Soy Sauce Substitutions

Soy sauce is not gluten free and naturally is full of soy, so what if you avoid these ingredients? There are two great substitutes for soy sauce:

• Tamari (gluten-free): Tamari is also made from soy: it’s specifically a Japanese type of soy sauce. The biggest difference between soy sauce vs tamari is that tamari contains little to no wheat. Check the label to make sure! In terms of flavor, tamari is slightly less salty than soy sauce, so you may need to use a little more to taste.
• Coconut aminos (gluten free and soy free): Working around a soy allergy? No problem. Coconut aminos contains no soy and has a very similar flavor to soy sauce. Substitute coconut aminos for soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio, but it’s slightly less salty to you may need to add a little salt to taste.

How to Make a Simple Stir Fry

If you’re new to stir frying, here’s a simple way to get you started. Different vegetables have different cooking times, so you add them to the wok or pan in stages.

1. Prepare your ingredients. Cut everything into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly. Have your stir fry sauce mixed and ready to go. Make sure to cook your protein (tofu, chicken or shrimp) first!
2. Heat your pan. Use a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons of regular sesame or vegetable oil.
3. Start with long-cooking vegetables (6-7 minutes). Add heartier veggies first: broccoli florets, bell peppers, sliced onions, carrots (cut into matchsticks), or mushrooms. Stir frequently.
4. Add medium-cooking vegetables (3-5 minutes). Add quicker-cooking vegetables: snow peas, snap peas, sliced cabbage, bok choy, zucchini, or shelled edamame.
5. Add aromatics. Add minced garlic, fresh ginger, and sliced green onions (about 1 minute), stirring constantly.
6. Turn off the heat and add protein and sauce. Turn off the burner and add your pre-cooked protein (like Tofu Stir Fry, sauteed shrimp, or pan seared chicken) and the stir fry sauce. Stir continuously for about 1 minute until everything is glossy.
7. Serve. Stir fry is best immediately served with rice, quinoa, or noodles.

For more detailed instructions, see my Easy Stir Fry Vegetables, Shrimp Stir Fry, and Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry.

How to Brown Butter

This star in this recipe is brown butter: which is simply standard butter cooked a bit longer until the milk solids toast and turn golden brown. This gives the butter a nutty and caramelized flavor that adds depth and richness to dishes. You’ll want it to become very brown, then remove it from the heat right before it burns. Here are the steps for how to brown butter:

Step 1: Place the butter in a large skillet, cut into pieces. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. First the butter melts, then it starts to foam (around 1 ½ minutes if browning 1 stick of butter).

Step 2: Continue to stir occasionally until the foaming stops and the butter starts to bubble, typically around 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 3: Continue to stir occasionally until the butter becomes brown in color and starts to smell nutty, around 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately remove the butter from the heat and pour it into a bowl to cool.

More Banana Bread Recipes to Try

• Easy Banana Bread Recipe
• Blueberry Banana Bread
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Gluten Free Banana Bread
• Vegan Banana Bread
• Easy Chocolate Banana Bread

Why You’ll Love This Dressing

This Italian dressing recipe all started with my famous chopped salad, which is always a hit with friends and family. Every time I serve it, people ask me for the recipe! Here’s what I love about this recipe:

• It’s delicious. Readers have left comments like “IMO, This IS the best Italian dressing!” and “Wow this was so good! I made it for a Italian inspired mixed green salad that I made for guests and everyone loved it. I will definitely be making it again!”
• It’s simple to whip up in 5 minutes. You need a few ingredients, a bowl and a whisk.
• It’s versatile. You can use it on many different salads: and even as a marinade!

Ingredients You’ll Need

It might not come as a shock that this salad dressing is actually Italian American, not authentically Italian! It’s a vinaigrette type dressing that’s used in American and Canadian cuisine.

In Italy, salads are dressed with olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and salt at the table. Italian dressing is an American creation that approximates the flavors and herbs in Italian food, like olive oil, garlic, basil, oregano and thyme. The ingredients you’ll need are:

• White wine vinegar: This pantry ingredient brings in the tangy flavor (helpful so you don’t have to buy a fresh lemon). Make sure to use white wine vinegar, not white vinegar, which has a very strong, acidic flavor.
• Dijon mustard: Mustard adds tangy, savory flavor and helps to make the perfect emulsion.
• Maple syrup or sugar: Adding a hint of sugar balances the acidity in this dressing. Maple syrup adds sweetness and not a strong maple flavor, so it’s my preference here.
• Garlic: Everything is better with a little fresh garlic, and it carries the flavor of this dressing.
• Dried oregano, thyme, and basil: The combination of these herbs make the perfect flavor. We’ve experimented with Italian seasoning, but this combination tastes better.
• Olive oil: This heart-healthy oil is the binder in this dressing, making it cling to salad greens and vegetables.

Ways To Serve It

This homemade Italian dressing recipe is perfect on any type of salad that you throw together! We’ve made it for years and have lots of readers who use it as a go-to salad dressing. It works well on many types of salad recipes, like a chopped salad, kale salad, or any green salad with flavors that would go with an Italian-style vinaigrette. Here are a few ideas of how to use it:

• Try it on a big Chopped Salad or Italian Salad
• Drizzle it onto Tuscan Kale Salad or a Spinach Salad
• Try it on an Asparagus Salad with Feta
• Use it for pasta salads like Italian Pasta Salad or Antipasto Salad
• Make it as an option for a Salad Bar

Ways to Serve Salmon with Capers

How to make this salmon with capers recipe into a meal? We’re glad you asked. There are so many sides to go with salmon. This recipe is great because it can make a 30-minute weeknight meal or a fancier meal for Valentine’s Day or date night. Here are a few we recommend:

• Try it with steamed broccoli or sauteed broccoli, an easy side dish that turns out bright green and crisp tender every time! Or go for roasted broccolini, broccoli’s elegant cousin.
• Opt for salads like celery salad with apples, Parmesan and a tangy vinaigrette, or fennel orange salad, which pairs juicy orange and fennel with a citrus vinaigrette. Or, try the simplest arugula salad.
• This peas with lemon recipe takes just 5 minutes! Cooking frozen peas with garlic and lemon makes them taste incredible.
• This baked asparagus is a classic pairing with salmon, spritzed with lemon and baked with Parmesan cheese.
• These quick baked potatoes roast in half the time! This easy trick will become your go-to.
• If you have the time, wild rice makes for a showy dinner party side dish.