Vegetable & Goat Cheese Flatbreads

The holiday weekend means over indulging in all things sugar, caffeine, alcohol and of course all the yummy food you can get your hands on! Holiday weekends and every weekend really in Maryland means lots of shrimp and crabs with loads of old bay and you can't have crabs with out beer to wash it all down! ;) It's the best part of being a Marylander!

If you're looking for something a little heartier and healthier so you can skip the chips and salsa at least from one meal you have to try this killer vegetable and goat cheese flat bread! So simple to make, guilt free, and you can add any toppings, spices, change-up the bread even if you want. I have a hard time finding gluten-free breads that aren't sliced sandwich breads around my area so I found this multi-grain flat bread at Harris Teeter and it works perfect!!! Comment below if you try it and it makes the perfect lunch or fast dinner. Just set it up like a buffet and let everyone build their own! Need a healthy breakfast recipe? Go here!

Ingredients:

Makes 3-4 Servings

• 1 Package of multi-grain flatbreads
• 1 Can Cannellini beans drained
• 1 zucchini in ribbons
• 1 small watermelon radish
• 1 carrot shredded
• 1 small fennel bulb
• 1 spring of fresh basil
• 1/4 C of goat cheese (I used "Purple Haze")
• 2 Tbsp pine nuts toasted
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp olive oil
• sea salt and fresh ground pepper to season

Directions:

1. In a food processor add canellini beans, paprika, red pepper, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil, garlic powder, lemon juice. Blend well. It should look like hummus, smooth and creamy. Taste again if you need to add more salt and pepper.
2. Using a mandolin slice fennel, zucchini, carrots and watermelon radish into ribbons, thin slices or shred them. (Really personal preference. I used all three methods)
3. On the grill, spray flat bread with a little olive oil and toast flatbreads till they warm up and have grill marks.
4. While the flat breads toast, in a dry pan on medium heat, add pine nuts and toast them till they start to brown or become fragrant.
5. On a plate, place your flatbread. Spread canellini hummus. Add your radish, zucchini, carrots, and fennel slices or shreds on top. Sprinkle on goat cheese and pine nuts and top with sprigs of fresh basil.
6. Eat with a fork is the cleanest way. Pick it up like a slice of pizza too, you just may lose a lot of your toppings!
7. ENJOY!!