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The Good Hearted Woman

Home Cooking & Cozy Living

  • SOURDOUGH RECIPES & RESOURCES

Caribbean Chicken Stew

July 2 By Renée 13 Comments

This rich, warmly spiced Caribbean Chicken Stew is – without question – one of the most delicious, satisfying, flavorful chicken stews you’ll ever eat! 

caribbean chicken stew
This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

This Caribbean Chicken Stew is one of our very favorite family meals! Not only is it easy to make and dependably delicious, but it’s economical too; making it perfect for a gathering of friends or a cozy family meal any night of the week.

A simple buttermilk-jalapeño marinade gives this rich, hearty stew has just the right amount of kick. The long, slow baking time mellows the pepper’s heat, resulting in a thick, savory, mildly spiced chicken stew. (It’s actually more like a nudge than a kick!) If you like things a little more spicy, add an extra jalapeño to the marinade mix.

Buttermilk marinade ingredients.

One of the keys to this recipe is browning the marinated chicken before making the stew – that all adds some serious next-level flavor to an already amazing combination.

caribbean chicken stew in serving bowl

Recipe Updated July 2, 2020 (Originally published May 2, 2014)
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5 from 5 votes

Caribbean Chicken Stew

This Caribbean Chicken Stew is rich, warmly spiced, and - without question - one of the most delicious, satisfying, and flavorful chicken stews you'll ever eat!
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time2 hrs
Marinating Time1 hr
Total Time3 hrs 30 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Caribbean
Keyword: chicken, stew
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 577kcal
Author: Renée B. ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Blender
  • 10-inch Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
  • Tongs

Ingredients

Marinade

  • 1½ ounces cilantro about 1 cup chopped; reserve a little extra for garnish
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and roughly chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar See Notes
  • 1 medium jalapeno pepper rough chopped [Seeds=Spice; remove them if desired. Even with the seeds, the end result is a very mildly spiced stew.]
  • 6 ounces buttermilk or plain yogurt
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoons turns freshly ground pepper

Stew Base

  • 3 pounds chicken pieces bone-in chicken; skinless or skin-on I prefer to use legs & thighs for this recipe.
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion peeled and thinly sliced root to stem
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste ketchup works
  • ½ cup white wine or water
  • ½ ounce fresh ginger grated or minced; about 1½ Tbls
  • ¼ teaspoons freshly ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Root Vegetables [Use a TOTAL of 3 lbs /1.3kg of any combination of the following.]

  • 1 large sweet potato peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 large yam peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium plantain sliced in thick rounds
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken

  • Gather and prep marinade ingredients.
    Buttermilk marinade ingredients.
  • Combine cilantro, garlic, brown sugar, chopped pepper, buttermilk, oil, salt, and pepper in a blender cup.
    Marinade ingredients in blender cup.
  • Process until smooth.
    Marinade blended in blender cup
  • Put the chicken pieces in a large, resealable bag.
    Chicken pieces in resealable bag.
  • Pour marinade over chicken and seal bag.
    Squish everything around thoroughly to coat all chicken pieces.
    Allow to marinate in refrigerator for at least one hour, and up to 24 hours.
    Chciekn marinating in resealable bag.

Make the Stew

  • Preheat oven to 375°. Gather and prep stew ingredients.
    chicken stew ingredients
  • Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
    covered dutch oven
  • Use tongs to place chicken pieces in hot oil. Chicken should sizzle and pop immediately. If it doesn't, you need to heat the pan longer.
    chicken frying
  • Brown chicken on two sides, 2-3 minutes on each side.
    Brown chicken in batches; do not not crowd the chicken in the pan.
    Remove browned chicken pieces from Dutch oven and set aside.
    Reserve any marinade left in the bottom of the marinating bag.
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  • Reduce heat to medium.
    Add a little additional olive oil if the pot seems too dry.
    Add the sliced onions to the hot oil in pot.
    sliced onions in pot
  • In Dutch oven, sauté onions until translucent in whatever is left in the bottom after browning chicken.
    sliced onions browned
  • To the onions in the Dutch oven; add coconut milk, tomato paste, white wine, grated ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
    mixing stew sauce
  • Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes more, then remove from heat.
    marinade mixed into sauce
  • Stir reserve marinade into the sauce.
    add reserve mariande
  • Place chicken pieces back in Dutch oven on top of sauce.
    chicken in sauce
  • Put the cubed vegetables on top of the chicken. Cover Dutch oven tightly and place in middle of preheated oven.
    root vegetables in pot
  • Cook for 2 hours at 325°F | 163°C. (See Cooking Times in notes)
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  • Using tongs or a slotted spoon, carefully remove chicken pieces from stew.
    (At this point, the vegetables should all be tender, and the chicken should be nearly falling off the bone.)
    Carefully toss the cooked vegetables in the sauce at the bottom of the Dutch oven.
    caribbean chicken stew
  • Replace the chicken in the stew and serve; alone or over rice. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
    caribbean chicken stew in blue pot, sitting on top of brightly colored potholders

Notes

Cooking Times: (Longer cooking time will result in more tender chicken and richer stew.)
  • 325°F | 163°C -- 2 hours [Preferred]
  • 350°F | 177°C -- 1½ hours
Root Vegetables: Use a total of 3 lbs /1.3 kg of any combo of potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams (orange or red sweet potatoes), carrots, and plantain. 
I strongly suggest using both sweet potatoes and a yam, as they both bring unique properties to the plate. 
For the stew pictured here, I used:
  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 1 medium yam*
  • 3 medium carrots
Brown Sugar: Use an additional tablespoon of brown sugar if you do not use a yam. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 577kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 384mg | Potassium: 1554mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 9464IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

I’m sharing this Chicken Stew recipe on the Weekend Potluck Recipe Linkup.
Check it out for more great recipes!

caribbean chicken stew

DID YOU KNOW? If you live in North American, chances are you’ve never eaten a real yam!

True yams are almost impossible to find in North America! In fact, if you are an American, it’s very likely that you have never eaten a real yam! Real yams originated in and are now mostly commercially grown in Africa. The two top-producing sweet potato states in the nation are North Carolina and California. 

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If you’re looking for a light, easy side with a little Caribbean flare to serve alongside this incredibly tasty chicken stew, be sure to try out our Caribbean Mango Salad! (Find more delicious side dish recipes here!) 

caribbean chicken stew in blue pot, sitting on top of brightly colored potholders

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of The Good Hearted Woman. 🌻 Be sure to PIN this post!

caribbean chicken stew

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Main Dishes, Recipes, Soup, Chowder & Stew Tagged With: carrots, chicken, ginger, sweet potatoes, vegetables

Kale & Carrot Salad {New Seasons Copycat}

June 15 By Renée 8 Comments

Kale, carrots, sunflower seeds, and fresh ginger combine to create this bright, delicious, satisfying copycat of New Seasons’ popular Kale & Carrot Salad.

kale carrot salad plated

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Sometime around 2010, kale went from being an ornamental green most often found tucked between crocks of veggies on an open salad bar to being the It vegetable of the Twenty-tens. All of a sudden, you could find kale everywhere, in everything.

In the heat of this kale-fueled moment in culinary history, one of our daughters brought home a huge bag of kale and used a couple handfuls of it to made kale chips, because they were so popular and (theoretically) so good for you. 

She baked them up, and she really wanted to like them. We all did. But no. NO. I know that this may bring the wrath of the Vegan/Paleo/Clean Eating communities, but I just cannot endorse kale as a Chip. Not then, not today, not ever. It’s a personal choice; and my personal choice is No. 

That said, we now had a big bag of kale and needed to figure out something to do with it – and I knew exactly what that something was.

kale carrot salad hero 2

Our local New Seasons stocks this tasty, sunflower-studded Kale & Carrot Salad in the Grab-n-Go case. On more than one occasion, I have paid ten-fold for what basically amounts to a handful of kale; just to enjoy the sweet umami flavors and satisfying crunch of this salad. With a stockpile of kale staring me down, I decided that it was high time I figured out how to make it at home.

New Seasons shares a recipe for Kale & Carrot Salad on their website; however, when we tried it, we all agreed it didn’t taste like the salad at our local store. Maybe the cooks at our local store doctor the company recipe a little, or use an earlier version: who knows? Anyway, I ended up making a few small but important adjustments to the ingredient list. 

carrots sunflower seeds kale

The biggest change I made to the original recipe, however, wasn’t so much related to the What as the How. I added one small but vital step to the process: I blanch the kale first. As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to kale salads, blanching makes all the difference! (Broccoli salads, too.)

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What does it mean to Blanch Vegetables?

Blanching is the quick, simple food prep technique in which food (most often vegetables of some kind) are flash cooked in boiling water, and then immediately plunged into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. 

Depending on the food being blanched, the technique may be used for different reasons: to soften vegetables, to relax fibers, to make peeling easier, or to brighten the color. Blanching times differ depending on the recipe, but usually fall between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. 

blanching kale

In the case of kale, a 1-minute blanching helps soften the tough fibers and makes it easier to chew. It also makes the natural kale flavor more accessible, thus making it more far more palatable. 

Our Kale & Carrot Salad copycat recipe comes darn close to the original, and it got rave reviews from both Mr. B and Gramma Edith [RIP], so it’s a keeper!  Enjoy! 

Post Updated June 15, 2020 (Originally published January 22, 2015)
kale carrot salad plated
5 from 2 votes

Kale & Carrot Salad

Kale, carrots, sunflower seeds, and fresh ginger combine to create this bright, delicious, satisfying copycat of New Seasons' popular Kale & Carrot Salad.
Prep Time20 mins
Total Time20 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Salad
Keyword: carrots, ginger
Servings: 4 large servings
Calories: 224kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Colander
  • Large Stock Pot
  • Sharp Knife

Ingredients

  • 3/4 lb fresh kale
  • 2 large carrots peeled and coarsely grated
  • 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or light soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced (I usually add a little more.)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin scant
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne scant, or ½ t. Sriracha
  • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Gather and prep all ingredients.
    kale carrot salad ingredients prepped
  • Using a sharp knife, remove tough center stems from kale. This is easier to do if you fold the leaves in half first.
    kale with pairing knife
  • Discard stems.
    kale stems leaves separated
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high medium-heat.
    water in pot
  • While the pot is coming to a boil, fill a large mixing bowl halfway with ice. Add water up to the ice line.
    ice in yellow bowl
  • Put the cleaned kale into the boiling water for 1 minute. (Use a timer. You want the kale to relax, but you don't want it to become limp.)
    kale in boiling water
  • Drain kale in colander.
    kale in colander
  • Immediately plunge kale into prepared ice-water bath.
    Drain kale in colander again. Squeeze kale to remove excess water.
    kale in ice bath
  • Drain kale in colander again. Squeeze kale to remove excess water.
    kale squeezed dry
  • While the kale is still in a kind of wet wad, take a large kitchen knife and slice it into small, thin pieces.
    chopping kale
  • Put cut kale into a bowl and separate the pieces using your fingers.
    kale in glass bowl
  • Add grated carrots and sunflower seeds.
    carrots sunflower seeds kale
  • In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients and stir vigorously to combine.
    kale salad dressing mixed
  • Immediately pour dressing mixture over kale mixture.
    pour salad dressing
  • Toss thoroughly to combine.
    toss kale carrot salad
  • Serve immediately or refrigerate.
    kale salad dry ingredients mixed

Notes

May be refrigerated for up to one week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 642mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 13592IU | Vitamin C: 105mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

This Kale & Carrot Salad travels well, making it perfect for a barbecue or picnic! Check out our Southern Barbecue Recipes for lots of great ideas! (It’s a vegan recipe, too, so everyone can enjoy it!

kale carrot salad hero 2

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of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

Kale & Carrot Salad {New Seasons Copycat}   Kale & Carrot Salad {New Seasons Copycat}   

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Fresh & Bright Carrot Salads

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Armenian-style Eggplant & Carrot Salad

Inspired by the cuisine of Armenia, this Eggplant & Carrot Salad combines simple ingredients to create a supremely satisfying savory-sweet bite – perfect for everything from a light spring lunch to an autumn potluck. 

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Grammi's Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad (Sunshine Salad)

Commonly known as Sunshine Jello, Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad is one vintage recipe worth making! Bright, refreshing, and surprisingly tasty, it’s a perfect side for any holiday dinner or family gathering.

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Moroccan Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta & Fresh Herbs

Moroccan Carrot Salad is an exotic mix of zesty citrus, sweet carrots, fresh herbs, and feta, dressed with a warmly spiced, piquant honey-lemon vinaigrette. Makes a quick, refreshing side that is ready to serve in just 15 minutes! 

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Kale & Carrot Salad {New Seasons Copycat}

Kale, carrots, sunflower seeds, and fresh ginger combine to create this bright, delicious, satisfying copycat of New Seasons' popular Kale & Carrot Salad.

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Recipes, Salads, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: carrots, kale, vegetables

Carrot Ginger Dressing (Japanese Restaurant-style Salad Dressing)

May 12 By Renée 4 Comments

Naturally sweet and slightly tangy, Carrot Ginger Dressing is a light, refreshing salad dressing that is simply irresistible! (It’s like your favorite Japanese restaurant dressing, only fresher!)

Carrot Ginger Dressing

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

There’s a little place near my house – Mr Bento’s – that serves the best teriyaki salmon burger! I always order it in a meal, which arrives on a quarter-sheet pan with four pot stickers and a cold, crisp green salad on the side. I look forward to that side salad nearly as much as the salmon burger itself: I just can’t resist that delicious Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing!

But like many of you, we’ve been eating home more lately. At one point about a month ago, I was jonesing hard for something fresh and light and bright to satisfy my umami urges. All I wanted in life was a big green salad doused with Mr Bento’s dressing. No salmon burger. No potstickers. Just the salad. 

So I decided to figure out how to make Carrot Ginger Dressing for myself. Honestly, I was blown away when I learned how easy this salad dressing is to make!

Carrot Ginger Dressing ingredients on pan

Carrot Ginger Dressing has a simple, pantry-friendly list of ingredients.

I was a youth during the Japanese Steak-house trend of the late 80’s/early 90’s, and Carrot Ginger dressing has always been a favorite of mine, so I was thrilled to add this recipe to our rotation. If you aren’t making your own salad dressings yet, consider this: most dressings (including this one) take less than ten minutes to mix up. You save a ton of money, and the food you eat is fresher and healthier. 

The only downside is, homemade dressings do not last ten or twelve months in the fridge. (On the other hand, is that really a downside?) 

(If you love versatile, delicious, all-natural salad dressings, be sure to check out our Original Taco House Feista Dressing recipe too!) 

Carrot Ginger Dressing

This easy blender dressing recipe has so many great things going for it: it’s super-fast to pull together, naturally dairy-free and vegan, and has no added sugar. (The carrots add just the right amount of sweetness.)

In addition to the fabulous flavor, one of the things I love most about this dressing is the stunning color it brings to the plate, especially when paired with leafy greens.

Carrot Ginger DressingOne significant change I made to the basic list of ingredients was to add a teaspoon of orange zest to the mix, which enhances and brightens the natural carrot and ginger flavors.

Carrot Ginger Dressing
5 from 2 votes

Carrot Ginger Dressing (Japanese Restaurant-style Salad Dressing)

Naturally sweet and slightly tangy, Carrot Ginger Dressing is a light, refreshing salad dressing that is simply irresistible! (It’s like your favorite Japanese restaurant dressing, only fresher!)
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Keyword: carrots, ginger, Sauce
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 57kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • ½ pound coarsely chopped carrots
  • ⅓ cup extra-light olive oil or other light, neutral oil
  • ⅓ cup fresh ginger peeled & coarsely chopped [1.5 ounces]
  • 3 tablespoons red onion coarsely chopped
  • ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon water as needed
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare (i.e., peel, chop, etc.) all ingredients as listed.
    Carrot Ginger Dressing ingredients on pan
  • Combine all ingredients in blender cup.
    Blend until smooth.
    If your dressing seems too thick, you can thin it with a little more water.
    Personally, I prefer to make this dressing quite thick, and then add water as needed. That way, it can also double as a dip.
    Carrot Ginger Dressing Ingredients in Blender

Notes

Dressing may be refrigerated for a two weeks. (Probably longer, but it doesn't last that long at our house.)

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2368IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

This Carrot Ginger Dressing isn’t just for salad! Try it on salmon (so good!) or other grilled fish, rice, spring rolls, sautéed greens, sandwiches, noodles, steak, shrimp, and roasted vegetables.

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Carrot Ginger Dressing    110408628353902413   blank   blank

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Eating Style, Gluten-free, Recipes, Salads, Sauces, Dressings & Dips, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: carrots, ginger, vegetables

Grammi’s Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad (Sunshine Salad)

May 7 By Renée 4 Comments

Commonly known as Sunshine Jello, Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad is one vintage recipe worth making! Bright, refreshing, and surprisingly tasty, it’s a perfect side for any holiday dinner or family gathering.

Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

I can’t remember a holiday growing up when we didn’t have a bowl of Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad on the table. We ate it with ham for Easter, with turkey at Thanksgiving, and with pumpkin pie on my mother’s birthday every October.

Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad

Carrot Jello Salad was one of the first recipes I ever helped my mom make. I was her official carrot grater and Jello stirrer. Once the jello was mixed and safely chilling in the fridge, she and I would share the last few sips of juice from the bottom of the pineapple can. Mom loved pineapple juice. Whenever we serve this salad, I recall those times long ago with great fondness, sitting there at our yellow kitchen table, grating piles and piles of carrots for my mom. 

When I had kids of my own, Carrot Pineapple Jello became Mom’s traditional offering when we gathered at my house for family holidays. She took great pride in still being able to make the Grammi Salad (as it came to be known at our house) all by herself until she was nearly ninety. After that, I took over the Jello salad making, keeping the tradition alive for my girls.

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Mom gave me her “I Love Lucy Ivy” china years ago, when she and Dad moved out of my childhood home, so my girls grew up with it. One batch of Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad fits perfectly inside one of the large serving dishes. I never make it in anything else.

Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad

If you’ve never had Sunshine Jello, you may be in for a surprise. Jello salads, as a group, have a reputation for being outdated and even downright weird, and their close culinary proximity to aspics (aka meat jello) does their status no favors either.

This Carrot Pineapple Jello, however, is unique in its field: unlike some more kooky gelatin concoctions, this combination is light, fresh, and very tasty. The carrot and pineapple pairing may sound a little strange at first, but if you give it a try, you will find that they play very nicely together!

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5 from 2 votes

Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad (Sunshine Salad)

Commonly known as Sunshine Jello, Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad is one vintage recipe worth making! Bright, refreshing, and surprisingly tasty, it's a perfect side for any holiday dinner or family gathering.
Prep Time15 mins
Refridgerate3 hrs
Total Time3 hrs 15 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: carrots, Holidays, jello, pineapple, retro recipe
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 74kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

  • 2 packages lemon flavored gelatin 3 ounce packages
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup ice water
  • 8 ounces canned crushed pineapple with juice (DO NOT USE FRESH PINEAPPLE)
  • 2 cups grated carrots
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • pinch salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, mix 2 cups of boiling water into lemon gelatin.
    Stir constantly until gelatin has completely dissolved.
    Carrot Jello Salad Collage
  • Add one cup of ice water, and stir until ice has melted.
    Carrot Jello Salad Collage
  • Stir in one small can of crushed pineapple (with juice), and lemon juice.
    I usually move everything to the bowl I plan to serve it in at this point, but you can also make the whole recipe in a large bowl and then transfer it to your chosen vessel (i.e., bowl, dish, gelatin mold, etc.). Your choice.
    Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad
  • Stir in grated carrots.
    Some people like to add a pinch of salt at this time. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
    Some people also like hold off and stir in the carrots after the rest has had a chance to set up for about an hour. You can do this if you want, but I don't find that it changes the results. Instead, I stir them all in at the same time and refrigerate: that gives me one less thing to have to remember when I'm preparing a holiday meal.
    Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad
  • Refrigerate 3 hours, or until set.

Notes

Use canned pineapple for this recipe. Fresh pineapple contains enzymes that will prevent gelatin from jelling. 

How to Make a Molded Jello Salad

This recipe works well as a molded Jello Salad. To do this, refrigerator in mold several hours until firm.
To unmold, dip the bottom of mold form in hot water for 3-5 seconds. Invert onto a large plate, tap the inverted bottom of the mold firmly and shake slightly to release. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 3573IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Do I have to use Jello® for this recipe, or can I use any powdered gelatin?

 Jello®, as I’m sure you are aware, is a specific brand of powdered gelatin; however, like Kleenex and Xerox, it has become a brand-turned-household name. I’ve never in my life called this a “gelatin” salad, and I’m not starting now. However, just to clarify, of course you can use any brand of gelatin.

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This post is dedicated to my daughters –
mostly so I can send them here when they need the recipe. 

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THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad (Sunshine Jello)

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Fresh & Bright Carrot Salads

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Armenian-style Eggplant & Carrot Salad

Inspired by the cuisine of Armenia, this Eggplant & Carrot Salad combines simple ingredients to create a supremely satisfying savory-sweet bite – perfect for everything from a light spring lunch to an autumn potluck. 

blank

Grammi's Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad (Sunshine Salad)

Commonly known as Sunshine Jello, Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad is one vintage recipe worth making! Bright, refreshing, and surprisingly tasty, it’s a perfect side for any holiday dinner or family gathering.

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Moroccan Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta & Fresh Herbs

Moroccan Carrot Salad is an exotic mix of zesty citrus, sweet carrots, fresh herbs, and feta, dressed with a warmly spiced, piquant honey-lemon vinaigrette. Makes a quick, refreshing side that is ready to serve in just 15 minutes! 

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Kale & Carrot Salad {New Seasons Copycat}

Kale, carrots, sunflower seeds, and fresh ginger combine to create this bright, delicious, satisfying copycat of New Seasons' popular Kale & Carrot Salad.

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Recipes, Salads, Side Dishes Tagged With: carrots, Holidays, pineapple

Moroccan Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta & Fresh Herbs

May 4 By Renée 10 Comments

Moroccan Carrot Salad is an exotic mix of zesty citrus, sweet carrots, fresh herbs, and feta, dressed with a warmly spiced, piquant honey-lemon vinaigrette. Makes a quick, refreshing side that is ready to serve in just 15 minutes! 

Moroccan Carrot Salad

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

A while ago, Mr B and I took a cooking class at our local Sur La Table, and not only did we have a fabulous time together, but we left with some amazing recipes to try at home, too!

Our instructor for the day was Chef Priscilla Umeda, a beautifully warm, captivating woman with great passion and skill for cooking. Chef Priscilla, originally from Nigeria, shared with us that she grew up as the oldest female child in a family of eight children, so it fell to her to “insure her siblings were fed.”  Thus, the seeds for creating delicious food and educating others in culinary arts were planted early.

Now a trained, professional chef (with a degree in Business Administration) Chef Priscilla is actively engaged in the culinary training of  both home cooks like us and professional chefs.

Moroccan Cooking Class
Post Updated May 4, 2020 (Originally published September 6, 2016)

Before we got to work, Chef Priscilla gave us a little history about Moroccan cuisine. We learned that Moroccan cuisine is considered one of the most important cuisines in the world, due in great part to the remarkable diversity of colonizers and immigrants who have influenced it over the last millennia.

The cuisine of Morocco’s first inhabitants, the Berbers, still exists today in dishes like tagine and couscous. It took on spices, nuts and dried fruits, and the sweet and sour combinations from Arab invasions; olives, olive juice and citrus from the Moors; pickling from Moroccan Jews; and kebabs from the Ottoman Empire. The short-lived French-Moroccan colony left behind a culture of cafes, pastries, and wine.

Sur La Table Cooking Class

During our class, Chef Priscilla walked us through the preparation of four traditional Moroccan dishes: Chicken Tagine with Dried Fruits (the foundation for my Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint recipe), Couscous with Saffron & Ginger, Cardamom Madeleines with Rosewater Glaze, and the bones for the recipe I’m sharing today: Moroccan Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta & Mint.

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Moroccan Carrot Salad – It’s a Matter of Taste

This Moroccan Carrot Salad is definitely a matter of taste. Mr B, for example, is not fond of it; while I very much enjoy its zesty, citrusy bite and warmly spiced mix of fresh flavors.

Here’s a test:

Think about biting into a fresh lemon slice. 

If the mere idea of biting into a lemon slice squeezes your entire face into a frowny furrow, this may not be your favorite carrot salad ever. (If that’s the case, try our Kale & Carrot Salad or Armenian Eggplant & Carrot Salad instead.)

Don’t get me wrong: there are plenty of other flavors besides lemon in this salad, including honey, which balances and softens the punch of the lemon; but if you don’t enjoy the sharp, astringent side of the lemon wheel, this salad may not be your favorite. 

However, if the idea of biting into a lemon slice immediately makes you pucker up and smile, you should definitely give this Moroccan Carrot Salad a try.

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Carrot Salad Ingredients

Preserved lemons are among the primary ingredients in this Moroccan Carrot Salad, and the reason for that intense lemon flavor in the recipe that I just mentioned. An indispensable ingredient in Moroccan cooking, the unique pickled taste and texture of preserved lemons cannot be duplicated with fresh products. 

Is there any good substitute for preserved lemons?

Preserved lemons are not something everyone keeps in the pantry, and sometimes you just don’t have the means to get them. (And sometimes you just want to make a dang salad recipe off the internet without having to go out and find some fancy ingredient you will only use once! I get it.)

For this recipe, you can buy preserved lemons in specialty stores, or make them at home – or make my Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute.

Because guess what?! I don’t always have preserved lemons either. (Like, for example, during a pandemic.) So, while not optimal, I’ve created a passable preserved lemon substitute – essentially a quick-brined lemon rind – that works well with this salad recipe. 

Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute

You can find step-by-step instructions for how to make my Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute following the recipe below. 

How does using quick-fake Preserved Lemons compare to using the real thing? 

Comparing the flavor of this salad with and without real preserved lemons, I have to say; Yes, authentic preserved lemons do add a deeply complex, unique flavor to this Moroccan Carrot Salad. There is no way a 1-hour hack can even come close. So if you have them, by all means, use them. 

However, if you don’t have them on hand, go ahead and make my Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute. I find that, while the quick-fake lacks the depth of flavor that the preserved lemons impart, it is otherwise a quite satisfying lemony, bright, and mildly briny substitution in this salad.

Moroccan Carrot Salad

Moroccan Carrot Salad

Moroccan Carrot Salad

An exotic mix of zesty citrus, sweet carrots, fresh herbs, feta, and warmly spiced, piquant Moroccan honey-lemon dressing, this Moroccan Carrot Salad makes a quick, refreshing side.
Adapted from a recipe by Chef Priscilla Umeda.
Prep Time15 mins
Total Time15 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: French-Moroccan
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 184kcal
Author: Renee | The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Grater
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Small Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 medium garlic cloves minced
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground caraway seeds
  • ½ tablespoon harissa
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1½ tablespoon honey
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 preserved lemon rind only, finely minced
  • Sea salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 pound grated carrots peeled and julienned or coarsely grated
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh mint
  • 4 ounces feta crumbled
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat oil in small skillet over medium heat.
    Oil in Pan
  • Add garlic, cumin, caraway, and harissa. Cook until fragrant; about one minute.
    Spices in Pan
  • Remove from heat and add the cinnamon, paprika, honey, lemon juice, and preserved lemon. Stir to combine.
    Lemon & Spices
  • Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
    Sauce Complete
  • In a large bowl, combine carrots, herbs, and feta.
    Carrots in a Bowl
  • Toss until evenly mixed.
    Carrot Salad Ingredients Mixed
  • Pour prepared sauce over carrot mixture.
    Carrot Salad Mixed Sauced
  • Mix until well combined.
    Carrot Salad Mixed Sauce Mixed
  • Chill before serving.
    Garnish with additional fresh herbs, feta, and lemon slices.
    Moroccan Carrot Salad

Notes

PRO TIP: If you want to serve this for a party, take the time to julienne the carrots: it makes for a prettier presentation. For everyday serving, grating them works just fine.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 317mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 13226IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Moroccan Carrot Salad

Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute

Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute

Essentially a quick dry-brined lemon rind, this Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute makes a passable substitution when recipes call for the rind of a preserved lemon.
Prep Time5 mins
Rest Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 5 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: French-Moroccan
Keyword: lemons
Servings: 1 Preserved Lemon
Calories: 31kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

  • 1 lemon
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • For each preserved lemon rind, you will need one lemon and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt. 
    Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute
  • Using a sharp paring knife, cut off the lemon rind. I aim for halfway between the fruit and the zest, in the middle of the rind. 
    Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute
  • Mince the lemon rind, but don’t pulverize it. 
    Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute
  • Sprinkle salt over lemon rind, and work together with the back of a spoon. 
    Allow to sit for at least one hour, and preferably overnight before using.
    Use as is. Do not attempt to rinse lemon rind. 
    Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1746mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

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Sauce Complete

PRO TIP: If you’re anything like me, you may not keep ground caraway seeds around all the time. Whole caraway seeds can easily be ground using a small mortar and pestle, spice grinder, or clean coffee grinder.

Caraway Seeds

This Moroccan Carrot Salad pairs well with our Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint. 

Moroccan Carrot Salad | Quick Preserved Lemon Substitute

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THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

Moroccan Carrot Salad   Moroccan Carrot Salad

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

 

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Recipes, Salads, Vegetarian Tagged With: carrots, harissa, Moroccan

Sweet Potato Carrot Hash

January 16 By Renée 16 Comments

Carrot Sweet Potato Hash | The Good Hearted Woman

Earlier this week after I got done making Butternut Samosas, I had some leftover ingredients, so I threw this quick hash together.  I didn’t think much of it at the time  – I mean, we all do that, right?  Throw things in a pan just because we have them and we think they might taste nice together?  But from the first fork full, I knew I had to share this “recipe” with you: the rosemary complements the sweet potatoes deliciously, and the grated carrot adds just the right amount of interesting texture.  Finish it off with the obligatory poached egg and you have a lovely, healthy little meal in just 15-20 minutes.

Carrot Sweet Potato Hash | The Good Hearted Woman
5 from 2 votes

Sweet Potato Carrot Hash

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time20 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Breakfast or Brunch
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Renée B. ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

  • 1 large sweet potato peeled and cubed 1/4"
  • 1/2 large sweet onion chopped
  • 3/4 cup grated carrot
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2-4 poached eggs depending on how many you want!

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet.
  • Saute onion and sweet potato in oil until onion and sweet potato is soften and begin to get slightly brown.
  • Add grated carrot and saute just a few minutes more.
  • Add chopped rosemary and give it one or two more good stirs.
  • Top with poached egg and serve.
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

 

Filed Under: 30-Minute Meals, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Main Dishes, Vegetarian Tagged With: Breakfast, carrots, eggs, sweet potatoes

Pops Vegetable Soup {Recipe}

January 5 By Renée 13 Comments

When I was a little girl, my parents and I spent most Sunday evenings at my Poppy’s house.  The four of us – Dad, Mom, Pop and I – would eat dinner and then settle in to watch Lawrence Welk and The Wonderful World of Disney together before Dad drove Mom and me home. On cold, dark winter nights, dinner was (more often than not) a piping bowl of Pop’s homemade vegetable soup, served with as many Saltines as I could eat.

Pop's Vegetable Soup | The Good Hearted Woman

Pop was my maternal grandfather and I was his only granddaughter, so we had a pretty special relationship.  Anyway, back then I was not much of a vegetable lover (I still hate cooked peas), and until I was about four, I would not eat more than a few token bites of Pop’s soup, subsisting Sunday nights almost entirely on crackers and milk. But then Pop pulled a trick out of his sleeve – he started adding a can of Campbell’s Alphabet Soup to his soup just for me, and those mushy little pasta letters changed everything.

I loved to hunt for the letters to spell my name, or the dog’s name, or anything really. I’d collect letters on my spoon, read them to everyone, and then gobble them up in one bite. Spell a word, eat a bite. Spell another word, eat another bite. In the process, I completely forgot to be picky about what surrounded them, and before I knew it, I was eating Pop’s soup like it was going out of style.  To this day, I still include that silly little can of soup, and every overcooked letter on my spoon reminds me of my sweet Poppy.

Pop's Vegetable Soup | The Good Hearted Woman

 

There aren’t many pictures in this post: there doesn’t need to be. There really is only one real step: put everything in a pot and let it simmer. Like most soups, this is much better the day after, so plan for leftovers. And serve with Saltines.

Pop's Vegetable Soup | The Good Hearted Woman

Pop's Vegetable Soup

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 large Beef soup bone (optional)
  • 2 quarts water or 2 qts. vegetable stock if not using soup bone
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 Tbs salt
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 4 medium carrots sliced
  • 1 medium turnip pared and chopped
  • 1 cup chopped cabbage
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1/2 cup peas
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 4 medium potatoes peeled & cubed
  • 2 1- lb. cans cut tomatoes I use Petite Cut with Onions & Garlic
  • 1/3 cup pearl barley
  • 1 can Campbell's Alphabet Soup Optional
  • Season with salt pepper, basil, oregano and hot sauce as desired

Instructions

  • Place soup bone in a large Dutch oven and cover with water. Add bay leaves. Simmer 2 hours. Remove soup bone and give it to the dog! Let stock cool and skim fat. (For Vegetarian soup, and just use vegetable stock instead and skip ahead.)
  • Add all remaining ingredients except Campbell's Soup and simmer 2 more hours.* Adjust seasonings. Add Campbell's Soup if desired.

Notes

*You can also cook it in a slow cooker: Low for 8 hours, or High for 4 hours.
This soup is really better the next day when the flavors have had a chance to blend. Other vegetables can be added and amounts adjusted to suit your taste.
Freezes well.
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Pop's Vegetable Soup | The Good Hearted Woman

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Soup, Chowder & Stew, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: carrots, Comfort Food, potatoes, vegetables

Best Ever Shepherd’s Pie

February 10 By Renée 13 Comments

Shepherd’s Pie is classic comfort food – rich, warm, and deeply satisfying. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket of goodness as cozy as a winter fire. 

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Some years ago, on the day after St Patrick’s Day, my daughter Gracie and her father were t-boned by a truck-driving teenager. Gracie sustained multiple life-threatening injuries, and was admitted to ICU, where she stayed for nearly a month.

Warning: Content contains mildly sentimental recipe-origin narrative. Read on to enjoy the story. [Click here to go directly to the recipe.]

At the time, in addition to nine-year old Gracie, we had four other young children, including an eight-week old newborn. While the girls’ father held down the fort at home, Baby Em and I slept and lived at the hospital with Gracie. I survived the first week almost entirely on saltine crackers and Jello Pudding cups from the ICU refrigerator.

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

It was several days before I finally made my first real trip home – to take a real shower, revive my spirits, and visit my other girls and their father.

When I arrived, I found my dear friend Bev and some other ladies in my kitchen, delivering dinner to my family. After a short visit with the ladies, I went to shower and clean up. I read the girls a book, sang them a song or two, and packed up for the next week.

Almost as an afterthought, I spooned some of the potato-topped casserole that Bev had left us into a plastic tub to take with me, and then I buckled Em back into her carseat and sped off to the hospital.

It wasn’t until late in the night, as my injured child slept amidst her web of tubes and wires, that realized I was hungry. When I opened the plastic container, the sterile hospital air filled with amazing savory goodness.

Padding down to the Parents’ Kitchen, I microwaved it, and then, fork full by fork full, I let that Shepherd’s Pie wrap me in a blanket of warmth, kindness, generosity – and hope. Even today, the memory – standing there alone in the hospital kitchen eating Bev’s Shepherd’s Pie – brings me to tears.

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

From that time on, making Shepherd’s Pie has been a labor of love, and in that spirit, we have made it a Valentine’s Day tradition. It is warm, comforting, enduring, and hope-filled – and serving it to the people who mean the most to me in this world is one way I show my love to them. 

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Bev’s original recipe was A-Mazing, but over the years I’ve made a few tweaks. Most notably, the original recipe calls for peas, but I substitute diced yams because, as I mention frequently, I strongly dislike cooked peas.

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman
5 from 6 votes

Best Ever Shepherd's Pie

One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket of goodness as cozy as a winter fire. 
Prep Time45 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Main Dish Casserole
Cuisine: Comfort Food
Keyword: casserole, potatoes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Renée ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

Filling

  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yam peeled and diced ¼"
  • 1 large onion minced
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and diced ¼"
  • 1 pound mushrooms chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 5 tablespoons flour (I use Wondra to avoid clumping)
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup or more if needed
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 ¾ cup vegetable broth
  • ¾ cup red wine or apple juice
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped

Topping

  • 1 ½ pound russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • ½ pound sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 large egg
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and preheat oven to 375°. 

Filling

  • Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Remove from skillet, drain and set aside. 
  • In the same large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
    Add yams, onions, and carrots and cook, stirring frequently until everything is tender.
    Add mushrooms and cook until mushrooms soften and release their juices.
  • Sprinkle flour over everything, and then squirt in ketchup. Stir and cook over medium-low heat for about one minute.
  • Add cream and cook about another minute. Add wine or juice, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme.
    Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick but still saucy, 5-8 minutes.
  • Add browned ground beef to the mixture in skillet and stir to combine. Pour mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish. 

Topping

  • In a large saucepan over high heat, bring potatoes, sweet potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and water to cover to boil.
    Reduce and simmer until tender, 15-20 minutes; until tender.
    Drain potatoes. Add butter and cream to potatoes and mash until smooth.
    Season with salt and pepper.
  • Carefully spread prepared potatoes over meat and vegetable filling, using a spatula or large spoon to smooth the top.
    In a small bowl, make an egg wash by whisking together 1 tablespoon water with egg.
    Brush the top of the potatoes with egg wash, and then drag a fork across the top to make ridges.
    Put in oven and bake until the filling is bubbling, about 15-20 minutes. 
  • Turn on broiler and cook until top is golden brown, 3-5 minutes.
    Remove and cool 10 minutes. Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 37.2g | Protein: 23.4g | Fat: 16.2g | Saturated Fat: 7.2g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 317mg | Potassium: 1268mg | Fiber: 5.3g | Sugar: 5.3g | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 13mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Looking for a unique, budget-friendly Valentine’s Day treat? Check out these Personalized Homemade Fortune Cookies, complete with Takeout Box DIY and Printable Valentine’s Day Fortunes! 

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

Is this Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie?

Technically, this is a recipe for Beef Cottage Pie.

What’s the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie?

The ingredients and directions for making Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie (also known as Farmer’s Pie) are exactly the same, except for the primary protein. 

Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally made with lamb. (Hence, the Shepherd.) 

Cottage Pie is named for its primary protein: Turkey Cottage Pie, Chicken Cottage Pie, Beef Cottage Pie, etc. You get the idea. The only protein that doesn’t go into Cottage Pie is lamb or mutton. (Because that would make it Shepherd’s Pie.) 

Why don’t you change the name of this recipe to “Beef Cottage Pie” or “Beef Farmer’s Pie”?

First off, I believe that the delineation between shepherd and cottage and farmer is in great part a regional issue. In my neck of the woods, if you go into a restaurant and order Shepherd’s Pie from the menu, you will almost always be served a beef-based pie. If you invite us to dinner and tell us that you will be serving Shepherd’s Pie, we will not be expecting lamb. More to the point though, I have been making this casserole and calling it Shepherd’s Pie for two decades, so I’m sticking with it.

Bottom line: this the best in cozy comfort food, no matter what you call it! 

Hope that clears everything up for everyone. 

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

I took these images while on a Valentine’s Getaway in the Columbia River Gorge. My thanks to the Columbia River Gorge Hotel for loaning me a fancy plate!

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More Serious Comfort Food recipes from GHW:

  • Classic Chicken Pot Pie
  • Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage Rolls {Polish-style Gołąbki}
  • Caribbean Chicken Stew
  • Easy Classic Chili Mac
  • Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint

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of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food     Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food - rich, warm, and deeply satisfying. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket of goodness as cozy as a winter fire. It's just that good.  | The Good Hearted Woman #comfortfood #valentinesday #casserolerecipe    Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support! 

Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: carrots, Comfort Food, corn, ground beef, potatoes, St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day

Armenian-style Eggplant & Carrot Salad

August 6 By Renée 4 Comments

Inspired by the cuisine of Armenia, this Eggplant & Carrot Salad combines simple ingredients to create a supremely satisfying salad. Perfect for everything from a light spring lunch to an autumn potluck.

Armenian Eggplant & Carrot Salad | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Some years ago, my daughter married a charming Armenian who can cook like there is no tomorrow. Over the years since he joined our family, Vahe has introduced me to the foods and culinary traditions of his native country, and one of my favorites is a little rolled vegetable preparation called Armenian Eggplant Rolls. Wrapped in long strips of garlic-infused fried eggplant, these are delicious little carrot-stuffed beauties hit all the best savory buttons, with just the right amount of sweet undertones.

As much as I love Eggplant Rolls though, I’m not a fan of making them. The original recipe is heavy on oil (eggplants are real sponges when you fry them!), and somewhat labor intensive.

Instead, I created this Eggplant & Carrot Salad – a simple alternative that tastes great, cuts the fat to almost nothing, and is very easy to make.

Armenian Eggplant & Carrot Salad | The Good Hearted Woman

While the end result isn’t quite as pretty as the little beauties my daughter makes, Eggplant & Carrot Salad does make a good presentation – vibrant, colorful and delicious, and perfect for everything from a light spring lunch to an autumn potluck.

Armenian Eggplant & Carrot Salad | The Good Hearted Woman

Armenian-style Eggplant & Carrot Salad

Armenian-style Eggplant & Carrot Salad combines simple ingredients to create a supremely satisfying salad. Perfect for everything from a light spring lunch to an autumn potluck. 
Prep Time15 mins
Chilling Time1 hr
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Armenian
Keyword: carrots
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 115kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

  • 4 cups grated carrots about 1 pound
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro chopped
  • 1/2 cup shelled edamame optional - I add these to the mix because I like the extra crunch.
  • 1/3 cup walnuts finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3/4 cup light Sour Cream
  • About 3/4 tsp kosher salt or to taste
  • 1 large eggplant roasted, cooled and chopped into 1/2 cubes
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Mix together all of the ingredients except eggplant, using only enough sour cream to moisten the mixture.
    Gently fold in chopped roasted eggplant.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
    I usually make this a day ahead of time, and refrigerate overnight.
  • To serve, garnish with additional chopped cilantro.

Notes

Make it Vegan- friendly: Substitute in vegan sour cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 445mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 10809IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Wavy LineWe love carrot salads! Here’s a few of our favorite carrot salad recipes:

  • Kale & Carrot Salad
  • Moroccan Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta & Fresh Herbs
  • Grammi’s Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad (Sunshine Salad)

Be sure to try our Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing recipe, too!

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Armenian-style Eggplant & Carrot Salad • Mostly savory, slightly sweet, and totally De-lish!  Tweet & Share!

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THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
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Armenian Eggplant & Carrot Salad | The Good Hearted WomanWavy Line

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Filed Under: Gluten-free, Recipes, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Tagged With: Armenian, carrots, cilantro, Mediterranean, nuts

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