Peak Performance Fitness

Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

fruit

Recipe of the Week: Winter Grain Salad

Makes 4 large meal salads or 6 side salads

Ingredients:

Wild Rice

  • 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
  • 1?4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Carrots

  • 1 pound carrots,* peeled and cut on the diagonal into 1?2-inch-thick slices
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1?4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1?4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Lemon Dressing

  • 1?4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
  • 1?4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Salad

  • 1?3 cup raw pistachios, roughly chopped, or pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
  • 5 to 6 ounces baby arugula
  • 1?3 cup crumbled goat or feta cheese (about 2 ounces)
  • 3 tablespoons raisins, preferably golden

 

Directions:

  1. To cook the wild rice: Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the rinsed rice and continue boiling, reducing the heat as necessary to prevent overflow, until the rice is tender but still offers a light resistance to the bite, 40 to 55 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, drain the rice, and return it to the pot. Cover and let the rice rest for 10 minutes, then uncover and stir in the salt.
  2. To roast the carrots: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the carrots on the baking sheet and drizzle them with the olive oil. Sprinkle the chili powder, cinnamon, and salt on top. Toss until the carrots are lightly coated in oil and spices. Arrange in a single layer and roast until they are caramelized on the edges and easily pierced through by a fork, 25 to 40 minutes, toss halfway through
  3. To make the lemon dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper to
  4. To prepare the salad: In a medium skillet, toast the chopped pistachios over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and turning golden on the edges, 4 to 6 Set aside to cool.
  5. In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked wild rice and When you’re ready to serve, drizzle the mixture with just enough dressing to lightly coat the salad (you might have a little extra) and toss to combine. Arrange the roasted carrots down the center and sprinkle the toasted pistachios, crumbled goat cheese, and raisins on top. Serve immediately. This salad is best the day it’s prepared, but it keeps well, chilled, for 2 to 3 days.

 

Original recipe from Run Fast, Eat Slow can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Veggie Soup with Lentils & Greens

Our Peak Team are big fans of eating with the seasons. This hearty and rustic soup comes together in about an hour and is loaded with vegetables. Let them simmer in a rich, flavorful broth filled with wilted greens & lentils. Bon Appetit!
Prep : 45 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 1 hr, 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small sweet onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small leek, cleaned and sliced (white and light green parts only)
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup butternut squash, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 3/4 cup French lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 4 cups 32-ounces no / low-salt vegetable stock or broth
  • 14 ounce can chopped canned tomatoes, low salt
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 lb baby Bok Choy, greens cut as a chiffonade, white parts added with carrots & other vegetables
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • sea salt and fresh ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Drizzle the olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven with a heavy bottom. Heat on medium until hot. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is softened.
  2. Add the leek, celery, carrots, butternut squash, white portion of the Bok Choy and the lentils. Stir gently to coat all vegetables in the olive oil then add the vegetable stock and chopped tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the pot with a lid and gently simmer for about 15 minutes.
  3. Add the tomato paste, chopped greens, parsley and thyme. Heat until the greens are just tender.
  4. Garnish with fresh parsley and black pepper. Serve with a hearty whole grain bread if desired.

Notes

  • The soup is easily adaptable by substituting rutabaga or turnips for the butternut squash.
  • Use seasonal greens such as Swiss Chard, Kale, Cabbage or Spinach in place of the Bok Choy if desired.
  • Be sure to cut vegetables about the same size so they will cook more evenly.

Original recipe from Saving Room for Dessert can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

A healthy twist on a classic lunch recipe- serve it on toast, over a salad, in a wrap or in a lettuce wrap!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb. cooked, shredded chicken breast
  • 1 large green apple, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 2 large celery stalks, finely diced
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place shredded chicken, green apple, red onion, celery, and dried cranberries into a large bowl. Mix and set aside.
  2. Create the sauce by mixing together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Add sauce to the shredded chicken mixture and mix until combined.

Nutrition:

Serves: 4

Calories per Serving: 194

Fat: 2g Carbs: 16g Protein: 28g

Original recipe from Fit Foodie Finds can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Italian Chickpea Salad

SERVES 6-8 (AS A SMALL SIDE)

Ingredients:

  • 15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 3 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
  • 1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 small red onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons drained capers
  • 1/3 – 1/2 cup Italian dressing (see below)
  • salt
  • big pinch dried oregano

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients for the Italian Vinaigrette in a jar with a tight fitting lid or a bowl then shake or whisk to combine. Can be made up to 2 weeks ahead of time.
  2. Add chickpeas through Italian dressing to a large bowl then season to taste with salt and dried oregano. Toss to combine then refrigerate until ready to serve.
  3. To make ahead: combine all ingredients except tomatoes and basil in a large bowl and refrigerate. Add tomatoes and basil before serving.

Original recipe from Iowa Girl Eats can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Tomatillo Shakshuka

PREP TIME: 20 minutes
COOK TIME: 40 minutes
SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 to 2 poblano peppers, depending on your heat tolerance
  • 1 to 2 serrano chiles, depending on your heat tolerance
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea or kosher salt, plus more for the eggs
  • 2 pounds tomatillos, halved, or 2 (11-ounce) cans of tomatillos, drained
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Heat the broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place the poblanos and serranos on it. Broil until blackened on all sides, checking every 2 minutes and flipping them as needed. Transfer to a paper bag, seal, and let the chiles steam 10 minutes. (Alternatively, transfer them to a heatproof bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap.) Peel off the blackened skins from the chiles (run under cold water as needed). Remove the core and seeds. Pat the chiles dry and coarsely chop.
  2. Heat the oil in a 10-inch, deep-sided skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent and soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the chiles, garlic, cumin, coriander, and salt, and cook for 2 minutes more.
  3. Increase the heat to medium high. Add the tomatillos and water and cook, stirring frequently, until the tomatillos are completely broken down, 10 to 12 minutes, reducing the heat to medium as the tomatillos reduce and start to sputter.

  4. Working with 1 egg at a time, crack it into a small bowl, then tip it into the sauce. Sprinkle the eggs with salt. Cook over medium heat just until egg whites are set, 10 to 12 minutes. Garnish with the feta and cilantro. Serve immediately.

     

Original recipe from The Kitchn can be found here!