Category: Appetizers


Mar
2021

Smashed Chickpea Avocado Salad

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Salads, Vegan

A terrific plant-based lunch option.  Cool, creamy, delicious, and ultra-healthy!

Smashed Chickpea Avocado Salad – A mayonnaise-free plant-based lunch option. Cool, creamy, delicious and ultra-healthy! Also makes a great appetizer. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #salad #chickpeas #chickpeasalad #avocado #avocadosalad #healthylunch

PLANT-BASED LUNCH OPTION

Chicken salad, tuna salad, and egg salad are popular lunch choices but if you’re looking for plant-based options these perennial favorites are off-limits. Indeed, it can be challenging to come up with a satisfying mid-day meal that doesn’t contain meat, seafood, eggs, or cheese. That’s why this Smashed Chickpea Avocado Salad is such a winning dish. It’s completely plant-based, easy to prepare, and is packed with fiber, healthy fat, and a decent amount of protein to satiate your hunger, and leave you happy and content until your next meal because let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than eating lunch and being “hangry” two hours later. (more…)


Feb
2021

Brussels Sprouts Coleslaw

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Salads, Side Dishes

A fantastic alternative to traditional coleslaw in a healthy, lightened up dressing made with Greek yogurt and avocado mayonnaise.

 

Brussels Sprouts Coleslaw – A fantastic alternative to traditional coleslaw in a healthier, lighten up dressing made with Greek yogurt and avocado mayonnaise. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #coleslaw #brusselssprouts #salad #salads

BRUSSELS SPROUTS INSTEAD OF CABBAGE

This recipe puts a unique spin on classic coleslaw by using shaved Brussels sprouts instead of cabbage, and, rather than an all-mayonnaise dressing, calls for equal parts avocado mayonnaise and Greek yogurt resulting in a lighter, tangier coleslaw. Lemon juice, fresh dill, and white balsamic vinegar add to its fresh, bright flavor with just a hint of sweetness imparted by a little bit of maple syrup. Take Brussels Sprouts Coleslaw to your next picnic, tailgate, or backyard barbeque and watch it disappear because this is definitely not your average coleslaw! (more…)


Mar
2020

Spinach Shamrock Crackers

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these healthy, festive, gluten-free crackers. Delicious dipped in hummus.   JUMP TO RECIPE

March 17th has always been a special holiday in Boston because our city was the site of the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the 1760’s after an influx of Irish immigrants descended upon our shores. Sadly, for the first time in 260 years, there’ll be no parade tomorrow due to the coronavirus outbreak. The usual festivities will have to wait till next year, but if you’re looking for some small way to celebrate (and something to snack on while you’re hunkered down) then whip up a batch of these healthy and delicious Spinach Shamrock Crackers.  The three leaves of a shamrock are said to stand for faith, hope, and love – something we all need in abundance right now! (more…)


Apr
2019

Gluten-Free Cheesy Ruffle Bread

categories: Appetizers, Bread, Gluten Free

Ruffles magically appear as this bread batter bakes.  Deliciously addictive and ready to eat in under 20 minutes!  JUMP TO RECIPE

Gluten-Free Cheesy Ruffle Bread - Ruffles magically appear as this bread batter bakes. Deliciously addictive and ready to eat in under 20 minutes! | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #bread #glutenfreebread #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipe #glutenfreerecipes

This bread is so delicious and addictive that my husband jokingly calls it “crack”, which is ironic because the first iteration of Gluten-Free Cheesy Ruffle Bread almost ended up in the trash. I was actually trying to develop a pizza crust when I came up with this recipe, but when I pulled the pan out of the oven the so-called “crust” was a bubbly, ruffled mess – not at all suitable for pizza toppings. If it weren’t for the fact that I’m maniacal about food waste I might have tossed it in the garbage, but I figured it was probably edible so I cut it into pieces and served it with dinner that night and much to my surprise, everyone loved it, and I mean REALLY loved it! (more…)


Mar
2019

Za’atar Cashew Hummus

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan

Aromatic za’atar and smoky roasted red peppers flavor this ultra-creamy cashew hummus.  A delicious alternative to chickpea-based hummus.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Za’atar Cashew Hummus - Aromatic za'atar and smoky roasted red peppers flavor this ultra-creamy cashew hummus. A delicious alternative to chickpea-based hummus. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. #vegan #glutenfree #dairyfree #zaatar #appetizer

I feel the same way about hummus that I do about pizza and chicken salad. That is, one can never have too many recipes for these dishes because no matter what variation you make, the end result is almost always delicious with near universal appeal. I guess that’s why there are countless recipes for hummus floating around the internet and no matter how many new ones appear in the blogosphere, people seem to love them. So here’s another, but this one’s a little different. Za’atar Cashew Hummus is every bit as delicious as traditional hummus but it’s made with raw cashews and roasted red peppers instead of chickpeas, and it’s flavored with za’atar – an aromatic Middle Eastern spice with amazing savory flavor. (more…)


Jan
2019

Blue Cheese Greek Yogurt Avocado Dressing

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Sauces, Dressings, Condiments

Pungent blue cheese and tangy Greek Yogurt flavor this oil-free avocado based dressing that can also be used as a sauce.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Blue Cheese Greek Yogurt Avocado Dressing - Pungent blue cheese and tangy Greek Yogurt flavor this oil-free avocado based dressing that can also be used as a sauce. So rich and creamy! | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #dressing #saladdressing #avocado #oilfreedressing #greekyogurtdressing #glutenfreerecipe #glutenfreerecipes

Blue Cheese Greek Yogurt Avocado Dressing is a rich and creamy oil-free dressing that will turn the most mundane of greens into a stellar salad. If you like blue cheese but are sometimes put off by how strong it is, this dressing is for you! Not only do the Greek Yogurt and avocado lend a luxurious texture to this dressing, but they mellow out the pungency of the blue cheese so the taste is smoother, without the sharp notes that are sometimes characteristic of classic blue cheese dressing. I love serving this dressing on wedges salads, as pictured, but it also makes a fabulous sauce for vegetables, meat, and seafood. (more…)


Jan
2019

​Sushi Rice Crab Cakes with Egg Free Avocado Lemon Aioli

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Seafood

Cooked sushi rice is the binder is these gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, crab cakes made without breadcrumbs. Serve these delicious crab cakes on top of a salad or as a stand-alone appetizer.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Sushi Rice Crab Cakes with Egg-Free Avocado Lemon Aioli - Cooked sushi rice is the binder is these gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, crab cakes made without breadcrumbs. Serve these delicious crab cakes on top of a salad or as a stand-alone appetizer. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #appetizer #appetizers #crabcake #crabcakes #sushirice #seafood #glutenfree #dairyfree #eggfree #glutenfreeappetizer #gluenfreeappetizers #glutenfreedairyfree #glutenfreedairyfreeeggfree

I went to Baltimore recently for a family event and dined on the most mouth-watering crab cakes. They were so delicious that when I got home I was inspired to develop a crab cake recipe.  I knew mine had to be a little different though, after all, there are a million recipes for crab cakes floating around the internet – no sense adding one more to the mix unless it offers something unique. Since just about every recipe for crab cakes calls for eggs and/or breadcrumbs as a binder, I thought it would be interesting to create a recipe that didn’t use either of these ingredients. After racking my brain for a while, I came up with the idea of using cooked sushi rice as the magic ingredient to bind everything together.  Sushi Rice Crab Cakes with Egg-Free Avocado Lemon Aioli turned out even better than I expected! (more…)


Nov
2018

Cauliflower Puffs

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Vegetarian

A healthy, low-calorie hors d’oeuvre with subtle sweet and savory flavor.  These melt-in-your-mouth nibbles clock in at only 20 calories each!  JUMP TO RECIPE

Cauliflower Puffs - A healthy, low-calorie hors d'oeuvre with subtle sweet and savory flavor. These melt-in-your-mouth nibbles clock in at only 20 calories each! | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #appetizer #horsoeuvre #appetizers #partyappetizers #cauliflower #cauliflowerrecipe #cauliflowerrecipes #healthyappetizer #healthyappetizers

Appetizers and hors d’oeuvres are the stars of any holiday party. Who can resist all those beautiful puff pastry creations, the rich cream cheese dips, and other delicious bites in the shape of wreathes, snowmen, and reindeer. As much as I love all these (and believe me, I always make a point to sample at least one of each), it’s nice to have some lighter alternatives to these yummy, but often very heavy, appetizers. Enter Cauliflower Puffs! These fluffy and healthy nibbles literally melt in your mouth and are only 20 calories each, so feel free to gobble up as many as you want. Tis the season! (more…)


Oct
2018

Fig Balsamic Farro with Spinach, Cranberries, and Almonds

categories: Appetizers, Healthy, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan

A nutritious, delicious, Italian inspired dish the whole family will love.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Fig Balsamic Farro with Spinach, Cranberries, and Almonds is a delicious, nutritious, Italian inspired dish that can be served as an appetizer, side, or entrée. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #farro #emmer #ancientgrain #ancientgrains #ancientwheat #wholegrains #sides #grains #easyrecipe #easyrecipes

If you’re looking to incorporate more whole grains into your diet, here’s a great recipe to add to your rotation. Fig Balsamic Farro with Spinach, Cranberries, and Almonds is a flavor packed, Italian inspired dish the whole family will love. Whenever I make this I always double the recipe because we gobble it up so quickly. It’s great for lunch and as a side dish with dinner. The sweet, tart, fig balsamic flavor, along with cranberries and almonds, is an awesome complement to chicken and pork, but really, this dish goes well with just about anything. And, if you like tapas style dining, you can even serve it as a small plate appetizer, as pictured below. (more…)


Oct
2018

Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Vegan, gluten-free, dairy free crackers with a wholesome taste and tender texture.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers - Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free crackers with a wholesome taste and tender texture. Super nutritious. Delicious dipped in hummus. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #crackers #vegancrackers #glutenfreecrackers #dairyfreecrackers #vegansnack #vegansnacks #glutenfreesnack #glutenfreesnacks #dairyfreesnack #dairyfreesnacks #healthysnack #seeds

I put crackers into the same category as salad dressings. They’re not at all hard to make from scratch yet most people purchase these foods at the grocery store.  This is probably even more true for crackers than salad dressings. I once mentioned to a friend that I make my own crackers and she said she never once considered making crackers – that it was so easy to buy good ones, why bother.  And this is someone who loves to cook! Well, I’m here to tell you that making crackers couldn’t be simpler and you’ll be rewarded with ones that are healthier and taste so much better than store-bought crackers. These Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers are nothing like any crackers you’ve ever purchased. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and dairy free and have a wholesome taste and tender texture. A few of these crackers dipped in Sun-Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus is the perfect, healthy snack to stave off those hunger pangs that sometimes strike before dinnertime. (more…)

%d bloggers like this: