Elena Vance

Elena Vance
Elena Vance
Lunch Bowls, Salads & Mediterranean Dinners

Hundreds of recipes by Elena Vance – grain bowls, salads and Mediterranean-style mains.

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Elena Vance's recipes start with vegetables, grains and bold seasoning: shaved Brussels sprout salad, beet salad with goat cheese, tomato and cucumber salads, sweet potato bowls and Greek chicken gyro bowls. Most of her work sits in Lunch, where a bowl or a salad can serve as a complete meal, with a good share in Dinner for evenings when you want something fresh but filling.

Her cooking relies on a few repeatable moves: roast or sear the main component, pair it with a grain or greens, and finish with a sharp, herby dressing. Lemon, garlic, feta, mint, olive oil and spices such as cumin and oregano appear often. Many dishes, like lemon garlic shrimp or a quick margherita flatbread, are built around short cooking times, and several bowls are easy to assemble ahead so lunch is ready when you are.

Browse her recipes for ideas that make a midday meal more interesting than a plain sandwich, and for dinners that keep the same light, flavorful approach.

Latest recipes:

Roasted Butternut Squash Brussels Sprouts Salad

Butternut Squash Brussels Salad

4.67 (6 Ratings)

Ready in 40 minutes, this Butternut Squash Brussels Sprouts Salad is colorful. The section Why This Blend Works explains how to keep the greens crisp.

Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo with Spinach

Butternut Squash Orzo with Parmesan

5.00 (2 Ratings)

Busy weeknight cooks will love the comforting taste of Butternut Squash Orzo. The guide to the flavor components ensures a rich result with roasted edges.

Hearty Homemade Bulgur Pilaf

Bulgur Pilaf with Tomato Paste

4.00 (3 Ratings)

Bulgur Pilaf is a bold, savory alternative to plain rice. This guide includes serving suggestions for pairing with meats. Ready in 40 minutes.

Creamy Garlic Zoodles: Rich and Garlic-Forward

Creamy Garlic Zoodles

4.67 (6 Ratings)

Home cooks craving a low-carb meal will love these Creamy Garlic Zoodles. This guide includes a detailed spec breakdown to ensure a thick, non-watery sauce.

Vegetarian Pesto Zoodles in 20 Minutes

Vegetarian Pesto Zoodles

4.40 (5 Ratings)

Zucchini noodles often release too much water and become soggy. These Vegetarian Pesto Zoodles stay snappy via salting; see the why this works section.

Keto Baked Feta Pasta with Zoodles in 35 Minutes

Keto Baked Feta Pasta

5.00 (2 Ratings)

Roast feta and tomatoes to make this Keto Baked Feta Pasta with Zoodles. This low carb zucchini pasta includes a substitute notes table and takes 35 min.

Low-Carb Egg Zoodle Salad in 10 Minutes

Egg Zoodle Salad

4.67 (3 Ratings)

A zesty, crunchy lunch featuring this Egg Zoodle Salad. It includes a substitute table for ingredients to help you customize your meal. Try it today.

Pesto Zoodle Salad in 30 Minutes

Pesto Zoodle Salad

4.50 (2 Ratings)

Use a salting trick to keep the zucchini crisp in this Pesto Zoodle Salad. This guide includes a breakdown of why this method works and takes 30 minutes.

Vibrant Italian Zoodle Salad

Italian Zoodle Salad

4.67 (3 Ratings)

Remove excess moisture first to keep your Italian Zoodle Salad crisp. This guide includes an ingredients and substitutes table and takes 25 minutes.

Marinara Zoodles with Garlic

Marinara Zoodles in 25 Minutes

4.50 (6 Ratings)

Use a salt purge to remove excess moisture for Marinara Zoodles. This guide includes quick recipe specs and takes 25 min for the whole process.

15-Minute Pesto Shrimp Zoodles

Pesto Shrimp Zoodles

5.00 (1 Ratings)

Includes the section What Makes This Work to prevent watery noodles. Pesto Shrimp Zoodles are ideal for anyone seeking a light, low-carb dinner.

Spicy Shrimp Zoodles in 20 Minutes

Spicy Shrimp Zoodles

3.00 (1 Ratings)

Ready in 20 minutes, Spicy Shrimp Zoodles. This guide includes the section Why This Recipe Works to help you get al dente Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp.

Pan-Seared Chicken Caprese Zoodles

Chicken Caprese Zoodles

4.75 (4 Ratings)

Looking for a fresh meal? These Chicken Caprese Zoodles are ready in 30 minutes and the guide includes a helpful what each ingredient does section.

Lemon Chicken Zoodles: Zesty and Fresh

Lemon Chicken Zoodles

4.67 (6 Ratings)

Sliced chicken breasts and spiralized zucchini create these Lemon Chicken Zoodles. This guide includes a section for cooking the dish in 25 minutes.

Lemon Garlic Zoodles in 10 Minutes

Lemon Garlic Zoodles

4.50 (6 Ratings)

Busy weeknight cooks will love these Lemon Garlic Zoodles. This guide features the section What Each Ingredient Does for a buttery, crisp tender result.

Zesty Greek Zoodle Salad

Greek Zoodle Salad

4.40 (5 Ratings)

Ready in 20 minutes, this Greek Zoodle Salad is refreshing. It includes an ingredient swap table to help you customize every bite for your taste.

Zoodle Pasta Salad: Mediterranean Style

Zoodle Pasta Salad

4.50 (2 Ratings)

A fresh Mediterranean side dish featuring a Zoodle Pasta Salad. Check out the recipe specifications and start prepping this crisp meal today.

Asian Zucchini Noodles in 20 Minutes

Asian Zucchini Noodles

4.67 (6 Ratings)

Enjoy a crisp, umami-rich meal with Asian Zucchini Noodles. This guide includes a breakdown of why this method works for a snappy crunch.

Zucchini Noodle Salad with Fresh Parsley

Zucchini Noodle Salad

4.50 (4 Ratings)

Health-conscious diners will love this Zucchini Noodle Salad. Our guide to making the salad ensures a snappy texture that stays crisp without getting soggy.

Shrimp Scampi Zoodles: Low Carb

Shrimp Scampi Zoodles

4.50 (4 Ratings)

Garlic, butter, and fresh zucchini make these Shrimp Scampi Zoodles. This recipe takes 30 minutes and includes an ingredient role table for easy swaps.

Zucchini Noodles Recipe in 15 Minutes

Zucchini Noodles Recipe

5.00 (2 Ratings)

Fresh zucchini, garlic, and olive oil make this Zucchini Noodles Recipe. It features an ingredient role table and takes only 15 minutes total.

Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad Copycat in 30 Minutes

Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad

4.50 (2 Ratings)

Many side dishes lack punch. This Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad Copycat is a bold Smashed Cucumber Salad Recipe; see the section why the texture works.

Persian Yogurt Cucumber Dip: Fresh and Bold

Yogurt Cucumber Dip

4.75 (4 Ratings)

Party hosts looking for a fresh Yogurt Cucumber Dip will love this cooling side. This recipe includes an ingredient role table for a thick, bold result.

Smashed Asian Cucumber Salad with Chili Crisp

Smashed Asian Cucumber Salad

5.00 (2 Ratings)

A bold, crunchy side with a garlic chili punch is this Smashed Asian Cucumber Salad. See why this recipe works and get the full guide here.

Crispy Cucumber Broccoli Salad

Cucumber Broccoli Salad

4.40 (5 Ratings)

Many veggie salads turn soggy fast. This Cucumber Broccoli Salad stays snappy with a tiny chop; it includes an ingredient role table for easy swaps.

Fresh Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad

Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad

4.00 (1 Ratings)

Use a quick emulsified dressing for this Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad. This vibrant side includes quick recipe specs and takes 15 minutes total.