Peak Performance Fitness

Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

summer

Recipe of the Week: Spinach Pasta with Roasted Veggies

This healthy vegetarian pasta features loads of spinach and roasted vegetables. Using late summer vegetables is great to eat with the season or you change them up depending on when you serve this recipe. With some simple swaps, you can make this recipe vegan or gluten free! Serve with a green side salad for a complete meal. Recipe yields 4 large or 6 more modest portions.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 6

INGREDIENTS:

Roasted vegetables

  • 1 large bunch of broccoli (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced into 1-inch squares
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt

Spinach pasta

  • 8 ounces Whole Wheat Linguine or spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 shallot bulb, sliced very thin (about 1/2 cup, sliced)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • 12 ounces baby spinach
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
  • Parmesan cheese, for garnishing
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Prepare the roasted vegetables: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Transfer the sliced broccoli florets and bell pepper to the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss until the vegetables are lightly coated in oil. Sprinkle with salt, arrange the vegetables in an even layer and bake until the broccoli is tender and caramelized on the edges, tossing halfway, about 25 minutes.
  2. Next, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta just until al dente. Before draining, carefully reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
  3. To prepare the balsamic spinach, in a large Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil until shimmering. Add the sliced shallot, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shallot is translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 20 seconds. While stirring constantly, add several big handfuls of spinach at a time until they have wilted, then repeat until all of the spinach is in the pot. Once the spinach has reduced a bit but is still bright green in parts (this happens quickly!), pour in the balsamic vinegar and remove the pot from heat.
  4. In your Dutch oven or in a large serving bowl, combine the roasted vegetables and cooked pasta with the spinach mixture. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil and optional Parmesan. Drizzle in about 1/3 cup reserved pasta cooking water and gently toss to coat. Season to taste with additional salt (mine needed about 1/2 teaspoon more) and freshly ground black pepper. Divide into bowls and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Serves: 6
Calories per serving: 384
Fat: 13.1g
Carbs: 59.1g
Protein: 14.7g

Original recipe from Cookie & Kate 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: Broccoli Salad

This low-fat broccoli salad is a healthy alternative to the traditional recipe. It’s great for an every-day meal or can easily be doubled for a crowd. Serve it up for the family at your Labor Day BBQ!
Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
  • 1 head broccoli bottom trimmed to about 3?, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup raisins or dates chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup raw walnuts chopped
Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup homemade mayonnaise (or store-bought vegan)
  • 2-3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp date syrup (or pure maple syrup)
Directions:
  1. Put all the ingredients except the dressing into a large bowl.
  2. Mix the dressing ingredients in a separate bowl, tasting for you’re preferences (less sugar or more depending).
  3. Pour over broccoli mixture and stir to coat.

Nutrition Facts*:

Calories 206 
Total Fat 10.8g
Total Carbohydrates 25g
Dietary Fiber 4.2g
Sugars 14.5g
Protein 5.2g
*using a homemade tofu mayonnaise
Original recipe from Plant Based Cooking can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Balsamic Chicken Berry Quinoa Salad

This flavorful salad is perfect to meal prep to bring for lunch! Even better is making a homemade, sweet & tangy raspberry vinaigrette!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

For the chicken:

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

For the dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon raspberry jam
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

For the salad:

  • 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 3/4 cup quartered strawberries
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • ¼ cup toasted sliced almonds (or chopped roasted almonds)
  • 2–4 cups arugula or baby spinach

Instructions:

  1. Add chicken and marinade ingredients to a large bag. Marinate chicken for 20 minutes to 1 hour.
  2. While you are marinating your chicken, make your quinoa: Add 1 1/2 cup water to a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Then, stir in quinoa. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for exactly 15 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and let stand covered for another 5-10 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork. Quinoa will pop upon cooking and expand. To help separate the grains, use a fork and fluff the quinoa. Set aside.
  3. While the quinoa is cooking, chop all your ingredients for your salad.
  4. Next, make your raspberry vinaigrette. Add all ingredients for the dressing to a small bowl and mix until well-combined. Set aside.
  5. Once ready to cook chicken, preheat grill to medium high heat. Lightly oil the grate. Grill chicken breasts for 6-8 minutes per side, or until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink. Once chicken has cooked, transfer to a cutting board and dice into bite sized pieces.
  6. Make the mason jar salads by dividing ingredients evenly between 4 (32-ounce) large mason jars in the following order: dressing, strawberries, cooked quinoa, blueberries, chicken, goat cheese, avocado, arugula, almonds.
  7. When ready to serve, pour contents from the mason jar onto a plate or into a bowl and enjoy! Makes 4 large mason jars.
  8. To make vegetarian: replace chicken with 1 (15oz) can chickpeas

Nutrition Facts:

Amount Per Serving (1 mason jar salad)
517 calories
Fat: 29.5g, Carbohydrates: 35.1g, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 5.6g, Protein: 32.3g
Original recipe from Ambitious Kitchen can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Pork Chops with Nectarine Sauce

Prep/Total Time: 30 min

4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 4 boneless pork loin chops (6 ounces each)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 3 medium nectarines or peeled peaches, cut into 1/2-inch slices
  • 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon honey, optional

 

Directions:

  1. Sprinkle pork chops with seasonings. Dredge lightly with flour. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat; cook chops until a thermometer reads 145°, 4-5 minutes per side. Remove from pan; keep warm.
  2. Add onion to same pan; cook and stir over medium heat 2 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add nectarines; cook until lightly browned on both sides. Stir in broth and, if desired, honey; bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until nectarines are softened and sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Serve with chops.

Nutrition:

1 pork chop with 1/2 cup sauce: 330 calories

14g fat, 414mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 35g protein.

 

Original recipe from Taste of Home can be found here!