Red lentil, potato, and spinach dal with roasted tempeh and Brussels sprouts

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A warm, rich dal with some added color and flavor.

Ingredients

For the dal
2 cups water
2 cups vegetable stock
2 medium yellow potatoes, quartered (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained
2T vegetable ghee (or coconut or avocado oil, but not olive)
1/2t of coarse sea salt
1t dried cumin seeds
1/2t dried coriander seeds
1/2t dried mustard seeds
1t dried ground turmeric (or to taste)
3 scallions, minced (reserve about 6″ – 8″ of green for garnish)
2T fresh garlic, minced
1t fresh ginger, grated
1/2t red Thai chili (or green chili, 1/4t cayenne pepper, and so on)
1/4 cup tomato passata (or tomato puree)
A dash of liquid smoke
2 cups loose baby spinach greens
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

For the tempeh and sprouts
1/4t coarse sea salt
2 cups vegetable stock
A sprig of kombu (about 2″)
250g pasteurized tempeh
1 cup Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
1/4 cup tamari (or to taste)
2T cooking oil, divided
1/2T fresh garlic, minced
1/2t fresh ginger, minced
1T lemon juice
1T coconut sugar
2T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: 1T minced cilantro for garnish, 1t dried curry leaves, 1/4t hing (if you can get them, add them with the other dried spices), 2T coconut milk (added with the passata) if you have 2T that you can spare.

Instructions

First start the tempeh, then start the dal. In a small pan with a lid, bring the stock, kombu and sea salt to a light boil. Add the tempeh, cover, reduce to low and simmer for 45 minutes. Toward the 30 minute mark, start the dal. In a large pan with a lid, bring the water to a light simmer. Add the lentils. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

At the 20 minute mark, add the stock and return the pan to a simmer on medium. Add the potatoes. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for another 20 – 30 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender and the lentils have mostly dissolved.

Toward the 40 minute mark, preheat the oven for 400F. Remove the tempeh from the stock and set aside to cool. Cut the tempeth into 3/4″ to 1″ cubes. Whisk the tamari, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, sugar and nutritional yeast with 1/2 cup of the stock until consistent. Cut the sprouts in half, length-wise. Toss the tempeh and the sprouts in the mixture until well coated.

Add the tempeh to a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes on the middle rack. Spoon half of the marinade over the tempeh. Add the sprouts after 10 minutes. Spoon 1/4 cup marinade over the sprouts.

Bake on the middle rack until the tempeh and sprouts are a nice golden brown. Turn the sprouts and tempeh at least once, and add the remainder of the marinade at that point. The sprouts should be soft but not overcooked. Ovens vary; use the colour and texture of the tempeh and sprouts as your guide.

When the potatoes, lentils, tempeh and sprouts are all ready, bring the oil or ghee and sea salt to heat on high in a small frying pan. You can use already ground spices, but the flavor is never the same as freshly ground, and ensuring a correct balance means doing the conversion by weight.

If you have experience popping spices on the stove top, add the cumin, coriander and mustard seeds to the oil until they pop. Otherwise, grind the cumin, coriander, and mustard until powdered in a spice grinder.

Add the dry spices and saute for 1 minute or until they are nicely aromatic. Add the curry leaves and hing if you’ll be using them. Add the scallions, garlic, ginger, and chili and saute for another 2 minutes. Add the dash of liquid smoke. Add the passata and deglaze the pan. Saute for another 3 minutes and remove from heat. Add the coconut milk if you’ll be using it.

Add the spice mixture to the dal. Stir to combine. Let stand 5 minutes for the flavours to mingle and the dal to cool. Add the baby spinach greens. Stir to combine. Let stand a minute for the greens to wilt. Season to taste and dish out the dal in a wide, narrow bowl.

For a dish like this, I’ll usually concentrate some of the potatoes in the center to add additional garnish on top. Season to taste and add the tempeh and sprouts in a loose stack in the middle (or however you prefer for the presentation). Garnish with the scallion greens sliced on an angle and cilantro if you’ll be using it.

Black lentils, potatoes, and kale with lemon cashew butter and sea vegetables

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Seasoned with scallions, purple dulse flakes, toasted nori, and black sesame seeds, this dish relies primarily on the salty flavour of the sea vegetables, the sweetness of the cashew butter and the rich combination of lentils, potatoes and greens for its flavour. One pan, one bowl, one plate, no refined oil, no added sugar, added salt optional (but recommended if you’re not trying to cut out salt!).

Ingredients

For the lentils, potatoes and kale
1 1/2 cups water, divided
1/4 cup black beluga lentils (green, brown, dupuy will also work, but not red)
1 ‘spring’ dried kombu (about 1/2″)
1 medium yellow potatoes, about 1/8lb or 3/4 cups in 1/2″ dice
1 scallion, minced (2″ – 3″ green reserved for garnish)
1/2T minced garlic
1 cup green kale, chopped
1t purple dulse flakes, 1/4t reserved
1t nori flakes, 1/4t reserved
1T nutritional yeast
1t black sesame seeds (white will do)
Sea salt, tamari, and/or black pepper to taste

For the cashew sauce
1T cashew butter
1T warm water
1T nutritional yeast
1/2T lemon juice
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Start the lentils, add the potatoes and finish with the kale. In a medium pan with a lid, bring 1/2 cup water to a soft boil. Add the lentils and kombu, cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes. Drain the lentils and rinse thoroughly.

Return the lentils and kombu to the pan, add the
potatoes and add enough of the 1 cup remaining water to cover. Bring the pan to a soft boil on medium-high.
Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for another 20 minutes or until the potatoes are just shy of fork tender and most of the water has been absorbed. If you have more than 1/4 cup or so water left in the pain, drain the lentils carefully. Remove the kombu. Add the kale, garlic, purple dulse, nori, and scallions. Stir to combine and simmer on low for another 5 minutes until the kale is lightly wilted.

When done, remove from heat and set aside for 5
minutes to cool. Toss with the nutritional yeast. Season to taste. Whisk the cashew butter with the water and lemon. until creamy. Add the nutritional yeast and stir till its absorbed and consistent. Season to taste. Plate the lentils, potatoes and kale. Spoon the cashew mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4t nori, 1/4t dulse, and black sesame seeds. Garnish with the scallion green sliced on an angle and serve.

Potato, cauliflower and cabbage roasted in coconut milk and curry spices with chick peas and baby spinach.

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A very simple, but a very delicious dish.

Ingredients

2 cups yellow potato in 1/2″ dice
1/2 cup sweet onion, thinly sliced
2 cups shredded cabbage (I used coleslaw mix)
4 cups cauliflower florets in 1″ – 2″ pieces
1 12oz can of coconut milk
3T curry powder (1)
1T fresh garlic, minced
1t fresh ginger, grated
1/2t coarse sea salt
1 cup cooked chick peas (2)
2 cups baby spinach greens
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven for 400F. In a shallow, wide baking dish with sides, layer the potatoes, then the onion, the cabbage, then the cauliflower florets on top. Mix the garlic, ginger, curry and coconut milk with the sea salt until combined. Pour the mixture evenly over the vegetables in the pan.

Bake on the middle rack for approximately 30 minutes, stir, and bake another 20 -30 minutes, stirring infrequently, until the potatoes are fork tender and the vegetables are lightly browned. Add the chick peas at the 40 minute market. Ovens vary; use the colour and texture as a guide.

When the vegetables are done, remove from the oven and toss with the baby spinach. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool and for the spinach to wilt. Season to taste and serve.

  1. Using powder keeps it simple, but that means the quality of the curry powder makes a big difference to this dish. Use a high quality powder.

  2. If you make the chick peas from scratch for this dish, about 1/2 scant cup will yield slightly more than 1 cup cooked, and that will be fine for this dish. I slow cook mine in larger batches with kombu so that I have them on hand.

Potato dumplings with tomato, beer and nori gravy, shaved, slow-roasted tofu and kale

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A lengthy but rewarding dish with multiple layers. The entire cook time is about 4 hours, but the individual constituents don’t require much prep. You can also serve this dish over roasted potatoes, french fries and other potato goodness. A table top convection oven or even a toaster oven will work for the tofu — you just need a consistent, dry heat.

Ingredients

For the tofu
250g tofu extra firm tofu, shaved (1)
1 cup mushroom stock
1/2t red Thai chili paste (or similar and/or to taste)
2T maple syrup
1T red miso
1T fresh garlic, minced
2T tamari
1/2t coarse sea salt
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: a dash of liquid smoke, and a tablespoon of minced anise if you just happen to have some lying around.

For the kale
1 cup kale, finely chopped
1/4t coarse salt
1/2T cooking oil
1T nutritional yeast
Sea salt to taste

For the dumplings
2 cups water
1 large yellow potato in 1/2″ dice (about 1 to 1 1/4 cups)
1 cup hard wheat flour
1/2t coarse sea salt
1/2T milled flax seeds
1 liter water with 1/2T coarse sea salt
1T olive oil
1T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: add 1/2t garlic powder and/or 1/2t onion powder to the dumpling dough for more flavour.

For the gravy
2T cooking oil separated
1/4t of coarse sea salt
1 medium vidalia onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
2t dried, ground cumin
1t dried, ground coriander
2T fresh garlic, minced
1t of black strap molasses
1T of lemon juice
1T of tamari
1/2 to 1 cup passata (or tomato puree)
1 1/2 cups of dark ale (2)
1 cup of vegetable stock
1T arrowroot whisked with 2T cold water
2T nutritional yeast
1T nori flakes
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
3-4″ scallion green for garnish

Optional: a little red Thai chili adds some nice flavor to the sauce as well.

Instructions

First, start the tofu, then the dumplings, then the sauce and then the kale.

Shave the tofu with a spiralizer or mandoline — or, use this as an opportunity to practice your knife skills (just be careful with your fingers). Whisk together the ingredients for the tofu’s marinade, except for the stock. Toss the tofu and marinade on the counter for about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 450F. Add the tofu to a lightly oiled roasting pan or baking sheet with sides. Whisk the stock with the remaining marinade. Pour over the tofu. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 180F and roast with the door slightly ajar, turning here and there, until the stock is absorbed, the pan is dry, and the tofu is brown and chewy — expect about 3 – 4 hours.

Bring 2 cups water to a boil and add the diced potatoes. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes until fork tender. Alternatively, you can steam the potatoes for a lighter texture. When done, drain and puree the potatoes unit smooth. Cover loosely, and refrigerate at least 2 hours to cool and dry.

While the potatoes setup, start the gravy. In a large frying pan with a lid, bring the oil to heat with the sea salt on medium high. Add the onions and saute for 3-5 minutes (until they’re start to soften and wilt). Add the cumin, coriander and garlic and saute for 3 minutes. Add the molasses and stir to combine. Spread the onions evenly across the bottom of the the pan. Reduce heat to low. Cook for 30 minutes stirring frequently until the onions have caramelized.

When the onions are caramelized, add the lemon juice and tamari and deglaze the pan. Return the pan to medium high heat. For a thicker, more tomato tasting gravy, use the full cup of passata. For something more balanced, stick with 1/2 cup. Add the passata and stock to the pan. Stir to combine, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the beer, stir to combine and cook until the liquid reaches a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until until the sauce is thick and has reduced by half or so (expect at least 30 – 40 minutes).

As the gravy thickens, about 25 minutes into its reduction, start the kale. Toss the kale with the oil and add to the roasting pan with tofu. Increase the oven temperature to 400F. Roast for about 10 minutes, or until the kale is nicely wilted. Finish the tofu at this temperature, and remove either the kale or the tofu as necessary and set aside.

When the potatoes have setup, and the tofu is starting to brown nicely, pour off any condensed water and mix the potatoes with 1/2 cup flour, flax and 1/2t sea salt and mix well to form a soft but coherent dough. Add the garlic and onion powder if you’ll be using it. Add more flour in tablespoons as you need it — or, if you prefer a heavier dumpling, start with 3/4 cup and go from there.

Bring the water and 1/2T sea salt to a boil in a large pot. Pinch the dough in 1T sizes and roll into balls. When the dumplings are ready, drop them gently into the boiling water. Swirl the pan gently. Boil until the dumplings start to float (perhaps 3-5 minutes –but they’ll float when done). Drain the dumplings and in a large, shallow bowl, toss with 1T olive oil and 2T nutritional yeast.

When the kale, tofu and dumplings are ready, whisk the arrowroot and the water and add slowly to the gravy, stirring continuously, until thickened. Add the nutritional yeast and nori flakes and stir to combine. Let stand 5 minutes to cool. Season to taste.

To assemble, season the dumplings to taste and plate in an even layer on the dish. Pour the gravy over top. Layer the kale and tofu in sprinkles, garnish with scallion greens sliced on an angle and serve.

  1. The qualify of the tofu will make a big difference to the finished dish. If necessary, press your tofu beforehand.

  2. The quality of the beer is very important to this recipe. Pick a well-balanced one. I normally use dunkel for the malt flavour or dark ale for this kind of dish. Also, it’s uncommon, but some beers are still filtered using isinglass and other animal products. Be sure to check!

Chocolate frozen dessert with almonds

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Four ingredients, simple, creamy and delicious.

3 frozen bananas (about 2 1/2 cups)
2T cocoa (I use a Dutch-processed, fairly traded brand)

1/4 cup soft dates, pitted and finely chopped.
1t sliced almonds, crushed

Optional: 1t powdered maca

Puree the bananas, cocoa and dates until smooth, spoon out, and garnish with almonds.

Sweet potato, chick pea, and sea vegetable hash with kale, sauerkraut and balsamic vinegar, tomato catsup

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A fairly straightforward hash — in spite of the ingredients list — baked with sesame and curry spices, topped with kale stir-fried in tamari and mustard, garnished with some sauerkraut, black sesame seeds, and a simple tomato, balsamic vinegar catsup. This recipe easily doubles.

Ingredients

For the dressing
1 scallion, minced
1/2T fresh garlic, minced
1T sesame seed butter
1T tamari
1T pickle or sauerkraut vinegar (pickle vinegar pefered for the spices)
1T cold water
1/2t coconut sugar
1T nutritional yeast
1/2T curry powder
1/4t red Thai chili
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

For the hash
1 cup sweet potato, peeled, 1/3″ dice
1 cup yellow potatoes, scrubbed, 1/3″ dice
1/2 cup cooked chick peas (1)
1T warm water
1/2T nori flakes
1/2t purple dulse flakes
1T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

For the kale
1 cup green kale, stemmed and chopped
1/2t prepared mustard (I use a brown mustard)
1/2T tamari
1T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

For the garnish
1T passata (or tomato puree)
1t balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
1/2t black sesame seeds
2T sauerkraut (I use unpastuerized)

Optional: add 1/2t agave nectar, 1/4t garlic and/or onion powder to the catsup for a more traditional catsup taste.

Directions

Make the dressing for the hash first, then the potatoes and chick peas, the kale and the garnish.

Preheat the oven to 375F. Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and season to taste. Let the dressing stand while the oven warms up. Prepare the sweet and yellow potatoes. Using a fork, mash the chick peas with the warm water, dulse, nori, and nutritional yeast. Season to taste. Toss the potatoes in the dressing until well-coated. Toss the chick peas with the potatoes and mix thoroughly.

Add the hash to a 5″ – 6″ tart ceramic plate (or similar glass or ceramic baking dish). Pack the hash tightly with a spoon. Bake for 20-30 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender and lightly browned. They should have formed a light crust. When the hash is done, remove from the oven and let it stand 5 minutes to cool and setup.

While the hash cools, make the kale and catsup. Whisk the tamari and mustard. Add the mixture to a frying pan on high heat. Add the kale and stir fry until the kale is lightly wilted (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat, toss with the nutritional yeast, and season to taste. Whisk the passata and balsamic vinegar together for the catsup and season to taste.

Run the flat of a knife around the interior edge of the hash to loosen it from the tart plate. Carefully turn out the hash onto a plate (it may be a bit crumbly). Season to taste. Add the kale. Garnish with sauerkraut, black sesame seeds, and catsup, and enjoy!

  1. If you make the chick peas from scratch for this dish, about 1/4 scant cup will yield slightly more than 1/2 cup cooked, which will be fine. I slow cook mine in larger batches with kombu so that I have them on hand.

Mocha, chocolate fudge frozen dessert with walnuts

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Simple and delicious.

Ingredients

For the bananas
2 medium frozen bananas (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 shot fresh espresso, short (I use a fairly traded brand)
Sweetened to taste
1t walnuts for garnish

For the fudge
1/2T cashew butter
2t cocoa powder (I use a fairly traded, Dutch-processed brand)
1T cold water
1t coconut sugar (or other sweetener to taste)

Optional: 1t powdered maca root. Dates, stevia, maple syrup, agave nectar, coconut sugar, etc., will all work as sweeteners for the bananas. I use coconut sugar for the fudge, but other sweeteners will work as well.

Method

Make and then flash chill the espresso in the freezer while you make the rest of the fudge. Mix the ingredients for the fudge until smooth and thick. Puree the bananas and espresso. Sweeten to taste. Add the fudge and stir lightly to ripple. Spoon out, garnish with walnuts and serve.

Champurrado frozen dessert

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A traditional hot chocolate richly spiced with cinnamon, vanilla and star anise, thickened with masa, presented here in frozen dessert form.

Ingredients

2T cool water
1t masa harina
1/4 cup unsweetened soy milk
1/2t ground cinnamon (1)
2T unrefined sugar (2)
1/4t vanilla extract
Several drops, anise extract (1)
25g bittersweet chocolate (I used a fairly traded bar, 70% cocoa)
2 Large frozen bananas (about 2 cups)
A pinch of cocoa for garnish (I use a fairly traded, Dutch-processed brand)

Directions

Mix the masa and cool water in a small bowl. Add the mixture to a small sauce pan and warn on medium. Add the soy milk and stir to combine. Bring the pan to a light simmer. Mix the cinnamon and sugar until well combined. Add the mixture to the pan. Stir thoroughly. Simmer lightly, stirring frequently, for about 3-5 minutes

or until the mixture is starting to thicken.

As the sugar is dissolving, break the chocolate in to small pieces. Add the chocolate to the pan, stirring continuously until the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to add water, heat the pan too much, or do anything else that might make your chocolate seize.

When the chocolate has melted, remove from heat. Let the chocolate cool 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add the chocolate mixture to the bananas and puree smooth. Spoon out into an appropriate glass, sprinkle with cocoa and serve.

1. Normally, cinnamon sticks and star anise pods are preferred, but given the small amount of liquid involved, ground cinnamon and extract will do. If you decide to quadruple the recipe, by all means, use the whole spices.

2. Piloncillo is preferred, but not readily available everywhere. I used 2T scant coconut sugar, 1/2t black strap molasses for this version.

Fresh, hand made fettuccine with sesame, artichoke white sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and kale

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The combination of sesame, artichoke and white miso with the cabbage give this white sauce a rich flavour.
Don’t let the cabbage put you off. It’s mildly pungent flavor works with the artichoke to make for a very flavourful sauce.

Pictured here with sagnarelli (rectangular pasta about 1″ x 2″) and fregula, a circular, oven-toasted pasta like couscous. Sagnarelli are a good pasta for someone new to making their own, and fregula are fun to make.

Ingredients

For the pasta
1 1/2 cups semolina flour
1/2 cup cold water
1T olive oil
1/4t sea salt
2 liters water with 2T course sea salt for boiling
1T nutritional yeast

For the sauce
1 cup vegetable stock
1/4t coarse sea salt
1 ‘sprig’ of dried kombu (about 1″)
1T fresh garlic, minced
1 cup artichoke hearts

1 cup shredded green cabbage (the whiter, the better –although I use coleslaw mix)
2t lemon juice
1T white miso
2T sesame seed butter (as opposed to tahini; I used a fairly traded brand)
1T tapioca flour whisked with 2T cold water
2T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: Add a 1/2t of smoked paprika garnish for some additional flavour. Replace the cabbage with cauliflower and the sesame with cashew butter for a more neutral
taste.

For the garnish
1 cup kale, coarsely chopped
1/2T cooking oil
1/4t coarse sea salt
1T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (the dehydrated kind, not jarred)
1/4 cup boiling water

Directions
Start the pasta, make the sauce and then the garnish. Mix the flour and sea salt. Mix the 1/2 cup water and oil. Combine the wet and dry and knead until a smooth, elastic dough forms (about 3-5 minutes). Set aside under a clean, wet tea towel for 30 minutes to let the dough rest.

At the 30 minute mark, roll the dough out on a floured board into a large rectangle about 12″ wide, however long, and 1/8″ thick. You may need to break the dough into two pieces if you have a small board. Keep the other half in the bowl under the tea towel until its ready to use.

With the dough rolled, Start the sauce. In a sauce pan with a lid, bring the stock to a light simmer, add everything up to but not including the miso to the pan, cover, reduce to low and simmer about 10 minutes or until the cabbage is lightly soft, but not mushy.

While the sauce simmers, start the garnish. Preheat the oven to 450F. Bring the 1/4 cup water to a boil and add to the sun-dried tomatoes. Toss the kale with the cooking oil and sea salt. Spread the kale evenly across a small baking dish and roast for about 8-10 minutes, or until the kale is a vibrant green.

With the kale in the oven, finish the pasta. Cut width-wise with a pastry cutter (or a knife) in 1/4″ strips. Repeat until your dough is used up. Bring the 2L water and sea salt to a boil. Drain the sun-dried tomatoes, adding their water to the pasta water. Add the pasta. Swirl the pan. Cook until the fettuccine start to float. Chop the sun-dried
tomatoes while you wait.

For a softer pasta, boil an extra minute, but be careful not to overcook Drain the pasta reserving about 2T pasta water. Add this to the sauce. Rinse the fettuccine with cool water.

Now, finish the sauce. Remove from heat, and remove the kombu. Add the miso and the sesame seed butter. Puree the ingredients until smooth. Return the pan to a simmer. Add the tapioca mixture slowly, stirring continuously, until thickened. Remove from heat. Add the nutritional yeast and stir to combine.

Let the sauce stand about 2 minutes to cool. Rinse the pasta with hot water, drain a few seconds. Remove the kale from the oven. Toss with the nutritional yeast and season to taste. Toss the pasta with its nutritional yeast.
Season the sauce to taste. Plate the pasta, add the
sauce, sprinkle with the kale and sun-dried tomatoes, and serve.

Creamy potato, tempeh soup with smokey roasted eggplant and kale

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A warm, nourishing, and filling soup. This recipe easily doubles.

For the soup
4T water, divided
1T maple syrup
1T tamari
2T cashew butter
1/4t turmeric
125g tempeh, finely chopped (use pasteurized)
1/4t coarse sea salt
2 scallions, minced (4-6″ green reserved for garnish)
2T fresh garlic, minced
1T lemon juice
3 cups vegetable stock
2 medium yellow potatoes, chopped (or about 2 cups diced)
1T tapioca flour dissolved in 2T cold water
2T nutritional yeast
Sea salt, black pepper and maple syrup to taste

For the eggplant
1T cooking oil
1/4t coarse sea salt
1T tamari
1t fresh garlic, minced
1/2T maple syrup
1/4t black or cayenne pepper
A dash liquid smoke (or to taste)
2 Italian eggplants (enough to make 12 – 16, 1/4″ slices)
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: replace the liquid smoke with 1/2t smoked paprika

For the kale
1/2T cooking oil
1/4t coarse sea salt
2 cups loose green kale, stemmed and chopped
1T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

For the garnish
1/2t dried, ground sumac
1T nutritional yeast
Sriracha, cayenne pepper, chili flakes or similar to taste

Directions
Start the soup, then make the eggplant and kale. Mix the cashew butter, maple syrup, tamari, and turmeric until combined. Toss the chopped tempeh in the mixture to coat and set aside.

In a large pot with a lid, bring 2T water and sea salt to a simmer on medium high heat. Add the scallions and saute in the water for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the tempeh, its marinade and 2T water to the pan. Saute for another 3-5 minutes or until the pan is starting to brown lightly.

Add the lemon juice and deglaze the pan. Add the stock and bring the pan back to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 30 minutes loosely covered. Add the potatoes, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for another 15 – 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

While the potatoes simmer, preheat the oven to 450F. Toss the kale in its cooking oil and sea salt. Trim the ends of the eggplant and slice length-wise in 1/4″ strips. Start by cutting the eggplant in half, and then cut in slices. Slice as evenly as possible to ensure even cooking. Aim for 16 slices if you can in case you loose a few during the cooking process. Trim the outside skin of the eggplant on the last slice, but don’t peel entirely.

Whisk the cooking oil, tamari, sea salt, maple syrup and liquid smoke. Toss the sliced eggplant in the mixture until well coated. On a lightly oiled, warm roasting pan or baking sheet, roast the eggplant and the kale until the kale is soft and the eggplant is well browned, turning once. Expect 8-12 minutes. Ovens vary; use the colour and texture of the eggplant as a guide. Remove the kale or eggplant and set aside if either cooks more quickly.

When the potatoes are tender, remove from heat and puree the the soup until smooth. Return the pan to a simmer. Mix the tapioca flour with the water until dissolved. Stirring continuously, add the tapioca mixture to the soup slowly until thickened.

Remove from heat and add the nutritional yeast. Chop 2-4 slices or so of eggplant (depending on how many you have total) and add to the soup. Add about 1/4 cup kale to the soup. Stir to combine. Let stand 2 minutes to cool. Season the remaining kale, the remaining eggplant, and the soup to taste.

To plate, ladle out the soup. Add the eggplant and kale to the middle of the bowl in a light stack. Spread the kale in a thin layer so that its pressure relative to the surface tension of the soup is nice and light.

Add the eggplant slices in a similar way. Sprinkle the soup with sumac and nutritional yeast. Add sriracha, red pepper flakes or similar. Garnish with thinly sliced scallion greens cut on an angle and serve.