A Weeknight Meal Ready in 15 Minutes
Originally from India, lemons are a favorite fruit the world over, adding a refreshing zing to drinks and dishes. A simple spritz of fresh lemon will add complexity to any dish and a few slices as a garnish, well, we might as well give out your Michelin Star right now! All of us aren’t lucky enough to have access to a lemon tree in our backyard, but due to the popularity of this citrus, every bodega and market from Tribeca to Timbuktu will have plenty of fresh lemons stocked day and night.
Especially during the warmer months in late spring and through summer, a dash of lemon juice is the perfect way to create a standout weeknight meal with practically zero extra effort. Grab a pack of Dare to Be Different Broccoli Gnocchi to make this meal vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free.
Lemons, Leeks & Greeks
We’ve shared some of our favorite Mediterranean flavors before and today we’re traveling to Greece. After lemons arrived from Asia in the first century, Greece made the citrus a key part of its national cuisine. It would not be a stretch to compare lemons in Greek cuisine to the function of curries in Indian cooking.
Lemon is a key building block for many dishes along with olive oil, oregano and garlic.
Leeks are another staple in the kouzina. Ancient Greeks believed this member of the onion family to be an antidote for nosebleeds. Leeks may not be the first thing we reach for to stop a nosebleed these days, but they are often the first thing to reach for when looking for a savory addition to soups, pastas and even salads.
Vitamin C Stands for Citrus
If there’s one thing we aim for with all of our dishes, other than bringing family and friends together, it’s creating meals that are as healthy as they are delicious. Lemons are a good source of Vitamin C, helpful for growth and supporting your heart health. In fact, one lemon contains 31mg of Vitamin C or over 50% of your recommended daily intake. The fiber in lemon can also help lower your cholesterol. That’s enough to get going back for seconds!
Some studies even go as far to claim that lemons can help you lose weight. While we wouldn’t go quite that far, fresh lemons encourage cooking with whole foods which will always help with your overall health. And, if you want to have an extra glass of lemonade on a hot sunny day—go for it! Just watch those sugar levels.
Ingredients:
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1 package Dare to Be Different Broccoli Gnocchi
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1⁄2 cup sliced leek
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1⁄2 cup chopped broccoli florets
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2 tablespoons chopped hazelnuts
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Juice of 1⁄2 lemon
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Salt & Pepper
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Shredded parmesan cheese, optional
Directions:
- Cook Dare to Be Different Broccoli Gnocchi in boiling water for 4 minutes, then strain and rinse under cold water. Pat dry.
- In a pan over medium heat, saute the sliced leek and broccoli for 5-8 minutes until leep is translucent.
- Add the chopped hazelnuts, lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt & pepper to the pan. Mix and cook on medium-low, another 2-3 minutes.
- Add cooked gnocchi to the leek-broccoli-hazelnut mixture and mix to combine. Drizzle with extra olive oil. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt or pepper if needed.
