Black Bean & Salmon Tostadas

Pickled jalapeños, cilantro and avocado perk up this salmon for a quick tostada topping. Skip store-bought and make your own crispy shells in the oven. Serve with: Brown rice cooked with diced tomatoes and onions or salsa.

Makes: 4 servings, 2 tostadas each
Active Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 6-inch corn tortillas
• Canola oil cooking spray
• 6- to 7-ounces boneless, skinless wild Alaskan salmon
• 1 avocado, diced
• 2 tablespoons minced pickled jalapeños, plus 2 tablespoons pickling juice from the jar, divided
• 2 cups coleslaw mix (see Tip) or shredded cabbage
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
• 3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 tablespoons prepared salsa
• 2 scallions, chopped
• Capers, desired amount
• Lime wedges (optional)

Prepartion

1. Position racks in upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375°F.
2. Coat tortillas on both sides with cooking spray. Place on 2 baking sheets. Bake, turning once, until light brown, 12 to 14 minutes.
3. Combine salmon, avocado and jalapeños in a bowl. Combine cabbage, cilantro and the pickling juice in another bowl. Process black beans, sour cream, salsa and scallions in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on High until hot, about 2 minutes.
4. To assemble tostadas, spread each tortilla with some bean mixture and some salmon mixture and top with the cabbage salad. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

Tips & Notes

• Kitchen tip: For a time saver, look for the preshredded cabbage-and-carrot “coleslaw mix” near other prepared vegetables in the produce section of the supermarket.

Nutrition

Per serving: 319 calories; 11 g fat (2 g sat, 6 g mono); 16 mg cholesterol; 43 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 16 g protein; 12 g fiber; 352 mg sodium; 670 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (60% daily value), Folate (27% dv), Potassium (19% dv), Iron (18% dv), source of omega-3s.

Yummy!

Lemon & Dill Chicken

Fresh lemon and dill create a quick Greek-inspired pan sauce for simple sautéed chicken breasts. Make it a meal: Serve with roasted broccoli and whole-wheat orzo.

Makes: 4 servings
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (1-1 1/4 pounds)
• Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, or canola oil, divided
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons flour
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preparation

1. Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil.
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to the pan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon juice in a measuring cup and add to pan. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
3. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan; reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a warmed platter. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill.

Nutrition

Per serving: 173 calories; 6 g fat (1 g sat, 4 g mono); 64 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 24 g protein; 0 g fiber; 236 mg sodium; 219 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (30% daily value).


 

Chicken Tenders with Asparagus & Pistachios

This East-meets-West stir-fry will soon become a family favorite. Serve it over brown rice with a simple salad of arugula and orange sections dressed in a light vinaigrette.

Makes: 4 servings, about 1 1/4 cups each
Active Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, tough ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 pound chicken tenders, (see Ingredient Note), cut into bite-size pieces
• 4 scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon oyster-flavored sauce
• 1 teaspoon chile-garlic sauce, (see Ingredient Note)
• 1/4 cup shelled salted pistachios, coarsely chopped

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add asparagus; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add chicken; cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Stir in scallions, ginger, oyster sauce and chile-garlic sauce; cook, stirring, until the chicken is juicy and just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Stir in pistachios and serve immediately.

Tips & Notes

• Ingredient Notes: Chile-garlic sauce is a blend of ground red chiles, garlic and vinegar and is commonly used to add heat and flavor to Asian soups, sauces and stir-fries. It can be found in the Asian-food section of large supermarkets. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.

Nutrition

Per serving: 208 calories; 8 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 67 mg cholesterol; 7 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 30 g protein; 3 g fiber; 175 mg sodium; 326 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Folate (35% daily value), Vitamin A (20% dv), Vitamin C (15% dv).

Enjoy!