Creamy Lemon Dill Greek Pasta Salad

PREP TIME

15 mins

COOK TIME

15 mins

TOTAL TIME

30 mins

 

Serves: 6 (about 1.5 cups each)

INGREDIENTS

CREAMY LEMON DILL DRESSING

• 5oz. container plain Greek yogurt 
• ¼ cup mayonnaise 
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 fresh lemon 
• ¼ tsp salt 
• ¼ tsp dried dill
• Freshly cracked pepper 

PASTA SALAD

• 1 lb. penne 
• 1 cup grape tomatoes 
• 1 cucumber (about 2 cups chopped) 
• 15oz. can quartered artichoke hearts 
• ¼ red onion 
• 2oz. feta 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the dressing first so the flavors have time to blend. Use a zester or small-holed cheese grater to remove the zest from the lemon. In a small bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic, 1 Tbsp of the lemon juice, ½ tsp of the lemon zest, salt, dill, and some freshly cracked pepper (about 10-15 cranks of a pepper mill). Refrigerate the dressing until ready to use.
2. Cook the pasta, in lightly salted water, according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and rinse briefly with cool water to bring the temperature down. Let the pasta drain until it's slightly dry and tacky on the surface.
3. While the pasta is cooking, slice the cucumber, then cut the slices into quarter rounds. Slice the grape tomatoes in half. Finely dice the red onion. Drain the artichoke hearts, then roughly chop them. Crumble the feta cheese.
4. Once the pasta is cooled and drained, Place it in a large bowl and combine with the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, artichoke hearts, feta, and creamy lemon dill dressing. Stir to coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat.

STEP  BY STEP PHOTOS

Begin by removing the zest from one lemon. You’ll need about 1/2 tsp of the zest for the dressing, but you can keep the rest to use as a garnish.

Prepare the dressing first, so the flavors have time to infuse into the yogurt. In a small bowl, stir together one 5oz. container of Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1/2 tsp of the lemon zest, 1 Tbsp of the lemon’s juice, 1/4 tsp dried dill, 1/4 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked pepper. If you can’t find a single-serving container of Greek yogurt that is exactly 5oz, no worries. That part is flexible. It seems like every brand is a different size, but anywhere between 5-7oz. will be okay.

Refrigerate the dressing until you’re ready to use it.

Cook one pound of penne pasta in lightly salted water, according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain in a colander and rinse briefly with cool water to bring the temperature down. Let the pasta drain until it’s slightly tacky or sticky on the surface. This will allow it to grip the dressing better than really wet pasta.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the salad ingredients. Slice about 1 cup of grape tomatoes in half, cut one cucumber into quarter rounds (about 2 cups), dice 1/4 red onion, drain and roughly chop one 15oz. can of quartered artichoke hearts, and crumble 2oz. of feta.

Combine the drained pasta, the vegetables, and feta in a large bowl.

Pour the creamy lemon dill dressing on top, then stir to coat.

And you’re done! You can garnish with any extra lemon zest or a light sprinkle of dried dill.

Fast, easy, delicious, and a little more budget friendly. ;)

Source from http://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/08/creamy-lemon-dill-greek-pasta-salad/

4 Healthy Homemade Dressing Recipes

Creamy Avocado Dressing

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

1 large ripe avocado, peeled and pitted100g low-fat plain yoghurt1-2 garlic cloves, crushed65ml olive oil¼ tsp chilli flakes½ lime or lemon, juiced80ml waterSalt and ground black pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until creamy. If the dressing is still a little thick for your liking, drizzle in a little water at a time until the dressing reaches the desired consistency.

2. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Enjoy!

Extra dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Raspberry Vinaigrette

Makes ¾ cup

Ingredients:75g frozen raspberries, thawed125ml olive oil½ tbsp fresh lemon juice½ tbsp red wine vinegar1 tbsp honeySalt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Place the raspberries, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and honey in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper, if desired. Enjoy!

Extra vinaigrette can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Whisk to re-mix the vinaigrette before using.

Lemon Chia Dressing    

Makes ¾ cup

Ingredients:65ml olive oil1 lemon, juiced2 tbsp white wine vinegar2 tsp honey2 tsp chia seedsSalt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Place the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey and chia seeds in a small bowl and whisk until well combined. You could also use a jar with a lid and shake vigorously to combine.

2. Taste and add salt and pepper, if desired. Enjoy!

Extra dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Whisk to re-mix the dressing before using.

Thai Peanut Dressing    

Makes ¾ cup

Ingredients:65g (¼ cup) smooth peanut butter1 lime, juiced1 tbsp rice wine vinegar2 tsp salt-reduced tamari or soy sauce1 tbsp honey1 garlic clove, crushed2 cm piece ginger, peeled and chopped¼ tsp chilli flakes2 tbsp hot waterSalt, to taste

Method:

1. Place the peanut butter, lime juice, vinegar, tamari or soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, chilli and water in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. If you require a thinner dressing add a little more water.

2. Taste and add salt, if desired. Enjoy!

Extra dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Hope you enjoyed these!


source from http://www.kaylaitsines.com/blogs/news/4-healthy-homemade-dressing-recipes

German Potato Salad

PREP TIME

10 mins

COOK TIME

15 mins

TOTAL TIME

25 mins

 

Serves: 6 (about ¾c each)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs. small red potatoes 
• ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp coarse ground mustard 
• 1 Tbsp white sugar 
• Freshly cracked pepper
• ½ tsp salt (plus more for the potato water) 
• 3oz. bacon 
• 1 small yellow onion 
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Scrub the potatoes well, then add them to a large pot with enough cool water to cover the potatoes by one inch. Add approximately ½ Tbsp salt to the cooking water. Place a lid on the pot, turn the heat on to high, and bring the pot to a boil. Continue to boil the potatoes until they can easily be pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes).
2. Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl stir together the apple cider vinegar, coarse ground mustard (or Dijon if preferred), sugar, some freshly cracked pepper, and about ½ tsp salt.
3. Cut the bacon into one inch pieces and add them to a large skillet. Sauté the bacon over medium heat until brown and crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel lined plate to drain. Leave the remaining bacon grease in the skillet.
4. While the bacon is cooking, dice the onion. After removing the bacon, add the onion to the skillet and sauté it in the leftover bacon grease until the onions are soft and transparent. Turn the heat off. Add the prepared dressing and whisk until the dressing is well blended with the bacon fat and it has thickened just slightly.
5. Once the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander. Let them cool for a few minutes, or just until they are cool enough to handle. Slice the potatoes into ¼-inch thick medallions or half moons. Add the sliced potatoes, cooked bacon, and chopped parsley to the skillet with the dressing. Stir to combine. Serve immediately while the potatoes are still warm.

STEP BY STEP PHOTOS

Wash 2 lbs. of small red potatoes well. Place them in a large pot and add enough water to cover them by one inch. Add about 1/2 Tbsp salt to the water to make sure the potatoes are well seasoned. Place a lid on the pot and turn the heat on to high. Bring the pot to a boil, then continue to boil the potatoes until they are tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes).

Meanwhile, prepare the mustard vinaigrette. In a small bowl stir together 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp coarse ground mustard (or Dijon, if you prefer that), 1 Tbsp white sugar, some freshly ground pepper (maybe 15-20 cranks of a pepper mill), and 1/2 tsp salt. 

Slice 3oz. of bacon into one-inch strips. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it is brown and crispy. Remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate, leaving the grease in the skillet.

While the bacon is browning, dice one small yellow onion. After removing the bacon from the skillet, add the diced onion and sauté it in the bacon fat until the onion is soft and transparent. Turn off the heat.

Pour in the prepared dressing and whisk it into the bacon fat. It will create a slight emulsion and get just a LITTLE bit thicker.

Once the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander and let them cool for just a few minutes or until they are cool enough to handle. Slice the potatoes into 1/4-inch rounds or half moons. Add the sliced potatoes to the skillet with the dressing, along with the crisp bacon and about 1/4 cup of chopped parsley.

Finally, just stir everything together until it’s coated in dressing! Ta-da!

Make sure to serve the potato salad while it’s still a bit warm… Oooh, it’s the best! (disclaimer: I’ve eaten the leftovers cold and it’s still awesome.)

Resource from GERMAN POTATO SALAD

Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

PREP TIME

40 mins

COOK TIME

20 mins

TOTAL TIME

1 hour

 

Serves: 4-6

INGREDIENTS

MARINADE/DRESSING

• 1 lemon 
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, divided
• ½ Tbsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp salt 
• Freshly cracked pepper
• 
  

SALAD

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 
• 8oz. pasta (any shape) 
• 1 bell pepper (any color)
• 4oz. grape tomatoes* 
• ½ cucumber (1.5 cups diced)
• ¼ bunch parsley 
• 2oz. feta 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Use a zester, microplane, or small-holed cheese grater to remove the zest from the lemon. Set the zest aside. Squeeze the juice from the lemon into a separate bowl. You'll need at least ¼ cup juice.
2. Prepare the dressing and marinade by mincing two of the three cloves of garlic and combining them with ¼ cup lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, salt, some freshly cracked pepper, and a pinch of the lemon zest. Whisk these ingredients until well combined.
3. Place the chicken thighs in a small zip lock bag and add half of the dressing, saving the rest to add to the salad later. Mince one more clove of garlic and add it to the bag with the chicken and marinade. Squeeze the air out and massage the bag to make sure the thighs are well coated in the marinade. Refrigerate the thighs for at least 30 minutes.
4. While the chicken is marinating, cook the pasta according to the package directions, drain in a colander, and let cool.
5. Heat a skillet over a medium flame. Once hot, add the marinated chicken thighs and cook on each side until they are well browned and cooked through (about 5 minutes each side). There should be enough oil in the marinade to keep the meat from sticking. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and let it rest for about five minutes. Once slightly cooled, chop the chicken into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
6. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rest of the vegetables. Dice the cucumber and bell pepper. Slice the tomatoes in half (or dice if using Roma or regular tomatoes). Pull the parsley leaves from the stems and give them a rough chop.
7. Finally, build the salad. Add the cooked and cooled pasta to a large bowl. Top the pasta with the cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, parsley, and chopped chicken. Crumble the feta over top and add a pinch or two of the lemon zest. Pour the remaining dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat.

NOTES

*I got a sale on a snack pack of grape tomatoes, but two Roma tomatoes (diced) or one medium tomato can be used in place of the grape tomatoes.

STEP BY STEP PHOTOS

Start by removing the zest from one lemon. The zest is the magic part of the lemon. It provides an incredibly lemony flavor without making things too sour. So, for this recipe we use both the juice and the zest for an extra lemony kick. Use a zester, microplane, or small-holed cheese grater to scrape the thin layer of yellow zest from the peel. Set the zest aside. Squeeze the juice from the lemon into a separate bowl. You’ll need at least 1/4 cup of juice.

Now prepare the mixture that will be used as both the dressing and the marinade. Mince two cloves of garlic and combine them in a bowl with 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 Tbsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, some freshly cracked pepper, and a pinch of that lemon zest. Whisk with a fork until well combined.

Add two boneless, skinless chicken thighs to a zip lock bag and add half of that dressing, plus one more clove of minced garlic (you really want the chicken to be garlicky!). Squeeze out all the air, give the bag a quick massage to distribute the marinade, then refrigerate the chicken for at least 30 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, cook 8oz. of pasta (any shape) according to the package directions. Drain the pasta in a colander, and let it cool.

Heat a skillet over a medium flame and once hot, add the marinated chicken thighs. There should be enough oil on them from the marinade to keep them from sticking. Cook the thighs on each side until well browned and cooked through (about five minutes each side).  Seriously, this chicken was SO GOOD that I’m probably going to feature it as its own recipe soon. I wanted to eat it by itself.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for a few minutes, then chop it into smaller, bite-sized pieces.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rest of the vegetables. Dice 1/2 cucumber (1.5 cups diced), dice the bell pepper, slice the tomatoes in half (or dice if using Roma or regular tomatoes), and give the parsley a rough chop.

Finally, it’s time to put everything together! Place the cooked, drained, and cooled pasta in a large bowl (it’s under there, I swear). Top the pasta with the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, parsley, and chopped chicken. Finally, crumble 2oz. feta over everything and add one last pinch of lemon zest.

Pour the remaining dressing over the salad…

And toss until everything is coated in dressing. Done!

Source from GREEK CHICKEN PASTA SALAD