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MY FAVORITE VEGETARIAN RECIPES

Vegan Buddha Bowl

1/9/2022

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At my last job we had an on-site café that served fresh, healthy lots meals for cheap (really the best perk of the job)! Every few weeks they’d offer a Buddha bowl that became my favorite thing ever. Vegan, tasty and so satisfying. So I did a little research and pulled together the elements that I loved most. The good thing is you can make things ahead of time and have them on hand to reproduce the bowl throughout the week!

Combine a big bowl of the following (or whatever other veg you have on hand that might go well) & enjoy! 
  • Quinoa, cooked according to package directions
  • Arugula, torn
  • Avocado, sliced
  • Marinated Artichoke Hearts, cut into bite-size pieces 
  • Purple Cabbage, finely shredded
  • Roasted Red Peppers (or raw if you don’t have time to roast)
  • Crispy Chickpeas
  • Crispy Tofu
  • Lemon Tahini Dressing

Crispy Chickpeas
1 15 oz can Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Sea salt
Paprika, curry powder, or other spices (optional)

Preheat the oven to 425° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Pat chickpeas dry. Transfer to baking sheet and toss with a drizzle of olive oil and salt.

Roast for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and as crispy as you want them to be (keep going if they’re not there at 30 minutes).  

Remove from oven and toss with your spices while the chickpeas are still warm. 
 
Crispy Tofu
1 block Extra Firm Tofu, pressed, drained and cut into cubes
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1-2 tbsp Soy Sauce or Tamari
1-2 tbsp Cornstarch

Preheat the oven to 425° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper (double up and make the chickpeas at the same time!). Place tofu cubes in mixing bowl and add olive oil and soy sauce (to taste) and toss to combine. Add 1 tbsp of cornstarch at a time until the tofu is well coated.

Arrange on the baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, tossing halfway through, until tofu is golden brown.    
 
Lemon Tahini Dressing
1/2 cup Tahini
Juice of 1 medium Lemon
3 tsp Lemon Zest
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
Dash of maple syrup to taste
1/4–1/2 cup water

​Add all ingredients (use just ¼ cup water at first) to a mason jar and shake vigorously to emulsify. Add more water as needed to ensure pourability over your bowl of goodness. 
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Simple Veggie Enchiladas

2/22/2015

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I have this tried-and-true (and loaded with nutrition) Butternut Squash version of enchiladas, but let’s be honest—there are a lot of steps that make it rather time consuming. So when I found this recipe from Real Simple the other day, I decided to add it to my repertoire. It’s filled with just a few diverse ingredients that make it really bright and delicious!

I tweaked just a bit to make it even simpler—grab presliced mushrooms and grated cheese—and to incorporate the green chili flavor I love.  

3 tbsp Olive Oil
1 large Onion, chopped
1 Poblano Pepper, seeded and chopped
8 oz White or Cremini Mushrooms, sliced
1 tsp Ground Cumin
15.5-oz can Black Beans, rinsed
8 oz Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
Salt & Pepper, to taste
14 oz can/jar Green Chili Enchilada Sauce (about 1 1/2 cups)
10+ Corn Tortillas
Fresh Cilantro and Greek Yogurt, for serving

Heat oven to 400° F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and poblano. Cook, tossing often, until the onion is browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cumin. Cook, tossing frequently, until the mushrooms are browned and tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the beans, 4 oz of the cheese and salt and pepper.

Spread 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Roll up the filling in the tortillas, dividing evenly and place seam-side down in the dish.

Top with the remaining enchilada sauce and the remaining 4 oz of cheese. Bake, uncovered, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted, 14 to 16 minutes. Serve topped with the cilantro and Greek yogurt.

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Pasta with Brussels Sprouts, Pistachios & Greek Yogurt

3/12/2014

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In light of all the brussels sprouts in my life lately (and my new obsession with combining them lemon and butter), I found a way to pull them into a simple, tangy pasta that's quick to throw together on a weeknight.  Any type of pasta will do (I'm imagining whole wheat or a gluten-free version would be just fine). Just make sure you eat it all this first night, as I found the reheated version doesn't quite cut it. 

1/2 lb short cut Pasta
2 cups Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and quartered
1 cup Pistachios, shelled and chopped
4 tbsp Butter
3/4 cup Greek Yogurt
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup Parmesan, shredded
Salt and pepper, as needed

Cook pasta according to package directions, salting water before boiling.

Meanwhile, heat butter in large pan on medium-high heat, allowing it to get to just browning point. Add brussels sprouts, sauteing until soft, about 6 minutes. Add pistachios, lemon juice and zest and saute for another minute or two.

Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water. Add pasta, water and yogurt to brussels sprouts pan, mixing thoroughly until combined. Add salt and pepper as needed. Spoon into serving bowls, topping with parmesan. Serve immediately.

Serves 2-3.
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Soba Noodle Salad with Tofu and Sesame-Ginger Dressing

2/9/2012

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My mom came for dinner the other night and I wanted to make something new—something refreshing that felt healthy and filling. I turned to 101 Cookbooks for inspiration and found this little gem. Apparently it originally comes from a San Francisco restaurant called Pomelo and is on their menu as “otsu.” Also apparently it’s delicious. I think I’ve found a new way to cook tofu, too—it holds together nicely in a pan without any oil. And of course, it showcases the king of all herbs, cilantro. Cilantro cilantro cilantro.    


I made a few augmentations for simplicity and learned that if you can’t find soba noodles (which I couldn’t on my last-minute shopping trip), whole grain linguine works rather nicely. I also pressed the tofu between two plates and put a heavy book on top to help squeeze out the excess moisture.

In the end, this can be served hot or cold and is delicious either way.   

Dressing
Fresh ginger, cut into a 1-inch cube, peeled, and grated

1 tbsp honey

3/4 tsp cayenne

3/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar

1/3 cup soy sauce 

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp sesame oil

12 oz dried soba noodles

12 oz extra-firm tofu

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

4 green onions, thinly sliced

1 small cucumber, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, seeded, and thinly sliced

1 small handful of cilantro sprigs, for garnish

1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Make the dressing by combining the zest, ginger, honey, cayenne, salt, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a food processor and process until smooth. With the machine running, drizzle in the oils. (I actually did all this with a stick blender, but it got a little sloppy so I think the food processor works best.)

Cook the soba in plenty of rapidly boiling salted water just until tender, then drain and rinse under cold running water. Set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, drain the tofu, pat it dry, and cut it into rectangles roughly the size of your thumb (½ inch thick and 1 inch long). Cook the tofu in a dry nonstick (or well-seasoned) skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes, until the pieces are browned on one side. Toss gently once or twice, then continue cooking for another minute or so, until the tofu is firm, golden, and bouncy.

At the same time, toast the sesame seeds in a small dry pan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the soba, cilantro, green onions, cucumber, and about ⅔ cup of the dressing. Toss until well combined. Add the tofu and toss again gently. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and a few cilantro sprigs for garnish.
 
Serves 4-6

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Tomato, Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tart

4/4/2011

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Ina does it again. I saw this on her show last year and made it immediately. Unfortunately the first time I used plain old phyllo dough instead of puff pastry (bad idea!) and it's taken me this long to get around to making it the right way.

I served it alongside an arugula salad, which is great because you can double time the shaved parmesan. Together they were heaven. I've augmented Ina's recipe just a titch, making an easy-but-sophisticated dinner even easier. And more sophisticated. Okay, maybe not more sophisticated, but, dare I say, tastier? Serve this at your next dinner party and people will think you’re the bee’s knees.

To serve, I simply cut the square tarts in quarters, and served each person two of them. The next time I do this I might cut each puff pastry sheet in half, so everyone gets their own long rectangle tart of goodness. Serves about 4.  


1 package (17.3 ounces/2 sheets) puff pastry, defrosted
Olive oil
4 cups thinly sliced Yellow Onions (2 large onions)
3 large Garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp dry White Wine
2 tsp minced fresh Thyme or Rosemary leaves
6 tbsp shaved Parmesan (use a vegetable peeler)
3 oz Goat Cheese (herbed if you like)
1 large Tomato, cut into thick slices
5 tablespoons Basil, julienned

Thaw puff pastry. Once it’s flexible, unfold it onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.  

Preheat the oven to 425*.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to low heat and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are limp and there is almost no moisture remaining in the skillet. (You may think that this is a long time to cook onions, but have patience with them. They get soo much better when they’re all brown and crispy.)

Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the wine and thyme/rosemary and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Using a sharp knife, score 1/4-inch-wide border around each pastry square. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork and sprinkle two tablespoons of the parmesan on each square, staying inside the scored border.

Place 1/2 of the onion mixture on each square, again staying within the scored edge. Crumble the goat cheese on top of the onion mixture. Add tomato slices, sprinkle with olive oil, basil, salt, and pepper. Finally, scatter the remaining parmesan on each tart.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Serve hot or warm.

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Black Truffle Mac n Cheese

2/11/2010

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Picture
Check out 30 Days 30 Ways with Macaroni and Cheese for more amazing takes on this old classic.

1 lb short-cut pasta, such as Gemelli
3 oz Black Truffle Butter  
1/2 cup all-purpose Flour
1 quart Whole Milk, heated
1/4 cup Brown Mustard
12 oz Wisconsin Gruyere Cheese, grated
4 oz Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar, grated
4 oz Wisconsin Fontina, grated  
1 tsp freshly ground Black Pepper
1-1/2 tbsp salt

3 slices Rye Bread
1 tbsp Butter
1 tsp Garlic Salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare pasta according to package directions, removing it from the water a minute or two before cooking time to make sure it’s appropriately al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.

While pasta is cooking, toast the rye bread. When finished, lightly butter toast, then coarsely chop and throw in the food processor. Add garlic salt and pulse until bread is crumby. Set aside.
 
Empty the quart of milk into one large saucepan, on medium-high heat. Stir occasionally.

In another large saucepan, melt the truffle butter. Once liquid, stir in the flour. Cook for a few minutes, stirring continuously, until butter and flour are thick and creamy.  Slowly begin whisking in the hot milk until you have one great white sauce, then add the mustard and combine.

Pour mixture into a large bowl with gruyere, cheddar and fontina and combine. Season with salt and pepper, then add drained pasta. Mix well, then transfer to a 13x9 casserole dish. Top with bread crumbs and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the crumbs are golden brown. Serve nearly immediately.

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Cilantro Pesto Pizza

1/12/2010

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I had this little combo at a tapas joint in Victoria, British Columbia. I’ve never made pesto, so I decided to try it with my favorite herb ever, cilantro. You can top it with other things too (Feta? Tomatoes?) but I loved the combo of apples and walnuts, especially with the lime to give it that Latin flair. This recipe makes two 12-inch pizzas, so you can experiment with different toppings. One other note: Make sure you get good parmesan, since it tends to out-flavor a lot of other things in the pesto.
 
I made it with my classic pizza dough recipe, though I used Hodgson Mill’s 50/50 Flour that’s half whole wheat and half white flour, ideal when you want just a little wheatiness.
 
Dough
1 cup of warm water
2½ tsp Active dry yeast (1 package) 

2½ to 3 cups Flour 

2 tbsp Olive Oil 

½ tsp Salt



In the food processor, using the blade, place 1½ cups of the flour, water, and yeast and mix. Add the oil, salt, and remaining flour (a little at a time–you may not need it all) and mix. 



Place the dough in a lightly oiled 2-quart bowl (i.e. spray with Pam) and cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise until it doubles in size, usually about an hour.
 
Meanwhile, start making the toppings.


Cilantro Pesto
1 bunch Cilantro leaves
¼ cup Parsley leaves
2 cloves Garlic, coarsely chopped
2 tbsp Pine Nuts
1/8 cup Parmesan, grated
½ cup Olive Oil
Juice of half of a Lime
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
 
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.


Remaining toppings
1 Granny Smith Apple, sliced thinly –OR- 1 Roma Tomato, sliced
8 oz. Smoked Mozzarella, shredded
½ cup Walnuts, crumbled
½ Lime
 
After dough has risen, divide it into two parts, cover and let rest again for 15 minutes. Roll out the two balls on a cookie sheet or pizza stone, topping each with half of the pesto, mozzarella, apple slices, and walnuts.
 
Bake at 500* for 10-15 minutes, until it’s golden brown. Let sit for a few minutes, squeeze with lime juice, and serve.
 
Serves about four people.
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Hearty Lentil and Veggie Soup

12/13/2009

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Last weekend we went on a hut trip with a bunch of friends (20, to be exact). The huts in Colorado's 10th Mountain Division System are amazing--comfy beds, great wood-burning stoves, and kitchens stocked with pretty much everything you need to make a great dinner. While some people think it's easier to just bring in the dehydrated stuff (and keep your pack lighter for the several-mile snowshoe/ski in), I think the meals are an important part of the whole experience.

We divided our 20-some into groups, and my group was responsible for dinner one night. As we brainstormed interesting options, I came across a lentil soup recipe from Food and Wine mag. The ingredients were simple enough, and I thought I could tweak it to make it tastier without the smoked turkey the original recipe called for. We chopped the veggies ahead of time in the food processor and brought them up in well-sealed bags. Here's what I ended up with--the most amazing lentil soup I've ever had! It got great reviews from the hungry hut-trippers, too. 

1 tbsp Olive Oil
3 Garlic cloves, minced
2 Celery stalks, finely chopped
2 Carrots, finely chopped
1 Onion, finely chopped
3 Tomatoes, chopped
1 small can Tomato Juice
1 Bay Leaf
4 Rapunzel Vegetable Bouillon Cubes (or other good veg version)
2 quarts Water
1 cup Green Lentils
4 small Red Potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
Salt and freshly ground pepper

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, celery, carrots, and onion. Saute until soft, stirring often, about 7 minutes.

Add tomatoes, juice, bay leaf, bouillon cubes, water, and lentils. Mix thoroughly, and allow soup to come to a boil. Partially cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for one hour, stirring once in awhile, until the lentils are tender. Add the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 10 minutes, until potatoes, too, are soft. Remove bay leaf before ladling out into small bowls. 

We served with some amazing rosemary-sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches...a perfect and hearty combination.




 
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Butternut Squash Enchiladas

10/22/2009

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I picked up a good-looking butternut squash when we were out at the corn maze farm the other day. Not wanting to just roast it, I searched for something interesting to do with it. 

I found a version of the following on the Delicious Living site, upping a few things and downing a few others. I basically halved the recipe because I had way too much filling, but you could always double it and freeze one.

Find squash baking instructions here.

1 cup cooked Quinoa
1-1/2 cups cooked Black Beans
1/2 baked Butternut Squash, flesh scooped out and diced
1 small Onion, diced
1 Bell Pepper, cored and diced
14 oz. can Diced Green Chilies, drained
1 cup Cilantro, chopped
8 oz. Cheddar Cheese, grated and divided
Salt, to taste
16 oz. Red Enchilada Sauce
2 dozen Corn Tortillas, fresh if possible
2 15 oz. cans Green Enchilada Sauce

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine rice, beans, squash, onion, pepper, chiles, cilantro, and four ounces of the cheese in a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and mix well.

Pour red enchilada sauce into a deep plate; dip each tortilla to coat. Fill each tortilla with one large spoonful of enchilada mixture, roll tightly, and place in a 9" x 13" baking dish or lasagna dish. When dishes are full, cover each dish with one can green enchilada sauce.

Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and top enchiladas with remaining cheese. Bake 10 more minutes. Serve immediately.  
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Seitan and Veggie Fajitas

9/25/2009

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Seitan is one of my favorite meat substitutes, great to have around to add a little protein and texture to dishes like fajitas. Last night I looked around the kitchen at a fab looking red pepper I found on sale at Whole Paycheck, the rest of a very large squash from our garden, a just-ripe avocado, and some juicy cherry tomatoes and came up with this…the best fajitas I’ve ever made. Makes about three servings.

Fajitas
1 lb carton of Seitan (the non-soy-sauce marinated kind works best for this)
1 small can Mushrooms, or a few fresh mushrooms
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice

½ of a Red Onion, cut in one-inch strips
1 medium Red Pepper, cut in one-inch strips (green works too)  
1 cup Yellow Squash, diced
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 clove Garlic
Dash Salt

3 large Flour/Whole Wheat Tortillas
2/3 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded

In a large skillet, put the seitan and mushrooms in the olive oil and lemon juice. Saute on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. The goal is to get both ingredients to sear up a little, creating those crispy bits we all love in our fajitas.
 
In a separate skillet, heat the olive oil for the veggies. Add the onion first, giving it extra time to cook. After a minute or two, add the pepper, squash, garlic, and salt. Saute on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Meanwhile, whip together a quick guacamole topping like so:

Guacamole
1 ripe Avocado
1 tsp. Lemon or Lime Juice
Dash Garlic Salt
4 Cherry Tomatoes, diced
3 tbsp. Red Onion, diced  
3 tbsp. fresh Cilantro, minced
 
Smash everything together. Add additional salt to taste.  

Fill tortillas with seitan and veggie mixture, and top with shredded cheese and guacamole. Enjoy.
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