Praline Salmon and Chickpea Salad with Curry and Yogurt Dressing

Ready for a unique yet fast meal? The fish here has hints of the South with its homemade praline glaze (made healthier!) while the accompanying side brings a burst of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian flavors. They might be from different worlds bu these two fusion foods work together quite well. They also come together in just about fifteen minutes each (IF you have your chickpeas prepared) so this is a great meal to make on a weeknight when you're short on time but looking for something healthy and original.

As for chickpeas, if you can, use the dried kind and prepare them in advance. They're very simple to prepare but it does take a little bit of advance planning. The directions will be on the bag but will most likely entail you soaking them overnight or else boiling and letting them sit for a couple hours. I would recommend just putting the chickpeas in water the night before if you can - then they're all ready to go with no other attention paid when you get home and want to start cooking. You can always use the canned version in a pinch, but make sure to check out the nutrition labels. The canned kind packs in sodium with the dry kind is nearly sodium free. The nutrition below is based upon the dried ones.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 25 minutes
Cost: $15.18

Shrimp and Mango Kebabs with Grilled Sweet Plantains

It's a tropical dinner tonight and it will definitely leave you wanting more...and more and more. This meal absolutely hits the spot. Rev up the grill on a warm night and enjoy this quick-to-prepare meal with a cold glass of white wine. You can make it when you need a healthy dinner fast or else whip it up with friends and spend a couple hours enjoying the weather as you munch away. Either way you are guaranteed a success with this menu.

I found this plenty filling on its own, but if you're looking to beef it up a bit more I'd suggest making some fresh rice and tossing it with cilantro, lime juice, and perhaps even a handful of your favorite nuts. It's not grill food, but it will pair nicely with the flavors and provides a bit of oomph. Of course, to get some added nutrition out of it, make sure to use brown rice rather than white.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: $18.50

Yellow Squash Ribbon Salad

That's right - you'll be making squash ribbons to complete this side. However, don't let it stress you at all. They are actually surprisingly easy,and fun, to make. You just need a good vegetable peeler and a little bit of willingness to try something different. You'll be producing delicate squash ribbons in no time - and once you do you'll realize how versatile they are. They can be served raw to enjoy a touch of crunch, cooked as they are here, or even used in the place of pasta.

This dish is light and delicate, showcasing the squash ribbons with red onion adding some tartness and color and black pepper and Parmesan adding a burst of flavor in every bite. The dish is simple yet incredibly original, making it perfect for when you don't have much time but are looking to impress. I served it alongside freshly grilled caprese sandwiches but it can be paired with nearly anything.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 20 min
Cost: $18.16

Eggplant-Yogurt Dip

This babaghanouj-ish dip is delicious and healthy. It includes the delicious, fresh flavor of grilled eggplant but instead of combining that with calorie and fat dense tahini, it uses fat free Greek yogurt. The thick yogurt gives a robust, creamy texture to the dip but cuts down considerably on the fat and calories while still providing a boost of calcium. Black pepper, lemon juice, and garlic provide a nice flavor blend to augment the mild vegetable and just a pinch of sea salt goes a long way without packing in the sodium.

I made this for lunch for the week and just put together sandwiches with the dip, onion, and tomato. However, it's quite versatile. Make your favorite sandwich with this as a base or serve it with pita chips as a dip for guests. Either way, it's absolutely delicious and sure to hit the spot. You could even make it into a dinner with fresh bread, cheese, and veggies piled on top and perhaps even broiled to perfection.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: $7.11

Whole Wheat Pappardelle with Cherry Tomatoes, Asparagus, Squash, and Spinach

Making pasta from scratch may take a bit of extra time, but it is always worth the effort. And, if you have a wonderful hand-cranked pasta machine like I do (I have the Marcato line) then it's actually not so bad. From start to finish I was able to put this dish together in about 3 hours by myself. With two hands going at once you could have a homemade pasta dinner in probably under two hours - not too bad at all! The fresh pasta also doesn't just taste better. I'm able to control exactly what goes into it, using whole wheat flour (make sure you compare - not all 'whole wheat' labels mean the same thing and you want some whole grains in there) and no salt. I also make sure to use farm fresh eggs. However, you could also substitute in egg beaters to make it even healthier.

This dish served as a stand-alone meal, full of fresh vegetables. I used cherry tomatoes, spinach, summer squash, and asparagus. However, I was simply picking the freshest produce available based on the season. Feel free to mix and match. The end goal is to stuff this dish full of delicious and healthy vegetables for a tantalizing summer meal. Cook with the white wine you want to drink to pair perfectly and eat out on a porch to enjoy those first warm spring evenings.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 3 hours
Cost: $24.35