Falafels

Try making these delicious and healthy falafels as a side dish for your next dinner option! Falafels are a popular Middle Eastern cuisine that are commonly made from ground chickpeas. Chickpeas are a type of legume that are packed with fiber and protein. They are known to benefit digestion by supporting bowel movements and increasing healthy bacteria in the gut. Parsley is a low-calorie herb packed with Vitamins A, K, and C. Coriander is rich in antioxidants and benefits heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol! Cardamom helps to fight inflammation and improve oral health. Serve these falafels with your favorite hummus or tahini sauce and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups chickpeas (uncooked)

• ½ cup white onion, diced

• ½ cup parsley, chopped

• 5 small cloves of garlic

• 2 tbsp gluten-free oat flour

• 1 ½ tsp sea salt

• 3 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp ground coriander

• Pinch of ground cardamom

• Coconut Oil

Instructions:

1) Pour the chickpeas into a colander and rinse under cold water. Transfer the chickpeas to a large pot and cover with two inches of water. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove the pot from heat, cover with a lid, and let sit for about one hour. After the one hour is up, drain the pot, rinse the chickpeas, and pat them dry with a towel.

2) Add white onion, parsley, and garlic to a food processor, and pulse well. Toss in the chickpeas, oat flour, sea salt, cumin, coriander, and cardamom to the food processor. Pulse for about 5 minutes or until a paste is formed.

3) Transfer the mixture to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

4) After the one hour is up, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Use a cookie scooper to scoop the mixture and use your hands to form the mixture into small discs. This recipe should yield around 24 falafels.

5) Add coconut oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Place enough falafels on the skillet to fit, and heat for 5 minutes, flipping the falafels halfway. Let falafels cool before serving and enjoy!

Zucchini and Beef Lasagna

This Zucchini and Beef Lasagna is the perfect cozy dish for this upcoming winter season! Ground beef is a rich source of protein and helps to improve muscle growth. Zucchini is an excellent source of Vitamin A and C and provides plenty of fiber for bowel regularity. Gluten-free lasagna noodles serve as a healthier alternative to traditional lasagna noodles and also contain more fiber. Dairy-free cheese is free from growth hormones and cholesterol-free. Top this dish with nutritional yeast if desired and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

• 1 white onion, diced

• 1 lb ground beef

• 3 large zucchinis

• 24 oz jar tomato sauce

• 10 oz pack gluten-free lasagna noodles

• 1 package of shredded non-dairy cheese (for Alexa-approved dairy-free cheese, please click here): Miss Alexa-Approved Dairy-Free Products)

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 375 F and set aside a 9x13 baking dish.

2) Add the coconut oil to a large skillet. Sauté diced onion for about 5 minutes or until soft.

3) Add in the ground beef and cook until brown.

4) While the beef is cooking, slice the zucchini into thin, circular pieces. Let sit for a few minutes and pat with a paper towel to drain excess water.

5) Once the beef is done cooking, drain excess oil from the pan. Add in the tomato sauce and mix well with the beef.

6) Spoon a thin layer of tomato/beef sauce to the bottom of the baking dish. Add 5 lasagna noodles to the pan. Add a layer of tomato/beef sauce, zucchini slices, and dairy-free cheese. Repeat until the ingredients run out or pan is full. Make sure the top of the dish is sauce and cheese.

7) Bake uncovered in the oven for 40 minutes. Enjoy!

Scallops with Lemon Sauce

Try making these Scallops with Lemon Sauce for your next lunch or dinner option! Scallops have an impressive nutritional profile as they are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, promote heart health, and are full of protein. Replacing butter with coconut oil in this recipe will help to improve bone health and promote weight loss. Garlic helps to strengthen the immune system and promotes healthy blood pressure levels. Lemon contains a high amount of Vitamin C, helps to prevent dehydration, and is great for digestive health. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb scallops

• Dash of sea salt and pepper

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Instructions:

1) Pat the scallops dry and garnish with sea salt and pepper.

2) Melt one tbsp of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add in the scallops and cook for five minutes, flipping the scallops halfway.

3) Once cooked, transfer the scallops to a plate and set aside.

4) Add the remaining coconut oil to the skillet to melt. Once melted, add the garlic and cook for about one minute or until soft.

5) Pour in the lemon juice and cook for an additional 30 seconds and remove from heat.

6) Garnish the scallops with the lemon sauce and enjoy!

Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese

Try making this dairy-free mac and cheese for your next lunch or dinner option! Garlic offers many health benefits including boosting your immune system, reducing blood pressure, and improving cholesterol levels. Coconut milk is a good source of Vitamin C and E, both of which are known for their antioxidant properties. Nutritional yeast is full of protein and paprika is loaded with antibacterial properties that help to promote healthy skin. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 12 oz gluten-free noodles

• ½ cup dairy-free butter (for Alexa-approved dairy-free butter, please click here): Miss Alexa-Approved Dairy-Free Products

• 1 tsp garlic, chopped

• ¼ cup arrowroot flour

• 1 ½ cup coconut milk

• 2 cups shredded dairy-free cheddar cheese (for Alexa-approved dairy-free cheese, please click here): Miss Alexa-Approved Dairy-Free Products

• ¼ cup nutritional yeast

• ½ tsp sea salt

• ¼ tsp pepper

• ¼ tsp paprika

Instructions:

1) Cook gluten-free pasta according to package directions.

2) Add butter to a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Once butter is melted, toss in the garlic and sauté.

3) Add in the arrowroot flour and coconut milk and mix well.

4) Add in the shredded dairy-free cheddar cheese and mix until most of it melts. Toss in the nutritional yeast, sea salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix well until mixture becomes creamy.

5) Add the cooked pasta noodles to the cheesy mixture and combine well. Enjoy!