Dairy and gluten free

            Using white beans as a base, this salad combines a luscious lemon-bright dressing tinted with smoky pimenton de la vera, kale’s deep green leaves, and the juiciness of roasted zucchini. While you can use any bean with this recipe, the delicate great white northern beans readily absorb the dressing’s sublime flavor. This salad can stand on its own as a meat-less meal. Great northern beans have high levels of iron, protein, fiber, and potassium, which make them a healthy and robust replacement for animal-based proteins (Kerns).

            Perhaps it’s not necessary to sing the health benefits of kale, which has now become the hot superfood that appears sprinkled into everything from smoothies to popcorn. Although the beans, dressing, and zucchini alone heath-wise make the salad worth your effort, the raw kale contains phytochemicals such a lutein and zeaxanthin, a ridiculous amount of vitamin K, and significant amounts of vitamins A and C (Bruso).

Dressing:
3 tablespoons minced shallot
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
(let macerate for 20 minutes)
2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon organic mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon pimenton de la vera
½ olive oil
salt, to taste

Roasted zucchini:
1.5 cups zucchini, medium diced
two dashes of pimenton de la vera
salt, to taste

Salad:
4 cups of great white northern beans
2 cups finely chopped kale leaves (or baby kale), use cavolo nero or black Tuscan kale 
1 tablespoon finely chopped dill
Salt and black pepper, to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Dice the zucchini and toss it in olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and a pinch of pimenton de la vera.

3. Cook the zucchini for 10-12 minutes in a 400 degree oven (until just done, still firm).

 4. While the zucchini cooks, place the minced shallot, lemon zest, lemon juice, and a generous pinch of salt in a stainless steel mixing bowl. Stir and let sit for 20 minutes.

5. As the zucchini cools, wash and finely chop the kale and dill. Set aside.

6. Place the mustard and mayo in the shallot-lemon mixture, and stir together until the mixture is smooth. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil as you briskly whisk the dressing. (By “slow,” I mean make sure the oil is emulsified before adding any more.) Add the ¼ tsp. pimenton de la vera and ¼ tsp. salt (and to taste), and whisk in until evenly distributed.

7. Place the beans, kale, dill, zucchini, and lemon-shallot dressing in a large bowl, mix together, season to taste with more salt, if necessary, and place in the refrigerator. Let the flavors blend for 30 minutes, taste again to ensure everything is properly seasoned, and serve. 
  
                                               Works Cited

Bruso, Jessica. "How Nutritious Is Raw Kale." Healthy Eating. SF Gate, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015.

Kerns, Michelle. "What Are the Health Benefits of Great Northern Beans?" Healthy Eating. SF Gate, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015.

Dairy and Gluten Free

            Most turkey burgers are tasteless, dry, and defined by the condiments we smear between them and the bun. With this recipe, a savory burst of brightness infuses each bite. Ancho’s light spice, lemon’s uplift, garlic’s tang, rosemary’s floral aroma, and Castelvetrano olives’ buttery brine combine to create a bold and moist burger. While many Fourth of July partygoers prefer to have a bun with their burger, these patties can hold their own, especially when topped with caramelized onions, homemade pesto, a juicy tomato slice, or a confetti of chopped olives, quartered cherry tomatoes, and sliced basil leaves (see the photo).

Serves 4-5

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon lemon zest, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground Ancho chili
1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds ground turkey, organic or sustainably raised
Optional: 3 tablespoons Castelvetrano olives, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil (to prevent the burgers from sticking to the baking dish) 
 
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. Place all of the ingredients in a stainless steel bowl.

3. Wash your hands thoroughly, or put on food safe gloves. With your hands, mix together all of the ingredients.

4. Form the mixture into 4-5 ounce patties.

5. Place the patties in an oiled baking dish.

6. Discard the gloves and wash your hands.

7. Place the burgers in the oven and bake for about 6-8 minutes before turning them over. Continue to cook the patties for another 6-8 minutes or until they are cooked through (but not overcooked and, therefore, dry).

6. Let the patties sit for 3 minutes after they come out of the oven, and garnish with the topping of your choice.

            *I bake these burgers for health reasons. The traditional grill’s intense char has the potential to cause cancer (prostate and breast—see The New Prostate Cancer Nutrition Book), and the flat grill’s heat concentration can develop a dense crust that may not be the best to ingest. By baking the burgers, you can form an appetizing crust while proving a more gentle heat for the meat.