Category: Vegan Middle Eastern

by betsy

Middle Eastern Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream Sauce (vegan/plant-based)

Middle Eastern Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Simple enough for a weeknight, and special enough for a holiday meal, this Middle Eastern-inspired twist on whole roasted cauliflower is a nutritious showstopper.  Though quite low in calories, the flavor is high octane and the Better Than Sour Cream Sauce contrasts beautifully with the roast’s rich golden color.  

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

1 whole medium cauliflower, rinsed, and leaves and stem removed without detaching florets

6 tablespoons garlic hummus (or whatever flavor you like)

2 teaspoons Everything Bagel Seasoning 

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Optional: 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Topping:

Note: you may substitute seasoned breadcrumbs, but this nut mixture is special.

1/3 cup broken or small nuts (regular or smoked almonds, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, or a combination)

1 tablespoon fresh minced chives, cilantro, or parsley

1 tablespoon Everything Bagel Seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line an 8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray or vegetable oil.  Whisk together all ingredients, except cauliflower and Topping, and rub and pat generously over entire surface of cauliflower, including the bottom.  Place, stem down, in prepared pan and roast, covered with foil shiny side down, for 45 minutes.  While cauliflower roasts, place topping ingredients in food processor and pulse a few times until nuts are finely chopped and ingredients are well combined.  After 45 minutes, carefully remove foil—avoid escaping steam—spritz top lightly with oil, and roast, uncovered, for 10 minutes.  Open oven door, slide rack out, sprinkle cauliflower with topping, and roast, uncovered, for 10 more minutes.  Test for tenderness with a sharp knife at base and bake a couple more minutes if necessary.  Serve on a platter of mixed greens and pass a bowl of Better Than Sour Cream Sauce (recipe follows).

Better Than Sour Cream Sauce:

1/2 cup Tofutti (www.Tofutti.com) Better Than Sour Cream

2 tablespoons garlic hummus (or same flavor used for cauliflower rub)

Optional: pinch sea salt

Zest of 1/2 medium lemon

In small bowl, whisk together Better Than Sour Cream, hummus, and optional sea salt.  Whisk in half the zest and use the remainder as a garnish on top.

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #thebloomingplatter #plantbasedbuffaloholiday #veganholiday #plantbasedcauliflower #vegancauliflower

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by betsy

Golden Middle-Eastern Inspired Butternut Squash Stew (vegan & plant-based)

Middle Eastern-Inspired Butternut Squash Stew (vegan & plant-based)

Yield:6 servings

This golden, spiced–but not “spicy”–vegan and plant-based stew checks all my autumnal boxes.

Fresh squeezed orange juice is one of my secret ingredients. Canned pureed organic butternut squash is my other “secret” weapon for silky, luscious, and low calorie vegan and plant-based “cream” soup bases. I find it at Harris Teeter, but you can substitute pumpkin if unable to locate.

Roast the following until caramelized at 425-450 degrees, lightly coated in olive olive and a sprinkle of salt:

12 ounces combined broccoli and cauliflower florets, approximately 20 to 25 minutes

16 to 24 ounces cubed butternut squash, approximately 30-35 minutes

Meanwhile proceed with recipe:

1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced
2 to 3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup water or vegetable broth
Pinch sea salt
1-15 5 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
1 teaspoon each: ground cardamom, ground coriander, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, sumac, zaatar
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
1-15 5 ounce can pureed butternut squash (I buy at Harris Teeter)
1/3 cup coconut milk
2 to 3 cups vegetable stock
Juice of 1 medium-large orange
Sea salt to taste
Garnishes: plant-based sour cream; roasted and lightly salted pumpkin seeds or cashews; halved cherry tomatoes; cilantro, mint, or lemon balm sprigs

In Dutch oven or large pot, saute onion, bell pepper, and garlic in water/stock with pinch sea salt until tender. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer while vegetables roast. Stir in vegetables and simmer for another 10 minutes or so for flavors to marry. Serve garnished as desired.

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #plantbasedmiddleeastern #veganbuffalomiddleeastern #plantbasedbutternutsquash #veganbutternutsquash #plantbasedstew #veganstew

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by betsy

A Luscious Crossing of Cultures: West African-Inspired Lentils with Middle Eastern-Inspired Chickpeas (vegan &plant-based)

West African-Inspired Red Lentils with Middle Eastern-Inspired Chickpeas

Yield: 4 main dish servings

This magical crossing of cultures is deeply flavorful and deeply satisfying.

Note:  Zaatar, sumac, and pomegranate molasses are available at Middle Eastern grocery stores and online.

West African Red Lentils

1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 medium-large onion, peeled and diced
2 large cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
Sea salt
1″ knob fresh finger, peeled and finely grated 
1 tablespoon Berber spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Half of 15.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
1 pound red lentils, rinsed and drained
3 cups vegetable broth
1-15.5 oz can Coconut milk, light or regular
Middle Eastern Chickpeas (recipe follows)
Garnish suggestions:  Roasted and lightly salted cashew halves and pieces,  vegan sour cream or substitute (I love Tofutti’s Vegetable Cucumber Dip, sometimes available at veganessentials.com), olive tapenade, olives, cucumber slices

In Dutch oven or a large soup pot with heavy bottom, heat olive oil over medium. Add onion and a pinch of sea salt, and saute,  stirring frequently, until softened. Add garlic and ginger and saute about 30 seconds more.   Add spices and fire roasted tomatoes and heat through, stirring occasionally.  Add lentils and vegetable stock and cook approximately 12 minutes or until lentils are soft and most of moisture is absorbed or evaporated. Stir in coconut milk and heat until simmering.  Adjust salt and other seasonings to your taste. Serve topped with Middle Eastern Chickpeas, garnished as desired.

Middle Eastern Chickpeas

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 medium-large onion, thinly sliced
2 large cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
Sea salt
1″ knob fresh finger, peeled and finely grated 
1-15.5 ounce can chickpeas, drained
Half of 15.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
1 tablespoon zaatar
1 teaspoon sumac
1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses

In large skillet with heavy bottom, heat olive oil over medium. Add onion and a pinch of sea salt, and saute,  stirring frequently, until softened. Add garlic and ginger and saute about 30 seconds more.   Add chickpeas, fire roasted tomatoes, and spices, and simmer together for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.   Stir in pomegranate molasses and heat through.  Adjust salt and other seasonings to your taste.

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn
#vegansofinstagram  #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #veganafrican #plantbasedafrican #veganlentils #plantbasedlentils #veganmiddleeastern #plantbasedmiddleeastern

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by betsy

Middle Eastern Tomato Coconut Soup with Chickpeas and Spinach (vegan & plant-based)

Yield: 2-4 servings

This is, for me, the perfect soup: light, bright, quick, stupid easy, pretty, and a nutritional powerhouse.

1-15.5 ounce can each fire roasted tomatoes, lite coconut milk, and drained chickpeas

1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, coriander, ground cumin, sea salt smoked paprika, and sumac

1 tablespoon liquid aminos, soy sauce or vegan Worchestershire (most organic brands are anchovy-free)

4 cups lightly packed baby spinach or Kale leaves

Toppings: vegan sour cream and Everything Bagel Seasoning

Note: I stirred in a few half slices of roasted oranges I had on hand, and they were a beautiful addition.

In a large soup pot over medium heat, stir together all ingredients until simmering. Stir in greens, just until wilted. Serve in bowls topped with vegan sour cream and a generous sprinkle of Everything Bagel seasoning.

Delish served immediately; even better the next day.

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansoup #plantbasedsoup #veganmiddleeastern #plantbasedmiddleeastern

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by betsy

Vegan Middle Eastern Roasted Parsnip, Carrot, and Walnut Spread

Vegan Middle Eastern Roasted Parsnip, Carrot, and Walnut Spread

My first recipe of 2019 is beautiful, bursting with flavor, nutritious, low in calories and fat, and a textural sensation. Happy Healthy New Year’s to all!

1 pound carrot chunks, peeled and roasted (I purchased already roasted at Whole Foods)

1 pound parsnips, peeled and roasted (I purchased already roasted at Whole Foods)

1/3 cup walnut pieces

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup orange juice (app. one-half an orange)

2 tablespoons lime juice (or lemon)

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander or 1 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds (the latter lends little bursts of flavor)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1 large garlic clove, quartered

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Water to reach desired consistency

Garnish: walnut pieces (duh…I grabbed cashews for photo not thinking)

Process all but garnish in food processor until a coarse paste forms. Garnish as desired and serve with pita points (we like the decadence of frying them because the dip is so low calorie).

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #veganappetizers #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn


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by betsy

Vegan Roasted Za’atar Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

If, like me, you find yourself in need of quick, no-fuss holiday gifts from your kitchen, you and your recipients will love my twist on a classic. The Middle Eastern flavor of za’atar curls up next to a hint of smoked paprika, garlic, and tamarind syrup for an intoxicating savory and slightly sweet flavor combination that is tantalizingly exotic, but not odd.

Za’atar is an aromatic Middle Eastern herb blend of earthy-lemony sumac, oregano, thyme, savory, and sesame seeds.

Package these seeds in pretty canisters or jars…or enjoy them warm right off the baking sheet.

Note: adjust spices if necessary to suit your palate.

4 cups raw pumpkin seeds (I purchased sprouted seeds at Whole Foods)

Non-stick spray

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons za’tar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons tamarind syrup (sold at Middle Eastern markets)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray (so that less oil is needed).  Spread seeds out in an even layer. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with remaining ingredients except tamarind syrup, and roast for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown, stirring half-way through. Remove from oven, drizzle with tamarind syrup, stir well to distribute evenly, cool on wire rack, and package in airtight containers.


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by betsy

Day 13: Vegan Curried Couscous AND Vegan Pear, Walnut and “Blue Cheese” Sandwiches–“Cooking ‘The Blooming Platter Cookbook’ Julie & Julia Style”

Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese Sandwiches

(A sequential installment from Kim Hastings, my photographer friend and, along with her vet husband, owner of Independence Veterinary Hospital, who decided on her own to cook her way through The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes Julie & Julia Style for her omnivorous family as a strategy for more healthy eating.)

[Betsy’s Note: the “F” on Kim’s photo is the grade she gave herself for her adlibbed cheese layer of the sandwiches, NOT for the recipe.]

Today I was super ambitious and decided to take on two recipes.

The first one, Curried Couscous, was the easiest one I have made to date. My biggest challenge was the fact that I had no idea what couscous was. My family has never eaten it. So of course I’m standing in the rice aisle at the grocery store searching up and down. I suppose I looked lost because two of the store managers who were in a deep discussion behind me stopped and walked over to see if I needed help. I said I was looking for couscous explaining that I had never used it before and one pointed it out to me and then proceeded to show me all the different kinds. The other manager told him to stop confusing me and just handed me a box of the plain. They were both so kind that I took two and was on my way.

Putting this recipe together was totally uneventful, thus a real confidence builder for me. I’m totally getting the hang of this vegan cooking… until I took on the Pear Walnut and “Blue Cheese” Sandwiches.

Ok I had already decided that my “blue cheese” wasn’t going to have quotation marks around it. I was buzzing on a total confidence high from the couscous. Pears, bread, mustard, and brown sugar? I got this! The assortment of flavors sounded a little strange, but one thing I have learned from cooking The Blooming Platter is to just go with it and it all comes together in the end.

So I now have the sandwiches under the broiler and go to the fridge for my cheater blue cheese dressing and once again…I can’t find any. It’s gone. So now what? The sandwiches are now out of the oven and sitting on top of the stove not looking so appetizing to me (I was really looking forward to the blue cheese). I searched the fridge again hoping it would magically appear. It did not. So I started reading the recipe for the “blue cheese” and I have none of those ingredients. Time to get creative I guess.

I chose pepper jack cheese and cream cheese – I know, don’t judge me – and I layered it on the sandwiches and put them back under the broiler. Then I remembered I forgot to put the walnuts on it so I quickly took it back out and buried them under the cheese. It came out a little burnt around the edges so I cut the crust off and I honestly did eat it for lunch. I have to say it wasn’t bad!

I did not make this for my family because they really don’t like pears for one, and two, they would definitely object to using fruits with mustard and cheese; and my husband hates walnuts as well. I can definitely say I will be making both of these again. The couscous tasted really good! We served it right out of the pot so fast that I did not get a photo of it but it was beautiful. However I regret to say that I did get a photo of the “sandwich” even though I am sure it looks nothing like a pear, walnut and blue cheese sandwich. I promise to do it by the (cook)book next time!

~Kim Howard Hastings

Kim Hastings


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by betsy

Vegan Middle Eastern Roasted Tri-Color Carrots and Fennel with Cucumber-Chickpea “Yogurt” Sauce

Middle Eastern Roasted Carrots with Yogurt, Chickpea, Cucumber ToppingYield: 6 servings

On Saturday, I found myself bringing home produce before I had even prepared produce from a Whole Foods run a couple of weeks ago.  Afraid that something would go bad before I could get to it, I just combined the beautiful tri-color carrots from the earlier trip with today’s fennel bulb.  I also roasted golden beets, but in a foil pouch and I’m not yet sure what I’m going to do with those little beauties.

In the meantime, enjoy this lovely dish with it’s mellow Middle Eastern flavor notes in either–or both–of two ways.  There are lots of tried and true carrot marriages, e.g. dill, mustard, orange, and maple.  But I wanted something a little different.  So, while I did include mustard and dried orange peel, I substituted tamarind syrup for maple and added several of my favorite Middle Eastern spices.  If you aren’t able to find tamarind or pomegranate syrup, maple will be tasty; and fresh lemon zest–say 1/2 teaspoon– is a fine substitution for sumac, just not quite as earthy.

As you can see below, the carrots are a beautiful side dish and I hope you’ll trust me on the taste.  However, yesterday, home form school for President’s Day, I wanted a lunch of the carrots, but with some protein.  Remembering that I had purchased a cucumber on Saturday and had some chickpeas and vegan sour cream on hand (here, no one sells unsweetened vegan yogurt), it occured to me that, combined, they would make a luscious and fresh-tasting protein-packed sauce for the carrots.  And they were.  Enjoy these beautiful roots as a side or a main dish and you’ll be blissfully content either way.

Middle Eastern Roasted Carrots

1 fennel bulb with stalks

1 pound tri-color carrots (or any carrots, really), trimmed, peeled, and cut into 1-inch pieces on the bias

1 tablespoon olive oil

Sea Salt

Freshly ground black peopper

1 tablespoon tamarind or pomegranate molasses

1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

1 teaspoon dried coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried orange peel

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon sumac

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

4 cloves garlic, halved

Optional Cucumber-Chickpea “Yogurt” Sauce (recipe follows)

Optional Garnish: reserved fennel fronds, whole or chopped pistachios, and smoked paprika (note, if you serve the carrots with the sauce, stir the fennel fronds into it and garnish with the pistachios and smoked paprika)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Remove fennel fronds from stalks, finely chop, and store, covered, in the refrigerator.  Trim stalks from fennel bulb and cut into 1-inch pieces on the bias.  Cut bulb in half and then slice each half into 6 to 8 wedges, about 3/4-inch thick at the widest part. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil into a large roasting pan.  Add fennel stalks and bulb wedges, carrots, and about 1/2 teaspoon sea salt adn 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.  Stir well to coat vegetables with oil.  Roast for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Whisk together molasses, mustard, corander, cumin, orange peel, smoked paprika, garlic powder and turmeric.  Drizzle over vegetables, add garlic, and stir to coat.  Roast another 10 to 20 minutes, stirring after 10, or until desired degree of caramelization is achieved.  (I like a lot of caramelization, so I roast them another 20, but be aware that the sugar content in the syrup means that too they will scorch more easily after it is added.)  Check for seasoning and stir in more salt and pepper if desired.  Serve warm or at room temperature garnished, if desired, with the reserved fennel fronds,  pistachios, and smoked paprika, or topped with the Cucumber-Chickpea “Yogurt” Sauce and garnished as desired.

Cucumber-Chickpea “Yogurt” Sauce

1/2 cup vegan unsweetened yogurt or sour cream

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1-7 to 8-inch cucumber, diced

Reserved finely chopped fennel fronds

1/8th teaspoon garlic powder

Pinch sea salt and freshly ground pepper

In a medium bowl, fold together all ingredients until well combined and chill in the refrigerator, covered, until serving time.


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by betsy

Vegan Kale, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Fritter-Cakes

Kale, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Fritter Cakes--with ForkThese savory fritter-cake hybrids are made from a trifecta of favorite, healthful, colorful and plentiful ingredients: chopped fresh kale, shredded sweet potato, and black beans.  Green onion adds a fresh, pungent, herb-y kick.

A food processor made short order of  finely chopping the kale and, with a quick blade switch-out, creating beautiful, consistent shreds of sweet potatoes and no scraped knuckles.  For efficiency, I used canned black beans, rinsed and well-drained, mashing about half of them with a potato masher to help the fritter-cakes hold together without  a lot of additional ingredients.  However, I did use a little flour and soymilk (use the nondairy milk of your choice) plus some baking powder and soda for a hint of lift, but not enough to create a “batter.”  The finished consistency of these is somewhat similar to a latke with a bit more body.

For spices, black beans would suggest Mexican or southwestern flavor notes.  But, for some reason, I wanted to nudge these fritter-cakes in a slightly Middle Eastern direction.  So I did invite cumin, coriander and lime zest to the party, but also smoked paprika and sumac which lends a lovely earthy lemony profile.  It is widely sold in Middle Eastern grocery stores, but if you can’t find it, just order it online or leave it out.  However, it has been one of my favorite kitchen companions of the last few years.

For cooking, I tried both oil and nonstick spray and found that the calories in the oil were worth achieving a crispier crust, but see what you think.

I love a savory and ever-so-slightly sweet balance, so for a topping, I whisked a little lime juice and tamarind syrup into vegan sour cream.  Tamarind syrup lends a heavenly, subtle and distinctively Middle Eastern floral note tempered by the sweetly acidic lime juice.  Again, the syrup is sold at Middle Eastern grocery stores and online.  But you could substitute pomegranate syrup which is fruity without being floral or just leave out all together and go with a citrus sour cream which would be delicious too.

A little spoonful of the sauce, a thin slice of lime, a few pine nuts and a sprinkling of smoked paprika created a beautiful presentation of these delectable disks, perfect for breakfast brunch, lunch or even dinner, perhaps with a side salad.

3 cups shredded sweet potatoes (slightly over a half-pound potato)

4 cups coarsely chopped or torn kale, finely chopped (I used a food processor)

1-15.5 ounce can black beans, rinsed and well-drained; half of beans mashed with potato masher

6 green onions, very thinly sliced

1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (I use white whole wheat)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon sea salt or to taste + a small amount more for sprinkling

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste

1/2 cup soymilk (or an nondairy milk)

Tamarind-Lime Cream (recipe follows)

Garnishes (optional): thin slices of fresh lime, a few pine nuts, dusting of smoked paprika

 

Kale, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Fritter Cakes--Uncooked
Mixture Before Frying

Line a baking sheet with paper towel and set aside.  Set oven to lowest temperature.  In a large mixing bowl, toss together with your hands sweet potato, kale, green onions, and unmashed sweet potatoes.  In a medium bowl, whisk together mashed beans, flour, baking powder, baking soda, all spices, including salt and pepper, and soymilk.  Spoon in roughly even dollops over vegetable-bean mixture and combine well with a fork.  The mixture will be very textured and moist, mounding nicely, but will not form a batter.

Heat a thin layer of vegetable oil (or a combination of vegetable and olive oil) in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high.  Divide mixture into 1/12ths and, using a spoon or scoop, place 4 evenly-spaced mound into the sizzling oil pressing to about 1/2-inch thick with a metal spatula.  Cook for about 2 minutes, flip and cook 2 more minutes, lowering temperature if necessary to prevent scorching.  They will turn a rich nutty brown (as opposed to a light golden brown).  Remove fritter-cakes and drain on prepared baking sheet, sprinkling each with a few granules of sea salt.  Keep warm in oven.  Repeat twice more with remaining mixture.  Serve immediately topped with Tamarind-Lime Cream and garnished as desired.

 

Tamarind-Lime Cream

1/2 cup vegan sour cream

1 teaspoon tamarind syrup (or pomegranate syrup)

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

Sea salt to taste

 

 

 

 

 



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