Red Lentil Penne Pasta with Chorizo, Sofrito, Pine Nuts and Currants

Red Lentil Penne Pasta with Chorizo, Sofrito, Pine Nuts and Currants

This Barilla Red Lentil Penne Pasta with Chorizo, Swiss Chard, Pinenuts and a zesty Sofrito sauce is a great match for the natural flavor of the pasta. A little bit of chorizo really ups the appeal, but if you leave it out, this dish is naturally vegan. With pasta providing a comfort-food base, the nutty crunchy pine nuts, pop of sweet currants, and salty-savory chorizo give this dish lots of flavor appeal. It also shows how using a small amount of animal protein can maximize flavor and still keep a plant-forward profile. Get the recipe: https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/recipe/red-lentil-penne

Barilla Orzo Bowl with Mushroom Shawarma and Ladolemono

Get ready to “bowl over” your guests with this delicious plant-forward bowl using a blend of orzo pasta, quinoa and black rice as the base. This Barilla Orzo Bowl with Mushroom Shawarma and Ladolemono is great for grab-n-go or takeout, and is easily customizable. The shawarma-spice blend used on the mushrooms is a flavor secret you’ll find lots of uses for! This dish is perfect for an action station or bowl-bar setup, and holds really well for grab-n-go. Get the recipe: https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/recipe/mushroom-shawarma

Watermelon Ice Pops

Chef Mai Pham of Star Ginger Asian Grill and Noodle Bar in Sacramento, CA, shows us how to make Watermelon Ice Pops. Chef Mai was inspired to create this recipe after slurping down many watermelon-passionfruit drinks on a recent trip to Vietnam. It’s a fun dessert and also a great garnish for drinks-- with or without alcohol. The brilliant red juice makes these Watermelon Ice Pops a beautiful and refreshing treat. Get the recipe: http://www.ciaprochef.com/watermelon/watermelonicepop/

Icy Spicy Thai Watermelon Mojitos

Chef Mai Pham of Star Ginger Asian Grill and Noodle Bar in Sacramento, CA, shows us how to make a unique, fun and refreshing Icy Spicy Thai Watermelon Mojito. Growing up in Vietnam, Chef Mai fondly remembers neighborhood street vendors selling freshly cut watermelon wedges, ready to be dipped in pounded salt and chilies. This Icy Spicy Mojito is inspired by those flavors: rum, vodka and watermelon work their magic when blended with Asian spices and herbs. Feel free to jazz it up with fun garnishes like a carved, sizeable chunk of watermelon, or even a watermelon satay! Get the recipe: http://www.ciaprochef.com/watermelon/watermelonmojito/

Shrimp and Watermelon Poke Bowl

We’ve all heard about poke and poke combos, but what about watermelon and shrimp?  Chef Mai Pham of Star Ginger Asian Grill and Noodle Bar in Sacramento, CA, prepares this blissful bowl of smoky pan-seared shrimp, juicy watermelon, avocado, pineapple, edamame, sliced jalapeño, and fresh mint. The aloha spirit is all right here in this colorful, delicious and healthy Watermelon and Shrimp poke bowl! Get the recipe: http://www.ciaprochef.com/watermelon/shrimpwatermelonpoke/