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!

Classic Shrimp Scampi, NY Times

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  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup dry white wine or broth
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ¾ pounds large or extra-large shrimp, shelled
  • ⅓ cup chopped parsley
  • Freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon
  • Cooked pasta or crusty bread
  1. In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine or broth, salt, red pepper flakes and plenty of black pepper and bring to a simmer. Let wine reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
  2. Add shrimp and sauté until they just turn pink, 2 to 4 minutes depending upon their size. Stir in the parsley and lemon juice and serve over pasta or accompanied by crusty bread.

 

Aloo Gobi from the examiner.com


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3 Tbs canola oil
½ tsp black mustard seed
1 tsp whole cumin seed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 pound waxy potatoes
1 head cauliflower, cut into 1 1/2 inch florets
1 tablespoon peeled and grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
¼ C water
2 to 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro leaves

Place cauliflower florets in water to soak for 30 minutes. Drain just before adding to pan.
Boil potatoes in their skins until almost tender. About 15 minutes.
Cool, peel, and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces. Set aside.
In deep, non-stick skillet, heat oil, mustard seed, and cumin seed over medium heat.
When mustard seeds pop, reduce heat to medium low, add ground cumin and coriander, and cook for 1 minute.
Add ginger, return heat to medium, and cook, stirring for 10 seconds.
Add cauliflower and fry for 3 minutes. Add 1 Tbs water, stir well, cover, and cook 4 minutes.
Add potatoes, turmeric, salt, and cayenne. Stir gently to coat the vegetables with spices. Add 3 tablespoons of water. Stir once and cover the pan. Reduce heat to low and cook for 4 minutes, or until potatoes and cauliflower are tender. Add the cilantro and toss gently. Serves 4. Serve with raw vegetables like carrots, cucumber, sprouts, and tomatoes.

Quinoa Chili from Nettie Cronish

Use organic diced tomatoes for best flavour. The crunch from celery compliments sautéed thinly sliced purple eggplant. Great cabbage roll filling. Delicious hot or cold.

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1 cup quinoa, rinsed
¼ tsp. salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green pepper, thinly sliced or sweet mini peppers
2 Japanese eggplant, chopped (about 2 cups) OR 2 c. regular eggplant
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 tbsp. chili powder & dried oregano
1 tsp. paprika
½ tsp. salt & pepper
2 x 28 fl.oz. diced tomatoes USE 1 can rotel and 1 can crushed
2 green onions, sliced

  1. In a skillet over medium heat, roast the rinsed quinoa for 5 minutes or until fragrant and the quinoa begins to pop. In a small pot bring 2 cups water and salt to boil. Add roasted quinoa . Cover and simmer over medium heat 15 to 20 minutes, until water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat, stir and let stand covered 5 minutes.
  2. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic 5 minutes or until softened Stir in green pepper, eggplant, celery, chili,oregano, paprika, salt and pepper. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring often.
  3. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in the quinoa and green onions.  Serves: 6

Italian orzo tomato spinach soup from littlespicejar.com

This soup is loaded with classic Italian flavors and it’s simple to make! Orzo tomato spinach soup is completely vegetarian friendly and it’s so warm and comforting! The perfect soup so serve on a chilly day.
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  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1//2 cups chopped onions
  • 1¼ cup carrots, sliced into ½ inch rounds
  • 1 cup celery
  • 6 cloves of roasted garlic (see notes)
  • 6½ cups of vegetable stock
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1½ tablespoons pesto
  • 1½ cups orzo (whole wheat or regular)
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • 3 cups baby spinach, packed
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  1. Heat the oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté them for 4-5 minutes until they get soft. Add the carrots, celery, and roasted garlic and continue to sauté for an additional 3 minutes. Add the stock, along with the tomatoes, pesto, orzo, thyme, Italian seasoning, and oregano, stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium and let the orzo pasta cook to al-dente, about 10 minutes, stir occasionally.
  2. Just before serving, add the baby spinach and continue to cook for 1 minutes or until the spinach gets nice and bright green and wilts down. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
To roast your own garlic: Heat an oven to 400 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Peel off most of the paper from the garlic, leaving the head intact with the cloves attached. Trim the top off the head of garlic by ¼ inch. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the exposed surface, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Wrap in foil and bake for 40 minutes. Check the garlic, it is done when the center clove is completely soft with pierced with a paring knife. Continue roasting for an additional 5 -10 minutes to help deepen the golden color and caramelize further. Exact roasting time may vary due to size. Garlic can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 3 months.

fat flush soup from skinnyms.com

12065603_10153231590538111_2931130283495035989_nThe soup is packed with nutritional powerhouses such as sweet potato, spinach, garlic, carrots, and tomatoes, this soup truly flushes the fat away by restoring acid-alkaline and sodium-potassium balance to the body’s organs and glands. It is a warming and deliciously comforting treat that has the added bonus of detoxing your body and adding much needed nutrients.

The superfoods in this soup are packed with antioxidants and fiber and aid with flushing toxins and, subsequently, fat from the body.

 

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Pinch of Kosher or sea salt, more or less to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp marjoram
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed (optional, navy beans)
6 cups vegetable broth
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes (no salt added), *this is an optional ingredient
4 cups baby spinach or kale, loosely packed or use kale

Stovetop Method: prep veggies add to large pot, cover, and simmer until veggies are tender, approximately 45 min – 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes to prevent sticking. Add spinach or kale at the end of cooking time, remove from heat, cover and allow spinach to wilt before serving. If using kale cook for 10 min more or until tender.  I waited 20 to add potatoes as I didn’t want them to be mushy.

Potato Stack (Scalloped Potatoes) from food52.com

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  • 1 large russet potato
  • 2 small red potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 pieces garlic cloves
  • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/4 cup whole milk, or 3 tablespoons skim milk
  • 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Preheat oven to 400° F. Wash the potatoes thoroughly. Don’t be afraid to use a brush and some elbow grease. Let the butter warm up to room temperature.
  • Using a Mandolin, slice the potatoes to the thickness of a quarter. You can manually slice the potatoes, if you feel comfortable with it.
  • In a processor, add the butter, peppercorns, milk, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, salt, and rosemary. Pulse the ingredients until the mixture is of liquid consistency. Transfer the mixture from the processor to a mixing bowl. Add the sliced potatoes to this batter and coat them evenly.
  • Place paper muffin cups in a muffin pan. Stack up the potato slices in the muffin cups. I like to alternate between the red and russet potatoes. Pour any remaining batter onto the potatoes. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 teaspoons of Parmesan cheese.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the tops turn golden

 

Lucky Peach’s Odd Flavor Sauce

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  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tahini, almond butter, or peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon Chinkiang vinegar (Chinese black rice vinegar) or red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons neutral oil (like canola, vegetable, or grapeseed)
  • 1 small scallion, finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (or more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed Sichuan peppercorns
  1. Combine the soy sauce, tahini (or nut butter), vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and salt in a small heatproof bowl and mix until the sugar is dissolved and tahini is well incorporated. It’s okay if it’s not completely dissolved, though.
  2. Heat a small skillet over medium heat, add the oil, and heat until shimmering. Add the scallions, ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and crushed peppercorns. Remove from the heat and stir for 10 seconds, until the scallion is bright green and everything’s aromatic. Pour all this into the liquid seasonings and whisk until well blended. Once cool, the sauce will keep in the fridge for one or two days.  Makes about 1/2 cup

Author Notes: Serve the sauce with chicken, fish, pork, or tofu—and always some rice. Really, just put it on whatever needs a little extra “oomph,” like soba noodles or roasted or steamed vegetables. It would also work as a stellar sauce for okonomiyaki

Cod en Cocotte with tomatoes and olives from epicurious.com

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  • 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (12 ounces/350 g total)
  • 6 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
  • 1 1/2 ounces (45 g) Spanish chorizo, cut into 1/8-inch (3-mm) dice (OMIT)
  • 12 small black olives, such as Niçoise, pitted
  • 1 large garlic clove, chopped
  • Four 4- to 5-ounce (125- to 150-g) skinned cod fillets
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 1/4 cup (8 g) chopped parsley
  • 4 tablespoons (60 g) unsalted butter, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
 Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium saucepan of boiling water, cook the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly, then peel and cut into slices 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick.

In a medium enameled cast-iron casserole, spread the potato slices, tomatoes, chorizo, olives, and garlic. Set the fish on top and add the thyme, parsley, butter, oil, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a simmer on the stove, then transfer the pot to the oven and cook until the fish is just opaque throughout, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve directly from the casserole.

Make Ahead
The casserole can be assembled and refrigerated for up to 4 hours before baking.

 

Dal Tadka from fatfreevegan.com

  • easy-dal-tadka11/2 cup yellow moong dal (split mung beans) OR yellow split peas OR additional red lentils
  • 1/2 cup split red lentils (masoor dal)
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 large tomato, chopped
  • 1/2 large onion, chopped (set aside other half)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger root, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (if desired)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala plus more to taste (see my recipe)
  • 1/2 large onion, sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. Put the lentils, water, and next 7 ingredients (through salt) into a pressure cooker(see Notes below for regular stovetop cooking). Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes and allow pressure to drop naturally for 10 minutes. Open lid carefully and check to make sure lentils are tender. If not, continue to cook without pressure until lentils are fully cooked. Add garam masala and stir vigorously to make the lentils creamy. It should be a medium consistency, so add a little water if it’s too thick. Keep warm.
  2. While the lentils are cooking, heat a small non-stick skillet. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until they begin to brown. Add the red pepper flakes and cook until onions are softened and touched with brown.
  3. Check the seasoning of the lentils and add additional salt and garam masala to taste. Serve over rice and top each serving with the browned onions.

Notes

If cooking without a pressure cooker, bring ingredients to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan, reduce heat to low, and cover. Cook until lentils are soft, stirring often and adding water if they start to get too dry. Different types of dal take different amounts of time, so allow at least 30 minutes.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s) | Cooking time: 25 minute(s)