As the summer season in full swing, it’s easy to steer well-intended eating habits off course. To stay on track, registered dietitian nutritionist and author of the Superfood Swap, Dawn Jackson Blatner, has partnered with NAKANO Rice Vinegars to create healthy go-to summer recipes that would be great for your last minute summer picnics.
Dawn recently starred in the hit primetime ABC television show called, “My Diet Is Better Than Yours”(check out a highlight reel here !) successfully coaching her contestant to win the competition title.
Dawn is also partnering with NAKANO Rice Vinegars for the brand’s latest announcement: the launch of a clean labeling initiative. NAKANO is announcing product reformulations for all seven varieties of rice vinegars, which now carry clean labels that include six or less recognizable, real ingredients (and coming soon NAKANO will launch Organic Rice Vinegars!).
Dawn’s custom recipes use clean ingredients perfect for the summer season. My son was married in Hawaii July 14th, and we had a reception for friends and family back here at home in Oregon for those who were unable to attend the wedding. Our reception menu included several pasta salads that I was able to make using Nakano Rice Vinegar. Here is the recipe to one of the salads that everyone enjoyed:
Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe
1 pound bowtie pasta
Kosher salt
1 cup frozen edamame (out of the pods)
2 carrots, sliced into 1/2-inch chunks
One 12-ounce broccoli crown, cut into bite-size florets
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved (preferably yellow and red)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Nakano original flavor rice vinegar
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sugar
1 large clove garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper
3 green onions, thinly sliced
Directions
Add the pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water. Set a timer and cook the pasta for 3 minutes less than it says on the back of the box. When the timer goes off, add the edamame and carrots and cook for 2 minutes longer. Next add the broccoli, and continue boiling for 1 more minute. Drain the pasta and veggies in a colander in the sink. Rinse well under cold water to stop the cooking. Make sure to drain off all the liquid. Add the pasta mixture to the large bowl along with the shredded cheese and cherry tomatoes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the oil and vinegar. Then whisk in the mayonnaise, sugar, garlic and some salt and pepper. Add the dressing to the salad and toss well. Fold in the green onions. Serve immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours before serving.
Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, CSSD (@djblatner)
Dawn Jackson Blatner is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified specialist in sports dietetics. Dawn is the nutritionist for the Chicago Cubs, a food and nutrition blogger with Huffington Post, and a nutrition expert on the advisory board of SHAPE Magazine. She is the author of two books: “The Flexitarian Diet,” ranked a top plant-based diet by US News & World Report and “Superfood Swap,” coming out at the end of 2016. Dawn recently starred in (and won!) the hit primetime ABC television show called, “My Diet Is Better Than Yours.”
Dawn received Lifetime Television’s “Remarkable Woman Award” for her work in the field of nutrition and has over 15 years experience working with clients to super-charge their health. She is the creator of the Nutrition WOW blog & weekly eblast, which just got ranked top nutrition blog by Health magazine. She is a trusted expert appearing regularly in local and national media outlets such as The “Today” Show and Good Morning America Health and she creates recipes for national publications such as Vegetarian Times, Yoga Journal and Fitness Magazine.
Dawn has worked as the dietitian for Lifetime Television, Wild Oats health food store, The Chopping Block cooking school, exclusive beauty spas, DePaul University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute. She was a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics for 9 years.
When she’s not traveling the world sharing her nutrition philosophy, you can find Dawn in her hometown of Chicago…at a farmers market feeling up produce for freshness, in the kitchen testing out new recipes or jogging to pop music. She has an awesome stepson in college and lives with her handsome husband Chris and part-time Shih Tzu, Mr. Nuts. Her website, DawnJacksonBlatner.com, is packed with resources focused on real food, more fun and no b.s. for people who want to eat right & feel awesome.
*Product received. All opinions are my own.