Aileen Birkitt, RD: Posted on Monday, December 08, 2014 1:31 PM
Here is a delicious vegetarian recipe using tofu that I adapted from Cooking Light that is fairly simple to prepare. A bonus is that this recipe will give you some protein from the tofu.
Penne with Tofu-Basil Pesto
Serves 4 (serving size- 1 ¼ cups)
1 cup fresh basil leaves 1 cup silken tofu ¼ cup grated fresh Parmesan 2 tbsp. fresh olive oil 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice ½ tsp. black pepper ¼ tsp. salt 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 tsp olive oil 2 ½ cups sliced cremini
mushrooms ¼ cup minced shallots 4 cups hot cooked penne
(about 8 oz. uncooked)
1.Combine first 8 ingredients
in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth. Place pesto in a small nonstick skillet; cook
over low heat until warm. Remove from
heat, keep warm. 2. Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in a large nonstick
skillet over medium high heat. Add the
mushrooms and shallots, and sauté 4 minutes. 2. Combine penne, pesto, and mushroom mixture in
a large bowl, toss gently.
Enjoy!
|
|
Aileen Birkitt, RD: Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 1:26 PM
Hi everyone! Here is a great recipe I adapted for a vegetarian/vegan soup I made last night from the cookbook "The Vegan Slow Cooker" by Kathy Hester 2011.
Sweet Potato White Bean Soup (soy free, gluten free)
Servings: 6 Prep time: 15 minutes cook time- 6-8 hours in slow cooker
INGREDIENTS: 1 medium-size sweet potato, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes 1 can (14.5 oz.) white beans, drained and rinsed (I recommend Cannellini beans) 5 cups water 2 tablespoons vegan chicken-flavored bouillon (can use regular chicken bouillon if you wish) 2 cups chopped Swiss chard 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme 2 sprigs parsley, minced salt and pepper, to taste
Combine the sweet potato, garlic, celery, diced tomatoes, beans, water and bouillon in the slow cooker. Cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours.
About 20 minutes before serving, add the Swiss chard, thyme and parsley. Cook until the Swiss chard is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
|
|
Aileen Birkitt, RD: Posted on Friday, December 20, 2013 11:24 AM
Hi
everyone! So I made this last night and
was unsure as to how it would come out and it came out great!
This is a vegan lasagna, but tasted so creamy
due to the tofu béchamel sauce, and sautéed mushrooms.
I adapted
this from “The Vegan Slow Cooker” by
Kathy Hester 2011. Yield: 4 servings
Prep time:
20 minutes Cook time-
1 ½ to 2 ½ hours
Mushroom Lasagna with Garlic –Tofu
Sauce
For the Bechamel Sauce:
1 package
(15 oz. or 420g) silken or soft tofu Juice of ½
lemon 3 cloves
garlic or 1 tsp. dried ½ to 1 tsp.
salt (to taste) 1 ½
tablespoons vegan chicken-flavored bouillon ¼ cup
nutritional yeast
INGREDIENTS:
2
tablespoons olive oil 20 oz. (560
g) mushrooms, sliced 2 sprigs
rosemary ½ to ¾
package (10 oz. or 280g) whole wheat lasagna noodles (regular kind, not no boil noodles)
You can do
this part the night before, or earlier in the day:
To make the
béchamel sauce: Puree all the sauce
ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.
Heat the
oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the mushrooms with the rosemary
until they give off their water and begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard the rosemary sprigs. Store the sauce and mushrooms in separate
airtight containers in the fridge.
2- 2 ½
hours before you will have dinner: oil
the crock of the slow cooker and spread one-fifth of the sauce on the bottom,
then top with a layer of lasagna noodles.
Break off the corners on one side of each noodle so they fit snugly in
the slow cooker. You can add the corners
in as well. Place a layer of noodles
over the sauce. Add a layer of one-third
of the mushrooms and top with another one-fifth of the sauce. Repeat the layers two more times, ending with
a last layer of lasagna noodles, and then top that with the remaining
sauce.
Cook on
high for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, until a fork will easily go through the middle and
the pasta is al dente.
Enjoy!
|
|
Aileen Birkitt, RD: Posted on Monday, December 09, 2013 11:47 AM
Hi everyone! Here is a delicious dish I made last week!
Cashew Nut Curry (from Vegetarian Pleasures by Jeanne Lemlin, copyright 1986)
Serves 4
2 tablespoons oil 1 medium size onion, diced 1/2 red chili, seeded and minced, or 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. turmeric 1 tsp. ground coriander 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tsp. minced gingerroot 1 cinnamon stick ( I sprinkled cinnamon powder in instead, fyi) 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz. raw cashews 2 medium size potatoes, peeled and diced (1/2 inch dice) 2 cups coconut milk
1. Heat the oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat and add the onion, chili, turmeric, coriander, cardamom, garlic, gingerroot and cinnamon. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Add all of the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is thickened. Serve alone or over rice.
Enjoy!
|
|