Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Vegetable Shepherd's Pie and Orange Ricotta Bars. Enjoy!
KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES
This was in New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “Much like its author, this recipe is a no-fuss classic. It calls for just 1/4 cup of flour, which yields an incredibly rich and gooey brownie, and it's super easy to make. So easy, in fact, that baking a batch of these might just become part of your weekend routine.” Time: about 45 minutes; makes 12 brownies
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped or broken-up walnuts or pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt butter in saucepan with cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, nuts and salt. Add to the cocoa-butter mixture. Stir until just combined.
Pour into a greased 8 x 8-inch-square pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake; the brownies should be gooey. Let cool, then cut into bars.
NO CHURN ICE CREAM
This comes from GE Appliances’ email list. It begins, “No one will believe that this ultra-creamy ice cream is so easy to make. No fancy ice cream machine required.”
12 servings (6 cups total)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch fine sea salt
2 cups heavy cream, chilled
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt until thoroughly combined; set aside.
In a large metal bowl, whip the cream with a hand mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Fold about 1 cup of the whipped cream into the condensed milk mixture with a rubber spatula until combined, then fold the lightened mixture into the whipped cream until well blended.
Pour into a chilled 9-by-5-by-3-inch metal loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid and scoopable, about 3-4 hours.
Chef’s Notes:
For best results, chill both the metal bowl and loaf pan before starting this recipe.
Try adding in additional ingredients after the ice cream has set for a few hours. Crushed up chocolate sandwich cookies, toasted nuts or chopped up candy bars are all great additions. Stir them in and place the ice cream back in the freezer until firm.
VEGETABLE SHEPHERD'S PIE
This came from the Food Network's Magazine several years ago.
Prep Time: 25 min; Cook Time: 41 min; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
6 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 bunch baby turnips, halved or quartered if large
6 cloves garlic, minced
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped (stems reserved)
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup chopped veggie burgers or vegetarian protein crumbles
2/3 cup milk or half-and-half
Grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling (optional)
Directions
Preheat the broiler. Cover the potatoes with water in a pot; season with salt, cover and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a stovetop casserole dish or shallow enamel pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, turnips and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables brown, 8 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid from the potatoes to the casserole dish. Lower the heat and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Tie the parsley stems with twine and add to the casserole. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 8 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons butter and the chopped veggie burgers and warm through, 5 minutes. Remove the parsley stems and stir in the chopped parsley. Keep warm.
Drain the potatoes and mash with the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and the milk; season with salt and pepper and spoon over the casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan, if desired. Broil until golden brown, 5 minutes.
Per serving: Calories 558; Fat 24 g (Saturated 11 g); Cholesterol 42 mg; Sodium 656 mg; Carbohydrate 68 g; Fiber 9 g; Protein 17 g
EASY WHOLE WHEAT VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Easy whole wheat vegetarian lasagna with spinach baked in the oven with three kinds of cheeses. What's not to love? This is the perfect classic spinach lasagna recipe for the whole family!
“Make your vegetarian lasagna just a bit healthier by using this recipe, which calls for whole wheat lasagna noodles and spinach. Even though it uses whole wheat noodles, this Italian spinach lasagna is incredibly rich and creamy as it uses plenty of mozzarella, Parmesan, and low-fat cottage cheese. Of course, you don't have to use whole wheat lasagna noodles if you prefer the regular kind.
“This spinach lasagna recipe is courtesy of the Wheat Foods Council.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 90 minutes; Yield: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 8-ounce package whole wheat lasagne noodles, cooked slightly (al dente)
1 9-ounce package frozen raw spinach (well thawed and drained)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 eggs
3 cups low-fat cottage cheese
3 cups pre-made or store-bought pasta sauce
3 cups grated low-moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs then add the cottage cheese and Parmesan cheese. Spray a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or a homemade olive oil spray.
Put one layer of the slightly cooked lasagna noodles flat across the bottom of the baking dish. Add about half of the spinach, pressing down lightly and evenly over the noodles. Top with another layer of lasagna noodles. Top this layer of noodles with the cottage cheese mixture then add the remaining spinach. Then add the last of the lasagna noodles laid evenly on top of spinach.
Once you've layered everything, spread the pasta sauce evenly over the top and sprinkle the whole thing with mozzarella cheese. Press down lightly.
Cover baking dish with foil, using foil sprayed with cooking spray and keeping foil off the center of the lasagna. Secure sides tightly over baking dish.
Bake about 1 hour 15 minutes in oven. To lightly brown the top, remove foil for a few minutes at the end of baking time.
Allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving): 282 Calories; 12g Fat; 23g Carbs; 19g Protein
JALAPENO BROCCOLI
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 to 5 servings
Source: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook
Book Title: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/jalapeno-broccoli
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt, optional
1 head broccoli, trimmed and separated into spears
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced (with or without seeds, depending on desired hotness)
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
Few sprigs fresh coriander or parsley, chopped
Directions
Bring a pot of water to the boil and add optional salt. Add the broccoli spears and boil over high heat for 3 to 5 minutes (depending on desired tenderness).
Drain and transfer broccoli to bowl of ice cold water for 30 seconds. Drain and lay out the cooked spears decoratively on a presentation plate. Drizzle evenly with balsamic vinegar.
In a small frying pan, heat olive oil over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add sliced jalapeno peppers (with seeds, if using) and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
Take peppers with all the oil from the pan, and distribute evenly over the broccoli. Garnish with pine nuts and herbs.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 142; Fat: 9 g; Fiber: 6 g; Sodium: 206 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Fat
ORANGE RICOTTA BARS
This is from Michelle Stark, food editor for the Tampa Bay Times. She also has her own site, Stark From Scratch.
Makes about 12 bars.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Zest from 1 orange (save a pinch for the glaze)
Juice from half of that orange
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the glaze:
2 tablespoons milk
Pinch of orange zest
1 cup confectioners' sugar, more if needed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Fresh mint, for garnish
Orange slices, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a square baking pan (I used a 9- by 9-inch pan) with cooking spray.
Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl; should take between 20 and 30 seconds. Add to a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, orange zest and juice, and mix. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and whisk until the batter is smooth.
Add in the flour, baking powder and salt, and gently mix until everything is incorporated. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 40 minutes. You can start checking after 30-35 minutes, but mine took the full 40. The bars will be slightly brown around the edges, but don't let them get too brown. Make sure a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, gently run a knife or spatula around the edge of the pan to loosen bars, then flip pan over carefully so the bars wiggle out. Let bars cool on a baking rack for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until cool to the touch.
Meanwhile, make the glaze: Mix all glaze ingredients in a small bowl, whisking to thoroughly combine. If very thin, add more confectioners' sugar. You want it somewhat runny; it won't be thick like frosting.
When the bars are cool, cut into 10 to 12 squares. Gently spread about 1 tablespoon of glaze on each square (it will be drippy; that's okay). Top each one with a fresh mint sprig and orange slice. Serve immediately, or refrigerate but let come to room temperature before serving.
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Taco Tuesday
I don't know about you, but I love tacos. So when it comes to Taco Tuesdays, I have no problems. Here are six taco recipes to help you through the day, including Mushroom, Corn and Poblano Soft Tacos with Avocado Cream and Lime Cilantro Portobello Tacos. Enjoy!
FRIED YUBA TACOS WITH SWEET CORN RELISH
This is from Byrant Terry at Food & Wine. This recipe begins, "In this recipe, Chef Bryant Terry fries rolled yuba, or thin sheets of tofu skin, in avocado oil until crispy, yielding a hearty vegan taco filling. Diaspora Co.'s single-origin turmeric lends its zesty, deeply floral flavor to the summery corn relish that tops these tacos. Diaspora Co. is one in a rising tide of small spice companies delivering better-tasting spices while supporting small, independent farmers. A spoonful of 'green cream'—sautéed spinach stirred together with mashed avocado—holds all of the delicious components in place."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Refrigerate Time: 1 day; Tot Time: 1 day 1 hour 30 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fried-yuba-tacos-with-sweet-corn-relish.
Ingredients
Sweet Corn Relish
3 large ears yellow corn
12 ripe cherry tomatoes, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh jalapeño
2 medium garlic cloves
1-1/2cups unseasoned rice vinegar
1/2 cup water
6 tablespoons raw cane sugar
2 tablespoons brown mustard seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric (such as Diaspora Co.)
Green Cream
2 teaspoons avocado oil
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
4 ounces baby spinach (about 4 cups)
2 ripe Hass avocados, pitted and peeled
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Fried Yuba Tacos
4 yuba sheets (such as Hodo)
Avocado oil, for frying
Fine sea salt
12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
Hot sauce, shredded red cabbage, fresh cilantro, thinly sliced scallions, and sliced fresh serrano chile, for serving
Directions
Make the sweet corn relish
Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high, and add corn. Return to a boil, and cook corn 1 minute; drain. Using tongs, transfer corn to ice water, and let stand 5 minutes. Drain corn, and slice kernels from cobs; discard cobs. Evenly divide corn kernels, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic cloves between 2 clean 1-pint canning jars; set aside.
Combine vinegar, 1/2 cup water, sugar, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, kosher salt, peppercorns, and turmeric in the same saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-high, stirring often, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Divide vinegar mixture evenly between jars, and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Seal jars, and refrigerate relish 24 hours to develop the flavor.
Make the green cream
Combine oil and minced garlic in a large skillet, and cook over medium, stirring often, until garlic smells fragrant and just starts to turn golden, 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Add spinach to skillet, and cook, stirring often, until spinach is just wilted, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat, and transfer spinach to a cutting board. Finely chop spinach. Combine avocados and vinegar in a medium bowl. Using a fork, mash avocado mixture until almost smooth; stir in chopped spinach, and season with kosher salt.
Make the fried yuba tacos
If yuba sheets are stuck together, run warm water over them while gently separating, being careful not to tear. Using scissors, cut each sheet into 6 (4-inch) squares. Pat sheets dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Stack 2 (4-inch) squares, and roll into a tight cylinder. Set aside, and repeat with remaining squares.
Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Pour avocado oil to a depth of about 1 inch in a deep skillet. Heat over medium-high to 360°F to 375°F. Place 1 yuba roll on a spatula, and gently slide roll into hot oil. Cook, turning gently with spatula for even frying, until yuba is bubbling and starting to brown, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove using a spatula or skimmer, and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with fine sea salt. Repeat with remaining yuba rolls.
Assemble each taco by smearing 1 heaping tablespoon green cream on a warm corn tortilla. Top with a fried yuba roll, and sprinkle with 1 heaping tablespoon sweet corn relish. Top with hot sauce, shredded cabbage, cilantro, scallions, and serrano.
Notes
Find yuba sheets at Asian grocery stores or at Whole Foods.
Make Ahead
Sweet corn relish can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITOS
This is from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "Mexican refried beans are a cinch to make at home on a weeknight thanks to some staple pantry items and a few basic fresh ingredients. Buttery canned pinto beans are perfect in this dish, breaking down into a creamy, silky mixture. (Black beans would also work great.) While the beans are often fried in lard or bacon drippings, this vegetarian version builds flavor with caramelized onion, bell pepper, garlic and smoked paprika instead. Pico de gallo adds a touch of tang to counter the rich beans. Pan-frying the wrapped burritos guarantees a golden, irresistibly crispy exterior and an interior that oozes with melted cheese."
Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 burritos
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022532-bean-and-cheese-burritos.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons safflower or canola oil
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion (from 1/2 medium onion)
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper (from 1/2 pepper)
Salt and black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, 1/2 cup of bean liquid reserved and the rest drained
1/2 cup store-bought or homemade pico de gallo or salsa
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
6 (9- to 10-inch) flour tortillas
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (8 ounces)
Sour cream and hot sauce, for serving
Preparation
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add onion and bell pepper, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden and tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, 1 minute. Add pinto beans, pico de gallo, smoked paprika, reserved bean liquid and 1/2 cup of water, and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring and mashing occasionally with a potato masher or the back of a spoon, until liquid is absorbed and mixture is thick, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer refried beans to a bowl, and wipe out skillet.
Spread 1/2 cup of the refried beans in the center of each tortilla and top each with ⅓ cup of the cheese. Fold the short sides of the tortilla over the filling; fold the bottom of the tortilla up and over the filling and tightly roll.
In the skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium. Add 3 burritos seam side down and cook until golden, turning occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to serving plates and repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 3 burritos. Serve warm with sour cream and hot sauce on the side.
MUSHROOM, CORN AND POBLANO SOFT TACOS WITH AVOCADO CREAM
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found here.
From Garnish with Lemon. View this online at http://www.garnishwithlemon.com/mushroom-corn-and-poblano-soft-tacos-with-avocado-cream/ Yields 5.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, sliced
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 large poblano pepper, seeded and chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn
1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup salsa
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
1 teaspoon hot sauce (or more, depending on your preference)
Kosher salt
10 taco-sized corn or flour tortillas
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
1/2 cup sour cream
Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions:
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan. Stir in onions, oregano, garlic, chili powder, cumin and poblano pepper and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add corn and beans to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat and stir in salsa, 1 tablespoon lime juice and hot sauce. Season to taste with salt.
Place avocado, sour cream and remaining lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth. If avocado cream is too thick, add additional lime juice to reach desired consistency. Season to taste with salt.
Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon mushroom mixture into tortillas, garnish with avocado cream and chopped cilantro. Serve.
SOFT BEAN TACOS
This also comes from Vegetarian Times. Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1/4 cup water
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
16-oz. can spicy fat-free refried beans
1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, reduced-fat if desired, or soy cheese
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil and warm in oven.
In large saucepan, combine water and bell pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat, 2 minutes. Add corn, green onions, jalapeño pepper and refried beans. Stir gently until mixture is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Remove tortillas from oven. Spread some of the filling on one half of each tortilla, then sprinkle with a small amount of cheese. Fold over and arrange on individual plates. Top with salsa and yogurt if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 260; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 17 mg; Sodium: 455 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: g; Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
LIME CILANTRO PORTOBELLO 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 Sarah Yates Mora, who has a cool blog called A House in the Hills, where she posted this recipe.
Sarah started off this recipe by writing, “I don’t want to come across all braggy braggerson, but i made those tortillas. with my BARE HANDS! ok, my bare hands and a tortilla press.” She continued on by writing that “making tortillas is mind blowingly simple. like, really really really simple. i had NO IDEA.” (I love her enthusiasm!)
Anywho, the link to this recipe on her blog is https://ahouseinthehills.com/2013/7/10/lime-cilantro-portobello-tacos/. I seriously suggest checking it out!
Ingredients
2 large portobello mushrooms
3/4 cup shredded purple cabbage
1 avocado
1 bunch cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced and de-seeded (unless you want some extra kick in which case leave the seeds be!)
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup masa
grapeseed oil
Directions
Rinse and thoroughly clean two large portobello mushrooms.
Prepare mushroom marinade by combining olive oil, fresh squeezed lime juice, 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.
You’ll want to marinate the mushrooms for as long as possible, preferably 8 or more hours. I started mine in the early evening and made them for an early lunch the next day. To marinate, place mushrooms and marinade in a large plastic ziplock, give them a few shakes and refrigerate.
When mushrooms are marinated you’ll grill them (I used a grill pan) over medium heat until cooked through (a couple of minutes on each side)
To make tortillas:
Combine 3/4 cup masa with 1/2 cup of hot water and knead with hands. Add more water if needed, or add more masa if mixture seems too wet. You’re looking to achieve the consistency of brand new play-doh. You’ll know you’re spot on when you’re able to pull a full tortilla out of the press. I played around for a bit to get it just right, but it only took fussing with the mixture a little bit at a time to get there!
Lightly coat a cast iron pan in grapeseed oil and heat on medium low.
Cover the top and bottom of the tortilla press* with large ziplock bags or saran wrap. Roll a ball of masa dough about 1 1/2″ big in the palm of your hands in place in the center of the press.
Gently use the top press to flatten the tortilla, then peel away and add to the pan.
Cook for 30 seconds or so on each side.
Continue with the rest of the dough (this amount of masa makes roughly 7 tortillas) until all are dough is used. Keep cooked tortillas warm by wrapping in a damp tea towel and placing in a dutch oven over LOW heat.
* if you do not have a tortilla press, use your hand or a rolling pin to flatten tortillas!
To make tacos:
Assemble tacos by laying tortillas with slices of the grilled portobellos, slices of avocado, cilantro, cabbage and jalapeno. Squeeze with lime juice. Serve hot and enjoy!
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.
FRIED YUBA TACOS WITH SWEET CORN RELISH
This is from Byrant Terry at Food & Wine. This recipe begins, "In this recipe, Chef Bryant Terry fries rolled yuba, or thin sheets of tofu skin, in avocado oil until crispy, yielding a hearty vegan taco filling. Diaspora Co.'s single-origin turmeric lends its zesty, deeply floral flavor to the summery corn relish that tops these tacos. Diaspora Co. is one in a rising tide of small spice companies delivering better-tasting spices while supporting small, independent farmers. A spoonful of 'green cream'—sautéed spinach stirred together with mashed avocado—holds all of the delicious components in place."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Refrigerate Time: 1 day; Tot Time: 1 day 1 hour 30 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fried-yuba-tacos-with-sweet-corn-relish.
Ingredients
Sweet Corn Relish
3 large ears yellow corn
12 ripe cherry tomatoes, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh jalapeño
2 medium garlic cloves
1-1/2cups unseasoned rice vinegar
1/2 cup water
6 tablespoons raw cane sugar
2 tablespoons brown mustard seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric (such as Diaspora Co.)
Green Cream
2 teaspoons avocado oil
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
4 ounces baby spinach (about 4 cups)
2 ripe Hass avocados, pitted and peeled
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Fried Yuba Tacos
4 yuba sheets (such as Hodo)
Avocado oil, for frying
Fine sea salt
12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
Hot sauce, shredded red cabbage, fresh cilantro, thinly sliced scallions, and sliced fresh serrano chile, for serving
Directions
Make the sweet corn relish
Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high, and add corn. Return to a boil, and cook corn 1 minute; drain. Using tongs, transfer corn to ice water, and let stand 5 minutes. Drain corn, and slice kernels from cobs; discard cobs. Evenly divide corn kernels, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic cloves between 2 clean 1-pint canning jars; set aside.
Combine vinegar, 1/2 cup water, sugar, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, kosher salt, peppercorns, and turmeric in the same saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-high, stirring often, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Divide vinegar mixture evenly between jars, and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Seal jars, and refrigerate relish 24 hours to develop the flavor.
Make the green cream
Combine oil and minced garlic in a large skillet, and cook over medium, stirring often, until garlic smells fragrant and just starts to turn golden, 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Add spinach to skillet, and cook, stirring often, until spinach is just wilted, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat, and transfer spinach to a cutting board. Finely chop spinach. Combine avocados and vinegar in a medium bowl. Using a fork, mash avocado mixture until almost smooth; stir in chopped spinach, and season with kosher salt.
Make the fried yuba tacos
If yuba sheets are stuck together, run warm water over them while gently separating, being careful not to tear. Using scissors, cut each sheet into 6 (4-inch) squares. Pat sheets dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Stack 2 (4-inch) squares, and roll into a tight cylinder. Set aside, and repeat with remaining squares.
Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Pour avocado oil to a depth of about 1 inch in a deep skillet. Heat over medium-high to 360°F to 375°F. Place 1 yuba roll on a spatula, and gently slide roll into hot oil. Cook, turning gently with spatula for even frying, until yuba is bubbling and starting to brown, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove using a spatula or skimmer, and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with fine sea salt. Repeat with remaining yuba rolls.
Assemble each taco by smearing 1 heaping tablespoon green cream on a warm corn tortilla. Top with a fried yuba roll, and sprinkle with 1 heaping tablespoon sweet corn relish. Top with hot sauce, shredded cabbage, cilantro, scallions, and serrano.
Notes
Find yuba sheets at Asian grocery stores or at Whole Foods.
Make Ahead
Sweet corn relish can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITOS
This is from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "Mexican refried beans are a cinch to make at home on a weeknight thanks to some staple pantry items and a few basic fresh ingredients. Buttery canned pinto beans are perfect in this dish, breaking down into a creamy, silky mixture. (Black beans would also work great.) While the beans are often fried in lard or bacon drippings, this vegetarian version builds flavor with caramelized onion, bell pepper, garlic and smoked paprika instead. Pico de gallo adds a touch of tang to counter the rich beans. Pan-frying the wrapped burritos guarantees a golden, irresistibly crispy exterior and an interior that oozes with melted cheese."
Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 burritos
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022532-bean-and-cheese-burritos.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons safflower or canola oil
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion (from 1/2 medium onion)
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper (from 1/2 pepper)
Salt and black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, 1/2 cup of bean liquid reserved and the rest drained
1/2 cup store-bought or homemade pico de gallo or salsa
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
6 (9- to 10-inch) flour tortillas
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (8 ounces)
Sour cream and hot sauce, for serving
Preparation
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add onion and bell pepper, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden and tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, 1 minute. Add pinto beans, pico de gallo, smoked paprika, reserved bean liquid and 1/2 cup of water, and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring and mashing occasionally with a potato masher or the back of a spoon, until liquid is absorbed and mixture is thick, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer refried beans to a bowl, and wipe out skillet.
Spread 1/2 cup of the refried beans in the center of each tortilla and top each with ⅓ cup of the cheese. Fold the short sides of the tortilla over the filling; fold the bottom of the tortilla up and over the filling and tightly roll.
In the skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium. Add 3 burritos seam side down and cook until golden, turning occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to serving plates and repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 3 burritos. Serve warm with sour cream and hot sauce on the side.
MUSHROOM, CORN AND POBLANO SOFT TACOS WITH AVOCADO CREAM
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found here.
From Garnish with Lemon. View this online at http://www.garnishwithlemon.com/mushroom-corn-and-poblano-soft-tacos-with-avocado-cream/ Yields 5.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, sliced
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 large poblano pepper, seeded and chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn
1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup salsa
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
1 teaspoon hot sauce (or more, depending on your preference)
Kosher salt
10 taco-sized corn or flour tortillas
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
1/2 cup sour cream
Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions:
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan. Stir in onions, oregano, garlic, chili powder, cumin and poblano pepper and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add corn and beans to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat and stir in salsa, 1 tablespoon lime juice and hot sauce. Season to taste with salt.
Place avocado, sour cream and remaining lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth. If avocado cream is too thick, add additional lime juice to reach desired consistency. Season to taste with salt.
Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon mushroom mixture into tortillas, garnish with avocado cream and chopped cilantro. Serve.
SOFT BEAN TACOS
This also comes from Vegetarian Times. Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1/4 cup water
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
16-oz. can spicy fat-free refried beans
1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, reduced-fat if desired, or soy cheese
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil and warm in oven.
In large saucepan, combine water and bell pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat, 2 minutes. Add corn, green onions, jalapeño pepper and refried beans. Stir gently until mixture is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Remove tortillas from oven. Spread some of the filling on one half of each tortilla, then sprinkle with a small amount of cheese. Fold over and arrange on individual plates. Top with salsa and yogurt if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 260; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 17 mg; Sodium: 455 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: g; Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
LIME CILANTRO PORTOBELLO 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 Sarah Yates Mora, who has a cool blog called A House in the Hills, where she posted this recipe.
Sarah started off this recipe by writing, “I don’t want to come across all braggy braggerson, but i made those tortillas. with my BARE HANDS! ok, my bare hands and a tortilla press.” She continued on by writing that “making tortillas is mind blowingly simple. like, really really really simple. i had NO IDEA.” (I love her enthusiasm!)
Anywho, the link to this recipe on her blog is https://ahouseinthehills.com/2013/7/10/lime-cilantro-portobello-tacos/. I seriously suggest checking it out!
Ingredients
2 large portobello mushrooms
3/4 cup shredded purple cabbage
1 avocado
1 bunch cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced and de-seeded (unless you want some extra kick in which case leave the seeds be!)
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup masa
grapeseed oil
Directions
Rinse and thoroughly clean two large portobello mushrooms.
Prepare mushroom marinade by combining olive oil, fresh squeezed lime juice, 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.
You’ll want to marinate the mushrooms for as long as possible, preferably 8 or more hours. I started mine in the early evening and made them for an early lunch the next day. To marinate, place mushrooms and marinade in a large plastic ziplock, give them a few shakes and refrigerate.
When mushrooms are marinated you’ll grill them (I used a grill pan) over medium heat until cooked through (a couple of minutes on each side)
To make tortillas:
Combine 3/4 cup masa with 1/2 cup of hot water and knead with hands. Add more water if needed, or add more masa if mixture seems too wet. You’re looking to achieve the consistency of brand new play-doh. You’ll know you’re spot on when you’re able to pull a full tortilla out of the press. I played around for a bit to get it just right, but it only took fussing with the mixture a little bit at a time to get there!
Lightly coat a cast iron pan in grapeseed oil and heat on medium low.
Cover the top and bottom of the tortilla press* with large ziplock bags or saran wrap. Roll a ball of masa dough about 1 1/2″ big in the palm of your hands in place in the center of the press.
Gently use the top press to flatten the tortilla, then peel away and add to the pan.
Cook for 30 seconds or so on each side.
Continue with the rest of the dough (this amount of masa makes roughly 7 tortillas) until all are dough is used. Keep cooked tortillas warm by wrapping in a damp tea towel and placing in a dutch oven over LOW heat.
* if you do not have a tortilla press, use your hand or a rolling pin to flatten tortillas!
To make tacos:
Assemble tacos by laying tortillas with slices of the grilled portobellos, slices of avocado, cilantro, cabbage and jalapeno. Squeeze with lime juice. Serve hot and enjoy!
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.
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