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Category Archives: Vegetarian

Turkish Style Cucumber And Parsley Salad

  • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 to 4 Persian cucumbers, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses or lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Transfer the parsley, cucumbers and green onions to a medium bowl. Add the salt, pomegranate molasses and olive oil. Mix well and serve!

Mushroom and Bean Chili with Mushroom Quinoa

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 10 ounces cremini mushrooms, cut into quarters
  • 1 5 ounces shiitaki mushrooms, cut into quarters
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro stems, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons dill stems, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 medium red pepper, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon roasted cumin seeds, crushed
  • 1 cup tomato sauce, homemade or store bought
  • 1 can red beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups mushroom broth
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Heat a saucepan with 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté on medium high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or till the mushrooms are golden brown. Take out with a slotted spoon and keep aside. Reheat the pan and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the cilantro stems, dill stems, onion, garlic, red pepper, cumin seeds and chili powder. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and sauté for another 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the beans, mushroom broth and salt. Simmer covered for 20 minutes. Take the lid off and add the mushrooms. Take for seasonings and garnish with cilantro and dill. Serve with mushroom quinoa.

Mushroom Quinoa

  • 1 cup white quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups mushroom broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Heat a small saucepan with the oil and add the rinsed quinoa. Saute on medium high heat for 2 minutes. Add the mushroom broth and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer till the moisture has evaporated on the surface. Cover with lid and lower the heat and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or till the quinoa is cooked through.

 

Sauteed Tofu with Hoisin Sauce

1 pack extra firm tofu, drained of excess liquid

¼ cup hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

3 garlic cloves, grated

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Salt

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 tablespoons peanut oil

1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

1 teaspoon white sesame seeds

¼ cup green onions, chopped

 

Place the drained tofu on a plate lined with several paper towels. Cover tofu with several more paper towels and top with a heavy pan or something heavy. Let sit for 30 minutes to drain excess liquid.

Mix the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, oil, 1 teaspoon salt and red pepper flakes in a large bowl and keep aside.

Cut tofu into bit sized squares and toss in the bowl with the sauce. Marinate for 30 minutes.

Heat a heavy pan with peanut oil. Once really hot, add tofu and sear on all sides- about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

Remove from heat and sprinkle sesame seeds and green onion. Serve with rice.

 

 

 

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Spiced Almonds

1 medium head of cauliflower (cut into florets)

1 medium onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, with skin

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

 

Transfer the cauliflower, onion and garlic onto a cookie sheet. Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle salt. Roast for about 30 to 40 minutes until the cauliflower is golden brown. Keep aside.

2 tablespoons butter

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cardamom seeds

¼ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ ground coriander

¼ teaspoon ginger

¼ teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup sliced almonds

Melt butter in a medium skillet. Add the spices, salt and almonds and toast on medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool and keep aside. This can be done a day before and kept in the fridge.

1 medium red skin potato, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes

1 cup half and half (substitute with coconut milk for vegan)

5 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Salt

Harissa for garnish

In a large pot, bring the stock to a boil. Add the potatoes, cauliflower, onion and garlic and boil for 10 minutes till the potatoes are tender. Blend the soup with an immersion blender or in a blender till smooth. Transfer back to the large pot and bring to a boil, cook for 10 to 15 minutes on a medium heat. Check for seasonings and add more stock if needed. Strain the soup (it is optional but I prefer the smooth consistency). Serve with a sprinkle of almonds and a small dollop of harissa.

 

Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes with Harissa

1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets

4 to 5 medium to small potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces

Oil to drizzle and cook with

Salt

Pepper

5 to 6 green onions, whites and greens separated and chopped

2 inch fresh ginger, grated

2 tablespoons harissa

1 teaspoon ground coriander

½ cup chopped cilantro

 

 

Preheat broiler to high.

Transfer the cauliflower florets and cut up potatoes to a lined cookie sheet. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix to make sure all the veggies are coated well with oil. Place the veggies under a hot broiler and roast them for 5 to 10 minutes or till they are golden brown. Take them out and keep aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy saucepan. Add the white parts of the green onions and ginger. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the harissa and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the roasted veggies and mix well. Add 1 teaspoon salt and ground coriander, mix well, lower the heat and cover with lid. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes or till the potatoes are cooked through. Take the lid off, check for seasonings. Garnish with cilantro and the green parts of the green onion.

Easy Guacamole

Easy Guacamole

I have loads of guacamole recipes on this blog. I love guacamole and it doesn’t take much time or effort to make your own- homemade is a lot yummier than the store bought variety. Try it this year.. especially with the delicious tacos…

  • 4 to 5 avocados, cut in half and scooped out
  • Juice of 2 large limes
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Transfer the scooped out avocados into a medium bowl. Add the lime juice, cilantro, garlic and salt. Mix well and serve!

Super Easy Tomato Salsa

Super Easy Tomato Salsa

This salsa has a bit of a kick to it. If you are not inclined to eat spicy food, go ahead and eliminate the chilies. I had these yummy looking, red, Thai chilies in my fridge that were calling my name. Foot ball food screams spicy, flavorful foods and this one delivers. It is perfect on the delicious tacos as well as accompanied by some tortilla chips…either way, it is a winner!

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 medium shallot, chopped
  • 2 serrano chilies, chopped
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • Juice of one lime
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Transfer the tomatoes, shallot, chilies, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, salt and olive oil to a medium bowl. Mix well and let sit for an hour before serving.