Wild Rice and Caramelized Roasted Veggie Salad w/Sriracha Maple Vinagrette

I wanted to make something that screamed winter yumminess, but could be served cold for a post hike tailgate. I've been obsessed with caramelized roasted vegetables as of late. There was no doubt they needed to be a HUGE part of the plan. Those beautiful vegetables paired with earthy wild rice and a balance of spicy and sweet vinaigrette and chopped pecans definitely hit the winter salad mark. It was the perfect way to replenish our bodies after enjoying a gorgeous winter desert hike!

Each of the components can be made ahead of time and tossed together at your convenience. Honestly, the caramelized veggies are amazing on their own. I kept eating them as I was assembling the salad. Same with the dressing. It would be a delicious addition to other salads and dishes.
But when you put it all together, it is a beautiful symphony of deliciousness!

Wild Rice and Caramelized Roasted Veggie Salad 

8 servings

1 cup wild rice, rinsed and drained

2 cups vegetable broth

2 lbs diced butternut squash (about 2 1/2 cups)

3 cups brussel sprouts, halved. For larger sprouts quartered.

6 tablespoons vegan butter, separated

2 tablespoons brown sugar, separated

1 teaspoon salt, separated

Black pepper to taste

1 large leek, white and lighter green portions, cut in half length wise and then again width wise

1 head garlic*

1 recipe Smoky Sriracha-Maple Vinaigrette (recipe below)

1 bunch kale, deveined and torn into bite sized pieces

1/2 cup chopped pecans

*head of garlic can be roasted separately if you decide to make the vinaigrette ahead of time. 

Preheat oven to 450

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. 

Add butternut squash to large bowl. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in small saucepan or sauté pan. Stir in 1 tablespoon brown sugar until mostly dissolved. Toss butter mixture and 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper  in bowl with butternut squash until squash is evenly coated. Spread squash in single layer on prepared baking sheet. 

Remove the papery outer layers of the had of garlic Slice about 1/4 inch off of the top of the garlic head to slightly expose the cloves. Brush cut leeks and head of garlic with olive oil and place on baking sheet with squash. 

Add sliced Brussel sprouts to large bowl (you can use the same bowl used for the squash and save yourself another dish to wash). Melt 3 tablespoons butter in small saucepan or sauté pan. Stir in 1 tablespoon brown sugar until mostly dissolved. Toss butter mixture and 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper  in bowl Brussel sprouts until is evenly coated. Spread Brussels in single layer on prepared baking sheet cut side down. 

Place both baking sheets in preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and turn squash, Brussels and leaks. Bake for 15-20 more minutes checking at 15 minutes to make sure Brussels are not burning. Also check leeks and head of garlic for doneness. If they are done, transfer leeks and garlic to pan with Brussels and remove from the oven. The butternut squash tends to take longer to roast. You will know the squash is done when it is a beautiful golden caramel color. That's the time to pull them out of the oven. Let all of the vegetables cool to room temperature. Reserve the head of roasted garlic for the dressing. 

While the vegetables are baking, add the wild rice and broth to a medium sized saucepan with a tight fitting lid. Bring to a boil and reduce to a low simmer. Simmer for 45-50 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice grains have popped open - the rice will be a bit chewy - kind of al dente. Let sit with lid on for 10 minutes, the fluff with a fork. Let cool to room temperature. I like to put the rice in a larger bowl to encourage quicker cooling. 

Once the vegetables have cooled, thinly slice the roasted leeks and add to the large bowl from the roasted vegetable tossing. Add the kale to the bowl along with 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette. Massage the kale leek mixture to break down the kale fibers. Toss in the cooled roasted vegetable, cooled wild rice and chopped pecans until evenly coated with the vinaigrette. Add more vinaigrette to taste. Can be served immediately, but is even better after sitting in the fridge overnight. 

Smoky Sriracha Maple Vinaigrette

Makes about 1 cup

1/2 head of roasted garlic cloves*

1 teaspoon granulated onion

2 tablespoons sriracha

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke

1/3 cup olive oil

*If you are plan to make the dressing ahead of time the garlic can be roasted separately from the roasted vegetables above. 

For the roasted garlic:

Preheat oven to 425. Remove papery outer layers of garlic. Slice 1/4 inch of the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves. Brush the entire outside of the garlic head with olive oil. Place garlic either on a baking dish or wrap in aluminum foil. Bake for about 30-35 minutes until garlic is soft. Let cool to room temperature. The soft cloves should now be easy to remove from the skin.

For the dressing:

For what it is worth, I prefer method 2 for that beautiful silky texture

Method 1

Add all ingredients to magic bullet or other small blender and blend until emulsified.

Method 2

Add all ingredients except olive oil to a 1 cup measuring cup. Blend using an immersion blender. Slower drizzle in olive oil in while the immersion blender is running. This will result in a beautiful emulsion. 

Can be served immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container. It is even better after a day or two in the fridge. Will keep up to 1 week. 

Teriyaki Broccoli, Cashew and "Chicken" Salad

 

As the record breaking heat wave continues, I find I need to have something cold and easy to grab or I might just skip eating altogether. This was not super quick to put together because your making the sauce from scratch, but it is worth it to make the home made teriyaki sauce. I feel it gives me control over the amount of sugar in it. I do recommend making the sauce ahead of time. It will keep in the fridge for a week or two. This is pretty darn healthy and had plenty of protein to boot! Enjoy!!

Teriyaki Broccoli, Cashew and "Chicken" Salad

2 large entree or 4 side servings

4 oz. Soy Curls, rehydrated in vegetable broth, drained*

1 tablespoon avocado or other neutral oil, more if needed

2 heads broccoli, cut into florets (approx 5 cups)

1/2 cup raw cashews

2 green onions (both green and white parts), thickly sliced

2 tablespoons sesame seeds (toast if you like)

1/2 cup teriyaki sauce (recipe below)

In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat. Add soy curls and sauce until browned. Let cool In a separate steamer pan, steam broccoli florets until al dente (approx 3-4 minutes). Transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain in colander or strainer until all water is drained. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients. Taste and add more teriyaki if needed to taste. Let chill 4 hours or overnight.

*Can substitute 2 cups cubed seitan

Teriyaki Sauce

Makes approx 7/8 cup

1/2 cup low sodium tamari or soy sauce

1/4 packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated

2 cloves garlic, grated

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

2 tablespoons Mirin

1/4 cup cool water

1 tablespoon non-gmo corn starch

Whisk corn starch into cool water with fork until well combined. Place all ingredients in saucepan over medium heat. Whisking frequently, simmer until thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Place in glass non-creative jar. Refrigerate. Will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. 

Southwestern Tempeh Rice Salad

Once upon a time...2010 to be exact, I started creating recipes for what I had hoped would be my very first vegan cookbook of the southwestern variety. I had a group of amazing testers (to whom I owe a big apology and hopefully someday a free cookbook) and was moving right along on creating some spicy, fun and flavorful dishes (almost 100 recipes!). Unfortunately I got distracted, busy, unmotivated, WHO REALLY KNOWS. Bottom line is I am very sad I did not finish the book. Someday it could become a reality. I'm truly hoping it will. In the mean time, there are some noteworthy recipes that have been collecting virtual dust for years. I thought I would give you a little sneak peak. 

It's hotter than hades here again...HELLO SUMMER! So I often get very unmotivated during the week to go anywhere near heat sources. I'm always looking for make-ahead cold dishes for the week days. This one fits the bill. 

I love this recipe for good reason. It is freaking delicious. But more than that, the black beans and tempeh provide lots of protein. The combination of peppers has the spice hitting all over your tastebuds. The rice fills you upon with healthy dose of fiber. 

Warning: this recipe while pretty easy to make, does take some time. To save time you can cook the rice a couple of days ahead of time. You can buy pre-roasted peppers as well. You can buy ranch, but the home made version is really easy and really good! But I get time crunches, so again, feel free to sub away as you need.

Southwestern Tempeh Rice Salad

This makes a good amount so it is great for a potluck or large gathering.

Makes 8 servings

1 cups brown long grain rice (measured before cooking)
2 cups water

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 fresh jalepeno roasted and peeled
1 fresh anaheim chili roasted and peeled
1 red bell pepper roasted and peeled

1-8 oz pkg tempeh
1 t canola oil
1/8 t coriander
1/4 t cumin
1/4 t hot chili powder
salt and pepper to taste

1/2 C Vegan Ranch (I used homemade) or Chipotle Ranch (see recipe below)
1 chipotle in adobo sauce (optional, depending on how hot you like it)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 bunch cilantoro chopped
3 green onions sliced thin (both white and green parts)
2-3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 t ground cumin
1/2 t hot chili powder
1/4 t ground coriander
3/4 t salt
black peper to taste
1 pint cherry tomatoes halved

Prepare your rice (this can be done ahead of time). In a medium saucepan bring rice water and salt to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 35-40 minutes until water is absorbed. Turn off heat. Let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and let cool completely.

Now would be a good time to roast those peppers. When they cool, peel and dice them.

Blend the ranch and chipotles until smooth. (eliminate this step if you are using Chipotle Ranch)

To prepare your tempeh:

Dice tempeh into 1 inch cubes. Boil or steam tempeh for 15 minutes. Drain. After draining, in a 10 inch sauté pan, saute the tempeh and spices in oil for about 10 minutes or until golden. Let cool.

In the mean time get yourself a very large bowl. Crumble tempeh into bowl. Mix together remaining ingredients except for the cherry tomatoes until well mixed. Gently mix in cherry tomatoes. Salt and pepper further to taste if needed.

This is best if it sits overnight. It lends itself very well to variations. Like a little less heat? Sub more roasted red peppers. Don't like tomatoes? Forget about 'em. Like it with more fire? Add more jalapeños or chipotles. 

Please leave me a comment if you decide to make it. Love to get some feedback!

Chipotle Ranch

Makes about 1 cup

1/2 cup  plus 2 tablespoons vegan mayonaise (I like Veganaise brand)
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (sweet or hot will work)
2 chipotle chiles (canned in adobo sauce), leave seeds intact

Blend all ingredients in blender of food processor. Let chill for at least 4 hours before using. Can store refrigerated for up to  2 weeks.

Tofu, Broccoli and Sweet Potato Yellow Curry

My sister and I decided that we would embark on one month of clean eating this month. No sugar, no alcohol, minimally processed, no dairy, no white flour, no white rice and no bread or pasta. To be clear, this is NOT a New Year's resolution as I personally find those to be silly fodder and a great way to set people up for failure. What motivated us was not the start of a new year, but a desire to improve our energy levels and reduce the environmental stress on our bodies.

My sister will be the first to admit she is lazy when it comes to her diet and cooking. She would rather not eat at all than to be committed to the kitchen. This is very interesting to me as she always cooked for her kids growing up. Thankfully I am more than willing to take on the kitchen in all its glory. It has been a very long time since I have been motivated and excited to be in the kitchen, so this challenge has been good for my spirit as well as my body. I'll stop waxing philosophic and get to what you came here for...the food.

I love curry. I love making it myself even more. This gives me the freedom to add the veggies I love the most and leave out all the stuff that I usually pull out (think bamboo shoots). I scoured the internet for the perfect recipe and found elements from different recipes that sounded good, but just not quite what I was looking for in a curry. I'm not afraid of healthy fats. If you are, this might not be the recipe for you. It is full of colorful veggies and lots of flavor. This recipe is not as saucy as a lot of curries I've experienced in my culinary travels. This was by design as I wanted a version that could hold up on its own with or without rice. I went for no rice myself.  Feel free to sub your favorite veggies, but I recommend leaving the sweet potatoes as they add a beautiful creaminess to the texture.

Tofu, Broccoli and Sweet Potato Yellow Curry

4 Servings

1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch cubes

3 tablespoons coconut oil, separated (more if needed)

12 oz package of extra firm tofu, drained and pressed, diced into 1/2 inch cubes

1-2 tablespoons non-GMO corn starch or arrowroot powder

1 medium yellow or brown onion, diced

5 cloves minced garlic separated

3 tablespoons hot yellow curry powder (use milder if you aren't a fan of heat)

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 - 1 t crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cardamom

pinch cayenne pepper

1 can coconut milk (you can use light if you are fat conscious)

1/2 cup rich vegetable broth

2 heads broccoli, cut into bit sized florets

1 large red bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup lightly packed cilantro, chopped (optional)

Sriracha or sambal olek (chili sauce) to taste

Preheat oven to 350. On a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet toss diced sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil and a bit of salt and pepper. Bake until softened but not mushy (check at about 15 minutes cook longer if needed). When they are done, remove from oven and set aside.

While the sweet potatoes are baking, pat the cubed tofu dry. Toss in corn starch to lightly coat. In a large skillet melt 1 tablespoon coconut oil over medium heat. Saute the tofu cubes until golden brown (turning half way through to brown evenly). You may have to do this in two  batches and add more oil depending on the size of your pan. Gently transfer tofu to a paper towel lined plate. 

In the same skillet melt 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Add onions and saute until they are softened and slightly translucent. Add 1/2 of the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add dry spices and saute until fragrant (approximately 30 seconds). Pour in coconut milk and vegetable broth. Reduce heat to a low simmer. 

In another large skillet, saute the broccoli and peppers until they are al dente and bright in color, about 7 minutes. Add remaining garlic and saute for about 1 more minute being careful not to burn the garlic. Remove from heat. 

Add the tofu and the sweet potatoes to the onion/coconut milk mixture and heat through, about 3 minutes. Stir liquid mixture into the broccoli/pepper mixture and stir until combined. Cook slightly longer until all ingredients are heated (maybe another 3 minutes). Stir in cilantro if using. Ladle into 4 bowls on its own or over brown basmati rice. Season to taste with Sriracha (optional).

I hope you enjoy my foray into the world of curry. If you try the recipe, please leave a comment to let me know how it came out and how you liked it. Thanks for reading.

Instant Pot Smoking Hot Salsa

I got a new toy during Amazon Prime Day the giant Instant Pot! The Arizona summer heat has got me dreading any heat in the kitchen at all. I'm hoping this will motivate me to get back to the kitchen as I love playing with new toys.

To get the party started I was feeling a little spicy and saucy. For years I've cheated and used canned tomatoes to make my salsa. I don't like being a cheater, so I'm excited to be using fresh tomatoes and making my own salsa truly from scratch. This is also a great way to control sodium if you are watching it.

Let's get down to the business of throwing down the recipe.

Instant Pot Smoking Hot Salsa

Makes about 1 quart

6 large tomatoes, cored and diced small (seeds intact)
1 medium sweet yellow onion
2 fresh Serrano chiles, seeds removed, finely diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chipotle powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 - 1/2 cup cilantro (measured before chopping) chopped

Add all ingredients except for cilantro to Instant Pot inner pot, stir to combine. Set for 30 minutes on manual/steam setting. Let cool to room temperature. Depending on the liquid content of your tomatoes you may want to drain off some of the excess liquid. Stir in chopped cilantro. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. The flavor gets better with time.

Fajita Marinated Grilled Veggies

This past week the local Sprouts had organic bell peppers on sale, so I bought a bunch. I love to eat them straight up with hummus, but not THAT many in a week. I decided to have a little dinner party and thought it would be a beautiful idea to find a way to incorporate my buy into the dinner. I had pineapples to use up and my sis was trying to find a use for some soy curls she wanted to use.

I remembered the Courico Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa from Isa's Vegan Brunch. What a perfect way to use both! So the main course was set. We are all trying to recover from the carb loaded holidays, so I did not want to make rice or chips to go with the whole kitten caboodle. It is 70 degrees in Arizona this week, so I had not qualms about firing up the grill, but these can be made in a grill pan as well. These veggies would be delicious with any latin style dish. Heck, they are good with anything really.

Fajita Marinated Grilled Veggies

Makes 4 Generous Servings

Marinade Ingredients

1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 up avocado oil (or other mild flavored oil)
4 cloves minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ancho Chile powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke

2-3 large red, orange or yellow bell peppers, core and veins removed, cut into quarters
2 fresh papilla (poblano) peppers, core and veins removed, cut into quarters
1 large sweet onion, cut into 1/2 inch thick rounds, peeled

Whisk marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Place peppers and marinade in 1 gallon ziplock back (or non-reactive container of your choice). Marinate for at least an hour up to overnight turning/stirring 1/2 way through.

Preheat grill to high. Spray onion slices with thin layer of oil. Place onion slices and peppers on grill. Brush onions with marinade. Grill for approximately 5 minutes per side, making sure peppers are slightly charred and onions have good grill marks before turning. NOTE: Turn onion slices carefully to try to keep intact. Brush second side of onions with marinade.

Serve immediately. Great reheated on sandwiches, in salads on omelets, etc.

Emergency Golden Gravy - Happy Thanksgiving

This year I am starting some new traditions. I am spending Thanksgiving with some of my friends with whom I have not previously had the pleasure of sharing this day of gratitude. I'm very grateful to be included in the celebration. I suspect we will be tipping back a few. This can often lead to monumental kitchen fails, so I prepped early.

I have been charged with the delicious task of making the mashed potatoes and gravy. I'm going to be making a Yukon gold mash with roasted garlic. I decided I would make dueling gravies. I started off with one of my personal favorites: Cajun Jalapeño Gravy.  I broke a very important rule and didn't taste the jalapeños before adding them. Holy crap!!! They were so freaking hot my hands are still burning a couple of hours later. While I love hot stuff, I modified the recipe to make it a little less "burn your face off hot". The upside is the batch ended up being larger than the original recipe.

Fearing it still may be too hot for some of the milder mannered guests, I set out to make one of my favorite "normal" gravy recipes: Golden Gravy from Yellow Rose Recipes. I'm in a bit of a panic because I cannot find my copy and it is out of print. YIKES! I'm going to be tearing up the house this long weekend to try and find it. In the mean time, I had to come up with an on the fly substitution. Hence the title of this post. I am happy to report this new version turned out great. I think this may be my new favorite non-spicy gravy recipe! I'm excited to share it with you and grateful you are reading my blog as I haven't posted since last year! Enjoy and have a beautiful Thanksgiving. 

Emergency Golden Gravy

Makes Approximately 3 Cups

1 teaspoon rubbed sage

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon granulated garlic (or garlic powder)

1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)

5 tablespoons Earth Balance vegan butter

5 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 medium yellow onion, diced small (about 1 cup)

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth

Combine dry spices in small bowl and set aside. 

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Once melted, whisk in flour making sure to scrape sides of pan to incorporate all flour. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until light brown. Stir in onions. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Stir in spices and cook until fragrant, approximately 1 minute. Stir in nutritional yeast until combined. Cook for 1 minute. Whisk in vegetable broth. Simmer until thickened, about 5-10 minutes.  Once thickened, transfer to blender and blend until smooth. Gravy can be served immediately or refrigerated for up to 3 days.

NOTE: If you like a thinner gravy, reduce flour and EB by one tablespoon.