Meatless Monday

Here are today's six recipes to start your week off. Enjoy!

FRAGRANT FRENCH ONION SOUP

From that infamous long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. For several years, I'd been on several recipe emailing lists where people shared their favorite recipes with others. While I kind-of miss those days, since list-members would become friendly, and know that Sue would always post holiday recipes, while John posted what he was fixing for Sunday dinner...This recipe starts off, "A classic that’s so simple, you’ll wonder what you did before you started serving this staple soup." Makes 4 servings

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil or water

2-3 large onions, sliced

1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

4 cups water

1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari

4 slices French bread, toasted, or croutons

Heat the oil or water in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Add the flour and stir until the onions are well coated. Add the water and soy sauce or tamari and stir well. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer, covered, until the onions are tender. Add more water if the soup becomes too thick.

Serve in individual bowls topped with the French bread or croutons.

VEGETABLE POT PIE

This comes from Delish. It begins, “Making from-scratch pot pie may seem fussy, but using store-bought puff pastry cuts the cooking time in half.” Total Time: 40 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

1 tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 leek, cut into 1/2" pieces

2 large carrots, chopped

kosher salt

Black pepper

1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 c. vegetable broth

3/4 c. whole milk

2 c. frozen peas

8 oz. Mushrooms, sliced

1 russet potato, diced

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp. water

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter and cook thyme, garlic, leeks, and carrots. Cook until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Generously season with salt and pepper. Add flour and continuously whisk until golden and well incorporated. Add vegetable broth and milk alternatively, whisking until mixture is smooth.

Bring pot to a boil and add peas, mushrooms, and potatoes. Cook 10 to 15 minutes until mixture begins to thicken. Transfer to a pie or casserole dish.

Carefully roll out puff pastry with rolling pin to smooth any creases. (If pastry cracks, dab with a little water and roll to keep together.) Lay pastry over dish and trim any excess dough. Tuck pastry into filling and cover completely. Cut steam vents in top of pastry with a sharp knife. Brush all over with egg wash.

Place baking dish on a baking sheet and bake until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

SMOKEY BLACK BEAN STEW

This comes from Matthew Kadey's “One-Pot Wonder” in the December 2012 issue of Runners' World, page 37. The article begins, “After a cold run there’s nothing better than sitting down to a hot meal, ideally one that’s easy to prepare. Indeed, without much time or effort you can produce flavorful results using just one pot, says chef Biju Thomas, coauthor of The Feed Zone Cookbook. Add lean proteins, whole grains, and vegetables, and 'one-pot meals supply all the nutrients runners need for training and recovery.' And, says Thomas, because you consume all the liquids in one-pot recipes, 'you don’t lose any nutrients that leach out during cooking.' These five recipes (each of which serves four) take 40 minutes or less to prepare and, once you get them going, require little more than stirring. Make one before you run, and heat upon return for a tasty reward.”

To view this online, go to http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-for-runners/easy-one-pot-postrun-meals.2 teaspoons canola oil

1 onion, diced

1 carrot, sliced

2 15-ounce cans drained black beans

1 28-ounce can diced tomates

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1 cup sliced roasted red pepper

1 Tablespoon minced canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce

1 teaspoon cumin

salt and pepper

Zest of 1 orange

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

diced avocado

Heat oil in a pot. Cook onion and carrot for 5 minutes. Add black beans, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, roasted red pepper, chipotle pepper, cumin, and salt and pepper. Simmer 20 minutes. Stir in orange zest and fresh thyme. Serve with avocado.

GREENS QUICHE

This comes from Tara Parker-Pope, also from The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Tara wrote, "The vegan chef Lindsay S. Nixon is giving Well readers a sneak peek at her new cookbook, 'Everyday Happy Herbivore: Over 175 Quick-and-Easy Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes.' Nixon says, 'I developed this recipe to save a bunch of greens that were languishing in my fridge. It’ll work with any leafy greens you have on hand, particularly sturdy greens like kale, chard and collards, and although it’s crustless, it firms up nicely so you can cut perfect pieces. Who knew wilty leftovers could taste so good?'" Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015471-greens-quiche.

Ingredients

1 pound extra-firm tofu

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon onion powder (granulated)

1 teaspoon garlic powder (granulated)

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 cups chopped greens

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a shallow 9-inch pie dish and set aside.

Combine all ingredients, except greens, in a food processor or blender and whiz until smooth and creamy, stopping to break up chunks and scrape the sides as necessary.

Mix in greens, and transfer batter to a pie dish.

Using a spatula, spread the mixture around so it’s even and tight.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden and the center is firm (not mushy).

Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing (serving at room temperature is best).

Tip: Make ahead: You can make and store the mixture in an airtight container until you’re ready to bake, or bake the quiche a day or two ahead of time and gently reheat in your oven on warm for 10 to 20 minutes.

SWEET POTATO & BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS

This comes from the December 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 59. The recipes starts off, “Right from the start, the originality and flavor profile of this recipe made it a standout for VT taste testers. 'My wife and I eat this dish a lot in the fall and winter months. We make it when we're having guests (vegetarian and not) because we know everyone will enjoy it,' explains James McNulty. 'It can be made the night before and it travels well, so it's great for a potluck or a holiday party.'” Serves 8 (makes 16 enchiladas)

To view this online, click here.

Sauce

1 15-oz. can tomato sauce

1 3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

1 tsp. ancho chile powder

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. chipotle chile powder

Filling

1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

1 small onion, diced (1 cup)

1 1/2 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (3 cups)

1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained

1 16-oz. jar prepared medium salsa

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced

1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 12-oz. round queso fresco, divided

Enchiladas

extra virgin olive oil, for brushing baking dish

16 6-inch corn tortillas, warmed

2 limes, cut into wedges

1 avocado, sliced

1/2 cup sour cream, for garnish

Cilantro sprigs, for garnish, optional

To make Sauce: Bring all ingredients to a simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine, then remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

To make Filling: Heat oil in separate saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until soft. Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, salsa, garlic, chipotle chile, and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft. Mash mixture with potato masher until combined. Add black beans, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in half of queso fresco, and remove from heat.

To assemble Enchiladas: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Brush 13- x 9-inch baking dish with oil. Spread 1/2 cup Sauce in bottom of dish. Fill tortillas with Filling. Roll, and pack close together seam-side down in baking dish. Top with remaining Sauce and queso fresco. Bake 15 minutes.

Adjust oven to broil. Broil Enchiladas 5 minutes, or until cheese is browned and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with lime wedges, avocado slices, sour cream, and cilantro sprigs, if using.

nutritional information Per Serving (2 enchiladas): Calories: 435; Protein: 13 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 65 g; Cholesterol: 20 mg; Sodium: 963 mg; Fiber: 11 g; Sugar: 11 g; Gluten-Free

FRENCH LENTIL SOUP WITH ROASTED TOMATOES & PEPPERS

This comes from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. The recipe starts off, “This soup is a perfect comfort food on a drizzly Seattle day. We like to serve it in our cozy café with a few slices of crostini topped with goat cheese and a drizzle of good olive oil. It is pictured here with our Rustic Potato Roll. French green lentils are usually available in specialty shops and some supermarkets. If you can’t find French green lentils at your favorite market, you can substitute regular lentils.” Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

4 Roma tomatoes

3/4 cup olive oil

Kosher Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

10 garlic cloves

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 red bell peppers, diced

1 celery rib, diced

1-1/2 Tbsp ground cumin

1-1/2 Tbsp ground coriander seeds

1-1/2 cups French green lentils*

8 to 10 cups vegetable stock

1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped

*Available in specialty shops and some supermarkets.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Wash and core the tomatoes, then cut them into 12 pieces each. Combine chopped tomatoes and 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a bowl and toss together. Pour tomatoes onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and roast on center rack of oven for about 15 minutes. Set aside.

Place 7 of the garlic cloves and another 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until cloves are tender, approximately 15 minutes. Swirl the pan occasionally to keep the cloves from sticking to the pan. Transfer cooked garlic cloves to a small bowl and mash into a paste. Set aside.

Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of the olive oil into a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add diced onion, red bell peppers and celery. Cover pot and cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat to sweat the vegetables, stirring occasionally. The onions will become translucent. Finely dice the 3 remaining garlic cloves and add to the soup pot along with the cumin and coriander. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for 1 minute or until garlic smells sweet but is not brown.

Add roasted tomatoes, mashed garlic, lentils and 8 cups of the vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer. Cook soup for 45 to 50 minutes or until lentils are tender, adding more stock if needed. If foam gathers on the surface of the soup, remove it with a spoon. Before serving, add parsley and thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.