Luscious saffron, cardamom & pistachio cream layered over an almond crust! These gluten-free Kesar Pista bars secretly pack 7g protein. Perfect for Diwali or any other holiday meal! (soy-free, dairy-free, vegan)

Kesar means saffron, and pista means pistachio. These saffron pistachio bars are just so delicious. I just wasn’t ready for how decadent and luxurious they were going to turn out! They’re kind of like creamy lemon bars, but with nutty pistachio and floral saffron flavors in them. 

The saffron-pistachio combination is very popular in Indian desserts and also desserts from many other cuisines. These two flavors just work so amazingly well together, especially raw, fresh pistachios and floral saffron.

I’m using that today to make a fusion Indian dessert based on kesar burfi, kesar pista ladoo, or pedas, but I made them into these bars. We make this almond flour crust with some cardamom and then make the cream topping with cashews, coconut milk, saffron, and a little pistachio, and then top it with generous amounts of chopped pistachio. It all sets up and it becomes just amazing!

If you don’t have saffron, you can skip that flavor, and add extra cardamom, add a pinch of turmeric for color, and an extra splash of vanilla. That flavor profile pairs really well with the pistachios, as well.

Why You’ll Love Kesar Pista Bars

• rich, creamy, decadent bars with nutty pistachios and floral saffron and cardamom flavors
• quick almond flour crust
• easy to make with simple ingredients
• naturally gluten-free and soy-free with almond-free option

Continue reading: Kesar Pista Bars (Saffron Pistachio Cream Bars)

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This easy vegan cream of mushroom soup is rich, savory, and packed with mushroom flavor, plus 14g protein per serving! Made with simple ingredients and ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect with crusty bread for dipping! With a side of whole grain bread – 18g Protein. (gluten-free, soy-free with easy nut-free option)

This recipe was originally posted March 6, 2013. It has been updated with modified recipe, pictures and video.

This cream of mushroom soup is a recipe that my friend Somer McCowan shared on my site over 10 years ago. Somer passed away from cancer months ago, and I’ve been thinking about her a lot, which got me thinking about this soup .

I tweaked Somer’s recipe a little bit, reducing the cashews, and changed a couple of the steps in the cooking method to make it simpler. 

The original recipe called for adding all of the stock to the mushroom mixture and boiling it and then blending some of that soup, but it’s not as easy when you have to transfer boiling liquid into a blender. So instead, I’m blending part of the cooked onion and mushroom mixture with the cashews and adding that back into the pan, then adding the remaining stock. 

This is just such a simple and delicious soup! You can change up the flavors to preference, deepen the flavors by adding some miso, add some fresh herbs for additional flavor, and some pepper flakes for a little bit of heat, if you like. If you don’t have wine, you can use balsamic vinegar instead.

Somer was just an amazing person, and her recipes were always incredible. When I was dealing with health issues, she pitched in with this recipe to help keep my blog going. She was just an absolute superwoman. She wrote for Forks Over Knives, co-hosted the Virtual Vegan Potluck, and was just the sweetest, most beautiful, compassionate person.

Somer’s cream of mushroom soup recipe is simple, yet it’s so creamy and flavorful with herbs and plenty of umami! She said, “I’d like to think if I was able to go to Richa’s house and bring her some lunch, that I’d bring her a big bowl of this soup. Feel better soon, girl.”

Why You’ll Love Cream of Mushroom Soup

• delicious, creamy soup with amazing herb and mushroom flavor
• easy to make in 30 minutes with simple ingredients
• gluten-free and soy-free with nut-free and oil-free options

Continue reading: Easy Cream of Mushroom Soup

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This loaded Samosa Dip brings all the flavor of samosa chaat to a shareable party platter! Samosa-spiced potatoes, crispy chickpeas, tangy chutneys, creamy yogurt and crunchy veggies make every scoop a delicious mix of textures. No pastry or folding needed! Nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free, with 13g protein (52g total) and 10g fiber per serving!)

This samosa chaat platter is going to be the first thing that disappears at every dinner party. It has an incredible mix of flavors and textures! It looks festive, it’s easy, and perfect for the upcoming festive season. This samosa platter is also high in protein and fiber. with 13 grams protein(52g total without sides) and 10 grams fiber per serving. If you use multigrain or whole grain crackers or pita as a side, the numbers bump up by 3-5g.
It also has this word that is going to get you to run to the kitchen to make it right now, which is SAMOSAS!

What are Samosas?
Samosa are crispy, savory pastries stuffed with deliciously spiced potatoes. They’re a super popular Indian side and the star of this platter.

What is Chaat?

Chaat is a family of Indian street food snacks. Chaat dishes usually have tons of different textures and sauces and flavors built up. Chaat actually means to lick, basically, because the flavor and texture combination is so amazing that you really want to lick every last bit off of your plate.

For samosa chaat, ideally you use some pre-made samosas, break them apart, top them with yogurt, chutneys (like my cilantro-mint chutney or tamarind chutney), some other crispy bits, and fresh onion and tomato. But for an easier and healthier version, we’re just making the samosa potatoes and then layering it all up.

Traditionally, chaat comes with the crispy bits, such as the crispy crackers or the crispy samosas, right in it. And if you’re making it ahead, all of those crispy bits kind of get soggy. So to avoid that, we’re going to make this layered dip kind of situation and serve the crackers on the side, so that people can just scoop it directly from the platter. You get those same flavors and textures, but you never lose that crunch!

If you don’t want to make the whole platter, you can also just make these individual components and serve them all as a chaat spread, so that people can take whichever toppings they want and whichever chutneys and sauces they want. If they want just the chickpeas, they can use just the chickpeas with some sauces, or just the potatoes, or all of the above. Make all of these components, and then serve them however you like. They are absolutely delicious and amazing.

You can use store-bought tamarind chutney, but there is a recipe for a homemade tamarind chutney in the recipe notes, which comes from my first cookbook. If you don’t like tamarind or don’t have access to tamarind, you can also make the maple lime sauce that I’ll also put in the recipe notes. Or use Mango chutney (store bought or homemade)

You can serve this with crackers, crisp pita bread, papadum, cucumber, carrots, or tortilla chips as the crunchy element. Use what you have, and try this incredible samosa chaat platter!

Why You’ll Love This Samosa Platter

• flavors and textures of samosa chaat, simplified
• crunchy chickpeas, spiced potatoes, and flavorful chutneys
• make for now or make ahead!
• naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free

Continue reading: Samosa Dip with Spiced Potatoes, Crispy Chickpeas, Chutneys and Yogurt

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Smoky Moroccan harira soup with chickpeas, red lentils, and quinoa is a budget friendly, 1-pot meal! Bring crusty bread to dip. (21g protein, 21g fiber, 8 mg iron. Gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free. Oil-free option.)

This is such a hearty, delicious, and easy one-pot soup. Today, we’re converting pantry staples into a rich, deeply flavored, hearty, and satisfying harira. This Moroccan chickpea and lentil soup is budget-friendly, one-pot, meal prep-friendly, and packs 21 grams of protein and 21 grams of fiber per serving, and 8 mg Iron. It is cozy, and it tastes like it has been simmering all day, but it really only simmers for about 30 minutes!

Often, harira has either pasta or grains added in it. I am using quinoa in the soup along with the chickpeas and lentils. That makes the soup gluten-free. It is also nut-free and soy-free, if you use nut-free and/or soy-free non-dairy yogurt for the topping, or just skip the yogurt topping altogether. Harira is rich and hearty, even without it.

Serve this with a side of toasty bread, garlic bread, or pita bread, and topped with some creamy non-dairy yogurt and lemon juice. It’s also great over a baked potato or over roasted veggies.

This recipe is rich in folate, iron, potassium, and magnesium from the lentils. It also has vitamin C and lycopene from the tomato. It is very budget-friendly, about $6.50 to $7 for the whole pot!

Why You’ll Love Harira

• 1-pot soup packed with veggies, protein, fiber, and FLAVOR!
• easy to make with simple, budget-friendly ingredients
• flavors of cumin, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and black pepper paired with hearty chickpeas, lentils and quinoa
• naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free with an oil-free option

Continue reading: Moroccan Harira with Chickpeas and Lentils

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I’ve made plenty of lentil soups, but this lentil potato soup is the one I keep coming back to. It always wins on flavor and nutrition, and I’ll tell you the simple techniques that make it unbelievably flavorful every time. Each serve packs 20g Protein 14g Fiber 8mg Iron (gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free)

This pot of lentil potato soup, including the toasted seed topping, has 75+ grams of protein, 56 grams of fiber, 24 milligrams of iron(8 per serve is 44% dv), about 700 milligrams of magnesium, 12 milligrams of zinc, plenty of omega fats, and lots of vitamins A and C, along with calcium.

This lentil soup has so much flavor from the way we build up the flavor profile and spices. It is hearty with plenty of veggies and kale, and then we level it up with a toasty seed topping that not only adds amazing texture but also boosts the nutrient profile of the soup.

The lentils bring protein, fiber, iron, and folate. Kale adds vitamins K, C, and A, along with calcium. Pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and sesame seeds bring magnesium, zinc, calcium, omegas, and even more protein. The potatoes add vitamin B6 and potassium, while the carrots contribute beta-carotene. This lentil soup is truly a powerhouse of nutrients.

To level up this lentil potato soup, 1. we first toast the garlic in the oil. Toasting the garlic releases its flavor into the oil, and then we add the onion. The onion stops the garlic from continuing to cook, so you get perfectly golden garlic without burning it. Next, we toast the tomato paste with the onion. This caramelizes the tomato paste and builds even more umami into the soup.

2. The flavors: we build layers of flavor with herbs and spices. I use oregano, but basil or thyme work just as well. 

Then, I make a quick harissa-style spice blend with ground coriander, cumin, onion powder, and smoked paprika. You can also use a prepared harissa blend, sumac, shawarma spice blend, baharat, curry powder, or Cajun seasoning. All of these work wonderfully here. I also add black pepper to deepen the flavor and add a gentle heat. 

These layers of herbs and spices create an incredibly flavorful broth for the lentils and potatoes to cook in.

3. The potatoes are added midway through cooking, so they become perfectly tender while still holding their shape. They soak up all of the delicious broth without falling apart. If you prefer a thicker soup, you can add the potatoes at the beginning, so they break down into the broth. 

Toward the end of cooking, we stir in plenty of kale to make the soup even more nutrient-dense. 

4. We make a quick toasted seed topping. This adds to much texture and flavor, it’s surprising and incredible! We use pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and sesame seeds. The seeds are toasted with lemon zest, which adds a bright, zesty flavor that pairs beautifully with their nutty richness. We finish the topping with Aleppo pepper flakes for a smoky, gentle heat. If you don’t have all three kinds of seeds, use one or two instead, but definitely make the topping!

Why You’ll Love Lentil Potato Soup

• nutrient-packed pot of soup with tons of amazing flavor
• easy to make with simple ingredients
• versatile! Use different spice blends and additions to change the flavor profile to preference.
• crunchy seed topping adds even more flavor, an incredible texture and nutrient boost
• naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free

Continue reading: Lentil Potato Soup with Crunchy Seed Topping

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This Dense Bean Salad keeps you full for hours! Black beans, lentils, veggies, kale, seeds and a creamy, lemony dressing. High Protein, High fiber, anti-inflammatory (17 grams Protein, 14 grams fiber per serving. Gluten-free, Nut-free, option for soy-free)

This is my anti-inflammatory dense bean salad. Dense bean salads have been trending, and they are just amazing hearty meals with tons of beans and so many different combinations of flavors, textures, and veggies that you can add to them.

Beans, along with all of the vegetables and other ingredients in this salad, are a great source of fiber, protein, iron, and zinc.

The whole bowl has 65+ grams or more of protein, 50+ grams of fiber, 20+ milligrams of iron, and loads of vitamin C from the tomatoes, peppers, and lemon to help your body absorb all of that iron. There are omega-3s from the hemp seeds, along with pumpkin seeds, making this an incredibly nutrient-dense meal.

This is a great, budget-friendly, easy-to-put-together salad. There is no cooking involved. You just have to chop everything, make the dressing, toss it all together, and it’s ready. It’s also perfect for meal prep because the flavors enhance as the salad sits. The next day, it’s even more flavorful because the beans absorb all of that delicious dressing.

Serve this dense bean salad with tortilla chips, toasted sourdough or garlic bread, added to wraps or tacos, or served over grains, such as quinoa or farro. There are endless possibilities with this salad!

Why You’ll Love this Dense Bean Salad

• easy, no-cook meal, perfect for hot weather!
• packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, Antioxidants and minerals in every bowl
• Anti-inflammatory ingredients
• creamy lemon yogurt dressing sends the flavor profile over the top
• naturally gluten-free and easy to make nut-free and soy-free

Continue reading: Anti-inflammatory Dense Bean Salad with Creamy Lemon Yogurt Dressing

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Creamy, garlicky pepper white beans with spinach, finished with an irresistible crispy chickpea crumble, is the high-protein pantry meal I make on repeat, because it doesn’t even taste like a pantry meal. (20g protein, 13g fiber, 8mg iron. Soy-free with gluten-free and nut-free options)

This creamy garlic pepper sauce with beans and kale or spinach is fantastic on its own. But then we level it up with this crispy chickpea breadcrumb topping, which adds texture, another pop of flavor, and more even protein and fiber. Think high protein croutons!

There is tons of protein in this recipe (80 grams in the entire pan) along with about 52 grams of fiber and 32 milligrams of iron. There is protein from the beans, chickpeas, cashews, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, and kale, along with loads of fiber from the beans, chickpeas, kale, and hemp seeds.

This is a nutrient-packed meal, and you can increase the protein and fiber even more, depending on what sides you serve it with. Serve it with a side of multigrain bread or a good sourdough to bump up the protein and fiber even more. It’s also rich in iron, folate, magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins, and it comes together pretty quickly.

You can also serve it over pasta, baked potatoes, or roasted vegetables. Or make a quick bean toast by topping bread with the creamy beans and air frying for 6 to 7 minutes for a super quick and satisfying lunch. It smells so good as it’s cooking. It smells peppery, cheesy, and heavenly. 

The crispy chickpeas on top are so addictive! You can use that topping over any pasta or salad. The topping alone is a must-make.

This recipe uses two cans of beans. The whole can of white beans will simmer in the creamy garlic sauce, while you are dividing up a can of chickpeas. Some of the chickpeas get blended into the sauce to make it creamy, and the rest gets crisped up to make this amazing breadcrumb topping.

Why You’ll Love Pepper Beans

• super easy pantry meal that doesn’t taste like a pantry meal
• High protein and fiber
• crispy chickpea-breadcrumb topping, you’ll want on everything
• naturally soy-free with easy gluten-free and nut-free options

Continue reading: Creamy Garlic Pepper Beans with Crispy Chickpea Crumble

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Chili Garlic Vinegar Chickpeas, 15 minute, bold ginger garlic heat and a vinegar snap. Use them on crispy potatoes, stuff pitas, smash tacos, toss salads, or top papadam nachos. Make once, meals and snacks all week. (gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free) 18g protein 15g fiber

These tangy spicy 15 minute chickpeas are wildly flavorful and so versatile. Ginger for warmth, garlic for depth, chilies for spark, vinegar for snap. Cook these once, and you’ve got a building block for the week. Put them on crispy potatoes, stuff a pita, smash a taco, toss a salad, or make fusion pappadum nachos!
These chili garlic vinegar chickpeas are inspired from my Nepali potatoes. I took that flavor profile and put it with the chickpeas, because it’s just so incredibly delicious. 

For the chickpeas, we’re making this dry sauce of garlic, ginger, and green chilies and also adding some whole spices, like mustard seeds and cumin seeds. We are adding vinegar in the end, so the chickpeas pick up that tanginess and aromatic flavors from the sauce and get so flavorful and tender.

Pappadum nachos below

They are just so addictive, especially served with the easy baked or air fried crispy potatoes strips.

You can serve these chickpeas and potatoes together in various ways: as a bowl with salad greens, to make papadum nachos, in smashed tacos, or stuffed into warm pita bread. No matter how you serve them, you are going to love them!

Why You’ll Love Chili Garlic Chickpeas

• easy, 1-pan chickpeas cook while the potato strips crisp up in the air fryer
• full of rich, deep Indian flavors
• versatile! Serve as a salad, nachos, tacos, or stuffed into a pita
• naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free

Continue reading: Garlic Vinegar Chickpeas with Crispy Potato Strips

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Flavor-packed lentil dip comes together fast with serious protein and fiber punch! Lentils, roasted corn, veggies and crispy capers with herby pepper lime dressing is perfect for parties, potlucks, cookouts, and snacking! (gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free) High fiber, protein and iron!

This is the perfect lentil dip for summer. I was inspired by a lentil dip that went viral on TikTok, where you just take some lentils, add bruschetta and feta, Instead of those flavors, we’re adding a load of veggies and a fantastic dressing, and also crisp capers! All these flavors and textures have made this my fave this summer!

This lentil dip is a great source of protein, fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and iron and omegas. Protein from the lentils hemp seeds nutritional yeast, fiber from the veggies, lentils, kale. Major flavor boost from the Crispy capers! This indulgent Lentil dip packs a flavor and nutrition punch!

There’s the protein from the lentils. There are the fresh, crunchy veggies, jalapeño, and onion. There’s sweetness from the corn and the apple, the tart freshness from the cherry tomatoes, and refreshing vibrancy from the lime zest. 
There’s also kale in the dip, hidden along with some herbs, so it’s a great way to sneak in kale.

The nutritional yeast adds a bit of cheesiness and protein, while the hemp seeds bump up the protein and texture even more. And all of that balances out with a hint of spice from the jalapeño and the pepper flakes and a savory burst of flavor from the crispy capers.

You can use whichever veggies you have on hand. If you don’t like lentils, you can use chickpeas or white beans and add some more spices to the dressing. 

Make this dip and serve it with tortilla chips, crispy crackers, garlic bread or baguette slices. You can also use it to make wraps with pita bread or tortillas. It’s a versatile lentil dip that will disappear in no time. 

Why You’ll Love this Lentil Dip

• protein- and veggie-packed dip with amazing flavors and textures
• quick and easy herb-lime dressing comes together in 1 jar
• crispy capers add a little crunch and a ton of umami
• naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free

Continue reading: Easy Lentil Dip with Crispy Capers

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