Month: February 2017

I’m not really sure what the difference is between a curry and a soup, but this dish – built on red lentils and potatoes, with bright Thai curry paste and tangy non-dairy yogurt — falls into that grey area. It would be just as good on a plate with rice as it would by itself in a bowl.

Technically, curry doesn’t even exist. In India, the word curry apparently just refers to a gravy or sauce. How do I know this? Why, from the unofficial website (notacurry.com) dedicated to striking down the flow of misinformation around Indian cuisine! “Curry is a misnomer that trivializes the complex and heterogeneous characteristics of Indian cooking and overlooks the Indian subcontinent’s highly diverse culinary landscape.”

…So whatever you want to call it, this dish actually draws influence from lots of different regions. The red lentils and potatoes are very Indian, but I’m using bright Thai red curry paste as well as non-dairy yogurt (which is a first for this blog) to create layers of flavor in this super-easy, creamy, spicy dish.

Makes: 4 servings

* I use the Thai Kitchen brand red curry paste, which is widely available in the states and is vegan, but I’ve heard that the European version has fish sauce, so be sure to double check.

Step One

Mince the mirepoix (onion, celery, carrot) and add to a large stockpot with a tablespoon of olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper. Allow the veggies to soften for about 5 minutes, then add in all of the curry paste, the coriander, and the potatoes (cut into small chunks) and all/some of the red chili (minced) depending on how spicy you want it. Stir well to incorporate the curry paste and give another 5 minutes to simmer.

Step Two

Rinse and sort the lentils, then add them into the pot along with 3 cups of veggie broth (for now, more may be needed later). Bring to a simmer, cover, and allow to cook for at least 30 more minutes until the potatoes are soft and fully cooked – stirring occasionally. Feel free to add more salt, spices, curry paste, or vegetable broth, if needed.

If serving with rice, begin preparing that now as well.

Step Three

When the potatoes are soft, remove from the heat and stir in the juice of 1-2 limes and about 6 oz of coconut milk yoghurt. Ladle into bowls, alongside the rice (if using) and top with chopped cilantro and a dollop of the remaining coconut milk yogurt.

I’m not sure what a Buddha Bowl even is anymore. Back when I posted my original buddha bowl recipe a few years ago, my understanding was that it meant a bowl of finely-chopped vegetables tossed with a grain like rice or quinoa. But now, if you do a search for buddha bowl, it seems to be used for any vegetarian recipe served in a bowl. Hmm.

However, I’m still holding onto my definition. I think something great happens when you chop your veggies super-fine and toss them with a grain and some seasonings. Every bite has a little of everything and it tastes so fresh and satisfying. For this new recipe, we’re taking that template to another level. It’s starts with the basics – quinoa with chopped veggies – and then we’ll add some sweet & savory sautéed chickpeas and top everything with a killer pureed sauce of red pepper and parsley (much like a chimichurri sauce). Everything can be whipped up in under 30 minutes for a dinner + some leftovers the next day.

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: cook some quinoa according to package instructions. If you start with about 1 1/2 cups of dry quinoa and 3 cups of water, you should have just about the right amount.

Step One – The Chickpeas

To start, let’s make the sweet and spicy chickpeas that add so much depth and flavor to this buddha bowl. Rinse and drain two cans of chickpeas (or a fresh equivalent) and toss them into a skillet with a drizzle of maple syrup and a few dashes of each of the spices mentioned (it’s hard to say exactly how much to use, just start with a little and see how it goes). Warm over medium-high heat and toss the pan occasionally to ensure even coating. After about 5 minutes, the chickpeas should begin turning darker and the seasonings will start to stick. At that point, give them a taste and add any more spices as needed. Then, remove from the heat and set aside.

Step Two – The Chimichurri

Slice 1 1/2 red bell peppers into strips, place them on a baking sheet (saving the other 1/2 pepper for garnish) , and pop them under your oven’s broiler for 5-7 minutes, until the tops just begin to char. When done, allow to cool slightly then combine in a food processor with the parsley leaves, garlic cloves, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and some salt and pepper. Pulse just a few times until you have something resembling a salsa (stop before you have a smoothie!). Taste and adjust the flavors as needed.

Step Three – Everything Else

With the two big components out of the way and the quinoa finished cooking, the salad is easy to finish. Simply chop the green onions and kale into very small pieces and dice the avocado and remaining bell pepper. Then add everything except the chimichurri (chickpeas, quinoa, kale, green onions, avocado, bell pepper, and pumpkin seeds) into a large bowl and toss to combine. Serve (room temperature and chilled both work well) in bowls with a big spoonful of the chimichurri on top.

 

Source: oneingredientchef.com

One of my favorite flavor combos in the whole world is buffalo + ranch, but this is surprisingly my first attempt at putting those two flavors together in one of my own recipes. I couldn’t be happier with it. The spicy buffalo-coated tempeh strips and the shredded greens coated with cool cashew-based ranch is incredible. Throw in some avocado for good measure and wrap it all in a tortilla for one delicious lunch.

The cool thing about this recipe is that you can make it pretty much anyway you want. It’s just about perfect as it is, but you can change it up in many ways. If you want to make it into an awesome bowl, just sub rice or quinoa for the tortilla. Want to use cauliflower instead of tempeh? No problem. Feel free to freestyle this one as much as you want and it will still come out amazing.

Makes 4 wraps

Prep: Soak the 1/2 cup raw cashews for at least an hour before blending. Also preheat the oven to 350º F.

Step One

In a high-powered blender, make the ranch sauce by combining the cashews (drain the soaking water), 1/2 cup fresh water, nutritional yeast, parsley, chives, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, and a shake of salt and pepper. Blend until smooth, then give it a taste and adjust anything as needed to get a creamy, slightly-sour vegan ranch sauce. This can be made ahead and stored for several days if needed.

Step Two

To make the buffalo pieces, slice the tempeh lengthwise into long strips, line them along a baking dish, and coat both sides with at least 1/4 cup buffalo sauce. Bake for about 5 minutes until the sauce begins to stick to the outside and absorb into the tempeh. Add more buffalo sauce, flip the tempeh, and bake again – getting tons of flavor baked onto the outside of the pieces. Allow to cool and set aside until ready to make the wraps.

Step Three

To make the wraps themlselves, warm a large tortilla in the oven or microwave until more pliable, add a handful of both shredded lettuce and shredded red cabbage, then drizzle on a bunch of the ranch sauce. Line with a few avocado pieces and 2-3 tempeh pieces. Drizzle with a little more buffalo sauce and ranch sauce, then fold in the ends and roll lengthwise. Slice in half and serve!

Note: all the pieces can be made ahead of time but it’s best to prepare the wraps just before serving, as the sauces will make them soggy if saved for too long.

Source : oneingredientchef.com