I want something snacky!
Who hasn't said that, or at least thought that once or twice?
Desserts are the perfect remedy for that. To that end, here are six yummy dessert recipes, including Gingerbread Whoopie Pies With Tahini Cream Filling and Earl Grey Tea Cake With Dark Chocolate and Orange Zest. Enjoy!
OLD-FASHIONED BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking section. For this, Melissa wrote, "This creamy pudding, thickened with cornstarch and egg yolks and stirred together on the stove, is as homey as it gets. Spiking the mixture with a little bourbon or Scotch isn’t strictly traditional, but it does add a pop of flavor. Choose bourbon to underscore the caramelized notes of the brown sugar, or Scotch for a savory smokiness and a nod to the name. Here’s a tip: Make sure to bring the pudding to a full, vigorous boil to activate the cornstarch. Otherwise, it may not set. If you’ve ever ended up with thin, runny pudding, undercooking may have been the issue."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes, plus 2 hours' chilling
This was featured in "The Best Butterscotch Pudding Is Homemade" (which includes the line, "This unfussy, old-fashioned recipe is easy to stir together on top of the stove, and hard to mess up."), and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021800-old-fashioned-butterscotch-pudding.
Ingredients
4 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 packed cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon bourbon or Scotch whisky (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche, for serving
Chopped candied ginger, sliced almonds, Demerara sugar, shaved chocolate, cocoa nibs or flaky sea salt (or a combination), for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Put egg yolks, cornstarch and salt into a large heatproof bowl, and whisk until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.
In a medium pot over medium heat, combine brown sugar and butter, whisking, until the brown sugar melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture starts to smell like hot caramel and darkens slightly, about 1 minute longer. (Don’t walk away, or the mixture may burn.)
Immediately pour the milk and cream into the pot. (It will bubble fiercely and seize up.) Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the clumps melt, 2 to 4 minutes.
Slowly whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking yolks until smooth, then whisk in the remaining hot cream mixture. Pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan and place it over medium heat.
Cook pudding, whisking constantly especially around the bottom and edges of the pot, until it comes to a full boil. (Don’t worry about the eggs curdling. You’re going to strain the mixture later.) Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring the mixture constantly, until it thickens enough to mound thickly on the spoon, 4 to 7 minutes. If at any point the pudding looks curdled, whisk to help smooth it out.
Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a heatproof container or bowl, then stir in the Scotch or bourbon, if using, and vanilla. To prevent a skin from forming, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding. (If you like the skin, don’t cover pudding until it cools.) Chill for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
When serving, spoon pudding into dishes. Top with dollops of whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche, and any of the optional garnishes.
Tip
Make sure to bring the pudding to a full, vigorous boil to activate the cornstarch. Otherwise, it may not set. If you’ve ever ended up with thin, runny pudding, undercooking may have been the issue.
CHOCOLATE CRINKLES
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though it's attributed to Betty Crocker® Cookbook. This begins, "These cookies have an attractive light and dark contrast perfect for aninteresting addition to a cookie tray or for serving by themselves, any time of year!"
Prep Time 15 minutes; Cooking Time 12 minutes; Serves makes 6 dozen cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Directions
Mix oil, chocolate, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheet.
Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into powdered sugar; roll around to coat. Shape into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.
EARL GREY TEA CAKE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE AND ORANGE ZEST
This is from Samantha Seneviratne in The New York TImes cooking page. Samantha wrote, "Loose Earl Grey tea stirred into buttery cake batter adds a sweet, floral essence that’s subtle but lovely. A little dark chocolate and orange zest makes this cake extra special. While you could use chocolate chips, using chocolate chopped from a bar produces the best result: The varying sizes of chopped chocolate blend in nicely without overpowering the delicate tea flavor."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 hour, plus chilling
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021062-earl-grey-tea-cake-with-dark-chocolate-and-orange-zest.
Ingredients
For the Frosting:
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons loose Earl Grey tea
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup mascarpone or softened cream cheese (see Tip)
For the Cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon loose Earl Grey tea
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (from 1 large orange)
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate
Preparation
Prepare the frosting: In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup heavy cream to a simmer over medium-high heat. Stir in the tea, remove from the heat, cover and let stand for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. Strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids, and chill the remaining cream until completely cold, at least 1 hour.
Prepare the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, tea, baking powder and salt.
In large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the orange zest and beat to combine. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in the flour mixture on low, until just combined, then beat in the milk. (Don’t overmix.) Add the chocolate and fold it in using a spatula. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake just until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for about 15 minutes. Then tip the cake out onto the rack to cool completely.
To finish the frosting, add the remaining 1/4 cup cream and the confectioners’ sugar to the tea cream. With an electric mixer on medium, beat the cream mixture until medium-stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the mascarpone and beat just until stiff peaks form. (Do not overmix.) Top the cake with the frosting to serve. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; let come to room temperature before serving.
Tip
If using cream cheese instead of mascarpone, because it has a thicker consistency, whip the cream cheese with the confectioners' sugar first, then add the whipped tea cream.
RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE MINI MACARONS
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Our version of these French cookies gets their traditional nutty flavor from almond flour and their sweetness from stevia rather than sugar. The tart smooth filling is the perfect complement to the sweet, chewy cookies.”
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/raspberry-chocolate-mini-macarons
Ingredients
1/4 cup stevia sugar blend
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup almond flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
10 drops chocolate-flavored liquid stevia sweetener
1 cup raspberries (or)
OR
1 cup unsweetened, frozen raspberries
1/2 cup fat-free, plain Greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon stevia sweetener or 1 packet stevia sweetener
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a food processor, process the stevia sugar blend and cornstarch for 40 to 50 seconds, or until the mixture has a powdery texture (like confectioners’ sugar).
Place the egg whites in a medium bowl. With an electric or hand mixer on medium-high speed, beat the egg whites for 1 minute, or until frothy. Add the cream of tartar. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes. or until soft peaks form. Gradually add the stevia sugar blend mixture, beating for one minute, or until stiff peaks form (the peaks don’t fall when the beaters are lifted).
In a second medium bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa powder. Sift again. Pour the flour mixture into the egg whites. Add the liquid stevia sweetener. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the flour mixture into the egg whites, using about 30 strokes, or until no flour is visible.
Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a round tip (between 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch wide), or if using a disposable piping bag, cut a 1/2-inch hole at the pointed tip. Pipe the batter on the parchment paper into 1-tablespoon round portions (about 1-inch in diameter), leaving 2 inches between each, piping a total of 20 macarons.
Lift the baking sheet about two inches from the counter and drop it. Repeat four times. (This will help release any air bubbles that may be in the batter.) Let stand at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes (depending on the humidity of the room). The batter should form a thin skin and feel slightly tacky.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tops are set. Let the macarons cool thoroughly (about 1 hour).
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mash the raspberries with a fork. Stir in the yogurt and stevia sweetener.
Once the macarons have cooled, place ten of them flat-side up on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper. Spread 1 tablespoon of the filling on each. Top with the remaining macarons.
Cooking Tip: This fresh filling is moist, so it’s best to fill the macarons just before serving.
Cooking Tip: You can download an online macaron template to use as a guide to space out the macarons. If you use a template, be sure to place it under the parchment paper.
GINGERBREAD WHOOPIE PIES WITH TAHINI CREAM FILLING
This is from Anita Schecter in The Spruce Eats. She wrote, " Whoopie pies might be the state treat of Maine, but that doesn't mean they can't be enjoyed everywhere. Typically made with two soft, round mini chocolate cakes with a marshmallow cream center, the dessert lends itself to a whole host of delicious variations.
"It's common to find a pumpkin version in autumn, and a gingerbread one during the winter holidays. In addition, although less traditional, the marshmallow cream filling is sometimes substituted with a cream cheese frosting.
"Adding tahini to the cream is definitely not traditional, but it is greats an amazing taste that you should treat yourself to. The buttery marshmallow filling can be overly sweet due to the amount of powdered sugar needed to thicken it. The sesame paste tones down the sweetness a bit and brings in a wonderful nutty, sesame flavor. It's a great match to the gingerbread flavor and it's so good you may find yourself slathering it on everything."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 12 minutes; Total Time: 37 minutes; Makes 10 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/gingerbread-whoopie-pies-4154741.
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Whoopie Pies:
1 egg
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt
For the Tahini Cream Filling:
4 ounce marshmallow fluff (homemade or store bought)
1 cup powdered confectioner's sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sesame paste (tahini)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of sea salt
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
To make the gingerbread whoopie pies, pre-heat the oven to 350 F.
Add the egg and light brown sugar to a large bowl. Using a stand or hand mixer, beat until smooth and slightly lightened in color. Beat in the molasses, melted butter and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, sift together the all purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg and salt.
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet batter.
Using a 1 ounce cookie scoop, scoop the batter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat, and keep the scoops at least 2" apart because they will spread in the oven. You can use a couple of baking sheets or just work in batches, but you should end up with about 20 scoops.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool thoroughly before handling.
To make the tahini cream filling, whisk together the marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, sesame paste, vanilla and sea salt until smooth. Let sit for a few minutes while the whoopie pies cool to let the filling set and thicken a bit. This will help the filling stay put when you spread it between the two pies.
To assemble the whoopie pies, place about a tablespoon of tahini cream in between the bottoms of two of the cookies (use more if you want them thicker) and gently sandwich together.
Enjoy!
CHEWY OATMEAL MOLASSES COOKIES
This is from Diana Rattray in The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "These oatmeal molasses cookies are wonderfully chewy, and the cinnamon and ginger add just the right amount of spice.
"If you love oatmeal cookies for their chewiness and molasses cookies for their flavor, this recipe is an excellent choice. Add some chopped walnuts or pecans for extra texture."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 12 minutes; Total Time: 22 minutes; Servings: 36 to 48 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/chewy-oatmeal-molasses-cookies-3058382.
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 cups/9 ounces all-purpose flour
1 scant teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 cup quick-cooking oats
Directions
Heat the oven to 375 F.
Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Cream the sugar and shortening together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer.
Add the vanilla, egg, and molasses; beat until well blended.
Combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and spices in another bowl; blend well.
Add the dry mixture to the first mixture; mix well. Fold in the oatmeal.
Shape the cookie dough into 1-inch balls or drop the dough from a small cookie scoop onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
Cool the cookies completely and store in a tightly covered container or food storage bag for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe Variation
Add about 1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans or walnuts to the cookies.
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Wednesday Recipes
Guess what day it is? It's hump day (otherwise known as Wednesday). Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Veggie Chili Cornbread Casserole and Maque Choux. 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.
CAPELLINI WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL
This is from Ina Garten on her the Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.
Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this inline, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/capellini-with-tomatoes-and-basil-recipe-1949902.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1/2 cup good olive oil, plus extra for the pot
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
4 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
18 large basil leaves, julienned
2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 pound dried capellini or angel hair pasta
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Extra chopped basil and grated Parmesan, for serving
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt and a splash of oil to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the 1/2 cup of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, 2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften but don't break up.
While the tomatoes are cooking, add the capellini to the pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.
Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the tomatoes and Parmesan and toss well. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. Serve large bowls of pasta with extra basil sprinkled on top and a big bowl of extra Parmesan on the side.
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.
LENTIL AND ORZO STEW WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT
This is from Yewande Komolafe at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yewande wrote, "For rich, golden cubes of roasted eggplant, a high-temperature oven is crucial. Here, lentils and pasta make for a hearty stew, and the coriander seeds introduce a robust, clean flavor. Use a mortar and pestle, a spice grinder or the base of a wine bottle to crush the seeds, opening them up before they’re tossed with the eggplant. Serve this stew warm or hot, topped with an aged, salty cheese like ricotta salata or feta, and a soft-poached egg if you like. The lemon zest and juice are essential and enhance the finish.'
Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings
To view this, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019860-lentil-and-orzo-stew-with-roasted-eggplant.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds eggplant (2 small or 1 large, skin on, or peeled, if desired), chopped into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, crushed
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup dried lentils (green, black or brown)
5 cups chicken or vegetable stock, or water
1/2 cup orzo or other small pasta, such as ditalini, stelline or macaroni
Zest and juice from 1 lemon, plus 4 lemon wedges for garnish
1/4 cup shaved ricotta salata or crumbled feta
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the eggplant with 1/4 cup olive oil and crushed coriander seeds until coated; season with salt and pepper. Arrange in an even layer on a large rimmed baking sheet and roast until eggplant is tender and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes, giving the baking sheet a shake halfway through roasting to toss the eggplant pieces for even cooking.
In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add the carrot, onion and celery. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato paste begins to darken on the bottom of the pan, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the lentils until coated. Pour in stock or water and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower to medium and simmer until lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the type and age of lentils you use.
Stir in the orzo and cook until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest and juice.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with the roasted eggplant pieces and large shavings of ricotta salata, and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.
VEGGIE CHILI CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
This comes from Taylerand20 at Allrecipes. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Additional Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/270846/veggie-chili-cornbread-casserole/.
Ingredients
Chili:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon lime juice
Cornbread:
1 1/2 cups milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped
Garnish:
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Mix to combine and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and corn to the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Pour in broth and lime juice; stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring chili to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Whisk milk and egg together in a large bowl until well combined.
Combine cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add milk mixture and whisk until smooth. Add melted butter and stir to combine. Add jalapeno and stir to incorporate into the cornbread batter.
Remove Dutch oven from the stove. Pour batter over the chili in the Dutch oven. Use a spatula to cover chili completely and smooth the top.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Garnish cornbread casserole with sliced jalapeno and cilantro.
SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO
This is from Katherine Gillen, a contributor to PureWow. She wrote, "There are nights when we want to pull out all the stops on a fancy mac and cheese, and there are nights when we’ll do almost anything to not make dinner. Spaghetti aglio e olio is for those nights. Our version of the traditional Neapolitan pasta dish takes just 20 minutes to make (and calls for only five ingredients).
"A few tips come dinnertime: One, you’ll want to use a good quality olive oil, since it’s one of the stars of this recipe. And two, cook the oil-garlic mixture in a large, high-sided skillet (or better yet, a Dutch oven) so you’re free to toss vigorously when you add the noodles. It’ll make achieving a glossy sauce *that much* easier."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.purewow.com/recipes/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
12 ounces long strand pasta (such as spaghetti, bucatini or linguine)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
Finely grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley and flaky salt, to garnish (optional)
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions). Use a liquid measuring cup to reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is sizzling and golden, about 3 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer the pasta from the water directly into the olive oil and garlic mixture. Add about 1/2 of the reserved pasta water, and cook, tossing vigorously, until the sauce lightly coats the pasta. (You can add more pasta water as needed.)
Divide the pasta among four bowls, and garnish with more pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley and flaky salt, if using.
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.
CAPELLINI WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL
This is from Ina Garten on her the Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.
Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this inline, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/capellini-with-tomatoes-and-basil-recipe-1949902.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1/2 cup good olive oil, plus extra for the pot
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
4 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
18 large basil leaves, julienned
2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 pound dried capellini or angel hair pasta
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Extra chopped basil and grated Parmesan, for serving
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt and a splash of oil to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the 1/2 cup of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, 2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften but don't break up.
While the tomatoes are cooking, add the capellini to the pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.
Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the tomatoes and Parmesan and toss well. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. Serve large bowls of pasta with extra basil sprinkled on top and a big bowl of extra Parmesan on the side.
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.
LENTIL AND ORZO STEW WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT
This is from Yewande Komolafe at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yewande wrote, "For rich, golden cubes of roasted eggplant, a high-temperature oven is crucial. Here, lentils and pasta make for a hearty stew, and the coriander seeds introduce a robust, clean flavor. Use a mortar and pestle, a spice grinder or the base of a wine bottle to crush the seeds, opening them up before they’re tossed with the eggplant. Serve this stew warm or hot, topped with an aged, salty cheese like ricotta salata or feta, and a soft-poached egg if you like. The lemon zest and juice are essential and enhance the finish.'
Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings
To view this, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019860-lentil-and-orzo-stew-with-roasted-eggplant.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds eggplant (2 small or 1 large, skin on, or peeled, if desired), chopped into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, crushed
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup dried lentils (green, black or brown)
5 cups chicken or vegetable stock, or water
1/2 cup orzo or other small pasta, such as ditalini, stelline or macaroni
Zest and juice from 1 lemon, plus 4 lemon wedges for garnish
1/4 cup shaved ricotta salata or crumbled feta
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the eggplant with 1/4 cup olive oil and crushed coriander seeds until coated; season with salt and pepper. Arrange in an even layer on a large rimmed baking sheet and roast until eggplant is tender and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes, giving the baking sheet a shake halfway through roasting to toss the eggplant pieces for even cooking.
In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add the carrot, onion and celery. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato paste begins to darken on the bottom of the pan, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the lentils until coated. Pour in stock or water and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower to medium and simmer until lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the type and age of lentils you use.
Stir in the orzo and cook until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest and juice.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with the roasted eggplant pieces and large shavings of ricotta salata, and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.
VEGGIE CHILI CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
This comes from Taylerand20 at Allrecipes. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Additional Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/270846/veggie-chili-cornbread-casserole/.
Ingredients
Chili:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon lime juice
Cornbread:
1 1/2 cups milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped
Garnish:
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Mix to combine and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and corn to the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Pour in broth and lime juice; stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring chili to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Whisk milk and egg together in a large bowl until well combined.
Combine cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add milk mixture and whisk until smooth. Add melted butter and stir to combine. Add jalapeno and stir to incorporate into the cornbread batter.
Remove Dutch oven from the stove. Pour batter over the chili in the Dutch oven. Use a spatula to cover chili completely and smooth the top.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Garnish cornbread casserole with sliced jalapeno and cilantro.
SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO
This is from Katherine Gillen, a contributor to PureWow. She wrote, "There are nights when we want to pull out all the stops on a fancy mac and cheese, and there are nights when we’ll do almost anything to not make dinner. Spaghetti aglio e olio is for those nights. Our version of the traditional Neapolitan pasta dish takes just 20 minutes to make (and calls for only five ingredients).
"A few tips come dinnertime: One, you’ll want to use a good quality olive oil, since it’s one of the stars of this recipe. And two, cook the oil-garlic mixture in a large, high-sided skillet (or better yet, a Dutch oven) so you’re free to toss vigorously when you add the noodles. It’ll make achieving a glossy sauce *that much* easier."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.purewow.com/recipes/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
12 ounces long strand pasta (such as spaghetti, bucatini or linguine)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
Finely grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley and flaky salt, to garnish (optional)
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions). Use a liquid measuring cup to reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is sizzling and golden, about 3 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer the pasta from the water directly into the olive oil and garlic mixture. Add about 1/2 of the reserved pasta water, and cook, tossing vigorously, until the sauce lightly coats the pasta. (You can add more pasta water as needed.)
Divide the pasta among four bowls, and garnish with more pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley and flaky salt, if using.
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Best Black Bean Soup and Vegan Lasagna. Enjoy!
VEGAN ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
This was in the June 2016 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 10), and begins, “These ice cream sandwiches are the perfect treat to satisfy your (and your kiddos’) warm-weather sweet tooth - and they’re bound to make you love summer as much as you did as a child.” Unfortunately, there was no link on the website going directly to this recipe.
Ingredients
Ice Cream
3 ripe bananas
1 Tbs. non-dairy milk
2 tsp. maple syrup, optional
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Cookies
1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1/2 cup cooked white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
2 Tbs. unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup non-dairy chocolate chips, optional, plus more for rolling, optional
Directions
To make Ice Cream: Line 4-by-6-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing paper to hang over sides.
Bland all ingredients in high-speed blender until smooth. Spread in prepared dish, and freeze 2 hours, or until set.
To make Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Blend all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in food processor until dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips, if using.
Roll dough into twelve 1-Tbs. balls, and place on prepared baking sheets. Flatten down into 2-inch circles.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until light brown along edges. Cool on baking sheet. Transfer to freezer until ready to assemble.
Unmold Ice Cream, and cut into 6 disks using 2-inch round cutter. Place each disk between 2 cooks. Roll edges in chocolate chips, if desired. Freeze until fully set.
HONEY BEE AMBROSIA
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Ingredients
4 medium oranges
1 medium banana
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup flaked coconut
Directions
Pare oranges. Cut crosswise into thin slices. Place in serving bowl. Peel bananas. Cut thin slices. Place in the bowl with oranges. Toss fruits. Blend orange juice, honey & lemon juice. Pour over fruits. Sprinkle with coconut.
VEGAN LASAGNA
This comes from Lena Abraham on Delish, and begins, “A lasagna you can feel good about.”
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 10-12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lasagna
1 box lasagna noodles
1 (14-oz) package firm tofu, drained
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. dried oregano, divided
1 (8-oz) package baby bella mushrooms, sliced
2 (10-oz) packages frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess liquid
For the White Sauce
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 c. marinara
3 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 c. thinly sliced basil, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a boil and cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain.
Wrap tofu in a clean kitchen cloth or paper towels and place on a large plate. Place a pan or heavy plate on top of tofu in order to press out as much liquid as possible. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. When drained, crumble with two forks and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and season with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp oregano. Add mushrooms and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in thawed and drained spinach until completely combined. Remove from heat and set aside vegetables.
Wipe out skillet and return to medium heat to make white sauce: Add olive oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add flour and whisk to combine. Cook until lightly golden and nutty, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in nut milk until smooth. Stir in nutritional yeast and garlic powder and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and let cook until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
Build lasagna: In a large baking dish, spoon 1/4 c marinara into an even layer, then add a layer of noodles. Top with an even layer of vegetable mixture, tofu, marinara, and white sauce. Repeat until all ingredients are used, ending in marinara. Add a single layer of tomato rounds and season with salt, pepper and remaining oregano.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until tomatoes are cooked and lasagna is heated through. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with basil and serve.
BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This American classic can be a perfect dish: big-tasting, filling, nutritious, easy and very possibly vegetarian. With their rich natural broth, turtle beans do not need bacon, ham or any meat ingredient to make a satisfying soup. Black bean soup recipes have a tendency to turn out sludgy or bland, but the trick here is to season generously, and purée sparingly. The beans should be swimming in liquid, not sitting in sludge: The more beans are puréed, the more starch is released into the soup. For flavor, this recipe deploys marinated chipotle chiles, but a tablespoon each of ground cumin and ground coriander make a good heat-free substitute. (A note: Since there is acid from the wine here, if your tap water is hard there might be a reaction that will prevent the beans from softening. To be safe, add the wine later, along with the stock. And if there is any question about the hardness of your water, use distilled.)”
Yield: 10 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in “Rediscovering Black Bean Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018592-best-black-bean-soup.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 small (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo (see note)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup red wine
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
1 pound dry black beans (do not soak)
2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock
1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Red wine vinegar, to taste
For the Pickled Onions and Garnishes (Optional):
1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes
Salt
Sour cream or Mexican crema
Whole cilantro leaves
Thinly sliced fresh chiles
Sliced avocado
Preparation:
Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.
In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.
Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.
Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.
Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.
Tip
If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Directions
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
Enjoy!
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
VEGAN ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
This was in the June 2016 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 10), and begins, “These ice cream sandwiches are the perfect treat to satisfy your (and your kiddos’) warm-weather sweet tooth - and they’re bound to make you love summer as much as you did as a child.” Unfortunately, there was no link on the website going directly to this recipe.
Ingredients
Ice Cream
3 ripe bananas
1 Tbs. non-dairy milk
2 tsp. maple syrup, optional
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Cookies
1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1/2 cup cooked white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
2 Tbs. unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup non-dairy chocolate chips, optional, plus more for rolling, optional
Directions
To make Ice Cream: Line 4-by-6-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing paper to hang over sides.
Bland all ingredients in high-speed blender until smooth. Spread in prepared dish, and freeze 2 hours, or until set.
To make Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Blend all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in food processor until dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips, if using.
Roll dough into twelve 1-Tbs. balls, and place on prepared baking sheets. Flatten down into 2-inch circles.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until light brown along edges. Cool on baking sheet. Transfer to freezer until ready to assemble.
Unmold Ice Cream, and cut into 6 disks using 2-inch round cutter. Place each disk between 2 cooks. Roll edges in chocolate chips, if desired. Freeze until fully set.
HONEY BEE AMBROSIA
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Ingredients
4 medium oranges
1 medium banana
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup flaked coconut
Directions
Pare oranges. Cut crosswise into thin slices. Place in serving bowl. Peel bananas. Cut thin slices. Place in the bowl with oranges. Toss fruits. Blend orange juice, honey & lemon juice. Pour over fruits. Sprinkle with coconut.
VEGAN LASAGNA
This comes from Lena Abraham on Delish, and begins, “A lasagna you can feel good about.”
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 10-12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lasagna
1 box lasagna noodles
1 (14-oz) package firm tofu, drained
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. dried oregano, divided
1 (8-oz) package baby bella mushrooms, sliced
2 (10-oz) packages frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess liquid
For the White Sauce
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 c. marinara
3 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 c. thinly sliced basil, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a boil and cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain.
Wrap tofu in a clean kitchen cloth or paper towels and place on a large plate. Place a pan or heavy plate on top of tofu in order to press out as much liquid as possible. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. When drained, crumble with two forks and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and season with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp oregano. Add mushrooms and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in thawed and drained spinach until completely combined. Remove from heat and set aside vegetables.
Wipe out skillet and return to medium heat to make white sauce: Add olive oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add flour and whisk to combine. Cook until lightly golden and nutty, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in nut milk until smooth. Stir in nutritional yeast and garlic powder and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and let cook until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
Build lasagna: In a large baking dish, spoon 1/4 c marinara into an even layer, then add a layer of noodles. Top with an even layer of vegetable mixture, tofu, marinara, and white sauce. Repeat until all ingredients are used, ending in marinara. Add a single layer of tomato rounds and season with salt, pepper and remaining oregano.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until tomatoes are cooked and lasagna is heated through. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with basil and serve.
BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This American classic can be a perfect dish: big-tasting, filling, nutritious, easy and very possibly vegetarian. With their rich natural broth, turtle beans do not need bacon, ham or any meat ingredient to make a satisfying soup. Black bean soup recipes have a tendency to turn out sludgy or bland, but the trick here is to season generously, and purée sparingly. The beans should be swimming in liquid, not sitting in sludge: The more beans are puréed, the more starch is released into the soup. For flavor, this recipe deploys marinated chipotle chiles, but a tablespoon each of ground cumin and ground coriander make a good heat-free substitute. (A note: Since there is acid from the wine here, if your tap water is hard there might be a reaction that will prevent the beans from softening. To be safe, add the wine later, along with the stock. And if there is any question about the hardness of your water, use distilled.)”
Yield: 10 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in “Rediscovering Black Bean Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018592-best-black-bean-soup.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 small (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo (see note)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup red wine
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
1 pound dry black beans (do not soak)
2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock
1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Red wine vinegar, to taste
For the Pickled Onions and Garnishes (Optional):
1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes
Salt
Sour cream or Mexican crema
Whole cilantro leaves
Thinly sliced fresh chiles
Sliced avocado
Preparation:
Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.
In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.
Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.
Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.
Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.
Tip
If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Directions
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
Enjoy!
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday (with a little help from The Simpsons). Today's offerings include American BBQ Tacos and Soft Veggie Tacos with Jack Cheese. Enjoy!
JACKFRUIT VEGAN TACOS
This is from Cassidy Carolino at AllRecipes. She wrote, "Jackfruit is a great vegan alternative to shredded chicken to use in tacos. These jackfruit tacos are delicious and vegan! Choose your favorite taco toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, cilantro, avocado, vegan cheese, and vegan sour cream."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 3 minutes; Total Time: 13 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/258806/jackfruit-vegan-tacos/.
Ingredients
2 (20 ounce) cans jackfruit in brine - drained, rinsed, and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water, or more as needed
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix, or to taste
4 taco shells
1/2 cup salsa, or to taste
Directions
Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add jackfruit; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon water and taco seasoning; stir until well combined, about 1 minute. Add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time as needed.
Place a small amount of jackfruit in each taco shell; add 2 tablespoons salsa.
SOFT VEGGIE TACOS WITH JACK CHEESE
This is from the November/December 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 41), and begins, "Red chile sauce, a spicy Mexican condiment served on enchiladas, heats up zucchini, yellow squash and cauliflower in this recipe." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/soft-veggie-tacos-with-jack-cheese/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 tsp.)
5 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 large head)
2 medium yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (about 9 oz.)
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (9 oz.)
2 cups canned medium red chile sauce, such as Las Palmas
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 3 oz.)
12 4-inch corn tortillas or 6 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas, warmed
Preparation
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 4 minutes, or until soft. Stir in garlic. Add cauliflower, yellow squash and zucchini. Sauté 2 minutes. Add chile sauce; bring to a simmer.
Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro, and add cheese. Spoon mixture into warmed tortillas, and serve.
AVOCADO TACOS
This recipe is from Enrique Olvera and adapted by Jeff Gordinier on The New York Times cooking site. Jeff wrote, "Most top chefs will tell you the same thing: When they finally escape from the elaborate labors they oversee in the kitchen, they crave late-night street food that’s poetically simple and satisfying: hot dogs, fried rice, a bowl of noodles. For Enrique Olvera, the chef at Cosme in New York and Pujol in Mexico City, that hand-to-mouth haiku can be found in avocado tacos, which he scarfs down around the clock. They serve as both “a comfort,” he said, and “a cultural expression.” In its most basic form, an avocado taco is like a two-bite couplet in praise of Mexican ingredients: a chewy corn tortilla enclosing creamy slices of the-butter-that-grows-on-trees. Spare additions elevate that avocado: a pinch of salt, a spray of lime juice, a sprinkle of chopped onions and cilantro. But the chef takes elevation one step further with a salsa made of pasilla chiles and tomatillos."
Yield: 12 tacos; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in "Scouting the Scene", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016784-avocado-tacos.
Note: The article ("Scouting the Scene") is well worth the read; check it out!
Ingredients
4 pasilla chiles
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
2 garlic cloves
10 tomatillos, boiled in salted water for 15 minutes or until soft
3 avocados, sliced thin
12 corn tortillas
3/4 cup white onion, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Preparation
Make the salsa: Snap the stems off the chiles and remove the seeds. Using tongs, carefully hold the chiles over a medium flame to char on all sides. Transfer chiles to a food processor, add the salt and process into a powder. Add the garlic and tomatillos and purée until smooth. (This makes 1 pint salsa, more than needed; refrigerate the rest in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)
To serve, place 3 or 4 slices of avocado on each tortilla and top with salsa, onion and cilantro.
SALSA VERDE SCRAMBLED EGG TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enjoy your scrambled eggs in a mini soft tortilla bowl with these delicious breakfast tacos, perfect for kids and adults! They’re topped with shredded cheese, fresh pico de gallo, avocado and Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 6 servings
View this online at https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/salsa-verde-scrambled-egg-tacos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 package (12 count) Old El Paso™ Mini Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package
1/2 cup Old El Paso™ shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend
1/2 cup pico de gallo
1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled, diced
1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce
Preparation
In large bowl, beat eggs with whisk. Add milk and salt; beat well.
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add egg mixture; cook 3 to 5 minutes, scraping cooked eggs up from bottom of skillet occasionally, until mixture is firm but still moist.
Divide eggs evenly among warm tortilla bowls. Top with cheese, pico de gallo and avocado; drizzle with sauce.
Expert Tips
Try chopped tomatoes in place of pico de gallo.
Kids love to help in the kitchen. After filling tortillas with eggs, let the kids top with their favorite cheese and fresh toppings!
Add cooked breakfast sausage to tacos for a flavor twist.
AMERICAN BBQ TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “For authentic Southern flavor, top these tacos with prepared coleslaw instead of shredded lettuce.” Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
BBQ Sauce
1 1/2 Tbs. ketchup
1 Tbs. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. hot sauce, or more to taste
Tacos
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup soy crumbles, such as Lightlife Gimme Lean
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
2 Tbs. chopped red onion
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup shredded Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbs. pickle relish, optional
Instructions:
To make BBQ Sauce: Combine all ingredients in bowl.
To make Tacos: Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots, and cook 3 minutes, or until vegetables are softened, stirring halfway through. Add soy crumbles and 2 Tbs. BBQ Sauce. Cook 8 minutes, or until soy crumbles are browned.
Fill tortillas with soy crumble mixture. Top with red onion, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and relish, if desired. Serve with BBQ Sauce.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 178; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Sodium: 409 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 4 g
SALSA ROJA BLACK BEAN TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Salsa roja is a cooked salsa made with skillet- or grill-blackened onions, tomatoes, and garlic. Serve in warmed corn tortillas." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/salsa-roja-black-bean-tacos/.
Ingredients
1 large onion, quartered, divided
2 round or plum tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, plus 1/2 tsp. adobo sauce
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
Directions
Cut one-quarter of onion into 3 or 4 chunks. Chop remaining three-quarters of onion, and set aside.
Place medium skillet over medium-high heat. Char onion chunks, tomatoes, and garlic cloves in dry skillet 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove onion and garlic to plate while tomatoes continue to blacken. Break up tomatoes with wooden spoon or spatula; return onion and garlic to skillet. Add chipotle chile, adobo sauce, and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes. Transfer to blender, and blend until smooth.
Wipe out skillet, and coat with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add chopped onion, cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add beans and salsa roja, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until thickened.
JACKFRUIT VEGAN TACOS
This is from Cassidy Carolino at AllRecipes. She wrote, "Jackfruit is a great vegan alternative to shredded chicken to use in tacos. These jackfruit tacos are delicious and vegan! Choose your favorite taco toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, cilantro, avocado, vegan cheese, and vegan sour cream."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 3 minutes; Total Time: 13 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/258806/jackfruit-vegan-tacos/.
Ingredients
2 (20 ounce) cans jackfruit in brine - drained, rinsed, and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water, or more as needed
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix, or to taste
4 taco shells
1/2 cup salsa, or to taste
Directions
Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add jackfruit; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon water and taco seasoning; stir until well combined, about 1 minute. Add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time as needed.
Place a small amount of jackfruit in each taco shell; add 2 tablespoons salsa.
SOFT VEGGIE TACOS WITH JACK CHEESE
This is from the November/December 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 41), and begins, "Red chile sauce, a spicy Mexican condiment served on enchiladas, heats up zucchini, yellow squash and cauliflower in this recipe." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/soft-veggie-tacos-with-jack-cheese/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 tsp.)
5 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 large head)
2 medium yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (about 9 oz.)
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (9 oz.)
2 cups canned medium red chile sauce, such as Las Palmas
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 3 oz.)
12 4-inch corn tortillas or 6 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas, warmed
Preparation
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 4 minutes, or until soft. Stir in garlic. Add cauliflower, yellow squash and zucchini. Sauté 2 minutes. Add chile sauce; bring to a simmer.
Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro, and add cheese. Spoon mixture into warmed tortillas, and serve.
AVOCADO TACOS
This recipe is from Enrique Olvera and adapted by Jeff Gordinier on The New York Times cooking site. Jeff wrote, "Most top chefs will tell you the same thing: When they finally escape from the elaborate labors they oversee in the kitchen, they crave late-night street food that’s poetically simple and satisfying: hot dogs, fried rice, a bowl of noodles. For Enrique Olvera, the chef at Cosme in New York and Pujol in Mexico City, that hand-to-mouth haiku can be found in avocado tacos, which he scarfs down around the clock. They serve as both “a comfort,” he said, and “a cultural expression.” In its most basic form, an avocado taco is like a two-bite couplet in praise of Mexican ingredients: a chewy corn tortilla enclosing creamy slices of the-butter-that-grows-on-trees. Spare additions elevate that avocado: a pinch of salt, a spray of lime juice, a sprinkle of chopped onions and cilantro. But the chef takes elevation one step further with a salsa made of pasilla chiles and tomatillos."
Yield: 12 tacos; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in "Scouting the Scene", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016784-avocado-tacos.
Note: The article ("Scouting the Scene") is well worth the read; check it out!
Ingredients
4 pasilla chiles
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
2 garlic cloves
10 tomatillos, boiled in salted water for 15 minutes or until soft
3 avocados, sliced thin
12 corn tortillas
3/4 cup white onion, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Preparation
Make the salsa: Snap the stems off the chiles and remove the seeds. Using tongs, carefully hold the chiles over a medium flame to char on all sides. Transfer chiles to a food processor, add the salt and process into a powder. Add the garlic and tomatillos and purée until smooth. (This makes 1 pint salsa, more than needed; refrigerate the rest in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)
To serve, place 3 or 4 slices of avocado on each tortilla and top with salsa, onion and cilantro.
SALSA VERDE SCRAMBLED EGG TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enjoy your scrambled eggs in a mini soft tortilla bowl with these delicious breakfast tacos, perfect for kids and adults! They’re topped with shredded cheese, fresh pico de gallo, avocado and Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 6 servings
View this online at https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/salsa-verde-scrambled-egg-tacos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 package (12 count) Old El Paso™ Mini Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package
1/2 cup Old El Paso™ shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend
1/2 cup pico de gallo
1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled, diced
1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce
Preparation
In large bowl, beat eggs with whisk. Add milk and salt; beat well.
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add egg mixture; cook 3 to 5 minutes, scraping cooked eggs up from bottom of skillet occasionally, until mixture is firm but still moist.
Divide eggs evenly among warm tortilla bowls. Top with cheese, pico de gallo and avocado; drizzle with sauce.
Expert Tips
Try chopped tomatoes in place of pico de gallo.
Kids love to help in the kitchen. After filling tortillas with eggs, let the kids top with their favorite cheese and fresh toppings!
Add cooked breakfast sausage to tacos for a flavor twist.
AMERICAN BBQ TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “For authentic Southern flavor, top these tacos with prepared coleslaw instead of shredded lettuce.” Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
BBQ Sauce
1 1/2 Tbs. ketchup
1 Tbs. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. hot sauce, or more to taste
Tacos
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup soy crumbles, such as Lightlife Gimme Lean
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
2 Tbs. chopped red onion
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup shredded Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbs. pickle relish, optional
Instructions:
To make BBQ Sauce: Combine all ingredients in bowl.
To make Tacos: Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots, and cook 3 minutes, or until vegetables are softened, stirring halfway through. Add soy crumbles and 2 Tbs. BBQ Sauce. Cook 8 minutes, or until soy crumbles are browned.
Fill tortillas with soy crumble mixture. Top with red onion, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and relish, if desired. Serve with BBQ Sauce.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 178; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Sodium: 409 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 4 g
SALSA ROJA BLACK BEAN TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Salsa roja is a cooked salsa made with skillet- or grill-blackened onions, tomatoes, and garlic. Serve in warmed corn tortillas." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/salsa-roja-black-bean-tacos/.
Ingredients
1 large onion, quartered, divided
2 round or plum tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, plus 1/2 tsp. adobo sauce
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
Directions
Cut one-quarter of onion into 3 or 4 chunks. Chop remaining three-quarters of onion, and set aside.
Place medium skillet over medium-high heat. Char onion chunks, tomatoes, and garlic cloves in dry skillet 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove onion and garlic to plate while tomatoes continue to blacken. Break up tomatoes with wooden spoon or spatula; return onion and garlic to skillet. Add chipotle chile, adobo sauce, and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes. Transfer to blender, and blend until smooth.
Wipe out skillet, and coat with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add chopped onion, cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add beans and salsa roja, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until thickened.
Monday, July 12, 2021
Burgers
Whether cooked on a stove or grilled outside, burgers are the quintessential summer food here in the U.S.
Yet, for years, vegetarians were left in the lurch when it came to burgers, unless they experimented with veggies and legumes to make something to replicate the taste and texture of burgers.
Fortuantely, there are now many decent vegetarian burgers on the market. There are also tons of wonderful recipes for veggie burgers to make even the most die hard burger lover happy. Here are six yummy vegetarian burgers to try, including Vegan Reuben Burgers and Falafel Burgers with Tahini-Dill Sauce. Enjoy!
HOMEMADE GRILLED VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Making a grilled veggie burger from scratch used to produce a crumbly mess. But thanks to the smart use of chickpeas and other healthy binders like mushrooms and black beans, these veggie burgers bring a whole new level of delicious awesomeness."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Makes 3 - 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/homemade-grilled-veggie-burger-recipe/.
Ingredients
8-oz pack baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 red onion, sliced
1/2 bell pepper, sliced
5 cloves garlic
Olive oil (for coating veggies and basting burgers)
1 cup chickpeas
1 1/2 cups black beans
2 eggs
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sriracha
2 Tbsp BBQ sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tsp water
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup almond flour (more may be needed for consistency)
Burgers
Burger buns
Cheddar cheese Lettuce Tomatoes Mustard Mayo Pickles
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Mustard
Mayo
Pickles
Special Equipment
Food Processor
Preparation
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you make the patties, you must first dehydrate excess moisture from the veggies so the burgers will keep their shape.
Place mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, and garlic cloves in a grill basket. Coat with some olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix well. Set aside.
Punch a couple of small holes in the bottom of a foil pan, then fill it with your chickpeas and black beans. The holes will allow excess water to drain from the veggies while roasting. Set aside.
Before placing veggies on the grill, toss some hickory wood chips on the coals.
Place the grill basket and foil pan on the grill, and roast them with the lid closed for about 30 minutes. Stir them about halfway through the cook.
Once roasted, remove veggies from the grill and allow them to cool. You can extinguish the grill if you’re roasting the vegetables well ahead of time, or you can let it cruise while you prepare your patties if you’re doing this recipe in one go.
Once cooled, pour the veggies from the grill basket into a food processor. Add eggs, soy sauce, sriracha, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, and the mixture of cornstarch and water, then blend until fairly smooth.
Add chickpeas, black beans, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs to the food processor. Lightly pulse a few times in the food processor — you want the beans in your burger mix to maintain some varying texture, so don’t fully purée as in the above step.
Pour burger mix into a bowl, gradually incorporating a little bit of almond flour at a time. Aim for a consistency that’s thick enough to form a patty that’ll hold its shape.
Once your mixture can be easily formed into burgers, sprinkle a light layer of flour onto a dish. Create 3–4 patties and place them on the floured dish to prevent sticking.
Brush olive oil on top of the patties. This will be the side that hits the grill first. The olive oil will help the patties receive some color and easily release from the grates.
Place patties in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes before grilling. This will help them keep their form when they hit the grill.
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees, adding more charcoal if necessary.
Brush the grill grates with olive oil just before placing your patties on the grill.
Grill the veggie burgers for about 6–8 minutes a side, until crisp and golden brown on each side. Keep the grill lid down during the cook, lifting it only to baste the top side of your burgers with olive oil before flipping them. OPTIONAL: After flipping, baste the top of the burgers with a bit of melted butter.
Melt slices of cheese over the patties before removing them from the grill. Adding cheese during the final minute of the cook should get the job done.
Plate and serve the burgers with your toppings of choice, and enjoy!
BBQ TEMPEH BURGERS
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/. It begins, “The nutty flavor and meaty texture of tempeh makes it a natural fit for veggie burgers, and ounce for ounce, it contains twice the protein as tofu. Adding pinto beans means a big magnesium boost, which can help reduce your risk for diseases such as diabetes.”
Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 8 Minutes; Makes: 4 Servings
Ingredients
2 tsp oil
1 cup onions, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup cooked or canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup wheat germ
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp almond or peanut butter
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp liquid smoke, optional
1 (8 oz) package tempeh, cubed
2 tbsp sesame seeds
4 hamburger buns
1/3 cup low-sugar barbecue sauce
1 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
2 cups cabbage, shredded
Directions
Heat oil in a skillet over medium. Add onions, carrots and salt and cook until onions have softened and darkened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. To a food processor container, add cooked vegetables, pinto beans, wheat germ, lime juice, tomato paste, nut butter, maple syrup, soy sauce, chili powder and liquid smoke (if using). Pulse until beans are roughly mashed but not pureed. Add tempeh and pulse until just incorporated. Form into 4 patties. Spread sesame seeds out on a plate and coat both sides of burgers with seeds. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium and grease grates. Cook burgers until browned and warmed through, about 4 minutes per side. Serve on buns with equal amounts of barbecue sauce, red peppers and cabbage.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): calories 432, fat 16 g, carbs 56 g, fiber 11 g, sugar 7 g, protein 23 g, sodium 472 mg
Nutrition Boost: The beans and cabbage in this burger provide an insane amount of belly-friendly dietary fiber.
FALAFEL BURGERS WITH TAHINI-DILL SAUCE
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/.
This begins, “Middle Eastern cuisine is having a moment, and these burgers make a great alternative to greasy fried falafel. The tahini-dill sauce adds a savory flavor layer and is so versatile you can make extra to use on steamed veggies, sandwiches or grilled chicken. Trade the buns for pita for a more traditional feel.”
Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 6 Minutes; Makes: 4 Servings
Ingredients
Burgers
1/3 cup shelled pistachios
1 cup flat-leaf parsley
2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup chickpea flour
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup red onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 whole-grain hamburger buns, toasted
4 thick slices tomato
4 lettuce leaves
Tahini-Dill Sauce
1/3 cup tahini
3 tbsp chopped dill
2 tsp lemon zest
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp warm water
Directions
Add pistachios and parsley to a food processor container and chop into small pieces. Add chickpeas, chickpea flour, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, salt and pepper and blend until slightly chunky. Form into 4 patties and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium and grease grates. Cook burgers 3 minutes per side, or until a golden crust has formed. Whisk together tahini, dill, lemon zest, garlic, paprika and salt. Stir in warm water, adding more, if needed. Serve burgers topped with tomatoes, lettuce and tahini-dill sauce.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): calories 482, fat 20 g, carbs 62 g, fiber 14 g, sugar 5 g, protein 20 g, sodium 846 mg
Nutrition boost: Chickpeas are a great source of folate, which helps keep blood pressure in check, according to a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
GREEK-INSPIRED VEGGIE BURGERS
This is from WeightWwatchers, and begins, "Although you can use any frozen veggie burger you’d like, the flavors of Mediterranean chickpea burgers—made with spinach, tomatoes, and Greek spices—work particularly well here. We found that toasted or grilled English muffins make a great substitute for a hamburger bun; the craggy texture captures the tzatziki, a sauce made with yogurt, cucumber, and spices, perfectly without getting too soggy. It's pretty easy to find prepared tzatziki in markets, but you can make your own my mixing finely chopped or grated seeded and peeled cucumbers into plain yogurt and season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Serves: 1; Difficulty: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 sprays cooking spray
1 serving frozen vegetarian burger(s)
1 English muffin, grilled or toasted
2 Tbsp Tzatziki
1/4 cup Roasted red peppers (packed in water), thinly sliced
1/4 cup Cucumbers, cut in ribbons with a peeler
Directions
Lightly coat grill pan with nonstick spray. Grill burger over medium heat, turning once, until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
On English muffin, layer tzatziki, burger, red peppers, and cucumber.
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “You make a veggie burger because you want the hamburger experience without the meat. This one delivers. It’s got a firm, beefy texture that takes on the char and smoke of the grill, but is adaptable enough to cook inside on your stove. The enemy of a veggie burger is mushiness, which stems from a high moisture content. To combat that, the very watery ingredients – mushrooms, tofu, beans and beets – are roasted to both dehydrate them somewhat and intensify their flavors. Yes, the ingredient list here is long; you need a diverse lot to make a good veggie burger. And each one adds something in terms of flavor and/or texture. Garnish this any way you like, and don’t forget to toast the buns.” Yield: 6 burger.
This was featured in “The Ultimate Veggie Burger”, and can be found online here.
Also, there are two guides that went with this recipe that you might want to check out. The first is “How to Cook Beans”, and the second is “How to Grill”. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained
Olive oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
Black pepper, as needed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 medium beet, peeled and coarsely grated (3/4 cup)
3/4 cup tamari almonds or cashews
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
2 ounces Cotija cheese or queso blanco, crumbled or grated (about 1/2 cup)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dulce pimentón or sweet smoked paprika
4 ounces tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tofu into 1/4-inch-thick slabs and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange tofu on one half of a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil. Spread mushrooms on the other half of the baking sheet; toss with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper.
On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss beans and grated beet with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper, then spread the mixture into one layer.
Transfer both baking sheets to the oven. Roast bean-beet mixture, tossing occasionally, until beans begin to split and beets are tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Roast mushrooms and tofu until golden and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Let everything cool.
Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add cooled bean-beet mixture, mushrooms, tofu, panko, cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, scallion, garlic, pimentón and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until ingredients are just combined. Pulse in tempeh and rice but do not overprocess. You want small chunks, not a smooth mixture. Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill at least 2 hours or up to 5 days (you can also freeze the burger mix).
When you are ready to make the burgers, divide mixture into 6 equal portions and form each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick. Return to the fridge until just before grilling. They grill better when they start out cold.
Heat the grill. Cook the burgers over a low fire until they are charred on both sides and firm when you press on them, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If they start to burn before they firm up, move them to the sides of the grill to finish cooking over indirect heat. Alternatively, you can cook these on a grill pan or in a skillet over low heat.
Yet, for years, vegetarians were left in the lurch when it came to burgers, unless they experimented with veggies and legumes to make something to replicate the taste and texture of burgers.
Fortuantely, there are now many decent vegetarian burgers on the market. There are also tons of wonderful recipes for veggie burgers to make even the most die hard burger lover happy. Here are six yummy vegetarian burgers to try, including Vegan Reuben Burgers and Falafel Burgers with Tahini-Dill Sauce. Enjoy!
HOMEMADE GRILLED VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Making a grilled veggie burger from scratch used to produce a crumbly mess. But thanks to the smart use of chickpeas and other healthy binders like mushrooms and black beans, these veggie burgers bring a whole new level of delicious awesomeness."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Makes 3 - 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/homemade-grilled-veggie-burger-recipe/.
Ingredients
8-oz pack baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 red onion, sliced
1/2 bell pepper, sliced
5 cloves garlic
Olive oil (for coating veggies and basting burgers)
1 cup chickpeas
1 1/2 cups black beans
2 eggs
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sriracha
2 Tbsp BBQ sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tsp water
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup almond flour (more may be needed for consistency)
Burgers
Burger buns
Cheddar cheese Lettuce Tomatoes Mustard Mayo Pickles
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Mustard
Mayo
Pickles
Special Equipment
Food Processor
Preparation
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you make the patties, you must first dehydrate excess moisture from the veggies so the burgers will keep their shape.
Place mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, and garlic cloves in a grill basket. Coat with some olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix well. Set aside.
Punch a couple of small holes in the bottom of a foil pan, then fill it with your chickpeas and black beans. The holes will allow excess water to drain from the veggies while roasting. Set aside.
Before placing veggies on the grill, toss some hickory wood chips on the coals.
Place the grill basket and foil pan on the grill, and roast them with the lid closed for about 30 minutes. Stir them about halfway through the cook.
Once roasted, remove veggies from the grill and allow them to cool. You can extinguish the grill if you’re roasting the vegetables well ahead of time, or you can let it cruise while you prepare your patties if you’re doing this recipe in one go.
Once cooled, pour the veggies from the grill basket into a food processor. Add eggs, soy sauce, sriracha, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, and the mixture of cornstarch and water, then blend until fairly smooth.
Add chickpeas, black beans, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs to the food processor. Lightly pulse a few times in the food processor — you want the beans in your burger mix to maintain some varying texture, so don’t fully purée as in the above step.
Pour burger mix into a bowl, gradually incorporating a little bit of almond flour at a time. Aim for a consistency that’s thick enough to form a patty that’ll hold its shape.
Once your mixture can be easily formed into burgers, sprinkle a light layer of flour onto a dish. Create 3–4 patties and place them on the floured dish to prevent sticking.
Brush olive oil on top of the patties. This will be the side that hits the grill first. The olive oil will help the patties receive some color and easily release from the grates.
Place patties in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes before grilling. This will help them keep their form when they hit the grill.
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees, adding more charcoal if necessary.
Brush the grill grates with olive oil just before placing your patties on the grill.
Grill the veggie burgers for about 6–8 minutes a side, until crisp and golden brown on each side. Keep the grill lid down during the cook, lifting it only to baste the top side of your burgers with olive oil before flipping them. OPTIONAL: After flipping, baste the top of the burgers with a bit of melted butter.
Melt slices of cheese over the patties before removing them from the grill. Adding cheese during the final minute of the cook should get the job done.
Plate and serve the burgers with your toppings of choice, and enjoy!
BBQ TEMPEH BURGERS
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/. It begins, “The nutty flavor and meaty texture of tempeh makes it a natural fit for veggie burgers, and ounce for ounce, it contains twice the protein as tofu. Adding pinto beans means a big magnesium boost, which can help reduce your risk for diseases such as diabetes.”
Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 8 Minutes; Makes: 4 Servings
Ingredients
2 tsp oil
1 cup onions, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup cooked or canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup wheat germ
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp almond or peanut butter
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp liquid smoke, optional
1 (8 oz) package tempeh, cubed
2 tbsp sesame seeds
4 hamburger buns
1/3 cup low-sugar barbecue sauce
1 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
2 cups cabbage, shredded
Directions
Heat oil in a skillet over medium. Add onions, carrots and salt and cook until onions have softened and darkened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. To a food processor container, add cooked vegetables, pinto beans, wheat germ, lime juice, tomato paste, nut butter, maple syrup, soy sauce, chili powder and liquid smoke (if using). Pulse until beans are roughly mashed but not pureed. Add tempeh and pulse until just incorporated. Form into 4 patties. Spread sesame seeds out on a plate and coat both sides of burgers with seeds. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium and grease grates. Cook burgers until browned and warmed through, about 4 minutes per side. Serve on buns with equal amounts of barbecue sauce, red peppers and cabbage.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): calories 432, fat 16 g, carbs 56 g, fiber 11 g, sugar 7 g, protein 23 g, sodium 472 mg
Nutrition Boost: The beans and cabbage in this burger provide an insane amount of belly-friendly dietary fiber.
FALAFEL BURGERS WITH TAHINI-DILL SAUCE
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/.
This begins, “Middle Eastern cuisine is having a moment, and these burgers make a great alternative to greasy fried falafel. The tahini-dill sauce adds a savory flavor layer and is so versatile you can make extra to use on steamed veggies, sandwiches or grilled chicken. Trade the buns for pita for a more traditional feel.”
Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 6 Minutes; Makes: 4 Servings
Ingredients
Burgers
1/3 cup shelled pistachios
1 cup flat-leaf parsley
2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup chickpea flour
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup red onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 whole-grain hamburger buns, toasted
4 thick slices tomato
4 lettuce leaves
Tahini-Dill Sauce
1/3 cup tahini
3 tbsp chopped dill
2 tsp lemon zest
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp warm water
Directions
Add pistachios and parsley to a food processor container and chop into small pieces. Add chickpeas, chickpea flour, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, salt and pepper and blend until slightly chunky. Form into 4 patties and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium and grease grates. Cook burgers 3 minutes per side, or until a golden crust has formed. Whisk together tahini, dill, lemon zest, garlic, paprika and salt. Stir in warm water, adding more, if needed. Serve burgers topped with tomatoes, lettuce and tahini-dill sauce.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): calories 482, fat 20 g, carbs 62 g, fiber 14 g, sugar 5 g, protein 20 g, sodium 846 mg
Nutrition boost: Chickpeas are a great source of folate, which helps keep blood pressure in check, according to a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
GREEK-INSPIRED VEGGIE BURGERS
This is from WeightWwatchers, and begins, "Although you can use any frozen veggie burger you’d like, the flavors of Mediterranean chickpea burgers—made with spinach, tomatoes, and Greek spices—work particularly well here. We found that toasted or grilled English muffins make a great substitute for a hamburger bun; the craggy texture captures the tzatziki, a sauce made with yogurt, cucumber, and spices, perfectly without getting too soggy. It's pretty easy to find prepared tzatziki in markets, but you can make your own my mixing finely chopped or grated seeded and peeled cucumbers into plain yogurt and season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Serves: 1; Difficulty: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 sprays cooking spray
1 serving frozen vegetarian burger(s)
1 English muffin, grilled or toasted
2 Tbsp Tzatziki
1/4 cup Roasted red peppers (packed in water), thinly sliced
1/4 cup Cucumbers, cut in ribbons with a peeler
Directions
Lightly coat grill pan with nonstick spray. Grill burger over medium heat, turning once, until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
On English muffin, layer tzatziki, burger, red peppers, and cucumber.
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “You make a veggie burger because you want the hamburger experience without the meat. This one delivers. It’s got a firm, beefy texture that takes on the char and smoke of the grill, but is adaptable enough to cook inside on your stove. The enemy of a veggie burger is mushiness, which stems from a high moisture content. To combat that, the very watery ingredients – mushrooms, tofu, beans and beets – are roasted to both dehydrate them somewhat and intensify their flavors. Yes, the ingredient list here is long; you need a diverse lot to make a good veggie burger. And each one adds something in terms of flavor and/or texture. Garnish this any way you like, and don’t forget to toast the buns.” Yield: 6 burger.
This was featured in “The Ultimate Veggie Burger”, and can be found online here.
Also, there are two guides that went with this recipe that you might want to check out. The first is “How to Cook Beans”, and the second is “How to Grill”. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained
Olive oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
Black pepper, as needed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 medium beet, peeled and coarsely grated (3/4 cup)
3/4 cup tamari almonds or cashews
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
2 ounces Cotija cheese or queso blanco, crumbled or grated (about 1/2 cup)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dulce pimentón or sweet smoked paprika
4 ounces tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tofu into 1/4-inch-thick slabs and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange tofu on one half of a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil. Spread mushrooms on the other half of the baking sheet; toss with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper.
On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss beans and grated beet with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper, then spread the mixture into one layer.
Transfer both baking sheets to the oven. Roast bean-beet mixture, tossing occasionally, until beans begin to split and beets are tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Roast mushrooms and tofu until golden and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Let everything cool.
Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add cooled bean-beet mixture, mushrooms, tofu, panko, cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, scallion, garlic, pimentón and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until ingredients are just combined. Pulse in tempeh and rice but do not overprocess. You want small chunks, not a smooth mixture. Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill at least 2 hours or up to 5 days (you can also freeze the burger mix).
When you are ready to make the burgers, divide mixture into 6 equal portions and form each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick. Return to the fridge until just before grilling. They grill better when they start out cold.
Heat the grill. Cook the burgers over a low fire until they are charred on both sides and firm when you press on them, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If they start to burn before they firm up, move them to the sides of the grill to finish cooking over indirect heat. Alternatively, you can cook these on a grill pan or in a skillet over low heat.
Friday, July 9, 2021
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Chipotle Veggie Burritos and Country Panzanella With Watermelon Dressing. Enjoy!
QUINOA-STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Fiona Haynes, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, “These quinoa-stuffed peppers make a nice low-fat meatless entree or side dish. Quinoa is a wonderful option for those who can't eat gluten, plus it makes a nice change from rice or meat-filled peppers. To make 1 cup of cooked quinoa, you'll need 1/2 cup of quinoa, rinsed, then cooked in 1 cup of water or broth for extra flavor. Make sure your broth is gluten free if you are feeding this to someone who has a gluten problem.
“I like my peppers to be yielding but still have something of a bite to them. If you prefer your peppers to be softer still, bake them for 10 minutes or so longer.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Serves 4
Unfortunately, the link I had for this no longer works. But I did want to give credit to Fiona, since she came up with this yummy recipe.
Ingredients
2 large red or yellow bell peppers, halved lengthwise, stem intact
2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 1/2 cups diced cremini mushrooms
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup chopped baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Steam or simmer bell peppers in a large pot for 5 minutes until slightly soft.
Heat oil in medium skillet and gently sauté onions, garlic and carrots on medium-low heat until softened.
Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Stir in cooked quinoa. Add broth, spinach and parsley and cook for 2 minutes.
Scoop one fourth of the quinoa mixture into each bell pepper half, packing firmly.
Place peppers in a baking dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with 1/2 cup of water. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until filling is hot.
Per Serving: Calories 198, Calories from Fat 38, total Fat 4.2g (sat 0.3g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 50mg, Carbohydrate 33.3g, Fiber 6.7g, Protein 6.6g
BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA
Another recipe from Fiona Haynes, who wrote, "Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.” She also adds, “If you make this with fat-free ricotta, you'll save a further 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, but you'll gain another 110mg of sodium.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage
1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup water reserved from pasta pot
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to directions on package, less 2 minutes, and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water when done.
Meanwhile heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Stir in zucchini and herbs, and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in canned pumpkin and ricotta cheese.
Empty drained pasta plus 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into skillet and mix well.
Spoon pasta into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Per Serving: Calories 349, Calories from Fat 71, Total Fat 7.7g (sat 3.4g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 168mg, Carbohydrate 54.4g, Fiber 5.2g, Protein 15.9g
GRILLED TOFU
This comes from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Kay wrote, "Pouring hot marinade over tofu slices encourages faster absorption of flavors, eliminating the need to marinate overnight. In a pinch, this method yields tasty results in three hours, but the recommended six hours deliver a much more complex, richer flavored tofu. Grilled, it makes a versatile side dish and is delicious warm or at room temperature. Pair it with steamed rice and a simple green salad, or turn the tofu into satisfying vegetarian sandwiches by tucking it into pita bread with lettuce and avocado."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 20 minutes, plus 6 hours' marinating
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022297-grilled-tofu.
Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) block extra-firm tofu, sliced crosswise into eight equal slices (about 1/2-inch thick)
2 tablespoons safflower or canola oil, plus more for greasing grates
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
Preparation
Arrange sliced tofu in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate. Press top with more paper towels to remove excess water. Arrange tofu in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, or any shallow dish that can hold the tofu in one layer.
In a small saucepan, combine oil, garlic and ginger over medium; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened and fragrant, 2 minutes. Add soy sauce, sugar, pepper and 1/4 cup water, and cook, stirring to dissolve the sugar, about 2 minutes.
Pour hot marinade over tofu. Gently turn tofu slices to evenly coat, then cover dish tightly with plastic wrap to seal in heat. Refrigerate for 6 hours (or up to 8 hours), flipping tofu slices halfway through.
Heat grill to medium and grease grates well (or heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium and lightly grease). Grill tofu over direct heat until golden and caramelized, about 3 minutes per side.
Meanwhile, transfer marinade to a small saucepan over medium and warm through, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in scallions.
Transfer tofu to a serving plate and spoon over the sauce. Serve warm.
ROOT VEGETABLE CHILI SOUP
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Root vegetables like rutabagas and carrots are great for spicy kitchen experiments because they lend subtle sweetness to dishes. Believe it or not, you can use curry powder in place of the chili powder here—the soup will have an Indian flair. Dishes that call for chili and curry powders get better over time, so make this dish a day ahead." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/root-vegetable-chili-soup/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
2 Tbs. canola oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
4 tsp. mild chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 small rutabagas, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 1/2 lb.)
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1/2 lb.)
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 small russet potato, finely diced (1 cup)
2 Anaheim, banana, or mild peppers, seeded and chopped (3/4 cup)
1 small red bell pepper, chopped (2/3 cup)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced, optional
1 15-oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Preparation
Heat large pot over medium heat. Add corn, and sauté 2 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Add oil, onion, and garlic, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Stir in chili powder and cumin, and cook 2 minutes, scraping bottom of pan with spatula.
Add rutabagas, carrots, tomatoes, potato, Anaheim pepper, bell pepper, jalapeño, if using, and 3 cups water.
Bring pot to a simmer, and season with salt. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add beans and cook, uncovered, 45 minutes, or until soup thickens. Serve garnished with green onions or cilantro.
COUNTRY PANZANELLA WITH WATERMELON DRESSING
This comes from Gabrielle E.W. Carter, and is adapted by Nicole Taylor and Yewande Komolafe in The New York Times cooking newsletter. For this recipe, Nicole and Yewande wrote, "Consumed plainly or with a salt sprinkle, fresh watermelon conjures warm-weather memories. In the U.S. (primarily in the American South), master gardeners are growing heirloom (seedful) varieties: sugar baby, jubilee and Georgia rattlesnake. In Apex, N.C., Gabrielle E.W. Carter is the new steward of the property once owned by her maternal great-grandfather, where she grows herbs, tomatoes and watermelon. As a multimedia artist, she is documenting the food ways of Black families in Eastern North Carolina and preserving cooking traditions using fruits and vegetables straight from the garden. Crimson-flesh watermelon transforms the classic panzanella with a balanced sweetness. Using a coarse grater is essential in achieving a vibrant, textured dressing. Bocconcini can be substituted for feta cheese in this salad, which pairs well with festive mains like dry-rub mushrooms and spicy tamarind pork ribs."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings (about 16 cups); Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "Summer’s Greatest Prize: Watermelons, With Seeds, Please", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022283-country-panzanella-with-watermelon-dressing.
Note: The article that this was featured in makes some very interesting reading, especially for anyone who enjoys learning about the history of food. (Yes, there is such as thing!)
Ingredients
For the dressing:
1/2 pound piece of skin-on watermelon, seeds discarded
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Kosher salt
2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
For the salad:
1/2 loaf day-old ciabatta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 4 loose cups)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 pounds watermelon, rind discarded cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 packed cups)
3 medium heirloom tomatoes (about 1 3/4 to 2 pounds), cut into 1-inch-wide wedges (about 5 loose cups)
1 medium seedless cucumber (about 1/2 pound), trimmed, halved lengthwise then sliced 1/4-inch-thick (about 2 cups)
1 small red onion (about 4 ounces), peeled and sliced (about 1 loose cup)
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup crumbled feta
Preparation
Make the dressing: Using a coarse grater set over a medium bowl, grate the watermelon flesh then rind, grating the rind all the way to the skin. (You should have about 1 cup grated watermelon.) Discard the firm skin. Add the sugar and 1 teaspoon salt; stir to dissolve the sugar and salt grains. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 10 minutes.
Add the garlic, mustard, thyme leaves, red-pepper flakes, ground black pepper, vinegar and oil. Whisk together (or transfer to a mason jar, cover and shake vigorously). The dressing makes 2 cups, and will keep, refrigerated, up to 1 week; shake before use.
Make the salad: Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a small sheet pan, toss the cubed bread, olive oil, thyme and sea salt together. Spread in a single layer and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until toasted and golden brown.
In a large serving bowl, combine the watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion. Drain any excess liquid before adding the toasted bread cubes and half the basil. Drizzle with 1/4 cup of the dressing and season with salt and pepper. Divide among individual bowls, if you like. Top with crumbled feta, remaining basil leaves and spoon additional dressing over the top.
CHIPOTLE VEGGIE BURRITOS
This comes from the Food Network. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/chipotle-veggie-burritos-3362667.
Ingredients
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder, plus more to taste
Kosher salt
1 cup white rice
1 15-ounce can black bean soup (preferably spicy)
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
1 large tomato, diced
Juice of 1 lime
4 burrito-size flour tortillas
2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese (about 8 ounces)
Directions
Puree all but 3 tablespoons cilantro with 2 cups water, the garlic, chile powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan along with the rice and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low; cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Uncover, stir and let cool 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring the black bean soup to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Stir in the spinach and return to a simmer. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
Toss the corn, tomato, lime juice, the reserved 3 tablespoons cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and chile powder to taste in a large bowl.
Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet or in the microwave. Divide the rice, bean mixture and cheese among the tortillas; top with some of the corn salsa. Fold up the bottoms of the tortillas, then fold in the sides and roll up. Serve with the remaining corn salsa.
QUINOA-STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Fiona Haynes, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, “These quinoa-stuffed peppers make a nice low-fat meatless entree or side dish. Quinoa is a wonderful option for those who can't eat gluten, plus it makes a nice change from rice or meat-filled peppers. To make 1 cup of cooked quinoa, you'll need 1/2 cup of quinoa, rinsed, then cooked in 1 cup of water or broth for extra flavor. Make sure your broth is gluten free if you are feeding this to someone who has a gluten problem.
“I like my peppers to be yielding but still have something of a bite to them. If you prefer your peppers to be softer still, bake them for 10 minutes or so longer.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Serves 4
Unfortunately, the link I had for this no longer works. But I did want to give credit to Fiona, since she came up with this yummy recipe.
Ingredients
2 large red or yellow bell peppers, halved lengthwise, stem intact
2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 1/2 cups diced cremini mushrooms
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup chopped baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Steam or simmer bell peppers in a large pot for 5 minutes until slightly soft.
Heat oil in medium skillet and gently sauté onions, garlic and carrots on medium-low heat until softened.
Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Stir in cooked quinoa. Add broth, spinach and parsley and cook for 2 minutes.
Scoop one fourth of the quinoa mixture into each bell pepper half, packing firmly.
Place peppers in a baking dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with 1/2 cup of water. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until filling is hot.
Per Serving: Calories 198, Calories from Fat 38, total Fat 4.2g (sat 0.3g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 50mg, Carbohydrate 33.3g, Fiber 6.7g, Protein 6.6g
BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA
Another recipe from Fiona Haynes, who wrote, "Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.” She also adds, “If you make this with fat-free ricotta, you'll save a further 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, but you'll gain another 110mg of sodium.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage
1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup water reserved from pasta pot
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to directions on package, less 2 minutes, and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water when done.
Meanwhile heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Stir in zucchini and herbs, and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in canned pumpkin and ricotta cheese.
Empty drained pasta plus 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into skillet and mix well.
Spoon pasta into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Per Serving: Calories 349, Calories from Fat 71, Total Fat 7.7g (sat 3.4g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 168mg, Carbohydrate 54.4g, Fiber 5.2g, Protein 15.9g
GRILLED TOFU
This comes from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Kay wrote, "Pouring hot marinade over tofu slices encourages faster absorption of flavors, eliminating the need to marinate overnight. In a pinch, this method yields tasty results in three hours, but the recommended six hours deliver a much more complex, richer flavored tofu. Grilled, it makes a versatile side dish and is delicious warm or at room temperature. Pair it with steamed rice and a simple green salad, or turn the tofu into satisfying vegetarian sandwiches by tucking it into pita bread with lettuce and avocado."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 20 minutes, plus 6 hours' marinating
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022297-grilled-tofu.
Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) block extra-firm tofu, sliced crosswise into eight equal slices (about 1/2-inch thick)
2 tablespoons safflower or canola oil, plus more for greasing grates
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
Preparation
Arrange sliced tofu in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate. Press top with more paper towels to remove excess water. Arrange tofu in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, or any shallow dish that can hold the tofu in one layer.
In a small saucepan, combine oil, garlic and ginger over medium; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened and fragrant, 2 minutes. Add soy sauce, sugar, pepper and 1/4 cup water, and cook, stirring to dissolve the sugar, about 2 minutes.
Pour hot marinade over tofu. Gently turn tofu slices to evenly coat, then cover dish tightly with plastic wrap to seal in heat. Refrigerate for 6 hours (or up to 8 hours), flipping tofu slices halfway through.
Heat grill to medium and grease grates well (or heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium and lightly grease). Grill tofu over direct heat until golden and caramelized, about 3 minutes per side.
Meanwhile, transfer marinade to a small saucepan over medium and warm through, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in scallions.
Transfer tofu to a serving plate and spoon over the sauce. Serve warm.
ROOT VEGETABLE CHILI SOUP
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Root vegetables like rutabagas and carrots are great for spicy kitchen experiments because they lend subtle sweetness to dishes. Believe it or not, you can use curry powder in place of the chili powder here—the soup will have an Indian flair. Dishes that call for chili and curry powders get better over time, so make this dish a day ahead." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/root-vegetable-chili-soup/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
2 Tbs. canola oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
4 tsp. mild chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 small rutabagas, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 1/2 lb.)
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1/2 lb.)
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 small russet potato, finely diced (1 cup)
2 Anaheim, banana, or mild peppers, seeded and chopped (3/4 cup)
1 small red bell pepper, chopped (2/3 cup)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced, optional
1 15-oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Preparation
Heat large pot over medium heat. Add corn, and sauté 2 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Add oil, onion, and garlic, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Stir in chili powder and cumin, and cook 2 minutes, scraping bottom of pan with spatula.
Add rutabagas, carrots, tomatoes, potato, Anaheim pepper, bell pepper, jalapeño, if using, and 3 cups water.
Bring pot to a simmer, and season with salt. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add beans and cook, uncovered, 45 minutes, or until soup thickens. Serve garnished with green onions or cilantro.
COUNTRY PANZANELLA WITH WATERMELON DRESSING
This comes from Gabrielle E.W. Carter, and is adapted by Nicole Taylor and Yewande Komolafe in The New York Times cooking newsletter. For this recipe, Nicole and Yewande wrote, "Consumed plainly or with a salt sprinkle, fresh watermelon conjures warm-weather memories. In the U.S. (primarily in the American South), master gardeners are growing heirloom (seedful) varieties: sugar baby, jubilee and Georgia rattlesnake. In Apex, N.C., Gabrielle E.W. Carter is the new steward of the property once owned by her maternal great-grandfather, where she grows herbs, tomatoes and watermelon. As a multimedia artist, she is documenting the food ways of Black families in Eastern North Carolina and preserving cooking traditions using fruits and vegetables straight from the garden. Crimson-flesh watermelon transforms the classic panzanella with a balanced sweetness. Using a coarse grater is essential in achieving a vibrant, textured dressing. Bocconcini can be substituted for feta cheese in this salad, which pairs well with festive mains like dry-rub mushrooms and spicy tamarind pork ribs."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings (about 16 cups); Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "Summer’s Greatest Prize: Watermelons, With Seeds, Please", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022283-country-panzanella-with-watermelon-dressing.
Note: The article that this was featured in makes some very interesting reading, especially for anyone who enjoys learning about the history of food. (Yes, there is such as thing!)
Ingredients
For the dressing:
1/2 pound piece of skin-on watermelon, seeds discarded
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Kosher salt
2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
For the salad:
1/2 loaf day-old ciabatta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 4 loose cups)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 pounds watermelon, rind discarded cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 packed cups)
3 medium heirloom tomatoes (about 1 3/4 to 2 pounds), cut into 1-inch-wide wedges (about 5 loose cups)
1 medium seedless cucumber (about 1/2 pound), trimmed, halved lengthwise then sliced 1/4-inch-thick (about 2 cups)
1 small red onion (about 4 ounces), peeled and sliced (about 1 loose cup)
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup crumbled feta
Preparation
Make the dressing: Using a coarse grater set over a medium bowl, grate the watermelon flesh then rind, grating the rind all the way to the skin. (You should have about 1 cup grated watermelon.) Discard the firm skin. Add the sugar and 1 teaspoon salt; stir to dissolve the sugar and salt grains. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 10 minutes.
Add the garlic, mustard, thyme leaves, red-pepper flakes, ground black pepper, vinegar and oil. Whisk together (or transfer to a mason jar, cover and shake vigorously). The dressing makes 2 cups, and will keep, refrigerated, up to 1 week; shake before use.
Make the salad: Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a small sheet pan, toss the cubed bread, olive oil, thyme and sea salt together. Spread in a single layer and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until toasted and golden brown.
In a large serving bowl, combine the watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion. Drain any excess liquid before adding the toasted bread cubes and half the basil. Drizzle with 1/4 cup of the dressing and season with salt and pepper. Divide among individual bowls, if you like. Top with crumbled feta, remaining basil leaves and spoon additional dressing over the top.
CHIPOTLE VEGGIE BURRITOS
This comes from the Food Network. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/chipotle-veggie-burritos-3362667.
Ingredients
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder, plus more to taste
Kosher salt
1 cup white rice
1 15-ounce can black bean soup (preferably spicy)
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
1 large tomato, diced
Juice of 1 lime
4 burrito-size flour tortillas
2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese (about 8 ounces)
Directions
Puree all but 3 tablespoons cilantro with 2 cups water, the garlic, chile powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan along with the rice and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low; cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Uncover, stir and let cool 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring the black bean soup to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Stir in the spinach and return to a simmer. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
Toss the corn, tomato, lime juice, the reserved 3 tablespoons cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and chile powder to taste in a large bowl.
Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet or in the microwave. Divide the rice, bean mixture and cheese among the tortillas; top with some of the corn salsa. Fold up the bottoms of the tortillas, then fold in the sides and roll up. Serve with the remaining corn salsa.
Thursday, July 8, 2021
Thursday Recipes
Hope your week is going well this far. Just two more days - today and tomorrow - before the weekend. To that end, here are today's six vegetarian recipes to check out, including Vegetarian Chili with Corn Bread Topping and Vegetarian Lentil Soup. Enjoy!
CHAI SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS
This comes from The Baker Chick, otherwise known as Audra. I highly recommend her e-newsletter!
Audra wrote, “This recipe was developed for Clabber Girl Baking Powder, the thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own!” Yield: 6 large buns
To view this online, go to http://www.thebakerchick.com/2014/12/chai-spice-cinnamon-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup warm milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons brown sugar
For the Filling
2 tablespoons of butter, softened
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
1 cup brown sugar
For the glaze
3 tablespoons of melted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon cardamon
splash of milk
Extra butter for greasing bowl and pan
Instructions
In a large bowl combine the yeast, 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt. Stir together and then add the butter and milk. Use a spatula to stir until a shaggy dough has formed.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed (I added another 1/2 cup.)
Transfer dough to a lightly buttered bowl and cover with a clean dish cloth. Place somewhere warm and let proof for 30 minutes or until puffy and doubled in size.
Meanwhile stir together the brown sugar & filling spices and set aside.
Prepare a mega muffin tin by buttering each well. Set aside.
When the dough has proofed. Roll it to a 9x12 rectangle on a floured surface. Spread with the butter and then evenly sprinkle the filling all over. Roll the dough, starting on one of the short ends. Pinch to seal.
Use a serrated knife to cut into 6 equal pieces. Place each roll into a muffin tin well. Cover with the cloth and allow to proof for another 20-30 minutes or until doubled (They will be totally poofy at this point.)
Bake at 375F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
For the glaze:
Whisk together the melted butter, powdered sugar, cardamon & milk. Add a teeny bit more milk if needed to reach drizzling consistency.
Serve warm.
Notes: I made these in a mega muffin tin, yielding 6 large buns. You could also use a regular 12-well muffin tin or even a 8x8 baking pan.
VEGETARIAN LENTIL SOUP
This came from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Lentil soup is one of those recipes that should be in every cook's repertoire. Lentils are available in most grocery stores and are high in protein, healthy and very cheap. This vegetarian lentil soup recipe uses plenty of seasonings to perk up the soup, including thyme, bay leaves and a bit of lemon juice to brighten all the flavors. Enjoy this traditional and warming dish!
“I always recommend using sea salt or kosher salt for the best flavor, and this recipe is no exception. Trust me, it makes a difference.
“This lentil soup is vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie and low-fat, and with all those lentils, it's also surprisingly high in protein, with nearly 19 grams per serving. If you use a fresh homemade vegetable broth, this recipe is also gluten-free.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: 4 servings of lentil soup
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tsp vegetable oil (canola oil, sunflower oil or any kind of cooking oil)
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, sliced
4 cups vegetable broth (or use a combination of water and vegetable bouillon cubes)
1 cup dry lentils (you want regular brown lentils - NOT red lentils to make this soup!)
1/4 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
dash salt and pepper, to taste
2 tsp lemon juice (optional, but delicious)
Preparation
In a large pot, sautee the onions and carrot in the vegetable oil for 3-5 minutes until onions turn clear.
Add the vegetable broth, lentils, thyme, bay leaves and a dash of sea salt or kosher salt and black pepper (you can always add more later when you taste the soup).
Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook your soup until the lentils are soft, about 45 minutes.
Remove bay leaves and stir in lemon juice before serving.
The lemon juice is optional, but it just helps to bring out all the other flavors a bit more.
Taste, and and season with a bit more salt and pepper to taste, or, serve as is and allow everyone to season as they prefer.
Makes 4 servings of lentil soup.
COOKIE BUTTER LAVA CAKE
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “You already love lava cakes. With this sweet, spiced version, life is about to get sooo good.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cookie butter
3 eggs
1/4 cup water
Directions
Preheat oven to 425ºF.
In a stand mixer, beat 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar and cookie butter until smooth.
Add eggs one at a time, beating until smooth and creamy. Add water and mix until fully combined.
Spoon batter evenly into four 6-oz. ramekins (which have been lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray).
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or just until the edges have set and the centers are soft (but not jiggly). Dust with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.
TORTILLA LASAGNA
This is from the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 48. It begins, "This easy, crowd-pleasing dish is also a kid favorite. Toasting the tortillas before building the lasagna keeps them from getting soggy as the dish bakes. Feel free to mix things up with different beans, cheeses, or vegetables between the layers." Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 8-inch fat-free flour tortillas
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. ancho chile powder
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 cups strained tomatoes, such as Pomì, divided
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium chayote, peeled and diced, or 2 medium zucchini, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack or pepper Jack cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast tortillas on 2 baking sheets in oven 5 minutes, or until light brown, turning once.
Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes, or until soft. Stir in chili powder, ancho chile powder, and garlic, and cook 30 seconds. Add 11/2 cups strained tomatoes, beans, chayote, corn, and 1/2 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover, and cook 10 minutes, or until chayote is tender.
Coat 2-inch-deep x 8-inch round baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/4 cup strained tomatoes in bottom of pan. Set 1 toasted tortilla in pan; top with 3/4 cup bean mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layering 4 more times. Top with last tortilla, and spread remaining 1/4 cup strained tomatoes over top. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly and cheese has melted. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges.
nutritional information Per Wedge: Calories: 226; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 19 mg; Sodium: 506 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 4 g
RICE PUDDING IN A MUG
This comes from The Kitchn's e-newsletters. I love the site, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy. If you haven't checked out these two sites, and/or signed up for their e-newsletters, you should!
This recipe serves 2, and can be viewed online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1 large egg
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt
1 1/2 cups cooked rice, any kind
Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and sugar until light and fluffy. Whisk in the milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cooked rice, and stir until well-combined. Divide the mixture between two tall mugs. Microwave on full power for 2 to 4 minutes, until the pudding has set. (Cooking time will vary greatly depending on your microwave and the width and depth of the mug. Start with 2 minutes and continue cooking in 30-second increments until it is done.)
Carefully remove the mugs from the microwave and let them stand for a minute or two before serving. If you like, top each pudding with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, citrus zest, raisins, or whipped cream.
VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH CORN BREAD TOPPING
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “The idea behind this spicy, all-vegetable chili is ease: It’s easily made on a weekend, a meditative wintry afternoon in the kitchen, chopping and stirring. Then, on a weeknight made even shorter by commuting and homework, concoct an easy corn bread topping, spread it on the chili and bake it for a while. It’s healthy, filling food.” Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Chili
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups red bell peppers (about 2 large peppers), finely diced
2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 1/2 cups red lentils
3 cups canned chopped tomatoes
3 1/2 cups drained canned kidney beans
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
For The Corn Bread Topping:
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups cornmeal
2 tablespoons flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup butter milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup coarsely grated Cheddar cheese
For Serving:
2 cups sour cream
1 cup chopped cilantro
Preparation
To prepare chili, heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a deep, wide pan with a lid. Add onions, garlic and bell peppers, and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, coriander, cumin and cardamom pods. Stir in lentils.
Add chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, ketchup, tomato paste, cocoa and 3 cups water. Stir well. Cover, and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and beans are tender, about 45 minutes. Chili can be made ahead to this point and topping added later. (In that case, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 days, bringing to room temperature before proceeding.)
For corn bread topping, heat oven to 425 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine salt, cornmeal, flour, baking powder and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, honey and oil. Pour liquid ingredients into dry; stir until combined.
Pour chili into a baking dish 13 by 9 by 3 inches. Spread corn bread topping evenly over chili, and sprinkle cheese on topping. Bake until topping has risen and turned golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Remove from oven, and let chili stand about 5 minutes. To serve, cut into squares, and pass sour cream and cilantro at the table.
CHAI SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS
This comes from The Baker Chick, otherwise known as Audra. I highly recommend her e-newsletter!
Audra wrote, “This recipe was developed for Clabber Girl Baking Powder, the thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own!” Yield: 6 large buns
To view this online, go to http://www.thebakerchick.com/2014/12/chai-spice-cinnamon-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup warm milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons brown sugar
For the Filling
2 tablespoons of butter, softened
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
1 cup brown sugar
For the glaze
3 tablespoons of melted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon cardamon
splash of milk
Extra butter for greasing bowl and pan
Instructions
In a large bowl combine the yeast, 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt. Stir together and then add the butter and milk. Use a spatula to stir until a shaggy dough has formed.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed (I added another 1/2 cup.)
Transfer dough to a lightly buttered bowl and cover with a clean dish cloth. Place somewhere warm and let proof for 30 minutes or until puffy and doubled in size.
Meanwhile stir together the brown sugar & filling spices and set aside.
Prepare a mega muffin tin by buttering each well. Set aside.
When the dough has proofed. Roll it to a 9x12 rectangle on a floured surface. Spread with the butter and then evenly sprinkle the filling all over. Roll the dough, starting on one of the short ends. Pinch to seal.
Use a serrated knife to cut into 6 equal pieces. Place each roll into a muffin tin well. Cover with the cloth and allow to proof for another 20-30 minutes or until doubled (They will be totally poofy at this point.)
Bake at 375F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
For the glaze:
Whisk together the melted butter, powdered sugar, cardamon & milk. Add a teeny bit more milk if needed to reach drizzling consistency.
Serve warm.
Notes: I made these in a mega muffin tin, yielding 6 large buns. You could also use a regular 12-well muffin tin or even a 8x8 baking pan.
VEGETARIAN LENTIL SOUP
This came from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Lentil soup is one of those recipes that should be in every cook's repertoire. Lentils are available in most grocery stores and are high in protein, healthy and very cheap. This vegetarian lentil soup recipe uses plenty of seasonings to perk up the soup, including thyme, bay leaves and a bit of lemon juice to brighten all the flavors. Enjoy this traditional and warming dish!
“I always recommend using sea salt or kosher salt for the best flavor, and this recipe is no exception. Trust me, it makes a difference.
“This lentil soup is vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie and low-fat, and with all those lentils, it's also surprisingly high in protein, with nearly 19 grams per serving. If you use a fresh homemade vegetable broth, this recipe is also gluten-free.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: 4 servings of lentil soup
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tsp vegetable oil (canola oil, sunflower oil or any kind of cooking oil)
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, sliced
4 cups vegetable broth (or use a combination of water and vegetable bouillon cubes)
1 cup dry lentils (you want regular brown lentils - NOT red lentils to make this soup!)
1/4 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
dash salt and pepper, to taste
2 tsp lemon juice (optional, but delicious)
Preparation
In a large pot, sautee the onions and carrot in the vegetable oil for 3-5 minutes until onions turn clear.
Add the vegetable broth, lentils, thyme, bay leaves and a dash of sea salt or kosher salt and black pepper (you can always add more later when you taste the soup).
Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook your soup until the lentils are soft, about 45 minutes.
Remove bay leaves and stir in lemon juice before serving.
The lemon juice is optional, but it just helps to bring out all the other flavors a bit more.
Taste, and and season with a bit more salt and pepper to taste, or, serve as is and allow everyone to season as they prefer.
Makes 4 servings of lentil soup.
COOKIE BUTTER LAVA CAKE
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “You already love lava cakes. With this sweet, spiced version, life is about to get sooo good.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cookie butter
3 eggs
1/4 cup water
Directions
Preheat oven to 425ºF.
In a stand mixer, beat 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar and cookie butter until smooth.
Add eggs one at a time, beating until smooth and creamy. Add water and mix until fully combined.
Spoon batter evenly into four 6-oz. ramekins (which have been lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray).
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or just until the edges have set and the centers are soft (but not jiggly). Dust with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.
TORTILLA LASAGNA
This is from the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 48. It begins, "This easy, crowd-pleasing dish is also a kid favorite. Toasting the tortillas before building the lasagna keeps them from getting soggy as the dish bakes. Feel free to mix things up with different beans, cheeses, or vegetables between the layers." Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 8-inch fat-free flour tortillas
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. ancho chile powder
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 cups strained tomatoes, such as Pomì, divided
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium chayote, peeled and diced, or 2 medium zucchini, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack or pepper Jack cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast tortillas on 2 baking sheets in oven 5 minutes, or until light brown, turning once.
Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes, or until soft. Stir in chili powder, ancho chile powder, and garlic, and cook 30 seconds. Add 11/2 cups strained tomatoes, beans, chayote, corn, and 1/2 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover, and cook 10 minutes, or until chayote is tender.
Coat 2-inch-deep x 8-inch round baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/4 cup strained tomatoes in bottom of pan. Set 1 toasted tortilla in pan; top with 3/4 cup bean mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layering 4 more times. Top with last tortilla, and spread remaining 1/4 cup strained tomatoes over top. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly and cheese has melted. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges.
nutritional information Per Wedge: Calories: 226; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 19 mg; Sodium: 506 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 4 g
RICE PUDDING IN A MUG
This comes from The Kitchn's e-newsletters. I love the site, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy. If you haven't checked out these two sites, and/or signed up for their e-newsletters, you should!
This recipe serves 2, and can be viewed online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1 large egg
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt
1 1/2 cups cooked rice, any kind
Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and sugar until light and fluffy. Whisk in the milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cooked rice, and stir until well-combined. Divide the mixture between two tall mugs. Microwave on full power for 2 to 4 minutes, until the pudding has set. (Cooking time will vary greatly depending on your microwave and the width and depth of the mug. Start with 2 minutes and continue cooking in 30-second increments until it is done.)
Carefully remove the mugs from the microwave and let them stand for a minute or two before serving. If you like, top each pudding with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, citrus zest, raisins, or whipped cream.
VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH CORN BREAD TOPPING
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “The idea behind this spicy, all-vegetable chili is ease: It’s easily made on a weekend, a meditative wintry afternoon in the kitchen, chopping and stirring. Then, on a weeknight made even shorter by commuting and homework, concoct an easy corn bread topping, spread it on the chili and bake it for a while. It’s healthy, filling food.” Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Chili
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups red bell peppers (about 2 large peppers), finely diced
2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 1/2 cups red lentils
3 cups canned chopped tomatoes
3 1/2 cups drained canned kidney beans
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
For The Corn Bread Topping:
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups cornmeal
2 tablespoons flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup butter milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup coarsely grated Cheddar cheese
For Serving:
2 cups sour cream
1 cup chopped cilantro
Preparation
To prepare chili, heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a deep, wide pan with a lid. Add onions, garlic and bell peppers, and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, coriander, cumin and cardamom pods. Stir in lentils.
Add chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, ketchup, tomato paste, cocoa and 3 cups water. Stir well. Cover, and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and beans are tender, about 45 minutes. Chili can be made ahead to this point and topping added later. (In that case, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 days, bringing to room temperature before proceeding.)
For corn bread topping, heat oven to 425 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine salt, cornmeal, flour, baking powder and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, honey and oil. Pour liquid ingredients into dry; stir until combined.
Pour chili into a baking dish 13 by 9 by 3 inches. Spread corn bread topping evenly over chili, and sprinkle cheese on topping. Bake until topping has risen and turned golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Remove from oven, and let chili stand about 5 minutes. To serve, cut into squares, and pass sour cream and cilantro at the table.
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