No-Cook Mediterranean Tostadas

This tostada is great for those nights when you just don’t feel like cooking but still want something balanced and fresh. This is not a traditional preparation of the tostada (which is often seen in Mexican cuisine), but an adaptation using more Mediterranean-style ingredients which makes for an easy weeknight meal.

Find this recipe, with a few other variations in my cookbook The Forest Feast Road Trip.

No-cook mediterranean tostadas

makes 4 tostadas (*divide the ingredients below among the 4 pita breads)

4 pita breads (whole wheat or regular, left whole)

1 c hummus

1/2 c babaganoush

1 tomato, diced

1 small cucumber, diced (peel on)

2 green onions (chopped)

1/4 c crumbled Feta cheese

1/4 c garbanzo beans (from a can)

lemon wedges (for serving)

Using the hummus as the base, layer all other ingredients in the order above onto the pitas. Slice in half, if you wish, or enjoy the whole thing hand-held.

*I prefer my pita soft, but if you'd like to stick with the typical tostada crunchiness, bake your pitas at 375F for 10 minutes before adding the toppings.

Enjoy!

* * *

xx

Erin

A Kid-Friendly Valentine's Day Menu

I always like to do something fun and festive for my boys when Valentine’s Day arrives. Last year we made Heart-Shaped Pizza using pre-baked dough so to mix things up a bit this year we are making Heart-Shaped garlic bread instead! To go along with the theme, I made pretty pink Beet Pasta (recipe below) and a side of sautéd broccoli rabe– 2 variations on vegetables my kids will actually eat.

Heart-Shaped Garlic Bread

6-8 slices of sourdough bread

3 T butter

1 T olive oil

2 T grated parmesan cheese

1/4 t garlic powder

Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter or scissors to cut hearts out of sliced sourdough bread. Butter each piece and lay them on a baking sheet. Drizzle the whole sheet with olive oil and then sprinkle with the grated parmesan and garlic powder. Broil until golden (about 2-3 minutes).

Use any leftover bread to make homemade croutons like these from the Kitchn.

Enjoy!

Heart-Shaped Garlic Bread

BEET PASTA

recipe from The Forest Feast Mediterranean

8 oz. (225 g) pasta (I used rigatoni here, but any type works)

1 small beet

2 oz. (55 grams) goat cheese

1/2 lemon

2 T olive oil

Fresh parsley (or other fresh herb you like)

Boil the pasta according to package instructions. As pasta cooks, grate the beet using a fine grater or zester (no need to peel). Drain the pasta and then put it back into the hot cooking pot. Add the grated beet, juice from 1/2 lemon, the goat cheese, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

* For an even more kid-friendly version of this recipe, just use half of a small beet and leave out the lemon and goat cheese. Instead add 1 T butter to make it a little creamier, and a bit more mild. My kids will protest if I put parsley on top, so I leave it on the side, mostly for the grown-ups to sprinkle.

Enjoy!

Max enjoying Beet Pasta

Broccoli Rabe sautéd with butter & garlic. Sauté on medium high heat until bright green.

New Year's Brunch ROUND-UP!

In case you’re hosting a New Year’s brunch, I’ve got some easy ideas for you. For brunch, I’ll often look for quiche or tart ideas since they are yummy served warm or at room temperature. This Caramelized Onion Tart was the first ever video on The Forest Feast’s YouTube Channel! In just 2 minutes I take you through the steps of making a simple Caramelized Onion Tart. Note: For full recipe instructions scroll down:

Caramelized Onion Tart (serves 4-6 as a main course)

3-4 medium onions (red, white, or both!)

1 T butter

1 T olive oil

6 eggs

1/3 c cream (milk or half-n-half works, too)

1 sheet of defrosted puff pastry

4 oz. creamy goat cheese (like chevre) at room temp.

2 t chopped fresh rosemary

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1.) Roll out the sheet of puff pastry until it fits into an approx. 13x9-inch greased casserole dish or baking pan. Press the pastry into the pan, crimp the edges to form a crust. 

2.) Slice 3 to 4 onions into thin circles. Sauté for about 30 minutes with butter, olive oil and a pinch of coarse salt in a large skillet over medium/low heat. Caramelize the onions- you’ll know they’re done when they become translucent and begin to get a bit golden.

3.) While onions are cooking, beat 6 eggs and 1/3 c cream with a fork in a bowl. Set aside.

4.) Spread the goat cheese all over the bottom of the puff pastry in the pan forming a base layer of the tart.

5.) When onions are done, spread them evenly over the goat cheese “base layer”. Then pour the egg mixture over the onions. Lastly, sprinkle the top with chopped rosemary, and salt and pepper, if you like.

6.) Bake at 350F degrees for about 30 minutes, or until the egg is set and the crust is golden. 

Serve warm. (Lovely with a side salad for brunch or lunch!)

For more New Year’s Eve brunch ideas, check out:

Yellow Squash Ribbon Quiche

New Year’s Wine & Cheese Party Menu

Prosecco with Pomegranate

The Golden Mary (a take on the classic Bloody Mary)

Heart Pizza + Sweet Treats for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tonight we are making heart-shaped individual pizzas at home with the boys. I just bought some already-baked pizza crusts and use scissors to cut them into hearts. Then I put out bowls with toppings so the boys can make their own, and sip pink bubbly while they bake!

Here’s are a few more Valentine favorites from previous years….

Sweet Potato + Lentil Tacos

I made this for dinner last night and it only took about 20 minutes. I thought it was such a tasty, healthy, easy weeknight idea that I needed to recreate it here. Happy cooking!

SWEET POTATO + LENTIL TACOS

makes enough filling for about 6 corn tortilla tacos

1/2 red onion (diced)

1 small sweet potato (diced with peel on)

1 (15 oz) can cooked lentils (drained and rinsed in a colander)

a handful of arugula (or any greens! cilantro, lettuce, spinach, chopped kale...)

1 avocado

hot sauce

corn tortillas (or flour if you prefer)

Sauté the diced onion and sweet potato with some olive oil, salt and pepper for about 10 minutes over med/low heat, until the potatoes are soft when poked with a fork. For the last minute, add the lentils, just to warm them. Spoon the mixture into warm tortillas (I use tongs and heat mine over an open stovetop flame). Top each taco with a pinch of arugula, a slice of avocado, a bit of hot sauce and a pinch of flaky salt. 

I sautéed the sweet potatoes and onion in my favorite skillet for 10 min, then added lentils to warm them.

Top the tacos with arugula, avocado and hot sauce