Tofu Zoodle Salad

This is a slightly modified version of a super-healthy recipe I found on a fascinating and beautifully photographed blog called Scaling Back.  Check it out here.

NOTE:  This recipe requires a special tool called a spiralizer.

Ingredients:
1 lb. Chinese tofu  (Tofu has a more desirable texture if it has been frozen for 24 hours, then thawed.  Plan ahead.)
soy sauce (or shoyu or tamari), to taste  (If you need to avoid gluten, check ingredients.  Not all of these are gluten-free..)
2 T. canola oil
1 c. frozen mukimame (shelled edamame)
3 T. peanut butter
2 T. lime juice
2 t. sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 t. garlic chili paste
2 medium zucchini
1/2 c. shredded carrot (I buy the kind that is already shredded.  So convenient!)
1/2 avocado, peeled and cubed
1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1/4 c. chopped cashews (roasted but not salted)
1 T. toasted sesame seeds

Method:
Squeeze as much water out of the tofu as possible.  Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch cubes.  In a large non-stick skillet, cook the tofu over medium-high heat until water is no longer sizzling out of the tofu.  Drizzle the tofu with soy sauce, to taste.  Drizzle tofu with the canola oil.  Toss the tofu to coat in oil, and cook until browned on one side.  Toss again, and cook until browned on another side.  Remove from heat.

Cook the mukimame according to package directions.

Whisk the peanut butter, lime juice, 1 T. water, sesame oil, minced garlic, and chili paste in a small bowl to create the dressing.  Add water judiciously, if needed to thin the dressing.

Using a spiralizer, spiralize the zucchini on the most narrow setting so that it is about the diameter of spaghetti noodles.  Toss the zucchini, carrot, avocado, and parsley together with the dressing to coat.  Toss in the tofu and mukimame.  Top with cashews and sesame seeds, and serve immediately.

Serves 3 as a main dish.

Southwestern Stew with Coconut Quinoa

This special-tasting stew is slightly modified from Anna Lappé and Bryant Terry's (He's from Memphis!) recipe in their cookbook named deliciously Grub.

This is definitely a weekend dish, because it takes a while to make, but it's not difficult...and it's very tasty!

Ingredients:

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 c. sliced red onion
1 (or try 2 for more smoke and spice) chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped (Remove the seeds if you want to tame the heat.  Leave them if you want to keep it spicy.  They'll be puréed anyway.)
10 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped  (Yes:  10!)
one 28-oz can whole tomatoes, drained, juice reserved
2 bay leaves
up to 4 c. vegetable broth/stock
salt, to taste
2 medium white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/3-inch chunks
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 15-oz can coconut milk
1.5 c. quinoa, rinsed
3 T. dried unsweetened coconut
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn kernels, drained

Method:
Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large, deep skillet that has a lid.  Add the onion and chipotle, and cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently.  Reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the garlic, and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat.

In a blender, puree the drained tomatoes along with the onion and chipotle until smooth.  Pour the mixture back into the large skillet.  Add the bay leaves and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches a thick consistency (about 10 mins).

Add enough vegetable broth/stock to the reserved tomato juice to make 4 cups, then add to the puréed tomato mixture with 1 t. salt (or to taste).  Add the potato chunks, bring to a boil, cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer until potatoes are softened (about 40-45 minutes).

While the potatoes are cooking, combine the coconut milk with 1.5 cups water and 3/4 t. salt in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil.  Add the quinoa and dried coconut, return to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Allow the quinoa to rest, covered, for another 5 minutes, then uncover and fluff with a fork.

When the potatoes are soft, remove the bay leaves from the stew and stir in the black beans and corn.  Serve the stew over the quinoa.  Serves 4 - 5.

Barley Hoppin' John

Not surprisingly, this is another slightly tweaked recipe from Eating Well magazine's website, which has supplied us with lots of great meals this year.

Ingredients:

1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1 bell pepper (any color), seeded and chopped
6 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 3/4 c. vegetable broth
1.5 c. pearled barley
1/4 t. (rounded) crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 t. (rounded) Cajun seasoning, or to taste
1/4 t. (rounded) salt, or to taste
2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

Method:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 4-5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add broth, barley, crushed red pepper, Cajun seasoning, and salt.  Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the barley is done, 40 to 45 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in black-eyed peas. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve hot.
Serves 3-4 as a main dish. 

Asian Vegetable Stir-Fry with Soy Sauce Tofu

This recipe is slightly adapted from the Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2001 cookbook.  I serve this over white rice, but choose the "bed" of your preference.

Ingredients:

3 T. tomato paste

1.5 T. rice vinegar

1.5 T. soy sauce (or shoyu or tamari), plus additional sauce, to taste, for the tofu

1.5 t. curry powder

1/2 t. salt

scant 1/4 t. freshly-ground black pepper

1 lb. Chinese-style tofu (NOTE:  Tofu has a more desirable texture if it has been frozen for 24 hours, then thawed before use.  Plan ahead.)

1/4 c. canola oil, separated

1 large onion, peeled and sliced into wedges

1 c. chopped celery

2 bell peppers, chopped (any color works, but yellow and red are colorific)

1 c. frozen sugar snap peas in their pods or snow peas

1/2 head cabbage, thinly sliced (any kind - green, red, Savoy, or Napa)

1/2 c. water

If desired, choose a "bed" (e.g. I use white rice.) for the stir-fry, and prepare that food according to package instructions.

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Squeeze as much water as possible from the tofu, then cut it into 1/2-inch cubes.  Place the cubes in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and cook until water is no longer sizzling out of the tofu.  Drizzle soy sauce, to taste, over the tofu cubes.  Drizzle 2 T. canola oil around the edge of the pan, and stir the tofu to coat.  Cook until the tofu is browned on one side, toss again, and cook until the tofu is browned on a second side.  Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large stir-fry pan, heat the remaining 2 T. canola oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and stir-fry for a minute or two.  Add the celery, bell pepper, and peas, and stir-fry for another 5 minutes.  Add the cabbage, and stir-fry until crisp-tender.  Add water and tomato paste mixture, and stir to coat the vegetables.  Remove from heat, stir in the tofu, and serve over the "bed" of your choice (e.g. rice).



Farmer's Salad

This simple and delicious salad comes from Ursula Ferrigno's Truly Italian cookbook.  We served it over brown rice.

  

Ingredients:
2 10-oz. bags of frozen broccoli florets
4 T. extra-virgin olive oil
3 T. lemon juice
1/2 t. red pepper flakes
salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste
2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
handful fresh Italian parsley, chopped

Method:
In a medium stockpot fitted with a steamer basket, steam broccoli until tender-crisp.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.  Add the steamed broccoli, pinto beans, and parsley, and toss to combine.

Serve warm, over a bed of grain such as brown rice if desired.

Serves 4.

Edamame Quinoa Salad

Here's a great recipe from the Eating Well website, which I have been LOVING this year.  I like a bigger ratio of dressing than they suggested, but if you like less dressing, I encourage the tweak.  This salad is good warm or cold.  We serve it over butter lettuce with a baked potato on the side.

Ingredients:

1.5 c. quinoa (I used the tri-color quinoa in the photo, but any color will do.)
3 c. vegetable broth
3 c. frozen mukimame (shelled edamame)
2 T. freshly grated lemon zest
4 T. lemon juice
4 T. extra-virgin olive oil
4 T. fresh tarragon, thyme, or basil, chopped (or substitute 4 t. if using dried herb)
1 t. salt
1 c. jarred roasted red peppers, drained and diced






Method:
Toast the quinoa in a large, dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until it becomes fragrant and begins to crackle, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to a fine mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly.

In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil over high heat.  Add the quinoa and return to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 8 minutes.  Lift the lid and, without disturbing the quinoa, add the edamame.  Replace the cover and cook until both the quinoa and the edamame are tender, about 7 - 8 more minutes.  Drain any extra liquid, if necessary.

Whisk lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, herb, and salt in a large bowl.  Add the chopped peppers, quinoa, and edamame.  Toss to combine.

Serves 4 - 5.

Mulligatawny Risotto

Outstanding recipe from Vegetarian Today (formerly Vegetarian Times) magazine!  We had it with their coconut-crusted tofu on the side, but it would be perfectly fine with beans.

 

Ingredients:

2 c. vegetable broth
1 14-oz. can light coconut milk
1/2 c. diced bell pepper
1/4 c. diced onion
2 t. minced fresh garlic
2 t. minced fresh ginger
2 t. minced fresh jalapeno
3 T. olive oil
1.5 c. dry Arborio rice (Be sure to get this specific type of rice, which gives risotto its creamy texture.)
1 T. curry powder
1/8 t. red pepper flakes
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 c. fresh spinach, chopped
1 c. grape tomatoes, halved
1 Granny Smith apple, diced
1 T. vegan margarine
1/2 t. salt

Method:
Simmer broth and coconut milk in a saucepan over low heat.

Sauté bell pepper, onion, garlic, ginger, and jalapeno in oil over medium heat until soft, 3 - 4 minutes.  Stir in the rice, curry powder, and red pepper flakes.  Cook 1 - 2 minutes.

Add wine, and simmer, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed (about 2 minutes).  Stir in 1/2 cup of broth mixture, and simmer until completely absorbed.  Continue adding broth mixture in 1/2-cup increments, stirring frequently and adding more broth only after previous addition is absorbed.  This takes about 15 minutes.  The rice should be firm, but not chalky or chewy in the center of the grain.

Remove from heat.  Stir in spinach, tomatoes, apple, butter, and salt.

Serves 3 - 4.