Our Blue Apron meal deliveries certainly came in handy in March for a couple of reasons: firstly, we traveled at the beginning of the month which meant not a lot of time for meal planning when we returned! Secondly, we started enduring all the COVID-19 shelter-in-place madness, so it was good to have three meal options that helped minimize time spent out in public at grocery stores while everyone was figuring out how to navigate this new world.
We skipped a week at the beginning of March when we were traveling in Arizona, so there were a few less meals to choose from. Blue Apron also started restricting meals that we could order due to the COVID-19 fallout, which meant that they were either labeled as sold out or discontinued. Kind of a bummer, but who can complain when you are still getting fed! Regardless, there were still some good contenders for the month of March.
Ginger Shrimp
Although carb-conscious and low calorie, this dish certainly did not lack in flavor! This Ginger Shrimp dish had a nice marinade comprised of fresh ginger and togarashi seasoning for the shrimp, and a flavorful sauce of soy glaze, rice vinegar, sesame oil and gochujang for the veggies (broccoli, snow peas and bok choy – lots of greens!). This is a dish that will leave you feeling good when done, as it’s very fresh, clean, and light. This would be super easy to recreate for those eating low carb diets!
Spanish-Style Beef & Vegetables
Wow. This Spanish-Style Beef & Veggie bowl certainly wins my pick for best flavor combos of the month! Let’s start with the rice, which was flavored with saffron and dates. The tiny little bit of saffron included in our kit turned the rice bright yellow, which provided a beautiful visual contrast to the beef. The dates were an interesting addition to an otherwise savory dish, and surprised both my husband and I with that little pop of sweetness. Then, we seasoned the beef and zucchini with a delicious Spanich spice blend, garlic, onion, sherry vinegar, and a some roasted piquillo peppers. What an interesting combination of flavors!
Our Variations
This dish came with mayonnaise to make an aioli with lemon puree and garlic paste, but if you know me well, you know that mayonnaise is a no go! So, of course we subbed sour cream (Greek yogurt would actually make a nice sub too), and it was bliss.
Orange-Glazed Turkey Meatballs
This Orange-Glazed Turkey Meatball dish was another carb-conscious and low calorie meal option. At first, I didn’t think it was going to be enough food to satisfy our hunger, but it really filled us up! Very light and tasty. The standout flavors in this dish came from fresh ginger (it’s amazing how a little bit of ginger goes a long way), and the orange glaze that was comprised of fresh orange juice, ponzu sauce, honey, and red pepper flakes. Veggies in this dish included carrots, bok choy (my favorite), and sweet peppers, which all contributed their own textural elements. This is definitely a keeper in the low carb memory bank!
Mexican-Spiced Pork Chops
It really is hard to go wrong with any of the Mexican-inspired dishes from Blue Apron (as well as any of the Asian dishes). This was our first Blue apron meal of March, and all I have to say is “yum!” The most interesting part of this dish was that it was served with barley instead of rice. The barley adds a bit of a firmer texture, which holds up nicely to the hearty pork chops. The barley mixture included a tangy tomatillo sauce, fresh grape tomatoes, and some sauteed sweet peppers, and the entire dish was finished with a sprinkling of salty cotija cheese. Savory perfection!
Tomatillo Chicken & Rice Bowls
Last but not least, my final favorite for March was the Tomatillo Chicken & Rice Bowl dish. Everything about this meal was bright and light, with lean chicken breasts and a pop of citrus from the orange. The rice was infused with a little hint of sweetness from golden raisins, and then some crunch after adding toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds). The veggie portion of this dish included shishito peppers and red onion, roasted and added to the bowl with the rice and chicken. Everything was finished off with a tangy tomatillo sour cream. Cannot complain about this deliciousness one bit!
I hope you enjoyed my March 2020 Blue Apron Favorites! I’ve got one more month coming (April), before taking a little break to readjust my diet. Stay tuned!
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