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Blackened Lentils and Onions

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blackened lentils and onions

Blackened Lentils and Onions

One question that I'm frequently asked is, "Will I get enough protein while on the Daniel Fast?" The answer is yes, you will. However, you need to make sure you include a variety of high-protein foods, such as beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible get adequate amounts of this necessary building block without consuming meat or animal products.
One excellent source of protein you should consume is featured in today's recipe. Allow me to introduce a tiny little legume called the lentil. Lentils have the third-highest level of protein (nearly 30%), by weight, of any plant-based food, after soybeans and hemp. They are small in size but mighty in nutrition. Lentils also contain dietary fiber, folate, vitamin B1, and minerals. Red (or pink) lentils contain a lower concentration of fiber than green lentils (11% rather than 31%). Lentils are often mixed with grains, such as rice, which results in a complete protein dish.
Following are additional benefits to eating lentils:
1. Promotes heart health. Studies have found that people who eat high-fiber legumes like lentils have a much reduced risk of heart disease.
2. Loaded with iron, especially good for people who don't eat red meat, like vegans and vegetarians.
3. Lowers cholesterol due to high levels of fiber.
4. Provides steady, slow-burning energy and helps to balance blood sugar levels (good for people with diabetes).
5. Rich source of B vitamins, most notably folate and niacin (B3), which are important for the healthy functioning of the nervous, digestive, and immune systems.
5 from 2 votes
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Course Main Course
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup dry green or brown lentils, sorted and rinsed
  • 2 teaspoons Creole Seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup sliced onion sliced pole-to-pole (see Recipe Notes)
  • 3 cups cooked brown rice, optional (1/2 cup per serving)

Instructions
 

  • Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1/3 cup)
  • Place water and lentils in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and lower heat. Stir in Creole Seasoning. Cover, and simmer with lid tilted for 40-45 minutes or until lentils are softened and nearly all liquid has been absorbed.
  • While lentils are cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions, and cook 20-25 minutes or until slightly blackened and crispy, stirring occasionally. Set aside until lentils are done cooking.
  • To serve, place lentils on a plate alone or with brown rice. Top each serving with 1 heaping tablespoon of onions.

Notes

  • To sort lentils, place them in a single layer on an 11 x 17-inch baking sheet. Look for discolored and misshapen beans, and discard any unwanted debris. Place good lentils into a colander and rinse thoroughly using cold water.
  • To slice an onion pole to pole, or into half rings, think of the onion as a globe. Trim root end (South Pole) and stem end (North Pole). Peel off outer layers. Cut onion in half from North pole to South pole, making a series of vertical slices perpendicular to the equator of the onion.
  • Top with diced tomatoes, Homemade Salsa, or chopped avocado.
  • Use Taco Seasoning instead of Creole Seasoning.
  • Serve with "Refried" Beans.

 

Cajun Red Beans and Rice

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cajun red beans and rice

Cajun Red Beans and Rice

I love to cook, but I'm not too fond of the grocery shopping part of it. Anyone with me? Many times I let my refrigerator and pantry get pretty bare before I finally give in and head to the store. Sometimes, though, that's when my creative juices start flowing. When there isn't much to work with as far as ingredients goes, I often come up with my tastiest recipes. One night I only had a few canned ingredients, cooked brown rice in the fridge, and several fresh vegetables. The result? This classic Louisiana-style main dish recipe.
4.35 from 20 votes
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Course Main Course
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup chopped green pepper
  • ½ cup chopped red onion
  • ½ cup sliced celery
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 teaspoons Creole Seasoning
  • 1 15.5-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add green peppers, onions, and celery. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add water and Creole Seasoning. Stir well. Mix in kidney beans and rice. Lower heat and cook another 5 minutes or until heated through.
  • Yield: 8 servings (serving size: ½ cup)

Notes

  • Serve with sliced avocado and/or sliced green onions.
  • Add 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes.
  • Stovetop directions using dry rice: Sauté vegetables as directed. While vegetables are cooking, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Lower heat, and add vegetables, 1 cup uncooked brown rice, and beans. Cover, and simmer about 45 minutes, or until rice is light and fluffy.

Spicy Pinto Bean Bake

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spicy pinto bean bake

 

Spicy Pinto Bean Bake

If you like pinto beans as a side dish, you can add brown rice, along with a few other ingredients, and you have a main dish. Pair this bake with a salad to complete your meal.
4.67 from 6 votes
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Course Main Course
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • recipe “Refried" Beans
  • 3 cups cooked brown or wild rice
  • 2 10-ounce cans diced tomatoes and green chiles
  • ½ cup chopped green pepper
  • ¼ cup chopped green onions, green parts only
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • Toppings: Avocado slices, black olives, shredded lettuce

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly rub bottom and sides of an 9 x 13-inch baking dish with coconut or olive oil. Pour “Refried” Beans into dish, and spread evenly across bottom. Add rice, tomatoes and green chiles, green pepper, green onions, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Bake 20 minutes.
  • Yield: 6 servings (serving size: ½ cup)

Notes

  • Substitute the cayenne pepper with 2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning.
  • Use homemade Salsa instead of green chiles and tomatoes (you may want to omit or reduce amount of green peppers if you do).
  • Add 1 (15-ounce) can drained corn kernels.

 

Daniel Fast "Refried" Beans

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refried beans

When I was younger, I loved when it was taco night at our house. My Old El Paso taco shells would be packed and overflowing with ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and, of course, refried beans. Although my eating habits have changed quite a bit since those days, I’ve still found ways to enjoy my old favorite dish, even when I’m on the Daniel Fast.

Following is a recipe for “Refried” Beans that even the most inexperienced cook can prepare. Now, before you throw your hands up in the air, and say, “I thought fried foods weren’t allowed on the Daniel Fast,” let me assure you that this recipe is completely legal. There isn’t any frying involved.

“Refried” Beans can be eaten alone or used as a base for a taco salad. Just add your whatever toppings you like: avocado, brown rice, corn kernels, green onions, Super Easy Guacamole, lentils, shredded lettuce, Salsa, sliced olives, tomatoes, etc. You can also use this recipe to prepare South of the Border Pizza, and it works great as a dip with Tortilla Chips. Enjoy!

“Refried” Beans

2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, undrained
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Chopped green onions (green parts only)

Place beans in a medium saucepan, and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes. Mash until nearly smooth. Cook uncovered another 10 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally. Add desired amount of green onions. Stir, and serve.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)

Recipe Notes

  • Substitute 1-2 garlic cloves (minced) for the garlic powder.

Brown Rice Stir-fry With Orange Sauce

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brown rice stir-fry with orange sauce

Brown Rice Stir-fry with Orange Sauce

I love stir-fry recipes, especially when I'm out of ideas on what to cook for dinner. Usually I have some brown rice already steamed and stored in the freezer, which makes putting together a stir-fry quick and easy. Even if you don't feel confident in the kitchen, you can make this recipe! Toss the vegetables in a little olive oil. Add the rice and seasonings, and you've got yourself a healthy, filling meal.
4.36 from 28 votes
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Course Main Course
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped broccoli, stems and florets or ½ 16-ounce bag cut broccoli, cooked
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • ¼ cup Bragg's Liquid Aminos, Coconut Aminos, or soy sauce
  • ¼ cup unsweetened orange juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger root or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3 cups cooked brown rice
  • ¼ cup toasted chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green onion

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and add broccoli, carrots, and onions. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium high. Add Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, orange juice, garlic, ginger root, brown rice, walnuts, and green onions. Cook another 5 minutes or until heated through, and serve.
  • Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 ¼ cups)

Notes

  • Use a cheese grater for the ginger root.
  • Add 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained.
  • Bragg’s Liquid Aminos is an alternative to soy sauce that has no added salt or preservatives. Bragg’s Liquid Aminos is a Certified NON-GMO (not genetically modified) liquid protein concentrate, derived from healthy soybeans, that contains 16 essential and non-essential amino acids.
  • Coconut Aminos is another soy sauce alternative (the kind I prefer, although I used Bragg's for years).

Spaghetti Squash with Basil-Walnut Cream Sauce

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Spaghetti Squash w/ Basil-Walnut Cream Sauce

Spaghetti Squash with Basil-Walnut Cream Sauce

Spaghetti squash is a fascinating vegetable because it looks like pasta and tastes like pasta. This recipe can be served as the main dish or a side dish. Either way, it's certain to be a big hit, especially with kids!
3.62 from 55 votes
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Course Main Course
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds spaghetti squash

Sauce

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, lightly packed (about 10-12 large leaves)
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, lightly packed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. With a fork, prick squash all over and place in baking dish. Cook 1 hour.
  • During last 10 minutes of baking time, put sauce ingredients in a food processor or blender. Process 15-20 seconds or until smooth (less time if you prefer a chunkier texture). Heat in a small saucepan over medium to low heat; do not boil. Cook 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • While sauce is cooking, remove squash from oven, and let cool 10-15 minutes before cutting in half and removing the seeds. Discard seeds. Pull a fork lengthwise through the flesh to separate it into long strands. Place strands in a large bowl.
  • Pour sauce over spaghetti squash, and stir well to coat. Serve immediately.
  • Yield: 8 servings (serving size: about ½ cup)

Notes

  • Substitute whole grain pasta for the spaghetti squash.
  • Add cooked broccoli and/or sliced olives.

 

Chinese Long Beans and Wild Rice

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chinese long beans and wild rice with red pepper sauce

Chinese Long Beans and Wild Rice with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This recipe is both sweet and sour. It's zesty. Zippy. Different and definitely NOT boring. Give it a try and see for yourself. I think you'll be pleased with the results.
4 from 2 votes
Print Recipe
Course Main Course
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and long beans, and cook until onions are soft and translucent. Add rice, water, and Bragg’s Liquid Aminos. Stir well and continue cooking until most of the water is absorbed, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Heat Roasted Red Pepper Sauce in a small saucepan over low heat. When heated through, place about ¼ cup of sauce over each serving of rice.
  • Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

Notes

  • Substitute fresh or frozen green beans for the long beans.
  • Add 1 cup drained chickpeas to boost the protein content.
  • To slice an onion pole to pole, or into half rings, think of the onion as a globe. Trim root end (South Pole) and stem end (North Pole). Peel off outer layers. Cut onion in half from North pole to South pole, making a series of vertical slices perpendicular to the equator of the onion.
  • Chinese long beans are longer than the North American string bean. They have a chewy texture and work well in casseroles and stir-fry dishes. I found my Chinese long beans at our local farmers' market.
  • Use Coconut Aminos instead of Bragg's Liquid Aminos or soy sauce.

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

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roasted red pepper sauce

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This red pepper sauce can be used to complement your Daniel Fast main meal, such as a topping for whole grain pasta or brown rice.
No ratings yet
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Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1 12-ounce jar roasted red bell peppers, undrained
  • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • lace ingredients in a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth. Pour into a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
  • Yield: 8 servings (serving size: ¼ cup)

Notes

  • Place unused sauce in an airtight container and store in refrigerator.
  • Serve with Chinese Long Beans and Wild Rice.
  • Goes well with cooked spaghetti squash, lentils, or whole grain pasta.
  • Use cooled sauce as a salad dressing.

Baked Rice with Butternut Squash and Asparagus

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baked rice with butternut squash and asparagus

 

Baked Rice with Butternut Squash and Asparagus

This casserole-style dish is simple to make and requires minimal ingredients. Use a combination of brown and wild rice (per recipe instructions), or just use one or the other if that's all you have on hand. It's a win either way.
3.76 from 33 votes
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Course Main Course
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups water
  • ½ cup brown rice
  • ½ cup wild rice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground sage
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
  • ½ pound asparagus spears, ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup sliced onion, sliced pole to pole (see Recipe Notes)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rub a little olive oil along the sides and bottom of a 3-quart baking dish. Add water, rice, garlic, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
  • Bake uncovered 30 minutes. Mix in squash, asparagus, and onions. Cook 30 minutes, stir, and then bake another 15 minutes, or until water is nearly all absorbed and rice is softened.
  • Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Notes

  • To slice an onion pole to pole, or into half rings, think of the onion as a globe. Trim root end (South Pole) and stem end (North Pole). Peel off outer layers. Cut onion in half from North Pole to South Pole, making a series of slices perpendicular to the equator of the onion.
  • Use 1 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary in place of the thyme and sage.

 

Whole Grain Tortillas

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Whole Grain Tortillas

Whole Grain Tortillas

It's possible to find tortillas that follow the guidelines of the Daniel Fast, but that doesn't mean it's always easy. If you'd like to make your own, here is a basic recipe for you to follow. Start with your choice of whole grain flour, and stuff with your favorite filling.
3.66 from 38 votes
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Course Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup brown rice flour
  • 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal, optional
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup warm water

Instructions
 

  • Mix flours, flaxseed meal, salt, and water in a food processor until dough forms a ball. Turn dough onto a floured work surface, and knead for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let dough sit at room temperature 30 minutes.
  • Divide dough into 8 equal pieces, and roll each piece into an 8-inch circle to ¼-inch thickness. Rub a skillet with olive oil, and set over medium-low heat. Cook tortilla for 1 minute. Turn over, and cook 2-3 minutes on second side or until flatbread bubbles up. Repeat for remaining tortillas.
  • Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 tortilla)

Notes

  • Spread tortilla with Confetti Hummus, Hummus, or Spinach-Artichoke Dip, and stuff with beans, rice, and/or vegetables.
  • Instead of brown rice flour, use another whole grain flour, such as amaranth, barley, oat, quinoa, or spelt.

Mexican Rice and Beans

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mexican rice and beans

 

Mexican Rice and Beans

This dish is sure to be a Daniel Fast favorite, especially if you like spicy foods (I'd rate this one as mild to medium on the heat scale). But if you don't do spice, you can always omit the cayenne pepper and use diced tomatoes instead of the tomatoes and green chilies.
3.79 from 28 votes
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Course Main Course
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup diced red onions
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups brown rice, uncooked
  • 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes and green chilies (Ro-tel)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 15.5-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Instructions
 

  • Rinse rice in a strainer under cold running water for 30 seconds, swirling the rice around with your hand. Drain, and set aside. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, and cook until soft and translucent. Add garlic, and cook one minute, stirring frequently so garlic doesn't burn.
  • Pour in water, rice, tomatoes and chilies, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer 45-55 minutes or until rice is tender and nearly all of the liquid is absorbed. Add beans, and stir well. Cook another 8-10 minutes. Add parsley, and serve.
  • Yield: 6 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

Notes

  • This recipe is fairly spicy, so to cut down on the "heat," reduce cayenne pepper to 1/8 teaspoon or elminate it completely.
  • Add avocado slices as a garnish.

 

Stuffed Acorn Squash

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stuffed acorn squash

Stuffed Acorn Squash

When my friend, Rana, returned from Israel, she commented on how an Israeli breakfast is typically vegetable-based, which is a far cry from the standard American menu. Our most popular breakfast choices are often sugar- and /or fat-laden: cereal, bagels, doughnuts, pancakes with butter and maple syrup, Pop-Tarts, bacon and eggs, etc. Her observation gave me an idea for a Daniel Fast breakfast dish, and this recipe was the result. It's made with apples and raisins, which satisfies your desire for something sweet. Plus, it fills you up and gives you energy for the day!
3.70 from 10 votes
Print Recipe
Course Breakfast, Main Course
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 2 acorn squash, unpeeled
  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened apple juice or water
  • 1 cup chopped apple
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out seeds. Place halves, cut side down, in a large baking dish. Pour in enough water to bring water to about 1/4-inch deep. Bake 40 minutes.
  • While squash is cooking, rinse quinoa under cold running water in a fine-mesh strainer until juices run clear. Transfer quinoa to a small saucepan, and add apple juice or water, apples, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low, and cover. Simmer gently with lid tilted for 20 minutes or until nearly all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in pecans and raisins, and set aside until squash is done.
  • Remove squash from oven, and turn halves over. Stuff each squash half with about 1/2 cup apple-quinoa mixture (depending upon the size of the squash, you may have some mixture left over, which makes a great side dish). Bake 10 minutes.
  • Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1/2 acorn squash with filling)

Notes

  • Substitute brown rice for the quinoa.
  • Use 1/4 cup chopped dates and 1/4 cup chopped apricots instead of the raisins.
    Sprinkle each stuffed squash half with unsweetened shredded coconut just before serving.
  • Enjoy as a warm breakfast, dessert, or side dish.