Letty's Kitchen

Light and Creamy Cucumber Basil Raita Dip

Bits of diced cool cucumber, minced basil, and toasted walnuts swirled into creamy whole milk yogurt–this cucumber basil raita dip is a deliciously healthful appetizer. Scoop a spoonful onto your pita chip and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Cucumber Basil Raita Dip with Pita Chips

What is raita?

Raita, RYE-ta, is a traditional palate-cooling yogurt “salad” to go with spicy Indian curry.

I used to make this light refreshing raita only for Indian curry theme dinners. And then I discovered how awesome it is with pita chips and veggies. Wow–raita dip!

Click here to PIN Cucumber Basil Yogurt Dip!

Zucchini, Cherry Tomato, and Gorgonzola Bites

Grill-roasted zucchini, cherry tomato and Gorgonzola bites, these go down like candy. Savory candy. I mean how can you resist salty creamy blue cheese tucked into lightly charred zucchini rounds and capped with a baby tomato?

Zucchini, Cherry Tomato, and Gorgonzola Bites on a blue plattter

Click here to PIN these Zucchini, Cherry Tomato, and Gorgonzola Bites!

Golden Beets with Black Beans and Dried Cherries

Earthy smoky black beans simmered with dried cherries, together with golden roasted beets, sautéed greens, and tender nutty brown rice, this recipe for golden beets with black beans is a bright colorful flavorful feast!

black beans and golden beets in bowl with wooden spoon on blue background

Click here to PIN Golden Beets with Black Beans and Dried Cherries!

Brown Rice Pilaf with Bitter Greens, Olives, and Orange

Nutty toasty brown rice and pungent peppery greens—love them both! Take juicy sweet-tart citrus, assertive salty green olives, and crunchy roasted peanuts and mix them in for this flavor-forward brown rice pilaf with bitter greens, olives, and orange, a nutritious dish I find hard to resist.

Brown Rice Pilaf with Bitter Greens, Olives, and Orange

Like beer and coffee, bitter pungent greens are an acquired taste. I mean, when you were 9 years old, did you appreciate them? For me, bitter greens were bad news. I didn’t care if they were vitamin-rich good for me. Where along the line of growing up do we learn to savor leafy vegetables like mustard greens?

Click here to PIN Brown Rice Pilaf with Bitter Greens, Olives, and Orange!

Homemade Chile Chocolate Mole Sauce

Homemade chile chocolate mole is a lively balance of sweet and savory elements–dark earthy chiles and roasted nuts, aromatic spice, and the famous pinch of chocolate–a traditional mole (mo-lay), made simpler. This is a rich, totally approachable mole recipe made with healthy ingredients that you can put together in a little over an hour!

Homemade Chile Chocolate Mole