Black Bean Burrito with Guacamole

Black Bean Burrito with Guacamole

I am a stalwart when it comes to recipes in December. Just because we’re in the holiday season doesn’t mean your main meals should suffer (and I’m not talking about eating cookies for dinner.) I believe that December is when having a surplus of quick, healthy meals is a lifesaver. This burrito fits that bill and then some, especially if you cook the rice ahead of time. Also, I love having a grill pan/panini press for making items like this black bean burrito, like this grill pan and panini top. Read more and see the recipe.

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Roasted Red Kuri Squash with Cannellini Bean and Spinach Salad

Roasted Red Kuri Squash with Cannellini Beans and SpinachRoasted Red Kuri SquashRoasted Red Kuri SquashCannellini Bean and Spinach Salad

To follow up from the delicata squash tacos I posted on Saturday, I wanted to share another (different) squash recipe. I think it’s easy to get blinded by the shear amount of butternut squash and pumpkin recipes out there when really, there’s a wide scope of delicious squash. Red kuri squash may look like a pumpkin but it’s nutty, pronounced flavor makes it perfect for standing on it’s own. Like the delicata, you can also eat the shell if you want. The nice thing about this recipe is you can choose to eat or not eat the skin (but still not have to peel!)

See the Recipe.

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Black Bean Tostadas with Chipotle Butternut Squash

Black Bean Tostadas with Chipotle Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese | http://naturallyella.com

Recipe originally published on September 28th, 2012. Last updated on September 20th, 2015.

I am always fascinated by my changing taste. There are so many foods I love now but as a child, I wouldn’t have touched with a ten foot pole. Looking back, I was an extremely picky eater. Then again, I was also a fast food junky at an early age. I was particularly fussy when it came to cheese. Mozzarella and cheddar, both highly processed single servings were what I was after in terms of cheese. Anything else seemed too far fetched. I think the day I realized Parmesan came in giant wheels and not plastic bottles was a game changer.

I have a very vivid memory when my family and I were at a local Mexican restaurant. For one reason or another, I had left my comfort zone of chicken strips and fries (believe it or not, there was a day when I wouldn’t eat Mexican), and I had ordered tacos. The tacos arrived with this white cheese on top and I began to question my order, wondering if it was too late to turn back.

My father took one look at my tacos and managed to aid my paranoia with one sentence, “you know that cheese it actually goat cheese, right?”

I freaked out, even with my mom trying to reassure me that the cheese on my tacos was in fact shredded mozzarella (which it was, my dad liked to tease me). To my younger self, the thought of anything goat cheese related sent me running to the hills. For years after that experience I questioned every cheese on my plate. I wasn’t going to be fooled again. Fast forward to now and you will find me adding goat cheese to almost everything. I find that goat cheese pairs well with a lot of the dishes I make and I often have to stop myself because I forget not everyone loves it like I do.

See the Recipe.

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Black Bean Bowl with Freekeh

Black Bean Bowl with Freekeh | http://naturallyella.com

I’m currently in Illinois, basking in the summer glow of the midwest (which I guess is called humidity). Mack has managed to meet nearly all his family in this whirlwind extended tour and I’m so glad we got back here when we did. However, I wanted to make sure I popped in to share this black bean bowl recipe before summer produce started coming to an end. Of course, if you want to tuck this away, you can easily make this black bean bowl with frozen corn and canned salsa (instead of the fresh tomatoes) for a mid-winter treat.

See the Recipe.

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Roasted Green Bean Spring Rolls

Roasted Green Bean Spring Rolls | http://naturallyella.comRoasted Green Beans and Red Pepper | http://naturallyella.comRoasted Green Bean and Red Pepper Spring Rolls | http://naturallyella.com

In the grand scheme of summer produce, green beans may be low on your list. I know for me, I’d often pick up a pound or two to have as a quick side along veg burgers. Or, I’d come home from the CSA with a sizable haul and would have no clue what do to with them. I assure you though, green beans make a really nice star of a recipe.

While these green bean spring rolls are a favorite of mine, I’ve also been eating quite a bit of this green bean egg skillet. Just recently I jazzed the skillet up with peppers and soy sauce mixture. Green beans are an easy grab from the market and I encourage to try a recipe showcasing their fresh summer flavor.

Speaking of these spring rolls, I wanted to mention the peppers I used. If you’ve been following along on my instagram, you might have noticed some red peppers I picked up from the market Saturday. I’m not a big fan of bell peppers and much prefer the Italian variety. I always grow green Italian peppers every summer and these red ones are a variety called Jimmy Nardello. They are a sweet pepper, fry and roast well, and I think have a nicer flavor than the red bell peppers.

(Also- if you’re not following me on instagram, you’re missing out! I’ve started sharing my #naturallylunch on a regular basis. Good non-recipe inspiration!)

See the Recipe + Pairings.

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Chipotle Cilantro Pesto Black Bean Summer Pasta

Chipotle Cilantro Pesto Black Bean Summer Pasta | http://naturallyella.com

| Disclosure: This recipe was created for Ancient Harvest. See below for more details. |

Black Bean Pasta | http://naturallyella.com

Roasted Sweet Corn and Tomatoes
Chipotle Cilantro Pesto | http://naturallyella.com

Chipotle Cilantro Pesto Black Bean Summer Pasta | http://naturallyella.com

One of the things I love most about cooking vegetarian is the color. It is almost impossible to create a dish that isn’t appealing (beyond a few beige items, but even then a few fresh herbs can help!) I sometimes create meals based on the contrast of colors to make the meal more appealing. One of those dishes that comes to mind is this Pesto Polenta with Smokey Chickpeas.

When I was playing with flours for The Homemade Flour Cookbook, I fell in love with black bean flour. It had a fairly mild flavor profile and the color, after cooking, had this beautiful purple hue. I loved the color so much, I even made black bean tofu. In the cookbook, however, I made black bean pasta. Since then, it’s become a staple in my kitchen.

Of course, I know not everyone is as ambitious as I am when it comes to grinding their own flour (or making homemade pasta). I am excited to share this recipe with you using Ancient Harvest’s Black Bean Pasta. Their pasta contains three simple ingredients: black bean flour, brown rice flour, and quinoa flour and has a gorgeous color after cooking. This color makes for such a unique spin on any dish. Of course, you can always make this with any pasta- regular or gluten-free.

In this case, it’s a summer pasta dish topped with one of my favorites, a chipotle cilantro pesto. It’s a bit spicy and packed full of flavor. Plus, by using AH’s pasta, this dish is gluten-free and vegan! I usually make extra of the cilantro pesto to use on tacos, in quesadillas, and on breakfast egg skillets as well.

See the Recipe.

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