vegan

January in the Kitchen – Roast Spicy Tofu and Winter Squash
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January in the Kitchen – Roast Spicy Tofu and Winter Squash

Ok, it’s time to put some of those New Year’s resolutions in place. Maybe like eating more fruits and vegetables or having one meat free meal a week? Is that one of your 2015 resolutions, it is one of mine. This recipe for Spicy Tofu with Delicata Squash fits in several resolution categories and is delicious as well.

I originally saw this recipe a year ago in the New York Times. I made it several times last January and then forgot about it. It is a winter dish, perfect for cold and rainy nights. Delicata squash cooks quickly and doesn’t need peeling, you could also use Acorn or another tender winter squash. The season for delicata is shorter than many other winter varieties as it doesn’t keep as well. Take advantage of it while it’s around.

My men folk are not crazy about tofu, so this is one of those dishes I make when I have an evening to myself. I think anyone who likes tofu and has vegetarian family or friends will find it a hit. Serve it with a spinach salad lightly dressed with lemon and olive oil, or with rice (brown would be nice) for a complete meal.

I’ve adapted the recipe,  if you want to see the original it is on my Pinterest Page, or you can link to the original New York Times recipe by Melissa Clark here.

Spicy Tofu with Delicata Squash

Spicy Tofu with Delicata Squash

Spicy Tofu with Winter Squash

  • 1 (14-ounce) package extra-firm tofu, drained
  • 2 pounds dumpling, delicata or acorn squash, halved and seeded.
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon Calabrian hot pepper paste or hot sauce
  • ¼ cup peanut oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup, grade B preferred
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley leaves

IMG_2340

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Drain tofu and slice into four pieces, then slice each piece into 1/2-inch-thick slabs (divide the block horizontally through the middle). Arrange the tofu on a large baking sheet or plate lined with several layers of paper towels. Place another layer of paper towels on top and weigh down tofu with another baking sheet or plate topped with a heavy cookbook or cans. Let stand for 20 minutes. Check it and see if you need to replace the paper towels and press for another 10 minutes. Pat tofu dry.
  3. While tofu drains, cut squash into 1/2-inch-thick half-moons or slices.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hot sauce, peanut oil, sesame oil, and maple syrup.
  5. Spread squash out in a single layer on a large aluminum lined baking sheet and brush with the sauce.
  6. Roast until bottoms are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Flip the squash and brush with sauce.
  7. Roast the squash for an additional 10-15 minutes until soft yet brown. Remove it to a warm bowl.
  8. Turn on your broiler.
  9. Brush the tofu with the remaining sauce and add the tofu to the same pan.
  10. Put the pan back in the oven and broil the tofu until uniformly golden bown, about 2-3 minutes.
  11. Turn the tofu, brush with sauce again, and return it to the oven. Cook until crispy and golden, about 2 minutes more.
  12. Toss hot tofu with squash, and cilantro (or parsley), adding more soy sauce if you like.
Tofu with Delicata Squash

Tofu with roast winter squash

December in the kitchen – Pear and butternut squash soup
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December in the kitchen – Pear and butternut squash soup

Heavy rain was forecasted for the San Francisco bay area today, I think there was way too much media hype about this storm. It frightened everyone, they even closed the schools. This is how winter used to be before the drought of the last three years. A tree came down at the end of our street and there is some minor flooding in the neighborhood because of fallen leaves in the storm drains. It’s a perfect day for staying in and making soup.

I’ve wanted to make this recipe for some time; it is adapted from one in the cookbook “plum gorgeous” by Romney Steele. The original recipe calls for a medium butternut or kabocha squash, and curry powder. As usual, I ended up improvising. I couldn’t find the curry powder (the spice drawer needs a major overhaul) and my fridge only had 2 cups of cut-up butternut squash, not enough. I wasn’t about to brave the storm for a trip to the grocery store. I used the butternut and added 2 small sweet potatoes. As a substitute for the curry powder, I used Ras el Hanout. It’s a spice blend I purchased a few weeks ago from the Oaktown Spice Shop. You’ll find a link to their website here. If you get a chance to visit, don’t miss it. It’s heavenly just walking in the door, the aromas are amazing! Ras el Hanout is a custom blend of paprika, cumin, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, cassia, turmeric, grains of paradise, allspice, nutmeg, mace and cayenne. Wow! They recommend using it to season chicken, lamb tagines, or scent rice. Using the curry powder suggested in the initial recipe would also be excellent. Mine eventually turned up in the back of the drawer, too late for the soup.

To make this recipe vegan, I used coconut water instead of chicken broth and added a cup of coconut milk at the end for richness. It ended up being both warming and delicious, perfect for a stormy day.

Soup - pear, butternut squash, and sweet potato

Pear and butternut squash soup

Pear, Butternut Squash, and Sweet Potato Soup

  • 2 cups cubed butternut or other squash
  • 2 small sweet potatoes
  • 2 large or 3 small pears, peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons of Ras el Hanout or curry powder
  • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, skinned and finely grated
  • 4 cups of coconut water or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup of coconut milk
  • chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Cut the squash into large chunks and arrange in a baking pan, cut side down. Prick the sweet potatoes and add them to the pan (cut them in half if large). Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan, drizzle with coconut oil, and roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour. They should be soft.
  3. Cool, then scoop out the flesh into a bowl.
  4. Heat 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil in a heavy pot. Add the onion, carrot and garlic and cook on medium heat until lightly browned and soft. Do not let the garlic burn.
  5. Stir in the Ras el Hanout or curry powder and fresh ginger. Mix with the vegetables for about 30 seconds, until aromatic.
  6. Add the squash, sweet potato, pears, coconut water or stock, and ½ teaspoon of salt to the pot.
  7. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 25 minutes until the vegetables and pears are soft.
  8. Puree in the blender or with an immersion blender.
  9. Add the coconut milk and gently reheat, thin with water or stock if needed.
  10. Serve garnished with chopped cilantro.
Pear soup

Pear and Butternut Squash Soup

This soup was perfect, a little sweet but with a spicy kick.

I think the folks at Gluten Free Fridays will like this one since it is both gluten free and vegetarian. Come see what else is cooking.

December in the kitchen – Red lentil and cauliflower couscous
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December in the kitchen – Red lentil and cauliflower couscous

Lately I have been reading a lot about substituting cauliflower for rice and couscous in recipes. The substitution is popular in paleo circles as well as with folks trying to cut down on carbohydrates (useful after the holidays). It seems to me that any way you can add more vegetables to your diet is a good thing.

This recipe combines the cauliflower “couscous” with lentils and preserved mandarin oranges. It can be served hot, room temperature, or cold as a salad with some tasty greens on the side. This could even be the main dish for a vegetarian meal, it’s gluten free and vegan.

Red Lentils and Cauliflower Couscous

Red Lentils and Cauliflower Couscous

Cauliflower Couscous with Red Lentils and Easy Preserved Mandarins    (serves 4)

  • 2 mandarin oranges, sliced thinly
  • 1/3 cup of sugar
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 1 small cauliflower, “riced” in a food processor
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • ½ red onion, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup almonds, sliced scallions, and chopped cilantro for garnish

Preserved Mandarin Oranges:

  1. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the sugar and 1½ teaspoons of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper; stir until the sugar and salt dissolve.
  2. Add the slices of mandarin orange and cook over medium heat until softened, about 15 minutes.
  3. Transfer the orange slices to a plate and boil the remaining liquid until reduced to 1/3 cup; it will take about 3 minutes. Let cool, then whisk in ¼ cup of olive oil. Set aside.

Cauliflower Couscous

  1. Break the cauliflower into medium sized pieces and add to the food processor, pulse the machine until the cauliflower resembles couscous. You may need to do this in batches. Don’t over process.
cauliflower rice

Cauliflower couscous or rice

Red Lentils

  1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, add the lentils and cook over medium heat until tender but not mushy, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain.
  2. Heat a frying pan on medium heat; add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When hot and beginning to shimmer, add the onion and sauté until beginning to soften, about 10 minutes.
  1. Add the cauliflower to the pan, increase the heat to medium high and sauté, stirring constantly, until the cauliflower is beginning to soften and brown. It should retain some texture and still be crisp.
  2. Add the lentils to the pan and reheat the whole.
  3. Add the reserved liquid from the mandarin oranges and the lemon juice. Taste for salt and turn out to a serving dish.
  4. Serve garnished with almonds, the slices of mandarin orange, scallions, and chopped cilantro.

I served this with the marmalade chicken. It was a great combination with the pilaf coming together while the chicken was in the oven.

Cauliflower couscous

Cauliflower couscous

How have you used cauliflower to replace rice or pasta or couscous? I’d love to hear other ideas.

November in the kitchen – Roast Bussels Sprouts with Cannellini Bean Mash
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November in the kitchen – Roast Bussels Sprouts with Cannellini Bean Mash

Roast Brussels sprouts are a classic side dish for Thansksgiving. Roasting gives them a sweetness that is totally different from the way they taste cooked any other way. This recipe will convert even Brussels sprout haters. The Cannellini Mash could be a stand in for mashed potatoes, or add some pureed winter squash for a seasonal touch. I’m taking this to Full Plate Thursday (this week on a Tuesday) at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage.

The sprouts and mash are a vegan/vegetarian/gluten free meal by themselves. Add a salad on the side and the dinner menu is full.

In my omnivore family, I’m going to serve it with lemon chicken. Everything can go into the oven at the same temperature, making an easy dinner for one oven when you are busy.

There a lot of recipes out there for roast Brussels sprouts. The discussion centers around whether to preboil them before roasting. I have tried them multiple ways (this being a favorite winter vegetable for my family and friends) and have come up with a version which works best for us. My ideal sprout has a creamy center and crisp, brown outside leaves with a definite crunch. In order to have that creamy center without completely burnt leaves, I’ve found I need to precook them very briefly.

Roast Brussels Sprouts

Roast Brussels Sprouts

Roast Brussels sprouts

  • 4 cups of Brussels sprouts – trimmed and halved if large
  • Kosher Salt
  • Olive oil – about 2 tablespoons
  1. Preheat your oven to 425 F.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add about 1 tablespoon of salt
  3. Add the Brussels sprouts, bring back to the boil, lower the heat and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Strain and run cold water over them to cool slightly and stop cooking.
  5. Toss with olive oil and salt.
  6. Spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer. Include any leaves that have fallen off.
  7. Bake for 40 minutes until the outsides are crisp.
Cannellini Bean Mash

Cannellini Bean Mash – ready to assemble

Cannellini Bean Mash

  • 2 cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • ¼ cup of roast garlic cloves or 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup of roast winter squash or pumpkin (canned ok)
  • 1 cup of coconut water or vegetable stock
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil (or butter)
  • grated zest of 1/2 lemon
  • Salt, pepper and cayenne to taste
  1. Roast a small piece of banana squash at 425 F until soft and brown, about 40 minutes.
  2. Cool slightly, scoop out the flesh and add it to your food processor or blender.
  3. Drain and rinse 2 cans of cannellini beans.
  4. Combine with the garlic and squash in the processor.
  5. Puree until smooth, adding the coconut water or stock to thin. This should be the consistency of mashed potatoes.
  6. Pour the contents into a saucepan and heat on medium until hot, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
  7. Add the olive oil and grate some fresh lemon rind into the pan.
  8. Taste for salt, add fresh ground pepper, and cayenne pepper for punch.

Once you start on this, I can imagine all kinds of additons…goat cheese, parmesan, substitute another vegetable for the squash (cooked parsnips or celery root?) or leave it out all together. In that case it would be more hummusy.

Lemon Chicken with Roast Brussels Sprouts and Cannellini Bean Mash

Lemon Chicken with Roast Brussels Sprouts and Cannellini Bean Mash

The chicken took an hour and fifteen minutes to cook, perfect timing for the rest of the meal. Including prep time, it took me an hour and a half to get dinner on the table. Not bad since much of it there was nothing to do, just waiting while things were roasting in the oven. It left me with time for a relaxed glass of wine and a chat with my husband. It’s his birthday tomorrow, I’ll be making his favorite, Pasta Puttanesca.

Everyone have a love filled, fun, and delicious Thanksgiving!

November in the kitchen – Pumpkin Humus
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November in the kitchen – Pumpkin Humus

This idea for this came from Rana in Dubai, she writes the blog Zaatar and Quinoa which features healthy vegan food. She recently posted a recipe for sweet potato humus, which is quite yummy. I wondered how it would be with pumpkin, I think of pumpkin as the November vegetable.

I adapted the recipe slightly. It’s still vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. I think this would be perfect served as part of a holiday meal.

Pumpkin Humus

Pumpkin Humus

Pumpkin humus

  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup of cooked pumpkin or winter squash
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • Juice and finely grated rind of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon of Tahini
  • 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, toasted
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Pomegranate seeds or cilantro to garnish

Toast the sesame seeds and ground cumin in a small dry skillet. Watch closely, they will burn easily. Remove them to a small plate to cool.

Once cool, place all the ingredients above in your food processor or blender and puree. You may need to add water to thin it to the proper consistency. Blend until smooth.

Serve drizzled with additional olive oil and garnished with pomegranate seeds or cilantro.

This humus would be good in a pita bread sandwich with some left over turkey! How would you serve it?