Tag: Italian herbs

  • Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs Recipe

    Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs Recipe

    This salad came to my mind right as I was falling asleep.

    Does your brain ever do crazy stuff like that? My best ideas seem to come when I’m about to doze off and don’t have a notebook or pen to write things down, so I just make a pact with my brain to remember. And the next day we both do our best to recall what we were thinking.

    Thankfully, this one made it through the pipeline! Three cheers for my old lady brain still working!

    Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs

    Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs

    I’ve made many a Bean salad before, but this one is special. This is the answer to the question, “What’s super cozy, flavorful and perfect for any BBQ Party?” It’s a great addition to any summer get together!

    This Pakistani/Italian flavor pairing came to mind, and the recipe is adapted from my all-time favorite Bean Salad.   One super easy thing you can prep ahead is beans. I love beans because you can make them so many different ways and they’re packed with protein, slow-digesting carbohydrates and fiber. Their nutritional profile makes them ideal for prepping before a workout and recovering after a workout. If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, they’re great for that too since they make you feel full longer.

    One of my favorite ways to enjoy beans during the warmer months is with my Bean Salad. It’s super easy to make and it tastes really yummy too! This recipe is simple, requiring just 10 minutes to prepare! You can eat it all on its own (what I normally do) or dress it up by adding some more chopped veggies to it. It’s also great added to some greens either in a wrap or in a salad. 

    Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs

    Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs

    The dressing is SO easy (and dreamy).

    Italian herbs are blended with vinegar . Add olive oil water to thin and ‘voila!’ You have a super yummy, tangy Italian dressing ready to coat those gorgeous bean salad. Look at that salad goodness.

    Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs

    I hope you all LOVE this Bean salad! It’s:

    • Hearty
    • Flavorful
    • Vegetable-packed
    • Fiber- & Protein-rich
    • Tangy + Crunchy
    • Super healthy & Delicious

    This would make the perfect side dish for BBQ Party, or any get together, really. It yields four entrée-sized portions or 8 sides, so multiply as needed. Although it’s delicious on its own, it would pair extremely well with my Grilled Lamb Chops, and my Grilled Italian Chicken.

    Bismillah, let’s get started the recipe!!

    Check it out the Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs Recipe and printable version below!!

    Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs Recipe

    Looking for a yummy way to enjoy beans and olives as part of a healthy diet? This Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs recipe is delicious and so easy to make!

    For Salad

    • 2 cups boiled Red Kidney Beans
    • 1/2 cups green olives (sliced)
    • 1 medium red onion
    • 1 medium carrot
    • 1 green bell pepper
    • 1/2 red bell pepper
    • 1 cucumber
    • 1 to mato (de-seeded)

    For Salad Dressing

    • 2 teaspoon vinegar
    • 2 teaspoon olive oil (extra virgin)
    • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
    • 1/2 teaspoon Italian herb mix (optional)
    • 1/2 teaspoon basil
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt

    To Make Salad Dressing

    1. Place everything into a glass salad dressing container or mason jar and shake well.
    2. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 2 hours before serving.
    3. Make sure you shake to combine before use.

    To Prepare the Bean Salad

    1. Place red kidney beans into a strainer and rinse thoroughly until the beans are clean and no more foam remains.
    2. Transfer the kidney beans to a glass bowl.
    3. Cut all vegetables into small dice-shaped cubes and add into the kidney beans. Mix well.
    4. Pour the Italian salad dressing over them.
    5. Stir to combined.
    6. Refrigerate for several hours or at least 2 hours before serving.
    7. Your delicious Bean Salad with Olives and Herbs is ready to serve. ENJOY!!

    Serving Suggestions:
    Serve as a side dish, post-workout snack or add them to your salad.

    Put your own spin on it. And lemme know how it turns out. Post a photo on Facebook (Recipestable) or  on Twitter so I can see how lovely yours turn out.

    Happy Salad Making!!

  • Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza Recipe

    Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza Recipe

    Let’s Make Pizza Night Fun!

    After a whole month of no blogging, no cooking and baking I’m back in the biz with this star of a recipe – “Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza!”

    I was extremely busy with my mid terms exams and eid shopping, so I couldn’t get a chance to publish new posts on my blog. Exams were taking priority sadly. But from now till eid, I’ll be try to more regular (InshaAllah)!

    I’m a lover of Italian food and fresh herbs and my family loves pizza in all forms. One of our favorite family meals is homemade pizza. We make regular Homemade pizza, Pan pizza, Pizza Cups, Pizza Rolls, Pizza sandwiches , Pizza Paratha and Pizza fries. One thing we love about it is that you can get really creative with toppings and today’s recipe is one of my recent (and favorite) creations –Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza.

     Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza recipe
    Photo: Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza

    Can you say “Delicioso?”  OMG, this pizza did not disappoint!   This, to me, is the perfect Italian Flavored pizza. The crust is light and crispy. The sauce is thick and tomato-y. The fresh mozzarella is mild and cheesy. The basil leaves are bright and fresh and the herb aroma is amazing. When I bit in and my mouth filled with saucy, cheesy, herby goodness I’m pretty sure I had a pizzagasm.  The cheese melted perfectly into the crust , the flavors being even more dramatic where it had browned into that crunchy, cheesy topping. 

     Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza
    Photo: Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza

    I love eating food where in each bite you get something a little bit different, it makes it all the more interesting and enjoyable to eat and this pizza definitely delivers that… I like the basil leaves to be baked along with the pizza, but you can sprinkle them on top after baking if you prefer them uncooked. This recipe can be done with little effort, but it has a big impact on your taste buds and entire dinner experience.

    Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza recipe
    Photo: Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza

    For this pizza I decided to use the pre-made homemade pizza dough, but feel free to make your own from scratch. It’s very straightforward to make and if you don’t fancy making your own pizza base then you could simply add the toppings to a store bought pizza crust. I always brush my pizza dough with olive oil and herb seasoning to make it even more delicious!
    While my pizza dough was rising in the pan, I prepared the pizza toppings. The pizza crust bakes for about 10-15 minutes in a 200 degree oven (or until crispy and light brown and cheese is melted). The secret to a good Sicilian crust is a nice coating of olive oil on the pan. That helps crisp up the bottom of the crust. A very hot oven is also crucial. The hard part is waiting for this oh so delicious pizza! The wait is definitely worth it, because you are rewarded with an amazingly delicious pizza.

    Photo: Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza
    Photo: Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza

    I’m thinking cheesy flatbread for my next attempt!

    Bismillah, let’s get started!!

    Check it out the Chicken Shashlik Sticks recipe and printable version here!!

    Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza Recipe

    This, to me, is the perfect Italian Flavored pizza. Pizza crust seasoned with Italian herb flavored butter makes a delicious base for a cheese pizza. Give it a try!!

    For Pizza

    • 1 large pizza crust (homemade or store bought)
    • for Homemade pizza dough recipe click HERE
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon butter (melted)
    • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
    • 1 teaspoons dried basil leaves
    • 1 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
    • 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
    • 1 cup pizza sauce

    For Pizza Topping

    • 1 cup Cooked BBQ flavored Chicken (you can use any flavor of your choice)
    • 1-1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese
    • 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend
    • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
    • 1 small onion (thinly sliced)
    • 1 small green bell pepper (thinly sliced)
    • 7-8 black olives (sliced)
    • a Handful fresh basil leaves
    • 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
    1. Heat oven to 200°C.
    2. Grease a 16-inch pizza pan with butter or a non-stick cooking spray. Set asdie.
    3. On a lightly floured surface, roll pizza dough into a 16 inch circle.
    4. Poke in a few areas with a fork, cover, and let rise 20 minutes.
    5. Meanwhile, In a small bowl, mix together the butter, olive oil, basil,oregano, rosemary and garlic.
    6. Transfer dough to a prepared pan or baker’s peel.
    7. Spread butter-herb mixture over the dough.
    8. Now add a layer of pizza sauce, Italian cheese blend and a one cup of mozzarella cheese.
    9. Top with the chicken pieces, onion, green pepper and olives.
    10. Top with remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
    11. Sprinkle a pinch of dried oregano, basil,rosemary and fresh basil leaves.
    12. Bake in preheated oven until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly, 10-15 minutes.
    13. Let cool for about 5 minutes before slicing.
    14. Delicious Italian Italian Herb Crusted Cheese Pizza is ready to serve. ENJOY!!

    Serving Suggestions:
    Serve with Roasted Summer Vegetables for a complete healthy and nutritious meal.

     

    If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a photo and hashtag it #Recipestable & #TastyRecipesbyBushrah. I’d love to see what you cook!

    Happy Pizza Making!!