Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (because not everyone loves tacos). Today's offerings include Weeknight Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna and Three-Bean Soup. Enjoy!

EASY SWEET POTATO ENCHILADAS

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enchilada dinners are a great way to use up fillings and try out new flavors—take our Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas, for example. Full of roasted sweet potatoes, spinach and chickpeas and spiced with chili powder, these vegetarian enchiladas with sweet potato are a game-changer when you want to introduce a vegetarian dish into your weekday lineup. You'll love that it takes just 30 minutes of prep time to get tasty vegetarian sweet potato enchiladas wrapped up and in the oven. Make them saucy with Old El Paso™ Mild Red Enchilada Sauce, and don't forget the cheese!"

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 5 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-sweet-potato-enchiladas.

Ingredients

1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2-1/2 cups)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

1 teaspoon chili powder

3 cups packed fresh baby spinach leaves

1 can (15.5 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed

2 cups Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican 4 Cheese Blend (8 oz)

1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas for Soft Tacos & Fajitas (6 inch)

2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ Mild Red Enchilada Sauce

Fresh chopped cilantro and Old El Paso™ Crema Mexicana, if desired

Preparation

Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish or pan with cooking spray.

Place sweet potatoes on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over potatoes; season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake 18 to 23 minutes or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 30 to 60 seconds, stirring frequently, until softened. Stir in chili powder and spinach; cook 30 to 60 seconds to wilt.

Remove from heat; pour into medium bowl. Stir in chickpeas and roasted potatoes. Let cool 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.

Place tortillas on work surface. Spread heaping 1/3 cup vegetable mixture down center of each tortilla. Wrap tortillas around filling; placing seam side down in sprayed baking dish. Top enchiladas with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Top with remaining ingredients.

Expert Tips

Want a little more heat? Try Old El Paso™ Medium Red Enchilada Sauce in your Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas.

For this Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas recipe, look for sweet potatoes with red skin and orange flesh.

Cooking vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.

Add a fresh squeeze of lime to your vegetarian sweet potato enchiladas, if desired.

WEEKNIGHT SPINACH AND RICOTTA LASAGNA

This is from Hetty Lui McKinnon at The New York Times cooking enewletter. For this yummy recipe, Hetty wrote, "While it is hard to beat the perfection of a meticulously layered lasagna, this cheater’s version delivers all the comforting vibes with minimal effort. This weeknight dish requires no chopping; just mixing and baking. Choose ease, with oven-ready lasagna sheets, as they don’t require preboiling and will cook quicker than the regular ones. (Fresh lasagna sheets will certainly work, too, with the same cooking time.) Don’t drain the thawed spinach, as the extra moisture will help keep this dish moist and saucy. The easiest way to thaw spinach is to leave it overnight in the fridge; it can also be defrosted quickly in the microwave."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1-1/4 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025023-weeknight-spinach-and-ricotta-lasagna. While you're there, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

9 ounces (dry) no-boil, oven-ready lasagna sheets

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed (undrained)

15 ounces whole-milk ricotta

1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce, such as vodka or marinara

2 cups vegetable stock

1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 cup grated low-moisture mozzarella

Extra-virgin olive oil

Handful of torn soft herbs, such as oregano, basil, or parsley, to serve

Preparation

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Break up each lasagna sheet into 5 to 6 pieces and place them in a large bowl. (They can be a mixture of large and small; you can expect irregularity.) Add the spinach and half the ricotta, and fold through to coat the broken pasta sheets. Add the pasta sauce, stock and crushed red pepper; stir to combine.

Transfer the mixture to a large, 8-by-12-inch baking dish, distributing the pasta evenly and pressing it down until submerged in the sauce. Top with the mozzarella and drizzle with olive oil.

Cover with foil, tenting it to prevent it from sticking to the top, place on a baking sheet (to catch any drips) and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the foil, increase heat to 425 degrees and bake until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the cheesy top is golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

Top with remaining ricotta and drizzle with olive oil. Like traditional lasagna, this dish is best rested for 10 minutes before eating (if you can wait!). When ready to serve, top with soft herbs.

CHILE RELLENO CASSEROLE

This yumminess is from Christine Gallary at TheKitchn. This recipe begins, "Chile relleno casserole is made up of layers of poblano peppers, Monterey Jack cheese, and cooked chorizo sausage baked in a batter of egg, flour, and milk. Instead of stuffing individual peppers, the poblanos are cut open and layered into the baking dish, guaranteeing each bite has everything in it. Some chile relleno casseroles include a tomato sauce. But for crispier edges reminiscent of the fried chile relleno batter, I skip it and serve the casserole with tomato salsa or hot sauce instead."

Prep Time: 30 to 40 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes to 1 hour; Serves: 6 to 8

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/chile-relleno-casserole-recipe-23392104.

Ingredients

8 medium poblano peppers (about 2 pounds total)

Cooking spray

12 ounces to 1 pound uncooked Mexican or soy chorizo

1 tablespoon vegetable oil (optional)

12 ounces Monterey Jack cheese (about 3 cups pre-shredded)

8 large eggs

1 cup whole or 2% milk

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

Hot sauce or blended tomato salsa, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Heat the broiler to high and arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Trim the stems from 8 medium poblano peppers and halve lengthwise. Remove the core, ribs, and seeds. Place the peppers skin-side up on the baking sheet in a single layer (they can be touching) and press down on them as needed so they sit fairly flat. If they don’t all fit on the baking sheet, broil in 2 batches.

Broil until the skin on the peppers is almost completely blackened and blistered, 5 to 12 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet as needed so they evenly blacken. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Remove the casings from 12 ounces to 1 pound uncooked Mexican chorizo and add to the pan. Cook, breaking up the meat into smaller pieces, until browned and cooked through (add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the pan if it is dry), 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.

When the peppers are ready, transfer to a large heatproof bowl and cover with the aluminum foil on the baking sheet. Let sit for at least 10 minutes to steam.

Meanwhile, reduce the oven temperature to 375ºF. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Shred 12 ounces Monterey Jack cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 4 cups, or use 3 cups pre-shredded). Place 8 large eggs, 1 cup whole or 2% milk, 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon baking powder in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender halfway through, 45 to 60 seconds total.

Peel off and discard the skin from the peppers, using a paper towel to rub off any skin that doesn’t come off easily (do the best you can, it doesn’t all have to come off); it’s okay if the peppers tear.

Pour enough of the egg mixture into the baking dish to just cover the bottom. Arrange half of the peppers in an even layer over the egg mixture. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chorizo over the peppers in an even layer. Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Arrange the remaining peppers evenly over the cheese. Pour the remaining egg mixture evenly over the peppers, then sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake on the upper third rack until puffed, the center is set, and the edges are golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving with salsa or hot sauce if desired.

Recipe Notes

Poblano substitute: 4 (10-ounce) cans fire-roasted whole green chiles can be substituted for the poblanos. Drain, and gently tear open any whole chiles so they sit flat. Pat dry with paper towels before assembling in the casserole (no need to broil first).

Make ahead: The peppers can be broiled and peeled and the chorizo cooked up to 1 day ahead; refrigerate in separate airtight containers. Alternatively, the casserole can be assembled without the top layer of cheese, covered, and refrigerated overnight. When ready to bake, let the casserole sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Uncover and sprinkle with the cheese right before baking, and add 5 minutes to the bake time.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The baked casserole can also be cooled, wrapped tightly in aluminum foil, and frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, covered, in a 325ºF oven until warmed through.

ONE-POT VEGETABLE BIRYANI

This is from Zainab Shah in
The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yumminess, Zainab wrote, "Vegetable biryani may be the underdog of biryanis since it's often overshadowed by meatier varieties. But like other formidable yet unsung dishes, this one’s adaptability helps it hold its own. Recipes vary across South Asia: Hyderabadi versions are known for their fieriness, while milder, nuttier variations dominate northern regions. This one falls somewhere in the middle. Use any vegetables you have, such as nutty cauliflower, sweet peas and crunchy carrots. Nuts and fresh or dried fruits add a confetti of flavors and textures. This recipe skips the layering typically called for in favor of conveniently stirring everything together. Luckily, using fewer dishes doesn’t compromise flavor."

Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 to 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022758-one-pot-vegetable-biryani. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, loads of guides, great ideas for your next meal.

Ingredients

2 cups basmati rice

1/4 cup ghee or any neutral oil

1 dried bay leaf

2 whole star anise (optional)

4 whole cloves

4 cardamom pods

4 fresh Thai green chiles or green finger chiles, stems removed

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger

1 tablespoon garlic paste or freshly grated garlic

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

2 teaspoons Kashmiri red chile powder or other ground red chile

1 plum tomato, finely chopped

1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1/2 cup chopped mint leaves

1 medium carrot, peeled and thinly sliced

1 small potato, peeled and finely diced

1 cup small cauliflower florets

1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed

1/2 cup cut green beans (fresh or frozen)

1/2 cup full-fat Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons fine sea salt

2-1/2 cups unsalted vegetable stock or water

1 teaspoon garam masala

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus 3 lemon slices

1/2 cup fresh pomegranate seeds (optional)

1/4 cup toasted or fried cashews, halved (optional)

Preparation

Rinse the rice, cover with cold water in a bowl and soak for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat ghee in a large pot over medium until it melts, 30 to 45 seconds. Add bay leaf, star anise, cloves, cardamom and green chiles and fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion and fry, stirring often, until they start turning golden brown, about 5 minutes.

Add ginger and garlic and continue frying and stirring until the raw smell dissipates, about 1 minute. Add turmeric and red chile powder and stir for 30 seconds to toast (don’t let them burn). Add tomato and 2 tablespoons water. Add half of cilantro and mint. Continue stirring until the tomato starts to break down, about 5 minutes.

Add the carrot, potato, cauliflower, green peas, green beans, yogurt and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until the ingredients are incorporated.

Drain the rice and add to the pot, along with the lemon juice and garam masala. Stir until everything is evenly mixed. Add the vegetable stock and stir. Cover and cook on medium for 5 minutes.

Uncover and stir. Add the rest of the cilantro and mint and the lemon slices. Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes. Turn off the stove and let the pot stand for 15 minutes. Fluff the rice and garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds and cashews if you like.

THREE-BEAN SOUP

This is one of my favorite quick meals that I usually only fix on weekends, especially if it happens to be cold and/or rainy. It’s from the November/December 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37, in that issue’s “30 Minutes; Quick, Fast Food” section. This vegan recipe serves 6, and starts off, “Here’s a straight-from-the-pantry soup that’ll become a weeknight favorite. (Or, in my case, weekend favorite.) Pureeing one of the cans of beans creates a creamy base without adding extra fat or cholesterol. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and serve with vegetable chips, if desired.”

Ingredients

2 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)

1 15.5-oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed

1 15.5-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 Tbs.)

2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water

1 15.5-oz. can great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

Directions

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Saute onion 2 to 3 minutes, or until soft. Add navy beans, black beans and garlic, and continue cooking and stirring 8 to 10 minutes more. Stir in 1 cup broth.

Meanwhile, put great Northern beans and remaining 1 cup broth into food processor or blender, and puree until smooth. Pour puree into soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Thin with more broth or water, if desired.

Spoon into individual soup bowls, and serve hot.

Per serving: 231 calories; 13 g protein; 5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat); 39 g carbs; 0 mg cholesterol; 557 mg sodium; 11 g fiber; 5 g sugars

BAKED VEGETABLE MEDLEY

This is from the January 2003 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 22. It begins, “The crust for this vegetable-filled pie may be made from ready-made, store-bought dough that you roll out and fit into a pie plate. Or, for a no-fuss meal, start with a premade frozen pie crust. This is a meal-in-a-slice, calling only for a light dessert of fruit and nuts.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/baked-vegetable-medley/.

Ingredients

One 9-inch unbaked frozen pie shell

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 large leek, thinly sliced

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 bunch kale, shredded

2/3 cup chunky seasoned tomato sauce

1-1/2 cups artichoke hearts, drained

6 oz. smoked tofu, cut into thin strips

1 cup grated low-fat mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F. Reserve strips of leek for garnish.

Bake pie shell until golden, about 10 minutes, or according to package directions. Remove from oven, and set aside. Increase oven temperature to 450F.

Heat olive oil in large skillet over med-ium heat. When hot, sauté leek and garlic for about 5 minutes. Add kale and tomato sauce, stirring often, and cook until kale wilts and leeks are translucent. Add artichoke hearts.

Fill baked pie shell, and arrange tofu pieces decoratively on top. Sprinkle grated cheese over top, and bake 5 minutes more. Increase oven temperature to broil, and heat until cheese browns, about 1 minute.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 420; Protein: 18 g; Total Fat: 25 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 34 g; Cholesterol: 20 mg; Sodium: 510 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 3 g

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Grilled Portobello Tacos with Salsa Verde, Soft Tacos with Mushrooms and Cabbage, and Spicy Grilled Tempeh Tacos with Frijoles Molidos and Homemade Sour Cream. Enjoy!

SPAGHETTI SQUASH & BLACK BEAN TACOS

This comes from Kelly, whose site, Mountain Mama Cooks is really pretty awesome. I highly recommend checking it out!

This recipe begins, “Crispy blue corn shells filled with black beans, savory spaghetti squash, cotija cheese and plenty of hot sauce. Vegetarian tacos never looked so good.”

To view this online on Kelly’s site, go to https://mountainmamacooks.com/spaghetti-squash-black-bean-tacos/.

Ingredients

1– 2 lb spaghetti squash (if you go bigger, increase spices accordingly)

2 tablespoons melted butter

juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 14oz can black beans, thoroughly rinsed

8–10 crispy blue corn tortillas

crumbled cojita cheese

cilantro

hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400F degrees.

Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, throw about 1 teaspoon olive oil on each half and roast both halves face down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast the squash halves in the pre-heated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, 45-60 minutes. (Alternately, you can microwave the squash if you’re short on time.)

Meanwhile, combine melted butter, lime juice, chili powder, salt, cumin and garlic powder in a small bowl.

When spaghetti squash is done remove from oven and let cool a few minutes until you can handle it easily. Working over a large bowl, gently scrape out the flesh with a fork. Add butter mixture to the squash and toss well to combine.

In the bottom of each corn tortilla, spread out a small handful (about 2 tablespoons) of black beans. Top with some spaghetti squash (about 1/4 cup). Top again with crumbled cojita cheese.

Line the tacos in a 9×13 baking dish or similar and bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes.

To serve, top with fresh cilantro and hot sauce 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.

POTATO TACOS

Potato Tacos? Sure, why not? This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "These tasty tacos are spicy! Feel free to reduce the amount of chipotle if you prefer milder flavor." Serves 2.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tsp. vegetable oil

1/2 medium onion, diced

1/2 small red bell pepper, diced

1 small clove garlic, minced

1/2 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 medium potato, baked and diced

1 to 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro

2 whole wheat tortillas, warmed

Instructions:

In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring often, until almost tender, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add chipotle, cumin and oregano and stir 30 seconds. Add potato, toss well to coat and heat through. Stir in lemon juice and cilantro and remove from heat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

Divide potato mixture among tortillas and serve hot, garnished with condiments as desired.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 226; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 181 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 0 g

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.

SOFT TACOS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CABBAGE

This is also from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Two nutrient-dense vegetables combine forces in this delicious filling. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins and many minerals, particularly selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and manganese – and they contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. They're used medicinally throughout Asia for their immunity-boosting properties. They also contain more protein than most other vegetables, and their meaty texture makes them a perfect choice for vegetarians. Cabbage possesses phytochemicals like sulforaphane, which protects the body against cancer-causing free radicals, and indoles, which help metabolize estrogens. It’s also an excellent source of vitamins K and C, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, folate, manganese and omega-3 fatty acids.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 15 minutes.

This was featured in “Tacos for the Holidays” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 pound mushrooms, cut in thick slices

1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 small head cabbage

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 to 1/2 cup Chipotle Ranchera Salsa

8 corn tortillas

Queso fresco to taste

Preparation

Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms and sear, stirring often or tossing in the pan, until they are lightly colored and beginning to sweat, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the scallions and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until tender. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.

Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and stir in the cabbage. Cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cilantro and .25 to .5 cup of the salsa (to taste).

Heat the tortillas. Top with the mushroom/cabbage mixture, sprinkle with cheese if desired, and serve.

Tip

Advance preparation: The mushroom filling will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator.

GRILLED PORTOBELLO TACOS WITH SALSA VERDE

This yummy recipe was updated on the Vegetarian Times website on April 27, 2020. It begins, “Juicy, earthy portobello mushrooms make these tacos a mouthwatering treat.

“Don't worry if the mushroom caps seem slightly undercooked when you pull them from the grill; leave them out on a plate, and they will continue to cook (this is called carryover cooking).”

Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/grilled-portobello-tacos-with-salsa-verde-recipe.

Ingredients

Marinade

1/3 cup canola oil

3 Tbs. balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. black pepper

Tacos

6 large portobello mushroom caps

6 6-inch soft corn tortillas

2 avocados, sliced

2 cups chopped tomatoes

3 cups shredded cabbage

Salsa Verde

4 tomatillos, chopped (or 1 cup canned)

1 large green bell pepper or poblano chile, roughly chopped

1 large bunch fresh cilantro, leaves only

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic

3 tsp. organic sugar or agave nectar

1 1/4 tsp. canola oil

1 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

Preparation

Preheat grill or grill pan to high heat. To make Marinade: combine all ingredients in small bowl.

To make Tacos:

Brush mushroom caps with marinade. Grill mushrooms 3 to 5 minutes per side. Cool until easy to handle, then slice into strips.

To make Salsa Verde:

Purée all ingredients in food processor 1 minute, or until smooth. Pour salsa over mushroom strips, and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.

Lightly warm tortillas 15 seconds per side in skillet or on griddle. Fill tortillas with sliced mushrooms, avocado slices, tomatoes, and cabbage. Top each taco with sour cream, if using.