Tag: vegan
Avocado Vinaigrette
Avocado Vinaigrette
Avocado vinaigrettes are a popular salad dressing eaten all over Colombia. All the ingredients get puréed in a food processor until smooth. Drizzle on top of your favorite salad greens. It is even great as a dip.
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 3 tbsp vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tsp parsley
- 3 tsp cilantro
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a food processor.
- Purée until smooth.
Saffron Pulao
Saffron Pulao
This recipe is exactly why I make large amounts of steamed rice. The leftovers are always turned into something else; whether it’s fried rice, rice stuffed omelettes, or this saffron pulao. Pulao is kind of the Indian version of fried rice, but with completely different ingredients. The saffron gives the basmati rice a nice color and aroma while the rest of the ingredients have a balance of sweet and savory that permeates throughout the pulao. What is also great about this rice is that it takes less than 10 minutes to cook.
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice cooked and cooled
- 1/2 tsp saffron
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 6 green cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup cashews
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Soak the saffron in 1 tbsp of warm water for 5 minutes.
- Mix it in with the cooked basmati rice. Set aside.
- Heat up cooking oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Sauté the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves for 1 minute.
- Add in the golden raisins and cashews. Sauté for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the rice. Sauté for 5 minutes.
Smoked Tofu
Smoked Tofu
Yes, you can smoke tofu. All you have to do is press the liquid out of it for 30 minutes. I recommend extra firm tofu. It will have the least amount of moisture. Marinate for 2 hours. Smoke for 2 hours. That’s it. Really any type of wood will work. I used apple and cherry woodchips. You can eat the tofu as is or use it in numerous recipes. Check out the recipe for string beans with smoked tofu below.
Equipment
- Electric Smoker
Ingredients
- 2 blocks extra firm tofu pressed for 30 minutes
- 1/4 cup light soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
Wood Chips
- applewood chips
- cherrywood chips
Instructions
- Mixed together the marinade ingredients.
- Cut the blocks of tofu into thirds.
- Place the tofu and the marinade into a gallon sized storage bag. Squeeze out the excess air. Marinate the tofu for 2 hours.
- Place the tofu on a rack. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Preheat your electric smoker to 225 degrees according to the manufacturer’s directions. Smoke for 2 hours.
Tips For Smoking Tofu
- Extra firm tofu works best since it has the least amount of liquid.
- Wrap the blocks of tofu in multiple layers of paper towels and press for 30 minutes.
- Marinate the tofu for 2 hours.
- Pat the tofu dry with paper towels before smoking to allow the smoke to stick.
- Any type of wood works for smoking tofu. Tofu takes on whatever flavor you give it.
- Tofu only takes 2 hours to smoke at 225 degrees.
String Beans with Smoked Tofu
Stir fried green beans with black bean sauce is a popular Chinese takeout menu item. You typically will see it with chicken. Instead, I made it with my smoked tofu recipe, making the dish vegan now. Honestly, just as good. You can make this entire meal in 15 minutes or less!
Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 brick smoked tofu sliced into 1/2” thick squares
- 1/2 lb green beans trimmed
- 4 shiitake mushrooms sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp ginger minced
- 3 green onions chopped
Sauce
- 1/3 cup veggie stock or chicken stock
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing cooking wine
- 2 tbsp fermented black beans of black bean sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Heat up 2 tbsp of cooking oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Add in the tofu.
- Fry for 3-4 minutes a side until crispy. Remove from the pan.
- Add in the last tbsp of oil. Stir in the green beans and shiitake mushrooms. Sauté for 3 minutes. Add in the ginger and garlic and fry for 1 more minute.
- Add the tofu back in. Stir fry for a minute.
- Mix together the sauce ingredients.
- Pour the sauce in the pan. Make sure to coat everything evenly.
- Turn off the heat. It only will take a minute for the sauce to thicken.
