Posts In: yoga snacks

from Kirstin Green

Looking for the perfect meal to complement your yoga practice? Maybe you just need a jolt of inspiration for the weekday dinner line-up. May we suggest…

photo credit: Kirstin Green

Cucumber-Avocado Salad with Carrot-Ginger Dressing

Sometimes, it is all about the presentation! Enjoy this bright, colorful, fresh, raw, vegan salad on a hot summer day.

SALAD
1 1/2 lbs cucumber (I used a very long one from the garden)
1 avocado
2 green onions
pinch or two of sesame seeds

DRESSING
2 small carrots (about 3 ounces)
1 tablespoon white onion
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon fresh ginger (about 1 inch, peeled)
1 tablespoon miso
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/4 cup rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup neutral oil (I prefer avocado oil)

Combine all ingredients for the dressing in a blender and whirl at high speed until very smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preferences.

Cut the cucumber lengthwise in half, and then quarters. Cut into bite sized pieces and put in a bowl with about 1/3 cup of the dressing. Toss to coat. Move these onto a beautiful plate or platter.

Cut the avocado in half and scoop the flesh out in one piece from the peel. Slice thinly and use your hand to press the slices into a fan on the cutting board. Slide a knife or spatula under the avocado fan to carefully move it on top of the dressed cucumber.

Sprinkle sliced green onions over the top of the cucumbers and avocado. Finish with sesame seeds and some nice salt. Serve, and enjoy!

(Alternatively, chop up the avocado, toss with the cucumbers and dressing, and eat right out of the mixing bowl!)

Kirstin Green is a former restaurateur and an avid home cook with a long-standing connection to the Yoga One family. After completing the 200 hour YTT back in 2008, she created several mosaic art pieces for the downtown studio. She is well traveled and committed to living a life filled with sensory and aesthetic beauty, filling her days with gardening, art-making, baking and cooking. These days, she is shaping a new career in Expressive Arts Therapy with a special focus on the art of food.

from Kirstin Green

Looking for the perfect meal to complement your yoga practice? Maybe you just need a jolt of inspiration for the weekday dinner line-up. May we suggest…

Jackfruit Tacos
This recipe was adapted from Vegan Huggs 

2 tablespoons oil
1 small onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 14 oz cans young jackfruit in water or brine, rinsed and drained well
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning 
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt, to taste
1 cup vegetable broth
Corn tortillas
Sliced avocado
Shredded cabbage
Salsa Crema or plain yogurt
Anything you like on a taco!

Shred the jackfruit in a food processor. Pulse a few times to get a “shredded meat” texture. Don’t over pulse or it will be mushy. If you don’t have a food processor, you can chop the jackfruit up by hand. 

Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook for a couple of minutes, until it darkens a little bit. Add the spices and sauté for another minute until fragrant. Add the shredded jackfruit and sauté for about 3 minutes.  
Pour in the vegetable broth and simmer until the liquid has cooked down completely, about 10 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more if needed. Remove from heat. 

Warm up your corn tortillas in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 30 seconds on each side. Build tacos to your taste. I made a quick pickle relish with green beans, fresh corn, shallots and jalapeños and it was delicious on the tacos!

Kirstin Green is a former restaurateur and an avid home cook with a long-standing connection to the Yoga One family. After completing the 200 hour YTT back in 2008, she created several mosaic art pieces for the downtown studio. She is well traveled and committed to living a life filled with sensory and aesthetic beauty, filling her days with gardening, art-making, baking and cooking. These days, she is shaping a new career in Expressive Arts Therapy with a special focus on the art of food.

from Kirstin Green

Looking for the perfect meal to complement your yoga practice? Maybe you just need a jolt of inspiration for the weekday dinner line-up. May we suggest…

If you haven’t heard of or tried aquafaba, this is a great chance to do so! It might seem strange to use the liquid from a can of chickpeas as an emulsifying agent but I promise it works and creates a creamy texture with no nuts, seeds, or dairy. This recipe was adapted from Save the Food.

1/4 cup aquafaba (chickpea liquid)
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil (such as grapeseed)
1/2 cup fresh parsley and chives
1 tsp dried dill
1 lemon, juiced

In a blender, add the aquafaba and cream of tartar. Blend, gradually increasing speed for about 1 minute. Add the mustard, garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper. With blender on low speed, slowly stream in oil until thickened. Pulse in herbs and lemon.

Try it over your favorite salad, with a plate of crudités, or drizzled over a goddess bowl of rice and veggies. Enjoy!

Kirstin Green is a former restaurateur and an avid home cook with a long-standing connection to the Yoga One family. After completing the 200 hour YTT back in 2008, she created several mosaic art pieces for the downtown studio. She is well traveled and committed to living a life filled with sensory and aesthetic beauty, filling her days with gardening, art-making, baking and cooking. These days, she is shaping a new career in Expressive Arts Therapy with a special focus on the art of food.