It's another hot, sultry summer day (at least here in Florida). Any outdoor stuff - lawn mowing, running, almost anything outdoors - is best done early in the morning, or late afternoon. The rest of the day, I'll probably be working inside, with the Olympics playing in the background.
In the meantime, we do need to eat. Here are today's recipes, including Moroccan Chickpea and Squash Stew and a vegan Kung Pao Tofu. Enjoy!
JOLLOF RICE
This is from Yewande Komolafe in the The New York Times cooking email. Yewande wrote, “A successful batch of jollof rice requires a few key ingredients (tomatoes, peppers, onions, a few herbs, spices and some stock) and a perfect sauce-to-rice ratio, so the cooked grains remain separate. I have found that the best, no-fuss way to do this is in the oven. Jollof is typically made with long-grain rice, though in Nigeria, parboiled rice is the norm. Most jollof is prepared over an open flame or on a stovetop. Missing from this oven version is the slightly smoky flavor you get from the little bits of rice that have browned on the bottom of your pan, but that’s nothing a pinch of smoked paprika can’t fix. Serve with braised goat or other stewed meats, and a side of fried plantains.”
Note: Okay, this is me writing. Obviously, for this blog, I'm adding that, if you're a vegetarian (like I am), you might not be serving this with any meat. But that said, it would be fantastic with any vegetarian stews or chilis, anything that you might otherwise serve over noddles, rice, crackers, etc.
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours
This was featured in “Yewande Komolafe’s 10 Essential Nigerian Recipes” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020288-jollof-rice.
Ingredients
For the Obe Ata:
1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 medium red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 red habanero chile, stemmed
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
For the Jollof Rice:
1/2 cup canola or other neutral oil
2 medium red onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
3 cups parboiled long-grain rice (such as Carolina Gold or Uncle Ben’s Original), basmati or jasmine rice (about 1-1/4 pounds)
5 fresh thyme sprigs
1 fresh bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups beef, chicken or vegetable stock
Preparation
Prepare the obe ata: Working in batches if needed, combine all the obe ata ingredients except the canola oil in a blender and purée on high until smooth. The liquid from the can of tomatoes should suffice, but you can add up to 1/4 cup of water if necessary to get the purée going. (You should have about 3 cups of purée.)
Heat the 2 tablespoons canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add the purée and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until the sauce is slightly reduced by about a third of its original volume, 18 to 20 minutes. (It should make about 2 cups. Obe ata can be cooled and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 1 month.)
Prepare the rice: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat the 1/2 cup canola oil in a large Dutch oven over medium until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove half the onions to a plate and set aside. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, turmeric and smoked paprika, if using, and toast, stirring occasionally, until turmeric is fragrant and tomato paste has deepened to a dark red color, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the obe ata sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. The habanero oils love to disperse in the air, so you may want to turn on your stovetop fan or open a window while simmering the obe ata. Stir in the rice, thyme and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the stock and cover with a lid. Transfer the pot to the oven and cook until rice is just tender, 35 minutes.
Remove the pot from the oven and let sit, covered (no peeking) for 15 minutes. Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the reserved sautéed onions. Adjust seasoning, if necessary, and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Serve warm.
TUMBLE-JUMBLE STRAWBERRY TART
This is from Dorie Greenspan at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Dorie wrote, “I first had a strawberry tart like this one more than 10 years ago at the Paris cafe La Palette, and I’ve been making my own version of it ever since. It’s simply a crust slicked with some jam and then topped with an abundance of berries; whipped cream or crème fraîche is optional. The recipe is straightforward, but the construction is genius. You bake the crust, which is both crisp and tender, to a beautiful golden color and then set it aside. (Use the scraps of dough to make cookies; sprinkle with sugar before baking.) When you’re ready for dessert, you cut and finish only as many servings as you need, ensuring that the crust will always have great texture and the berries will always be fresh and bright. You could use a store-bought crust, but there are so few components in this dessert, it’s good to make each one count.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and cooling.
This was beautifully featured on “My Summer Jam: An Update of the French Fruit Tart”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020343-tumble-jumble-strawberry-tart.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup/40 grams confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)
9 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus additional for greasing
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Topping:
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled
Granulated sugar, as needed (optional)
Whipped cream or crème fraîche, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Put the flour, both sugars, salt and lemon zest, if you’re using it, in the bowl of a food processor; pulse to blend. Scatter the butter on top; pulse the butter into the dry ingredients until you’ve got a bowlful of curds. At first the dough will look like cornmeal, but it will change as you go, so work in long pulses — you might need as many as 20 — and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl often.
Whisk the yolk and vanilla together, and add in three additions, pulsing after each. Pulse just until the dough starts to come away from the sides of the bowl; it should form moist clumps and hold together when pinched. Turn it out onto a counter, knead it into a compact ball and flatten it into a disk between two sheets of parchment or wax paper.
Roll the dough into an 11-inch circle. If it’s cold enough, fit it into a 9- to 9½-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, prick the bottom with a fork and trim the top even with the pan’s rim; if it’s not cold, chill it until it’s workable. Refrigerate the crust in the pan for at least 1 hour (or cover and freeze up to 2 months; bake straight from the freezer).
Heat oven to 400. Place the dough in its pan on a baking sheet, cover with a piece of buttered foil or parchment and fill with rice.
Bake for 20 minutes, then carefully remove the foil or paper and rice. Bake, uncovered, until the crust is golden, another 8-10 minutes. Let cool, at least 30 minutes.
If you’re serving 6, cover the bottom of the crust with a layer of jam, and then cut the tart into wedges. (Otherwise, cut the number of wedges you need, and spread each portion with jam.) Halve or quarter as many berries as you’d like — be generous — and if you want, toss with a little granulated sugar. Place each wedge of crust on a plate, and spoon over berries, letting them tumble where they might. If you’d like, top each serving with whipped cream, or pass the cream at the table.
NOODLE KUGEL
Yield: 12 Servings
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml
Print Version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/684.shtml
Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked broad egg noodles
3 large eggs, beaten, or 3/4 cup egg substitute
3/4 cup low-fat small-curd cottage cheese
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large tart apple, peeled, cored, and diced in 1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup raisins, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes and drained
1/4 cup margarine, melted
Directions
Cook the noodles according to the package directions, omitting salt; drain well. There should be 4 cups of cooked noodles.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8-inch-square pan with non-stick pan spray.
Combine the eggs, cottage cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla in a large bowl. Stir in the noodles, apple, and raisins. Pour into the prepared dish.
Drizzle the margarine evenly over the top of the casserole. Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 55 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cut the kugel into 12 equal pieces (about 2 x 2 inches). Serve hot or chilled.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (one 2 x 2-1/2-inch square): Calories: 156, Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 71 mg, Sodium: 122 mg, Carbohydrate: 20 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 6 g, Protein: 6 g; Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Fat
KUNG PAO TOFU [VEGAN]
This recipe is from One Green Planet. The recipe begins, "This Kung Pao Tofu doesn’t require a lot of time or many perishable ingredients - making it perfect for a “don’t feel like cooking and don’t have a lot of groceries” type meal. Also, if you don’t care for spicy foods - this recipe is for you! If you do care for spicy, add more cayenne and red chili flavors to increase the heat."
Serves 3-4.
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/kung-pao-tofu-vegan-2/.
Ingredients
For the Tofu:
1 package organic firm or extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more for more heat
4 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder
1 tablespoon high heat oil (i.e. avocado oil)
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon fresh, minced ginger root
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pinch red chili flakes, or more for more heat
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons coconut aminos (or, soy sauce/tamari)
1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder
1/4 cup vegetable broth
For the Dish:
4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
1-1/2 cups dry brown rice (or, 3 cups cooked brown rice)
Directions
For the Tofu:
Begin by preparing the tofu. Open the tofu package, drain, and press the tofu for 10-15 minutes.
While the tofu is being pressed, if you need to make your rice, start it.
Cut and wash the broccoli (if fresh). Prepare a large pot to steam the broccoli for about 5 minutes. Here is a quick video on how to steam broccoli. Once done, set aside.
When the tofu is pressed, cut into uniform cubes. Add to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon maple syrup and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Lightly toss. Next, add 4 tablespoons cornstarch and toss together. Use a rubber scraper to fold the tofu to help prevent it from crumbling.
Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu into as even of a layer across the pan as possible. Allow the tofu to brown for about 4-5 minutes and flip tofu, aiming to brown all sides (if possible).
While the tofu is cooking, make the sauce.
For the Sauce:
In a small bowl, add the ginger, garlic, red chili flakes, rice vinegar, sesame oil, coconut aminos, hoisin sauce, onion powder, sugar, cornstarch, and 1/4 cup vegetable broth/stock (water would do fine as well). Stir until well combined.
To Assemble:
When the tofu is browned to your liking, add the sauce. Mix and gently coat the tofu with the sauce and cook for 3-4 minutes. The sauce should thicken a little as it heats.
Feel free to add the cooked broccoli to the pan to add some sauce to the broccoli, or simply keep it on the side.
Serve tofu and broccoli over cooked brown rice.
Enjoy!
NO-KNEAD BRAN BREAD
Years ago, Fr. Dominic Garramone (AKA the Bread Monk had a show on PBS. I'm sure I'm not the only person who got hooked on his show. Unfortunately, it went off the air years ago. But his cook books are still in circulation, and you can always go to his website (above).
This was one of the recipes on his show. Yield: 2 loaves
Ingredients
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup instant non-fat dry milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 envelopes FLEISCHMANN'S RapidRise Yeast
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups water
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 cups all-bran or bran buds cereal*
1 egg, large
1 tablespoon melted butter (optional)
Directions
In large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, dry milk, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt. Heat water and butter until very warm (120 to 130F). Stir in all-bran cereal; let stand about 2 minutes or until cereal is softened. Stir into dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add egg and 1/2 cup flour. Beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Turn into 2 (8-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch) greased loaf pans. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Bake at 375F for 25 minutes or until done. Remove from pans. Brush tops of loaves with melted butter, if desired. Cool on wire racks.
Note:
* 4 cups 40% bran flakes may be substituted
MOROCCAN CHICKPEA AND SQUASH STEW
This is from Yasmin Khan at TheKitchn. The recipe begins, "In Morocco, evening Iftar meals during Ramadan often begin with a big bowl of harira — a hearty lentil, tomato, and chickpea soup. This recipe takes inspiration from that ever-popular dish and adds in butternut squash, dried apricots, and fragrant strands of saffron, which lend depth and sweetness, while also making it a more substantial stew. However you want to label it, it’s a nourishing bowl of comfort food that will fill your whole kitchen with the heady scents of warming spices such as cinnamon, smoked paprika, and ginger.
"The stew is also dairy-free and vegetarian! You can serve it with warm fresh bread on the side, like toasted buttered sourdough or Arabic khubz flatbreads drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. This is a great dish to make ahead, as the flavors taste even better after the stew has rested for a few hours or overnight."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes; Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/moroccan-chickpea-and-squash-stew-recipe-23515241.
Ingredients
2 medium yellow onions
2 tablespoons sunflower or vegetable oil
2 medium stalks celery
4 cloves garlic
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1-1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup dried split red lentils
1/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron strands
1 pinch granulated sugar
12 ounces butternut squash
8 dried apricots
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas
1 (15-ounce) can or 1/2 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes
2-1/2 to 3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 cup uncooked white rice
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 medium bunch fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon juice
Aleppo pepper or other red pepper flakes, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Finely dice 2 medium yellow onions (2 1/2 cups). Heat 2 tablespoons sunflower oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until softened and browned, stirring occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, finely dice 2 medium celery stalks (1/2 cup) and finely chop 4 garlic cloves. Fill a kettle or medium saucepan with at least 3 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil, then take off the heat.
Add the celery, garlic, 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1-1/2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger to the pan. Stir well and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.
Add 3 cups of the boiled water and 3/4 cup dried split red lentils, and stir to combine. Cover and cook until softened and all the liquid is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients.
Grind 1/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron strands in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, or crumble finely with your fingers. Transfer to a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons of the boiled water and 1 pinch granulated sugar, and smash together with the back of a spoon; set aside to steep. Peel 12 ounces butternut squash and cut into 3/4-inch pieces (2-1/2 cups). Halve 8 dried apricots. Drain and rinse 1 (about 15-ounce) can chickpeas.
Add the saffron liquid, squash, chickpeas, apricots, 2-1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth, 1 (15-ounce) can tomatoes and their juices, 1/4 cup uncooked white rice, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to the pan. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
Reduce the heat to medium low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the squash is completely soft and beginning to melt into the stew, 25 to 30 minutes. Add more broth 1/4 cup at a time as needed if the stew is dry. Meanwhile, finely chop 1/4 medium bunch fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems until you have about 1/4 cup.
Reserve 1 tablespoon of the cilantro for garnish. Add the remaining cilantro and 3 tablespoons olive oil to the stew and stir to combine. Taste and season as needed with more kosher salt, black pepper, or lemon juice. Serve garnished with the reserved cilantro and Aleppo pepper or other red pepper flakes if desired.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 6 months.
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Drinks
When the weather is hot, having plenty of cool Drinks is a necessity. That said, here are six yummy drinks to throw into rotation, including Watermelon Punch and Apple Cider Floats. Enjoy!
WATERMELON GINGER BEER
This is from Nicole Taylor in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. The recipe begins, "The recipe for this batch drink, from Nicole Taylor’s book, “Watermelon and Red Birds,” includes the juice from a red-fleshed watermelon, ideally from one with seeds. (They can be hard to find; seedless melons work too.) If you own a juicer, proceed with the seeds and all and don’t worry about straining. Watermelon is over 90 percent water and is a nutrient-dense food. This drink can serve as an everyday accompaniment at breakfast, lunch, dinner or with a snack."
Total Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 drinks
This was featured in "Building a Juneteenth Menu for the 21st Century, One Recipe at a Time," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023219-watermelon-ginger-beer.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fresh fennel fronds (optional)
Filtered water
6 cups (1-inch) cubed red watermelon (from about 3 pounds watermelon)
2 cups ginger beer, homemade or store-bought (see Tip)
Preparation
Divide the fennel fronds, if using, between two ice cube trays. Fill with filtered water and freeze until solid, 4 to 8 hours.
Meanwhile, place the watermelon in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Scrape the sides of the blender or food processor using a rubber spatula and blend again.
Place a fine metal sieve over a large bowl and strain the pureed watermelon through the sieve. (This should yield 2 to 3 cups of juice). Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve; it will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To serve, fill four highball glasses or rocks glasses with the ice cubes. Stir the watermelon juice and add 1/2 cup to each glass. Top off with 1/2 cup ginger beer.
Tip
Unlike ginger ale, ginger beer is fermented. It’s nonalcoholic and has a spicy kick and tends to have more flavor than the soft drink. If buying ginger beer from the store, try finding the options from Barritt’s or Bruce Cost.
HOMEMADE GINGER TEA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Wondering how to make a simple and easy homemade ginger tea? Why go out and buy stale old tea bags when you can easily make your own fresh and homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that's great for digestion.
”Here's how to make the tastiest and most soothing and healing ginger tea you've ever had! There's really no comparison.
“This healing ginger tea recipe actually comes from the raw food and natural health retreat center I used to work at in Thailand, where we served it to our guests bright and early every single morning, seven days a week. The secret to the perfect healing ginger tea? Lots and lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor, and the lime, which compliments the ginger perfectly, and plenty of natural agave nectar or honey for a refined sugar-free sweetener (or you might prefer it unsweetened, depending on your health goals - It's still delicious, I promise!). Try this simple ginger tea for an immune system boost or for an invigorating way to start the morning.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 2 servings of ginger tea
To check this out online, click here.
Ingredients
About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)
1-1/2 to 2 cups water
1 to 2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
Optional: 1/2 lime (juiced, or to taste)
Directions
First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. You really can't over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.
The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger-more than you think you will need-and also to add a bit of lime juice and honey to your ginger tea. You will also probably want to add more honey than you think you will need as well.
Enjoy your hot ginger tea! A homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach aches and in aiding digestion.
HIBISCUS PUNCH
This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this wonderful (and colorful) drink, David wrote, "This bright beverage, inspired by Caribbean sorrel drink and Mexican agua de Jamaica, is made by steeping hibiscus flowers to extract flavor — and color. It is then lightly sweetened and served chilled, like iced tea. Add cinnamon, ginger and allspice if you wish. It makes a great ruby-colored cocktail mixer as well."
Time: 40 minutes, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "Six Easy Recipes for the Ultimate Picnic Spread", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023213-hibiscus-punch.
Ingredients
2 cups dried hibiscus (see Tip)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
1 (2-inch) chunk of ginger, peeled and chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon allspice berries (optional)
1/2 cup agave syrup or granulated sugar, or to taste
Ice
Lime wedges, for serving
Preparation
Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium stainless-steel pot.
Add hibiscus flowers, and cinnamon, ginger and allspice berries, if using. Turn off heat and steep for at least 30 minutes.
Strain mixture into a pitcher or bowl and cool to room temperature. Sweeten to taste. Serve chilled over ice, with lime wedges.
Tip
You can use whole hibiscus flowers or pieces, but if using pieces, steep for less time, tasting as you go, until it is your desired strength. If you wish, you can also dilute the drink with water to taste.
LIZARD LOUNGE TEA
My oldest son spent several summers traveling the country, both singly and with friends. Several times, he wound up at the Rainbow Gathering, where he hooked up with a larger group of friends. Most of them had grown up in hot areas of the country, so they nicknamed themselves lizards; their area of the camp site was the lizard lounge. They would cook up their version of iced tea, which they would barter for other commodities. They were frequently asked what their secret ingredient was.
This is a scaled down version. I found that cranberry or cranberry-apple herb tea works very nicely with this, but any herbal tea can be used.
Ingredients
1/2 gallon apple cider
4 – 5 herbal tea bags
Directions
Place cider in a large pan or teakettle and bring to a boil. Place herbal tea bags into a large container and pour the boiled cider over the tea bags. Let steep for 15-30 minutes and cool. Very good.
APPLE CIDER FLOATS
This is from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. The recipe begins, “You'll want to float away with these apple cider floats!”
Total Time: 10 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Servings: 2
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 c. caramel sauce
1/2 c. cinnamon-sugar
2 c. apple cider, warmed
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
cinnamon sticks
Whipped cream, for serving
Apple slices
Directions
Pour caramel in a small dish. Dip the top of each mug in the caramel to rim the cup. Then dip the caramel rim in cinnamon-sugar.
Ladle apple cider into each mug then add a scoop of ice cream to each. Top with whipped cream and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick.
Drizzle more caramel over the whipped cream and serve immediately.
WATERMELON PUNCH
Years ago, I was a bride’s maid at a friend’s wedding. A friend of the couple held the reception dinner; this punch was served with the hors d’oeuvres. I’ve added ginger ale to the recipe; it’s good either way.
This recipe is from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking, soon to be updated.)
Ingredients
1 watermelon
1 T honey
6 oz. can orange juice, undiluted
2 liter bottle ginger ale
Directions
Put watermelon (excluding rind and seeds) in a blender—and blend. Pour juice through a strainer into a large bowl. Add orange juice and honey, stir, and add ice. Add ginger ale just before serving.
WATERMELON GINGER BEER
This is from Nicole Taylor in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. The recipe begins, "The recipe for this batch drink, from Nicole Taylor’s book, “Watermelon and Red Birds,” includes the juice from a red-fleshed watermelon, ideally from one with seeds. (They can be hard to find; seedless melons work too.) If you own a juicer, proceed with the seeds and all and don’t worry about straining. Watermelon is over 90 percent water and is a nutrient-dense food. This drink can serve as an everyday accompaniment at breakfast, lunch, dinner or with a snack."
Total Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 drinks
This was featured in "Building a Juneteenth Menu for the 21st Century, One Recipe at a Time," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023219-watermelon-ginger-beer.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fresh fennel fronds (optional)
Filtered water
6 cups (1-inch) cubed red watermelon (from about 3 pounds watermelon)
2 cups ginger beer, homemade or store-bought (see Tip)
Preparation
Divide the fennel fronds, if using, between two ice cube trays. Fill with filtered water and freeze until solid, 4 to 8 hours.
Meanwhile, place the watermelon in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Scrape the sides of the blender or food processor using a rubber spatula and blend again.
Place a fine metal sieve over a large bowl and strain the pureed watermelon through the sieve. (This should yield 2 to 3 cups of juice). Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve; it will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To serve, fill four highball glasses or rocks glasses with the ice cubes. Stir the watermelon juice and add 1/2 cup to each glass. Top off with 1/2 cup ginger beer.
Tip
Unlike ginger ale, ginger beer is fermented. It’s nonalcoholic and has a spicy kick and tends to have more flavor than the soft drink. If buying ginger beer from the store, try finding the options from Barritt’s or Bruce Cost.
HOMEMADE GINGER TEA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Wondering how to make a simple and easy homemade ginger tea? Why go out and buy stale old tea bags when you can easily make your own fresh and homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that's great for digestion.
”Here's how to make the tastiest and most soothing and healing ginger tea you've ever had! There's really no comparison.
“This healing ginger tea recipe actually comes from the raw food and natural health retreat center I used to work at in Thailand, where we served it to our guests bright and early every single morning, seven days a week. The secret to the perfect healing ginger tea? Lots and lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor, and the lime, which compliments the ginger perfectly, and plenty of natural agave nectar or honey for a refined sugar-free sweetener (or you might prefer it unsweetened, depending on your health goals - It's still delicious, I promise!). Try this simple ginger tea for an immune system boost or for an invigorating way to start the morning.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 2 servings of ginger tea
To check this out online, click here.
Ingredients
About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)
1-1/2 to 2 cups water
1 to 2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
Optional: 1/2 lime (juiced, or to taste)
Directions
First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. You really can't over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.
The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger-more than you think you will need-and also to add a bit of lime juice and honey to your ginger tea. You will also probably want to add more honey than you think you will need as well.
Enjoy your hot ginger tea! A homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach aches and in aiding digestion.
HIBISCUS PUNCH
This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this wonderful (and colorful) drink, David wrote, "This bright beverage, inspired by Caribbean sorrel drink and Mexican agua de Jamaica, is made by steeping hibiscus flowers to extract flavor — and color. It is then lightly sweetened and served chilled, like iced tea. Add cinnamon, ginger and allspice if you wish. It makes a great ruby-colored cocktail mixer as well."
Time: 40 minutes, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "Six Easy Recipes for the Ultimate Picnic Spread", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023213-hibiscus-punch.
Ingredients
2 cups dried hibiscus (see Tip)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
1 (2-inch) chunk of ginger, peeled and chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon allspice berries (optional)
1/2 cup agave syrup or granulated sugar, or to taste
Ice
Lime wedges, for serving
Preparation
Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium stainless-steel pot.
Add hibiscus flowers, and cinnamon, ginger and allspice berries, if using. Turn off heat and steep for at least 30 minutes.
Strain mixture into a pitcher or bowl and cool to room temperature. Sweeten to taste. Serve chilled over ice, with lime wedges.
Tip
You can use whole hibiscus flowers or pieces, but if using pieces, steep for less time, tasting as you go, until it is your desired strength. If you wish, you can also dilute the drink with water to taste.
LIZARD LOUNGE TEA
My oldest son spent several summers traveling the country, both singly and with friends. Several times, he wound up at the Rainbow Gathering, where he hooked up with a larger group of friends. Most of them had grown up in hot areas of the country, so they nicknamed themselves lizards; their area of the camp site was the lizard lounge. They would cook up their version of iced tea, which they would barter for other commodities. They were frequently asked what their secret ingredient was.
This is a scaled down version. I found that cranberry or cranberry-apple herb tea works very nicely with this, but any herbal tea can be used.
Ingredients
1/2 gallon apple cider
4 – 5 herbal tea bags
Directions
Place cider in a large pan or teakettle and bring to a boil. Place herbal tea bags into a large container and pour the boiled cider over the tea bags. Let steep for 15-30 minutes and cool. Very good.
APPLE CIDER FLOATS
This is from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. The recipe begins, “You'll want to float away with these apple cider floats!”
Total Time: 10 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Servings: 2
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 c. caramel sauce
1/2 c. cinnamon-sugar
2 c. apple cider, warmed
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
cinnamon sticks
Whipped cream, for serving
Apple slices
Directions
Pour caramel in a small dish. Dip the top of each mug in the caramel to rim the cup. Then dip the caramel rim in cinnamon-sugar.
Ladle apple cider into each mug then add a scoop of ice cream to each. Top with whipped cream and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick.
Drizzle more caramel over the whipped cream and serve immediately.
WATERMELON PUNCH
Years ago, I was a bride’s maid at a friend’s wedding. A friend of the couple held the reception dinner; this punch was served with the hors d’oeuvres. I’ve added ginger ale to the recipe; it’s good either way.
This recipe is from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking, soon to be updated.)
Ingredients
1 watermelon
1 T honey
6 oz. can orange juice, undiluted
2 liter bottle ginger ale
Directions
Put watermelon (excluding rind and seeds) in a blender—and blend. Pour juice through a strainer into a large bowl. Add orange juice and honey, stir, and add ice. Add ginger ale just before serving.
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. (But you knew that, right?) Today's offerings include Engine 2 Diet Vegetarian Lasagna and Chocolate Guinness Cake. Enjoy!
MIXED ROASTED MUSHROOMS OVER CREAMY BUTTERNUT PUREE
This comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 44. It begins, “Roasted mushrooms and butternut squash need little seasoning to be absolutely delicious. To keep the garlic from burning, be sure it’s in the bottom of the butternut squash cavities.” Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Butternut Purée
1 small butternut squash, halved and seeded
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
Roasted Mushrooms
2 1/4 cups shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced 1/2-inch thick
2 cups halved cremini mushrooms
2 cups king trumpet mushrooms, sliced 1/2-inch thick lengthwise
2 cups oyster mushrooms, torn into same-size pieces
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 tsp. chopped fresh sage
Directions
To make Butternut Purée:Preheat oven to 450°F. Place squash halves on baking sheet cut side up. Brush with 1 tsp. oil, and place 1 tsp. minced garlic in cavity of each half. Roast 25 to 30 minutes, or until squash is soft when pressed.
Scoop squash out of skin into bowl, and mash with fork. Mash in remaining 1 Tbs. oil and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Keep warm.
To make Roasted Mushrooms: Position one oven rack in top one-third of oven; position second rack in bottom third of oven. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray.
Place shiitake and cremini mushrooms on one baking sheet; place trumpet and oyster mushrooms on second baking sheet. Drizzle each baking sheet with 1 1/2 Tbs. oil, and toss to coat mushrooms.
Roast mushrooms 15 minutes. Sprinkle each batch of mushrooms with 1 tsp. sage, and switch baking sheets from top to bottom. Continue roasting 5 minutes more, then remove baking sheet with shiitake and cremini mushrooms from oven. Roast trumpet and oyster mushrooms 5 minutes more.
To serve: divide Butternut Purée among four serving plates, and top with Roasted Mushrooms.
nutritional information Per Serving (1/2 cup puree and 1/2 cup mushrooms): Calories: 210; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 16 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 22 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
nutritional information Per 3/4-cup serving: Calories: 174; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 62 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 17 g; Gluten-Free
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
ROOT VEGETABLE MEDLEY WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS
This also comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46, and begins, “Hearty vegetables are roasted, and then coated in a sweet and spicy glaze.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 small or 1 large parsnip, cut into 1-inch pieces (12 oz.)
3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces (8 oz.)
3 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (8 oz.)
2 Tbs. honey
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 450°F, and position oven rack in center. Coat two large baking sheets with cooking spray.
Toss parsnips and carrots with 2 tsp. oil, and arrange on one prepared baking sheet. Toss Brussels sprouts with remaining 1 tsp. oil, and arrange on second baking sheet. Roast 10 to 12 minutes, stirring vegetables once or twice, then remove Brussels sprouts from oven. Roast parsnips and carrots 8 to 10 minutes more.
Meanwhile, whisk together honey, vinegar, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) in small bowl.
Transfer roasted vegetables to serving dish, toss with honey mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 3/4-cup serving: Calories: 174; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 62 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 17 g; Gluten-Free
STIR-FRIED SPICY ASPARAGUS
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “Holding out for regional produce may seem absurdly romantic, or a little stubborn, but there’s no denying the thrill when, after months of apples, potatoes and sturdy greens, suddenly asparagus appears in full force at the market. Finally, spring has arrived.” Time: About 15 minutes; makes 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds pencil-thin asparagus (or substitute small or medium asparagus, split lengthwise)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 serrano or other fresh hot chile, finely chopped
A large handful of basil, mint and cilantro leaves
Preparation
Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of each asparagus spear. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch lengths.
In a wok or cast-iron skillet, heat the oil until nearly smoking. Add the asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and stir well, making sure the asparagus is coated and glistening with oil. Continue to stir-fry over high heat for about 1 minute, until the asparagus looks bright green and barely cooked. Add the garlic, ginger and chile and stir-fry for 30 seconds more.
Transfer to a serving platter and scatter leaves on top. Serve immediately.
ENGINE 2 DIET VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
This was on a long-forgotten email list. But it comes originally from a cookbook titled The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds. Personally, I'm considering picking up a copy for myself. Check it out!
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
1 small head of garlic, all cloves chopped or pressed
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 head broccoli, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 can corn, rinsed and drained
1 package Silken Lite tofu
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon rosemary
2 jars pasta sauce
2 boxes whole grain lasagna noodles
16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
6 roma tomatoes, sliced thin
1 cup raw cashews, ground
Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté the onion and garlic on high heat for 3 minutes in a wok or nonstick pan. Add the mushrooms and cook until the onions are limp and the mushrooms give up their liquid. Remove them to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve the mushroom liquid in the pan. Sauté the broccoli and carrots for 5 minutes and add to the mushroom bowl. Sauté the peppers and corn until just beginning to soften. Add them to the vegetable bowl.
Drain the silken tofu by wrapping in paper towels. Break it up directly in the towel and mix into the vegetable bowl. Add spices to the vegetable bowl and combine.
To Assemble:
Cover the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole with a layer of sauce. Add a layer of noodles. Cover the noodles with sauce. This way the noodles cook in the oven, saving time and energy. Spread the vegetable mixture over the sauced noodles. Cover with a layer of noodles and another dressing of sauce. Add the spinach to the second layer of sauced noodles. Cover the spinach with the mashed sweet potatoes. Add another layer of sauce, the final layer of noodles, and a last topping of sauce. Cover the lasagna with thinly sliced roma tomatoes.
Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the cashews, and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
Makes 10 - 12 servings of sweet potato lasagna.
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Topping:
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.
For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.
Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.
MIXED ROASTED MUSHROOMS OVER CREAMY BUTTERNUT PUREE
This comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 44. It begins, “Roasted mushrooms and butternut squash need little seasoning to be absolutely delicious. To keep the garlic from burning, be sure it’s in the bottom of the butternut squash cavities.” Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Butternut Purée
1 small butternut squash, halved and seeded
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
Roasted Mushrooms
2 1/4 cups shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced 1/2-inch thick
2 cups halved cremini mushrooms
2 cups king trumpet mushrooms, sliced 1/2-inch thick lengthwise
2 cups oyster mushrooms, torn into same-size pieces
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 tsp. chopped fresh sage
Directions
To make Butternut Purée:Preheat oven to 450°F. Place squash halves on baking sheet cut side up. Brush with 1 tsp. oil, and place 1 tsp. minced garlic in cavity of each half. Roast 25 to 30 minutes, or until squash is soft when pressed.
Scoop squash out of skin into bowl, and mash with fork. Mash in remaining 1 Tbs. oil and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Keep warm.
To make Roasted Mushrooms: Position one oven rack in top one-third of oven; position second rack in bottom third of oven. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray.
Place shiitake and cremini mushrooms on one baking sheet; place trumpet and oyster mushrooms on second baking sheet. Drizzle each baking sheet with 1 1/2 Tbs. oil, and toss to coat mushrooms.
Roast mushrooms 15 minutes. Sprinkle each batch of mushrooms with 1 tsp. sage, and switch baking sheets from top to bottom. Continue roasting 5 minutes more, then remove baking sheet with shiitake and cremini mushrooms from oven. Roast trumpet and oyster mushrooms 5 minutes more.
To serve: divide Butternut Purée among four serving plates, and top with Roasted Mushrooms.
nutritional information Per Serving (1/2 cup puree and 1/2 cup mushrooms): Calories: 210; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 16 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 22 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
nutritional information Per 3/4-cup serving: Calories: 174; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 62 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 17 g; Gluten-Free
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
ROOT VEGETABLE MEDLEY WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS
This also comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46, and begins, “Hearty vegetables are roasted, and then coated in a sweet and spicy glaze.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 small or 1 large parsnip, cut into 1-inch pieces (12 oz.)
3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces (8 oz.)
3 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (8 oz.)
2 Tbs. honey
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 450°F, and position oven rack in center. Coat two large baking sheets with cooking spray.
Toss parsnips and carrots with 2 tsp. oil, and arrange on one prepared baking sheet. Toss Brussels sprouts with remaining 1 tsp. oil, and arrange on second baking sheet. Roast 10 to 12 minutes, stirring vegetables once or twice, then remove Brussels sprouts from oven. Roast parsnips and carrots 8 to 10 minutes more.
Meanwhile, whisk together honey, vinegar, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) in small bowl.
Transfer roasted vegetables to serving dish, toss with honey mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 3/4-cup serving: Calories: 174; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 62 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 17 g; Gluten-Free
STIR-FRIED SPICY ASPARAGUS
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “Holding out for regional produce may seem absurdly romantic, or a little stubborn, but there’s no denying the thrill when, after months of apples, potatoes and sturdy greens, suddenly asparagus appears in full force at the market. Finally, spring has arrived.” Time: About 15 minutes; makes 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds pencil-thin asparagus (or substitute small or medium asparagus, split lengthwise)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 serrano or other fresh hot chile, finely chopped
A large handful of basil, mint and cilantro leaves
Preparation
Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of each asparagus spear. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch lengths.
In a wok or cast-iron skillet, heat the oil until nearly smoking. Add the asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and stir well, making sure the asparagus is coated and glistening with oil. Continue to stir-fry over high heat for about 1 minute, until the asparagus looks bright green and barely cooked. Add the garlic, ginger and chile and stir-fry for 30 seconds more.
Transfer to a serving platter and scatter leaves on top. Serve immediately.
ENGINE 2 DIET VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
This was on a long-forgotten email list. But it comes originally from a cookbook titled The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds. Personally, I'm considering picking up a copy for myself. Check it out!
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
1 small head of garlic, all cloves chopped or pressed
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 head broccoli, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 can corn, rinsed and drained
1 package Silken Lite tofu
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon rosemary
2 jars pasta sauce
2 boxes whole grain lasagna noodles
16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
6 roma tomatoes, sliced thin
1 cup raw cashews, ground
Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté the onion and garlic on high heat for 3 minutes in a wok or nonstick pan. Add the mushrooms and cook until the onions are limp and the mushrooms give up their liquid. Remove them to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve the mushroom liquid in the pan. Sauté the broccoli and carrots for 5 minutes and add to the mushroom bowl. Sauté the peppers and corn until just beginning to soften. Add them to the vegetable bowl.
Drain the silken tofu by wrapping in paper towels. Break it up directly in the towel and mix into the vegetable bowl. Add spices to the vegetable bowl and combine.
To Assemble:
Cover the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole with a layer of sauce. Add a layer of noodles. Cover the noodles with sauce. This way the noodles cook in the oven, saving time and energy. Spread the vegetable mixture over the sauced noodles. Cover with a layer of noodles and another dressing of sauce. Add the spinach to the second layer of sauced noodles. Cover the spinach with the mashed sweet potatoes. Add another layer of sauce, the final layer of noodles, and a last topping of sauce. Cover the lasagna with thinly sliced roma tomatoes.
Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the cashews, and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
Makes 10 - 12 servings of sweet potato lasagna.
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Topping:
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.
For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.
Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Soft Tacos with Mushrooms and Cabbage and Loaded Crispy Tofu Tacos. Enjoy!
WHITE BEAN AND POTATO TACOS (GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN)
A while back, I stumbled across Oh My Veggies. They have all sorts of yummy veggie recipes, including a bunch of taco links.
This taco recipe, which was among the taco links on Oh My Veggies, is from Beard & Bonnet. Beard & Bonnet’s Meg van der Kruik is “the writer, mother, photographer, designer, cook and creative spirit behind Beard & Bonnet.”
This can be viewed online at http://beardandbonnet.com/white-bean-and-potato-tacos-gluten-free-and-vegan/.
Serves 4; Prep Time: 20 min
Ingredients
2 cups cooked white beans, I used Navy beans, or 1 can of cannelini beans, washed and drained
4-5 small potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into tiny cubes (or 1 large russet potato)
1/2 cup cilantro, minced
Juice and zest of 1 lime
Olive oil for frying
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
To assemble
6-8 white corn tortillas, blistered on both sides in a cast iron skillet
pickled jalapenos & radishes
cherry tomatoes, halved; I used Sungold cherry tomatoes from my CSA
lime wedges for serving
Instructions
Pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and a large pinch of salt, toss to coat and cover with a tight fitting lid. The potatoes will take about 5-8 minutes to cook through. Be sure to periodically lift the lid, scrape the pan, and toss the potatoes to ensure that all sides are crisp and golden.
While the potatoes are cooking toss the precooked, warmed, white beans with the chopped cilantro, lime zest, and juice. Mix well to combine and set aside.
When the potatoes are finished cooking set up an assembly line at your table with the tortillas, potatoes, white beans, and toppings. Allow your family to each build there own to suit their tastes.
POTATO TACOS
Potato Tacos? Sure, why not? This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "These tasty tacos are spicy! Feel free to reduce the amount of chipotle if you prefer milder flavor." Serves 2.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 small red bell pepper, diced
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 medium potato, baked and diced
1 to 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
2 whole wheat tortillas, warmed
Instructions:
In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring often, until almost tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add chipotle, cumin and oregano and stir 30 seconds. Add potato, toss well to coat and heat through. Stir in lemon juice and cilantro and remove from heat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Divide potato mixture among tortillas and serve hot, garnished with condiments as desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 226; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 181 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 0 g
SOFT TACOS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CABBAGE
This is also from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Two nutrient-dense vegetables combine forces in this delicious filling. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins and many minerals, particularly selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and manganese – and they contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. They're used medicinally throughout Asia for their immunity-boosting properties. They also contain more protein than most other vegetables, and their meaty texture makes them a perfect choice for vegetarians. Cabbage possesses phytochemicals like sulforaphane, which protects the body against cancer-causing free radicals, and indoles, which help metabolize estrogens. It’s also an excellent source of vitamins K and C, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, folate, manganese and omega-3 fatty acids.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Tacos for the Holidays” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, cut in thick slices
1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 small head cabbage
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 to 1/2 cup Chipotle Ranchera Salsa
8 corn tortillas
Queso fresco to taste
Preparation
Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms and sear, stirring often or tossing in the pan, until they are lightly colored and beginning to sweat, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the scallions and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until tender. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and stir in the cabbage. Cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cilantro and .25 to .5 cup of the salsa (to taste).
Heat the tortillas. Top with the mushroom/cabbage mixture, sprinkle with cheese if desired, and serve.
Tip
Advance preparation: The mushroom filling will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator.
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
CRISPY THAI ROASTED CAULIFLOWER TACOS [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]
This comes from One Green Planet, and starts off, “These cauliflower tacos are an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. The crispy Thai cauliflower is mellowed by a tasty slaw and the whole taco is tied together with a delightful avocado-lime sauce. These tacos are sure to be crowd pleasers.”
This recipe is: Dairy-Free and Vegan; Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
4 cups cauliflower florets
2 teaspoon Thai seasoning (see below)
4 small, gluten-free tortillas
For the Slaw:
3 cups purple cabbage, shredded
1 carrot, shredded
3 tablespoon cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon flaked toasted coconut
2 teaspoon each extra virgin olive oil and lime juice
1 teaspoon agave
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced
For the Avocado Lime Drizzle:
1 avocado, pitted
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup water
2 limes, peeled (flesh only – take the skin and white bits off with a knife)
For the Thai Seasoning:
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried lemon zest
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
A few pinches of dried chili flakes
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a bowl, whisk together the curry paste, olive oil, and lime juice to make a thinner paste.
Toss the cauliflower in the mixture and stir it to coat.
In a small jar, combine all spices for the Thai seasoning and shake them together to blend.
Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the Thai seasoning over the cauliflower and stir it to coat.
Line a baking sheet with foil and scatter the cauliflower florets in a single layer.
Roast them for 15-20 minutes or until they are crispy.
Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the cabbage slaw in a large bowl.
Stir the olive oil, lime juice, and agave together. Then, pour it over the slaw and stir everything in.
In a blender, puree all ingredients for the avocado drizzle. Transfer it to a bottle with a squeeze top, or a sealed jar as you’ll have extra to store in the fridge.
When the cauliflower is ready, remove it from the oven.
Divide the cabbage slaw between 3-4 tortillas, then evenly distribute the roasted cauliflower. Drizzle the tacos with avocado sauce and garnish with additional cilantro and toasted coconut if desired.
LOADED CRISPY TOFU TACOS
This is from The Woks of Life, and can be viewed online at http://thewoksoflife.com/2014/07/loaded-crispy-tofu-tacos/.
Prep time: 30 mins; Cook time: 15 mins; Total time: 45 mins; Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
You'll need:
1 package firm tofu
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup fine cornmeal
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup oil
3 scallions
1 bunch cilantro
1/4 cup yogurt
warm corn tortillas
Other toppings:
shredded cheese
chopped tomato
chopped onion
sweet corn
avocado
lime wedges
Instructions
Cut the tofu into 3/4 inch cubes. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine the Sriracha and honey, and gently toss the tofu in the mixture. In another wide, shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss the tofu in this dry mixture until well-coated.
In a cast iron or non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the tofu and allow the pieces to crisp up on all sides. While that's happening, whizz up the scallions, cilantro, and yogurt in a food processor or blender. Build your tacos with tortillas, your sauce, and whatever toppings you like.
WHITE BEAN AND POTATO TACOS (GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN)
A while back, I stumbled across Oh My Veggies. They have all sorts of yummy veggie recipes, including a bunch of taco links.
This taco recipe, which was among the taco links on Oh My Veggies, is from Beard & Bonnet. Beard & Bonnet’s Meg van der Kruik is “the writer, mother, photographer, designer, cook and creative spirit behind Beard & Bonnet.”
This can be viewed online at http://beardandbonnet.com/white-bean-and-potato-tacos-gluten-free-and-vegan/.
Serves 4; Prep Time: 20 min
Ingredients
2 cups cooked white beans, I used Navy beans, or 1 can of cannelini beans, washed and drained
4-5 small potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into tiny cubes (or 1 large russet potato)
1/2 cup cilantro, minced
Juice and zest of 1 lime
Olive oil for frying
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
To assemble
6-8 white corn tortillas, blistered on both sides in a cast iron skillet
pickled jalapenos & radishes
cherry tomatoes, halved; I used Sungold cherry tomatoes from my CSA
lime wedges for serving
Instructions
Pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and a large pinch of salt, toss to coat and cover with a tight fitting lid. The potatoes will take about 5-8 minutes to cook through. Be sure to periodically lift the lid, scrape the pan, and toss the potatoes to ensure that all sides are crisp and golden.
While the potatoes are cooking toss the precooked, warmed, white beans with the chopped cilantro, lime zest, and juice. Mix well to combine and set aside.
When the potatoes are finished cooking set up an assembly line at your table with the tortillas, potatoes, white beans, and toppings. Allow your family to each build there own to suit their tastes.
POTATO TACOS
Potato Tacos? Sure, why not? This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "These tasty tacos are spicy! Feel free to reduce the amount of chipotle if you prefer milder flavor." Serves 2.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 small red bell pepper, diced
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 medium potato, baked and diced
1 to 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
2 whole wheat tortillas, warmed
Instructions:
In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring often, until almost tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add chipotle, cumin and oregano and stir 30 seconds. Add potato, toss well to coat and heat through. Stir in lemon juice and cilantro and remove from heat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Divide potato mixture among tortillas and serve hot, garnished with condiments as desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 226; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 181 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 0 g
SOFT TACOS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CABBAGE
This is also from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Two nutrient-dense vegetables combine forces in this delicious filling. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins and many minerals, particularly selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and manganese – and they contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. They're used medicinally throughout Asia for their immunity-boosting properties. They also contain more protein than most other vegetables, and their meaty texture makes them a perfect choice for vegetarians. Cabbage possesses phytochemicals like sulforaphane, which protects the body against cancer-causing free radicals, and indoles, which help metabolize estrogens. It’s also an excellent source of vitamins K and C, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, folate, manganese and omega-3 fatty acids.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Tacos for the Holidays” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, cut in thick slices
1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 small head cabbage
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 to 1/2 cup Chipotle Ranchera Salsa
8 corn tortillas
Queso fresco to taste
Preparation
Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms and sear, stirring often or tossing in the pan, until they are lightly colored and beginning to sweat, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the scallions and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until tender. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and stir in the cabbage. Cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cilantro and .25 to .5 cup of the salsa (to taste).
Heat the tortillas. Top with the mushroom/cabbage mixture, sprinkle with cheese if desired, and serve.
Tip
Advance preparation: The mushroom filling will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator.
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
CRISPY THAI ROASTED CAULIFLOWER TACOS [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]
This comes from One Green Planet, and starts off, “These cauliflower tacos are an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. The crispy Thai cauliflower is mellowed by a tasty slaw and the whole taco is tied together with a delightful avocado-lime sauce. These tacos are sure to be crowd pleasers.”
This recipe is: Dairy-Free and Vegan; Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
4 cups cauliflower florets
2 teaspoon Thai seasoning (see below)
4 small, gluten-free tortillas
For the Slaw:
3 cups purple cabbage, shredded
1 carrot, shredded
3 tablespoon cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon flaked toasted coconut
2 teaspoon each extra virgin olive oil and lime juice
1 teaspoon agave
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced
For the Avocado Lime Drizzle:
1 avocado, pitted
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup water
2 limes, peeled (flesh only – take the skin and white bits off with a knife)
For the Thai Seasoning:
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried lemon zest
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
A few pinches of dried chili flakes
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a bowl, whisk together the curry paste, olive oil, and lime juice to make a thinner paste.
Toss the cauliflower in the mixture and stir it to coat.
In a small jar, combine all spices for the Thai seasoning and shake them together to blend.
Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the Thai seasoning over the cauliflower and stir it to coat.
Line a baking sheet with foil and scatter the cauliflower florets in a single layer.
Roast them for 15-20 minutes or until they are crispy.
Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the cabbage slaw in a large bowl.
Stir the olive oil, lime juice, and agave together. Then, pour it over the slaw and stir everything in.
In a blender, puree all ingredients for the avocado drizzle. Transfer it to a bottle with a squeeze top, or a sealed jar as you’ll have extra to store in the fridge.
When the cauliflower is ready, remove it from the oven.
Divide the cabbage slaw between 3-4 tortillas, then evenly distribute the roasted cauliflower. Drizzle the tacos with avocado sauce and garnish with additional cilantro and toasted coconut if desired.
LOADED CRISPY TOFU TACOS
This is from The Woks of Life, and can be viewed online at http://thewoksoflife.com/2014/07/loaded-crispy-tofu-tacos/.
Prep time: 30 mins; Cook time: 15 mins; Total time: 45 mins; Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
You'll need:
1 package firm tofu
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup fine cornmeal
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup oil
3 scallions
1 bunch cilantro
1/4 cup yogurt
warm corn tortillas
Other toppings:
shredded cheese
chopped tomato
chopped onion
sweet corn
avocado
lime wedges
Instructions
Cut the tofu into 3/4 inch cubes. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine the Sriracha and honey, and gently toss the tofu in the mixture. In another wide, shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss the tofu in this dry mixture until well-coated.
In a cast iron or non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the tofu and allow the pieces to crisp up on all sides. While that's happening, whizz up the scallions, cilantro, and yogurt in a food processor or blender. Build your tacos with tortillas, your sauce, and whatever toppings you like.
Monday, July 29, 2024
Tofu
It's Monday, time to get the week started. The weekend seemed to fly by too quickly. (Your's too?) No problem; there's always next weekend.
In the meantime, I'm starting the week off with six yummy tofu recipes.
I'm sure there are a few people out there thinking yummy tofu recipes? You've got to be kidding. Nope, I'm serious. The thing with tofu is that it's bland and can absorb the flavors around it, which is part of what makes it a great ingredient. Whether it's something spicy, chocolatey, or any other type of recipe, tofu will blend in nicely.
To that end, check out today's recipes, including Spicy Tofu with Vegetables, the Easy Breaded Tofu Nuggets, the Chocolate Tofu Ice Cream, or any of the other recipes. Enjoy!
SILKEN TOFU WITH CRUNCHY LETTUCE AND FRIED SHALLOTS
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. (If you haven't signed up for their newsletter, I highly recommend it!)
For this recipe, Ali wrote, "Built like Japanese hiyayakko, in which cold, pudding-like tofu is heaped with toppings, this 20-minute dish is lively with contrasting textures and temperatures. Here, crunchy lettuces dressed with soy sauce, vinegar and seasoned oil are piled atop cold silken tofu, then scattered with crispy fried shallots and jalapeño. Eat the dish on its own, with rice or fish, and maybe a cold beer."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023348-silken-tofu-with-crunchy-lettuce-and-fried-shallots.
Ingredients
1 large shallot, halved and thinly sliced
1 jalapeño or other fresh hot chile, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons neutral oil (such as grapeseed or canola)
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
8 cups torn romaine or Little Gem lettuce (about 3/4 pound or 2 heads)
1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 (14- to 16-ounce) blocks silken tofu, drained and refrigerated
Preparation
In a large (12-inch) skillet, add the shallot, half the jalapeño slices and the oil. Sprinkle with salt, then set over high heat. Once sizzling, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat, then use a slotted spoon or fish spatula to transfer shallot and jalapeño slices to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave the oil in the skillet.
To the skillet, add the lettuce, remaining jalapeño, vinegar and soy sauce. Toss until the lettuce is slicked with dressing and just barely wilted. (You want to maintain most of its crunch.) Season to taste with salt.
Invert the tofu onto a large platter (or divide among four plates). Using a knife or spoon, break the tofu into large chunks. Top with the wilted lettuce and any dressing from the skillet, then sprinkle with the fried shallots and jalapeño. Eat right away.
COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”
Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.
Ingredients
14 ounces extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil
1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced
2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 cup snow peas
Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish
Brown or white rice, for serving
Preparation
Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.
Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.
TOFU-SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from PETA's website. Whether you like PETA or not, they do have good vegetarian recipes. This one makes 6 to 8 servings, and can be viewed online at https://www.peta.org/recipes/tofu-spinach-lasagne/.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. lasagna noodles
2 10-oz. packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 lb. soft tofu
1 lb. firm tofu
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup soy milk
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 tsp. minced fresh basil
2 tsp. salt
4 cups tomato sauce
Instructions
Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Squeeze the spinach as dry as possible and set aside.
Place the tofu, sugar, soy milk, garlic powder, lemon juice, basil, and salt in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Stir in the spinach.
Cover the bottom of a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce, then a layer of noodles (use about one-third of the noodles). Follow with half of the tofu filling. Continue in the same order, using half of the remaining tomato sauce and noodles and all of the remaining tofu filling. End with the remaining noodles, covered by the remaining tomato sauce. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
CHOCOLATE TOFU ICE CREAM
I had to include this recipe because, well, ice cream! The recipe is from the August 2000 issue of Vegetarian Times, and starts off, “You’d never guess that this rich, dence fudgy ice cream contains considerably less fat that the classic version.” Makes 5 cups.
Ingredients
1 lb. soft tofu, drained
1 cup sugar
1 cup plain soy milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Directions
In blender, puree all ingredients in 2 equal batches until very smooth.
Pour mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve right away or transfer to airtight container and freeze up to 3 days.
EASY BREADED TOFU NUGGETS
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. For this recipe, Jolinda wrote, “Fool your kids with a meat-free tofu chicken nugget dinner, reminiscent of the favorite finger food they love to dip in ketchup, barbecue sauce, or ranch dressing.
“In this recipe, extra-firm tofu is coated with a seasoned panko breadcrumb mixture. Then, just like chicken, it's baked or fried to a crispy, addicting perfection.
“If you're squeamish about cooking with tofu, try this nugget recipe before you shun it, as the flavors mimic the taste of real chicken. Just make sure to follow the directions carefully, taking care to press the tofu before cooking for better consistency and taste. Then, decide on a cooking medium—for all-out flavor, go fried or for a low-fat preparation, go baked. Whatever way you choose, tofu (not) chicken nuggets make a perfect snack or dinner for picky kids and vegan eaters alike.
“Like most tofu recipes, this one will taste best if you press the tofu first. This allows the tofu to expel additional moisture so that it can absorb the seasonings for better flavor. It also helps the tofu retain its shape during the cooking process.”
Total: 70 mins; Prep: 45 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 block tofu (firm or extra-firm, well pressed)
1/3 cup soy milk (or another non-dairy milk substitute)
2 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley (or Italian seasoning)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons high-heat vegetable oil (or coconut oil)
Directions
Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, these vegan nuggets are broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and baking.
Press the Tofu
Gather the ingredients.
Remove the tofu from its package.
Pat the block of tofu dry and place it in between two layers of paper towels.
Place a small cutting board (or flat-surfaced item) and a weight — like a pot or a brick — on top of the tofu.
Let the tofu sit for 30 minutes, replacing the paper towels when they become saturated.
Prep the Tofu
Once your tofu is pressed, slice it into 1-inch cubes or nuggets (about the size of a frozen chicken nugget).
In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the soy milk, mustard, nutritional yeast, and spices until smooth.
Place the panko breadcrumbs in a separate bowl.
Pan-Fry the Tofu
Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.
Take one piece of tofu and dip it in the liquid mixture. Then carefully dip it in the breadcrumbs until well coated.
Add it to the pan and repeat the process.
Fry the pieces of tofu, turning them often, until golden brown on all sides.
Serve and enjoy!
Bake the Tofu
For a low-fat alternative cooking method, bake your tofu nuggets on a prepared baking sheet.
Preheat your oven to 350 F and then bake the tofu for 25 minutes, turning once, until golden brown.
Serve your vegetarian tofu nuggets with ketchup, barbecue sauce, or Sriracha hot sauce and enjoy.
SPICY TOFU WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Taste For Life. Prep Time: 25 minutes; Makes 4 servings. Recipe Source: Complete Book of Thai Cooking, by Linda Stephen
To view this online, go to https://tasteforlife.com/healthy-recipes/veggie/spicy-tofu-with-vegetables.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp vegetable oil, divided
12 oz firm tofu, patted dry, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
3 shallots, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 carrot, cut in matchstick pieces
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut in thin strips
1 C sliced asparagus or green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 1/2 tsp fresh red chilies, chopped
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add tofu and stir-fry for 4 minutes, turning carefully, until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
Add remaining oil to wok. Add shallots and garlic. Stir-fry for 1 minute.
Add carrot, red pepper, and asparagus or green beans. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
Add soy sauce, lime juice, chilies, sugar, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Return tofu to wok. Cook for 1 minute, or until combined and heated through.
In the meantime, I'm starting the week off with six yummy tofu recipes.
I'm sure there are a few people out there thinking yummy tofu recipes? You've got to be kidding. Nope, I'm serious. The thing with tofu is that it's bland and can absorb the flavors around it, which is part of what makes it a great ingredient. Whether it's something spicy, chocolatey, or any other type of recipe, tofu will blend in nicely.
To that end, check out today's recipes, including Spicy Tofu with Vegetables, the Easy Breaded Tofu Nuggets, the Chocolate Tofu Ice Cream, or any of the other recipes. Enjoy!
SILKEN TOFU WITH CRUNCHY LETTUCE AND FRIED SHALLOTS
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. (If you haven't signed up for their newsletter, I highly recommend it!)
For this recipe, Ali wrote, "Built like Japanese hiyayakko, in which cold, pudding-like tofu is heaped with toppings, this 20-minute dish is lively with contrasting textures and temperatures. Here, crunchy lettuces dressed with soy sauce, vinegar and seasoned oil are piled atop cold silken tofu, then scattered with crispy fried shallots and jalapeño. Eat the dish on its own, with rice or fish, and maybe a cold beer."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023348-silken-tofu-with-crunchy-lettuce-and-fried-shallots.
Ingredients
1 large shallot, halved and thinly sliced
1 jalapeño or other fresh hot chile, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons neutral oil (such as grapeseed or canola)
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
8 cups torn romaine or Little Gem lettuce (about 3/4 pound or 2 heads)
1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 (14- to 16-ounce) blocks silken tofu, drained and refrigerated
Preparation
In a large (12-inch) skillet, add the shallot, half the jalapeño slices and the oil. Sprinkle with salt, then set over high heat. Once sizzling, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat, then use a slotted spoon or fish spatula to transfer shallot and jalapeño slices to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave the oil in the skillet.
To the skillet, add the lettuce, remaining jalapeño, vinegar and soy sauce. Toss until the lettuce is slicked with dressing and just barely wilted. (You want to maintain most of its crunch.) Season to taste with salt.
Invert the tofu onto a large platter (or divide among four plates). Using a knife or spoon, break the tofu into large chunks. Top with the wilted lettuce and any dressing from the skillet, then sprinkle with the fried shallots and jalapeño. Eat right away.
COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”
Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.
Ingredients
14 ounces extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil
1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced
2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 cup snow peas
Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish
Brown or white rice, for serving
Preparation
Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.
Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.
TOFU-SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from PETA's website. Whether you like PETA or not, they do have good vegetarian recipes. This one makes 6 to 8 servings, and can be viewed online at https://www.peta.org/recipes/tofu-spinach-lasagne/.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. lasagna noodles
2 10-oz. packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 lb. soft tofu
1 lb. firm tofu
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup soy milk
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 tsp. minced fresh basil
2 tsp. salt
4 cups tomato sauce
Instructions
Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Squeeze the spinach as dry as possible and set aside.
Place the tofu, sugar, soy milk, garlic powder, lemon juice, basil, and salt in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Stir in the spinach.
Cover the bottom of a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce, then a layer of noodles (use about one-third of the noodles). Follow with half of the tofu filling. Continue in the same order, using half of the remaining tomato sauce and noodles and all of the remaining tofu filling. End with the remaining noodles, covered by the remaining tomato sauce. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
CHOCOLATE TOFU ICE CREAM
I had to include this recipe because, well, ice cream! The recipe is from the August 2000 issue of Vegetarian Times, and starts off, “You’d never guess that this rich, dence fudgy ice cream contains considerably less fat that the classic version.” Makes 5 cups.
Ingredients
1 lb. soft tofu, drained
1 cup sugar
1 cup plain soy milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Directions
In blender, puree all ingredients in 2 equal batches until very smooth.
Pour mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve right away or transfer to airtight container and freeze up to 3 days.
EASY BREADED TOFU NUGGETS
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. For this recipe, Jolinda wrote, “Fool your kids with a meat-free tofu chicken nugget dinner, reminiscent of the favorite finger food they love to dip in ketchup, barbecue sauce, or ranch dressing.
“In this recipe, extra-firm tofu is coated with a seasoned panko breadcrumb mixture. Then, just like chicken, it's baked or fried to a crispy, addicting perfection.
“If you're squeamish about cooking with tofu, try this nugget recipe before you shun it, as the flavors mimic the taste of real chicken. Just make sure to follow the directions carefully, taking care to press the tofu before cooking for better consistency and taste. Then, decide on a cooking medium—for all-out flavor, go fried or for a low-fat preparation, go baked. Whatever way you choose, tofu (not) chicken nuggets make a perfect snack or dinner for picky kids and vegan eaters alike.
“Like most tofu recipes, this one will taste best if you press the tofu first. This allows the tofu to expel additional moisture so that it can absorb the seasonings for better flavor. It also helps the tofu retain its shape during the cooking process.”
Total: 70 mins; Prep: 45 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 block tofu (firm or extra-firm, well pressed)
1/3 cup soy milk (or another non-dairy milk substitute)
2 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley (or Italian seasoning)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons high-heat vegetable oil (or coconut oil)
Directions
Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, these vegan nuggets are broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and baking.
Press the Tofu
Gather the ingredients.
Remove the tofu from its package.
Pat the block of tofu dry and place it in between two layers of paper towels.
Place a small cutting board (or flat-surfaced item) and a weight — like a pot or a brick — on top of the tofu.
Let the tofu sit for 30 minutes, replacing the paper towels when they become saturated.
Prep the Tofu
Once your tofu is pressed, slice it into 1-inch cubes or nuggets (about the size of a frozen chicken nugget).
In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the soy milk, mustard, nutritional yeast, and spices until smooth.
Place the panko breadcrumbs in a separate bowl.
Pan-Fry the Tofu
Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.
Take one piece of tofu and dip it in the liquid mixture. Then carefully dip it in the breadcrumbs until well coated.
Add it to the pan and repeat the process.
Fry the pieces of tofu, turning them often, until golden brown on all sides.
Serve and enjoy!
Bake the Tofu
For a low-fat alternative cooking method, bake your tofu nuggets on a prepared baking sheet.
Preheat your oven to 350 F and then bake the tofu for 25 minutes, turning once, until golden brown.
Serve your vegetarian tofu nuggets with ketchup, barbecue sauce, or Sriracha hot sauce and enjoy.
SPICY TOFU WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Taste For Life. Prep Time: 25 minutes; Makes 4 servings. Recipe Source: Complete Book of Thai Cooking, by Linda Stephen
To view this online, go to https://tasteforlife.com/healthy-recipes/veggie/spicy-tofu-with-vegetables.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp vegetable oil, divided
12 oz firm tofu, patted dry, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
3 shallots, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 carrot, cut in matchstick pieces
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut in thin strips
1 C sliced asparagus or green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 1/2 tsp fresh red chilies, chopped
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add tofu and stir-fry for 4 minutes, turning carefully, until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
Add remaining oil to wok. Add shallots and garlic. Stir-fry for 1 minute.
Add carrot, red pepper, and asparagus or green beans. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
Add soy sauce, lime juice, chilies, sugar, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Return tofu to wok. Cook for 1 minute, or until combined and heated through.
Friday, July 26, 2024
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Hopefully, it'll be a good weekend. If your plans are to get caught up on stuff - yard work, possibly, a yard sale, or whatever - just remember that if you don't get everything done, there's always next weekend.
If your plans include watching some of the Olympics, that's always a good call, too.
Whatever your plans, though, we still need to eat. That that end, here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend, including Spicy Tofu with Vegetables, BBQ Tempeh Burgers, and Lemon-Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches.
KOREAN CORN CHEESE
This is from Darun Kwak in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Darun wrote, "A uniquely Korean-American creation, corn cheese is a dish inspired by two cultures. The simplicity of the ingredients — canned corn, mayonnaise and mild shredded cheese — yields a nearly effortless banchan, or side dish, that smells and tastes like comfort. It’s extremely kid-friendly, but is also enjoyed as anju, or food that pairs well with alcohol. (Soju, a popular Korean alcoholic beverage, is a great match.) This versatile, sweet-savory dish is best enjoyed hot and accompanied by an array of dishes, like kimchi, gochujang-glazed eggplant, bulgogi or galbi."
Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021553-korean-corn-cheese. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can corn kernels, drained
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3/4 to 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (see Tip)
1 scallion, thinly sliced
Preparation
Heat your broiler. In a medium bowl, combine corn, bell pepper, mayonnaise, sugar, salt and pepper.
In an 8-inch cast-iron or ovenproof skillet, melt the butter over high. Add the corn mixture and sauté just until warmed, 2 to 3 minutes.
Spread the mixture evenly into a single layer, then cover with cheese.
Set the skillet on the rack nearest the broiler and cook until the cheese is golden brown in spots, about 3 to 4 minutes. (Keep a close eye on it, as oven temperatures may vary.)
Sprinkle with the scallions and enjoy while it's hot and cheesy!
Tip
For extra flavor, blend mozzarella with another mild, melty cheese like Muenster.
SPICY TOFU WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Taste For Life. Prep Time: 25 minutes; Makes 4 servings. Recipe Source: Complete Book of Thai Cooking, by Linda Stephen
To view this online, go to https://tasteforlife.com/healthy-recipes/veggie/spicy-tofu-with-vegetables.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp vegetable oil, divided
12 oz firm tofu, patted dry, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
3 shallots, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 carrot, cut in matchstick pieces
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut in thin strips
1 C sliced asparagus or green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp lime juice
2-1/2 tsp fresh red chilies, chopped
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add tofu and stir-fry for 4 minutes, turning carefully, until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
Add remaining oil to wok. Add shallots and garlic. Stir-fry for 1 minute.
Add carrot, red pepper, and asparagus or green beans. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
Add soy sauce, lime juice, chilies, sugar, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Return tofu to wok. Cook for 1 minute, or until combined and heated through.
AFRICAN-STYLE SWEET POTATO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW
This recipe comes from Publix.
Servings: 8; Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium sweet potatoes
1 can chickpeas (garbanzos), (15–16 oz), drained
1 (14.5-oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
8 oz prediced bell pepper mix (1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon chunky garlic paste
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or stock)
1 package fresh (or frozen) prediced butternut squash (15–16 oz)
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions
Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Drain chickpeas. Place in slow cooker: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers, seasoning, garlic paste, and broth; cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 hours (or LOW for 4–6 hours) or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in squash during last 30 minutes of cook time. Chop cilantro and peanuts.
Remove 1 cup of liquid from stew and whisk with peanut butter until blended. Stir peanut butter mixture into stew. Serve topped with cilantro and peanuts.
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.
BBQ TEMPEH BURGERS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/. The recipe 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.
LEMON-GINGERBREAD ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
Okay, it’s ice cream...and sandwiches. Let’s face it: most of us would like dessert once in a while, right?
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times web site on MAY 1, 2017, and begins, “These ice cream sandwiches will become a year-round favorite.” Makes 12 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup molasses
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup boiling water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. each ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground black pepper and salt
8 Tbs. (1 stick) soy margarine, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 pints lemon sorbet
4 cups vanilla soy "ice cream"
Preparation
Put molasses in heatproof bowl. Sprinkle baking soda over top. Add boiling water; whisk with fork.
Blend flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper and salt in large bowl. Cream margarine and brown sugar in another bowl. Add molasses mixture; beat until soft dough forms. Divide in half, wrap each in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.
Put 1 dough ball between 2 sheets wax paper. Roll into 8 1/2 x 12 1/2-inch shape; remove top wax paper. Using sharp knife, trim dough edges; cut dough into 12 2x4-inch rectangles. Prick with fork. Transfer on wax paper to cookie sheet; chill 30 minutes.
Repeat with remaining dough.
Preheat oven to 325F. Grease 2 cookie sheets. Transfer rectangles from wax paper to cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but still soft to the touch. Transfer to wire rack, and cool completely.
Meanwhile, scoop sorbet and ice cream into large bowl; blend with wooden spoon. Freeze 20 minutes or longer, or until mixture is firm.
When completely cool, spread 1/2 cup frozen lemon filling onto bottom of one cookie. Pat filling down with spatula. Place second cookie on top (pricked side up), and gently press down. Scrape away any filling that spreads past edges, and use it to fill in corners. Smooth edges. Repeat with remaining cookies. Wrap sandwiches in plastic wrap, and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
If your plans include watching some of the Olympics, that's always a good call, too.
Whatever your plans, though, we still need to eat. That that end, here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend, including Spicy Tofu with Vegetables, BBQ Tempeh Burgers, and Lemon-Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches.
KOREAN CORN CHEESE
This is from Darun Kwak in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Darun wrote, "A uniquely Korean-American creation, corn cheese is a dish inspired by two cultures. The simplicity of the ingredients — canned corn, mayonnaise and mild shredded cheese — yields a nearly effortless banchan, or side dish, that smells and tastes like comfort. It’s extremely kid-friendly, but is also enjoyed as anju, or food that pairs well with alcohol. (Soju, a popular Korean alcoholic beverage, is a great match.) This versatile, sweet-savory dish is best enjoyed hot and accompanied by an array of dishes, like kimchi, gochujang-glazed eggplant, bulgogi or galbi."
Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021553-korean-corn-cheese. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can corn kernels, drained
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3/4 to 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (see Tip)
1 scallion, thinly sliced
Preparation
Heat your broiler. In a medium bowl, combine corn, bell pepper, mayonnaise, sugar, salt and pepper.
In an 8-inch cast-iron or ovenproof skillet, melt the butter over high. Add the corn mixture and sauté just until warmed, 2 to 3 minutes.
Spread the mixture evenly into a single layer, then cover with cheese.
Set the skillet on the rack nearest the broiler and cook until the cheese is golden brown in spots, about 3 to 4 minutes. (Keep a close eye on it, as oven temperatures may vary.)
Sprinkle with the scallions and enjoy while it's hot and cheesy!
Tip
For extra flavor, blend mozzarella with another mild, melty cheese like Muenster.
SPICY TOFU WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Taste For Life. Prep Time: 25 minutes; Makes 4 servings. Recipe Source: Complete Book of Thai Cooking, by Linda Stephen
To view this online, go to https://tasteforlife.com/healthy-recipes/veggie/spicy-tofu-with-vegetables.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp vegetable oil, divided
12 oz firm tofu, patted dry, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
3 shallots, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 carrot, cut in matchstick pieces
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut in thin strips
1 C sliced asparagus or green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp lime juice
2-1/2 tsp fresh red chilies, chopped
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add tofu and stir-fry for 4 minutes, turning carefully, until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
Add remaining oil to wok. Add shallots and garlic. Stir-fry for 1 minute.
Add carrot, red pepper, and asparagus or green beans. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
Add soy sauce, lime juice, chilies, sugar, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Return tofu to wok. Cook for 1 minute, or until combined and heated through.
AFRICAN-STYLE SWEET POTATO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW
This recipe comes from Publix.
Servings: 8; Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium sweet potatoes
1 can chickpeas (garbanzos), (15–16 oz), drained
1 (14.5-oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
8 oz prediced bell pepper mix (1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon chunky garlic paste
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or stock)
1 package fresh (or frozen) prediced butternut squash (15–16 oz)
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions
Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Drain chickpeas. Place in slow cooker: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers, seasoning, garlic paste, and broth; cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 hours (or LOW for 4–6 hours) or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in squash during last 30 minutes of cook time. Chop cilantro and peanuts.
Remove 1 cup of liquid from stew and whisk with peanut butter until blended. Stir peanut butter mixture into stew. Serve topped with cilantro and peanuts.
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.
BBQ TEMPEH BURGERS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/. The recipe 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.
LEMON-GINGERBREAD ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
Okay, it’s ice cream...and sandwiches. Let’s face it: most of us would like dessert once in a while, right?
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times web site on MAY 1, 2017, and begins, “These ice cream sandwiches will become a year-round favorite.” Makes 12 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup molasses
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup boiling water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. each ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground black pepper and salt
8 Tbs. (1 stick) soy margarine, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 pints lemon sorbet
4 cups vanilla soy "ice cream"
Preparation
Put molasses in heatproof bowl. Sprinkle baking soda over top. Add boiling water; whisk with fork.
Blend flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper and salt in large bowl. Cream margarine and brown sugar in another bowl. Add molasses mixture; beat until soft dough forms. Divide in half, wrap each in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.
Put 1 dough ball between 2 sheets wax paper. Roll into 8 1/2 x 12 1/2-inch shape; remove top wax paper. Using sharp knife, trim dough edges; cut dough into 12 2x4-inch rectangles. Prick with fork. Transfer on wax paper to cookie sheet; chill 30 minutes.
Repeat with remaining dough.
Preheat oven to 325F. Grease 2 cookie sheets. Transfer rectangles from wax paper to cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but still soft to the touch. Transfer to wire rack, and cool completely.
Meanwhile, scoop sorbet and ice cream into large bowl; blend with wooden spoon. Freeze 20 minutes or longer, or until mixture is firm.
When completely cool, spread 1/2 cup frozen lemon filling onto bottom of one cookie. Pat filling down with spatula. Place second cookie on top (pricked side up), and gently press down. Scrape away any filling that spreads past edges, and use it to fill in corners. Smooth edges. Repeat with remaining cookies. Wrap sandwiches in plastic wrap, and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Salads
There was a time when Salads were little more than lettuce-tomato-and-dressing concoctions or mayo-covered stuff (think egg, pototo, or tuna salads).
But salads can be so much more. Check out the Green Bean and Corn Salsa Salad, the Lucali Salad, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND MANGO SALAD
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "Black beans and mangoes combine with fresh bell pepper, fresh jalapeno peppers and fresh cilantro in this simple vegetarian, vegan, high-protein, and gluten-free bean salad recipe. The flavors are simple yet powerful, and the combination is quite tasty.
"This black bean and mango salad recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, and, with just one tablespoon of olive oil divided among four servings, it's also relatively low in fat. With less than 200 calories per serving, this bean salad also qualifies as a low-calorie recipe."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/black-bean-and-mango-salad-recipe-3378314.
Ingredients
1 (15.8-ounce) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 cup sweet red, orange, or yellow bell pepper (diced)
6 green onions (thinly sliced)
1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and minced) or hot sauce to taste
1/4 cup cilantro leaves (chopped)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups mango (diced)
Sea salt or kosher salt (to taste)
Prepartions
Gather the ingredients.
In a large bowl, combine the drained and rinsed black beans, the diced bell pepper, green onions, minced jalapeno pepper, and fresh cilantro.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lime juice (and the hot sauce if you're using hot sauce instead of fresh jalapeno pepper).
Pour the olive oil and lime juice mixture over the bean mix, and gently toss together until well mixed.
Once the ingredients are well combined, carefully and gently fold in the diced mango and season lightly with sea salt or kosher salt.
You may want to taste, and adjust the seasonings, or add a bit more salt before serving.
Tips
Use sea salt or kosher salt for the best taste, instead of regular table salt. Similarly, use the best quality olive oil you have, and use freshly squeezed lime juice instead of bottled, if possible, for the best flavor.
FANTASTIC FRUIT SALAD
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “This refreshing fruit salad is delicious to the core, and if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this will surely do the trick! No matter how you slice it, you're sure to be satisfied with healthy treat.”
Makes 4 servings.
View this online at https://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/fantastic_fruit_salad.php.
Ingredients
1 red apple, cored and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 nectarine, pitted and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 (8 oz.) container, nonfat lemon yogurt
Directions
In a large bowl, combine red apple, Granny Smith apple, nectarine, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Mix in yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.
TEXAS POTATO SALAD
This is from Derrick Riches, a former writer for The Spruce Eats. Derrick wrote, “If you haven't tried a Texas-style potato salad, you're missing out. Think German potato salad meets traditional potato salad with a touch of Southwestern flair. A must try at your next cookout!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 18 minutes; Total Time: 38 minutes; Yield: serves 4-6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Pickled Jalapeños:
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 large jalapeño (seeded and finely chopped)
For the Potatoes:
8 medium poatoes (Yukon gold, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch chunks)
For the Salad Dressing:
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sea salt (more if needed)
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (coarse ground)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or chipotle chili powder)
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons pickling juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Assembly:
2 stalks celery (washed and diced)
2 green onions (green part only, washed and chopped)
1/4 cup cilantro (leaves, washed and chopped)
2 eggs (hard-boiled, cut into medium chunks)
Directions
Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, this potato salad dish is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and cooking.
Make the Pickled Jalapeños:
Gather the ingredients.
In a small glass or plastic bowl, add rice wine vinegar, mustard seed, salt, and diced jalapeño. You can use serrano peppers if you prefer.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours.
Make the Potatoes:
Gather the ingredients.
Bring 8 cups of water to boil in a large pot. Add 1 teaspoon salt to water as it begins to bubble.
Peel and cut Yukon potatoes into 3/4-inch chunks. Add to pot and boil for 15-18 minutes. Potatoes are done when easily pierced by a fork. Make sure they are still firm and not mushy.
Once potatoes are cooked through, drain and add to an ice bath (a large bowl with cold water and 1 cup of ice), for several minutes. This halts the cooking process and cools the potatoes.
Make the Dressing
Gather the ingredients.
Add mustard, mayonnaise, salt, sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, vinegar, pickling juice, chili powder, and garlic powder to bowl.
Combine and taste for salt content. Remember that potatoes tend to need a little more salt, so add 1/2 teaspoon more if necessary.
Assemble the Potatoes
Gather the ingredients.
Drain potatoes from ice bath.
Add to bowl along with celery pickled jalapeños, cilantro, egg, and green onions.
Using large spoon, gently combine with salad dressing.
Scoop potato salad into serving dish, top with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
WINTER FRUIT SALAD
This is from OnTrackDiabetes, a site with some good information for diabetics and their families.
You can view this at https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/recipes/salads/winter-fruit-salad.
Ingredients
8 red apples, such as Jonathan or Gala, cored and diced
8 green Bartlett or Anjou pears, cored and diced
4 cups fresh strawberries, stems removed, sliced
2 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (optional)
sugar substitute, to taste (optional)
4 bananas, sliced
Directions
Place all of the fruit (except bananas), juices and liqueur (if using) in a large attractive bowl. Add sugar substitute, if using. Gently mix.
Cover bowl and refrigerate 4 to 8 hours, but no longer.
Just before serving, stir in banana slices.
Nutritional Information Per serving: 131 calories (5% calories from fat), 1 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.1 g saturated fat), 33 g carbohydrates, 5 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 1 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 2 carbohydrate (fruit)
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
GREEN BEAN AND CORN SALSA SALAD
This is from the July/August 2007 Vegetarian Times, page 40. It begins, "Fresh corn is so tender, there’s usually no need to cook it before adding to salsas and salads. Use fresh corn as soon after you buy it as possible—the longer it is off the stalk, the starchier and tougher it gets." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/green-bean-and-corn-salsa-salad/.
Ingredients
1 lb. green beans, trimmed
4 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears)
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely diced (about 1 Tbs.)
1 Tbs. lemon zest
Preparation
Bring large pot of water to a boil. Cook beans 5 minutes, or until tender.
Drain, and refresh in ice water. When cool, chop beans.
Toss together beans, corn, onion and oil in large bowl. Add cilantro, lemon juice, and jalapeño pepper, and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with lemon zest, and serve.
But salads can be so much more. Check out the Green Bean and Corn Salsa Salad, the Lucali Salad, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND MANGO SALAD
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "Black beans and mangoes combine with fresh bell pepper, fresh jalapeno peppers and fresh cilantro in this simple vegetarian, vegan, high-protein, and gluten-free bean salad recipe. The flavors are simple yet powerful, and the combination is quite tasty.
"This black bean and mango salad recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, and, with just one tablespoon of olive oil divided among four servings, it's also relatively low in fat. With less than 200 calories per serving, this bean salad also qualifies as a low-calorie recipe."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/black-bean-and-mango-salad-recipe-3378314.
Ingredients
1 (15.8-ounce) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 cup sweet red, orange, or yellow bell pepper (diced)
6 green onions (thinly sliced)
1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and minced) or hot sauce to taste
1/4 cup cilantro leaves (chopped)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups mango (diced)
Sea salt or kosher salt (to taste)
Prepartions
Gather the ingredients.
In a large bowl, combine the drained and rinsed black beans, the diced bell pepper, green onions, minced jalapeno pepper, and fresh cilantro.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lime juice (and the hot sauce if you're using hot sauce instead of fresh jalapeno pepper).
Pour the olive oil and lime juice mixture over the bean mix, and gently toss together until well mixed.
Once the ingredients are well combined, carefully and gently fold in the diced mango and season lightly with sea salt or kosher salt.
You may want to taste, and adjust the seasonings, or add a bit more salt before serving.
Tips
Use sea salt or kosher salt for the best taste, instead of regular table salt. Similarly, use the best quality olive oil you have, and use freshly squeezed lime juice instead of bottled, if possible, for the best flavor.
FANTASTIC FRUIT SALAD
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “This refreshing fruit salad is delicious to the core, and if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this will surely do the trick! No matter how you slice it, you're sure to be satisfied with healthy treat.”
Makes 4 servings.
View this online at https://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/fantastic_fruit_salad.php.
Ingredients
1 red apple, cored and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 nectarine, pitted and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 (8 oz.) container, nonfat lemon yogurt
Directions
In a large bowl, combine red apple, Granny Smith apple, nectarine, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Mix in yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.
TEXAS POTATO SALAD
This is from Derrick Riches, a former writer for The Spruce Eats. Derrick wrote, “If you haven't tried a Texas-style potato salad, you're missing out. Think German potato salad meets traditional potato salad with a touch of Southwestern flair. A must try at your next cookout!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 18 minutes; Total Time: 38 minutes; Yield: serves 4-6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Pickled Jalapeños:
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 large jalapeño (seeded and finely chopped)
For the Potatoes:
8 medium poatoes (Yukon gold, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch chunks)
For the Salad Dressing:
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sea salt (more if needed)
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (coarse ground)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or chipotle chili powder)
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons pickling juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Assembly:
2 stalks celery (washed and diced)
2 green onions (green part only, washed and chopped)
1/4 cup cilantro (leaves, washed and chopped)
2 eggs (hard-boiled, cut into medium chunks)
Directions
Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, this potato salad dish is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and cooking.
Make the Pickled Jalapeños:
Gather the ingredients.
In a small glass or plastic bowl, add rice wine vinegar, mustard seed, salt, and diced jalapeño. You can use serrano peppers if you prefer.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours.
Make the Potatoes:
Gather the ingredients.
Bring 8 cups of water to boil in a large pot. Add 1 teaspoon salt to water as it begins to bubble.
Peel and cut Yukon potatoes into 3/4-inch chunks. Add to pot and boil for 15-18 minutes. Potatoes are done when easily pierced by a fork. Make sure they are still firm and not mushy.
Once potatoes are cooked through, drain and add to an ice bath (a large bowl with cold water and 1 cup of ice), for several minutes. This halts the cooking process and cools the potatoes.
Make the Dressing
Gather the ingredients.
Add mustard, mayonnaise, salt, sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, vinegar, pickling juice, chili powder, and garlic powder to bowl.
Combine and taste for salt content. Remember that potatoes tend to need a little more salt, so add 1/2 teaspoon more if necessary.
Assemble the Potatoes
Gather the ingredients.
Drain potatoes from ice bath.
Add to bowl along with celery pickled jalapeños, cilantro, egg, and green onions.
Using large spoon, gently combine with salad dressing.
Scoop potato salad into serving dish, top with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
WINTER FRUIT SALAD
This is from OnTrackDiabetes, a site with some good information for diabetics and their families.
You can view this at https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/recipes/salads/winter-fruit-salad.
Ingredients
8 red apples, such as Jonathan or Gala, cored and diced
8 green Bartlett or Anjou pears, cored and diced
4 cups fresh strawberries, stems removed, sliced
2 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (optional)
sugar substitute, to taste (optional)
4 bananas, sliced
Directions
Place all of the fruit (except bananas), juices and liqueur (if using) in a large attractive bowl. Add sugar substitute, if using. Gently mix.
Cover bowl and refrigerate 4 to 8 hours, but no longer.
Just before serving, stir in banana slices.
Nutritional Information Per serving: 131 calories (5% calories from fat), 1 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.1 g saturated fat), 33 g carbohydrates, 5 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 1 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 2 carbohydrate (fruit)
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
GREEN BEAN AND CORN SALSA SALAD
This is from the July/August 2007 Vegetarian Times, page 40. It begins, "Fresh corn is so tender, there’s usually no need to cook it before adding to salsas and salads. Use fresh corn as soon after you buy it as possible—the longer it is off the stalk, the starchier and tougher it gets." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/green-bean-and-corn-salsa-salad/.
Ingredients
1 lb. green beans, trimmed
4 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears)
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely diced (about 1 Tbs.)
1 Tbs. lemon zest
Preparation
Bring large pot of water to a boil. Cook beans 5 minutes, or until tender.
Drain, and refresh in ice water. When cool, chop beans.
Toss together beans, corn, onion and oil in large bowl. Add cilantro, lemon juice, and jalapeño pepper, and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with lemon zest, and serve.
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