Tag Archives: Quick

Pickled Carrots Taco Shop Style

A healthy, crispy vegetable pickle.
Photo: Cynthia Dalton

Fred’s a friend of mine and one day we were going to be working together on a big project. We knew the day would be hectic with no time to cook, so on his way to my place, Fred stopped at his favorite taco shop for our lunchtime provisions.

Fred picked up a spread that included all the usual suspects — beans, rice, chili rellenos, and, of course, tacos.

Included in the feast was pickled carrots. The perfect counterpart to the richness of the meal, the pickles were an unexpected treat. At once, gently spicy, satisfyingly al dente, and meaty.

Needless to say, I had to try my hand at duplicating those little gems and if I do say so myself, I nailed it.

If you like carrots, and you like peppers, and you like pickles,  I think you’ll love these!

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Pickled Carrots Taco Shop Style
Bracing, with a spicy tang, these pickles make a great snack (especially with your favorite cheese). They are also a great addition to a variety of meals and they are a nice change of pace from chips with a sandwich. © The Working Lunch Project
A healthy, crispy vegetable pickle.
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
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Rate this recipe!
Course Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Passive Time 3 hours
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Course Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Passive Time 3 hours
Servings
servings
Ingredients
A healthy, crispy vegetable pickle.
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil the first 7 ingredients (everything except the sliced carrots.
  2. Add the sliced carrots to the boiling mixture and reduce the heat to medium high.
  3. Simmer carrots uncovered for 7 minutes (for al dente).
  4. Remove from heat, cover the pot, and allow carrots to cool in their brine to room temperature.
  5. Transfer the pickled carrots and pickled pepper rounds with brine to a glass container, cover, and allow to chill several hours for flavors to meld. Keep refrigerated and use within 1 week.
Recipe Notes

Nutritional facts per serving:

37 calories

0g fat

468mg sodium

8g carbs

1g fiber

.5g protein

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Quick and Spicy Bean Soup

With a few pantry staples, a quick, savory bean soup is just minutes away.
Photo: Cynthia Dalton

On a rainy, cold, and dreary day recently, I suddenly heard loud noises, as if someone had begun dumping pebbles on my rooftop. I looked outside my kitchen window and I could scarcely believe my eyes. My normally sunny southern California was being pelted unmercifully with pea-sized hail that was now blanketing the entire yard in its frozen, glistening white.

So, it was no wonder that I craved comfort from the cupboard as lunchtime rolled around. I wanted soup — hot, well-seasoned, and quick to prepare.

A quick forage through the shelves yielded chicken broth, enchilada sauce, and refried beans. I threw everything together along with the addition of onion and spices and I couldn’t believe how soothing, warming, and satisfying the resulting nectar tasted.

The perfect antidote for the winter blues, I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

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Quick and Spicy Bean Soup
This bean soup is sturdy, but not heavy and tastes as if it simmered far longer than the few minutes it actually simmers. I prefer to retain some of the texture of the beans and onions in the finished product, but if you prefer a totally smooth soup, an immersion blender should make short work of it. Please note: for testing purposes I used The Spice Hunter's regular salt-free Mexican Seasoning Blend for this recipe, not their other version labled "Organic" which is a different creature altogether, in my opinion. © The Working Lunch Project
With a few pantry staples, a quick, savory bean soup is just minutes away.
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
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Course Lunch, Soup
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
(one cup) servings
Ingredients
Course Lunch, Soup
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
(one cup) servings
Ingredients
With a few pantry staples, a quick, savory bean soup is just minutes away.
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. In a medium saucepan, on medium heat, saute the onion in the olive oil until golden, approximately 3-5 minutes.
  2. Whisk in the remaining ingredients, raise heat to high just to bring the soup to a simmer. Turn heat down to medium and simmer gently, without a lid, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  3. Can be served immediately or prepared ahead of time and stored, covered, in the refrigerator before reheating. Enjoy within 5 days.
Recipe Notes

Nutritional facts per serving:

152 calories

6g fat

816mg sodium

19g carbs

6g fiber

8g protein

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