Friday Recipes

It's Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend, including Straight-Up Rhubarb Pie and Black Bean-Quinoa Burgers. Enjoy!

LEEANN'S LUSCIOUS SMOOTHIE

This recipe, as well as the next one (Slim-Down Smoothie), is from “20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes” on the Runner’s World website. Both are originally from The Editors of Prevention.

This one begins, “To eliminate processed sugar, reader LeeAnn created a smoothie sweetened with strawberries.”

Servings: 1

1 cup skim milk

1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries

1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil

1 Tbsp sunflower or pumpkin seeds (optional)

Mix milk and frozen strawberries in a blender for 1 minute.

Transfer to a glass and stir in the tablespoon of flaxseed oil, or serve with a tablespoon of sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 256; Protein: 9 g; Carbs: 26 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 19 g; Total fat: 14 g; Saturated fat: 1.5 g; Sodium: 106 mg

SLIM-DOWN SMOOTHIE

This one begins, “Wonderfully thick and tasty, this healthy smoothie recipe easily substitutes for milkshakes and ice cream.”

Servings: 1

1 cup frozen berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries

1/2 cup low-fat yogurt (any flavor)

1/2 cup orange juice or other juice

Place the berries, yogurt, and orange juice in a blender and pulse for 30 seconds. Blend for 30 seconds, or until smooth.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 185; Protein: 8 g; Carbs: 35 g; Fiber: 3.5 g; Sugar: 26 g; Total fat: 2 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 90 mg

STRAIGHT-UP RHUBARB PIE

This is from Amanda Hesser in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Amanda wrote, “This rhubarb pie contains no distractions, like strawberries. The crust is made with shortening. (Butter is fine if you want a French tart, but it's not American pie unless it's made with shortening, the author Anne Dimock said.) The top is marked with 8 razor-thin vents.”

Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This was featured in “Circular Thinking” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons sugar

2/3 cup vegetable shortening, plus 2 tablespoons

6 tablespoons ice water

For the Filling:

5 cups sliced rhubarb

1 1/4 cups sugar

5 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 tablespoons butter

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Make the crust: before measuring the flour, stir it to leaven with air and then measure out 2 cups. Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl and fluff with a fork. Cut the shortening into the flour with a fork or pastry blender. Stop as soon as the sheen of the butter disappears and the mixture is a bunch of coarse pieces. Sprinkle a tablespoon of water at a time over the dough, lifting and tossing it with the fork. When it begins to come together, gather the dough, press it into a ball and then pull it apart; if it crumbles in your hands, it needs more water. (It's better to err on the side of too wet than too dry.) Add a teaspoon or two more water, as needed.

Gather the dough into two slightly unequal balls, the larger one for the bottom crust and the smaller one for the top. Flatten the larger ball, reforming any frayed edges with the sides of your hand. Dust with flour and roll the dough, starting from the center and moving toward the edges. Take a knife or thin spatula and quickly work its edge between the crust and the counter top. Lift the dough to the side; dust the dough and counter top with flour. Roll again until the diameter is an inch or 2 larger than that of the pie pan. Lay the rolling pin a third of the way from one of the edges. Roll the crust onto the pin and then unroll the crust into a 9-inch pie pan and press it into place. Place in the freezer.

Make the filling: in a large bowl, blend the rhubarb, sugar, flour and cinnamon. Pour into the crust-lined pie pan. Dot with butter.

Roll out the top crust. Dab the rim of the bottom crust with water to create a glue. Then place the top crust over the rhubarb; trim, seal and cut several vents. Bake for 15 minutes; reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and bake 25 to 30 minutes more, or until a bit of pink juice bubbles from the vents in the crust.

Tip

Anne Dimock's secret ingredient is Extra Fancy Vietnamese Cassia Cinnamon, available from Penzeys Spices, www.penzeys.com.

UNEMPLOYED SHEPHERD’S PIE

This is from Vegetarian Times. The recipe begins, “Straying from meat replacements, Janet DeGras, second-place winner in VT's 2008 Reader Recipe Contest, re-created this typically lamb-filled classic with eggplant as the featured ingredient. ‘The density of eggplant makes it a good substitute for meat, and its creaminess goes really well with mashed potatoes,’ DeGras notes. The inside-out technique of putting the green vegetables on top of the casserole instead of inside adds color to the dish and pick up crunchiness as they bake.” Makes 8 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 cups peeled, cubed potatoes

1/4 cup low-fat milk

2 Tbs. unsalted butter

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. olive oil, divided

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped (1 cup)

2 15-oz. cans diced organic tomatoes with liquid

2 large eggplants, peeled and chopped (1 & 1/2 lb.)

1 Tbs. Simply Organic Parsley

1 tsp. Simply Organic Basil

1 tsp. Simply Organic Garlic Flakes

1 tsp. sea salt

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs

2 large eggs, beaten

1 green bell pepper, sliced very thin

1 small zucchini, sliced very thin

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper, optional

Preparation

Place potatoes in large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, and cook 10 to 15 minutes, or until soft. Drain, and mash with milk and butter. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Stir in tomatoes, eggplants, parsley, basil, garlic flakes, and sea salt; season with pepper. Simmer 20 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Remove from heat, and stir in Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and eggs. Spread potato mixture over top, banking up sides a bit.

Heat remaining 2 Tbs. oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add green bell pepper and zucchini, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until just tender.

Fill center of mashed potatoes with sautéed bell pepper and zucchini, and sprinkle with black pepper, if desired. Bake 20 minutes, or until heated through. (Baking will take less time if mashed potatoes are hot at time of assembly.)

Nutrition Information: Calories: 342; Carbohydrate Content: 41 g; Cholesterol Content: 65 mg; Fat Content: 16.5 g; Fiber Content: 6 g; Protein Content: 9 g; Saturated Fat Content: 4.5 g; Sodium Content: 409 mg; Sugar Content: 9 g

ITALIAN EGGPLANT RAGOUT

This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, “The meaty texture of eggplant makes it an ideal ingredient in vegetarian entrées, and its antioxidant content makes it a nutritional powerhouse. Eggplant is rich in a phenolic compound called chlorogenic acid, a potent free-radical scavenger that confers antiviral, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering benefits. Prep tip: Salting the eggplant before cooking it draws out any bitter juices and helps the vegetable hold its shape when cooked.” Makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 medium eggplants, halved

2 Tbs. salt

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained

1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

2 Tbs. capers

1 tsp. sugar

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

Scoop out center and seeds of eggplant halves. Cut eggplants into 3/4-inch dice. Toss with salt in bowl, and let stand 30 minutes. Drain, rinse well, and pat dry.

Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more, or until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas, and eggplants. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 15 minutes, or until eggplants are tender but not mushy. Stir in capers and sugar, and cook 2 minutes more. Fold in parsley, and season with black pepper.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 197; Carbohydrate Content: 33 g; Fat Content: 5.5 g; Fiber Content: 10 g; Protein Content: 6 g; Saturated Fat Content: 1 g; Sodium Content: 681 mg; Sugar Content: 8 g

BLACK BEAN-QUINOA BURGERS

This recipe comes from page 60 of the Jul/August 2011 of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Here's a delicious veggie burger you can whip up from scratch. Any steak seasoning (which is just a combination of herbs and spices) will work to give the patties a rich, hearty flavor. Stash a few in the freezer for busy weeknight meals. For super-easy cookouts, bake the patties ahead, then reheat them on the grill. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

1/2 cup quinoa

1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)

6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (1/4 cup)

1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

2 tsp. dried steak seasoning

8 whole-grain hamburger buns

Stir together quinoa and 1 1/2 cups water in small saucepan, and season with salt, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. (You should have 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa.)

Meanwhile, place onion and sun-dried tomatoes in medium nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat. (The oil left on the tomatoes should be enough to sauté the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion has softened. Stir in 3/4 cup black beans, garlic, steak seasoning, and 1 1/2 cups water. Simmer 9 to 11 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.

Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add 3/4 cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 3/4 cup quinoa and remaining 3/4 cup black beans. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool.

Preheat oven to 350°F, and generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape bean mixture into 8 patties (1/2 cup each), and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties with spatula, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are crisp and brown. Serve on buns.

nutritional information Per Burger: Calories: 215; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 438 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 5 g; vegan