Ep 5. Expect the Unexpected

In this episode of Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger, titled "Expect the Unexpected," Ellie demonstrates how to cook healthy and delicious meals with unexpected ingredients. She starts off by making a tasty kale salad with roasted butternut squash and pomegranate seeds, adding a unique twist with crumbled goat cheese and a homemade honey mustard dressing.

Next up, Ellie prepares a quinoa pilaf with roasted beets and feta cheese. She explains the health benefits of incorporating quinoa into your diet, as well as the surprising sweetness and nuttiness of roasted beets. The feta cheese adds a tangy contrast to the earthy flavor of the vegetables.

For the main course, Ellie prepares a spicy shrimp stir-fry with vegetables and brown rice. Though shrimp is a common protein choice for stir-fry, Ellie spices things up with a flavorful blend of garlic, ginger, and chili sauce. She also makes sure to include plenty of vegetables, such as broccoli and bell peppers, for a fiber-rich meal.

Finally, for dessert, Ellie makes a black bean brownie that is both healthier and more indulgent than traditional brownies. By using black beans instead of flour as the base, Ellie creates a rich, fudgy texture that is high in both fiber and protein. She also adds in unsweetened cocoa powder and honey for extra sweetness, and tops it off with a dollop of whipped cream.

Throughout the episode, Ellie emphasizes the importance of incorporating unexpected ingredients into your meals for both flavor and nutrition. She also provides helpful tips and techniques for cooking with these ingredients, making it easy and approachable for viewers to try at home. Overall, "Expect the Unexpected" is a mouthwatering and informative episode of Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger.