefits.
Due to its advantages in one’s well-being, more and more governments across the world are now embracing its health benefits and now legally allowing products generated from hemp plants. You can now use it for medical purposes, from topicals to edibles. Adding to that, here are three easy ways to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of CBD this cold season.
CBD Tea
Due to its calming effects, CBD-infused tea is becoming globally popular. In fact, ancient medicine wouldn’t be complete without it. You got it right! People have been intaking it for millennia!
If you’re into do-it-yourself, it’s always easy to check online stores that have dried, raw hemp flower for sale at reasonable prices, like the Discount Pharms. This online store has trusted vendors that can offer you boutique hemp and hemp flower biomass. If you want to curate your own hemp strain, they can help you with it too.
In preparing the tea, you have to dry the raw hemp material first before putting it to a cup of hot water. Unfortunately, the heat from the boiling water can only extract terpenes, not the cannabidiol. It’s less likely considered as the ‘CBD tea’ or a stand-alone CBD.
It’s not an issue, though. Terpenes still have a lot of health benefits, including the following:
Treatment of pain
Fungal and bacterial infections
Inflammation
Depression and Anxiety
Addiction
Epilepsy
Cancer
If you want to enjoy the benefits of CBD, you’ll have to undergo an intricate, yet simple process. First, you have to heat the raw part of the hemp plant (scientifically called decarboxylation process), in your oven at 100° Celsius to extract and activate the cannabinoids.
After 20 minutes, increase the temperature to 115° Celsius and leave it that way for an hour. Summing it up, you’ll be baking the raw plant for 1hr and 20mins—20mins at 100° Celsius and 1hr at 115° Celsius.
Lastly, take the now-baked plant out and steep it in a cup of hot water. You can mix it together with full-fat milk (i.e., coconut), vanilla extract, honey, cinnamon, or loose leaf chai tea or other flavors. If you don’t like blending hemp flowers or leaves, you can add CBD milk into a cup of tea, instead. Either way, you are going to be mellowed out after you sip.
CBD Latte
Latte can only be made with espresso and steamed milk—says who? Get ready to experience the next-level latte with hemp extract! Yes, you can feel much better with CBD’s health benefits in your already wonderful cup of coffee greatness.
Reports claimed that after drinking a cup of hemp latte, you’d experience the following:
No shakiness or caffeine jitters, headache, and nausea
No negative influences on your emotions, like anxiety
An overall feeling of relaxation and balance
Improved energy
In making this latte, choose a milk source first. You can either use ready-made hemp milk or produce it by yourself. In making self-made hemp milk, use your preferred milk source, like coconut or oat, and mix the raw seeds with it, together with a little sea salt and honey. By contrast, others will only use hemp seeds and water with a little sweetener like vanilla extract.
Combine the milk of your choice with your preferred coffee grounds. You’ll be needing a little flavor from sea salt, as well as vanilla extract, date syrup or honey, or any other sweeteners of your choice. For more details, check Daintri’s recipe of this hemp latte. It’s totally a mug of bliss—creamy, a mixture of sweet and salty, yet super healthy!
Hot Chocolate or Strawberry CBD Smoothie
A chocolate drink might not sound dietary at all, but this Creamy Chocolate CBD Smoothie surely does! Let us tell you how free-ish is it. It’s grain-free, oil-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free, and gluten-free! And did we forget that it’s vegan, as well?
It’s super easy to do, too. You only have to combine all the ingredients, including almond milk, Medjool dates, unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder, hulled hemp seed, frozen banana, and cinnamon, in a blender until smooth.
Try to visit Oh She Glows. They made an elaborate recipe for this creamy chocolate hemp smoothie. If you have issues with buying costly pints of vegan chocolate, this smoothie will surely be your saving grace.
Alternatively, for people who don’t prefer chocolates (yes, they surprisingly exist), this strawberry hemp milkshake will get you covered. It’s also refined-sugar free as it uses frozen strawberry that gives the thick and creamy ice cream-like texture, instead of using ice cream like how traditional milkshakes are made. What’s more, it’s vegan and gluten-free, not to mention it’s rich in protein. It’s very healthy, so you drink to your heart’s content!
Takeaway
Hemp plants don’t only contain cannabidiol (CBD). They also have high levels of fiber, essential fatty acids, and several micronutrients. It’s also worth mentioning that despite being a plant-based source, hemp is a complete protein source. Meaning, they contain all the nine essential amino acids. Unfortunately, despite its benefits, other countries are still not open to legalizing it. Hopefully, everything will straighten out in the future.
