Category Archives: Appetizers

Red Lentil Patties

Red Lentil Patties | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, plant based, vegan, dairy free, gluten free

These patties are a fun and flavorful snack, appetizer, or side dish. They are a healthier alternative to a chicken nugget or other deep-fried patties.

Red Lentil Patties

Meal type Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
These lentil patties are a fun and flavorful snack or appetizer and can be paired with a tasty dip such as lemon tahini sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup dried red lentils
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric

Optional

  • tahini
  • lemon juice

Directions

Step 1
Rinse and sort lentils. Soak in plenty of cold water overnight or for at least 8 hours. Lentils will end up about double in size.
Step 2
Heat a skillet to medium high and add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add onion and cook until it becomes caramelized and translucent. Add garlic, turmeric and cumin and cook for 30 seconds, stirring often. Remove from heat.
Step 3
Drain lentils and place in a food processor. Add remaining ingredients except for cooked onion mixture. Puree until fairly smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Add cooked onion mixture and pulse until just combined.
Step 4
Heat skillet over medium high and add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Form lentil mixture into flattened balls, about the size of golf balls, then place into pan. Turn over when the bottom is golden brown and cook other side until golden brown. Place onto plate lined with a paper towel. Repeat with remaining oil and lentil mixture. Serve with lemon tahini sauce or other dipping sauce.
Step 5
To make optional lemon tahini sauce: Mix together tahini and lemon juice to taste, then thin with water to reach desired consistency. Add salt to taste. Optional: add minced garlic and parsley.

Red Lentil Patties | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, plant based, vegan, dairy free, gluten free

Red Lentil Patties | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, plant based, vegan, dairy free, gluten free

Layered Mediterranean Dip

Layered Mediterranean Dip | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, plant based, vegan, dairy free, low carb, gluten free

This layered dip is full of flavor and a much healthier alternative to layered Mexican dip. You can add or omit any ingredients according to personal preference.

To make roasted eggplant – cut into small cubes, toss with olive oil and salt, and roast at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, or until tender and light golden brown. Let cool before adding to dip.

For the hummus, either make your own or use a packaged hummus. It doesn’t necessarily
have to be 2 cups, it can be less.

Layered Mediterranean Dip

Serves 8 - 10
Prep time 10 minutes
Meal type Appetizer
This healthy layered dip is a perfect appetizer for a party or potluck, and happens to be entirely plant-based.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups hummus
  • 1 cup roasted eggplant (chopped)
  • 1 cup cucumber (diced)
  • 1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts
  • 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes (julienned)
  • 1/4 cup olives (any kind) (sliced)
  • 1/4 cup red onion (minced)
  • 1-2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts (toasted)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (minced)

Optional

  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions

Step 1
Layer all ingredients in a shallow dish, starting with the hummus, then roasted eggplant. The other ingredients except olive oil and pine nuts can be layered in any order, but the order listed is recommended. Drizzle the olive oil on top when finished layering. Any ingredients can be omitted to suit personal preference. Add pine nuts just prior to serving.
Step 2
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Add pine nuts. Serve with raw veggies such as bell pepper strips, halved and seeded mini sweet peppers, or cucumber slices, or whole grain baked pita chips.

Layered Mediterranean Dip | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, plant based, vegan, dairy free, low carb, gluten free

Pear Sauce, Unsweetened

Pear Sauce, Unsweetened | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, no sugar added, plant based, vegan, dairy free, gluten free

It’s like applesauce, but with pears! No added sugar necessary, especially if you use ripe to overly ripe pears. The ground ginger gives this recipe a little kick. You can mash/puree the pears using a variety of tools, including a whisk, potato masher, blender, food processor, or immersion blender. I used a whisk to make the chunky sauce pictured.

Pear Sauce

It's like applesauce, but with pears!

Ingredients

  • 6 ripe pears (peeled, chopped into 1-inch pieces)
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Step 1
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer for 20-25 minutes. Let cool.
Step 2
Once cool, mash with a potato masher or whisk or puree with an immersion blender or food processor. Pour off excess liquid if necessary. Refrigerate until served.

Pear Sauce, Unsweetened | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, no sugar added, plant based, vegan, dairy free, gluten free

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Apple “Nachos”

Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Nachos - healthy dessert that is gluten free, low in added sugar, and can be made dairy free and vegan. Guess Who's Cooking

This guilt-free dessert or appetizer is easy, requires very little cooking (microwaving), and is low in added sugar, gluten-free, and can be made dairy-free and vegan (depending on the chocolate chips). It only takes a few minutes to prepare, but is sure to please!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Nachos

Serves 4-5
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 1 minute
Total time 11 minutes
Meal type Appetizer, Dessert
Misc Child Friendly
This fun-looking and fun-tasting dish is a great dessert with very little added sugar.

Ingredients

  • 3 large apples
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (preferably organic and unsweetened)
  • 1/2 cup mini dark or semisweet chocolate chips (divided. Look for vegan chips to make this a vegan recipe)

Directions

Step 1
Cut apples into thin slices, about 16 per apple. Place on a large plate.
Step 2
Microwave the peanut butter in a small bowl on high until it becomes melted enough to drizzle, 15 seconds at a time. You may be able to skip this step if using a fresh jar of natural peanut butter because it will already be somewhat thin. Drizzle over the apples.
Step 3
Microwave 2-3 tablespoons of the chocolate chips in a small bowl on high for about 30 seconds. Stir, then continue heating 15 seconds at a time until completely melted when stirred. Drizzle over the apples.
Step 4
Garnish with the remaining chocolate chips and serve immediately. The apples will start to brown, so don't wait to long to serve.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Nachos - healthy dessert that is gluten free, low in added sugar, and can be made dairy free and vegan. Guess Who's Cooking

Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Guacamole Deviled Eggs - dairy free, low carb, gluten free, vegetarian, healthy! Recipe from Guess Who's Cooking

 

Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Serves 6
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 12 minutes
Total time 22 minutes
Meal type Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
These avocado deviled eggs replace the traditional mayonnaise with healthier avocado. This provides a fun, tasty, and colorful twist!

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 large avocado
  • 1 tablespoon red onion (minced)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2-3 teaspoons lime juice

Optional

  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • paprika for garnish

Note

Tired of standard deviled eggs? Put a healthy twist on them by stuffing with guacamole!

Directions

Step 1
Hard boil the eggs. One method is to put the eggs in pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cover for 12 minutes. Drain and let sit in ice water to cool.
Step 2
Peel the eggs, cut in half lengthwise, and remove the yolks. Save 2 yolks and discard the rest.
Step 3
Mash the avocado and add the 2 yolks, red onion, lime juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder. Mix well but leave the avocado slightly chunky.
Step 4
Fill the egg whites with the avocado mixture. Sprinkle with paprika.

Guacamole Deviled Eggs - dairy free, low carb, gluten free, vegetarian, healthy! Recipe from Guess Who's Cooking

25 Healthy & Fun Game Day Recipes

25 Healthy and Fun Game Day Recipes | Guess Who's Cooking | Recipes are mostly  minimally processed, plant-based, and low in added sugar and refined flours. Perfect for the Super Bowl!

Looking for a healthier recipe to share during the big game? Here are 25 recipes that are healthy, fun and delicious. For those with special needs or tastes, many recipes are:

  • Made with whole, real foods
  • Vegan
  • Lower-carb
  • No-sugar-added

Appetizers, Sides, & Snacks

Asian Cole Slaw

Baked Falafel

Bean & Corn Dip

Brussels Sprouts Chips

Chex Mix Pumpkin Seeds

Eggplant “Fries”

Mexican Zucchini Fritters

Pizza Hummus

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

Salt and Vinegar Pumpkin Seeds

Savory Roasted Chickpeas

Vegetarian Baked Beans (lower sugar)

 

Entrees

Cajun Meatloaf

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

Fishy Nuggets

Mexican Taco Meatloaf

Personal Portabello Pizzas

Pizza Omelet

Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

White Chicken Chili (dairy-free)

 

Desserts

Black Bean Brownies

Buckeyes

Chickpea Blondies

 

Bean and Corn Dip – Super Easy

This appetizer/side dish is extremely easy and will please a large crowd. You can serve it as a salad, or as a dip with tortilla chips (preferably baked chips). You can make this recipe from scratch using dried beans (cooked and cooled) and homemade dressing using the ingredients below (it’s really not that hard), or make it super easy by using canned beans and store-bought Italian dressing, which isn’t quite as healthy. BPA is a potential concern in canned foods, and store-bought dressings often have artificial ingredients and added sugar.
Bean and Corn Dip - Super easy. Guesswhoscooking.com

Bean and Corn Dip

Serves 12
Prep time 10 minutes
This super easy bean and corn dip makes an easy appetizer or salad for a party.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white beans, cooked (or 1 15-oz can)
  • 2 cups black beans, cooked (or 1 15-oz can)
  • 2 cups white or yellow corn, fresh, cooked and cooled; or frozen and thawed (or 1 15-oz can)
  • 3 tablespoons pimentos (about 2 ounces)
  • 1 stalk green onion (sliced)
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1
Rinse and drain the beans and corn. Add to a medium bowl, then add green onions and pimentos.
Step 2
To make the dressing, combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine, or place in a jar and shake.
Step 3
Pour the dressing over the bean mixture, using only as much as necessary. You may not need the whole batch of dressing. You can also substitute store-bought Italian dressing, although it is not as healthy. For best flavor, refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld. Serve as a salad or as a dip along with baked chips.

Bean and Corn Dip - Super easy. Guesswhoscooking.com