Tofu sofrito

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Sofrito is a complex but varied intersection between cooking method, ingredients, and finished dishes with many regional variations uses. My book, for example, has a version with green pepper, green apple and portobello mushrooms. Shown here with a smoky cashew spread
and fresh mixed baby greens wrapped in warm, fresh, hand rolled, whole wheat tortilla. It also goes well with brown rice, salsa and greens. Once you make it, you’ll find plenty of uses for it.

Ingredients

1 pound extra firm, high quality tofu, shredded (I use a box grater, larger holes)
1/2t coarse sea salt
1/4 cup cooking oil
2T garlic
1 medium red onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
1T heaping smoked paprika
2t dried, ground cumin
2t dried oregano, rubbed
1T lemon juice
2 cups vegetable stock
1 ‘sprig’ dried kombu (about 1″)
2T sun-dried tomatoes, minced (the dehydrated kind, not jarred)
1T white vinegar
2t black strap molasses
1-2T minced chipotle (the dehydrated kind, not in adobo)
1 large red pepper (about 1 cup)
1 large poblano pepper (about 1 cup)
1 cup passata (or tomato puree)
Red or black pepper and coarse sea salt to taste

Optional: You can replace chipotle with habanero (I often do). I also often replace the passata with salsa, the cumin with garam masala and/or the oregano with herbes de Provence. Spanish onions are more traditional than red. Cilantro, white wine and green peppers are also common variations.

Directions

Start with the peppers, then the tofu. Press your tofu ahead of time if it needs it. Preheat the oven to 450F. Lightly oil the peppers and roast until their skin is lightly charred (or use the gas stove method if you have a gas stove). Expect about 20 minutes, give or take.

It’s likely the poblano will finish more quickly than the red pepper. Remove them from heat separately if necessary. When done, let the peppers stand 10 minutes to cool. Skin, core, seed and dice. Puree the peppers (including the chipotle) until smooth.

When the peppers are ready, bring the oil to heat in a large frying pan with the sea salt. Add the onion and saute for 3-5 minutes. Add the dry spices and the garlic and saute for another 1-2 minutes. The spices should be quite fragrant.

Add the tofu and saute until lightly browned (expect another 7 – 10 minutes). Stir carefully so as to not break up the tofu too much. Add the lemon juice and deglaze the pan. Remove from heat and add to a slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and slow cook for about 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low (although adjust for your
slow cooker — you know it better than I do).

Once the liquid has reduced to about 2 cups, preheat the oven to 200F. Remove the kombu and transfer the tofu to a roasting pan or baking sheet with sides and roast for about 2 hours, stirring periodically to ensure even browning and drying.

Once most of the liquid has been reduced and the pan is beginning to dry, increase the heat to 450F and roast for about 10 – 20 minutes to finish. The tofu should be chewy, but juicy, and an even reddish brown. Season to taste with additional pepper and salt.

Note: You can reduce cooking time by skipping the slow cook and slow roast in favor of just a slow roast. In that case, roast for about 4 hours at 200F and then increase heat, but expect to stir periodically the whole time. Your texture may not be quite as even and the flavour will not be quite as balanced. You may also want to wear gloves
when working with the chipotle or other hot peppers.

Peanut butter and chocolate cookie dough frozen dessert

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Ingredients

For the nice cream
3 small frozen bananas (about 2 cups)
1/2t vanilla extract

For the cookie dough
1T whole wheat flour
1T unsweetened, unsalted peanut butter (I use crunchy)
1T coconut sugar (or to taste)
1-2t unsweetened plant milk
10g bittersweet chocolate chopped (I use an organic, fairly traded bar)
A pinch coarse sea salt

Optional 1t maca powder. Replace the wheat flour with a suitable gluten free flour (e.g., sorghum). Replace the chocolate with chocolate chips if you prefer. The coconut sugar will give the dough that bit of crystalline texture, but you can substitute other sweeteners.

Directions

Mix the ingredients for the cookie dough until a dough forms. Add an extra teaspoon of plant milk if dry. Let the dough rest a few minutes. Blend the bananas with the vanilla until smooth. Add and blend 1T cookie dough for a more homogeneous flavour, or keep them separate for more contrast. Break the dough into small pieces (about 1/2 -1t). Stir once or twice into the bananas. Spoon out and serve.

Tempeh, pumpkin chili wrap with roasted kale and artichoke, sesame spread

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Sweet, spicy and smokey chili wrapped in a warm, fresh whole wheat tortilla. The pumpkin makes a nice, filling alternative to tomato-centered chili.

Ingredients

For the chili
1T smoked paprika
1/2T cumin
1t coriander
1T cooking oil
2 scallions, minced
1T fresh garlic, minced
1/4t crushed chili flakes (or similar and/or to taste — I use 1/2t)
125g tempeh, finely chopped (use pasteurized)
1T lemon juice
2T sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped (dehydrated, not jarred)
1 cup vegetable stock
1/4 cup dried, soft dates, pitted and finely chopped
2 cups pumpkin puree
1T cashew butter
1T nutritional yeast
Coarse sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: replace the tempeh with about 3/4 cups cooked black lentils

For the artichoke, sesame spread
1/2 cup artichoke hearts
1/4t coarse sea salt
1/2T sweet white miso (use a low sodium version)
1/2T unpasteurized sauerkraut vinegar
1T sesame seed butter (as opposed to tahini — I used a fairly traded brand)
1/2T dried green herbs, rubbed (I use herbes de Provence)
1/4t freshly ground black pepper
1T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: for a more fermented flavor without the nutritional yeast, make the spread. Let it stand a few hours loosely covered, add the nutritional yeast, and then use as directed.

For the kale
1/2T cooking oil
1/4 coarse sea salt
1 cup kale, chopped
Sea salt to taste

For the wrap
2/3 cup heaping whole wheat flour
A pinch coarse sea salt
1/3 cup warm water

Directions

Start the chili, then the tortilla, then the rest. In a medium pan with a lid, roast the paprika, cumin, coriander and chili flakes on medium heat for 1-2 minutes (until they are nice and fragrant).

Add the cooking oil and stir to combine. Add the scallion and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic. Stir to combine and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the tempeh and saute another 3-5 minutes until the pan is browning. Add the vinegar and deglaze the pan.

Add the stock and the sun-dried tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for about 1 hour. The stock should reduce quite a lot during this time. If the pan dries, add water. At the one hour mark, add the pumpkin, dates, and cashew butter. Stir to combine.

Return the pan to a light simmer, reduce heat to the lowest setting, cover loosely and simmer for another hour or so, stirring periodically. Reduce the chili to about 1 1/2 cups. The chili should be quite thick. If it’s too thin, when you go to wrap, you may end up with a hot mess on your hands (literally). When reduced, remove from heat, add the nutritional yeast. Let stand 15 minutes to cool.

While the chili reduces, start the wrap. Add the salt to the water. Add the water to the flour. Mix the wet and the dry, then knead until a smooth, pliable dough forms and then for another two minutes. Cover with a warm, wet tea towel and let rest for at least 15 minutes.

While the dough rests, make the kale and artichokes. Preheat the oven to 450F. Toss the kale in the cooking oil and sea salt. Roast on a baking sheet or roasting pan on the middle rack for about 8-10 minutes, or until the kale is wilted and a rich green, but not browning. Stir periodically.

When the kale is done, remove from heat and set aside. Ovens vary; use the texture and colour of the kale as a guide. Dry roast the artichoke hearts with the kale for about 5 minutes. Remove, and blend the artichokes with their remaining ingredients until smooth. Set aside.

While the chili cools, roll the tortilla. On a floured board, roll the tortilla out to a 13″ – 14″ circle about 1/8″ thick. Be careful not to roll too thinly (the dough will have transparencies, start to split, etc.). If you don’t have a large enough frying pan, you can try a pizza stone. Otherwise, you can break the dough up and roll out to two tortillas about 6 1/2″ – 7″.

Let the dough rest while you bring a large frying pan (or griddle if you have one) to heat on medium high. Fry lightly on both sides until the tortilla is lightly browned (it will also bubble a little), turning once.This shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes, both sides. Be careful not to overcook. This will make the tortilla more difficult to roll and it will be more likely to split. Remove from heat and let the tortilla rest a couple of minutes under a clean tea towel to soften.

To assemble, add the chili in an oblong, but spread out layer in the middle of the tortilla, just off-center toward you. Add the kale in a thin layer over the chili. Add the artichokes last.

Wrap like a burrito. Carefully fold in the sides. Using both thumbs, carefully roll up the tortilla away from you over the top of the filling, tuck the filling gently, and then roll over.

Be careful as you wrap. If you overfill, wrap too quickly, don’t keep the sides tucked, the tortilla may split, your corners may come undone, etc. Let the wrap rest and setup for a few seconds, and then either wrap in foil for a couple of minutes, or I return mine to the frying pan, seam down, to seal.

Sesame seed aoili

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Shown here with a pinch of smoked paprika and herbes de Provence, this is a simple, flavourful alternative for those moments when you just want a little spread for your sandwich or to add a little extra flavour and body to salad dressings. No need to blend up a block of tofu or try to get soy mik and a cup of oil to emulsify.

Ingredients
2T sesame seed butter (as opposed to tahini — I use a fairly traded brand)
2T unsweetened soy milk
1T white pickling vinegar (or to taste)
1t lemon juice
1/2t fresh garlic, minced
1/4t coarse sea salt
1-3t cold water
Coarse sea salt to taste

Optional: Add red Thai chili, more garlic, black pepper, fresh tarragon, basil, dill, dried herbs,ginger, black salt, turmeric, nutritional yeast, curry powder, toasted sesame oil, za’atar spice mix, or any number of other flavours. Replace the sesame butter with cashew butter for something a little sweeter.

Note: Pickling vinegar is normally double strength white vinegar. You can use regular white vinegar, but you may need additional seed butter (and skip the water) to balance it out in terms of flavour and consistency. Other plant milks — even water should work, but depending on what you use, colour, consistency, keep time may all vary.

Directions
Mix the sesame seed butter with the lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, and soy milk until the sesame thickens and becomes fluffy. This will take a minute or so of mixing. The sesame will change colour and become smooth and creamy. You can also blend the mixture with the garlic as well (garlic is an emulsifying agent). I usually don’t bother with a quantity this small. Add the coarse sea salt and 1t cold water, and mix.

At this point, the flavor will be quite sharp. Add any additional flavours you like, stir to combine, and then let stand at least 5 minutes. Add cold water 1 teaspoon at a time till you get the consistency and flavour that suits your. If you make it too thin or you find the taste too sharp, add additional sesame seed butter and continue to adjust — although the flavour will mellow with more stand time and it will further thicken if refrigerated.

Sweet potatoes with green beans and red pepper

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A simple, but filling side dish that relies on the flavour and texture contrasts of its primary ingredients to produce a rich and visually vibrant dish. Shown here with balsamic battered tofu breaded, oven roasted and served with a light sesame and turmeric sauce.

Ingredients

3 cups sweet potatoes, 3/4″ dice
2 1/2 cups green beans
1 large red pepper (about 1 1/2 cups), 1/4″ slices
2T cooking oil
1/4t coarse sea salt
2T nutritional yeast
Coarse sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: Garlic, ginger, scallion, jalapeno pepper, chili powder, or curry spices will all add flavor to this dish. Add walnuts, sauteed mushrooms, black eyed peas, or lentils for a filing lunch. Toss with spinach or other baby greens for a richly flavoured salad.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450F. Peel and dice the sweet potato. Trim the ends of the green beans. Core, seed and slice the red pepper length-wise.

Toss the vegetables in the oil and sea salt, then roast in a shallow roasting pan or baking sheet with sides until the sweet potatoes are fork tender and very lightly browned. Expect 30-45 minutes. Oven vary; use the texture and colour of the sweet potato as a guide.

When done, remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes to cool. Toss with the nutritional yeast, season to taste, and serve

Sweet, spicy potatoes, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts roasted with mango, sesame, and curry spices

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Seasoned with fresh, ripe mango, curry spices and
crushed chili, roasted and then tossed with baby greens, this is a simple but flavourful small plate for four or a meal for two.

Ingredients

3 cups cauliflower florets
2 cups white potato, skin on and cut in 1/2″ dice
1 cup Brussels sprouts, halved lengthwise
1 cup vidalia onion, peeled and cut in 1/4″ dice
1 1/2 cups fresh mango, pitted, peeled and chopped.
1/2t coarse sea salt
3T sesame seed butter
3T curry powder (medium hot)
1/4t dried crushed red chili (or to taste, I use 1/2t)
1T fresh garlic, crushed and minced
1t fresh ginger, grated and minced
1 cup vegetable stock
2 cups mixed baby greens
Sea salt and black (or red) pepper to taste

Optional: Replace the stock and sesame seed butter with a can of full fat coconut milk or the potatoes with sweet potatoes. Replace the sprouts with shredded green cabbage if you prefer.

Directions

Preheat the oven for 400F. Prepare the cauliflower,
potato, sprouts, and onion and add to a roasting pan or baking sheet with side, potatoes on the bottom, then onions, then sprouts, with the cauliflower last.

Puree the mango, sea salt, sesame seed butter and spices until smooth. Add the stock. Puree smooth again. Pour the mango, sesame and spice mixture evenly over the vegetables to coat.

Roast on the middle rack, stirring periodically until
everything is very lightly browned and the potatoes are fork tender. Expect about 1 hour, but ovens vary. Use the texture and colour of the ingredients as a guide. Stir more frequently toward the end to avoid sticking.

When done, remove from the oven and toss with baby greens. Let stand 2-3 minutes to wilt the greens lightly. Season to taste and serve.

Spicy chick pea and greens soup in a light tomato broth

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A simple, rich and nourishing soup with no added oil and no added sugar.

Ingredients

1T smoked paprika
1/4t dried, crushed red chili (or to taste)
1/2t dried, ground cumin
1/2t dried oregano, rubbed
1/4t dried rosemary, rubbed
1/4t dried marjoram, rubbed
1/4t coarse sea salt
2 scallions, minced (3″-4″ green reserved for garnish)
2T warm water
1T fresh garlic, minced
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup passata (or tomato puree)
1 ‘sprig’ dried kombu (about 1″)
1 cup cooked chick peas
1 cup shredded green cabbage (I use coleslaw mix)
1/2 cup mixed baby greens
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: Garnish with 1T nutritional yeast for some additional nutrition and flavor. Saute with 1T cooking oil in place of 2T water if you prefer. A little dulse, nori or sesame seeds would also go well with this soup.

Directions

In a medium pan with a lid, toast the paprika, cumin, and chili on medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the scallions and sea salt. Stir to combine. Add the green herbs and water. Water saute for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another minute.

Add the stock, kombu, chickpeas and cabbage. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the passata. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 20 – 30 minutes or until the cabbage is wilted but not mushy. Don’t overcook — use the texture of the cabbage as a guide.

When ready, remove from heat. Remove the kombu. Add the greens and stir to combine. Let cool 5 minutes and for the greens to wilt. Ladle out, garnish with scallions greens sliced on an angle and nutritional yeast if you’ll be using it, and serve.

Spicy potatoes, mushrooms and cabbage roasted in curry spices, red miso and cashew milk tossed with mixed baby greens

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This makes for a lovely and aromatic small plate for 4, a meal for 2.

Ingredients
2 cups white potatoes, 1/2″ dice
2 cups shredded green cabbage (I use coleslaw mix)
2 cups cremini mushrooms, 1/4″ slices
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
3T cashew butter
1T red miso (use low sodium if you can find it)
2T curry powder
2t coconut sugar
1/2t crushed red chili (or to taste, I use 1t)
1 cup mixed baby greens
Sea salt and red or black pepper to taste

Optional: Use whole, freshly ground or popped spices in place of the curry powder. Replace the stock and cashew butter with a can of coconut milk. White button mushrooms will work in place of cremini, but they don’t have as much flavor. Add cooked lentils or chickpeas for a rounder dish.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450F. Add the potatoes, then the cabbage, then the mushrooms to a roasting pan or baking sheet with sides.

Puree the stock with everything up to but not including the greens. Pour the cashew mix over the vegetables and toss a little to coat well.

Roast until the pan is nicely browned, and the potatoes are tender. Stir periodically to ensure the mushrooms and cabbage cook evenly. Expect about an hour. Ovens vary; use the colour and texture as a guide.

Remove from heat, toss with the greens and let stand 5 minutes to cool. Dish out and serve.

Chocolate frozen dessert with peanut butter,chocolate chip cookie dough

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Ingredients

For the bananas
3 small bananas, frozen (about 2 cups)
2T cocoa (I use a fairly trade, Dutch-processed blend)
1/2t vanilla extract
1T cold water
Sweetened to taste (1/4 cup dried, soft dates, stevia, maple syrup, etc.)

For the cookie dough
1T whole wheat flour
1T unsweetened, unsalted peanut butter (I use crunchy)
1T coconut sugar (or to taste)
1-2t unsweetened plant milk
5g bittersweet chocolate, chipped (I use an organic, fairly traded bar)
A pinch coarse sea salt

Optional 1t maca powder. Replace the wheat flour with a suitable gluten free flour (e.g., sorghum). The coconut sugar will give the dough that bit of crystalline texture, but you can substitute other sweeteners. Replace the chocolate with actual chips if you prefer.

Directions

Mix the dry, the wet, and then the wet with the dry
ingredients for the cookie dough until a dough forms. Add an extra teaspoon of plant milk if dry. Let the dough rest a few minutes.

Mix the cocoa, the water and the dates and let stand 5 minutes. Blend the bananas with the vanilla until smooth. Add the chocolate mixture. Blend until smooth. Sweeten to taste.

Blend 1T cookie dough with the bananas for a more homogeneous flavour, or keep them separate for more contrast. Break the dough into small pieces (about 1/2 -1t). Stir once or twice into the nice cream. Spoon out and serve.

Spicy coconut milk stew with black beans, sweet potato, and mixed baby greens

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Simple, rich and brightly coloured, this makes a small bowl for 4 and a large one for 2.

Ingredients

2T water
1/4t coarse sea salt
2 scallions, minced (3″ – 4″ reserved for garnish)
1T fresh garlic, minced
1t fresh ginger, grated and minced
1t crushed red chili (or to taste)
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup vegetable stock
1 ‘sprig’ dried kombu (about 1″)
2 cups sweet potato, peeled and cut 1/2″ dice
2 cups green cabbage, shredded (I use coleslaw mix)
2 cups cooked black beans
1 cup mixed baby greens (I use spinach, kale and chard)
1/2 cup ripe tomato, cored, seed and cut 1/4″ dice
Coarse sea salt and chili or black pepper to taste

Optional: A little cilantro with the baby greens adds some bright green flavor to this dish. Dulse and nori flakes will add additional colour and nutrition.

Directions

Bring a large frying pan with a lid to heat on medium. Add the water and the scallions and water saute for 2 minutes. Add the ginger, garlic and chili and saute for another minute. Add the coconut milk and chili. Stir to combine. Simmer lightly for 2 minutes. Add the stock, kombu and sweet potato.

Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cabbage and stir to combine. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the black beans. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the sweet potato is fork tender. When the sweet potatoes are tender, remove from heat and remove the kombu.

Add the baby greens and stir gently to combine. Let stand 2 minutes to cool and for the greens to wilt. Season to taste. Ladle out and garnish with chopped tomato and scallion greens sliced on an angle.