Vegetarian ramen

Serves 2-3

Ingredients 

5 g (~¼ oz) kombu

8 g (~1/3 oz) dried shiitake mushrooms

2-3 g dried porcini mushrooms

1 cup water

4 scallions

2 Tbsp veg oil
1 2"-piece ginger, peeled, thinly sliced into matchsticks
2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 Tbsp white miso

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil

8 oz shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, cleaned, and sliced thinly

1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks

 
2-3 baby bok choy (about 12 oz. total), quartered lengthwise and cleaned
~10-oz fresh ramen noodles.  (Note:  Fresh or frozen ramen noodles can be found at Asian markets and some grocery stores. I like Sun Noodle brand.) 

Chili-crisp or chili-oil

Jammy soft-boiled eggs (peeled and halved), shredded toasted nori sheets, and/or cilantro (for topping; optional)


Instructions

Place kombu and dried mushrooms in a saucepan with the 1 cup water and set over medium heat, slowly bringing water to a slow simmer.  Remove from the heat, cover, and let it sit for 30 min+, then remove and discard the kombu

Trim dark green parts from scallions and thinly slice; set aside for serving. Coarsely chop white and pale green parts. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in pot over medium-high. Cook chopped scallions and ginger, stirring often, until scallions are charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to stick to the bottom of pot and darkens slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the mushroom/water mixture from above along with the miso, then stir in 4 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let sit about 10 minutes. 

Using a slotted spoon, transfer solids to a blender. Add a ladleful or 2 of broth to blender and purée until smooth. Stir purée back into broth in pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add butter a piece at a time, whisking to combine after each addition before adding more. Add soy sauce then taste and adjust seasonings if needed.  Cover and keep warm.

Heat oil in Dutch oven until just smoking.  Add mushrooms and cook until lightly browned and tender, 5+ minutes. Add carrots, saute for a few minutes, then whisk in broth from above, cover and keep warm over a very low flame.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add bok choy and cook until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bok choy to a plate. Return water to a boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and divide among bowls. 

To serve, ladle broth over noodles, then top with bok choy, dark green scallion tops, and chili-crisp. Add eggs, nori, and cilantro if desired. 

Garlicky chicken and rice soup

 2 medium shallots, minced
5 med cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1/4 tsp dried thyme or herbes de Provence
1 Tbsp tomato paste
6+ cups chicken or veg broth
1 bay leaf
1 Tbsp white miso
~12 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
½ cup + 2 Tbsp long grain rice, rinsed
3 large carrots, peeled and cut 1/4 inch thick
8 medium Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
1/2 cup frozen peas

Season chicken breast on both sides with salt and pepper and let sit for 15 min. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a medium pot over med heat until shimmering. Place chicken breasts in pot and cook until browned and breasts release from the pot. Flip breasts, brown the other side, then remove breasts to a plate.

Add another Tbsp oil, heat, and add shallot and garlic. Heat, stirring occasionally until shallot and garlic are softened. Stir in the thyme and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 30 sec.

Add the broth, bay leaf, and miso and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Add the chicken, then cover and cook until chicken is cooked to 160 deg F.   Remove chicken to a cutting board and let rest until cool enough to shred

 Stir in the Brussels sprouts and let simmer for 5 in then add the rice and carrots and simmer, cooking until the rice and all veggies are tender, 12-15 min. Meanwhile, shred the chicken breasts. When the veggies and rice are tender, stir in the chicken and peas and let sit off heat until warmed through, a couple of minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with saltine crackers.

Sicilian Trapanese Pesto (Gemelli With Tomato-Almond Pesto and Croutons)

Makes 4 servings

When we sampled this no-cook tomato sauce while in Sicily, it was made the traditional way, with a large mortar and pestle, but a food processor gets the job done faster and more easily. Topped with crisp, olive oil-infused croutons and toasted almonds, the dish is served warm or at room temperature after the pasta has had a little time to soak in the flavorful sauce. Instead of blanched, slivered almonds, you could also use sliced or whole almonds that have been roughly chopped.

Don’t overprocess the second addition of tomatoes. We pulse the first half to create a juicy sauce, but the rest we pulse only until roughly chopped so that tomato chunks add bursts of bright color and texture.

¾      cup blanched slivered almonds
12      ounces gemelli or other short pasta
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
4        medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
½      cup lightly packed fresh basil, leaves torn if large
2        pints cherry tomatoes, divided
6        tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more to serve
3        ounces crusty white bread, torn into rough ½-inch pieces (about 1¾ cups)

In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high, toast the almonds, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside; reserve the skillet.

In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add the pasta and 2 tablespoons salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, process ½ cup of the almonds, the garlic, and 2 teaspoons salt until finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add the basil and half the tomatoes, then pulse until chopped and well combined, 4 to 6 pulses. Add the remaining tomatoes and 2 tablespoons oil, then pulse just until the whole tomatoes are broken up, about 3 pulses. Transfer to a serving bowl, add the pasta and ¼ cup of the reserved cooking water, then toss. Let stand, tossing once or twice, for 10 to 15 minutes, to allow the pasta to absorb some of the sauce.

While the pasta stands, in the same skillet used to toast the almonds, toss the bread, remaining 4 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook over medium, stirring frequently, until the bread is crisp and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.

Scatter the toasted bread and the remaining ¼ cup almonds over the pasta. Drizzle with additional oil and sprinkle with pepper.

Crunchy Tofu Tacos

JOE KIM 

May 2010

Ingredients

• One 14-ounce package extra-firm tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons chile powder
• 1 tablespoon Siracha
• 1 tablespoon finely grated garlic
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon toasted-sesame oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
• 12 corn or 5-inch flour tortillas, warmed
• Hoisin sauce, kimchi, Asian pear, scallions and chopped honey-roasted peanuts, for serving

How to Make It

Step 1    

Place the tofu on a rack lined with paper towels and drain for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of the chile powder with the Siracha, garlic, ginger and sesame oil and season with salt. In another large bowl, whisk the cornstarch with the remaining 2 tablespoons of chile powder and 1 tablespoon of salt.

Step 2    

In a medium, deep skillet, heat the oil until it reaches 365°. Add the tofu to the chile sauce and stir gently to coat. Scrape the tofu into the cornstarch mixture and toss to coat. Transfer the coated tofu to a colander to tap out the excess cornstarch. Fry the tofu in one batch, stirring occasionally, until golden and crunchy, 3 to 3 1/2 minutes; maintain the heat near 360°. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the crunchy tofu to a paper towel–lined rack and sprinkle with salt. Serve the tofu right away with the tortillas, hoisin sauce, kimchi, Asian pear, scallions and peanuts.https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/crunchy-tofu-tacos

Vegetarian Skillet Chili

Prepare the chili in a pot, not a skillet The above recipe is fairly tame.  Try this variation to punch up the flavor::

Use one can kidney beans, one can of black beans, 28 oz can of chopped tomatoes, 2 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp dried oregano and 1 tsp ground cumin. Also add 1 chopped red bell pepper and 1 chopped yellow pepper to the onion/garlic mixture. Sauté the onion, garlic and peppers until soft, then add spices, cook for a minute or two and then add tomatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes, add the beans and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Vegetarian ramen with Shiitakes and soft eggs

Creamy Mac

INGREDIENTS

1 lb elbow pasta (or other tubular shaped pasta)
2 Tbsp olive oil or Earth Balance
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, sliced
1 russet potato, ~ 12 oz, peeled and cut into chunks
1 1/2 cup butternut squash peeled and cut into chunks
1 carrot, peeled and cut into chunks
1/4 cup roasted unsalted cashew nuts
1 cup almond milk
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp turmeric
sweet paprika

~1 cup panko crumbs + 2 Tbsp melted Earth Balance or olive oil

PROCEDURE:

1.  Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a full boil.   Add pasta, with stirring, and cook to al dente.

2.  Preheat oven to 400 deg F. Meanwhile, heat oil or Earth Balance  in medium saucepan over medium-low heat.  Add onion and garlic;  cook with occasional stirring until soft but not browned - 3-5 minutes.  Add potato, squash, carrot, cashews, and almond milk.  Cover and bring to a full boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until all vegetables are tender, 10-15 min.

3.  Transfer mixture to a blender.  Add yeast and open blender cap to release steam.  Replace cap and blend mixture until very smooth, several minutes.  Add remaining ingredients and blend until incorporated.

4.  Drain cooked pasta and toss with hot sauce.  Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

5.  To serve as a casserole, combine panko crumbs and melted Earth Balance or olive oil.   Pour pasta /sauce mixture into a shallow 2 qt baking dish, scatter panko mixture over the top, and sprinkle with some sweet paprika.  Bake until heated through and bead crumbs are browned, 20 + minutes.

[Note:  More liquid may be needed to loosen the blended vegetable mixture, especially if the mixture is to be served as a casserole.]

[Note 2:  The casserole can be assembled beforehand and refrigerated (covered with aluminum foil).  In this case, do not add the panko topping initially.  Heat the covered creamy mac for ~20 min in the oven, then remove the foil, add the panko topping and heat until the creamy mac is hot and the topping is browned]

30-Minute Black Bean Soup

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 green bell peppers, stems and seeds discarded, medium dice
1 large onion, mediuim dice
2 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
1 jalapeño or serrano pepper, stems and seeds discarded, medium chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
1 chipotle chili packed in adobo, finely chopped, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from can (optional)
1 quart homemade or low-sodium canned chicken broth
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, with liquid
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt

To serve (all optional):
Roughly chopped cilantro leaves
Mexican-style sour cream (non-dairy if vegan)
Diced avocado
Diced red onion

DIRECTIONS

1.  Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add peppers and onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, jalapeño, cumin, and dried chili flakes and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chipotle and adobo sauce (if using) and stir to combine. Add chicken broth, 2 cans of beans and their liquid, and bay leaves. Increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a bare simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes.

2.  Discard the bay leaves. Use a hand blender to puree the soup until desired consistency is reached. Add the two cans of beans that have been drained and rinsed to the soup and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt.

3.  Ladle soup into individual serving bowls and serve immediately with cilantro leaves, sour cream, diced avocado, and diced red onion (as desired).

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/01/30-minute-black-bean-soup-recipe.html

Skillet Thai Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Tofu

For a simplified and streamlined Thai curry recipe, we used red curry paste, widely available in supermarkets, sautéing the curry paste in a little oil and then adding the coconut milk for a deep flavor without a lot of time or effort. Considering the trend toward lighter eating, we chose tofu to play the starring role in our Thai curry recipe. It became slightly slimy when cubed and immediately added to a simmering base, so we tried browning the cubes first, a vast improvement. We also added snow peas and strips of red pepper, which provided a crispness that complemented the texture of the tofu, as well as providing the dish with vibrant color.

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

14 ounces extra-firm tofu
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 - 1 ½ tablespoons red curry paste
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
2 tablespoons fish sauce (or Braggs Liquid Aminos for vegan)
4 teaspoons light brown sugar
¼ cup water
2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 ½ pounds), peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes
1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch strips
½ pound snow peas, strings removed
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 


Instructions

The heat of red curry paste can vary from brand to brand, so unless you are familiar with the particular brand you are using, or you really like spicy food, it’s better to start off with the lesser amount indicated. In the test kitchen, we use Thai Kitchen brand, which is widely available in supermarkets. This curry is a satisfying meal on its own or can be served with rice. Light coconut milk can be substituted for the regular coconut milk; however, the sauce will be slightly thinner. Use a nonstick skillet to keep the tofu from sticking to the pan.

1. Slice the tofu into ¾-inch planks. Lay the planks on a clean kitchen towel and cover with a second kitchen towel. Lightly press the tofu until its surface is dry. Unwrap and cut it into ¾-inch cubes.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the tofu in a single layer and cook until golden brown on one side, about 2-4 minutes. Gently stir the tofu and cook until a second side is golden brown, about 2-4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

3. Add the remaining tablespoon oil to the skillet and return to medium heat until shimmering. Add the curry paste and cook, stirring constantly, until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk in the coconut milk, fish sauce, light brown sugar, and water. Add the sweet potatoes and tofu; bring to a simmer. Turn heat to low, cover, and cook until the potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

4. Add the red bell pepper and snow peas, increase the heat to medium-low, and continue to cook, covered, until the peas are crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the basil and lime juice. Season with salt to taste. Serve immediately with freshly cooked rice.

Farro and Green Bean Salad

 "The first time I tasted farro, it changed my life," says Melissa Kelly about the ancient grain that's rich in fiber, complex carbohydrates and magnesium.


INGREDIENTS

1 cup farro (7 ounces)
Water
Salt
6 ounces thin green beans
1 cup pure olive oil, for frying
4 large shallots—3 thinly sliced, 1 minced
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons salted toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
Freshly ground pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium saucepan, cover the farro with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cover, remove from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes. Drain the farro and return it to the pan. Add 2 more cups of water and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Cook the farro over high heat until al dente, about 10 minutes; drain well.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the green beans until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes; drain. Rinse the beans under cold water and pat dry.

Heat the pure olive oil in a medium saucepan. In a small bowl, toss the sliced shallots with the flour, separating them into rings. Transfer the shallots to a strainer and tap off the excess flour. Add the shallots to the hot oil and fry over high heat, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried shallots to paper towels to drain thoroughly; season lightly with salt.

Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the oil from the saucepan. Add the mushrooms and cook over high heat, stirring, until browned. Transfer to a plate.

In a medium bowl, whisk the sherry and balsamic vinegars with the minced shallot, garlic and thyme. Whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the farro, green beans, hazelnuts and three-fourths of the fried shallots and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a platter or shallow bowl. Garnish with the remaining fried shallots and serve.

MAKE AHEAD

The recipe can be prepared through Step 4 one day ahead. Keep the fried shallots in an airtight container at room temperature. Refrigerate the farro, green beans and mushrooms separately. Let return to room temperature before tossing the salad.

NOTES

One Serving 394 cal, 26 gm fat, 2.3 gm saturated fat, 39 gm carb, 6 gm fiber.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/farro-and-green-bean-salad

Fiesta Bean Salad

Slightly adapted from a recipe by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger 

1 red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

1 poblano chile

1⁄2 cup olive oil

1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp chipotle powder (or chili powder)

1 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 teaspoon pepper

1 small red onion, finely diced

1 can (~15 oz) canned, rinsed, and drained black beans

1 can (~15 oz)  canned, rinsed, and drained pinto beans

1 can (~15 oz) canned, rinsed, and drained navy or great northern beans

cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped (~1⁄4 cup)

Core and seed the bell peppers and poblano and cut them into a small 1⁄4-inch dice. The pepper and chile cubes should be similar to the size of the cooked beans.

To make the dressing, in a large bowl whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, spices, salt, and pepper. Toss in the diced peppers, chile, onion, beans, and cilantro, and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or (even better) overnight.  Adjust seasoning before serving. 

For more color and a little extra sweetness, add whole kernel corn.

Kung Pao-Style Tofu and Veggies with Ramen

Ingredients

                      

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil·                       
• 1 pound extra firm tofu
• soy sauce
• cornstarch

• 1 red bell pepper, cored and sliced thinly
• 1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
• a couple crowns of broccoli, cut into small florets·                        
• ½ cup roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped or crushed                      
• 3 garlic cloves, minced                      
• 1 tablespoons grated fresh ginger                      
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more if you like the dish hotter - this amount gives a slight warming to the lips - the original recipe calls for 1 tsp which is really hot)                       
• 2½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth                      
• 3 (3 oz.) packages ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded                      
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce                      
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar                      
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil                      
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced        

Directions

1.  Drain tofu block then cut it horizontally into two slabs and press between paper towels (put a weight on top) for several minutes to remove some of the water.

2.  Cut the two slabs into cubes and place them in a shallow container.  Sprinkle some soy sauce over them and turn them to absorb all of the soy sauce.  Transfer the cubes to another shallow container containing cornstarch and turn the tofu until all sides are coated with cornstarch then place the tofu pieces on a wire rack

3.  Heat a 12" non-stick frying pan with a shallow amount of vegetable oil in it until the oil is shimmering.  Place the tofu cubes in the oil (should start frying immediately) and pan fry until bottom of tofu cubes are brown.  Adjust heat as needed.  Turn cubes and continue frying until all sides are golden.  When complete, transfer the cubes to a paper lined plate to drain and keep warm in a warm oven.

4.  Wipe out the frying pan with paper towels then add 1 tablespoon of the oil to it and heat over high heat until very hot.

5.  Add the bell pepper and cook until pepper is softened, 2 to 3 minutes.   Transfer to a bowl.

6.  Add another tablespoon oil to skillet and return to medium-high heat until shimmering.   Add the broccoli and stir fry constantly until the florets are bright green and a little browning has occurred.  Add a few Tablespoons water, put a lid on the frying pan, and reduce the heat to low.  Let the broccoli cook for 3-5 min until the broccoli is cooked as much or little as you prefer.  Remove the lid, raise the heat, and stir fry the broccoli again until most of the moisture has evaporated from the broccoli.  Transfer the cooked broccoli to a bowl with the red pepper.

7.  Add another Tbsp oil to skillet, add the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes and heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

8. Stir in broth. Break bricks of ramen into small chunks and add to skillet. Bring to simmer and cook, tossing ramen constantly with tongs to separate, until ramen is just tender, but there is still liquid in the pan, several minutes.

7.  Stir in hoisin, vinegar, and sesame oil and continue to simmer until sauce is thickened, a minute or two.

8.  Stir in broccoli, peppers, peas, and peanuts.  Stir/toss until everything is hot.  Add the tofu cubes and stir to mix. Sprinkle with scallions before serving.

 Note: The sauce in this dish may seem a bit brothy when finished, but the liquid will be quickly absorbed by the noodles when serving.

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