Healthy Kwanzaa Recipes

Looking for a healthier take on your favorite Kwanzaa dishes? Try out one of these lower calorie recipes:

Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 small chopped yellow onion
• 3 cups reduced-sodium tomato-vegetable juice
• 1 4-ounce can of diced green chiles
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 15-ounce can vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
• Ground pepper to taste

1. Poke holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork, and then microwave on high for 7 to 10 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked all the way through.
2. While potatoes are cooking, heat oil over medium-heat. Add in onion and stir until it begins to brown. Add garlic while stirring for another minute. Stir in juice, green chiles, ginger, and allspice, and boil gently for 10 minutes.
3. Peel and chop sweet potatoes, adding half to the pot. Blend the other half in a blender along with peanut butter until smooth. Add puree to the pot and add pepper to taste.

Quinoa Salad with Oranges, Beets, and Pomegranate

• 3 medium beets
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups red quinoa
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 oranges
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1 pomegranate, seeded

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Cut off the root end of the beets. Wrap individually in foil. Place in oven and roast for 1 1/2 hours, or until tender.
3. Bring broth, water, quinoa, and salt to a boil. Reduce heat and cover for 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.
4. Zest and juice one orange (at least 1/3 cup). Cut remaining oranges. Add zest, vinegar, salt, and pepper to the juice and whisk in oil until combined. Add 1/4 cup parsley.
5. Peel and dice beets. Add quinoa and dates, and then pour dressing and toss to coat.