Eating green foods on St. Patrick’s Day is a fun tradition, but using green food coloring to add a shamrock-like hue to ordinary, colorless foods isn’t the most appetizing option. This year, leave that food coloring at the back of the cupboard, and try these naturally green recipes any leprechaun would love. They’ll make a festive, and delicious, addition to your St. Paddy’s Day party table.

Tomatillo Salsa

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb tomatillos
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp sugar
2 jalapeño peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped
salt to taste

Directions:
Remove the outer husks from the tomatillos and rinse well. Cut tomatillos in half and set them cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place under a broiler for about 5 minutes, until the skin is lightly. Place tomatillos, lime juice, onions, cilantro, chili peppers, sugar in a food processor and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed. Season with salt to taste and cool in the refrigerator.
Serve with nachos, pita, or over baked fish or chicken.

Edamame and Pea Soup

Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
1 shallot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
2 tbls olive oil
3 cups frozen shelled edamame
1 cup frozen green peas
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tbl chopped fresh dill
1 tbl chopped fresh mint
zest and juice from half a lemon

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add onion, shallot, and celery and cook about 10 minutes, until softened.  Stir in frozen edamame and peas and add chicken or vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. While the soup simmers, mix together the sour cream, dill, mint, and lemon juice and zest. Set aside. Remove soup from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.  Puree the soup in a blender or food processor until completely smooth. Serve soup with a spoonful of the lemon sour cream on top.

Green Tea Cheesecake

Ingredients:
2 8-oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tbl green tea powder
2 tsps vanilla extract
1 9-inch graham cracker pie crust

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the green tea powder, eggs, and vanilla extract until light and creamy and pour into the prepared crust. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.