Your Best Healthy and Fresh Backyard Barbecue Side Dish
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The Manly Housewife and Ancient Fire are teaming up again, and this time we are looking for healthy and fresh side dishes for our backyard barbecues.
For the next two weeks, we are asking for visitors to submit comments to this post with a healthy and fresh recipe that they would bring to a backyard BBQ. Defining healthy could be a challenge, so we are going to keep it simple. Recipes should be low in bad fats and salt, with a reasonable calorie count and as many vitamins, minerals, and other good stuff as possible. Maximize the flavors and enjoyment while minimizing the negative impacts. You’re going to be eating burgers and dogs with it after all!
Recipes must include all ingredients with exact measurements, detailed preparation steps, expected servings, and any recommended service steps. Make sure you also tell us why you love a certain ingredient or what your goals were for combining the flavors, and of course anything else that excites you about healthy and fresh food.
The prize for the lucky winners will be a feature in each of the hosts’ blog one day the following week. The hosts will pick multiple winners randomly from all the entries we accept (see the rules above) and will contact winners for more information. Take pictures of anything applicable. If you win and you can get us photos, we’ll post them. Also include the address to contact you at for follow-ups.
Lemon Quinoa w/ Asparagus Salad
serves 4
2 cups cooked Quinoa cooled
1/4 cup diced onions or scallions
2 ribs celery diced
3/4 cup cooked asparagus
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Just add everything to a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate till time to serve.
Calories per serving: 160
Fat- 2 grams
Protein- 5 grams
Carbohydrates- 29 grams
Quinoa is really breaking down the door of side dishes now. Higher in protein than it’s compared rice and potato type dishes it has the added health benefit of lean tissue building qualities thanks to the amino acid Lysine. This seed (not grain) is high in heart healthy maganese so instead of clogging your arteries for the BBQ you can strengthen them! Pair it with asparagus, also a high fiber ingredient, you get a full feeling with great vitamin content from both the Quinoa and the Asparagus. Not to mention–Asparagus is a diuretic so you won’t feel all bloated after this BBQ party!
Stir-fry Snap Beans
1/4 Lb. Fresh Green Beans (trimmed)
1 Tsp. Oil
1-1/2 Tsp. Soy Sauce
3/4 Tsp. Sesame Seeds
1/4 Tsp. Sesame Oil (optional)
1/8 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1/8 Tsp. Onion Powder
Dash Black Pepper
In a small skillet, saute beans in oil for 5 minutes. Add soy sauce, sesame seeds, oil if desired,
garlic powder, onion powder and pepper. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until beans are tender
and evenly coated.
Yields 2 Servings.
Emily’s Grilled Zucchini and Squash
Yields: 2 to 3 servings
Ingredients
2 or 3 Zucchini and/or Squash, sliced horizontally to approximately 1/2″ thickness
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp crushed mint
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp dill
1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
1. In a small bowl, combine the oil, mint, basil, dill, and salt.
2. Brush over the zucchini/squash
3. On a grill (or even a frying pan), cook 2 to 3 minutes a side.
4. Eat and enjoy!!!
OK…little embarrassed how EASY this is…doesn’t even feel like a recipe, but I want to support your awesome idea and share with y’all so you can eat more! Get some fresh, fresh corn on the cob from the Farmer’s Market, some Kerrygold Irish Salted (or Unsalted Butter), let is soften and add chili powder until you so desired and spread it on shucked corn. Wrap it in aluminum foil and grill!!!
Salsa with a twist
1 White Peach – chopped
1 Avocado – chppped
1/2 red onion chopped
Hot peppers, I used scotch bonnet but you could use jalapeños (the level of heat depends on you)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 juiced lime
Salt and Pepper
Mix everything together let rest for 1 hr and then serve
Hmm. White Peach with Avocado. As delicious as that combination might sound together I wonder if it will mix well for the stomach acids..fruit with the fat and oil of Avocado. I think you’re asking for my serious gas. Either Way these postings seem pretty cool as far as Healthy Side Dishes are concerned. I work for Better Recipes so I have to browse a lot of sights. Regardless, you’ve made my mouth water for some yummy salsa!