Recipe: Lentil Soup

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Try this hearty and healthy meatless lentil soup. It’s a recipe your family is sure to love!

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons ghee *(for vegan recipe substitute with 3 tbsp. olive oil)
  • 2 cups of brown lentil
  • 1 large onion
  • 1/4 cup of orzo pasta (or pasta of choice)
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 8 cups of chicken stock *(for vegan recipe substitute with vegetable stock or water)
  • 3 tablespoons of dried mint
  • 3 tablespoons of salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Garnish (optional):

  • Fresh mint
  • Aleppo pepper
  • Olive oil

 

Directions: 

  1. Chop onion while your pot is heating on stove.
  2. Add ghee to warm pot and melt.
  3. Add onions and caramelize.
  4. Wash lentils in large bowl under running water while onions caramelize.
  5. Add lentils to pot and stir.
  6. Add chicken stock and bring to boil.
  7. Bring down the heat and let simmer for 45 min.
  8. Add orzo pasta and stir.
  9. Smash garlic cloves, and add to pot.
  10. Add dry mint and cook for another 20 min.
  11. Add salt and pepper.
  12. Serve in individual bowls and garnish with fresh mint and Aleppo pepper with a drizzle of olive oil.

 

 

Shushan Darzian is the founder and owner of Ladybugs Catering & Events. Her passion for food, presentation and exquisite detail drive her mission to provide outstanding service for her clients. As a former educator, she is committed to life-longing learning and loves to travel. She resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons.

 

Recipe: Fish Lavash Wraps

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This is a quick and delicious oven-baked fish wrap with minimal ingredients.

Serving size: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. halibut
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 6″ x 9″ pieces of lavash bread
  • Salt and black pepper for seasoning
  • Herbs: parsley, oregano or tarragon (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cut filet of halibut into four equal pieces.
  3. Season with salt and black pepper and set aside.
  4. Cut lavash bread into four 6″ x 9″ pieces with scissors (or use pre-cut lavash bread)
  5. Lay lavash pieces white-side down.
  6. Place halibut in middle of lavash and add two slices of butter next to each other on top of fish.
  7. Optional: add a sprig of your herb of choice on top of butter slices.
  8. Fold and wrap each piece of fish with lavash, making sure butter side is on top with the weight of the fish holding the wrap together.
  9. Lay wraps in pan and bake in preheated oven for 15 min until golden brown.
  10. Brush residual butter from pan over the wraps.

 

Shushan Darzian is the founder and owner of Ladybugs Catering & Events. Her passion for food, presentation and exquisite detail drive her mission to provide outstanding service for her clients. As a former educator, she is committed to life-longing learning and loves to travel. She resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons.

 

Recipe: Cucumber Mint Yogurt Drink

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Start your summer off with a delicious and refreshing drink…chill your serving glasses in the freezer before you start!

Serving size: 2

Ingredients: 

  • 1 Armenian cucumber (or small Persian cucumbers)
  • 10 mint leaves
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Directions: 

  1. Slice cucumber as thin as possible.
  2. Then dice the cucumber slices into very small cubes.
  3. Add the diced cucumbers to a pitcher
  4. Chop mint leaves (use dried mint if fresh mint is unavailable).
  5. Add the finely chopped mint to the pitcher.
  6. Add a cup of yogurt to a medium bowl and whisk.
  7. Slowly add two cups of water to the yogurt while stirring.
  8. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and stir.
  9. Add the yogurt mix to the pitcher and stir.
  10. Chill for 30 min in the refrigerator.
  11. Pour chilled drink into chilled glasses.
  12. Garnish with a slice of cucumber, cut half-way to center and position on rim of glass.
  13. Serve the drink with a spoon to scoop up diced cucumbers!

Enjoy this simple and refreshing drink!

 

Shushan Darzian is the founder and owner of Ladybugs Catering & Events. Her passion for food, presentation and exquisite detail drive her mission to provide outstanding service for her clients. As a former educator, she is committed to life-longing learning and loves to travel. She resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons.