As it is now officially spring, I have been really craving my beloved thai spring rolls. It is my favorite appetizer at Thai restaurants, but I actually prefer to make them myself. As it is getting warmer and sunnier outside, these spring rolls are such a great light lunch idea. They are so quickly prepared, and you need no fancy equipment or ingredients to make them. I know that many of the recipes on my blog can be quite pricy, but this one definitely falls under the „eating on a budget“ category.

All you need are some raw veggies of your choice, rice paper and rice noodles which you can already get for one or two Euros at Asian supermarkets, peanut or any kind of nut butter and some condiments that you probably already have in stock. Summer rolls are also a great work lunch, because you eat them cold, and you can prepare them the night before.

  
The peanut dipping sauce is also divine. Even though I have switched from peanut butter to almond butter a long time ago, this peanut sauce will really blow your mind. It is so creamy and delicious, packed with healthy protein and fats, and really gives this recipe a special touch. I know that many of you are allergic to peanuts, which is why I am working on a second dipping sauce without any kind of nuts in it. I will share the recipe with you as soon as I declare it approved.

Health benefits in these delicious thai sommer rolls:
– biotin (important for blood sugar balance and skin health, necessary to build healthy fats that keep the skin moist and soft)
– copper (important to building strong tissue, maintaining blood volume, and producing energy in your cells)
– fiber (important for heart health, lowers cholesterol levels)
– folic acid (important for a healthy heart; prevents certain cancers)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– magnesium (important for a healthy nerve system, muscle health, energy production)
– manganese (for nerve health)
– mono-unsaturated fats (decreases risks for breast cancer, important for heart health)
– potassium (lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure)
– protein (important for a healthy metabolism, immune
systems, production of enzymes)
– vitamin B5 (important for energy production; lowers cholesterol and blood pressure)
– vitamin K (important for blood clotting and healthy bones)

Serve with the sauce.

Enjoy!

The post Thai Sommer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Thai is one of my favorite cuisines. It’s so delicious and healthy, it fills you up but doesn’t let you feel stuffed. I love how many vegetables you can add to a curry, there are literally no rules on what belongs in it. That way you can use whatever body is craving, and it will turn out great no matter what. If you do not have all the vegetables in my ingredients list, just switch it with some other veggie that you still have at home. The recipe is extremely easy to make, it’s a guaranteed success and a great lunch or dinner.

I use green curry paste in this recipe, which I bought at the local asian store. It is gluten-free and only contains fresh green chilli, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, salt, galangal, cumin and coriander seeds. No nasty preservatives or anything I can’t pronounce.
The coconut milk gives curries their unique creamy texture and flavor. The plant-based milk is probably a vegan’s best friend, because it is an amazing alternative to dairy milk or cream. Although high in saturated fats, it has many great vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, which is said to lower blood pressure or magnesium which is great for a healthy immune system.
Naturally, thai curries are packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Depending on what veggies you add, the nutrients may vary, but the dish is certainly a great way to combine health and deliciousness.
My tip: this dish is great for a girls night in because there is a lot to chop, and almost everybody loves a good curry. It is also dairy and gluten-free, so it is perfect for people suffering from food allergies.

Health benefits:
– copper (important for the development of the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves; important for the transformation of melanin which is involved in the pigmentation of hair, eyes and skin)
– fiber (important for heart health, lowers cholesterol levels)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– magnesium (important for a healthy nerve system, muscle health, energy production)
– potassium (lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure)
– vitamin A (antioxidant powerhouse, anti-aging benefits, maintenance of good eye-sight)
– vitamin B (lowers blood pressure, important for healthy nerves, and energy production)
– vitamin C (good for your immune system, tissue health)
– vitamin E (antioxidant against free radicals, prevents skin ageing)
– vitamin K (important for blood clotting and healthy bones)

Ingredients:
Serves 2 hungry
– 3 carrots
– 1 red pepper
– 1 zucchini
– 3 cups (150g) sprouts
– 2 cups (200g) mushrooms
– 1 cup (130g) frozen peas
– 2 strands of lemongrass
– 3 tbsp (45g) green curry paste
– 2 tbsp (60ml) glutenfree soy sauce
– a thumb-size piece of fresh ginger
– 2 tbsp (30ml) rapeseed oil
– 2 cans (400g) coconut milk lite
– 1 tbsp (15ml) maple syrup
– salt to taste

Start by chopping all vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Then finely chop the ginger. Peel the lemongrass, and also finely chop its the inner layer. In a large pan or wok, heat up the oil. Add the ginger, and lemongrass to the wok and sauté for 2 minutes. Next, add the curry paste and cook for another 2 minutes so it releases all its flavor. Now add the carrots, and cook for about 5 minutes. Then add all the red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, peas, and sprouts. Cook everything for 5-7 minutes, then pour the coconut milk into the wok. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 25 minutes.
Remove the wok from the heat and add the maple sirup and salt. Add more curry paste if desired.

Serve with whole grain rice or quinoa.

Enjoy!

The post Thai Curry with Lemongrass appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

I love the Middle Eastern cuisine. Tabbouleh has been one of my favorite salads as a student. It is so easy and not at all expensive to make. Since the original Tabbouleh recipe includes bulgur, celiacs cannot eat it, which is why I found an alternative that tastes just as amazing, and is even great for your skin: millet. Millet has almost been forgotten these days, but the little grain is packed with nutrients that are enormously important for a healthy body.

Health benefits in this salad:
– copper important for the development of the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves; important for the transformation of melanin which is involved in the pigmentation of hair, eyes and skin)
– magnesium (important for a healthy nerve system, muscle health, energy production)
– manganese (for nerve health)
– zinc (important for growth, skin, and a healthy immune system)

Ingredients:
Serves 2
– 1 cup (200 g) cherry tomatoes
– ½ cucumber
– 2 large handful of fresh parsley
– 50 g millet
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1 tsp ground cumin
– 1 tsp coriander
– 1 tsp agave
– 1 tsp olive oil
– 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
– 1 tbsp lemon juice
– salt and pepper to taste

Start by rinsing the millet thoroughly under water, and add it to a saucepan filled with 2/3 cup (180 g) of water, and 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and let it cook for about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it soak for about 15 minutes. In the meantime, wash the tomatoes and the cucumber, cut them into bite-sized squares and add them to a bowl. Chop the parsley, and add it to the other ingredients. Add all the remaining ingredients, and mix well.

Serve as a side or a main dish with (gluten-free) bread.

Enjoy!

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Red cabbage used to not be on my grocery shopping list. I associated it with fatty German foods, because Germans eat their red cabbage traditionally cooked with lots of meat. Ever since I discovered that you can eat it raw, however, I have been in love. It’s a great alternative to regular green salad, and it has so many nutrients, you simply have to try it. The combination of pear and walnuts in this salad is heavenly. It’s once again a salad to impress – your body and your friends. Of course it’s loaded with many vitamins and minerals as well. The anti-inflammatory benefits and antioxidants content of red cabbage is higher than in any other cabbage. The pears provide fiber, and the heart healhty benefits of walnuts are mostly due to their high omega-3 fats. So it really is the perfect winter salad.

Health benefits in this red cabbage pear and salad:
– copper (important for the development of the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves; important for the transformation of melanin which is involved in the pigmentation of hair, eyes and skin)
– fiber (important for heart health, lowers cholesterol levels)
– manganese (for nerve health)
– omega-3-fatty-acids (prevents heart disease, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure)
– potassium (lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure)
– vitamin C (good for your immune system, tissue health)
– vitamin K (important for blood clotting and healthy bones)

Enjoy!

The post Red Cabbage and Pear Salad with Walnuts appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

This recipe has quite a sentimental story behind it. I had this salad at my graduation dinner with my parents and some of my close friends in this amazing restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, called “Irregardless”. We had such an amazing night there, eating and dancing; it’s such a happy memory. The salad is probably the best thing I have ever eaten, so I tried to recreate it once I came back to Germany, so I can eat it whenever I want. Of course it is not nearly as good as the one they serve at “Irregardless”, but it’s still pretty tasty and amazingly colorful, and of course packed with lots of our favorite nutrients.

Health Benefits:
– calcium (important for bone, teeth, muscle and nerve health)
– copper (important for the development of the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves; important for the transformation of melanin which is involved in the pigmentation of hair, eyes and skin)
– fiber (important for heart health, lowers cholesterol levels)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– manganese (for nerve health)
– mono-unsaturated fats (decreases risks for breast cancer, important for heart health)
– omega-3-fatty-acids (prevents heart disease, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure)
– protein (important for a healthy metabolism, immune systems, production of enzymes)
– vitamin A (antioxidant powerhouse, anti-aging benefits, maintenance of good eye-sight)
– vitamin B5 (important for energy production; lowers cholesterol and blood pressure)
– vitamin C (good for your immune system, tissue health)

I could go on and on, but you get the point: it’s pretty healthy.

Enjoy!

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