Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Here are six yuummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend, including a vegan Jambalaya with Sausage and White Bean Enchiladas. Enjoy!

ROASTED CARROTS AND PARSNIPS

This was in the November/December 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 50. It begins, "Whole sage leaves and thyme sprigs are tossed with carrots and parsnips to add aromatic flavor as they roast." Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/roasted-carrots-and-parsnips/.

Ingredients

3-4 carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2 1/2 cups)

3-4 parsnips, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2 1/2 cups)

1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil

8 fresh sage leaves

6 thyme sprigs

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss together all ingredients in large baking dish, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Roast 15 minutes, then shake dish to loosen vegetables. Roast 15 minutes more, then shake again, and roast 10 minutes more, or until tender.

MAQUE CHOUX

This is from Gabrielle Hamilton at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Gabrielle wrote, "This classic Cajun side dish is a sweet, hot, juicy, milky, buttery combination of corn, onions and peppers. It’s often cooked in rendered bacon fat and enriched with heavy cream, but this version relies upon only butter and a little water in their place, which allow the ingredients’ flavors to sing more clearly. While it is commonly understood that Fat Equals Flavor, there is a point at which too much fat actually masks complexities in flavors and dulls their vibrancy. Try the maque choux this way and see if you notice how bold and lively it tastes. If you miss the smokiness that bacon imparts, try instead a pinch of smoked paprika stirred in at the end."

Yield: About 1 generous quart; Time: 20 minutes

This was featured in "This Cajun Corn Dish Screams ‘Summer’", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021176-maque-choux.

Note: I highly recommend reading the article ("featured in" link, above). I read it in The New York Times Magazine on Sunday, June 21. Interesting reading.

Ingredients

3 fresh ears of corn, shucked

8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)

1/2 red onion, cut into small dice

2 celery ribs, cut into small dice

Kosher salt

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into small dice

1 small poblano pepper, cored, seeded and cut into small dice

1 small serrano chile, very thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

Smoked paprika (optional)

Preparation

Working with 1 corn cob at a time, set the ear of corn upright in a medium bowl. Shave the corn from the cob by slicing down the sides using the tip of a sharp chef’s knife, holding the knife almost vertical. (This gives you neat tablets of corn that land squarely in the bowl and keeps the kernels from scattering all over the counter.) Using the back of the knife, scrape each cob to release all the nibs and the “milk” of the kernels into the bowl. Repeat with remaining ears of corn, then snap the cobs in half, and add them to the bowl.

In a large, deep sauté pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat until foaming. Add onion and celery, and season with 1 or 2 pinches of kosher salt. Stir constantly until softened and translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons butter and the bell pepper, poblano and serrano, and stir constantly, adding another pinch of kosher salt, letting the butter melt and the peppers soften and become translucent, about 2 or 3 minutes. You will smell the peppers’ sweetness and their mild capsaicin releasing.

Add the final 3 tablespoons butter and the corn mixture from the bowl, cobs included, and another pinch of kosher salt. Stir constantly to coat with the butter and combine thoroughly.

When everything starts to hiss and sound hot, but isn’t cooking so hard as to take color, add 1/2 cup water and a healthy few grinds of black pepper, and cover the pan for a couple of minutes to steam/shallow braise the mixture.

Remove the lid, and stir well, noticing the corn releasing its liquid and the kernels softening, and the cobs turning somewhat translucent, if however vague. You will notice a general softening and melding together. Return the lid, and let cook a few more minutes, noticing the water evaporating and the remaining liquid reducing and gaining some “body” and gloss. Discard the corn cobs, but do suck them before tossing — those buttery juices make a nice cook’s treat.

Taste for salt, and serve. It should be sweet, spicy, a bit wet and surprisingly complex, given the few ingredients and their ordinariness. If you want a smoky taste, add a good pinch of smoked paprika.

WHITE BEAN ENCHILADAS

This comes from MyRecipes (originally from the November 2000 issue of Cooking Light, and begins, "The reader loves experimenting in the kitchen, and is always on the lookout for low-fat ideas. This reader once came across a lasagna recipe that called for white beans instead of cheese; that's what inspired this dish. These enchiladas are really easy to make, and you can put them together up to a day ahead. They reheat well in the microwave, too."

Makes 3 servings (serving size: 2 enchiladas)

To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/white-bean-enchiladas-0.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream

1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat Mexican blend or cheddar cheese, divided

2 tablespoons canned chopped green chiles

1 tablespoon sliced green onions

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce (such as Old El Paso), divided

1/4 cup water

6 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine the sour cream and beans in a food processor; process until almost smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese, chiles, onions, chopped cilantro, and cumin.

Combine 1/3 cup enchilada sauce and 1/4 cup water in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Dip one tortilla in the sauce mixture to soften; transfer to a plate. Spread 1/4 cup bean mixture down center of tortilla; roll up. Place roll, seam side down, in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas and bean mixture. Add remaining sauce to pan; cook 1 minute. Spoon over enchiladas; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with minced cilantro, if desired.

FRESH CORN AND OKRA FRITTERS

This is from the July/August 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It begins, "In these fritters, okra shows its Southern heritage when paired with corn and cornmeal. These fritters resemble fried corn pone but with vegetables added. If you want to make your own baking powder, the formula is very simple: Combine 1/4 cup cream of tartar with 2 tablespoons baking soda, and sift the two together three times. Store the powder in a tightly sealed container away from sunlight. Makes about 12 fritters." Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/fresh-corn-and-okra-fritters/.

Ingredients

1/2 cup stone-ground white cornmeal

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder, preferably homemade (see above)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

1 cup fresh corn kernels

1 cup (about 5 oz.) thinly sliced (1/8- to 1/4-inch thick) okra

About 2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Preparation

Put cornmeal, flour, 1 teaspoon salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl, and stir well to blend. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and water, and stir into dry ingredients, mixing just until well blended.

Sprinkle remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper over scallions, corn and okra, and fold vegetables into batter.

Pour oil into a large skillet, and heat to 340°F. Scoop batter by about 1/4 cupfuls into hot oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides, carefully turning to brown evenly and to cook through, for about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from skillet using a slotted spoon, and drain fritters on layers of paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt, and serve hot or at room temperature.

JAMBALAYA WITH SAUSAGE [Vegan]

This is from Dominique Ebra on One Green Planet. Dominque wrote, "This Vegan Jambalaya is a meatless twist to a Cajun favorite! The spicy flavors meld together with rice and beans for a great one-pot meal. Beans, rice, and vegan sausage take center stage in this hearty vegan jambalaya. Traditional Cajun comfort food can dish out as much or as little heat as you’d like. For an added kick, use vegan Cajun sausage and even fire-roasted tomatoes."

To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/jambalaya-with-sausage-vegan/.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 tablespoon vegan butter

1 14 oz package vegan sausage, sliced

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

3 celery stalks, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

2-3 tablespoons cajun seasoning, divided

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 14oz can black or red beans

2 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce

1-1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice

3 cups vegetable broth

fresh chopped parsley and green onion for topping

Preparation

In a large pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium-high. Add the sliced vegan sausages and 1 tablespoon of the cajun seasoning and sauté until browned. Transfer to a clean plate and set aside.

In the same pan, add the tablespoon of vegan butter and let it melt. Then add in the veggie mix. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add in 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper. Stir and cook for 1 more minute.

Next, add the crushed tomatoes, beans, Worcestershire sauce, rice, and veggie broth to the pan. Stir well, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer (covered) and cook for 25-30 minutes, until the rice is cooked. Stir frequently to make sure the rice doesn’t burn and stick to the bottom of the pot. Add vegetable broth as needed if the mixture starts to dry out.

Add the cooked vegan sausage back into the pan and mix. Remove from heat.

Top with chopped parsley and green onions, and enjoy!

CHERRY-COLA DUMP CAKE

This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Super easy to prepare: Just mix devil's food cake mix with cola and pour over cherries. Bake for one hour and voila!"

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 9

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 jar (16 oz) maraschino cherries with juice (without stems)

1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ devil’s food cake mix

1 cup cola-flavored carbonated beverage

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Into ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, “dump” cherries with cherry juice.

In medium bowl, mix cake mix and carbonated beverage. “Dump” mixture over cherries.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool about 15 minutes before cutting and serving cake.

Expert Tips

Serve with whipped cream and additional cherries.

You could substitute cherry pie filling in place of the maraschino cherries and juice.