July 11, 2010July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan White Bean, Pistachio and Sage Spread

Yield: approximately 2 cups

2 tablespoons olive oil
leaves from 3 nice size sprigs of fresh sage
1-15 ounce can white beans (like cannellini), rinsed and drained
1/4 cup shelled pistachios
juice of one lemon
approximately 6 tablespoons of olive oil, or enough to reach desired consistency
pinch of sweet or smoky paprika
coarse sea or kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Garnish: a sprig of fresh sage

Accompaniment: heated or grilled whole wheat pita triangles, toasts or crackers

In a cast iron skillet over medium-high, heat olive oil until shimmering. Add fresh sage leaves and heat for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently, to release fragrance. Remove from heat and place in processor with all remaining ingredients except garnish. Process until fairly smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Serve with pita, toasts or crackers.

April 4, 2010February 10, 2011 by betsy

Vegan Red Lentil and Pistachio Spread

Yield: approximately 3 cups

I took this deliciously different spread to a lovely Easter feast today (see Vegan Quinoa Pilaf with Leeks, Edamame, Red Chard and Mushrooms). The recipe is the result of my accidentally overcooking the lentils. I substituted edamame in the pilaf and created this winning spread from the lentils. You ‘gotta love those happy accidents. And I know you’ll love this dish too.

For this recipe and some 170+ more,
I invite you to purchase my first cookbook:

The Blooming Platter:
A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes

Vegan Heritage Press
Spring 2011

March 28, 2010July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan White Beans and "Chicken" with Caramelized Onion, Golden Raisin and Toasted Pine Nut Ragout

Yield: 4 servings

Honestly, I could eat all four servings of this dish at one sitting. There is something about the balance of contrasting tastes and textures that absolutely does it for me. And setting the creamy melange off with a perky side salad of lightly dressed baby spinach and grape tomatoes just sends it right off the charts. I hope you agree.

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 small onions
3 cloves garlic
Coarse sea or kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup dry-sweet white wine
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 tablespoon dried rubbed sage
1 tablespoon fresh minced rosemary
2 tablespoon maple syrup
generous 1/4 cup fresh minced parsley
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted in a small dry skillet on top of the stove, just until fragrant and barely golden
1 can white beans, preferably the tiny little ones (I didn’t drain and rinse them, as they had little “juice,” but you can if you prefer)
4 ounces Morning Star Meal Starters chicken flavored strips, thawed
optional: zest from 1/2 of a small lemon
optional garnish: additional parsley, pine nuts, and/or lemon wedges/zest
optional side salad: lightly dressed (I used walnut oil, vinegar, sea salt and pepper) baby spinach and halved grape tomatoes

In a large cast iron skillet over medium-high, heat oil to shimmering. Add onion, garlic, a little salt and some pepper and saute, stirring occasionally until onion is soft, slightly golden, and most of oil is absorbed. Add the tablespoon of water and continue sauteing onion and garlic until the water is evaporated. Add next 6 ingredients beginning with white wine and cook down for a total cooking time of about 12-15 minutes, including the sauteing, reducing heat to closer to medium if necessary. Add parsley, pine nuts, beans, faux chicken, and optional lemon zest, and heat through. Serve immediately garnished as desired and/or with a side salad.

March 7, 2010July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan Muhammara Hummus

Yield: about 1 1/2 cups

Muhammara is one of my favorite dips or spreads, Middle Eastern or otherwise. Plus, it can be used to add a burst of flavor to soups, stews or, in this case, hummus. Don’t get me wrong, I have no complaints about the most basic hummus. But, I had some leftover Muhammara that needed to be used, a can of chick peas, and a need for something tasty to nosh on while watching the Oscar’s. And, so, Muhammara Hummus was born. It’s the best of both worlds: the subtle earthiness of creamy hummus gets a boost from robust Muhammara, and the latter is tamed a bit by the less assertive hummus. (The truth is, though, that you can substitute any tasty paste, like a vegan pesto.) To finish it off, I swirl the top with Pomegranate Molasses, a middle eastern condiment I fell in love with at a Turkish tapas restaurant in Washington, D.C. But if you don’t have it or can’t get it, drizzle with balsamic reduction or a little walnut or olive oil.

1-12 ounce can chick peas, rinsed and drained
5 tablespoons Muhammara (or the savory paste of your choice)
4 tablespoons walnut oil
1 tablespoon olive oil (or you can use all olive oil)
juice of 1/2 of a lemon
1 tablespoon dried parsley (or 3 tablespoons fresh minced parsley)
optional garnish: 1 tablespoon or so of pomegranate molasses, balsamic reduction or walnut or olive oil plus a lemon wedge
Fresh raw veggies, pita chips and/or small toasts

Place first 5 ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade and process until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Transfer to a serving bowl and swirl the top with the pomegranate molasses, balsamic reduction or walnut or olive oil. Garnish with a lemon wedge. Serve with fresh raw veggies, pita chips and/or small toasts.

March 6, 2010February 10, 2011 by betsy

Vegan Sausage, Fennel, White Bean and Kale Stew

Yield: approximately 8 servings

The winter greens in the grocery store are ravishing right now making it impossible not to build some meals around them. This one is such a warm and welcoming dinner to come home to. Plus it’s one of the tastiest infusions of antioxidants and flavorful vegan protein going. But you might have noticed that those are chick peas, not white beans, in the photo. I was in a hurry in a grocery store where I don’t usually shop and reached for the first can I saw with a white colored bean-like object on the front. They were delicious in the stew, so use them if you have them, but next time I’ll use white beans for a little more authentically Italian dish

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For this recipe and some 170+ more,
I invite you to purchase my first cookbook:

The Blooming Platter:
A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes

Vegan Heritage Press
Spring 2011

February 7, 2010February 10, 2011 by betsy

Vegan Broccoli, Grape Tomatoes, White Beans and Whole Wheat Pasta

Yield: 2-3 servings

What a satisfying supper this pretty dish turned out to be. The original recipe called for broccoli rabe and no pasta. Since rabe isn’t always available where I shop, I substituted broccoli florets and, always looking for ways to boost protein in my meals, I added a tiny bit of whole wheat pasta, since it can be a little heavy. Though I love whole wheat pasta for nutritional, taste and texture reasons, a pasta that is whiter in color–like regular bow ties–would create a prettier visual contrast, as the white beans and whole wheat pasta are almost identical in color.

For this recipe and some 170+ more,
I invite you to purchase my first cookbook:

The Blooming Platter:
A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes

Vegan Heritage Press
Spring 2011

February 3, 2010July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan Mediterranean Couscous

Yield: 4 servings

The weather in our area has been better for staying indoors than anything else. So, I created this habit-forming dish bursting with vitamins, color and flavor from all ingredients I had on hand requiring no snowy trip to the grocery store. However, the reason I had the grape tomatoes “on hand” was because I had carried them by hand and on foot from the grocery store a day or so earlier. Though other people were driving, it didn’t seem like a good idea to me. Walking to the bank and grocery store was treacherous enough, although, actually, kind of fun.

1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup coconut milk (I used lite)
2 cups couscous
4 tablespoons Muhammara (recipe follows)–optional, but adds lots of flavor and some nice color
1 tablespoon Mediterranean Pesto (I make mine from equal parts basil, mint and cilantro + olive oil, lemon juice and nut of choice)–optional but, again, adds flavor and a little color
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 green onions, thinly sliced
20 grape tomatoes, halved
4-5 black olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped pistachios or cashews
coarse sea or kosher salt

Bring stock and coconut milk to a simmer. Pour over couscous, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients as you fluff couscous with a fork. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Vegan Muhammara (Middle Eastern Red Bell Pepper, Walnut and Cumin Spread)

Yield: 1 3/4

1-7 ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained

2/3 cup fine fresh or dried bread crumbs

1/3 cup walnuts, lightly toasted and chopped fine (toast at 350 degrees for 10 or so minutes)

2-4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea or kosher salt

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses (wonderful stuff, but you can substitute a sweet dark syrup of your choice)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes

1/2 cup oil (the original recipe called for 3/4 cup which was too much; in fact, though thicker, the spread is actually delicious with very little or no oil)

Combine all ingredients except oil, if using, in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process until smooth and, with motor running, drizzle in optional oil until the mixture comes together.

Muhammara Source: I cut this recipe out of a culinary magazine a few years back, but I regretfully neglected to note which one.