Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's post includes Slow-Cooker Spinach-Mushroom Tortellini and Paprika Cauliflower Pita Pockets. Enjoy!

BLACK BEAN-BROWN RICE BURGERS

This comes from Hannah Verrinder on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 40 minutes; Serves: 6; Yield: 6 patties

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup uncooked brown rice

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 small onion, chopped (white or yellow)

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup frozen corn

1 teaspoon salt

cayenne pepper (to taste)

1/3 teaspoon chili powder

1 egg

1/3 cup breadcrumbs (preferably seasoned)

Directions

In a small pot, combine rice and 1 cup water; bring to a boil, and then turn down to medium heat and cook 20 minutes.In a saucepan, heat a little oil over medium heat and saute the onion and garlic about 5 minutes, until the onion is translucent and soft.

Add the corn and spices and cook until the corn is defrosted, another 5 minutes.

In a medium bowl, mash the drained beans with a fork or your fingers.

Add the rice, corn, and onion; combine, mashing it with your fork as you go. Taste and adjust the spices now, because once you put the egg in you could risk salmonella.

Add the egg and mix in well.

Add the breadcrumbs.

Form into patties by patting the desired amount of mixtured into a flat round. (I used a giant cookie scoop to make sure all the patties were the same size, but you can just divide the mixture into six sections).

Cook about 2 minutes on each side (if you can't flip the patty without breaking it, it's probably not finished cooking).

CREAMY BROCCOLI SOUP

This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet.

Serves 6; Serving size: 1 1/3 cup.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons thyme leaves or 2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning

32 ounces low-sodium vegetable broth

6 cups frozen broccoli, chopped

6 tablespoons plain, fat-free Greek yogurt

Instructions

Heat oil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium to high heat.

Add onion and cook for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.

Add garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes and lemon pepper, cooking for an additional minute.

Add vegetable broth and broccoli. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 8 to 9 minutes, until broccoli is tender.

Remove soup from the heat. Puree in batches in a blender until smooth.

Top each serving with a tablespoon of yogurt.

Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 90; Total fat: 3 g; Saturated fat: 0 g; Sodium: 135 mg; Total carbohydrate: 12 g; Dietary fiber: 6 g; Protein: 6 g

SLOW-COOKER SPINACH-MUSHROOM TORTELLINI

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "This hearty, creamy vegetarian dinner is easy, cheesy and the best use of the slow cooker since your grandma’s pot roast."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 7 hours 50 minutes; Makes 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 package (8 oz) white button mushrooms, thinly sliced

1 cup thinly sliced yellow onions

4 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 cups Progresso™ Broth Vegetable(from 32-oz carton)

1 package (20 oz) refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened and cubed

3 cups baby spinach leaves, lightly packed

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (2 oz)

1/4 cup shredded fresh basil leaves

Directions

Spray 4 1/2- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix mushrooms, onions, melted butter, soy sauce, salt and pepper in cooker. Pour vegetable broth over vegetable mixture.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours or until vegetables are very tender and browned.

Stir in tortellini and cream cheese. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 15 minutes. Cook and stir 14 to 16 minutes longer or until tortellini are tender. Stir in spinach. Let stand 5 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese and basil.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

tip 1

Save time by purchasing presliced mushrooms.

tip 2

Sauce will be thin after stirring in spinach, but it will thicken after standing.

COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”

Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes

This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.

Ingredients

14 ounces extra-firm tofu

1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil

1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced

2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems

8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered

1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce

Zest and juice of 1 lime

1 cup snow peas

Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish

Brown or white rice, for serving

Preparation

Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.

Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.

FANTASTIC FRUIT SALAD

This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “This refreshing fruit salad is delicious to the core, and if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this will surely do the trick! No matter how you slice it, you're sure to be satisfied with healthy treat.”

Makes 4 servings.

View this online at https://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/fantastic_fruit_salad.php.

Ingredients

1 red apple, cored and chopped

1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped

1 nectarine, pitted and sliced

2 celery stalks, chopped

1/2 cup(s) dried cranberries

1/2 cup(s) chopped walnuts

1 (8 oz.) container, nonfat lemon yogurt

Directions

In a large bowl, combine red apple, Granny Smith apple, nectarine, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Mix in yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.

PAPRIKA CAULIFLOWER PITA POCKETS

This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Cauliflower, like paprika, is frequently undervalued in home kitchens. What better way to highlight them both than with this simple dish. Try topping with fresh tomatoes, chopped black olives, and some low-fat Parmesan cheese." Makes 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/paprika-cauliflower-pita-pockets/.

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower (2 lb.), cut into bite-size florets

3 Tbs. olive oil

2 Tbs. sweet Hungarian paprika

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. fine sea salt

1 small red onion, diced (1 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)

1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 Tbs. lemon juice

4 pita bread rounds, halved and warmed

Preparation

Steam cauliflower 7 to 9 minutes, or until tender.

Heat oil, paprika, pepper, and salt in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, 2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and cauliflower, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Serve with pita halves.

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's vegetarian tacos include Vegetarian Mushroom Tacos and Spicy Grilled Tempeh Tacos with Frijoles Molidos and Homemade Sour Cream. Enjoy!

SPICY GRILLED TEMPEH TACOS WITH FRIJOLES MOLIDOS AND HOMEMADE SOUR CREAM [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]

This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free; Gluten-free; Vegan; Wheat Free.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Tempeh and Tacos:

Tempeh, as needed

Spicy bean paste, as needed

Tortillas (gluten-free if necessary)

Pico de gallo

Guacamole

For the Frijoles:

6 cloves roasted garlic

4-5 cups cooked red beans

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons cumin

Juice of 2 limes

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon cayenne or chipotle

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

For the Sour Cream

1 cup raw, pre-soaked cashews

1 cup rejuvelac (see notes)

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Preparation

Brush the tempeh with the bean paste and then grill.

Lightly grill tortillas for about 30 seconds/side.

To make the sour cream, put all ingredients in a high-speed blender and run until very smooth. Then set out in a covered glass container to culture for at least 24 hours. Taste for sourness. Colder climates will require more time. 24 hours at 85°F is about perfect. Refrigerate until thickened.

To make the beans, roast your garlic or pan fry them whole in a skillet until brown. Then cook the beans a minute or two longer than normal, drain, but reserve your bean juice.

Mash the garlic cloves with a fork, then add the beans and spices over low heat. Allow them to simmer for a couple minutes while you go to work with a potato masher. Add the lime juice, olive oil, and bean juice to keep the mixture soft and workable.

Assemble tacos and add pico de gallo and guacamole.

Notes:

Rejuvelac is a fermented liquid you can buy online or make at home.

WHITE BEAN AND POTATO TACOS (GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN)

A while back, I stumbled across Oh My Veggies. They have all sorts of yummy veggie recipes, including a bunch of taco links.

This taco recipe, which was among the taco links on Oh My Veggies, is from Beard & Bonnet. Beard & Bonnet’s Meg van der Kruik is “the writer, mother, photographer, designer, cook and creative spirit behind Beard & Bonnet.”

This can be viewed online at http://beardandbonnet.com/white-bean-and-potato-tacos-gluten-free-and-vegan/.

Serves 4; Prep Time: 20 min

Ingredients

2 cups cooked white beans, I used Navy beans, or 1 can of cannelini beans, washed and drained

4-5 small potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into tiny cubes (or 1 large russet potato)

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

Juice and zest of 1 lime

Olive oil for frying

salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

To assemble

6-8 white corn tortillas, blistered on both sides in a cast iron skillet

pickled jalapenos & radishes

cherry tomatoes, halved; I used Sungold cherry tomatoes from my CSA

lime wedges for serving

Instructions

Pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and a large pinch of salt, toss to coat and cover with a tight fitting lid. The potatoes will take about 5-8 minutes to cook through. Be sure to periodically lift the lid, scrape the pan, and toss the potatoes to ensure that all sides are crisp and golden.

While the potatoes are cooking toss the precooked, warmed, white beans with the chopped cilantro, lime zest, and juice. Mix well to combine and set aside.

When the potatoes are finished cooking set up an assembly line at your table with the tortillas, potatoes, white beans, and toppings. Allow your family to each build there own to suit their tastes.

MAPO TOFU TACOS

I first found this at Nosh On.It, along with several other vegetarian taco recipes (you can check out all nine here). This one is from Alice Choi and her wonderul blog, Hip Foodie Mom.

Alice wrote, “While in college, mapo tofu was one of the first dishes I learned to make. . . well, kind of. You have to remember, I was in college and needed to eat quickly so I could go back to playing or studying or whatever I was doing so I was hardly ever in the kitchen cooking. Ever.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; servings: 5 - 6.

To view this recipes online, as well as the rest of Alice’s description of this recipe, go to https://hipfoodiemom.com/2013/02/07/mapo-tofu-tacos/. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the site. I think you’ll be glad you did!

Note: You can double the ingredients for the mapo sauce in order to have a bowl of the sauce on the table if dipping is desired while eating.

Ingredients

For the baked tofu:

1-2 cups all purpose flour

2 eggs; slightly beaten

about 2 cups panko breadcrumbs

1 - 19 oz container of firm tofu; cubed not small cubes but slightly larger ones; should make about 30 tofu cubes

For the mapo sauce:

1 tablespoon soy bean paste

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1-2 tablespoons szechuan sauce start with 1 tablespoon

1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce

2 gloves garlic minced

1/2 cup water

Salt to taste; if needed

For the tacos:

corn or flour tortillas I actually preferred the flour tortillas for this even though they are photographed with the corn tortillas

shredded carrots

shredded cabbage

scallions; diced for garnish

sriracha sauce

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a lined baking sheet with foil, a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper.

Set-up the dredging area: Place the flour in a medium bowl and place the eggs in another bowl and whisk with a fork for about 20 seconds. Place the panko in a third bowl.

After you have cut your tofu, pat dry each one in paper towels to drain the excess water/liquid. Dip each tofu cube into the flour, then in the eggs and then lastly into the panko. You want each cube lightly breaded with panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each tofu cube and bake for another 10 minutes.

While your tofu is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Heat a medium sized sauce pan over high heat. Add all of the sauce ingredients (start with 1 tablespoon of the szechuan sauce) and mix well for a couple minutes. Taste and add more szechuan sauce or water or salt if needed and bring to a slight boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and let simmer for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Gently stir and blend well.

When the sauce and tofu is ready, prepare your tacos. Heat the tortillas slightly in a toaster oven and assemble: place your warm tortilla on a plate, place 3-4 tofu cubes on top, pour the mapo sauce over the crispy tofu cubes, add the shredded carrots, then the cabbage (you can drizzle some more mapo sauce over the cabbage if desired) and garnish with the diced scallions and drizzle on some sriracha sauce if needed. Serve immediately.

CRISPY THAI ROASTED CAULIFLOWER TACOS [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]

This comes from One Green Planet, and starts off, “These cauliflower tacos are an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. The crispy Thai cauliflower is mellowed by a tasty slaw and the whole taco is tied together with a delightful avocado-lime sauce. These tacos are sure to be crowd pleasers.”

This recipe is: Dairy-Free and Vegan; Serves 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Tacos:

1 tablespoon red curry paste

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

4 cups cauliflower florets

2 teaspoon Thai seasoning (see below)

4 small, gluten-free tortillas

For the Slaw:

3 cups purple cabbage, shredded

1 carrot, shredded

3 tablespoon cilantro, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon flaked toasted coconut

2 teaspoon each extra virgin olive oil and lime juice

1 teaspoon agave

1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced

For the Avocado Lime Drizzle:

1 avocado, pitted

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

1/4 cup water

2 limes, peeled (flesh only – take the skin and white bits off with a knife)

For the Thai Seasoning:

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon dried lemon zest

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon powdered ginger

1 teaspoon ground coriander

A few pinches of dried chili flakes

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a bowl, whisk together the curry paste, olive oil, and lime juice to make a thinner paste.

Toss the cauliflower in the mixture and stir it to coat.

In a small jar, combine all spices for the Thai seasoning and shake them together to blend.

Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the Thai seasoning over the cauliflower and stir it to coat.

Line a baking sheet with foil and scatter the cauliflower florets in a single layer.

Roast them for 15-20 minutes or until they are crispy.

Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the cabbage slaw in a large bowl.

Stir the olive oil, lime juice, and agave together. Then, pour it over the slaw and stir everything in.

In a blender, puree all ingredients for the avocado drizzle. Transfer it to a bottle with a squeeze top, or a sealed jar as you’ll have extra to store in the fridge.

When the cauliflower is ready, remove it from the oven.

Divide the cabbage slaw between 3-4 tortillas, then evenly distribute the roasted cauliflower. Drizzle the tacos with avocado sauce and garnish with additional cilantro and toasted coconut if desired.

WHITE BEAN AND POTATO TACOS (GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN)

A while back, I stumbled across Oh My Veggies. They have all sorts of yummy veggie recipes, including a bunch of taco links.

This taco recipe, which was among the taco links on Oh My Veggies, is from Beard & Bonnet. Beard & Bonnet’s Meg van der Kruik is “the writer, mother, photographer, designer, cook and creative spirit behind Beard & Bonnet.”

This can be viewed online at http://beardandbonnet.com/white-bean-and-potato-tacos-gluten-free-and-vegan/.

Serves 4; Prep Time: 20 min

Ingredients

2 cups cooked white beans, I used Navy beans, or 1 can of cannelini beans, washed and drained

4-5 small potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into tiny cubes (or 1 large russet potato)

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

Juice and zest of 1 lime

Olive oil for frying

salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

To assemble

6-8 white corn tortillas, blistered on both sides in a cast iron skillet

pickled jalapenos & radishes

cherry tomatoes, halved; I used Sungold cherry tomatoes from my CSA

lime wedges for serving

Instructions

Pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and a large pinch of salt, toss to coat and cover with a tight fitting lid. The potatoes will take about 5-8 minutes to cook through. Be sure to periodically lift the lid, scrape the pan, and toss the potatoes to ensure that all sides are crisp and golden.

While the potatoes are cooking toss the precooked, warmed, white beans with the chopped cilantro, lime zest, and juice. Mix well to combine and set aside.

When the potatoes are finished cooking set up an assembly line at your table with the tortillas, potatoes, white beans, and toppings. Allow your family to each build there own to suit their tastes.

VEGETARIAN MUSHROOM TACOS

This was on the Runner’s World website (posted September 27, 2012), and begins, “Get the flavors of Tacos al Pastor, minus the meat...

“Back when I first became a vegetarian, I thought about meat all the time. I missed it. So I pulled the classic rookie-vegetarian move of trying to recapture the magic of my favorite meals through a steady intake of Chik Nuggets, Tofu Pups, and other dubious miracles of modern culinary science. Imitation meat products (well, and 'newly minted vegetarian smugness') were the staples of my new diet—a lifestyle I later learned goes by the glamorous name of 'junk-food vegetarianism.' Ah, the folly of herbivorous youth.

“Now, after more than 10 years off the meat wagon, I don’t fantasize about meat—or even unhealthy tofu substitutes—at all. I’ve found that some of the 'meatier' vegetarian meals can be made almost entirely from plants, eliminating the need for overly processed soy.

“That’s why I love these mushroom tacos. They have the rich flavor of a slow-cooked pork taco and a satisfying meaty texture. But unlike with pork, mushrooms start out tender and only take about 10 minutes or so on the stove. Plus mushrooms are cholesterol-free, fat-free, full of vitamins, and are rumored to have mystical cancer-fighting properties. It's hard to go wrong when you throw “cancer-fighting” into the mix.

“My partner invented this recipe based on the seasonings that go into Tacos al Pastor. Minus the pineapple and coke, but if you want to experiment with those too, knock yourself out. It's a fast and filling recipe that’s super easy to make for a large crowd.”

Recipe feeds 2-3 runners; Time needed: 30-45 minutes

View this online at https://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-weight-loss/a20787900/recipe-vegetarian-mushroom-tacos/.

Ingredients

Pound of scrubbed assorted mushrooms (creminis and portabellos work well)

1 yellow onion

2 cloves garlic

6 small corn tortillas

1 orange

1 lime

1 teaspoon cumin

2 teaspoons dark chili powder

1 teaspoon oregano

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

Cilantro

Directions

Dice up one onion, setting aside three tablespoons for onion topping. Cut mushrooms into large chunks.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high-heat. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for about 10 minutes until onions are tender and mushrooms begin to brown.

Mince garlic. Juice orange and lime. Reserve two wedges of lime.

Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to onions and mushroom.

Saute for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic, then add orange and lime juice, along with about a teaspoon of salt.

Cook for two to three minutes until the juice reduces.

Heat tortillas individually in a dry pan on the stove or all together wrapped in a towel in the microwave.

Spoon mushroom mix into tortillas and garnish with reserved raw onion and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!