onion Archives - Alida's Kitchen

Cheesy Vegetable Frittata

June 28, 2016 ·

Cheesy Vegetable Frittata is a healthy, protein-packed one-pot meal made in minutes using seasonal vegetables, eggs and cheese. Thank you to Pompeian for sponsoring this post. {gluten free, low carb)

During the summer months, this Cheesy Vegetable Frittata is a frequent go-to staple for dinner, breakfast or any time we want a healthy meal fast. It is quick, easy and we can use up whatever vegetables we have on hand, which is especially convenient during the summer when we have an abundance of fresh summer produce….

Filed Under: breakfast, gluten free, healthy, kid-friendly, main dishes, Recipes, vegetarian Tagged With: broccoli, brunch, cheddar, cheese, dinner, easy, eggs, frittata, garlic, light, onion, pompeian, quick, vegetable

Baked Chicken Fajitas

October 21, 2015 ·

This easy recipe for Baked Chicken Fajitas is filled with juicy seasoned chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, all made quick and easy in the oven. Thanks to Hunt’s® tomatoes for sponsoring this post.

Chicken fajitas are one our favorite dishes ~ especially since discovering this easy recipe for Baked Chicken Fajitas. From the delicious seasoned chicken to the abundance of crisp-tender vegetables to the tasty toppings, chicken fajitas are one of those meals made with wholesome, real foods that are guaranteed to please the whole family. It’s a win-win!…

Filed Under: gluten free, healthy, kid-friendly, main dishes, Recipes Tagged With: #HuntsAtHome, baked, chicken, diced tomatoes, easy, fajitas, noads, onion, peppers, quick, tomatoes

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken with Quinoa

June 12, 2013 ·

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken with Quinoa | alidaskitchen.com

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken is a healthy 30-minute meal made with chicken, lots of vegetables, and a light sweet and sour sauce. It takes just minutes to prepare, making this Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken an ideal weeknight meal that is much healthier than its take-out counterpart.

Here the Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken is served over the ever trendy super-seed, quinoa. You can easily substitute brown rice, or another favorite grain, or eliminate it all together for a lower carb option.

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken with Quinoa

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon water
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into thick coins
6 scallions, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
salt and pepper, to taste
nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk honey, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and 1 tablespoon water.
Toss chicken in 3 tablespoons of honey mixture and place in prepared baking dish. Toss peppers, carrots and scallions in remaining honey mixture and pour evenly over chicken.
Loosely cover baking dish with foil, leaving one end open to vent. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and vegetables are tender.
Meanwhile, put quinoa and broth in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then cover, reduce to a simmer (medium-low) for 15 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
Divide quinoa on plates and spoon chicken and vegetables over quinoa.

Notes

Slightly adapted from Family Circle, June 2013

If you enjoy this recipe, you may also enjoy:

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad

Lighter Sesame Chicken

Filed Under: gluten free, healthy, main dishes, Recipes Tagged With: asian, carrots, chicken, dinner, easy, onion, peppers, quick, quinoa

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad

April 30, 2013 ·

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad is a delicious entree salad made with quinoa, broccoli, carrots, tossed with a healthier version of buffalo chicken. Quick and easy, perfect for a weeknight!

This Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad is darn near perfection. We start with warm, shredded chicken tossed in a lighter buffalo sauce; add sautéed vegetables and combine it with the ever trendy (and tasty!) quinoa. Sprinkle blue cheese (or cheddar) on top, as desired, and you’re looking at a delicious and healthy Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad.

Not only is this salad am-a-zing, but it can be made in under 30 minutes! The quinoa and chicken cook simultaneously, allowing plenty of time to prepare and sauté the vegetables and whisk together the sauce. Put it all together and dinner is served! (Leftovers make great lunches too)

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad

Yields: 3 to 4 servings

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 cups vegetable broth (or water)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8 to 10 ounces) OR 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup broccoli florets
2 to 3 green onions chopped, whites and greens separated
Cooking spray
½ cup hot sauce (I recommend Frank's hot sauce)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Optional toppings: blue cheese crumbles or shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Make quinoa: In a medium sauce pan, put rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes and then fluff quinoa with a fork.
Poach chicken: While the quinoa is cooking, place chicken in medium pot, and add enough water to cover chicken. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to a simmer; cook for 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let chicken stand, covered until cooked through (about 12 to 14 minutes). Remove chicken from liquid and shred with 2 forks.
While quinoa and chicken are cooking, sauté the vegetables. Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium high heat. Add broccoli, carrots and the whites of green onions, and sauté for 5 minutes, or until desired crisp-tenderness. Set aside.
Make the sauce: Whisk together hot sauce, oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder and salt.
Pour ¼ cup sauce over shredded chicken, tossing to coat.
To a large bowl, add quinoa, chicken and vegetables, tossing to combine (You can add remaining sauce with this step OR drizzle as desired over each individual serving).
Sprinkle with remaining chopped green onion and serve.

I drew inspiration from this recipe and my Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders recipe.

Filed Under: Favorites, gluten free, healthy, main dishes, Recipes, salad Tagged With: broccoli, buffalo, carrots, chicken, dinner, easy, onion, poach, quick, quinoa, sauté, spicy

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese

June 8, 2012 ·

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese is a delicious, cheesy, veggie-filled baked pasta with a Mexican twist. It is made with three different cheeses (yum!) and lots of vegetables (yum!). The chipotle chiles add a nice smokiness and spice which, along with the chili powder, balance nicely with the tomatoes and cheeses. Black beans give a protein and fiber boost while adding a nice color contrast to the rest of the dish. A traditional breadcrumb topping is sprinkled over the top before baking.

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese is very easy to prepare and the result is no ordinary mac ‘n cheese, that’s for sure. This recipe makes plenty, and the leftovers heat up nicely for lunches the next day.

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

2 cups dry whole wheat elbow macaroni (or other short pasta)
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
1 (14½ ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, including juices
1 teaspoon adobo sauce (from can of chipotle chiles)
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup nonfat cottage cheese
1 cup skim milk
¼ cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
Cooking spray
3 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting fat and salt.
In a large pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add chiles, onion, and bell pepper, and cook 4 minutes, or until onion is tender. Add garlic and cook 1 minute, or until garlic is fragrant, stirring frequently.
Sprinkle with flour and chili powder, and cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat to medium and add tomatoes. Cook for 3 minutes, or until mixture is thickened.
Add adobo sauce, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan and egg, stirring until combined and cheese is melted. Add cooked pasta and black beans, stirring until combined.
Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Pour pasta mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Adapted from Cooking Light

Filed Under: main dishes, Recipes, vegetarian Tagged With: baked, black beans, casserole, cheddar, cheese, chipotle, cottage cheese, dinner, easy, macaroni, make ahead, Mexican, onion, parmesan, pasta, peppers, quick

Lighter Cajun Chicken Pasta

May 15, 2012 ·

Lighter Cajun Chicken Pasta is a one-pot, easy recipe with a cajun twist made healthier!

Lighter Cajun Chicken Pasta | alidaskitchen.com

This Cajun Chicken Pasta is an easy, one-pot stovetop dinner made with lots of vegetables and spicy chicken in a creamy sauce. The hands-on cooking time is around 20 minutes, which means with a little advance prep (chopping vegetables and chicken), this can easily be a weeknight dinner, or a quick dinner any time. The recipe is also easily halved to make dinner for 2.

I used this recipe from Southern Living for my inspiration, but made several modifications to lighten up the dish. For the cream sauce, I used fat free evaporated milk instead of half-and-half, and the result was great. It had a creamy texture without being heavy. I also eliminated the butter in favor of cooking spray and a small amount of olive oil for the vegetables. I reduced the amount of pasta and added more vegetables. There is a lot of flexibility with the vegetables to add more or change it up to use up what you have on hand. The result is a lighter version of Cajun Chicken Pasta that is simply delicious!

Lighter Cajun Chicken Pasta

Author: Alida Fischbach

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

8 ounces whole wheat linguine or fettucine
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small strips
1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (divided), adjust to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 red onion, thinly sliced
3 large bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (12 ounces) fat free evaporated milk
chopped green onions, for garnish

Instructions

Prepare pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken evenly with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and salt.
Spray a large saute pan with cooking spray and heat oven medium-high heat. Add chicken, and saute for 5 to 6 minutes or until done. Remove chicken to a plate, tented with foil.
In the same saute pan, add olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add red onion, peppers, mushrooms and garlic to pan and saute for 9 to 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and liquid evaporates.
Return chicken to skillet and mix with vegetables. Add evaporated milk and 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 3 minutes. Add linquine, toss to coat
Garnish with green onions, as desired, and serve immediately.

Filed Under: healthy, main dishes, Recipes Tagged With: cajun, chicken, dinner, low fat, mushrooms, onion, pasta, peppers, vegetable

mixed green salad with roasted sweet potatoes and tangy yogurt dressing

Red-Leaf Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

January 17, 2012 ·

Red-Leaf Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes is all things good wrapped up in a salad. You have your roasted sweet potatoes and red onion, green beans and pepitas, all on a bed of red leaf lettuce and topped with a tangy yogurt dressing. Sound good? Umm..yeah, I thought so too! Mike and I don’t typically put dressing on our salads, but the first thing that he commented about this dish was ‘how good is that dressing!’ The dressing has some zip, so a little goes a long way. It goes perfectly with the sweetness of the roasted sweet potato and onion. There are so many yummy vegetables in this dish, I would happily eat it every day of the week.

I made a couple changes of note from the original recipe. First, I used nonfat Greek yogurt instead of low fat regular yogurt. The Greek yogurt adds a nice little protein boost, and frankly is what I always have on hand. I’m sure regular yogurt would work just fine. The other change I made was using pepitas, in lieu of walnuts, due to my tree nut allergy. Pepitas are always tasty and added a nice little crunch. However if you are a walnut fan, I suspect they would also be quite delicious in this dish. Frozen green beans worked really well, but I look forward to using fresh green beans when the season hits.

Mike and I were talking in terms of ‘next time we have this’…which tells me there will definitely be a next time. This salad is a keeper!

Red-Leaf Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

3-4 cups sweet potato, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and Pepper
10 ounces frozen cut green beans, thawed (or 1½ cups green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces)
⅓ cup pepitas
½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 head (10 ounces) red leaf lettuce (or spinach or mixed greens)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Place sweet potato and onion on baking sheet and toss with olive oil. Roast until sweet potatoes are tender, approximately 30 minutes. Add green beans and pepitas and roast another 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, vinegar and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Place lettuce on bowl and top with sweet potato mixture. Drizzle dressing on as desired and serve.

Slightly adapted from Everyday Food Light

Filed Under: gluten free, healthy, main dishes, Recipes, salad, vegetarian Tagged With: dressing, green beans, light, meatless monday, olive oil, onion, roasted, sweet potato, vegan, vegetable, yogurt

vegetarian black bean tortilla soup with corn that is vegan and gluten free

Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans

January 12, 2012 ·

We have had the good fortune of enjoying unseasonably warm weather over the past few weeks, and it has been fabulous. In fact, I even considered firing up the grill. Of course a brisk, windy day, along with temperatures in the single digits, set me straight. I went back to craving wintery comfort foods, and this Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans is the epitome of wintery comfort food. It’s warm, a little spicy and filled with vegetables.

From the original recipe, I used tomatoes with chiles, added more vegetables and increased the chili powder. This soup reheats beautifully, though over time the broth gets absorbed making it almost like a chili. I like it that way, but if you prefer your soup more soupy, I recommend adding some broth or water when reheating. Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans is a healthy and delicious soup, and perfect to enjoy this winter!

Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans

Yields: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced (or grated)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cans (14½ ounces each) diced tomates with green chiles, including juices
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
4-6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
10 ounces frozen corn
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup crushed tortilla chips, plus more for serving (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Instructions

In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and chili powder and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
Add tomatoes (with juice), beans, broth, spinach and corn; season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring soup to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Add tortilla chips, cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Serve soup with lime wedges and more chips.

Notes

Adapted from Everyday Food Light

Filed Under: gluten free, healthy, main dishes, Recipes, soup, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: beans, black beans, chili, corn, dinner, easy, garlic, lime, low fat, lunch, onion, quick, vegan

Apple Cheddar Frittata

November 1, 2011 ·

Since last week ended up being pumpkin week, I thought it would be fun to give a nod to another fall classic this week – the apple. I enjoy an apple for lunch nearly every day and love using them in new recipes. This Apple Cheddar Frittata was new to us and will definitely be making a recurring appearance. The sweetness of the apple pairs beautifully with the sharp cheddar and the red onion balances nicely with the two.

Mike told me this is the best frittata I have made yet, though I’m noticing a trend. He seems to say ‘this is the best yet’ with everything I make. Hmm… 🙂

Apple Cheddar Frittata
Yields 4 servings

1 medium red onion, sliced
Cooking spray
8 eggs, plus 2 egg whites
1 cup (4 ounces) white cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon light butter
salt and pepper, to taste
1 large (or 2 small) Gala apples, thinly sliced (peeling is optional)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with oven rack set to the top third.
In a medium nonstick ovensafe pan sprayed with cooking spray, cook red onions over medium heat until softened (about 7 minutes). Put the onions in a separate bowl and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg whites, 1/2 cup cheese, salt and pepper. Stir in onions.
In the same pan used for the onions, heat butter over medium. Add egg mixture, and after 1 to 2 minutes once the eggs have set, arrange the apples on top in a circular pattern, starting from the outside edge. Sprinkle with remaining.
Transfer skillet to oven. Bake until frittata is set in the center, about 20 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, release frittata from pan and transfer to a cutting board. Let sit for 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Adapted from Martha Stewart

Filed Under: gluten free, Recipes, vegetarian Tagged With: apple, cheddar, cheese, easy, eggs, fall, frittata, onion

Sweet Onion and Cheddar Cornbread

October 12, 2011 ·

Chili and cornbread is such a classic combination. On Monday I shared a delicious Black Bean Chili with Roasted Butternut Squash with you. Today I am sharing with you this amazing Sweet Onion and Cheddar Cornbread that with our chili. Of course, while I have made several cornbread recipes over the years, cornbread with sweet onions and cheddar is a version I did not have a recipe for…until now.

The first step in creating this recipe was to select a base, and for that I went to a very trusty source – the back of the cornmeal canister. Their Easy Corn Bread was a perfect place to begin. The rest was a little bit of guess work and crossed fingers.

Sauteed onions and cheddar cheese are the perfect additions that take this basic cornbread recipe to a whole new level. The poppy seeds sprinkled on top add a little visual appeal. Mike has already requested I make this again. There is no doubt this Sweet Onion and Cheddar Cornbread will be making a regular appearance at our dinner table this chili season.

Sweet Onion and Cheddar Cornbread

Author: Alida Fischbach

Yields: 16 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
¾ cup cornmeal
1¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt (optional)
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
¼ cup canola oil
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (reserve 1 tablespoon for topping)
¼ teaspoon poppy seeds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 9 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Add onion and saute until softened (about 5-7 minutes). Reserve 1 tablespoon for topping. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar and baking powder.
In a small bowl, whisk milk, oil and egg until combined.
Add milk mixture to dry ingredients, mixing just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in onion and and cheese (do not over mix).
Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle reserved onion and cheese and poppy seeds on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Adapted from back of Quaker corn meal canister