Happy Friday! This short work week really flew by. I’m currently working on a vegan recipe assignment for a magazine that’s due this week and will be published in September. I’m excited to share it with you! I’m testing & writing recipes this afternoon so hopefully no disasters/small kitchen fires/flops occur… ;)
You know what I love when things are busy? Quick lunches that can be thrown together in just minutes. When I returned from a hot yoga class yesterday, I wanted something ready in 10 minutes. It was either that, or I was going to scarf a pint of Coconut Bliss. I came across a delicious looking chickpea salad recipe on Heather’s blog and I knew it would be right up my alley.
This salad did not disappoint!
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Cilantro Lime Chickpea Salad
Adapted from Heather.
Yield: 1-2 servings.
Ingredients:
- One 15-oz can chickpeas (2 cups cooked), drained and rinsed
- 2 cups spinach
- 1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped finely
- Juice from 1.5 limes
- 3/4 cup fresh Cilantro
- 1/2 tsp sugar (or to taste)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt + ground pepper
Directions:
1. In a food processor, add the spinach and pulse a few times until chopped very small. Add the processed spinach, drained chickpeas, and chopped onion into a large bowl.
2. In the food processor (no need to rinse the bowl!), add the lime juice, cilantro, mustard, sugar, garlic, cumin, and oil. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Pour the dressing on top of the spinach chickpea mixture and stir well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let stand for about 10 minutes to let the flavours develop (optional- I didn’t!). Serve over a bed of grains, like brown rice. Serves 1-2.
Note: The dressing has quite a bite to it, thanks to the lime and oil that I cut down, so please feel free to adjust the dressing to your taste buds preference! You may want more oil, less lime, etc.
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Some changes I made:
- cut down the oil by over half
- increased the Cilantro
- added some cumin spice
- reduced sugar
- slightly reduced lime
It was enjoyed over a bed of leftover brown rice…a great combo! I also doubled the recipe I posted above because Eric was home for lunch too.
The dressing has quite a bite to it, thanks to the lime and lack of oil, so please feel free to adjust the dressing to your taste buds liking. We thought it was quite refreshing and I love that it packs in spinach greens too.
If you aren’t a Cilantro fan, you could always experiment with other herbs (parsley could be fun!), but I must say the Cilantro-lime combo is a dream to my taste buds. Thanks Heather for a great recipe!
The Great Sweat-Wicking Workout Wear Debate
Lately, the workout tanks that I’ve been wearing to Hot Yoga have left me feeling like a wet sponge!
They just aren’t working for me and by the end of class my shirt is a sopping puddle of sweat sticking to my skin (great visual, I know). This prompted me to ask on Twitter what your favourite sweat-wicking workout tops are.
Here are some of the responses that I received:
- Lululemon Scoop Neck tank
- Nike Racer back
- Target workout tops
- Lululemon Power Y Tank (very popular)
- Shakti tanks
- Lululemon Modern Racer Tank
I’m definitely going to check some of these out. :)
Do you have any favourite workout clothes that wick sweat and breathe well?
I never sweat in the Under Armour Heatgear!! A little pricey sometimes but sooo worth it!
I recently found that Under Armor makes ribbed tank tops that are great! They are made of a stretch non-cotton material that doesn’t stick to my sweaty skin or stretch out. I liked the first one so much I bought two more, and they come in really bright, fun, summery colors!
I totally recommend the Power Y tank; I’ve been practicing Moksha for six years and it is by far my favorite top! A couple of points from my perspective ;),
– I like racer backs, if the straps are across my shoulders as per normal tank tops I find I “feel” my clothing.
– The Scoop neck Lulu top is a GREAT design, I love it – but it’s thicker than the Power Y, so not the most ideal for Moksha, although I do own two of them and love love love love them (so flattering on the body) for non-heated Hatha practices.
I agree about the Scoop neck- I have a blue one and I found it was sooo heavy!
mmm that salads looks SO fresh!
I just did a Bikram class this week wearing Lulu’s Deep Breath Tank. It felt and looked great. The light fabric was perfect. I’m a A-cup though, so I don’t have to worry about the girls popping out.
you MUST try the circle mesh tops for Lululemon, it’s all I wear to Hot Yoga now. I too am a Moksha fan- but here in Vancouver! Lululemon has some pretty great hot shots/ top combo’s too…wick wick wick away that sweat!
I’ve got a Lululemon tank that’s similar to their current Run:Mind Over Matter Sleeveless Tech and with the elastic on the bottom I find that with a sports bra is great for yoga since it doesn’t stick to my skin and is very breathable.
I also have the Lululemon Commit tank which they don’t seem to make anymore which was also made with their Silverescent material and it’s great.
My one beef with Lululemon is that they change their styles so often, if you find something you like grab it fast.
I love chickpeas! They are a great way to get some protein in your diet, and are so easy to make with a few herbs.
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For Hot Yoga, I can’t do a tank at all – I have to do the “bra-like” ones or I just get too sweaty and hot! I like the Lulu bras the best, but my studio also sells a good brand, I just can’t remember the name right now!
i know a lot of people who don’t like cilantro but I personally love it!
i personally don’t like the power y tanks. even with my non existant chest i feel unsupported and feel like i may fall out when i bend forward.
This recipe will work for me Doll! Thank, I might change the cilantro to oregano or dill…
I think Lulu takes it. However, I am pretty impressed by GAP stuff too these days. :)
TGIF. Looking forward to your mag recipe down the road. :)
OMG I can just imagine the lime, cilantro and cumin in a tasty explosion! I’ll have to try this one. Wonder if we have chickpea growing in Ontario?? I always default to Eden beans, they have the plumpest chickpeas. yumyum!
My favorite workout wear is the nike pro line. The material is looser fitting so its not hugging your skin and you don’t feel super sweaty, yet its still slim fitting and able to give you a feminine look. Plus the material is quick drying and you won’t feel sweaty for long after.
My fave tank tops to hot yoga: Lululemon’s HOT TANK!!! gotta check it out. it has cinch on both sides the lets you cinch it up. but i also love cool racerback tanks and power y of course!
hmm dont think ive seen that one…will have to look for it.
Hey Ange! I work at lululemon, so glad to see a couple lululemon items on your list. :) The only thing I’d add/ suggest, based on my own practice in bikram yoga (105 degree F heat) would be the Cool Racerback tank and the Push Ur Limits Tank. The Push Ur Limits in particular is my favorite for hot yoga. If you’re comfortable not rocking a tank though, by all means – go with short shorts and a sports bra!
Your chickpea recipe would be a great falafel pita topper! Getting hungry just thinking about it…
Lululemon definitely seems to be the popular choice. I just don’t know if I can shell out that kind of cash!
Love cilantro! Though my fiance is not a fan… still working on him ;)
My favorite workout gear is bamboo athletic wear clothing. It is amazing how great bamboo is on the skin! Luckily for me one of my sisters has an athletic wear clothing line (rawthreads.org) made from bamboo so I get to have fun shopping whenever I visit her. I do like lululemon clothing as well.
LOVE the cilantro and lime combo– this looks great!
The Nike Tempo track shorts are my all time favorite bottom for running. I have a million pairs. I wish I could bring myself to buy more Lulu but the price just kills me…