Tag Archives: side dishes

Best Low Carb Side Dishes in Air Fryer

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Although I prioritize fitness and healthy eating, I still find myself susceptible to cravings for delicious, crispy “fried” treats. Thankfully, my air-fryer has emerged as my guilt-free solution, transforming indulgent side dishes into wholesome alternatives – these are some of the best vegetables in the air fryer! Explore these low carb air fryer side dish recipes to elevate tonight’s dinner to a new level of satisfaction – even when time is tight!

A low-carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly way to snack and get more vegetables in your day! These easy air fryer zucchini chips use just a few simple ingredients and are done in minutes – perfect for game day entertaining or a delicious side dish and alternative to fries.

Cheddar Zucchini Chips in the Air Fryer stay low carb, thanks to a coating made from crushed cheddar crisps and almond meal, instead of breadcrumbs and flour. Dunk in your favorite dipping sauce, so addictive!

 Honey Ginger Broccoli for Two in Air Fryer is my delicious spin on “crack” broccoli – my kids beg for it and will eat up the whole batch!

Crispy, crunchy and quick, these baked onion rings are lower in carbs thanks to a coating that includes keto-friendly ingredients like crushed pork rinds, Parmesan cheese and coconut flour. A delicious appetizer, game day snack or side dish for steak, burgers and more!

Crispy Low Carb Onion Rings in Air Fryer are a clever way to avoid eating carbs or staying gluten-free. The onions are coated in topping made with crushed pork rinds – a smart and flavorful way to use this old-school snack!

Hatch green chile fries are a quick and easy air fryer recipe suitable for paleo, whole30, gluten free and low carb diets.

Hatch Green Chili Fried in Air Fryer make mage with this popular, milder New Mexico pepper. Of course, you can use any type pepper (even hot ones, if you dare) and even bell pepper strips!

Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!

Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries hit the spot – crunch on the outside, soft on the interior and drizzled with honey, sprinkled with sea salt and upgraded with a lightly spicy granola. Upgraded comfort food to pair up with almost any main dish protein.

TIPS FOR CRISPY AIR FRYER SIDE DISHES

Type of Air Fryer: You can use whatever air fryer you prefer – a smaller “drawer” style one may require you to make some of these recipes in two batches. I prefer a larger oven-style air fryer with a door that pulls downward. That makes it easy for me to check on food, flip it, see what’s going on through the door winder, and also typically cook up the whole batch at once to serve my hungry family.

Can I Use an Oven? Yes, but it will take a little longer. Preheat the oven temperature to the same temperature and increase cooking time by about 33% longer, flipping halfway through. So if an air-fryer recipe says 10 minutes, bake in oven for 15 minutes. Also, it is preferable to use a mesh rack or over the baking sheet or a crisping tray sheet to help promote crispiness.

How do I Reheat Leftovers? It’s best to reheat leftovers in a pre-heated air-fryer (375F) for just a few minutes until crisped up and warmed. Reheating in a microwave is not recommended, as it will made the food soggy.

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Crowing About Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes — Tastes Like Artichoke Dip!

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Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes are warm and crunch and taste like artichoke dip!You might walk right past Sunchokes in the market, they are knobby, gnarly and not a vegetable that jumps out with color and leafy flash and says “buy me, buy me!”  Some call this tuberous root a “Jerusalem Artichoke,” however they are not at all related to the artichoke – although they do have a strangely similar taste that could be described as a little sweet, a little nutty and quite crunchy when served raw. It’s super simple to slice Sunchokes up thinly and sprinkle on a salad.

Sunchokes are a tuberous root also called Jerusalem Artichokes .

Another easy way to prepare this unusual veggie is oven-roasting — what root or tuber doesn’t benefit from a toasty turn under high, dry heat?! I toss Sunchokes in olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese and the final result is a cross between oven fries and artichoke dip! OMG, so good and so much healthier than the traditional party-night artichoke dip that has a ton of cheese, mayo and other heavy ingredients.

Crow Pose - TheFitFork.com

I like to try new things, it makes life more exciting! Like learning the crow yoga pose earlier in the year and getting up enough nerve to balance on a picnic table! Sunchokes can be an exciting and unusual addition to your healthy diet (they are obviously gluten-free, Paleo friendly and are low on the Glycemic Index making them a good choice for diabetics.  Sunchokes are also a great source of iron, potassium and thiamin. They are also low in calories (60 calories for 4-ounces) and high in fiber. If you want to learn more about Sunchokes or can find them at the store, just ask your produce manager – or check out Friedas.com for nutritional information and more recipes.

Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes - TheFitFork.com

Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes –  OMG, Tastes Like Artichoke Dip! #Fitfluential #Recipe

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Have you ever tried Sunchokes? What did you think? Share in the comments!

 

Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes - TheFitFork.com
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Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem Artichokes) are easy to oven roast with Parmesan and garlic, making a delicious and healthy side dish in less than 30 minutes. Serve with the dip of your choice as an appetizer or alongside a burger!
Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 pound Sunchokes scrubbed and sliced into 1/3" chunks
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese finely grated
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Scrub the Sunchokes under cold running water and slice 1/3-inch thick.
  2. Add Sunchokes, garlic and olive oil to bowl and toss until coated. Add Parmesan cheese and shake bowl until
  3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, or until Sunchokes are turning golden brown on the outside and tender inside.

Anniversaries and Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds

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Married for 24 years and I havent' killed him . . . yet!

Married for 24 years and I havent’ killed him . . . yet!

Pulled together this post on the fly, since the sponsored one I had planned is being held up “in the legal department,” or that’s what I was told. I have my own legal department at home, also known as my hubby, which reminds me to let the world know that it is our 24th wedding anniversary. Yes, I got married in kindergarten.

Of course, we had to celebrate with beef – I killed my CrossFit  15.3 WOD today with 1st place age group South Central region. That was 200 wall balls and 701 jump ropes in 14 minutes, so I was totally in #beefmode afterward!

 

 

Beef Filet with Sauteed Spinach - TheFitFork.comThis is a shot of my husband’s delicious dinner from Steiner Steakhouse, he got the sautéed spinach as his side. What you don’t see is the asparagus on my plate that gobbled up before the obligatory food blogger photo.

How To Roast Asparagus

Eating at a fancy steakhouse can cost a pretty penny, but also am a pro at making restaurant worthy steaks and sides at home. A favorite is the pan-seared, oven-finished filet with balsamic tomatoes I did for BeefLovingTexas.com. I also make some amazing asparagus at home and will be making it frequently now that these fresh spears of spring have sprung up in the market.  This vegetable recipe is super easy to make — it’s drizzled with olive oil, roasted in the oven, and topped with almonds, bacon or whatever your heart desires.  Way better than mush steamed asparagus, in my opinion!

Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds

Anniversaries and Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds #FitFluential #Recipe

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Also check out Cooking Light’s video tips on choosing, preparing, storing, and serving this quintessential vegetable of spring.

Cooing Light's Asparagus Tips Video

Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds
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Olive Oil Roasted Olive Oil with Almonds
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 
Make restaurant-worthy asparagus cheaper and tastier than what you get as a steakhouse side with this easy oven-roasted vegetable recipe.
Course: Side Dish
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh asapragus
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil garlic olive oil, even better!
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup unsalted raw almonds
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
  2. Snap tough ends off bottom of spears (approx 1").
  3. Lay spears out in single layer on rimmed baking sheet.
  4. Drizzle asparagus with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Shake baking sheet back and forth to coat.
  5. Roast in oven for 25 minutes, flipping asparagus half-way through to cook evenly.
  6. After 14 minutes, add raw almonds to small baking sheet. Place in oven for remaining asparagus cooking time (11 minutes).
  7. Remove asparagus and almonds. Let almonds cook for a couple minutes and then chop coarsely. Sprinkle asparagus with almonds and serve.
Recipe Notes

Herb Lover’s Oven Fries for Valentine Steak Dinner + Chocolate

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Valentine’s Day is sneaking up . . . do you have big plans? I doubt my husband and I will battle the crowds (or be willing to pay the bill) for a fancy dinner out, so I’ll be preparing a memorable meal at home.  Plus, there are the kids . . . .and, I’m sure those non-stop eating machines will want to be fed as well!

Herb Lover's Oven Potato Fries for Valentines - TheFitFork.com

With so many boys and men in the house (oldest son in almost 18 years!), there’s not a lot of appreciation for decorating food in shades of pink for Valentine’s Day.  But, I did find the way to their hearts with these darling (oh, I mean “manly”) Heart-Shaped Oven Fries.  Oven fries are so easy and inexpensive to make and my guys gobble up this healthier dude food with “amoré” – give me “amoré,”Mom!

Heart Cookie Cutter and Potaotes

I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter and baked both the hearts and the remaining potato “circles” with the cutouts missing. I wish I would have taken a photo of those as they came out of the oven, but I was just so focused on the hearts! If you want to make these baked fries “regular,” simply slice into think wedges for the same result.

Baked Potato Fries - TheFitFork.com

Pan Seared Tenderloin Steak with Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes - TheFitFork.comFor Valentine’s Dinner, I’ll be serving this cute side dish with the Pan-Seared Tenderloin Steak with Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes I developed for BeefLovingTexans.com.  This steak dinner is a surprisingly easy way to beef up the romance on Valentine’s Day and won’t bust your budget – meaning more funds for wine, chocolate and other treats for your sweet!

If steak isn’t in your budget, these baked fries would be adorable with a romantic burger!

 

 

Hot Chocolate Fudge CakesI still haven’t decided what to serve for dessert yet – it will have to be something wonderfully chocolaty. After all, dark chocolate is a superfood that provides important nutrients that protect the heart! Cooking Light has a collection of 100 Lightened Chocolate Dessert Recipes that will make your heart skip a beat  — swoon-worthy but not sinful!

Personally, I’ve been stalking the recipe for Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes . . . warm, gooey and individually portioned to prevent “accidentally” eating the whole cake. For Valentine’s Day dinner, I think I would add some lush raspberries on top!

Heart Fries #recipe + Steak + Chocolate = Easy #ValentinesDay Dinner @beeflovingtexans @cooking_light #CLblogger

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Herb Lover's Oven Potato Fries for Valentines - TheFitFork.com
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Herb Lover's Oven Potato Fries
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 
Pair these daring heart-shaped, oven-baked potatoes with your Valentine's Dinner -- simply spudtacular and spiffed up with herbs!
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 Lbs. Russet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp salt divided
  • 2 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp rubbed sage
  • 1 tsp rosemary
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 450 degrees F and with rack in top.
  2. Wash potatoes and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide planks. Use small cookie cutter to punch out the center of each potato circle.
  3. Put cut potatoes in bowl and fill with hot tap water, let sit for 10 minutes. When potatoes are done soaking, drain, and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.
  4. Add potatoes back to dried bowl and toss with olive oil, 2 teaspoons of the salt, pepper, parsley, sage and rosemary.
  5. Spread fries out evenly across baking sheet and bake on top rack until fries are starting to turn golden brown, about 25 minutes. Use a spatula to turn fries and continue to roast until crisp on outside, about 15 - 20 minutes longer.
  6. Remove fries from oven, sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and serve while still warm.
Recipe Notes

Cut into 1/2-inch wedges, if preferred.

Fruit & Nut Holiday Couscous Mix – DIY Gift for Foodies

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Fruit & Nut Couscous Mix - TheFitFork.comI am here to rescue you from last-minute gifting stress and solve holiday side dish dilemmas – both at the SAME time! You can thank me later. In my opinion, there’s nothing more tasteful than a healthy gourmet gift, and my recipe for Fruit & Nut Holiday Couscous Mix will delight all the fit foodies on your list. This homemade gift looks like a lot of time and effort went into it, artistically arranged with jewel-toned layers of cranberries and pistachios between pearled whole wheat couscous. In reality, it’s super simple to make (like a kiddy sand art project) and, for my craft-challenged self, more time and effort went into tying the bows and making gift tags!

jar of cranberry pistachio couscous mix for giftsYou can use a new mason jar, recycled glass jar or any container of your choosing – get creative! Also, I’ve made the same mix and swapped out other types of dried fruit and nuts for the cranberries and pistachios with excellent results. Consider combinations such as Apricot & Almond, Apple & Pecan or Date & Almond – the possibilities are nearly limitless!
Gift Tag for Fruit & Nut Holiday Couscous MixHere is a gift tag you can print out on sticker paper and place right on the jar – or use with card stock, write your personal sentiments on the back, and then tie around the neck of bottle with ribbon.

 

 

 

Cranberry Pistachio CousCous - TheFitFork.com

While you’re busy making batches of these jar food gifts to give friends, family and neighbors, don’t forget about stocking your own pantry. The Cranberry & Pistachio Couscous makes a fast and festive side dish that pairs beautifully with beef, chicken, pork and more and can be completed from pot to plate in just 5 minutes. I’m serious!

Fruit & Nut Holiday Couscous Mix Recipe

Supplies needed: 3 approximate 12-ounce jelly or mason jars, ribbon, gift tags.

  • 1 tablespoon dried mint*
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley*
  • 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes*
  • 2 vegetable bouillon cubes that have be smashed into powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat pearl (Israeli) couscous
  • 1 1/2 cups regular pearl (Israeli) couscous
  • • 1 cup raw shelled pistachios (can sub any nut)
  • • 1 cup dried cranberries (can sub any dried fruit)
  1. In small bowl, mix together mint, parsley, dried onion, crushed vegetable bullion and pepper.
  2. Pour approximately 2 tablespoons of spice mix into the bottom of clean, dry jar. Repeat for total of 3 jars.
  3. Layer ingredients in a manner that pleases you until ½-inch from top. The approximate measurements I used for my layers were 1/3 cup for each couscous layer and 3 tablespoons for each fruit and/or nut layer.
  4. Screw lid tightly on and decorate with ribbon.
  5. Makes 3 gift jars that serve 2 – 3 people each.
  6. Cooking directions on gift tag (above).

*Litehouse Food’s line of Instantly Fresh Herbs work very well in this recipe and actually they’re having a Pinterest Sweepstakes where you can win the entire line of Instantly Fresh products plus a $250 Amazon gift card (but hurry because winner will be drawn on 12/23/2014).

Procrastinators rejoice, #DIY #Christmas gourmet gift idea –> Fruit & Nut Holiday Couscous Mix

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micheles granola

Also, I want to share with you a delicious granola that I was recently sent to sample – Michele’s Granola! I tried the Cherry Chocolate and Pumpkin Spice flavors and they were both oh-so yummy (better than cookies!) that I can’t wait to munch on every other variety of this handmade, small-batch granola. Michele’s Granola is made with 100% organic whole grain oats (most other ingredients are organic too) and everything is also GMO-free, preservative-free, dairy-free, wheat-free and peanut-free.

micheles granola logoYou can find Michele’s Granola at natural food retailers (Whole Foods in Austin), grocery stores or online at MichelesGranola.com. Use promo code FRESH10 to get 10% off your online order.

 

 

 

Do you make any homemade food gifts for the holidays? Please share your ideas!