Posts

Moroccan Lamb Tagine With Cauliflower Couscous

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)

Lamb Tagine

  • 2 lb. boneless lamb shoulder, excess fat trimmed, cut into 1″ pieces Sea salt and pepper to taste 
  • 2 Tbsp. grapeseed oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1½” piece fresh ginger, peeled, finely grated
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tsp. ground turmeric
  • 2 tsp. ground coriander
  • 2 tsp. Paprika
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 6 cups water
  • Zest of one small orange
  • ¼ cup golden raisins, chopped prunes or sliced dried apricots ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup mint leaves, torn
  • Juice of ½ a lemon

Cauliflower Couscous

  • 1 large head or 2 medium heads of cauliflower, stems and leaves removed. 1 Tbsp olive oil 
  • 1 tsp. Turmeric
  • ½ tsp. Cinnamon
  • ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
  • Cilantro
  • Salt to taste

PREPARATION

Lamb Tagine

  1. Pat lamb dry with paper towels, then season on all sides with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour. 
  2. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Working in batches, cook lamb, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. Using a slotted spoon, transfer lamb to a plate. Add yellow onion and 2 Tbsp. water the pot and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping browned bits from the bottom of the pot, until the onion is slightly softened, 8–10 minutes. Add ginger, garlic and bay leaves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is softened.
  3. Return lamb to pot and add tomato paste, cinnamon, cumin, red pepper flakes, turmeric, paprika, and coriander. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is fragrant and tomato paste has darkened and is beginning to stick to the bottom of the pot. Add in orange zest, diced tomatoes, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and bring to a bare simmer. Cover partially with lid and cook, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender and liquid has thickened, 2-3 hrs. About 30 mins before it is done, add in dried fruit and half of the slivered almonds. Stir. When tagine is at the desired thickness and lamb is tender, remove from heat; taste and adjust seasoning with salt.
  4. Toss red onion and mint in a small bowl. Squeeze out the juice from lemon over the mixture, season with salt.

Cauliflower Couscous

  1. Pulse the cauliflower in a food processor to the texture of couscous. Transfer to a mixing bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and spices. Spread out onto lined baking sheets, no more than ½” thick. Bake at 400-425 for 20-30 minutes (stirring occasionally). The cauliflower should start to brown a little on top and around the edges. Toss in half of the toasted almonds and the juice of ½ of a lemon.

To Serve

  • Serve the lamb tagine on a bed of cauliflower couscous topped with the onion and mint salad. Garnish with fresh cilantro, chopped almonds, and sliced dried apricots.

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you detox, unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

Wasabi Crusted Halibut With Spinach & Chard Gomae

Wasabi_Crusted_Halibut

Rich, spicy, and healthy, this dish is packed with nutrients and filled with flavors of Japanese cuisine. Made with succulent halibut and crunchy wasabi peas, this recipe is a Mountain Trek favorite! We like to serve Halibut when it is fresh and in season. If not in season, substitute another white fish.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)

  • 4 oz halibut, skinless, 4 portions
  • 1/4 cup organic mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp sweet chili sauce
  • 1/2 tsp wasabi powder
  • 1/3 cup dried wasabi peas, roughly chopped
  • 3 cup broccoli flowerets, chopped
  • 4 cup Swiss chard, fresh chopped
  • 1/2 bunch kale, de-veined and chopped
  • 1 green onion, cut diagonally

Gomae dressing:

  • 1 tsp agave syrup or honey
  • 1 tsp water
  • 1 Tbsp Bragg’s liquid aminos
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/8 cup grapeseed oil
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp tahini

PREPARATION

  • Heat the oven to 400 F.
  • Place the halibut on a parchment-lined baking sheet
  • Mix the mayonnaise with the sweet chili sauce and wasabi powder to make a paste.
  • Spread the paste evenly on top of each piece of fish (common mistake: do not add wasabi peas yet)
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the fish is flaking and the top is slightly browning, 5 minutes before the baking is complete, press the wasabi peas firmly into the paste to cover and return to oven.
  • Prepare the gomae by removing any hard stems from the spinach and chard and chop.
  • Steam the broccoli. Add the spinach and chard and continue to steam until everything is cooked through and softened, but still bright green. Drain well, keeping warm
  • Mix the dressing ingredients in a saucepan on low heat. Once warm, toss with the greens.
  • To serve, place fish on plate next to a classic gomae mound. Sprinkle with green onions. To add an element, steam some carrot spears and place fish atop (as pictured).

Bugaboo Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette

Take your standard green salad to an entirely new level with this healthy and hearty rendition inspired by the Bugaboos, a local mountain range with mighty rock formations, glacier-sculpted granite spires, and many peaks over 3,000 metres in elevation. The towering alfalfa sprouts and feta cheese remind us of the awe-inspiring mountains and glacier terrain the Bugaboos has to offer. This salad is strong and powerful, but simple and healthy. Make your own balsamic vinaigrette dressing using our guest-favorite recipe.

Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)

Salad:

  • 5 c. mixed baby salad greens
  • 1 c. beets, grated
  • 1 c. carrots, grated
  • 1 c. chickpeas cooked
  • ½ c. feta cheese crumbled
  • ½ c. alfalfa sprouts
  • ¼ c. sundried tomatoes sliced
  • ¼ c. toasted sunflower seeds

Dressing:

  • ½ Tbs. Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbs. honey
  • 1 tsp. crushed fresh garlic
  • ¼ tsp. dried basil
  • 1 Tbs. red wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tbs. orange juice
  • 1/3 tsp. orange zest
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

PREPARATION

  1. Blend dressing ingredients in a blender. Set aside in refrigerator until ready to use.
  2. Place a bed of salad greens in a bowl and layer, making your own design; beets, carrots, chickpeas, feta, sprouts, and
    sun-dried tomatoes.
  3. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds.
  4. Serve with dressing on the side.

 


What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is an award-winning health retreat immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia. Our one or two-week program—featuring daily hiking, yoga, exercise classes, time in our state-of-the-art spa, and of course, delicious, healthy cuisine—will help you detox, unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

The Kootenay Bowl With Herbed Tofu

Colorful bowl of organic greens, baked tofu, fresh tomatoes, cabbage and grated carrots and garnished with crushed nuts.

Named for the invigorating, fresh, and health-inspiring lake which our British Columbia lodge overlooks, this healthy dinner bowl shares the same attributes. The Kootenay Bowl with Herbed Tofu recipe makes a great lunch, but treat the tofu as a cutlet and this recipe becomes a satisfying dinner packed full of protein and nutrients. Guests absolutely love the crunch of the vegetables with the smooth, creamy sauce. To make this bowl even more filling, add cooked quinoa or whole grain brown rice to the bottom of your bowl.

Serves 4.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

Tofu:

  • 2 cups tofu, cubed
  • 1 tsp Braggs liquid aminos
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp fine, dried herbs, such as thyme, oregano, rosemary and/or basil

Bowl:

  • 1 cups beets, grated
  • 1 cups carrots, grated
  • 1 cups almonds, toasted
  • 2 cups spinach leaves
  • 3/4 cup sunflower sprouts or sprout of your choice

Dressing:

  • 1 cup nutritional yeast flakes
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup Braggs liquid aminos
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp tahini paste
  • 2 tbs almond butter
  • 2 tbs fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 cups olive oil

Method:

  • Sauté tofu cubes in a skillet with the oil and liquid aminos, and coat with the herbs when nearly done. If you like heat, add a pinch of dried, ground chilies.
  • Combine nutritional yeast flakes, water, Braggs liquid aminos, apple cider vinegar, tahini, almond butter, ginger, and crushed garlic in blender to prepare the dressing. Add oil in a steady stream while blending. (You will have leftover dressing to use again)
  • Assemble 4 bowls, starting with spinach leaves and topping with beets, carrots, almonds, sunflower sprouts, and sautéed tofu cubes.
  • Drizzle bowls with warmed dressing and enjoy!

A Full Day of Spa Cuisine Recipes

Spa-CuisineThere has been a lot of talk about “spa cuisine” in the past year and some people are questioning just exactly what the phrase means. Some assume it’s vegetarian or flavorless or served in tiny qualities. Others wonder if it’s new-age “superfood” or supplemental vitamins. In actual fact, spa cuisine can include meat, it’s delicious and, at Mountain Trek, it’s served in perfect portions at the right times during the day so your body doesn’t crave non-essential foods. From a scientific perspective, spa cuisine utilizes the natural elements, nutrients, and minerals in food to assist the body so that it can function at an optimal level of vitality. In layman’s terms, it looks colorful and tastes delicious! You’ll find little-to-no processed or refined ingredients in spa cuisine, and in many instances, a lot of what you’ll be consuming is locally grown or raised and seasonally appropriate. At Mountain Trek, you’ll discover that every single one of our meals is well-balanced and amazingly tasty. In fact, we have an on-site nutritionist who ensures the ideal amount of protein, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables are consumed throughout the day, and at specific times of day, while our chef is always discovering new and delicious ways to prepare the dishes. To learn more about meal composition and timings read our Healthy Eating Tips blog. But if you’re looking for a daily sample of delicious spa cuisine, we’ve included three recipes below for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bon Appétit!

Breakfast

Manna Bread Breakfast RecipeManna Bread Breakfast

Manna Bread is made with whole sprouted grain berries and pure water – a far cry from the heavily processed bread you find in most supermarkets. Manna bread can come in rye or multigrain or varieties and is available at your local health food store. Loaves tend to be smaller but that’s because Manna Bread is more dense and filling. At Mountain Trek, we’ll typically serve men three half-inch slice in the morning while women receive two slices. Women’s portion – serve with:

  • 2 slices smoked cheese (equaling ½ oz. or 14 grams)
  • 2 slices avocado
  • 3 slices tomato
  • 1 tbsp almond butter
  • Alfalfa sprouts

Men’s portion – serve with:

  • 3 slices smoked cheese (equaling ¾ oz. or 21 grams)
  • 3 slices avocado
  • 3 slices tomato
  • 1 tbsp almond butter
  • Alfalfa sprouts

Lunch

Kootenay Mushroom Barley Lentil Soup

Kootenay Mushroom Barley Lentil Soup

This recipe tastes best when you use freshly picked mushrooms from the forest floor, like we do at Mountain Trek. Whatever mushrooms you use, though, this recipe (which serves 4) will be sure to delight and fulfill.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ cup yellow onions, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp grapeseed oil
  • 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup celery, sliced
  • 1 cup carrots, finely chopped
  • 2 cup spinach
  • 1/3 cup barley
  • 2 ½ tbsp red lentils
  • 2 ½ tbsp sherry
  • ¾ tsp fresh rosemary
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¾ tsp paprika
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp thyme
  • 3 ½ cups veggie stock
  • 1 whole bay leaf
  • 2 ½ tbsp parsley
  • ½ tbsp Bragg’s or tamari sauce
  • 2 tbsp flax oil
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne

Directions:

  • Heat oil and butter in a large soup pan.
  • Add onions, celery, carrots, and sauté until translucent.
  • Add mushrooms and garlic and sauté until translucent.
  • Add barley, lentils and spices and sauté for 10 minutes.
  • Add stock and let cook over medium heat for approximately 30 minutes or until the barley is done.
  • Add Bragg’s, sherry, flax oil, and parsley.
  • At Mountain Trek, our portions are typically two cups for men and 1.5 cups for women.

Dinner

The Kootenay Bowl

The Kootenay Bowl

This easy-to-make dish is as colorful as it is delicious. It serves four.

Tofu + Marinade:

  • 1 ½ blocks (600 grams) herbed tofu, cubed. (By freezing, thawing, and then squeezing the excess water from the tofu its texture changes, allowing it to absorb the marinade.)
  • 2½ tbsp tamari
  • 2½ tbsp grapeseed oil
  • 2½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ – ½ tsp. rosemary powder
  • Blend the above ingredients and marinate cubed tofu in it for at least 2 hours before cooking.
  • Reserve some marinade for cooking tofu.

Dressing:

  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
  • 2½ tbsp water
  • 2½ tbsp tamari sauce
  • 2½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
  • 1 tbsp tahini Blend above ingredients and serve on the side.

The Bowl:

  • ½ cup quinoa cooked in 1 ¼ cup water
  • 4 cup mixed greens
  • ½ cup beets, grated
  • ½ cup carrots, grated
  • ½ cup red cabbage, shredded very fine
  • 4 large cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tbsp sunflower seeds, toasted 4 pinches alfalfa sprouts
  • Rinse quinoa well and cook until tender (about 12-15 minutes).
  • Sauté tofu in a small amount of the marinade until browned on all sides.
  • Place greens on the bottom of each bowl, put quinoa on top of that, then add rows of carrots, beets, and red cabbage.
  • Sprinkle with sunflower seeds; add tofu, sprouts, and tomatoes.
  • At Mountain Trek we serve the following portions: women receive 7 cubes of tofu, 1/4 cup of cooked quinoa and 1 1/2 tbsp of dressing; men receive 9 cubes of tofu, 1/3 cup cooked quinoa and 2 tbsp of dressing.

To find more Mountain Trek recipes and to get the shopping list for these recipes, download our Habits 2 Health App now.

Download App