De Ma Cuisine

Vegan Archive

Monday

6

April 2015

0

COMMENTS

Warm Beet Salad with Fruit and Nuts

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Nuts, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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It’s spring. It’s time for flip flops and tank tops, warm breezes and sunshine, and a change in fruits and veggies. But, before we get to all things spring, let’s compromise with winter a bit. Let’s ask her to stay a while longer before we rush in to summer.

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I want to keep eating beets, oranges, and apples. But, I’m starting to crave salads and lighter foods. So, this dish is a happy medium.

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Beets are sautéed in some olive oil with salt and pepper. Simple. They taste similar to the way they do when they’re roasted, with a little less crunch. But, they still retain that kinda crispy outside, tender inside quality that I love for food to take on.

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Then the greens are added. I like the taste of beet greens. If you don’t have any on hand, kale, chard, or spinach would also work well.

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After the greens are wilted down, all that’s left to do is drizzle everyone with a bit of dressing and add some toppings. Apples, oranges, nuts, and raisins were perfect. You can vary it depending on what’s in season and what you like. You could use fresh blackberries and grapefruit, or maybe some watermelon. You could use almonds, or switch them up for sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

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I topped it with some ricotta and the dressing has honey. If you want to make this a vegan dish, you could try some silken tofu and sweeten things up with maple syrup instead of honey. Easy changes to make.

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This one feels simple and light. Bright, but with depth. Perfect for a warm spring day.

Happy Eating!

Warm Beet Salad with Fruit and Nuts

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes

Total Time: 23 minutes

Yield: 2

Warm Beet Salad with Fruit and Nuts

Ingredients

  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 beets, peeled and chopped
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1 T lemon juice
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 t honey or maple syrup
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/4 to 1/2 t fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 bunch beet greens, de-stemmed and torn
  • 1/4 C orange, chopped
  • 1/4 C apple, chopped
  • 2 T almonds (or pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds), chopped
  • 2 T raisins, chopped
  • 1/4 C ricotta (optional) (or silken tofu - sweetened, if desired)

Instructions

  1. Heat skillet, add olive oil, add beets, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, or until the beets are tender, stirring occasionally. Add the greens and wilt down, about 3 minutes.
  2. Whisk lemon juice through parsley, stream in olive oil and whisk. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  3. Top beets and greens with fruit, nuts/seeds, and raisins. Drizzle with dressing and top with ricotta/tofu.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/warm-beet-salad-fruit-nuts/

Monday

30

March 2015

1

COMMENTS

Artichoke Heart Dip

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Cheese, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Sides, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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When I was a kid we ate artichokes dipped in mayo. Nothing fancy. We each got a whole artichoke and we dipped then scraped it all off with our teeth. That’s the simple way to do artichokes. And you could do that here too. Just steam the artichokes, dip the leaves, then when you get down to the heart, scrape out the choke and dip it too. But, I liked the idea of dipping the artichoke leaves into a dip that contains the heart. It feels a little bit like eating an egg and some chicken in the same dish. Kinda wrong, but maybe really right.

Definitely right.

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The artichokes that I had didn’t take long to steam. Maybe 15 or 20 minutes once the water came to a boil. It could take longer depending on their size.

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While the artichokes steam, the dip comes together quickly. It’s a combination of things like chickpeas, fresh parsley, and olive oil. I used some ricotta and Greek yogurt for creaminess, but if you want this to be a vegan dish, try using silken tofu instead.

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The cooked artichokes hop into an ice bath. This stops the cooking and cools them down so they don’t burn the fingers.

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The artichoke leaves are removed and saved for later.

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The fuzzy choke is removed and the hearts and stems are chopped up (be sure to discard any tough leaves that may be left on there). They’re added to the dip and stirred in. You could blend them if you want, but I like the added texture that the chunks of tender artichoke bring.

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I ate this for lunch today: carrot sticks, artichokes, and a few slices of homemade bread. Other raw veggies like snap peas, green beans, fava beans, bell peppers, celery, fennel, mushrooms, and tomatoes (ok, not a vegetable, but close enough) could be fabulous too.

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Perfect for lunch, snack, or an appetizer at your next dinner party.

Happy Eating!

Artichoke Heart Dip

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Yield: 2.5 cups

Artichoke Heart Dip

Ingredients

  • 10-12 medium sized artichokes, stems trimmed, bottom 2-4 rows of leaves removed
  • 5 oz. ricotta cheese or soft (silken) tofu
  • 1/2 C Greek yogurt or soft (silken) tofu
  • 2 T carrot greens (just the tops, no stems) (optional)
  • 1/2 C chickpeas
  • 1/4 C fresh parsley
  • 1 stalk green garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 C olive oil
  • 2-3 T lemon juice
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • good pinch cayenne
  • ice water
  • juice from 1/2 lemon
  • carrots, sliced, for serving

Instructions

  1. Place artichokes in a steamer basket in a pot with 1 1/2 -2" water. Cover and bring it to a boil then simmer and steam for 15-20 minutes (or until tender and stems pierce easily with a sharp knife).
  2. Blend (with a hand blender or in a food processor, regular blender could work too) ricotta or tofu through cayenne. Blend for about 1 minute, or until it's as smooth as you'd like it. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Chill it in the fridge until you need it.
  3. When artichokes are tender, remove them from the pot and plunge into ice water that has the juice of half a lemon mixed in. When they're cool enough to handle, pull off most of the leaves (stop when you get to the small ones) and set them aside for later. Slice off the tougher top part off the leaves (you can save the tender bottom part for dipping) and slice through the top of the heart. Scrape out the choke (the fuzzy center) in the heart (and if there's any on the leaves scrape that, if you're going to eat them). Once each heart is done, return it to the lemon water. Once all hearts are done, chop up and stir in to the ricotta mixture (or you can blend it in if you prefer). Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Serve dip with carrots and artichoke leaves for dipping.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/artichoke-heart-dip/

Wednesday

18

March 2015

0

COMMENTS

Crispy Tofu with Black Bean Purée and Microgreens

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Beans, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Legumes, Lunch, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Sandwiches, Sides, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I think of this dish as a sort of open faced sandwich. We eat bread in our house. We also eat gluten. But, there are plenty of folks who don’t. There are also plenty of vegan-loving people out there. This is a shout out to all of you. But, but but but, not just for you GF+V friends! Because let me tell you, as a carnivore and gluten-eater, I loved this meal. So much so that I re-heated the leftovers and ate it again for dinner the day that I made it.

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My goal was to make a bean purée (ish) topping. I love to eat beans. They’re full of protein and add so much to most any dish. But, I didn’t want it to taste like I’d just opened a can of beans and mashed them up. So I added things like a touch of lemon and vinegar for acidity and brightness, butternut squash for creamy richness, and cayenne for a hint of spice.

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Which all tasted great topped with these super cute microgreens. Hello yum! Hello packed with nutrients!

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I mixed up a lemony dressing to toss the microgreens in. Note: wait until right before serving to toss them. They will wilt if left too long (lesson learned). If you have extra dressing, just save it for tomorrow’s lunch, use it for drizzling on some soup, or make a double batch of these yummy treats and have a party!

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I’m seriously digging crispy pan fried tofu these days. I love to sprinkle it with lots of cayenne and a bit of ginger (plus salt and pepper). In a super hot pan they’ll cook in no time at all.

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The tofu gets spread with beans and topped with the microgreens (mine were kinda swimming in the dressing, so I had to quickly consume as many as possible – not a problem).

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The perfect little gluten-free, vegan treat for lunch, dinner, snack, appetizer… maybe even for breakfast!

Happy Eating!

Crispy Tofu with Black Bean Purée and Microgreens

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Yield: 2-3

Crispy Tofu with Black Bean Purée and Microgreens

Ingredients

  • 1 C black beans (if canned, drained and rinsed)
  • 1/4 C water
  • 1 T lemon juice
  • 1 t rice vinegar
  • sprinkle cayenne
  • 1/4 C mashed butternut squash or sweet potato
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/4 C lemon juice
  • 1 T parsley, minced
  • 1 t mint, minced
  • 1 T green garlic/green onion/chives/garlic, minced
  • to taste salt
  • 2-3 T olive oil
  • 1-2 C microgreens
  • olive oil, for frying
  • 14 oz. tofu (extra firm or firm)
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • to taste cayenne
  • to taste ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Heat beans, water, 1 T lemon juice, rice vinegar, cayenne, squash, salt, and pepper in a saucepan over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mash, taste and adjust seasoning if needed, and set aside and keep warm.
  2. Whisk lemon juice, parsley, mint, green garlic, and salt. Stream in olive oil while whisking. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add olive oil. Add tofu and sprinkle with salt, pepper, cayenne, and ginger. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy. Work in batches so the pan isn't overcrowded, adding more oil as needed. Set on a paper towel lined plate as they are done.
  4. Spread beans on top of tofu, toss microgreens with dressing (right before serving, being careful not to overdress, as they will get soggy) and place them on top of the beans.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/crispy-tofu-with-black-bean-puree-and-microgreens/

Monday

23

February 2015

0

COMMENTS

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Beet and Carrot Soup

Written by , Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Roasting, Soups, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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If you are into time travel and happen to meet up with my younger self, please don’t tell her that she will grow to love beets. She will surely not believe you and may even laugh in your face.

I am not a believer in time travel, if you were wondering. But, we just watched the Back to the Future trilogy, and being married to Tim, we discuss time travel way more than I ever thought I would. So it’s on my mind more often than I would have ever thought it would be… But then again, I never thought I’d like beets, sooooooo…

If I could time travel, I think I’d go to a point in history when Julia Child was alive, so I could meet her, preferably in Paris, at a dinner party at her house, after we’d become best friends during one of her L’école des trois gourmandes classes. Maybe we’d even enjoy beets together, since I would be taking my love of beets with me wherever I time traveled to.

Yes, beets. I love them. I am sad when they’re gone. It’s a pretty good life lesson, if I stop and think about it. There are so many things that I think I don’t like. Maybe I really and truly don’t like them. But, with the right additions, with the right complimentary flavors, after trying and failing a few times, maybe they will become not just not as bad as I’d thought, but a favorite.

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For this soup, beets are most certainly the star. They bring a sweet, earthy depth to it that’s like nothing else. Combined with (also sweet) carrots, it’s just a fabulous combination. They stained my hands red when I was peeling them (making me wonder how they’d do as an Easter egg dye) (if that would bother you, you could wear gloves), but it washed off with a good scrubbing.

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The cauliflower in this dish adds a bit of crunch and, well technically a lack of color, that looks kinda awesome with the red soup. I cooked it separately and added it at the end so that it wouldn’t turn pink. If you don’t care as much, you can add it to the soup with the beets and carrots.

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The base of the soup is basically (ha, no pun intended) olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and vegetable stock. There’s a bit of salt and pepper, and some heat from cayenne. That’s it. It’s a simple one.

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The carrots and beets take a while longer to roast than the cauliflower, so they get a head start.

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Don’t worry, the cauliflower will catch up.

Roasted cauliflower and broccoli are one of my favorite sides. Probably ever. I can’t get enough of how crispy and nutty they get in the oven.

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The beets and carrots are added to the boiling stock. They’ll all simmer away for a few minutes. Then it’s ladled into a bowl, topped with some cauliflower, lemon juice, and dill. I haven’t decided if I like it better with or without the dill. I mean, I like it both ways, so I’d say add it if you want to.

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I made a very different beet soup a few weeks ago that was not yummy. I added a few too many bitter root veggies that threw off the taste. So, my expectations for this soup were admittedly not very high. This soup pleasantly surprised me with how flavorful it was. I liked it so much that I put my spoon down and slurped the last of the broth out of the bowl.

The real test will be if Tim likes it. He doesn’t yet know that he loves beets like I do. 😉

Happy Eating!

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Beet and Carrot Soup

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Beet and Carrot Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 large beet (about 2 C), peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
  • 3 t olive oil, divided
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 3 carrots (about 1 1/2 C), cut into 1/2" chunks
  • 1/4 head of cauliflower (about 2 C), cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 4 C vegetable stock
  • 2 C water
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • good sprinkle cayenne
  • lemon slices, for serving
  • 1/2 t dill (optional), finely chopped, for topping

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
  2. Toss beets with 1 t olive oil and a bit of salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake on the top rack for 15 minutes.
  3. Toss carrots with 1 t olive oil, some salt and pepper. Stir beets and add carrots, cook for 15 minutes more.
  4. Toss cauliflower with 1 t olive oil, place on a baking sheet. Stir beets and carrots and move to a rack in the lower portion of the oven. Place cauliflower on the upper rack. Roast for 10-15 minutes.
  5. Remove beets and carrots from the oven. Flip cauliflower, and roast 10 minutes more.
  6. Heat soup pot over medium-low. Add 1 T olive oil. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add balsamic vinegar and cook for 30 seconds more. Add stock through cayenne. Bring to a boil, add beets and carrots* and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  7. Spoon into bowls, topping the soup with cauliflower, lemon, and a tiny bit of dill.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/sweet-and-spicy-roasted-beet-and-carrot-soup/

Thursday

11

December 2014

0

COMMENTS

Spring Rolls with Spicy Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fish, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Meat, Nuts, Quick and Easy, Sauces, Sides, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Today, I was inspired to try something new. Something I’ve never attempted before.

Spring Rolls.

What a fun idea!

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I felt like I was playing as I cut the avocado and veggies into matchsticks.

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And then as I whisked the dip and the emulsion came together, I knew I was on to something. Because honey and mustard compliment each other so well, lemon adds a bright note, and Sriracha brings the spice.

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I just followed the instructions on the back of the rice paper package, which instructed me to soak the paper in warm water for 5 seconds (if your package says something different, by all means, follow those instructions).

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A few long sticks (or many short sticks, depending on the type of radish used) are added to the center of the paper.

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Then the paper is folded in half, keeping the sticks in the center.

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Sides are folded in towards each other, then it’s all rolled up.

I don’t know if this is how an expert would make these. But, it’s how I did it, and they worked just fine.

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After rolling, slice in half on a bias (because it looks fancy).

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You could totally switch up the dip, if you have a favorite Asian dip to use. You could just dip in wasabi and soy sauce too. You could also play with the contents of the rolls. I think that the following would be wonderful additions (maybe not all at the same time though):

– cucumber

– cilantro

– green onions

– bean sprouts

– sugar snap peas

– napa cabbage

– sesame seeds

– almonds

– tofu

– fried tempeh

– salmon

– shrimp

– crab

Obviously, the seafood would make these not vegan. Also, I’d cook any meat I was planning to use as I prefer it that way. If you don’t, and know how to safely prepare sashimi, then go for it.

I served these raw. I liked the crisp veggies in the sticky rice paper with the sweet and spicy dip. But, maybe next time I will try cooking the filling (not the avocado though) and then pan frying for a minute or two. Could be fun. Hmmm… maybe tomorrow.

Happy Eating!

Spring Rolls with Spicy Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Spring Rolls with Spicy Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

  • Dip: 2 T lemon juice
  • 2 T dijon mustard
  • 1 T plus 1 t honey
  • 1 to 1 1/2 t Sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce)
  • 2 t soy sauce
  • to taste salt
  • 3 T olive oil
  • Rolls: 1 small ripe but firm avocado, julienned/cut into 4" matchsticks
  • 1/2 carrot, julienned/cut into 4" matchsticks
  • 2 celery ribs, julienned/cut into 4" matchsticks
  • 4 small radishes, julienned/cut into 1"-4" matchsticks
  • (Other options could include: cucumber, cilantro, green onions, bean sprouts, napa cabbage, sugar snap peas, sesame seeds, almonds, crab, shrimp, salmon, tofu, and fried tempeh.)
  • 10-15 pieces of rice paper
  • warm water

Instructions

  1. Whisk together lemon juice through soy sauce. While whisking, stream in olive oil. Taste and adjust quantities if needed.
  2. Follow rice paper package's instructions for soaking. (Should be around 5 seconds in warm water.) After soaking (one at a time), set on a plate and place about 4 pieces of each: avocado, carrot, celery, and radish (you may need more radishes if they are shorter pieces). Fold the paper in half, keeping the filling in the middle, fold the ends in towards each other, then roll it up. Slice in half.
  3. Serve with sauce for dipping.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/spring-rolls-with-spicy-honey-mustard-dipping-sauce/