It’s Monday, which means the beginning of the work/school week. (It also means Meatless Monday.) If you’re like me, you didn’t get everything done that you planned to do over the weekend. No matter; there’s always next weekend! In the meantime, here are six vegetarian recipes to get your week started. Check out the Engine 2 Diet Vegetarian Lasgana, the Ultimate Stuffed Acorn Squash, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!
VEGETABLE POT PIES
This comes from the June 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, page. 74. It starts off, "Sometimes you just want pot pie. This one is wholesome, delicious, and freezer-friendly. Make a batch, and freeze some for heat-and-eat weeknight meals. Poultry seasoning (yep, it’s veg) is the secret flavor booster in this recipe." Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Dough
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/4 tsp. salt
4 Tbs. cold soy margarine, cut into pieces
Filling
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium leek, white and green parts chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 cups chopped celery or fennel
2 large carrots, diced (1 cup)
8 oz. button mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
4 oz. red-skinned potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1-1/2 cups)2 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
2 Tbs. creamy cashew butter, optional
6 asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup fresh or thawed frozen peas
1/2 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
Directions
To make Dough: Whisk together flours and salt in bowl. Cut or rub margarine into flour mixture until no large pieces remain. Stir in 3 to 4 Tbs. cold water until smooth dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill while making Filling.
To make Filling: Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add leek, celery, carrots, and mushrooms; sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until tender. Stir in flour
and garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add potatoes, broth, and poultry seasoning. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cashew butter (if using), and
cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat, and stir in asparagus, peas, and corn.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out Dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into 8 4-inch rounds.
Divide Filling among 8 1-cup ramekins. Place dough rounds on top, pressing dough around sides of ramekins with fork to crimp and seal. Poke hole in top of each pot pie. Place pot pies on baking sheet, and bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per Pot pie: Calories: 244; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 207 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Topping:
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.
For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.
Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.
PURPLE HAZE SMOOTHIE
This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com.Variation on a theme. You can make smoothies out of almost any fruit and/or juice (or milk), without having to resorting to packaged mixes (unless you like the mixed smoothies). Experiment; use any juice to your liking: apple, cranberry, orange (my favorite), whatever, then add whatever fruits you have around. If none of the fruits are conducive to freezing (berries work best), add a few ice cubes, or better still, frozen juice cubes.
This one is similar to the above smoothies. The blueberries give it a pleasant taste and a beautiful color.
Ingredients
1 to 1-1/2 cups orange juice (see Note)
1/2 C frozen blueberries
4 frozen strawberries (opt.)
1/2 C yogurt
1/2 C frozen cranberries
1 T wheat germ
Directions
Blend orange juice & berries. Add yogurt & wheat germ, blend for 5-15 more seconds.
Note: If adding strawberries, add the extra 1/2 C orange juice. Or use 1 C juice and 1/2 C soymilk.
ULTIMATE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This is from page 53 of the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts out, “The Native American “three sisters”—corn, beans, and squash—come together in these individual holiday entrées stuffed with corn pudding and black beans.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.), divided
4 acorn squash, halved and seeded
1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder, plus more for sprinkling squash
1/2 tsp. ground coriander, plus more for sprinkling squash
3 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels, divided
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
4 Tbs. melted butter or olive oil
3 oz. soft goat cheese or low-fat cream cheese (1/3 cup)
3 oz. grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (3/4 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops, optional
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large poblano chile or 1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
8 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced (1 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine oil and 2 tsp. minced garlic in small bowl. Brush squash halves with garlic oil, and sprinkle lightly with ancho chile powder and coriander. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and place on large baking sheet.
Pulse 2 cups corn kernels in food processor until finely chopped and milky. Set aside.
Whisk 1/2 tsp. each coriander and ancho chile powder into cornmeal, along with sugar, baking soda, salt, and cayenne (if using) in medium bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together buttermilk and eggs in separate bowl. Whisk in butter, then puréed corn, remaining 1 cup corn kernels, goat cheese, Cheddar, and remaining 2 tsp. garlic. Fold in cornmeal mixture with spatula, then fold in black beans, poblano chile, and green onions.
Divide filling among squash halves. Sprinkle each squash with extra Cheddar (if using).
Bake squash halves 30 to 45 minutes, or until squash are tender and filling is set. Sprinkle with green onions. Squash can be prepared 24 hours ahead, then reheated 20 minutes at 325°F.
nutritional information Per Stuffed squash half: Calories: 425; Protein: 15 g; Total Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 53 g; Cholesterol: 80 mg; Sodium: 533 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 6 g; Gluten-Free
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
ENGINE 2 DIET VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
This was on a long-forgotten email list. But it comes originally from a cookbook titled The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds. Personally, I'm considering picking up a copy for myself. Check it out!
Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
1 small head of garlic, all cloves chopped or pressed
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 head broccoli, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 can corn, rinsed and drained
1 package Silken Lite tofu
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon rosemary
2 jars pasta sauce
2 boxes whole grain lasagna noodles
16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
6 roma tomatoes, sliced thin
1 cup raw cashews, ground
Preparation
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté the onion and garlic on high heat for 3 minutes in a wok or nonstick pan. Add the mushrooms and cook until the onions are limp and the mushrooms give up their liquid. Remove them to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve the mushroom liquid in the pan. Sauté the broccoli and carrots for 5 minutes and add to the mushroom bowl. Sauté the peppers and corn until just beginning to soften. Add them to the vegetable bowl.
Drain the silken tofu11 by wrapping in paper towels. Break it up directly in the towel and mix into the vegetable bowl. Add spices to the vegetable bowl and combine.
To Assembl
Cover the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole with a layer of sauce. Add a layer of noodles. Cover the noodles with sauce. This way the noodles cook in the oven, saving time and energy. Spread the vegetable mixture over the sauced noodles. Cover with a layer of noodles and another dressing of sauce. Add the spinach to the second layer of sauced noodles. Cover the spinach with the mashed sweet potatoes. Add another layer of sauce, the final layer of noodles, and a last topping of sauce. Cover the lasagna with thinly sliced roma tomatoes.
Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the cashews, and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
Makes 10 - 12 servings of sweet potato lasagna.
Showing posts with label Roasted Squash & Apple Chowder w/Colorful Potatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roasted Squash & Apple Chowder w/Colorful Potatoes. Show all posts
Monday, February 10, 2025
Monday, May 2, 2022
Meatless Monday
It's time to start the week off with another Meatless Monday. Today's offerings include Best Black Bean Soup and Vegan Lasagna. Enjoy!
VEGAN ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
This was in the June 2016 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 10), and begins, “These ice cream sandwiches are the perfect treat to satisfy your (and your kiddos’) warm-weather sweet tooth - and they’re bound to make you love summer as much as you did as a child.” Unfortunately, there was no link on the website going directly to this recipe.
Ingredients
Ice Cream
3 ripe bananas
1 Tbs. non-dairy milk
2 tsp. maple syrup, optional
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Cookies
1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1/2 cup cooked white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
2 Tbs. unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup non-dairy chocolate chips, optional, plus more for rolling, optional
Directions
To make Ice Cream: Line 4-by-6-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing paper to hang over sides.
Bland all ingredients in high-speed blender until smooth. Spread in prepared dish, and freeze 2 hours, or until set.
To make Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Blend all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in food processor until dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips, if using.
Roll dough into twelve 1-Tbs. balls, and place on prepared baking sheets. Flatten down into 2-inch circles.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until light brown along edges. Cool on baking sheet. Transfer to freezer until ready to assemble.
Unmold Ice Cream, and cut into 6 disks using 2-inch round cutter. Place each disk between 2 cooks. Roll edges in chocolate chips, if desired. Freeze until fully set.
HONEY BEE AMBROSIA
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Ingredients
4 medium oranges
1 medium banana
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup flaked coconut
Directions
Pare oranges. Cut crosswise into thin slices. Place in serving bowl. Peel bananas. Cut thin slices. Place in the bowl with oranges. Toss fruits. Blend orange juice, honey & lemon juice. Pour over fruits. Sprinkle with coconut.
VEGAN LASAGNA
This comes from Lena Abraham on Delish, and begins, “A lasagna you can feel good about.”
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 10-12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lasagna
1 box lasagna noodles
1 (14-oz) package firm tofu, drained
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. dried oregano, divided
1 (8-oz) package baby bella mushrooms, sliced
2 (10-oz) packages frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess liquid
For the White Sauce
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 c. marinara
3 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 c. thinly sliced basil, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a boil and cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain.
Wrap tofu in a clean kitchen cloth or paper towels and place on a large plate. Place a pan or heavy plate on top of tofu in order to press out as much liquid as possible. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. When drained, crumble with two forks and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and season with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp oregano. Add mushrooms and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in thawed and drained spinach until completely combined. Remove from heat and set aside vegetables.
Wipe out skillet and return to medium heat to make white sauce: Add olive oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add flour and whisk to combine. Cook until lightly golden and nutty, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in nut milk until smooth. Stir in nutritional yeast and garlic powder and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and let cook until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
Build lasagna: In a large baking dish, spoon 1/4 c marinara into an even layer, then add a layer of noodles. Top with an even layer of vegetable mixture, tofu, marinara, and white sauce. Repeat until all ingredients are used, ending in marinara. Add a single layer of tomato rounds and season with salt, pepper and remaining oregano.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until tomatoes are cooked and lasagna is heated through. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with basil and serve.
BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This American classic can be a perfect dish: big-tasting, filling, nutritious, easy and very possibly vegetarian. With their rich natural broth, turtle beans do not need bacon, ham or any meat ingredient to make a satisfying soup. Black bean soup recipes have a tendency to turn out sludgy or bland, but the trick here is to season generously, and purée sparingly. The beans should be swimming in liquid, not sitting in sludge: The more beans are puréed, the more starch is released into the soup. For flavor, this recipe deploys marinated chipotle chiles, but a tablespoon each of ground cumin and ground coriander make a good heat-free substitute. (A note: Since there is acid from the wine here, if your tap water is hard there might be a reaction that will prevent the beans from softening. To be safe, add the wine later, along with the stock. And if there is any question about the hardness of your water, use distilled.)”
Yield: 10 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in “Rediscovering Black Bean Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018592-best-black-bean-soup.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 small (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo (see note)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup red wine
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
1 pound dry black beans (do not soak)
2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock
1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Red wine vinegar, to taste
For the Pickled Onions and Garnishes (Optional):
1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes
Salt
Sour cream or Mexican crema
Whole cilantro leaves
Thinly sliced fresh chiles
Sliced avocado
Preparation:
Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.
In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.
Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.
Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.
Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.
Tip
If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Directions
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
Enjoy!
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
VEGAN ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
This was in the June 2016 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 10), and begins, “These ice cream sandwiches are the perfect treat to satisfy your (and your kiddos’) warm-weather sweet tooth - and they’re bound to make you love summer as much as you did as a child.” Unfortunately, there was no link on the website going directly to this recipe.
Ingredients
Ice Cream
3 ripe bananas
1 Tbs. non-dairy milk
2 tsp. maple syrup, optional
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Cookies
1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1/2 cup cooked white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
2 Tbs. unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup non-dairy chocolate chips, optional, plus more for rolling, optional
Directions
To make Ice Cream: Line 4-by-6-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing paper to hang over sides.
Bland all ingredients in high-speed blender until smooth. Spread in prepared dish, and freeze 2 hours, or until set.
To make Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Blend all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in food processor until dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips, if using.
Roll dough into twelve 1-Tbs. balls, and place on prepared baking sheets. Flatten down into 2-inch circles.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until light brown along edges. Cool on baking sheet. Transfer to freezer until ready to assemble.
Unmold Ice Cream, and cut into 6 disks using 2-inch round cutter. Place each disk between 2 cooks. Roll edges in chocolate chips, if desired. Freeze until fully set.
HONEY BEE AMBROSIA
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Ingredients
4 medium oranges
1 medium banana
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup flaked coconut
Directions
Pare oranges. Cut crosswise into thin slices. Place in serving bowl. Peel bananas. Cut thin slices. Place in the bowl with oranges. Toss fruits. Blend orange juice, honey & lemon juice. Pour over fruits. Sprinkle with coconut.
VEGAN LASAGNA
This comes from Lena Abraham on Delish, and begins, “A lasagna you can feel good about.”
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 10-12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lasagna
1 box lasagna noodles
1 (14-oz) package firm tofu, drained
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. dried oregano, divided
1 (8-oz) package baby bella mushrooms, sliced
2 (10-oz) packages frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess liquid
For the White Sauce
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 c. marinara
3 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 c. thinly sliced basil, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a boil and cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain.
Wrap tofu in a clean kitchen cloth or paper towels and place on a large plate. Place a pan or heavy plate on top of tofu in order to press out as much liquid as possible. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. When drained, crumble with two forks and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and season with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp oregano. Add mushrooms and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in thawed and drained spinach until completely combined. Remove from heat and set aside vegetables.
Wipe out skillet and return to medium heat to make white sauce: Add olive oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add flour and whisk to combine. Cook until lightly golden and nutty, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in nut milk until smooth. Stir in nutritional yeast and garlic powder and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and let cook until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
Build lasagna: In a large baking dish, spoon 1/4 c marinara into an even layer, then add a layer of noodles. Top with an even layer of vegetable mixture, tofu, marinara, and white sauce. Repeat until all ingredients are used, ending in marinara. Add a single layer of tomato rounds and season with salt, pepper and remaining oregano.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until tomatoes are cooked and lasagna is heated through. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with basil and serve.
BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This American classic can be a perfect dish: big-tasting, filling, nutritious, easy and very possibly vegetarian. With their rich natural broth, turtle beans do not need bacon, ham or any meat ingredient to make a satisfying soup. Black bean soup recipes have a tendency to turn out sludgy or bland, but the trick here is to season generously, and purée sparingly. The beans should be swimming in liquid, not sitting in sludge: The more beans are puréed, the more starch is released into the soup. For flavor, this recipe deploys marinated chipotle chiles, but a tablespoon each of ground cumin and ground coriander make a good heat-free substitute. (A note: Since there is acid from the wine here, if your tap water is hard there might be a reaction that will prevent the beans from softening. To be safe, add the wine later, along with the stock. And if there is any question about the hardness of your water, use distilled.)”
Yield: 10 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in “Rediscovering Black Bean Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018592-best-black-bean-soup.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 small (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo (see note)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup red wine
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
1 pound dry black beans (do not soak)
2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock
1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Red wine vinegar, to taste
For the Pickled Onions and Garnishes (Optional):
1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes
Salt
Sour cream or Mexican crema
Whole cilantro leaves
Thinly sliced fresh chiles
Sliced avocado
Preparation:
Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.
In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.
Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.
Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.
Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.
Tip
If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Directions
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
Enjoy!
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Soup's On
Is there anything that says comfort food as much as homemade soup? (Okay, maybe mac and cheese, but we'll save that for another day.) Today's offerings include Instant Pot® Hamburger Soup and Roasted Squash and Apple Chowder with Colorful Potatoes. Enjoy!
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH
This is from Julia Moskin on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Chicken soup is one of the most painless and pleasing recipes a home cook can master. This soup has all the classic flavors (celery, carrot, parsley) but has been updated for today's cooks, who can't easily buy the stewing hen and packet of soup vegetables that old-fashioned recipes used to call for. A whole bird provides the right combination of fat, salt and flavor. Don't be tempted to use all white meat, as the flavor won't be as round. Because making soup involves the bones and deep tissues of the bird, it is particularly reassuring here to use the highest-quality poultry you can find. This method produces a fragrant, golden, savory soup you want to eat all winter long; it's a perfect backdrop for noodles, rice or matzo balls.”
Time: 2 hours, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in “A Superior Chicken Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018442-chicken-soup-from-scratch.
Ingredients
For the Broth:
1 chicken, 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, with skin, cut up
3 stalks celery, with leaves, cut into chunks
2 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 yellow onions, peeled and halved
1 parsnip or parsley root (optional)
About 1 dozen large sprigs parsley
About 1 dozen black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
To Finish The Soup:
3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat, more if needed
3 leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, rinsed and sliced crosswise into thin half-moons
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
Kosher salt and ground black or white pepper
Egg noodles (fresh or dried), such as packaged wide noodles, spaetzle, fettuccine or pappardelle cut into short lengths (see note)
Finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, scallions, dill or a combination
Preparation
Place the chicken, celery, carrots, onions, parsnip (if using), parsley, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt in a large soup pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to very low. Adjust the heat until the soup is “smiling”: barely moving on the surface, with an occasional bubble breaking through. Cook uncovered, until the chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
When cool enough to handle, use tongs to transfer chicken from the pot to a container. Taste the broth and continue to simmer it until it is concentrated and tasty. Strain broth through a fine sieve (or a colander lined with cheesecloth) into a separate container. Discard all the solids from the strainer (or reserve the vegetables, chill and serve with vinaigrette, if you wish).
Refrigerate chicken pieces and broth separately for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days), until a thick layer of yellow fat has risen to the top of the broth.
When ready to finish the soup, use your fingers to separate chicken breast meat from bones and skin. Discard bones and skin. Use two forks to pull the breast meat apart into soft chunks, or use a knife and cut into bite-size pieces. (Reserve dark meat for another use.)
Skim chicken fat from top of broth and set aside. Place 3 tablespoons of the fat in a soup pot with a lid. Add leeks, stir to coat, and heat over medium heat until leeks begin to fry. Then reduce the heat to a gentle sizzle and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
Add carrots, sprinkle with salt, stir, and cover the pot. Cook until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes more. (Keep in mind that vegetables will continue to cook in the soup.) Do not brown.
Pour broth into pot with vegetables and heat to a simmer. Add noodles and simmer until heated through, soft and plumped with chicken broth. Add the breast meat, then taste broth and add salt and pepper to taste. For best flavor, soup should have some golden droplets of fat on top; if needed, add more chicken fat one teaspoon at a time.
Serve immediately, in a tureen or from the pot, sprinkling each serving with herbs.
Tip
Instead of noodles, almost any starchy garnish can be used here: matzo balls; partly cooked dry pasta, rice or other grains; or cooked white beans. Add them when you would add the noodles and simmer until heated through.
BAKED POTATO SOUP
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "If we’re being honest, a baked potato isn’t really about the potato. It’s about the toppings: plush sour cream, butter, cheese, salty bacon, bright scallions. This soup version doesn’t skimp on those extras: The potatoes simmer in milk with garlic and scallions until just tender, then they join sour cream and Cheddar in the pot before the toppings — including potato skins — are added. It’s potatoey, creamy and adaptable. Make it smooth or textured, skip the bacon and serve it with a side salad (though it’s plenty hearty all on its own)."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019913-baked-potato-soup.
Ingredients
6 slices bacon, or 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced separately
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes, large skins reserved
6 cups whole milk
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
Black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup sour cream, plus more for serving
3/4 cup freshly grated Cheddar (about 3 ounces), plus more for serving
Preparation
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon (if using) until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate or cutting board. Return the pot with just 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat to the stove. (If there’s not enough fat, supplement with butter to total 3 tablespoons.) If making the soup vegetarian, melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Over medium-low heat, sauté the white parts of the scallions and the garlic until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently and adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid burning the garlic. Add the potatoes, milk and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (resist the urge to heat it faster as this can lead to curdling). Once at a boil, lower the heat and simmer covered until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
As soup simmers, prepare the potato skins: Warm the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Working in batches if needed, add the potato peels in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until crisp and golden-brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or cutting board, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Crumble and set aside.
Once the potatoes are tender, take the pot off the heat, and purée the mixture with an immersion blender if you’d like a smooth soup. (Mash with a potato masher if you’d like a chunkier soup.) Stir in the sour cream and cheese until combined, then season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with crumbled bacon, more sour cream and Cheddar and the green parts of the scallions. Top with potato peels (eat any extra as chips, dipped in ketchup and mustard).
INSTANT POT® HAMBURGER SOUP
This is from Angela Giannetti Snyder on AllRecipes. She wrote, "Easy and delicious soup with a nice thickness. You can make it in the Instant Pot® or on the stovetop. When this cools, it will be very thick, but it thins out when reheated. Freezes very well."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes: 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268565/instant-pot-hamburger-soup/.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 (14.5 ounce) cans beef consomme
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups water
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup
4 carrots, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
4 tablespoons pearl barley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Directions
Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot(R)) and select Saute function. Cook and stir beef and onion until browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Pour in beef consomme, tomatoes, water, and tomato soup. Add carrots, celery, barley, thyme, and bay leaf.
Close and lock the lid. Select Soup function; set timer for 30 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 10 minutes.
Cook's Note:
If you're making it on the stovetop, brown ground beef and onion together, then add the remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for at least 2 hours.
POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON
View this online at http://www.publix.com/recipes-planning/aprons-recipes/potato-leek-soup-with-bacon
Ingredients
3 large leeks, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 lb gold potatoes
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups unsalted chicken stock (or broth)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Directions
Chop well-rinsed leeks (white part only; 2 cups); chop garlic and thyme. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Preheat large stockpot on medium-low 2–3 minutes. Cut bacon into pieces. Place oil in pot, then add bacon; cook and stir 4–5 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from pot. Place leeks and garlic in same pot; cook and stir 6–7 minutes or until tender (do not brown).
Stir in stock, salt, pepper, potatoes, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Remove pot from heat; puree soup with a stick blender. (Or you can use an electric blender; let soup cool 5–8 minutes, then puree in batches until smooth.) Chop chives. Stir yogurt into soup; top each serving with bacon and chives. Serve warm or chill before serving.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH
This is from Julia Moskin on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Chicken soup is one of the most painless and pleasing recipes a home cook can master. This soup has all the classic flavors (celery, carrot, parsley) but has been updated for today's cooks, who can't easily buy the stewing hen and packet of soup vegetables that old-fashioned recipes used to call for. A whole bird provides the right combination of fat, salt and flavor. Don't be tempted to use all white meat, as the flavor won't be as round. Because making soup involves the bones and deep tissues of the bird, it is particularly reassuring here to use the highest-quality poultry you can find. This method produces a fragrant, golden, savory soup you want to eat all winter long; it's a perfect backdrop for noodles, rice or matzo balls.”
Time: 2 hours, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in “A Superior Chicken Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018442-chicken-soup-from-scratch.
Ingredients
For the Broth:
1 chicken, 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, with skin, cut up
3 stalks celery, with leaves, cut into chunks
2 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 yellow onions, peeled and halved
1 parsnip or parsley root (optional)
About 1 dozen large sprigs parsley
About 1 dozen black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
To Finish The Soup:
3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat, more if needed
3 leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, rinsed and sliced crosswise into thin half-moons
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
Kosher salt and ground black or white pepper
Egg noodles (fresh or dried), such as packaged wide noodles, spaetzle, fettuccine or pappardelle cut into short lengths (see note)
Finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, scallions, dill or a combination
Preparation
Place the chicken, celery, carrots, onions, parsnip (if using), parsley, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt in a large soup pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to very low. Adjust the heat until the soup is “smiling”: barely moving on the surface, with an occasional bubble breaking through. Cook uncovered, until the chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
When cool enough to handle, use tongs to transfer chicken from the pot to a container. Taste the broth and continue to simmer it until it is concentrated and tasty. Strain broth through a fine sieve (or a colander lined with cheesecloth) into a separate container. Discard all the solids from the strainer (or reserve the vegetables, chill and serve with vinaigrette, if you wish).
Refrigerate chicken pieces and broth separately for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days), until a thick layer of yellow fat has risen to the top of the broth.
When ready to finish the soup, use your fingers to separate chicken breast meat from bones and skin. Discard bones and skin. Use two forks to pull the breast meat apart into soft chunks, or use a knife and cut into bite-size pieces. (Reserve dark meat for another use.)
Skim chicken fat from top of broth and set aside. Place 3 tablespoons of the fat in a soup pot with a lid. Add leeks, stir to coat, and heat over medium heat until leeks begin to fry. Then reduce the heat to a gentle sizzle and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
Add carrots, sprinkle with salt, stir, and cover the pot. Cook until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes more. (Keep in mind that vegetables will continue to cook in the soup.) Do not brown.
Pour broth into pot with vegetables and heat to a simmer. Add noodles and simmer until heated through, soft and plumped with chicken broth. Add the breast meat, then taste broth and add salt and pepper to taste. For best flavor, soup should have some golden droplets of fat on top; if needed, add more chicken fat one teaspoon at a time.
Serve immediately, in a tureen or from the pot, sprinkling each serving with herbs.
Tip
Instead of noodles, almost any starchy garnish can be used here: matzo balls; partly cooked dry pasta, rice or other grains; or cooked white beans. Add them when you would add the noodles and simmer until heated through.
BAKED POTATO SOUP
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "If we’re being honest, a baked potato isn’t really about the potato. It’s about the toppings: plush sour cream, butter, cheese, salty bacon, bright scallions. This soup version doesn’t skimp on those extras: The potatoes simmer in milk with garlic and scallions until just tender, then they join sour cream and Cheddar in the pot before the toppings — including potato skins — are added. It’s potatoey, creamy and adaptable. Make it smooth or textured, skip the bacon and serve it with a side salad (though it’s plenty hearty all on its own)."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019913-baked-potato-soup.
Ingredients
6 slices bacon, or 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced separately
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes, large skins reserved
6 cups whole milk
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
Black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup sour cream, plus more for serving
3/4 cup freshly grated Cheddar (about 3 ounces), plus more for serving
Preparation
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon (if using) until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate or cutting board. Return the pot with just 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat to the stove. (If there’s not enough fat, supplement with butter to total 3 tablespoons.) If making the soup vegetarian, melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Over medium-low heat, sauté the white parts of the scallions and the garlic until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently and adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid burning the garlic. Add the potatoes, milk and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (resist the urge to heat it faster as this can lead to curdling). Once at a boil, lower the heat and simmer covered until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
As soup simmers, prepare the potato skins: Warm the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Working in batches if needed, add the potato peels in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until crisp and golden-brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or cutting board, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Crumble and set aside.
Once the potatoes are tender, take the pot off the heat, and purée the mixture with an immersion blender if you’d like a smooth soup. (Mash with a potato masher if you’d like a chunkier soup.) Stir in the sour cream and cheese until combined, then season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with crumbled bacon, more sour cream and Cheddar and the green parts of the scallions. Top with potato peels (eat any extra as chips, dipped in ketchup and mustard).
INSTANT POT® HAMBURGER SOUP
This is from Angela Giannetti Snyder on AllRecipes. She wrote, "Easy and delicious soup with a nice thickness. You can make it in the Instant Pot® or on the stovetop. When this cools, it will be very thick, but it thins out when reheated. Freezes very well."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes: 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268565/instant-pot-hamburger-soup/.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 (14.5 ounce) cans beef consomme
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups water
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup
4 carrots, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
4 tablespoons pearl barley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Directions
Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot(R)) and select Saute function. Cook and stir beef and onion until browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Pour in beef consomme, tomatoes, water, and tomato soup. Add carrots, celery, barley, thyme, and bay leaf.
Close and lock the lid. Select Soup function; set timer for 30 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 10 minutes.
Cook's Note:
If you're making it on the stovetop, brown ground beef and onion together, then add the remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for at least 2 hours.
POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON
View this online at http://www.publix.com/recipes-planning/aprons-recipes/potato-leek-soup-with-bacon
Ingredients
3 large leeks, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 lb gold potatoes
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups unsalted chicken stock (or broth)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Directions
Chop well-rinsed leeks (white part only; 2 cups); chop garlic and thyme. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Preheat large stockpot on medium-low 2–3 minutes. Cut bacon into pieces. Place oil in pot, then add bacon; cook and stir 4–5 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from pot. Place leeks and garlic in same pot; cook and stir 6–7 minutes or until tender (do not brown).
Stir in stock, salt, pepper, potatoes, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Remove pot from heat; puree soup with a stick blender. (Or you can use an electric blender; let soup cool 5–8 minutes, then puree in batches until smooth.) Chop chives. Stir yogurt into soup; top each serving with bacon and chives. Serve warm or chill before serving.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Sides - Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's double post deals with side dishes, including Jollof Rice and Roasted Squash and Apple Chowder with Colorful Potatoes. Enjoy!
SPICY COLESLAW
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This easy, crisp slaw can be made a few hours ahead of time. It goes well with ribs and a cold beer, fried chicken or whatever summer feast sparks your fancy.”
Yield: Serves 6; Time: 10 minutes, plus hours’ refrigeration
This was featured in “Lone Star”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012539-spicy-coleslaw.
Ingredients
1 medium head green cabbage
2 carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons pickle relish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons pepper sauce, like Frank’s, or to taste
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Cut the cabbage in half and remove the core. Cut each half in half and slice each resulting quarter into thin ribbons. Mix with carrots in a large, nonreactive bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage and toss. Season to taste.
The coleslaw may be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for a few hours. Toss again before serving.
JOLLOF RICE
This is from Yewande Komolafe, also in the The New York Times cooking email. Yewande wrote, “A successful batch of jollof rice requires a few key ingredients (tomatoes, peppers, onions, a few herbs, spices and some stock) and a perfect sauce-to-rice ratio, so the cooked grains remain separate. I have found that the best, no-fuss way to do this is in the oven. Jollof is typically made with long-grain rice, though in Nigeria, parboiled rice is the norm. Most jollof is prepared over an open flame or on a stovetop. Missing from this oven version is the slightly smoky flavor you get from the little bits of rice that have browned on the bottom of your pan, but that’s nothing a pinch of smoked paprika can’t fix. Serve with braised goat or other stewed meats, and a side of fried plantains.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours
This was featured in “Yewande Komolafe’s 10 Essential Nigerian Recipes” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020288-jollof-rice.
Ingredients
For the Obe Ata:
1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 medium red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 red habanero chile, stemmed
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
For the Jollof Rice:
1/2 cup canola or other neutral oil
2 medium red onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
3 cups parboiled long-grain rice (such as Carolina Gold or Uncle Ben’s Original), basmati or jasmine rice (about 1 1/4 pounds)
5 fresh thyme sprigs
1 fresh bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups beef, chicken or vegetable stock
Preparation
Prepare the obe ata: Working in batches if needed, combine all the obe ata ingredients except the canola oil in a blender and purée on high until smooth. The liquid from the can of tomatoes should suffice, but you can add up to 1/4 cup of water if necessary to get the purée going. (You should have about 3 cups of purée.)
Heat the 2 tablespoons canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add the purée and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until the sauce is slightly reduced by about a third of its original volume, 18 to 20 minutes. (It should make about 2 cups. Obe ata can be cooled and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 1 month.)
Prepare the rice: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat the 1/2 cup canola oil in a large Dutch oven over medium until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove half the onions to a plate and set aside. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, turmeric and smoked paprika, if using, and toast, stirring occasionally, until turmeric is fragrant and tomato paste has deepened to a dark red color, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the obe ata sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. The habanero oils love to disperse in the air, so you may want to turn on your stovetop fan or open a window while simmering the obe ata. Stir in the rice, thyme and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the stock and cover with a lid. Transfer the pot to the oven and cook until rice is just tender, 35 minutes.
Remove the pot from the oven and let sit, covered (no peeking) for 15 minutes. Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the reserved sautéed onions. Adjust seasoning, if necessary, and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Serve warm.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
Ah, yes, another recipe from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
8 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups (8 oz. Pkg) shredded 2% cheddar cheese, divided
6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
Sliced green onions (optional)
Directions
Place potatoes in large saucepan. Cover with water, bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 2 1/2 to 3-quart casserole dish.
Return potatoes to saucepan, add evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Beat with hand-held mixer until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and half of bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, remaining bacon and green onions. Bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.
QUESO
This is from Alexa Weibel in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alexa wrote, "Queso, a popular Tex-Mex dip made with processed American cheese and canned tomatoes, was inspired by chile con queso, a Mexican dip of melted cheese and chiles that made its way to the United States in the 1930s and ’40s. As the two-ingredient Americanized adaptation gained popularity, supermarkets began placing Ro-tel canned tomatoes near shelf-stable Velveeta cheese, and queso became mainstream. Purists will argue that any ingredient beyond American cheese and spicy diced tomatoes is unnecessary, but you can customize this recipe by adding any combination of black beans, scallions, cilantro, garlic, cumin, red-pepper flakes, oregano, lime zest or juice."
Yield: 6 cups; Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020844-queso.
Ingredients
For the Queso:
1 (2-pound) block processed American cheese, such as Velveeta
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with chiles, preferably Ro-tel brand
Tortilla chips, for serving
For the Additions (Optional):
1 cup rinsed canned black beans
3/4 cup thinly sliced scallions (about 7 scallions)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican oregano
1/4 packed teaspoon fresh lime zest, plus 2 teaspoons juice (from about 1 lime)
Minced canned chipotle chiles en adobo, to taste
Kosher salt
Preparations
Roughly chop the processed cheese into 1-inch cubes, then add to a medium saucepan. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, plus 2/3 cup water, then heat over medium-low, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted and mixture is creamy, 5 to 7 minutes. You can stop here, and serve immediately with chips, or proceed to Step 2, if you’re feeling extra.
Stir in any combination of desired additions: black beans, scallions, cilantro, garlic, cumin, red-pepper flakes, oregano, and lime zest and juice. Heat over low, stirring occasionally, until warmed and flavors meld, about 5 minutes. If you like some extra heat, stir in chipotle chiles en adobo. Season to taste with salt, and additional red-pepper flakes, if desired, and serve immediately. (You could also keep your queso in a slow-cooker on a low setting, stirring occasionally, to keep it molten.) Mixture will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
SPICY COLESLAW
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This easy, crisp slaw can be made a few hours ahead of time. It goes well with ribs and a cold beer, fried chicken or whatever summer feast sparks your fancy.”
Yield: Serves 6; Time: 10 minutes, plus hours’ refrigeration
This was featured in “Lone Star”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012539-spicy-coleslaw.
Ingredients
1 medium head green cabbage
2 carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons pickle relish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons pepper sauce, like Frank’s, or to taste
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Cut the cabbage in half and remove the core. Cut each half in half and slice each resulting quarter into thin ribbons. Mix with carrots in a large, nonreactive bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage and toss. Season to taste.
The coleslaw may be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for a few hours. Toss again before serving.
JOLLOF RICE
This is from Yewande Komolafe, also in the The New York Times cooking email. Yewande wrote, “A successful batch of jollof rice requires a few key ingredients (tomatoes, peppers, onions, a few herbs, spices and some stock) and a perfect sauce-to-rice ratio, so the cooked grains remain separate. I have found that the best, no-fuss way to do this is in the oven. Jollof is typically made with long-grain rice, though in Nigeria, parboiled rice is the norm. Most jollof is prepared over an open flame or on a stovetop. Missing from this oven version is the slightly smoky flavor you get from the little bits of rice that have browned on the bottom of your pan, but that’s nothing a pinch of smoked paprika can’t fix. Serve with braised goat or other stewed meats, and a side of fried plantains.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours
This was featured in “Yewande Komolafe’s 10 Essential Nigerian Recipes” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020288-jollof-rice.
Ingredients
For the Obe Ata:
1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 medium red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 red habanero chile, stemmed
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
For the Jollof Rice:
1/2 cup canola or other neutral oil
2 medium red onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
3 cups parboiled long-grain rice (such as Carolina Gold or Uncle Ben’s Original), basmati or jasmine rice (about 1 1/4 pounds)
5 fresh thyme sprigs
1 fresh bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups beef, chicken or vegetable stock
Preparation
Prepare the obe ata: Working in batches if needed, combine all the obe ata ingredients except the canola oil in a blender and purée on high until smooth. The liquid from the can of tomatoes should suffice, but you can add up to 1/4 cup of water if necessary to get the purée going. (You should have about 3 cups of purée.)
Heat the 2 tablespoons canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add the purée and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until the sauce is slightly reduced by about a third of its original volume, 18 to 20 minutes. (It should make about 2 cups. Obe ata can be cooled and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 1 month.)
Prepare the rice: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat the 1/2 cup canola oil in a large Dutch oven over medium until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove half the onions to a plate and set aside. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, turmeric and smoked paprika, if using, and toast, stirring occasionally, until turmeric is fragrant and tomato paste has deepened to a dark red color, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the obe ata sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. The habanero oils love to disperse in the air, so you may want to turn on your stovetop fan or open a window while simmering the obe ata. Stir in the rice, thyme and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the stock and cover with a lid. Transfer the pot to the oven and cook until rice is just tender, 35 minutes.
Remove the pot from the oven and let sit, covered (no peeking) for 15 minutes. Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the reserved sautéed onions. Adjust seasoning, if necessary, and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Serve warm.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
Ah, yes, another recipe from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
8 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups (8 oz. Pkg) shredded 2% cheddar cheese, divided
6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
Sliced green onions (optional)
Directions
Place potatoes in large saucepan. Cover with water, bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 2 1/2 to 3-quart casserole dish.
Return potatoes to saucepan, add evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Beat with hand-held mixer until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and half of bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, remaining bacon and green onions. Bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.
QUESO
This is from Alexa Weibel in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alexa wrote, "Queso, a popular Tex-Mex dip made with processed American cheese and canned tomatoes, was inspired by chile con queso, a Mexican dip of melted cheese and chiles that made its way to the United States in the 1930s and ’40s. As the two-ingredient Americanized adaptation gained popularity, supermarkets began placing Ro-tel canned tomatoes near shelf-stable Velveeta cheese, and queso became mainstream. Purists will argue that any ingredient beyond American cheese and spicy diced tomatoes is unnecessary, but you can customize this recipe by adding any combination of black beans, scallions, cilantro, garlic, cumin, red-pepper flakes, oregano, lime zest or juice."
Yield: 6 cups; Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020844-queso.
Ingredients
For the Queso:
1 (2-pound) block processed American cheese, such as Velveeta
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with chiles, preferably Ro-tel brand
Tortilla chips, for serving
For the Additions (Optional):
1 cup rinsed canned black beans
3/4 cup thinly sliced scallions (about 7 scallions)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican oregano
1/4 packed teaspoon fresh lime zest, plus 2 teaspoons juice (from about 1 lime)
Minced canned chipotle chiles en adobo, to taste
Kosher salt
Preparations
Roughly chop the processed cheese into 1-inch cubes, then add to a medium saucepan. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, plus 2/3 cup water, then heat over medium-low, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted and mixture is creamy, 5 to 7 minutes. You can stop here, and serve immediately with chips, or proceed to Step 2, if you’re feeling extra.
Stir in any combination of desired additions: black beans, scallions, cilantro, garlic, cumin, red-pepper flakes, oregano, and lime zest and juice. Heat over low, stirring occasionally, until warmed and flavors meld, about 5 minutes. If you like some extra heat, stir in chipotle chiles en adobo. Season to taste with salt, and additional red-pepper flakes, if desired, and serve immediately. (You could also keep your queso in a slow-cooker on a low setting, stirring occasionally, to keep it molten.) Mixture will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Meatless Monday
Time for another Meatless Monday. Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day, including Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers and Baked Pumpkin Pasta. Enjoy!
QUINOA-STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Fiona Haynes, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, “These quinoa-stuffed peppers make a nice low-fat meatless entree or side dish. Quinoa is a wonderful option for those who can't eat gluten, plus it makes a nice change from rice or meat-filled peppers. To make 1 cup of cooked quinoa, you'll need 1/2 cup of quinoa, rinsed, then cooked in 1 cup of water or broth for extra flavor. Make sure your broth is gluten free if you are feeding this to someone who has a gluten problem.
“I like my peppers to be yielding but still have something of a bite to them. If you prefer your peppers to be softer still, bake them for 10 minutes or so longer.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Serves 4
Note: The link for this no longer works, and I'm unable to find a new link. But if/when I do, I'll post it.
Ingredients
2 large red or yellow bell peppers, halved lengthwise, stem intact
2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 1/2 cups diced cremini mushrooms
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup chopped baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Steam or simmer bell peppers in a large pot for 5 minutes until slightly soft.
Heat oil in medium skillet and gently sauté onions, garlic and carrots on medium-low heat until softened.
Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Stir in cooked quinoa. Add broth, spinach and parsley and cook for 2 minutes.
Scoop one fourth of the quinoa mixture into each bell pepper half, packing firmly.
Place peppers in a baking dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with 1/2 cup of water. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until filling is hot.
Per Serving: Calories 198, Calories from Fat 38, total Fat 4.2g (sat 0.3g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 50mg, Carbohydrate 33.3g, Fiber 6.7g, Protein 6.6g
BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA
Another recipe from Fiona Haynes, who writes, "Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.” She also adds, “If you make this with fat-free ricotta, you'll save a further 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, but you'll gain another 110mg of sodium.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6
I couldn't find the new link for this, either. But it is yummy enough that I wanted to post, and give credit where credit is due.
Ingredients
12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage
1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup water reserved from pasta pot
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to directions on package, less 2 minutes, and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water when done.
Meanwhile heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Stir in zucchini and herbs, and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in canned pumpkin and ricotta cheese.
Empty drained pasta plus 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into skillet and mix well.
Spoon pasta into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Per Serving: Calories 349, Calories from Fat 71, Total Fat 7.7g (sat 3.4g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 168mg, Carbohydrate 54.4g, Fiber 5.2g, Protein 15.9g
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
LOW FAT BROCCOLI SOUP
Prep Time 30 Min; ready in 30 Min; Makes 4 servings. from mydailymoment.com
Ingredients
2 cups chopped fresh or frozen broccoli
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (14.5 oz.) can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 (12 fluid oz.) can fat-free evaporated milk
Methods
In a saucepan, combine broccoli, onion and broth; simmer for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Puree half of the mixture in a blender; return to the saucepan.
In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and 3 tbsp. of milk until smooth. Gradually add remaining milk. Stir into the broccoli mixture. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes.
STOVETOP VEGETARIAN ORZO AND SPINACH SKILLET DINNER
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who also wrote for The Spruce Eats.
Jolinda wrote, "This is a super easy one-pot complete vegetarian meal using pre-cooked orzo, canned chickpeas, fresh or frozen spinach and topped off with optional crumbled feta cheese, if you're not eating vegan. If you need a quick meal but don't have orzo on hand, you could try using this recipe with instant rice or even another whole grain that you have handy. Couscous would also be super quick, but orzo would be better. This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free, and, if you omit the feta cheese, it's vegan as well."
Recipe courtesy of Bush's® Beans.
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
1/2 cup cooked orzo
1 lemon, juiced
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped or 12 ounces frozen, thawed and squeezed to drain
salt and pepper
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Preparation:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until almost clear, about 5-6 minutes. Add the beans, cooked orzo, lemon juice and spinach, stirring to combine well.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow to heat for 4-5 minutes until spinach has cooked through and everything is heated and well combined.
Serve topped with feta cheese.
Makes four servings.
PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “The Hawaiian answer to the stir-fry, this dish is exotic, colorful, and bursting with flavor. To fill out the dish with more veggies, add 1/2 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms along with the onions and garlic, and 1/2 cup peas just after the carrots.” Serves 6.
This can be viewed at http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pineapple-fried-rice.
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
1 cup long-grain brown rice
1 1/4 cups diced fresh pineapple, divided
1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 Tbs. toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
6 cloves garlic, minced (2 Tbs.)
1 small carrot, finely diced (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
5 green onions, thinly sliced (1/3 cup)
Instructions:
Bring 2 cups broth and rice to a boil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
Blend 1/2 cup pineapple, remaining 1/4 cup broth, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes in blender until smooth. Set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add carrot and bell pepper, and sauté 3 minutes more. Add remaining 3/4 cup diced pineapple, and cook 3 minutes. Add cooked rice to skillet, and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add blended pineapple mixture, and cook 3 minutes more, or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in green onions; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 198; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 34 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 156 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 6 g
QUINOA-STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Fiona Haynes, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, “These quinoa-stuffed peppers make a nice low-fat meatless entree or side dish. Quinoa is a wonderful option for those who can't eat gluten, plus it makes a nice change from rice or meat-filled peppers. To make 1 cup of cooked quinoa, you'll need 1/2 cup of quinoa, rinsed, then cooked in 1 cup of water or broth for extra flavor. Make sure your broth is gluten free if you are feeding this to someone who has a gluten problem.
“I like my peppers to be yielding but still have something of a bite to them. If you prefer your peppers to be softer still, bake them for 10 minutes or so longer.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Serves 4
Note: The link for this no longer works, and I'm unable to find a new link. But if/when I do, I'll post it.
Ingredients
2 large red or yellow bell peppers, halved lengthwise, stem intact
2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 1/2 cups diced cremini mushrooms
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup chopped baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Steam or simmer bell peppers in a large pot for 5 minutes until slightly soft.
Heat oil in medium skillet and gently sauté onions, garlic and carrots on medium-low heat until softened.
Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Stir in cooked quinoa. Add broth, spinach and parsley and cook for 2 minutes.
Scoop one fourth of the quinoa mixture into each bell pepper half, packing firmly.
Place peppers in a baking dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with 1/2 cup of water. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until filling is hot.
Per Serving: Calories 198, Calories from Fat 38, total Fat 4.2g (sat 0.3g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 50mg, Carbohydrate 33.3g, Fiber 6.7g, Protein 6.6g
BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA
Another recipe from Fiona Haynes, who writes, "Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.” She also adds, “If you make this with fat-free ricotta, you'll save a further 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, but you'll gain another 110mg of sodium.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6
I couldn't find the new link for this, either. But it is yummy enough that I wanted to post, and give credit where credit is due.
Ingredients
12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage
1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup water reserved from pasta pot
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to directions on package, less 2 minutes, and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water when done.
Meanwhile heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Stir in zucchini and herbs, and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in canned pumpkin and ricotta cheese.
Empty drained pasta plus 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into skillet and mix well.
Spoon pasta into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Per Serving: Calories 349, Calories from Fat 71, Total Fat 7.7g (sat 3.4g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 168mg, Carbohydrate 54.4g, Fiber 5.2g, Protein 15.9g
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
LOW FAT BROCCOLI SOUP
Prep Time 30 Min; ready in 30 Min; Makes 4 servings. from mydailymoment.com
Ingredients
2 cups chopped fresh or frozen broccoli
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (14.5 oz.) can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 (12 fluid oz.) can fat-free evaporated milk
Methods
In a saucepan, combine broccoli, onion and broth; simmer for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Puree half of the mixture in a blender; return to the saucepan.
In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and 3 tbsp. of milk until smooth. Gradually add remaining milk. Stir into the broccoli mixture. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes.
STOVETOP VEGETARIAN ORZO AND SPINACH SKILLET DINNER
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who also wrote for The Spruce Eats.
Jolinda wrote, "This is a super easy one-pot complete vegetarian meal using pre-cooked orzo, canned chickpeas, fresh or frozen spinach and topped off with optional crumbled feta cheese, if you're not eating vegan. If you need a quick meal but don't have orzo on hand, you could try using this recipe with instant rice or even another whole grain that you have handy. Couscous would also be super quick, but orzo would be better. This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free, and, if you omit the feta cheese, it's vegan as well."
Recipe courtesy of Bush's® Beans.
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
1/2 cup cooked orzo
1 lemon, juiced
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped or 12 ounces frozen, thawed and squeezed to drain
salt and pepper
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Preparation:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until almost clear, about 5-6 minutes. Add the beans, cooked orzo, lemon juice and spinach, stirring to combine well.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow to heat for 4-5 minutes until spinach has cooked through and everything is heated and well combined.
Serve topped with feta cheese.
Makes four servings.
PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “The Hawaiian answer to the stir-fry, this dish is exotic, colorful, and bursting with flavor. To fill out the dish with more veggies, add 1/2 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms along with the onions and garlic, and 1/2 cup peas just after the carrots.” Serves 6.
This can be viewed at http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pineapple-fried-rice.
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
1 cup long-grain brown rice
1 1/4 cups diced fresh pineapple, divided
1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 Tbs. toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
6 cloves garlic, minced (2 Tbs.)
1 small carrot, finely diced (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
5 green onions, thinly sliced (1/3 cup)
Instructions:
Bring 2 cups broth and rice to a boil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
Blend 1/2 cup pineapple, remaining 1/4 cup broth, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes in blender until smooth. Set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add carrot and bell pepper, and sauté 3 minutes more. Add remaining 3/4 cup diced pineapple, and cook 3 minutes. Add cooked rice to skillet, and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add blended pineapple mixture, and cook 3 minutes more, or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in green onions; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 198; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 34 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 156 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 6 g
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Soup
When it's cold out, is there anything that warms us up from the inside out the way a big bowl of homemade soup does? To that end, here are six yummy soup recipes to try, including Fresh Tomato Soup (maybe with a nice grilled cheese sandwich?) and Roasted Squash and Apple Chowder with Colorful Potatoes. Enjoy!
BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This American classic can be a perfect dish: big-tasting, filling, nutritious, easy and very possibly vegetarian. With their rich natural broth, turtle beans do not need bacon, ham or any meat ingredient to make a satisfying soup. Black bean soup recipes have a tendency to turn out sludgy or bland, but the trick here is to season generously, and purée sparingly. The beans should be swimming in liquid, not sitting in sludge: The more beans are puréed, the more starch is released into the soup. For flavor, this recipe deploys marinated chipotle chiles, but a tablespoon each of ground cumin and ground coriander make a good heat-free substitute. (A note: Since there is acid from the wine here, if your tap water is hard there might be a reaction that will prevent the beans from softening. To be safe, add the wine later, along with the stock. And if there is any question about the hardness of your water, use distilled.)”
Yield: 10 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in “Rediscovering Black Bean Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018592-best-black-bean-soup.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 small (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo (see note)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup red wine
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
1 pound dry black beans (do not soak)
2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock
1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Red wine vinegar, to taste
For the Pickled Onions and Garnishes (Optional):
1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes
Salt
Sour cream or Mexican crema
Whole cilantro leaves
Thinly sliced fresh chiles
Sliced avocado
Preparation:
Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.
In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.
Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.
Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.
Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.
Tip
If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.
CURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-mail. Martha wrote, “It will take you only about 10 minutes to prep the ingredients for this comforting soup. Curry flavors and cauliflower always make a good match.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in “Vegetable Soups, Smooth and Hearty” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, ground
2 pounds cauliflower (1 medium head), roughly chopped
1 russet potato, peeled and diced, or 1/2 cup rice
2 quarts water, vegetable stock or chicken stock
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped cilantro for garnish
Preparation
Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder and ground cumin and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the cauliflower, potato or rice, water or stock, and salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, purée the soup (or you can use a regular blender, working in batches and placing a kitchen towel over the top to avoid splashing) until it is very smooth. Return to the pot, heat through, add freshly ground pepper and adjust salt. Serve, garnishing each bowl with chopped cilantro.
Tip
Advance preparation: You can make this a day ahead, but you may have to thin it out with a little water or stock when you reheat.
CURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP
This recipe is from the January 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This soup's secret ingredient—an apple—lends a touch of tangy sweetness that complements the curry’s spice. Letting the soup cool 20 minutes before blending helps deepen the flavors.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/curried-cauliflower-soup/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1 Tbs. curry powder
1 clove garlic, sliced (1 tsp.)
1 large head cauliflower, chopped into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 tsp. honey or agave nectar
1 tsp. rice wine vinegar
Directions
Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until soft and golden. Stir in apple, curry powder, and garlic, and cook 2 minutes more, or until curry powder turns deep yellow.Add cauliflower and vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes. Cool 20 minutes, then blend in food processor or blender until smooth. Stir in honey and vinegar, and season with salt, if desired.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 104; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 304 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 8 g; Gluten-Free
FIVE BEAN SOUP
This is from Eden Foods. Serves 10. Prep Time 10 minutes. Cook Time 40 minutes.
Ingredients
2 Tbs Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 C celery, diced
1/2 C carrots, diced
3 Tbs barley, rinsed
3 C water
1 can Eden Organic Pinto Beans
1 can Eden Organic Black Beans
1 can Eden Organic Kidney Beans
1 can Eden Organic Navy Beans
1 can Eden Organic Garbanzo Beams
1 C sweet corn, fresh or frozen
1 can Eden Organic Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Onion
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp crushed bay leaf
1 tsp Eden Sea Salt – French Celtic
Directions
Heat oil in soup pot, sauté garlic & onion until onion is translucent. Add water, celery, carrot & barley, beans, corn, tomatoes & herbs. Add salt, cover & simmer 30 minutes. Serve.
FRESH TOMATO SOUP
This came from Stephanie Gallagher, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Stephanie wrote, “When your garden is overflowing with fresh tomatoes, this is the soup to make. Not only does this recipe showcase the sweet flavor of fresh tomatoes beautifully, it is also extremely versatile. You can make this soup with any fresh tomatoes you have, from cherry tomatoes to beefsteak tomatoes. By pureeing the soup, you don't need to seed or peel the tomatoes - everything just gets mixed in the blender - and you don't need any cream either.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups chopped fresh tomatoes (any kind)
1 medium onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 quart vegetable brothbroth
kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoos flour
3-4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1-3 teaspoons sugar
chopped fresh basil (for garnish)
Preparation
Place tomatoes, onions, garlic and broth in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium, and let simmer 20 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the onions and garlic are soft. Season with salt and pepper.
Transfer mixture in batches to a blender, and puree until smooth (I use my Vita-Mix Blender (compare prices), which I love, but it is pricey.)
Heat butter in another large soup pot over medium heat. Add flour, whisking until mixture turns golden brown. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk the pureed tomato soup into butter-flour roux. Stir balsamic vinegar and sugar into the soup. Heat until tomato soup thickens. Taste, and adjust seasonings (add more salt, pepper, vinegar and/or sugar, as needed).
Ladle the soup into bowls, and serve, garnished with chopped fresh basil. Or let the soup cool completely, and transfer to freezer-safe containers to freeze.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This American classic can be a perfect dish: big-tasting, filling, nutritious, easy and very possibly vegetarian. With their rich natural broth, turtle beans do not need bacon, ham or any meat ingredient to make a satisfying soup. Black bean soup recipes have a tendency to turn out sludgy or bland, but the trick here is to season generously, and purée sparingly. The beans should be swimming in liquid, not sitting in sludge: The more beans are puréed, the more starch is released into the soup. For flavor, this recipe deploys marinated chipotle chiles, but a tablespoon each of ground cumin and ground coriander make a good heat-free substitute. (A note: Since there is acid from the wine here, if your tap water is hard there might be a reaction that will prevent the beans from softening. To be safe, add the wine later, along with the stock. And if there is any question about the hardness of your water, use distilled.)”
Yield: 10 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in “Rediscovering Black Bean Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018592-best-black-bean-soup.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 small (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo (see note)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup red wine
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
1 pound dry black beans (do not soak)
2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock
1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Red wine vinegar, to taste
For the Pickled Onions and Garnishes (Optional):
1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes
Salt
Sour cream or Mexican crema
Whole cilantro leaves
Thinly sliced fresh chiles
Sliced avocado
Preparation:
Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.
In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.
Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.
Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.
Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.
Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.
Tip
If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.
CURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-mail. Martha wrote, “It will take you only about 10 minutes to prep the ingredients for this comforting soup. Curry flavors and cauliflower always make a good match.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in “Vegetable Soups, Smooth and Hearty” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, ground
2 pounds cauliflower (1 medium head), roughly chopped
1 russet potato, peeled and diced, or 1/2 cup rice
2 quarts water, vegetable stock or chicken stock
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped cilantro for garnish
Preparation
Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder and ground cumin and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the cauliflower, potato or rice, water or stock, and salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, purée the soup (or you can use a regular blender, working in batches and placing a kitchen towel over the top to avoid splashing) until it is very smooth. Return to the pot, heat through, add freshly ground pepper and adjust salt. Serve, garnishing each bowl with chopped cilantro.
Tip
Advance preparation: You can make this a day ahead, but you may have to thin it out with a little water or stock when you reheat.
CURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP
This recipe is from the January 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This soup's secret ingredient—an apple—lends a touch of tangy sweetness that complements the curry’s spice. Letting the soup cool 20 minutes before blending helps deepen the flavors.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/curried-cauliflower-soup/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1 Tbs. curry powder
1 clove garlic, sliced (1 tsp.)
1 large head cauliflower, chopped into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 tsp. honey or agave nectar
1 tsp. rice wine vinegar
Directions
Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until soft and golden. Stir in apple, curry powder, and garlic, and cook 2 minutes more, or until curry powder turns deep yellow.Add cauliflower and vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes. Cool 20 minutes, then blend in food processor or blender until smooth. Stir in honey and vinegar, and season with salt, if desired.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 104; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 304 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 8 g; Gluten-Free
FIVE BEAN SOUP
This is from Eden Foods. Serves 10. Prep Time 10 minutes. Cook Time 40 minutes.
Ingredients
2 Tbs Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 C celery, diced
1/2 C carrots, diced
3 Tbs barley, rinsed
3 C water
1 can Eden Organic Pinto Beans
1 can Eden Organic Black Beans
1 can Eden Organic Kidney Beans
1 can Eden Organic Navy Beans
1 can Eden Organic Garbanzo Beams
1 C sweet corn, fresh or frozen
1 can Eden Organic Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Onion
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp crushed bay leaf
1 tsp Eden Sea Salt – French Celtic
Directions
Heat oil in soup pot, sauté garlic & onion until onion is translucent. Add water, celery, carrot & barley, beans, corn, tomatoes & herbs. Add salt, cover & simmer 30 minutes. Serve.
FRESH TOMATO SOUP
This came from Stephanie Gallagher, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Stephanie wrote, “When your garden is overflowing with fresh tomatoes, this is the soup to make. Not only does this recipe showcase the sweet flavor of fresh tomatoes beautifully, it is also extremely versatile. You can make this soup with any fresh tomatoes you have, from cherry tomatoes to beefsteak tomatoes. By pureeing the soup, you don't need to seed or peel the tomatoes - everything just gets mixed in the blender - and you don't need any cream either.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups chopped fresh tomatoes (any kind)
1 medium onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 quart vegetable brothbroth
kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoos flour
3-4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1-3 teaspoons sugar
chopped fresh basil (for garnish)
Preparation
Place tomatoes, onions, garlic and broth in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium, and let simmer 20 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the onions and garlic are soft. Season with salt and pepper.
Transfer mixture in batches to a blender, and puree until smooth (I use my Vita-Mix Blender (compare prices), which I love, but it is pricey.)
Heat butter in another large soup pot over medium heat. Add flour, whisking until mixture turns golden brown. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk the pureed tomato soup into butter-flour roux. Stir balsamic vinegar and sugar into the soup. Heat until tomato soup thickens. Taste, and adjust seasonings (add more salt, pepper, vinegar and/or sugar, as needed).
Ladle the soup into bowls, and serve, garnished with chopped fresh basil. Or let the soup cool completely, and transfer to freezer-safe containers to freeze.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Friday, January 31, 2020
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Roasted Squash and Apple Chowder with Colorful Potatoes and Chicken Soup From Scratch. Enjoy!
BARBECUE LASAGNA
Here's a yummy recipe from a long-since-forgotten emailing list that my son was on for a few years. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby or mild cheddar cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
1 egg
Directions
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. For barbecue sauce, combine the next 13 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Spread about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and half of the beef.
Spread with half of the remaining barbecue sauce; sprinkle with half of the mozzarella, cheddar and Colby cheeses. Repeat layers.
Combine cottage cheese and egg; spoon evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.
Enjoy!
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CRACK CHICKEN
This is from Lindsay Funston at Delish. Lindsay wrote, “This is our most dangerously addictive sauce EVER. Once you start, you literally can't stop. We can almost guarantee you'll be hooked after making it once. (Beware: This is pretty much a gateway recipe to Crack Chicken Tacos and Crack Chicken Dip—which are even more insane.)”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yields: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 c. all-purpose flour
2 lb. chicken tenders
2 c. panko bread crumbs
3 large eggs
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 c. barbecue sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
Juice of 2 limes
1 tsp. garlic powder
Ranch dressing, for serving (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and chicken tenders and shake until fully coated.
Set up a dredging station: In one shallow bowl, put bread crumbs, and in another shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and 2 tablespoons water. Dip chicken in egg mixture, then coat in bread crumbs. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper.
Bake until golden and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together barbecue sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and garlic powder. Simmer 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss baked chicken in sauce until coated. Serve with ranch, if desired.
CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH
This is from Julia Moskin on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Chicken soup is one of the most painless and pleasing recipes a home cook can master. This soup has all the classic flavors (celery, carrot, parsley) but has been updated for today's cooks, who can't easily buy the stewing hen and packet of soup vegetables that old-fashioned recipes used to call for. A whole bird provides the right combination of fat, salt and flavor. Don't be tempted to use all white meat, as the flavor won't be as round. Because making soup involves the bones and deep tissues of the bird, it is particularly reassuring here to use the highest-quality poultry you can find. This method produces a fragrant, golden, savory soup you want to eat all winter long; it's a perfect backdrop for noodles, rice or matzo balls.”
Time: 2 hours, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in “A Superior Chicken Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018442-chicken-soup-from-scratch.
Ingredients
For the Broth:
1 chicken, 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, with skin, cut up
3 stalks celery, with leaves, cut into chunks
2 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 yellow onions, peeled and halved
1 parsnip or parsley root (optional)
About 1 dozen large sprigs parsley
About 1 dozen black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
To Finish The Soup:
3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat, more if needed
3 leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, rinsed and sliced crosswise into thin half-moons
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
Kosher salt and ground black or white pepper
Egg noodles (fresh or dried), such as packaged wide noodles, spaetzle, fettuccine or pappardelle cut into short lengths (see note)
Finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, scallions, dill or a combination
Preparation
Place the chicken, celery, carrots, onions, parsnip (if using), parsley, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt in a large soup pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to very low. Adjust the heat until the soup is “smiling”: barely moving on the surface, with an occasional bubble breaking through. Cook uncovered, until the chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
When cool enough to handle, use tongs to transfer chicken from the pot to a container. Taste the broth and continue to simmer it until it is concentrated and tasty. Strain broth through a fine sieve (or a colander lined with cheesecloth) into a separate container. Discard all the solids from the strainer (or reserve the vegetables, chill and serve with vinaigrette, if you wish).
Refrigerate chicken pieces and broth separately for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days), until a thick layer of yellow fat has risen to the top of the broth.
When ready to finish the soup, use your fingers to separate chicken breast meat from bones and skin. Discard bones and skin. Use two forks to pull the breast meat apart into soft chunks, or use a knife and cut into bite-size pieces. (Reserve dark meat for another use.)
Skim chicken fat from top of broth and set aside. Place 3 tablespoons of the fat in a soup pot with a lid. Add leeks, stir to coat, and heat over medium heat until leeks begin to fry. Then reduce the heat to a gentle sizzle and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
Add carrots, sprinkle with salt, stir, and cover the pot. Cook until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes more. (Keep in mind that vegetables will continue to cook in the soup.) Do not brown.
Pour broth into pot with vegetables and heat to a simmer. Add noodles and simmer until heated through, soft and plumped with chicken broth. Add the breast meat, then taste broth and add salt and pepper to taste. For best flavor, soup should have some golden droplets of fat on top; if needed, add more chicken fat one teaspoon at a time.
Serve immediately, in a tureen or from the pot, sprinkling each serving with herbs.
Tip
Instead of noodles, almost any starchy garnish can be used here: matzo balls; partly cooked dry pasta, rice or other grains; or cooked white beans. Add them when you would add the noodles and simmer until heated through.
EASY-TO-TACKLE JAMBALAYA
This is from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Make this tasty rice dish anytime you gather a crowd. For zing, use spicy sausage and a little more cayenne pepper.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cooking Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour; Serves: 8 to 10
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds smoked pork sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 1/2 pounds Boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 medium onions, chopped
2 cups chopped celery
2 medium green bell peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 cups chicken broth
4 cups long grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat 8-quart oven-safe Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add sausage; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until browned. Remove from pan; set aside.
Add chicken, salt and pepper; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is browned. Remove from pan. Drain fat leaving 1 tablespoon.
Add onions, celery, green peppers, garlic and red pepper; cook, stirring 7 to 10 minutes or until vegetables begin to brown. Stir in chicken broth, reserved sausage and chicken, rice and paprika. Bring to a boil.
Place covered pot in the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, stirring once or twice during cooking.
LASAGNA
This is from Regina Schrambling on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “In 2001, Regina Schrambling went on a week long odyssey in search of the ultimate lasagna recipe. She tested several, and finally found her ideal in a mash-up of recipes from Giuliano Bugialli and Elodia Rigante, both Italian cookbook authors.
“‘If there were central casting for casseroles, this one deserved the leading role. But its beauty was more than cheese deep. This was the best lasagna I had ever eaten. The sauce was intensely flavored, the cheeses melted into creaminess as if they were bechamel, the meat was just chunky enough, and the noodles put up no resistance to the fork. Most important, the balance of pasta and sauce was positively Italian. At last I could understand why my neighbor Geoff had told me, as I dragged home more bags in our elevator, that all-day lasagna is the only kind worth making.’”
Time: 4 hours; Yield: 8 to 10 servings
This was featured in “The Noodle and I: A Face-of at the Oven”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9530-lasagna.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium red onions, finely diced
2 large cloves minced garlic
8 ounces pancetta, diced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups good red wine, preferably Italian
2 28-ounce cans Italian plum tomatoes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 pound ground sirloin
1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano
2 eggs
10 sprigs fresh parsley, leaves only, washed and dried
2 large whole cloves garlic
1/2 cup flour
1 pound Italian sausage, a mix of hot and sweet
For the Lasagna:
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
2 extra-large eggs
2 cups freshly grated pecorino Romano
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 pound mozzarella, grated
16 sheets fresh lasagna noodles, preferably Antica Pasteria
Preparation
For the sauce, heat 1/2 cup oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or kettle over low heat. Add the onions, minced garlic and pancetta, and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes, until the onions are wilted. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Raise heat slightly, add the wine and cook until it is mostly reduced, about 20 minutes. Crush the tomatoes into the pan, and add their juice. Add the tomato paste and 2 cups lukewarm water. Simmer for 1 hour.
Combine the sirloin, cheese and eggs in a large bowl. Chop the parsley with the whole garlic until fine, then stir into the beef mixture. Season lavishly with salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until all the ingredients are well blended. Shape into meatballs and set aside.
Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dust the meatballs lightly with flour, shaking off excess, and lay into the hot oil. Brown the meatballs on all sides (do not cook through) and transfer to the sauce.
In a clean skillet, brown the sausages over medium-high heat. Transfer to the sauce. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, pecorino Romano, parsley and all but 1 cup of the mozzarella. Season well with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
Remove the meatballs and sausage from the sauce, and set aside to cool slightly, then chop coarsely. Spoon a thick layer of sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch lasagna pan. Cover with a layer of noodles. Spoon more sauce on top, then add a third of the meat and a third of the cheese mixture. Repeat for 2 more layers, using all the meat and cheese. Top with a layer of noodles, and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
BARBECUE LASAGNA
Here's a yummy recipe from a long-since-forgotten emailing list that my son was on for a few years. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby or mild cheddar cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
1 egg
Directions
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. For barbecue sauce, combine the next 13 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Spread about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and half of the beef.
Spread with half of the remaining barbecue sauce; sprinkle with half of the mozzarella, cheddar and Colby cheeses. Repeat layers.
Combine cottage cheese and egg; spoon evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.
Enjoy!
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CRACK CHICKEN
This is from Lindsay Funston at Delish. Lindsay wrote, “This is our most dangerously addictive sauce EVER. Once you start, you literally can't stop. We can almost guarantee you'll be hooked after making it once. (Beware: This is pretty much a gateway recipe to Crack Chicken Tacos and Crack Chicken Dip—which are even more insane.)”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yields: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 c. all-purpose flour
2 lb. chicken tenders
2 c. panko bread crumbs
3 large eggs
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 c. barbecue sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
Juice of 2 limes
1 tsp. garlic powder
Ranch dressing, for serving (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and chicken tenders and shake until fully coated.
Set up a dredging station: In one shallow bowl, put bread crumbs, and in another shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and 2 tablespoons water. Dip chicken in egg mixture, then coat in bread crumbs. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper.
Bake until golden and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together barbecue sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and garlic powder. Simmer 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss baked chicken in sauce until coated. Serve with ranch, if desired.
CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH
This is from Julia Moskin on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Chicken soup is one of the most painless and pleasing recipes a home cook can master. This soup has all the classic flavors (celery, carrot, parsley) but has been updated for today's cooks, who can't easily buy the stewing hen and packet of soup vegetables that old-fashioned recipes used to call for. A whole bird provides the right combination of fat, salt and flavor. Don't be tempted to use all white meat, as the flavor won't be as round. Because making soup involves the bones and deep tissues of the bird, it is particularly reassuring here to use the highest-quality poultry you can find. This method produces a fragrant, golden, savory soup you want to eat all winter long; it's a perfect backdrop for noodles, rice or matzo balls.”
Time: 2 hours, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in “A Superior Chicken Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018442-chicken-soup-from-scratch.
Ingredients
For the Broth:
1 chicken, 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, with skin, cut up
3 stalks celery, with leaves, cut into chunks
2 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 yellow onions, peeled and halved
1 parsnip or parsley root (optional)
About 1 dozen large sprigs parsley
About 1 dozen black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
To Finish The Soup:
3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat, more if needed
3 leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, rinsed and sliced crosswise into thin half-moons
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
Kosher salt and ground black or white pepper
Egg noodles (fresh or dried), such as packaged wide noodles, spaetzle, fettuccine or pappardelle cut into short lengths (see note)
Finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, scallions, dill or a combination
Preparation
Place the chicken, celery, carrots, onions, parsnip (if using), parsley, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt in a large soup pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to very low. Adjust the heat until the soup is “smiling”: barely moving on the surface, with an occasional bubble breaking through. Cook uncovered, until the chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
When cool enough to handle, use tongs to transfer chicken from the pot to a container. Taste the broth and continue to simmer it until it is concentrated and tasty. Strain broth through a fine sieve (or a colander lined with cheesecloth) into a separate container. Discard all the solids from the strainer (or reserve the vegetables, chill and serve with vinaigrette, if you wish).
Refrigerate chicken pieces and broth separately for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days), until a thick layer of yellow fat has risen to the top of the broth.
When ready to finish the soup, use your fingers to separate chicken breast meat from bones and skin. Discard bones and skin. Use two forks to pull the breast meat apart into soft chunks, or use a knife and cut into bite-size pieces. (Reserve dark meat for another use.)
Skim chicken fat from top of broth and set aside. Place 3 tablespoons of the fat in a soup pot with a lid. Add leeks, stir to coat, and heat over medium heat until leeks begin to fry. Then reduce the heat to a gentle sizzle and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
Add carrots, sprinkle with salt, stir, and cover the pot. Cook until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes more. (Keep in mind that vegetables will continue to cook in the soup.) Do not brown.
Pour broth into pot with vegetables and heat to a simmer. Add noodles and simmer until heated through, soft and plumped with chicken broth. Add the breast meat, then taste broth and add salt and pepper to taste. For best flavor, soup should have some golden droplets of fat on top; if needed, add more chicken fat one teaspoon at a time.
Serve immediately, in a tureen or from the pot, sprinkling each serving with herbs.
Tip
Instead of noodles, almost any starchy garnish can be used here: matzo balls; partly cooked dry pasta, rice or other grains; or cooked white beans. Add them when you would add the noodles and simmer until heated through.
EASY-TO-TACKLE JAMBALAYA
This is from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Make this tasty rice dish anytime you gather a crowd. For zing, use spicy sausage and a little more cayenne pepper.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cooking Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour; Serves: 8 to 10
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds smoked pork sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 1/2 pounds Boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 medium onions, chopped
2 cups chopped celery
2 medium green bell peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 cups chicken broth
4 cups long grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat 8-quart oven-safe Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add sausage; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until browned. Remove from pan; set aside.
Add chicken, salt and pepper; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is browned. Remove from pan. Drain fat leaving 1 tablespoon.
Add onions, celery, green peppers, garlic and red pepper; cook, stirring 7 to 10 minutes or until vegetables begin to brown. Stir in chicken broth, reserved sausage and chicken, rice and paprika. Bring to a boil.
Place covered pot in the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, stirring once or twice during cooking.
LASAGNA
This is from Regina Schrambling on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “In 2001, Regina Schrambling went on a week long odyssey in search of the ultimate lasagna recipe. She tested several, and finally found her ideal in a mash-up of recipes from Giuliano Bugialli and Elodia Rigante, both Italian cookbook authors.
“‘If there were central casting for casseroles, this one deserved the leading role. But its beauty was more than cheese deep. This was the best lasagna I had ever eaten. The sauce was intensely flavored, the cheeses melted into creaminess as if they were bechamel, the meat was just chunky enough, and the noodles put up no resistance to the fork. Most important, the balance of pasta and sauce was positively Italian. At last I could understand why my neighbor Geoff had told me, as I dragged home more bags in our elevator, that all-day lasagna is the only kind worth making.’”
Time: 4 hours; Yield: 8 to 10 servings
This was featured in “The Noodle and I: A Face-of at the Oven”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9530-lasagna.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium red onions, finely diced
2 large cloves minced garlic
8 ounces pancetta, diced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups good red wine, preferably Italian
2 28-ounce cans Italian plum tomatoes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 pound ground sirloin
1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano
2 eggs
10 sprigs fresh parsley, leaves only, washed and dried
2 large whole cloves garlic
1/2 cup flour
1 pound Italian sausage, a mix of hot and sweet
For the Lasagna:
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
2 extra-large eggs
2 cups freshly grated pecorino Romano
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 pound mozzarella, grated
16 sheets fresh lasagna noodles, preferably Antica Pasteria
Preparation
For the sauce, heat 1/2 cup oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or kettle over low heat. Add the onions, minced garlic and pancetta, and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes, until the onions are wilted. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Raise heat slightly, add the wine and cook until it is mostly reduced, about 20 minutes. Crush the tomatoes into the pan, and add their juice. Add the tomato paste and 2 cups lukewarm water. Simmer for 1 hour.
Combine the sirloin, cheese and eggs in a large bowl. Chop the parsley with the whole garlic until fine, then stir into the beef mixture. Season lavishly with salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until all the ingredients are well blended. Shape into meatballs and set aside.
Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dust the meatballs lightly with flour, shaking off excess, and lay into the hot oil. Brown the meatballs on all sides (do not cook through) and transfer to the sauce.
In a clean skillet, brown the sausages over medium-high heat. Transfer to the sauce. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, pecorino Romano, parsley and all but 1 cup of the mozzarella. Season well with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
Remove the meatballs and sausage from the sauce, and set aside to cool slightly, then chop coarsely. Spoon a thick layer of sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch lasagna pan. Cover with a layer of noodles. Spoon more sauce on top, then add a third of the meat and a third of the cheese mixture. Repeat for 2 more layers, using all the meat and cheese. Top with a layer of noodles, and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
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