Dinner Recipes

Browse through healthy and delicious dinner recipes that are inspired by local ingredients, and are always simple to make. Compiled by a Registered Dietitian these recipes are plant-based and mostly gluten-free.

Some of my favourite dinner recipes include this Chanterelle Barley Risotto, this Lentil Roasted Vegetable Buddha Bowl and this Simple Peanut Satay Indonesian Style.

Two Ingredient Corn Patties – [Indigenous Inspired]

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This recipe for Corn Patties was created as an alternative for white bread for a healthy eating and diabetes prevention group. We all respect and value what eating traditional Indigenous foods can bring to the community in terms of cultural wellness and overall health. This recipe is only 2 ingredients and is so simple to make. It tastes great with pesto, eggs, or even smoked salmon!

When we think of traditional Indigenous foods, here on the West Coast our mind automatically goes to salmon, seafood and berries. Corn was first harvested in Canada by the First Nations between Manitoba and Lake Superior and was a diet staple along with wild rice and hunted game. There was even a type of bannock made from corn (along with roots and sap), and it was only around the 1860s when bannock made from white flour was introduced. In my quest for flour-free alternatives to bread, this recipe for 2 Ingredient Corn Patties was created! And the best part – it is SO easy!

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Japanese Noodle Soup with Miso

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This quick and easy Japanese Noodle Soup with Miso can be made in less than 15 minutes! It is a great way to use leftover vegetables, and the protein options are versatile as well. Miso is not only a tasty broth, it is also rich in beneficial live-active-cultures which are important for a healthy gut.

This is a regular dish in our household because it is super easy and adaptable. You can usually find some sort of leftover vegetable in your fridge that would work perfectly with this dish. Miso is a little bit of a ‘superfood’, I use Genmai Miso as its made of brown rice rather than white, so it still contains the bran making it even more nutritious. This Japanese Noodle Soup with Miso is sure to be a favourite in your house, as it is in mine!
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Butternut Squash Curry Lentil Soup with Turmeric

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A simple and delicious Butternut Squash Curry Lentil Soup that is as easy to make as it is delicious. The creaminess of the butternut squash is emphasized by the thickness of the red lentils. Red lentils are amazing in soups as they break apart upon cooking, adding a hearty texture. This recipe is packed full of plant-based protein with 20 grams of protein, and only 280 calories per serving.

Legumes are one of the best foods we can feed our body, but often one of the foods we don’t eat enough of. They have a complex nutrient profile and offer plant-based protein, iron and zinc. They are also one of the most sustainable sources of protein we have access to (see my post Five Reasons Why You Should Eat Lentils). Clients tell me the main reason they don’t eat lentils is that they lack the confidence in preparing them. This is one of my favourite recipes for introducing clients to cooking with dried lentils, as red lentils are the easiest to cook with. This Butternut Squash Curry Lentil Soup with Turmeric really is fail-safe and will take only 35 minutes to cook!
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Healthy Coleslaw Recipe with Toasted Almonds [Mayo-Free ]

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Looking for the best Healthy Coleslaw Recipe? Well, look no further. Not only is this coleslaw recipe packed full of antioxidants from the red cabbage and fresh herbs, the creamy dressing is naturally mayo-free. Turn this salad into a main meal by adding some baked tofu or a few eggs.

The summer markets are bursting with berries, stone fruit, and fresh tomatoes. With the overload of delicious blueberries and wild blackberries, we sometimes forget about the more humble harvests. Cabbage springs into season in summer and has a lengthy season, lasting over 6 months depending on the climate. Cabbage is also packed full of antioxidants and is an easy addition to summer salads, BBQs and stir-fries.
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The Ultimate Vegan Pesto Recipe with Hemp

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Not just another pesto recipe – this Ultimate Vegan Pesto Recipe with Hemp is the best way to celebrate summer. The local ingredients have been maximized to great a truly sustainable dish!

The internet does not need another pesto recipe, but what it does need is a little flair added to the traditional basil pesto. I love using miso in my pesto, not only for that delicious umami flavour but also for the live-active cultures from this underutilized fermented food. Hemp is iconically Canadian, a sustainable source of protein, and a great replacement for pinenuts. Try this recipe for my Ultimate Vegan Pesto Recipe with Hemp on some Zucchini Noodles or on your favourite wrap.
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Best Lentil Salad Recipe with a Mustard Vinaigrette

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Need a quick and easy lentil salad recipe that everyone will love? This Lentil Salad Recipe with a Mustard Vinaigrette is a winner and uses pantry staple ingredients that are always on hand.

As the days become longer and warmer, life seems to speed up. There is less time for all-consuming meal preparation, and we find ourselves gravitating towards quick and easy meals. Not wanting to compromise on taste, having a few key go-to recipes up our sleeves for these busy days is a must. This salad is all about the dressing, which beautifully marinades the lentils creating a simple lentil salad recipe that everyone will love. This salad dressing recipe was also featured on my The ULTIMATE Guide On How To Make Salad Dressings.

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Vegan Ranch Dressing with Hemp Hearts

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This simple and delicious Vegan Ranch Dressing with Hemp is packed full of nutrition and taste. With only five ingredients it is an easy way to dress up a salad, and also tastes great on Buddha bowls or as a healthy dip for vegetables.

Hemp hearts are currently a hot topic and for good reason. They are an easy protein source, packed full of essential fatty acids, locally grown, and super versatile. I love hemp so much I’ve shared my favourite milk alternative Hemp Milk, and this yummy nutrient-dense snack Hemp and Sunflower Seed Pâté in the past. This Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe with Hemp is my new favourite way to incorporate hemp into my day. The creaminess of the hemp lends itself to this dressing, and I love it with shredded kale, beets, and carrots on top of fluffy quinoa. Yum!
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The ULTIMATE Guide On How To Make Salad Dressing

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Use this guide to make your own salad dressing at home. Homemade dressings can be just as delicious as they are simple. See below on tips on how to maximize nutrition and taste in your homemade dressing recipe!

Why I Make My Own Salad Dressings

Making your own salad dressings is one of the easiest ways to boost the nutrient content of a meal. Dressing should be more than just a side thought, they can be a great vessel to add nutritious ingredients that would otherwise be more difficult to get.

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Baked Tofu Kale Quinoa Salad with Glory Bowl Dressing

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This healthy Baked Tofu Kale Quinoa Salad with Glory Bowl Dressing recipe is the perfect all-seasons meal, and it is so simple to make. The savoury and delicious Glory Bowl Dressing is adapted from the notorious Whitewater Cooks cookbook and is a definite crowd pleaser.

Every week in the spring through to late fall, we receive our weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable box. No matter what the month is, fresh kale, beets and carrots fill the bulk of our fridge, and every Monday night we look forward to this healthy Baked Tofu Kale Quinoa Salad Recipe with Glory Bowl Dressing. If you have never heard of the notorious Glory Bowl dressing, you are in for a treat. The perfect combination of savoury, creamy salty goodness that brings any salad bowl recipe to life.

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Easy Moroccan Couscous Salad with Raisins

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This easy Moroccan Couscous Salad with Raisins recipe is one of my go-to crowd-pleasers. It is so simple to make, which is surprising given its complexity in flavour. A little orange zest, some fresh herbs and balancing of sweet, salty and citrus can go a long way!

This is one of my favourite autumn dishes. It makes a great side dish to accompany a big meal gathering, or it can also be had as a meal on its own with the addition of some chickpeas for protein. This recipe was one of the first recipes to appear on my website back in 2013 and was inspired by my cooking teacher(s) – the 1st season of Master Chef Australia. A variation of this recipe appeared in the winner, Julie Goodwin’s cookbook. I love how simple this Morrocan Couscous Salad is to make, despite the complexity in flavour!

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Easy Curry Lentil Soup with Kale

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A simple mid-week meal that can be easily adapted for the seasons, or for whatever produce is lurking in your fridge crisper. Lentils offer the balance of low glycemic index carbohydrate with a good amount of protein to help sustain you.

These smokey August days have got me thinking about the end of summer, and nothing symbolises the end of summer more than a steaming bowl of hearty soup. Lentil soup, for me, is the silver lining to the end of the long days and warm weather and as the days get shorter the compromise of warming lentil soup makes the transition into autumn that much easier. This easy curry lentil soup is my go-to soup, and really can be adapted for any season. For a summer soup, use up your zucchini, kale and carrots and come winter think about substituting the zucchini for butternut squash, yam or sweet potato.

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Chanterelle Barley Risotto with Mung Beans

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This week I am doing the Welfare Challenge to bring awareness to the inadequacy of welfare rates in BC. Here in our beautiful province, a person on welfare receives only $610 per month. When this is broken down and basic accommodation, phone, and personal hygiene are accounted for, only $18 per week is left for food. World Food Day is just around the corner on October 16th, making this a good time for us to take on the challenge and experience how difficult living off a strict food budget can be. I’m only on Day 2 and can only imagine the stress and weight that someone trying to feed themselves or a family may feel. I am fortunate enough to have the background and education to be able to make healthy and smart food choices on a budget and already I feel better equipped to help those that may not be. With the help of some foraging, this Chanterelle Barley Risotto with Kale and Mung Beans can be prepared for just under $0.45 per serving.
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Dinner Recipes

Why I Make My Own Salad Dressings

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