Weekly Menu Recipes

Chickpea Wrap

Ingredients

Sea Salt

2 tbs. Olive Oil

1 Carrot, finely diced

1 Onion, finely diced

1 Garlic Clove, minced

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp. ground cayenne

Freshly ground pepper

1 15oz can of Chickpeas

1 White Potato

5 whole oil packed sun-dried tomatoes (optional)

Naan or Tortillas

1. Place a large saute pan over medium heat. Sprinkle the bottom with salt and heat for 1 minute. Add the oil and heat for another minute, do not let it smoke.

2. Add the carrot, onion, and garlic to the pan and saute for 5 -7 minutes. Add the cumin, red pepper, cayenne, and black pepper to taste and saute for 1 minute.

3. Add the chickpeas and their liquid and 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Add the potato and tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes soften. Serve wrapped in tortillas.  Makes 4 wraps.

Skewers of Squash, Seitan in Pineapple‐Ginger Marinade with Brown Rice

Ingredients

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice (from the pineapple or the can)

1/4 cup minced cilantro

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1 1/2 tbs soy sauce

2 cloves of garlic, minced

squash

1 pkg. seitan

1 cup of uncooked brown rice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large red bell pepper

1 1/2 cups peeled and cubed pineapple

Wooden skewers

Combine the vinegar, pineapple juice, cilantro, ginger, soy sauce, and garlic to a shallow dish. Add the squash, seitan and toss gently to coat, cover and refrigerate.

Preheat the grill to medium-heat. Place 2 1/4 cups of water in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to boil. Add the rice and salt, cover, reduce the heat to very low, and cook for about 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut the bell pepper into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Just before grilling, evenly distribute the squash, seitan, pepper and pineapple among the skewers.  Reserve the marinade. Place skewers on the grill and cook for 4 minutes then turn and grill about 4 minutes longer. Mount the rice into the center of the serving plate, place two skewers atop each serving. Strain the reserved marinade and pass it as a sauce. 

Crunchy Chinese Salad

1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar

2 tbs. dark sesame oil

2 tbs. canola oil

2 tbs. soy sauce

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp salt

6 oz. dried ramen noodles

1 1/2 lbs cabbage, shredded

2 cups of bean sprouts

1 medium bell pepper

3 oz unsalted cashews

In a small bowl combine the vinegar, oils, soy sauce, chili powder and salt. Use your hands to break up dried ramen noodles. Combine the cabbage, noodles, sprouts, and bell pepper in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the mixture and combine. it's best to refrigerate for 6 - 8 hours (make the night before). Meanwhile, toast the cashews in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Once they are golden brown, removed them from the pan, place them in a bowl and pour 1 tablespoon of soy sauce over them. Toss to coat and set them aside at room temperature. When the salad has marinated, toss with cashews then serve. 

Mixed Mushrooms and Tofu Pasta

1 lb. Mixed mushrooms (shiitake)

4 garlic cloves

1 large onion sliced

3 tbs. olive oil

2 tbs. freshly torn basil leaves

2 tbs. chopped thyme

2 tsb. parsley

1 block firm tofu

juice of 1/2 lemon

14 oz. pasta of your choice

salt and pepper

Slice the mushrooms into chunks, put the mushrooms, garlic, and onion in a food processor or blender and process into a chunky paste. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Add the mushroom paste and saute over moderate heat for 5 minutes. Stir in the herbs and cook for 5 minutes. Put the tofu in the blender and process enough to make a coarse puree - it must not be too creamy. Add the tofu and the lemon juice to the mushrooms. Stir well and cook, covered over moderate heat for 10 minutes. Meanwhile cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package (they should be al dente). Drain the pasta, toss with mushroom sauce and season with salt and pepper. 

Red Bean and Quinoa Chili

Ingredients

2 cans of red beans (adzuki or kidney beans)

1 cups of water

2 tsp. ground cumin, divided

1 tbs. olive oil

2 tsp sea salt

2 cloves of garlic

1 large green or red pepper, chopped

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. cayenne

2/3 cup quinoa

1 cup frozen corn

1 to 2 cups organic tomato sauce

grated cheese (optional)

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, 1 tsp. of salt, garlic and green pepper, the remaining 1 tsp of cumin and the rest of the spices and saute for 5 - 10 minutes. Add quinoa and stir in. Add corn, tomato sauce and water to the onion/quinoa mixture. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add the beans and a second tsp. of salt, simmer another 10 minutes. 

Hummus 

• 1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
• 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
• 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth. 

Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus.
Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well. Garnish with parsley (optional).

Salad Dressing (Use the following ratios)

1/3 Balsamic Vinegar

2/3 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt, Pepper, Oregano

What's for dinner 1/25/10 - Black Bean Burgers

I decided that I really wanted a good burger but didn't want to have to rely on Irene's to fill that void. They turned out wonderfully, but I forgot to take a picture (they looked perfect) and by the time I thought of it they were all gobbled up.

Ingredients

2 cans of black beans (rinsed and drained)

3 cloves of garlic, peeled

1/4 of a large onion, chopped

1 egg

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic salt

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup corn meal

1/4 cup prepared salsa

1/4 cup dry roasted almonds

Olive oil

Instructions

1. Place black beans in food processor and mix until smooth. Add almonds and pulse until mixed in.

2. Add in garlic, onions, cumin and garlic salt. Pulse.

3. Add in egg, and and mix while mixing in flour, corn meal. (If the mixture is runny, add more flour until you can form stiff peaks)

4. Mix in salsa.

5. Form with heaping spoonfuls (about the size of a large hamburger patty) of mixture on a hot and oiled pan or griddle. If you are going to grill them, place formed patties in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

6. Cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes or until both sides are browned and firm.

Place burgers on whole grain buns and top with tomato, avocado, onions and mustard. 

They're delicious, enjoy!

Since I forgot to take a picture of my burger, here's a link to another black bean burger recipe.