The contrast of colour makes this an eye-appealing meal for all ages. With slightly crisped lentils, kale, and nuts, it delivers on all textures as well. Topped with a creamy, lemony mayo, it’s pucker-y delicious.
Our roasted veggies are mild flavoured for young eaters. If serving to an “adults only” crowd, jazz up the squash and broccoli with some harissa paste, curry powder, or a generous dusting of chili powder before roasting.
Per serving:
Have all vegetables prepped and ready to cook before commencing.
In fine-meshed sieve, rinse lentils, removing any tiny stones and possible debris. In large saucepan, bring 4 cups (1 L) water to a boil. Add rinsed lentils, 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt, and garlic clove. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered for 15 to 18 minutes, or just until lentils are tender but still hold their shape. Itu2019s best to be slightly undercooked. Drain well, reserve garlic clove, and set lentils aside.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Lightly oil rimmed baking sheet or line with parchment. In large bowl, toss squash and broccoli with oil to lightly coat. Spread out on baking sheet and sprinkle with flaked garlic. Bake in centre of preheated oven for 25 minutes, stirring with spatula a couple of times so they bake evenly.
While squash and broccoli are roasting, use your fingertips to rub a little oil and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt into kale. When squash has roasted for 25 minutes, scatter cooked lentils and kale overtop and roughly stir in. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds. Return baking sheet to oven and continue to roast for 10 more minutes, or until kale is crispy and vegetables are slightly caramelized.
To make Creamy Vegan Mayo, in small high-powered blender, combine all ingredients. Add softened garlic from cooked lentils. Alternatively, add generous pinches of flaked dry garlic. Whirl until smooth and creamy. Add more seasonings, to taste, if you wish.
To serve, place roasted veggies and seeds on platter. Drizzle with Creamy Vegan Mayo. Add more seasonings, to taste, if you wish.
These mildly spiced salmon tacos served with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds will bring a party together. Make a small quantity of salmon go further when you pair it with a fresh red cabbage slaw featuring citrus and cilantro. Drizzled with some bright lime yogurt, the flavours come together perfectly. Sustainability status Wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are considered among the most sustainable, as the fishery is subject to limited harvests. With salmon stocks in decline, supporting managed fisheries such as these can help maintain populations into the future. That may also mean eating salmon less often than we do now. Salmon is a favourite Salmon is the most popular variety of fish in Canada and the second most popular in the US.
B12-rich mussels are a very good and economical source of protein and iron. Steamed mussels are a classic way to enjoy seafood—and so is this rich, aromatic broth of tomato, fennel, and saffron. Be sure to allow saffron to fully infuse to get the full flavour benefit, and finish off the dish with the fragrant fennel fronds. Sustainability status Farmed mussels are considered highly sustainable due to their low impacts on the environment. They are easy to harvest, require no fertilizer or fresh water, and don’t need to be fed externally, as they get all their nutritional requirements from their marine environment. Mussel prep Selection: Look for mussels with shiny, tightly closed shells that smell of the sea. If shells are slightly open, give them a tap. Live mussels will close immediately. Storage: Keep mussels in the fridge in a shallow pan laid on top of ice. Keep them out of water and cover with a damp cloth. Ideally, consume on the day you buy them, but within two days. They need to breathe, so never keep them in a sealed plastic bag. Cleanup: In addition to being sustainable, farmed mussels tend to require less cleaning than wild mussels. Most of the fibrous “beards” that mussels use to grip solid surfaces will have been removed before sale. But if a few remain, they’re easily dispatched: grasp the beard with your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward the hinge of the mussel and give it a tug. Afterward, give mussels a quick rinse and scrub away any areas of mud or seaweed, which, with farmed mussels, will require minimal work.
The delicate flavour of shrimp is highlighted with just a touch of lemon and a hint of mustard, while radish and celery give some fresh crunch to this dish. Eat it in lettuce cups, on top of greens, or served on whole grain bread for a filling snack. Sustainability status Both wild and farmed shrimp can be sustainable depending on where they’re caught and how they’re raised. See our article “Sea Change” for more information about choosing ethical shrimp.
Steaming fish in parchment-paper packets, also known as cooking en papillote , is a classic technique that allows you to cook all your vegetables and fish at the same time in a quick, easy, and convenient way. Flavours of lemon, garlic, and spicy dried chili make this a simple, yet showstopping meal. Sustainability status Wild-caught Pacific halibut has Ocean Wise and Marine Stewardship Council certifications and is fished using longlines, which is a more selective method of fishing that results in less bycatch. Prep party Involve family or guests in the prep and have everyone make their own packet. Once you’ve mastered the technique, it’s easy to change up the ingredients. Make sure you select vegetables that will cook at the same rate as the fish.