A fresh and zesty salsa made with heirloom tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. This pico de gallo is perfect for chips and salsa or serving alongside tacos! Bright, colorful, juicy heirloom tomatoes are one of my favorite summertime treats! They are the perfect base for this flavorful salsa, all you need is a…
Sides
Smooth and Creamy Homemade Hummus
This smooth and creamy, made from scratch hummus tastes so much better than store-bought! All you need is a few pantry staples: dried chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. Serve with pita bread or veggies for dipping! Making your own velvety, creamy hummus is easier than you might think! Homemade hummus is much healthier and…
Cacio e Pepe Mashed Cauliflower
Toasted cracked black pepper and pecorino romano cheese folded into creamy, buttery pureed cauliflower. Cacio e Pepe mashed cauliflower is the perfect side dish! Serve with roast chicken or steak for a complete meal. I used to make mashed cauliflower weekly when I was a private chef for a celebrity client on a low-carb, keto…
Quinoa Fried “Rice” with Crispy Garlic and Ginger
This light and healthy faux fried rice is made with fluffy quinoa, golden brown, crispy garlic and ginger, caramelized shallots, scallion, soy sauce, and a touch of sesame oil. Serve this easy to make, totally customizable, side dish along with shrimp, chicken, steak, or tofu for a complete meal! I have to tell you I…
Spring Couscous Salad with Feta, Avocado & Fresh Herbs
A zesty and fresh, chilled Israeli couscous salad with avocado, snap peas, and fresh herbs. Serve it as a side dish to grilled meat or fish or all on its own as a healthy and hearty lunch! This recipe was inspired by a recent trip to the farmers market. It’s totally fair to say I…
Fried Plantains
Fried plantains are salty and crispy on the outside, sweet and soft on the inside! Serve them with your favorite Cuban, Caribbean or South American Dishes. Fried plantains are served with almost every meal in Caribbean countries, Cuba, and parts of South America. Plantains look like large bananas. They have a subtle banana flavor to…
Roasted Snap Peas with Yogurt and Garlic Chili Oil
Creamy Greek yogurt topped with crispy roasted snap peas and garlicky chili oil! Serve this roasted snap pea side dish with roast chicken, beef or fish! If you’ve never roasted sugar snap peas before this is the recipe to try! They become crispy and slightly charred in the oven. Serve them on a bed of…
Easy! Jalapeño Black Beans
Starting with canned beans makes this recipe so quick and easy! Jalapeño black beans are the perfect side dish for all of your favorite Mexican recipes! Back when I was a full-time private chef for a family of four we used to have a tradition of “Taco Monday”, ( I didn’t work on Tuesdays). The…
Creamy Parmesan Polenta
Creamy, buttery polenta with parmesan cheese is the perfect side dish for braised short ribs, poached eggs and sausage or just about any roasted chicken, beef or pork dish you can dream up! How to make Creamy Parmesan Polenta→ Step One: Bring the chicken stock to a simmer and whisk in the polenta.Step Two: Continue…
Fregola with Pancetta, Peas and Parmesan
Crispy sauteéd pancetta with nutty, toasted fregola, bright green peas and a mountain of parmesan cheese! Never heard of fregola? Fregola is a tiny circular pasta from the Italian island of Sardinia. Fregola is small and chewy like a grain. It’s made with semolina and water and makes a great base for soups, stews, and…
