Posts

Lemony Cauliflower Soup

/in , , , , , /by

Creamy and chunky, creating wonderful textural contrasts, and with subtle undertones of lemon balanced out by the herbs and pepper, this soup is a real winner and would be perfect for entertaining. This recipe serves 4-6 depending on whether it’s being eaten as a starter or a main.

Ingredients:
2 white onions, finely chopped
650g white mushrooms, quartered
1.5 litres vegetable broth
1 large potato, peeled and in bite-size dice
1 tsp dried thyme*
1 tsp dried basil*
1 head cauliflower, in small florets
1 lemon, rind and zest
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Red chilli flakes and parsley (optional)

*Crumbling dried herbs between your fingers before adding them to a dish will help to release more of their aromatic oils.

Directions:
1. Preheat a large soup pot over a medium low heat. Add the onion and mushroom, and sauté until the mushrooms release their liquid.
2. Add the vegetable broth, potato, and herbs. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the cauliflower, cover the soup once again, and simmer for 7 minutes more.
4. Stir through the lemon zest and juice.
5. Transfer half of the soup to a blender and blend until smooth (optional). Return to the pot to reheat, and season to taste.
6. Serve garnished with red chilli flakes and parsley, and a little extra lemon zest, if desired.

Twice-Baked Tempeh Potatoes with Red Pepper Sesame Sauce

/in , , , , , /by

These potatoes are a fusion of textures from the creamy potato filling to the crispy skins. This recipe serves 2 hungry people as a main, or 4-8 as a side.

Ingredients:
4 large baking potatoes
2 tbsp suitable-for-vegans hummus
3 tbsp soy milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
150g ready-to-eat (steamed and marinated) tempeh, finely diced
2 green onions, finely diced
2 tbsp fresh, minced parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Red Pepper Sauce:
1 red pepper, roughy chopped
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 heaped tsp suitable-for-vegans Dijon mustard
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 190C. Prick the potatoes all over with a fork, and bake for 60 minutes or until tender.
2. Meanwhile, make the sauce by blending all ingredients.
3. Allow to cool, halve, and scoop out the filling. Mash with the hummus, soy milk, garlic powder, nutritional yeast. Stir through the green onions, tempeh, and parsley. Season, and return the filling to the shells. Spoon about a tsp sauce over each potato half, and bake in the oven for 15 more minutes.

Pizza Tots

/in , , /by

This is a fun way to serve potatoes and is a perfect recipe for serving vegetables and beans to children who may be reluctant to eat them otherwise. The recipe makes 20 tots

Ingredients

1 x 400g can cannellini beans
1 cup fresh basil
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 medium potatoes, baked and cooled
1/3 cup olives, finely chopped
1/4 cup slow-roasted or sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup nuts of choice, finely ground (if allergic to nuts, use ground oats instead)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 220C, and line a baking tray with a silicon sheet or parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, pulse the cannellini beans and basil until smooth.
3. Halve the potatoes, and scoop the flesh from the skins. Mash the flesh with a fork and add to the basil and bean mixture with the rest of the ingredients.
4. Taking a heaped tablespoon of the mixture, press it firmly between your hands to bind it, and form it into tater tot shapes. Place on the silicon sheet or parchment paper. Repeat until all the mixture is used up.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, turn the tots, and bake for 10 minutes more.
6. Serve with some tomato sauce or suitable-for-vegan yellow mustard.

Turmeric, miso stew with tofu, tempeh, mushrooms, and potatoes

/0 Comments/in , , /by
Sweetened with dates, thickened with flax, and finished with baby kale, this is a rich, spicy stew with lots of strong flavour and colour. If you’re not a turmeric lover, keep the amount low to start.

Ingredients

1/4 cup water
1/2t coarse sea salt
2T scallions, finely chopped (reserve a few inches of green for garnish)
1-3t dried, ground turmeric (to taste — I use 1T)
1T fresh garlic, minced
1t fresh ginger, grated and minced
1/2t dried, ground cumin
1/2t dried marjoram, rubbed
1/4t dried red chilis (or to taste — I use about 1/2t)
1 cup cremini mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced, about 1/8″
125g extra firm, high quality tofu, 1/3″ cubes
125g tempeh, 1/4″ cubes (use pasteurized)
1 1/2 cups potatoes, 1/3″ dice (I use organic russets)
1/2 cup dried, soft dates, pitted and finely chopped
1T lemon juice
1 ‘sprig’ dried kombu, about 2″
2 cups vegetable stock
2 cups unsweetened plant milk
3T red miso (or more, to taste)
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1T sesame seed butter
2T milled flax seed
3 cups loose baby kale (leave a few leaves for garnish)
Coarse sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: White, yellow, or other shades of miso will work, but they’ll change the final colour. Use freshly grated turmeric (start with 1T) if you have an easy source. Leave out the garlic if you prefer. A little shredded cabbage added with the plant milk and/or a little cilantro for garnish wouldn’t hurt. Add some fresh blueberries to brighten up the flavour.

Method

Warm a large frying pan with a lid on medium heat. Add the water, sea salt and scallion. Water saute for 2 minutes. Add the turmeric, and other herbs and spices. Saute another minute.

Add the mushrooms. Saute for another 2 – 3 minutes. Add the tofu, tempeh, potatoes and dates. Saute another 2 minutes. Add the lemon and deglaze the pan (if necessary).

Add the stock, bring the pan to a light simmer, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Uncover, add the plant milk. Increase heat to medium low.

Simmer another 30 minutes or so uncovered on low heat (as low as you can set it but still simmer) stirring periodically. Remove from heat. Remove the kombu. Add the miso, nutritional yeast, sesame seed butter, flax and kale. Stir to combine.

Let stand 2 minutes to cool. Season to taste. Ladle out into bowls. Garnish with scallion green sliced on an angle and a few scallion greens and serve.

 

 

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

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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.

Slow-cooked mushroom stew with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots

/0 Comments/in , , /by

A simple, warming stew that can go straight into a slow-cooker, shown here with a gluten free soda bread bun. This recipe easily doubles (if you have a slow-cooker to suit).

Ingredients

3 large portobello mushrooms (about 3 cups), stemmed,
1 1/2″ dice
2 cups packed shredded green cabbage (I use coleslaw mix)
2 cups potatoes, 3/4″ dice (I use quartered grelots)
1 cup carrots, 1″ segments (I use purple)
1 cup scallions, minced, 3″ – 4″ green reserved for garnish
2 cups vegetable stock
1/2t coarse sea salt
2T cooking oil (I use olive oil for this)
1 ‘sprig’ dried kombu (about 1″)
2T tomato passata (or puree)
1T tamari
2T fresh garlic, minced
2T tapioca flour dissolved in 2T water
Coarse sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: A tablespoon smoked paprika, some chopped green kale toward the end, black olives, red chili flakes, curry powder and other ingredients will give the stew some additional colour, flavour, and nutrition. You can substitute arrowroot for the tapioca, or even cornstarch if
your slow-cooker provides enough heat. Or you can add 2T wheat flour dissolved in the stock at the beginning for something more traditional. Soda bread, buns, pita, and other breads make a nice accompaniment.

Method

Add all of the ingredients up to but not including the tapioca flour to a slow-cooker. Cook until the potatoes and carrots are fork tender. Expect 4-6 hours on high or longer on low. Note, the size and power of the slow-cooker will produce variation in the time to cook the dish. Adjust the temperature and time expectations based on yours.

When the potatoes and carrots are ready, remove the kombu. Add the tapioca flour mixture and stir to distribute. Return to heat for another 10 – 20 minutes or so, stirring periodically until the tapioca has thickened. Once the tapioca has thickened, season to taste, ladle out, garnish with scallions and serve.