chiptole sofritas

  • 1 poblano pepper or green bell pepper,kept whole
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil,divided
  • 1 medium yellow or red onion, finely chopped
  •  4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  •  1 teaspoon Mexican oregano or regular oregano
  •  ½ teaspoon ancho chile powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  •  A generous amount of freshly cracked black pepper
  •  1 (12 to 16-ounce) block of super firm tofu (also sold as high-protein tofu)*
  •  2 roma tomatoes, chopped
  •  1 chipotle pepper in adobo + 1/2 tablespoon adobo sauce**
  •  2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup (120 mL) water
  • Lime juice to finish
  • Broil the poblano pepper or green bell pepper. You have two options; the gas flame gets you a smokier flavor. No need to peel or remove the seeds when done.a. 
  • Cook the aromatics. Heat 1 ½ tablespoons of oil in a medium nonstick frying pan over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and season with a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until just starting to get some color. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add tomato paste, cumin, oregano, chile powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and cook until they’ve softened, about 5 minutes.
  • While the onions are cooking, cut the tofu into 4 slabs. Squeeze out as much water as you can. Crumble tofu into small pieces, about the size of a blueberry.
  • Transfer the onion-tomato mixture to a blender or food processor. Add the broiled poblano pepper, chipotle peppers in adobo, vinegar, and water. Blend until relatively smooth. Taste the sauce, adding any sweetener as needed or more vinegar or salt.
  • Heat the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the tofu and spread out in a single packed layer and season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Allow to cook 2 to 3 minutes undisturbed. Flip and continue cooking for a total of 12 minutes, stirring only every 2 to 3 minutes, until most of the tofu is browned.
  • Pour in the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. It’ll start to thicken, so turn the heat to medium or medium-low and cook for another 5 minutes, or until flavors have developed and tofu is saucy. If it gets too thick, add a few splashes of water.
  • Taste, adjusting seasonings as needed. If it’s a bit tangy, add a pinch of organic brown or cane sugar. Finish with a squeeze of lime juice.

NOTES

* If super firm tofu is not available, use extra firm tofu. Crumble the tofu into small pieces but not as small as the super firm tofu: if you crumble really small, it will get mushy. Check out the reference photo in the FAQ section. Then, coat the tofu crumbles with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Coating the tofu in cornstarch improves its texture quite a bit, giving it a slightly crisp coating and more chew, similar to Chipotle’s sofritas.

** Use ½ teaspoon adobo sauce for mild heat.

*** Want to save ~10 minutes? Cook the tofu in a separate pan while you cook the aromatics. 

veggie ramen from bon appetit

  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 Tbsp. black or white sesame seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. gochugaru (coarse Korean red pepper powder) or 1½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt
  • 4 scallions
  • 1 2″ piece ginger, peeled, thinly sliced
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 8 dried shiitake mushrooms
  • 1 4×3″ piece dried kombu
  • 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
  • 4 baby bok choy (about 12 oz. total), quartered lengthwise
  • 4 5-oz. packages fresh ramen noodles
  • Jammy eggs, toasted nori sheets, and/or cilantro (for serving; optional)
  • Fresh ramen noodles can be found at Asian markets and some grocery stores. We like Sun Noodle brand.
  • Cook garlic and ¼ cup oil in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring often, until garlic is beginning to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and stir in gochugaru; season with salt. Set garlic oil aside. Wipe out pot and set aside.
  • Trim dark green parts from scallions and thinly slice; set aside for serving. Coarsely chop white and pale green parts. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp oil in reserved pot over medium-high. Cook chopped scallions and ginger, stirring often, until scallions are charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to stick to the bottom of pot and darkens slightly, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and kombu, then stir in 5 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let sit until mushrooms soften, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard kombu.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer solids to a blender. Add a ladleful or 2 of broth to blender and purée until smooth. Stir purée back into broth in pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add butter a piece at a time, whisking to combine after each addition before adding more. Stir in soy sauce; season with salt. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add bok choy and cook until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bok choy to a plate. Return water to a boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and divide among bowls.
  • To serve, ladle broth over noodles, then top with bok choy and reserved garlic oil. Top with eggs, nori, and cilantro if desired.

Jo’s Tuna Pasta from splendidtable.org

1 lb 2 oz penne, fusilli
3 1/2 fl oz extra-virgin olive oil
1 white onion, finely diced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 oz good-quality tinned anchovies in oil
6 1/2 oz good-quality tinned tuna in oil
freshly grated parmesan cheese, to serve

 

 

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil, add the pasta and cook according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta over a bowl, reserving the cooking water, return to the pan and set aside.

Heat the oil in a separate saucepan over a medium heat, add the onion and cook for 3–5 minutes until softened. Add the tomato paste, vincotto and anchovies together with the oil from the tuna tin, reduce the heat to low and cook gently for 5–8 minutes, until the onions are nicely caramelised. Add the tuna and a few splashes of the reserved pasta cooking water, increase the heat to high and cook for 10–15 minutes, adding extra splashes of the pasta water as you go, until the sauce has a thin paste-like consistency.

Tip the sauce into the pan with the pasta and toss together thoroughly to coat. Divide among bowls and scatter over lots of grated parmesan. Serve.

Red lentil soup from Terry

2 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
1 large onion chopped
1 tablespoon of garlic ginger paste
2 tablespoon tomato paste (mine comes in a tube)
1 teaspoon cumin ground
1 teaspoon curry powder
Baby book choy, chopped (I just happened to have it)
1 cup red lentils
4 1/2 cups veg stock (or water)
1/2 can of coconut milk

Sauté veg and spices in oil until fragrant.
Add the lentils and liquid .

Lock lid and set to high pressure for 15 minutes. Natural pressure release

Cabbage Roll Soup from spendwithpennies.com

  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb fake meat
  • ½ lb lean ground pork
  • ¾ cup uncooked long grain rice
  • 1 medium head cabbage, chopped (core removed)
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 4 cups veggie broth
  • 1½ cups V8 or other vegetable juice
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bay leaf
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  1. In a large pot, brown onion, garlic, pork and beef. Drain any fat.
  2. Stir in chopped cabbage and let cook until slightly softened (about 3 minutes).
  3. Add all remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and reduced heat to medium low. Cover and simmer on low until rice is fully cooked (about 25-30 minutes)
  4. Remove bay leaf and serve.

Pasta e fagoli (pasta and bean soup) from Mario

  • 2 tablespoons butter?
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley (plus more for garnish)
  • 1000x400-q80_6ec2fc22392b70edf51cfc41c4cbd0b91 medium Spanish onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 8 cups veggie stock
  • 3 cups cooked barlotti beans or kidney beans (rinsed and drained if canned)
  • 2 cups dried pasta scraps from making fresh pasta (or broken dried fettucini)
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Parmigiano (for garnish)

In a Dutch oven, heat the butter and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over high heat until almost smoking. Add the parsley and onion and cook, stirring, until the onion is browned and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes. Add the veggie stock and beans and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add the pasta and simmer for 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper, and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Divide the soup among six serving bowls. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and garnish with more parsley and grated Parmigiano.

 

Fresh and Wild Mushroom Stew from NY Times

  • 1 ½ pounds crecipes-wildmushroomstew-master675ultivated brown mushrooms, like shiitake, cremini or portobello
  • ½ pound pale wild mushrooms, like chanterelle (or use King trumpet or oyster)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
  • 1 teaspoon chopped sage or rosemary
  • Pinch red pepper flakes or cayenne
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3 small ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • Porcini broth, heated, or use chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley

    Clean mushrooms, keeping colors separate, and trim tough stems. (Save stems for stock.) Slice mushrooms about 1/8-inch thick.In a wide skillet, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until onion has softened and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.

    Add 1 more tablespoon oil and turn heat to high. Add brown mushrooms, season lightly and stir-fry until nicely colored, about 3 minutes. Lower heat to medium. Add thyme, sage, red pepper and tomato paste. Add tomatoes, stir well, and cook for 1 minute. Season again with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour, stir to incorporate and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in reserved onions.

    Add 1 cup mushroom broth and stir until thickened, about 1 minute. Gradually add 1 more cup broth and cook for 2 minutes. Sauce should have gravy-like consistency; thin with more broth if necessary. Adjust seasoning. (May be prepared to this point several hours ahead and reheated.)

    Just before serving, put butter and 1 tablespoon olive in wide skillet over medium high heat. When butter begins to brown, add chanterelles, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for about 2 minutes, until cooked through and beginning to brown. Add garlic and parsley, stir to coat and cook 1 minute more. Add chanterelles to brown mushroom mixture and transfer to a warm serving bowl. Accompany with polenta or pasta if you wish.

Vegetable bolognese, Mario

Vegetarian-Bolognese-from-Cearas-Kitchen

    • 2 pounds mushrooms (such as cremini)
    • 3 medium carrots (peeled and roughly chopped)
    • 3 ribs celery (roughly chopped)
    • 5 cloves garlic
    • 1 cup milk
    • 4 ounces tomato paste
    • 1 cup dry white wine
    • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a food processor, add the mushrooms. Pulse to finely chop. Remove to a bowl and set aside.

In the same food processor, add the onions and pulse to finely chop. Remove to a separate bowl and set aside. Repeat with the carrots, celery and garlic, and add to the bowl with the onions. Set aside.

In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, add olive oil and place over medium heat.

Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, season with salt, and cook until the vegetables are translucent, about 5 more minutes.

Add the tomato paste, stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes. Add the milk and wine, and simmer over medium-low heat for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and remove from the heat.

Helpful Tip: make the Vegetable Bolognese ahead of time and freeze up to a month!