Category Archives: Side Dish

Savory Socca (Chickpea Pancake)

May 11, 2017 by pamflo

The advantages to the tremendous amount of rain that Boston has received recently are beautiful, green grass and bright, colorful flowers. I was surprised to find some fragrant mint and sage in my little backyard garden, as well. I used the mint for tea and the sage for topping my socca. Socca, a regional French dish, is a savory pancake created with chickpea flour (also called garbanzo flour), water and olive oil. The batter makes a beautiful, gluten-free pancake that can be […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish • Tags: Bake, Broil

Spaghetti Squash Pizza

April 20, 2017 by pamflo

I thought it might be fun to put together a quick and easy crowd pleasing dish. All that is needed is a few pantry staples and any veggies you have on hand. The fact that this actually tastes like pizza came as a complete surprise. Spaghetti squash is a healthy, versatile vegetable. The flesh becomes beautiful noodle-like strands, that will take on whatever flavor you add to it. High in fiber and rich in nutrients, spaghetti squash is a tasty substitute for […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetarian • Tags: Roast

Sesame Roasted Asparagus

April 6, 2017 by pamflo

Spring is finally (almost) here and the asparagus is in season, with its beautiful green stalks and familiar earthy fragrance. With the April holidays approaching, roasting asparagus is an easy and quick side dish for a crowd. When purchasing these beauties looks for firm stalks and closed tips. Asparagus should be used within 2 days of purchase and can be stored with the ends wrapped in a damp paper towel. You can peel the stalks for a sleek plated presentation, but it is […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Roast

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Kandy Sweet Potato Wedges

March 23, 2017 by pamflo

I couldn’t resist buying this fragrant spice blend with a name like Kandy. This Sri Lankan dried spice mix is a combination of cinnamon, ginger, fennel, coriander, star anise, fenugreek, black pepper, clove, mace and cardamom. I used it on a whim, coating thick sweet potato wedges with the Kandy spice, extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt. The aroma in the kitchen was almost reminiscent of Thanksgiving. Fenugreek was the only herb in the spice combination that I didn’t recognize. After […]

Categories: Side Dish, Snack, Vegetables • Tags: Bake

Farro and Arugula Salad

October 27, 2016 by pamflo

A few of the outdoor Boston Farmer’s Markets are coming to a close for the season. I wanted to make a dish that incorporated some of the remaining beautiful fresh produce. The credit for this tasty salad goes to New York chef Charlie Bird. Farro can be bland on it’s own, but in this recipe it’s slowly simmered in fresh apple cider with a bay leaf. My version of this dish has just a few embellishments, feel free to alter it as […]

Categories: Appetizer, Greens, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Rice/Grains, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Simmer

Salt-Baked Rainbow Carrots

September 15, 2016 by pamflo

The local Farmers Markets are bursting with produce. I often go twice a week. The multi-colored carrots are just beautiful and I bought a bunch, not really knowing how I wanted to prepare them. The variety of carrot colors provide nutrients such as vitamin A and lycopene, and taste different than the standard orange carrots. Chef Seamus Mullen in his Hero Food cookbook, roasts carrots packed in salt. The idea of dry-roasting was very appealing and a method of cooking […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Roast

Grilled Watermelon

August 25, 2016 by pamflo

Celebrate and savor watermelon season by grilling thick, sweet slices! Although it’s not the most beautiful dish, grilled watermelon is healthy, light and delicious. Whether you fire-up your grill or use a grill-pan indoors, make sure to lightly coat the watermelon with olive oil before grilling. The sweetness of the watermelon, combined with the salty feta and fresh mint, makes a great summer dish. I put my slices over an arugula salad for a light lunch! 3-4 large slices of watermelon, […]

Categories: Appetizer, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish • Tags: Grill

Israeli Chopped Salad

August 11, 2016 by pamflo

Raw. Simple. Fresh. A perfect salad for a hot summer night, as a side dish or a quick lunch. An Israeli salad is defined as a finely chopped salad of raw vegetables, tossed with a simple dressing. Middle Eastern restaurants serve variations of this salad in pita pockets, on it’s own or to accompany falafel, a deep-fried chickpea fritter. Traditionally, the salad contains tomatoes, Kirby or Persian cucumbers, onion and peppers. I added carrot and radishes and skipped the onion and pepper. […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish, Snack, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: No Cooking

Grilled Corn Salad

August 4, 2016 by pamflo

Corn on the cob has no substitute, and it’s especially delicious at its peak on the east coast in August. However, making a quick and simple salad, using the kernels is a great idea too. You could grill the corn on the cob and then remove the kernels or remove and sauté the kernels on the stove-top. Fresh heirloom tomatoes and fragrant basil leaves are the perfect combination with the corn. Top with fresh lime juice and you have a […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish • Tags: Sauté

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Dutch Baby Breakfast Pancake

July 21, 2016 by pamflo

I can honesty say that I’ve never had a dutch baby pancake before, so this was a first. This treat is a yummy cross between a pancake and a popover. I couldn’t wait until the puffy, light and beautiful pancake was done. I was tempted to add bacon as it’s a classic American breakfast ingredient, but I liked the simplicity of the fried eggs and avocado. You can even add smoked salmon or salad greens. The options are unlimited! It’s best eaten […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Eggs, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish • Tags: Bake, Whiz

Grilled Chicken Skewers

July 14, 2016 by pamflo

Great for a crowd, these spicy chicken skewers are a great addition to a BBQ menu. You’ll need to soak the wooden skewers for at least 20 minutes before you put the chicken on, so they don’t burn on the grill. A perfect dish for a party, as you can prepare ahead of time and marinate the chicken already skewered. Plan ahead and soak a large bunch of skewers to thread on veggies and fruit to grill as well. Grilled limes wedges would be great […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Meat/Poultry, Side Dish • Tags: Grill

Cornbread Panzanella Salad

June 30, 2016 by pamflo

Inspiration for a blog post comes from many different places. Recently, I sat down with a box of folders filled with recipes from my past cooking classes and culinary events. While casually perusing my files, I quickly realized that this cornbread panzanella salad was one of the most popular dishes. With fresh avocado, toasty cornbread and summer tomatoes this salad will become a favorite. Enjoy the July 4th holiday! 4 cups cornbread- preferably a day old (store-bought or you can make your own if time permits), cut into 1/2-inch […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Dressing, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish • Tags: Toast, Toss

Chicken Parmesan

June 21, 2016 by pamflo

For the final project as my intern, my son made chicken parmesan for dinner. I’m a fan of taking a classic dish and creating a lighter, healthier version. The chicken is baked instead of pan-fried, in this recipe. Panko, a Japanese style breadcrumb that is light and crunchy, makes a great coating for the chicken. If you’re short on time and can’t make your own tomato sauce, a canned or jarred version is perfect. I often make extra chicken because the leftovers taste even […]

Categories: Appetizer, Lunch Ideas, Meat/Poultry, Side Dish • Tags: Bake

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Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

May 26, 2016 by pamflo

There’s a limit to how many lettuce-based salads one can eat in the course of a week. It was time to add a new healthy, flavorful salad to the rotation. My industrious intern wanted to try this recipe and it turned out to be a winner. You can modify both the salad and the dressing to suit your mood. Roast chicken left over from a previous meal, combined with the soba noodles and some seasonal vegetables made the perfect cold salad. This dish is terrific for […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Dressing, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas, Nuts/Seeds, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Boil, Toss, Whisk

Grilled Zucchini Salad

May 5, 2016 by pamflo

I’m a fan of making zucchini noodles as a healthy substitute for pasta, but it was time to branch out and try a new dish. Zucchini is actually a fruit, with its beautiful yellow blossoms that are edible. Usually eaten as a vegetable, zucchini is high in fiber, potassium and vitamin C. The peak season for zucchini is June through late August. The most delightful part of this salad is the pomegranate molasses, a thick tart syrup that’s drizzled on the grilled […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: Dairy Free, Drizzle, Gluten Free, Grill

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Tuna Ceviche

March 24, 2016 by pamflo

A few weeks ago, my family and I had the pleasure of spending time in Grand Cayman, a beautiful tropical island. We did many wonderful things we rarely do, swim with stingrays, snorkel, jet ski, and even eat some raw fish. All of the local ingredients on the island were so fresh that I was definitely not going to pass on trying some tuna ceviche. Fresh ceviche is an island specialty made with local tuna or conch, local herbs and vegetables. Ceviche is made […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Seafood, Side Dish • Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, No Cooking

Steamed Cauliflower with Olives and Capers

February 25, 2016 by pamflo

Having heard the requests from my blog readers, I’m posting another cauliflower recipe. The whole roasted cauliflower post is a hugely popular recipe and this will be a close second (find that recipe at http://wp.me/p3Fs85-lu). An array of Mediterranean flavors elevates this dish to more than just steamed cauliflower. This recipe makes a flavorful side dish or a hearty lunch. 1 head of cauliflower (about 1 pound) 1/2 cup pitted olives, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon salt-packed capers plus more for garnish, rinsed and drained Juice […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Sauté, Steam

Oven-Roasted Tahini Broccoli

February 4, 2016 by pamflo

One of my most popular blog posts is about roasting a whole head of cauliflower. Planning another cauliflower post, I was surprised to learn in a recent article, that we’re in the midst of a cauliflower shortage. High in demand and low in availability, the prices have skyrocketed. I thought, why not try this recipe with broccoli instead of cauliflower. Broccoli is part of the cabbage family and a good source of both vitamin A and C. Tahini, a paste made […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Dips/Sauces, Gluten Free, Seeds, Side Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Roast

Blistered Edamame

January 14, 2016 by pamflo

You can conclude many things about a person by looking at their digital photo library. I recently showed my 4 year old niece my photo library, as she likes to scroll through my photos when I’m visiting. She said “why do you have so many more pictures of food, than you have pictures of me?” Anyone that knows me, knows I’m very passionate about food, and that is evident even in my photos! This edamame recipe is quick, easy and can be as […]

Categories: Appetizer, Beans/Legumes, Gluten Free, Side Dish, Snack, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: Gluten Free, Seared

Roasted Root Vegetables

November 23, 2015 by pamflo

Odd shaped and knobby, the root of the celery stalk is called celeriac. Although it’s not the most beautiful of the root vegetables, its subtle celery flavor is perfect for roasting. To prepare the celeriac, cut off both top and bottom ends so you have a flat base. With a sharp knife, cut vertical strips from top to bottom until you’ve removed all the skin. A vegetable peeler works too. When exposed to the air, the creamy flesh will turn brown, but […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Side Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Roast

Potato Waffles

November 12, 2015 by pamflo

Crispy, crunchy and scrumptious, these waffles were devoured immediately after they were photographed! Traditional potato pancakes are a family favorite, but I wanted a twist on a potato recipe and wow, this dish was spot on. If you’re having a small crowd for Thanksgiving this is a fun dish, and the waffles can be made ahead and re-heated in the oven. Post-Thanksgiving breakfast is a great idea too, with a potato waffle topped with smoked salmon and a poached egg. I made two versions of this dish, one gluten […]

Categories: Appetizer, Bacon, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Snack, Waffles/Pancakes • Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Waffles

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Zest For Cooking

I love to cook and share my love of food!

Category Archives: Side Dish

Savory Socca (Chickpea Pancake)

Spaghetti Squash Pizza

Sesame Roasted Asparagus

Kandy Sweet Potato Wedges

Farro and Arugula Salad

Salt-Baked Rainbow Carrots

Grilled Watermelon

Israeli Chopped Salad

Grilled Corn Salad

Dutch Baby Breakfast Pancake

Grilled Chicken Skewers

Cornbread Panzanella Salad

Chicken Parmesan

Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

Grilled Zucchini Salad

Tuna Ceviche

Steamed Cauliflower with Olives and Capers

Oven-Roasted Tahini Broccoli

Blistered Edamame

Roasted Root Vegetables

Potato Waffles