Shawarma sauce from NY Times

2 lemons, juiced
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
½ teaspoon turmeric
A pinch ground cinnamon
Red pepper flakes, to taste
1 large red onion, peeled and quartered
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Prepare a marinade. Combine the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then whisk to combine. Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Cover and store in refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.

Scatter the parsley over the top and serve with tomatoes, cucumbers, pita, white sauce, hot sauce, olives, fried eggplant, feta, rice — really anything you desire.

Chickpea Burgers

  • 3 cups chickpeas (drained, 1 large can)
  • 1/2 cup quick oats
  • 1/2 cup dill pickles (chopped)
  • 1 small carrot (blanched, diced)
  • 2 tablespoons scallions (thinly sliced)
  • 1 tablespoon white mild miso
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 teaspoons mustard
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • cornmeal (for dredging)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (for dredging)
  • 3 tablespoons safflower oil
  • In a large bowl, mash chickpeas with a potato masher. Mix in oats, olives or pickles, diced carrot, and scallions. In a separate bowl, blend together miso, soy sauce (or tamari), mustard, and maple syrup and add the blend to the chickpea mixture. Form the mixture into palm-sized patties and dredge them in cornmeal and salt.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons of safflower oil over medium heat. Fry each patty on both sides for 5 minutes. When oil is gone, re-oil the pan for the next round of patties. On the bottom bun place the lettuce, then top with the patty, pickle slices, tomato and onion. Spread tahini on top bun and place bun on top of burger. You can also serve the burger without a bun.
  • Tip: This burger mixture freezes well for later use.

10 minute broccoli tofu bowls from thewoksoflife.com/

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  • 16 oz. firm tofu
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry cooking wine
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 pound broccoli, cut into small florets
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

Cut your block of tofu into bite-sized cubes and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the stock, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, wine, sesame oil, and sugar, and set aside. dmv note:press tofu

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat, and add the garlic. Cook for a minute, being careful not to let the garlic burn. Add the broccoli, and crank up the heat to high, stir-frying the broccoli for a minute or to, just until it starts to turn a bright green color.

 

Eggplant Meatball Casserole Sarah Carey

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  • 1 eggplant (1 pound), stemmed and cut in 4 3/4-inch planks
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 1/3 cups breadcrumbs, preferably from a hearty Italian loaf
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 ounces)
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced plus 2 cloves thinly sliced
  • 1 large egg white
    1 can (28 ounce) whole plum tomatoes, pulsed in food processor
  • Red pepper flakes
  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced into 12 thin squares

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt, place in a single layer around a colander set over a bowl, and let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse eggplant, drain, and squeeze dry, pressing out excess moisture and patting with paper towel. Removing excess moisture helps make it easier to roll the balls.

    1. Meanwhile, spread 1 1/3 cup breadcrumbs in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until dried and just turning golden, 5 minutes. Let cool.

    2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the eggplant in a single layer; cook, flipping one time, about 5 minutes. Transfer to colander. Repeat adding another tablespoon of oil and second half of eggplant. If pan gets too hot, adjust heat. Wipe out pan. Let eggplant cool slightly in colander.

    3. Transfer eggplant to a food processor, discarding any extra juices that drained out. Add toasted breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and minced garlic. Pulse until mixture is a chunky paste, about 6 pulses. Transfer to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in egg white. Chill until cold, about 30 minutes. Form mixture into 12 balls, coating the outsides with remaining breadcrumbs to help shape the balls. Chill at least 1 hour until firmer and cold and up to overnight. Best results with an overnight chill.

    4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 10 inch enameled cast iron casserole or cast iron skillet over medium-high. Add meatballs working in two batches; cook, turning carefully with a spoon to help retain shape, until browned all over, about 6 to 7 minutes. If pan gets too hot, adjust heat. Transfer to a plate. Add remaining tablespoon oil and sliced garlic; stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, a large pinch of red pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt; bring to a boil. Return meatballs to pan; spooning sauce over to coat. Bake until sauce is slightly thickened, 18 minutes. Remove casserole from oven. Set oven to broil. Top each meatball with a piece of mozzarella; return to oven. Broil until cheese is bubbly and golden in spots, about 3 to 4 minutes.

vegetarian paella by bobby flay

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  • 3 tablespoons blended canola/olive oil
  • cooked rice (see recipe below)
  • cooked mushrooms (see recipe below)
  • cooked kale (see recipe below)
  • 3 large eggs
  • lemon (finely grated zest)
  • calabrian chile oil (see recipe below, to garnish)
  • saffron yellow pepper sauce (see recipe below, to garnish)
  • fried baby artichokes
  • kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

COOKED RICE

  • 2 tablespoons canola/olive oil blend
  • 1 small finely diced Spanish onion
  • 2 cups Spanish short grain rice (calaspara rice)
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 6 cups mushroom stock (recipe below, heated in a saucepan)

SAUTÉED MUSHROOMS:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds mixed mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, cremini mushrooms) chopped
  • 2 shallots (finely diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped to a paste)
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Mushroom Stock
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion (chopped)
  • 1 small carrot (chopped)
  • 1 small rib celery (chopped)
  • 1 1/2 pounds cremini mushrooms (coarsely chopped, stems included)
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 6 sprigs fresh flat leaf parsley
  • 8 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

SAUTÉED KALE

  • 2 tablespoons blended canola/olive oil
  • 1 bunch of kale (cut into 2-inch strips)
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

CHILE OIL

  • ¼ cup calabrian chiles (drained)
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Saffron Yellow Pepper Sauce
  • pinch of saffron
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic (chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 yellow bell peppers (roasted until soft, peeled, seeded and chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon clover honey
  • 1 cup blended olive/canola oil
  • Fried Baby Artichokes
  • 6 baby artichokes, trimmed (halved or quartered depending on how big)
  • canola oil
  • kosher salt

 

  • Heat the oil in a 15-inch paella pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. In a medium bowl, add the cooked rice and mushrooms and mix to combine. Add the rice mixture to the hot oil and press into an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Press down with heat-proof rubber spatula until the bottom begins to turn golden brown and crispy. 
  • Add the kale on.  Make 4 shallow wells in the top of paella and crack 1 egg into each well. Cover paella pan with aluminum foil or another large pan. Cook paella over medium heat until egg whites are just set, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Top the paella with fried artichokes, lemon zest and drizzle with chile oil and saffron sauce. Serve straight from the pan.
  • For the Cooked Rice: heat the oil in a large high-sided sauté pan or medium Dutch oven.  Add the onion and cook until soft, about 4 minutes.  Add the wine and cook until reduced.
  • Add 2 cups of the stock and cook until reduced then begin adding 1  cup of stock at a time and cook, stirring constantly, until the cook is al dente, about 30 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
  • For the Sautéed Mushrooms: heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat until it begins to shimmer.  Add the mushrooms and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. 
  • Add the shallots and garlic and cook until the mushrooms are golden brown and dry, season with salt and pepper.
  • For the Mushroom Stock: heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5-7 minutes.  Add cremini mushrooms, thyme, parsley, peppercorns, salt, and 8 cups cold water, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.  Remove from the heat and let sit for 30 minutes longer. 
  • Strain stock into a clean saucepan and keep warm over low heat (you should have about 7 cups).
  • For the Sautéed Kale: heat oil in large sauté pan over high heat until it begins to shimmer.  Add the kale and cook until crisp tender, add garlic, salt and pepper and cook until just cooked through, about 6 minutes.
  • For the Calabrian Chile Oil: (Yields approximately ½ cup) combine chiles and oil in a food processor and process until smooth, season with salt and pepper and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Strain through a mesh strainer into a bowl. Transfer to a nice cruet.
  • For the Saffron Yellow Pepper Sauce: combine the saffron, vinegar, garlic, mustard and salt and pepper in a blender and let sit for 5 minutes; blend until smooth
  • With the motor running, slowly add the oil and blend until emulsified; add the honey and blend for a few seconds longer. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt or pepper or vinegar, if needed.  Transfer to a squeeze bottle.
  • For Fried Baby Artichokes: heat oil in a high sided pan to 350ºF.  Fry the artichokes until golden brown and crisp.  Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and season with salt.
  • Tips:
    – The best part of paella is the crust on the bottom called the soccarat. The goal is to achieve a crispy, browned crust all the way around the bottom of the paella pan. Monitor heat and rotate the pan to prevent burning and even browning!
    – Use store-bought mushroom stock for a short-cut!

 

Spicy Whole-Roasted Cauliflower

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • roasted-cauliflower-21 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 3 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
  1. Preheat oven to 450º F.
  2. Cut leaves from around the cauliflower, and cut out the center core to create a flat surface for cauliflower to balance, making sure to leave the head intact.
  3. Rub vegetable oil over cauliflower and season generously with salt. Transfer to a baking sheet or pie dish and roast for 45 minutes, or until fork tender.
  4. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, grainy mustard, chili powder and cumin in a small bowl. Set aside until cauliflower finishes baking.
  5. Remove cauliflower from oven and brush olive oil mustard mixture all over. Let rest 5 minutes, so the mixture can soak into the surface.
  6. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro or other herbs, then cut into four pieces and serve hot.

Creamy Penne Florentine With Mushrooms And Spinach from 12tomatoes.com

download8-10 oz. penne pasta
3 cups medium mushrooms (shitake or porcini), stems removed, sliced
3 cups spinach
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to boil.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat and saute mushrooms, seasoned with salt and covered, for 15-20 minutes, or until softened.
Stir occasionally and reduce heat if mushrooms start to burn.

Add spinach to mushrooms and pour in lemon juice. Cook until wilted, then add walnuts.
Cook pasta according to packaging directions, or until al dente. Drain (reserving 1/2 cup pasta water) and set aside.

Add heavy cream to the spinach and mushrooms, stirring well, and mix in Parmesan cheese. If sauce is too thick, add pasta water one tablespoon at a time.
Taste and season with salt and pepper, if necessary.

Pour drained pasta into the sauce and toss well to coat thoroughly. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens and sticks to pasta.

Transfer to serving plates, garnish with more Parmesan and serve hot. Serves 4-6

 

Squash-Rice Casserole

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8 cups sliced zucchini (about 2 1/2 pounds)
1 cup chopped onion
garlic minced
1-2 tbsp olve oil
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup  sour cream
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheese
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
parsley for color
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Saute first 3 ingredients in olive oil until tender. Combine zucchini mixture, rice, sour cream, cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and eggs in a bowl; stir gently. Spoon zucchini mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

 

dmv note:  I halved the recipe, used yellow squash and cubed brie it was quite tasty.

 

Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Potato Bake from allrecipes.com

32874762 teaspoons olive oil
2 pounds Italian(veggie) sausage links, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
3 large onions, cut into wedges

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  2. Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir the sausage until browned. Transfer the cooked sausage to a large baking dish. Pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into the skillet, and cook the potatoes, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Place the potatoes into the baking dish, leaving some oil. Cook and stir the green and red peppers and onions in the hot skillet until they are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetables to the baking dish. Pour wine and chicken stock over the vegetables and sausage, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Gently stir the sausage, potatoes, and vegetables together.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower and Whipped Goat Cheese by Alon Shaya

 

Cauliflower poached in a winey, punchy broth, then roasted — whole — results in a brown and crackly masterpiece. Topped with a creamy, tangy sauce.

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  • head cauliflower, whole, stem trimmed and leaves removed
  • 2 1/2 cups dry white wine
  • 1/3 cup olive oil plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • tablespoons unsalted butter
  • tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • tablespoon sugar
  • bay leaf
  • Coarse sea salt (for serving)
  1. Heat oven to 475° F. Bring wine, oil, salt, lemon juice, butter, red pepper flakes, sugar, bay leaf, and 8 cups water to a boil in a large pot.
  2. Remove leaves and cut out the center core to create a flat surface for cauliflower to balance, making sure to leave the head intact.
  3. Carefully lower in cauliflower, reduce heat, and simmer, turning occasionally, until a knife easily inserts into center, 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Using 2 slotted spoons or a mesh strainer or spider, transfer cauliflower to a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan, draining well.
  5. Roast, rotating pan halfway through, until brown all over, 30 to 40 minutes.
  6. Transfer cauliflower to a plate. Drizzle with oil; sprinkle with sea salt. Serve with whipped goat cheese (recipe below).

Whipped Goat Cheese

  • ounces fresh goat cheese
  • ounces cream cheese
  • ounces feta cheese
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • tablespoons olive oil plus more for serving
  1. Blend goat cheese, cream cheese, feta, cream, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a food processor until smooth; season with sea salt.
  2. Transfer whipped goat cheese to a serving bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
  3. Note: Whipped goat cheese can be made one day ahead. Cover and chill in the refrigerator.
  • Serves 4 to 6