Garlicky Mushroom Quesadillas with Tomatillo Chile Salsa


This recipe is adapted from the aforementioned A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen, by Jack Bishop. Serves 3-4.

Tomatillo-Chile Salsa
1 pint tomatillos, husked and washed
2-3 medium jalapenos
2 TB chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Salt

Quesadillas
4 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
8 oz oyster mushrooms, thickly sliced
salt to taste
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
freshly ground black pepper
6 8-inch flour tortillas
4 ounces goat cheese

Preheat oven to 450F. Roast the whole tomatillos and chiles in a rimmed baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven, turning the veggies once, until lightly browned and tender, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly and transfer the tomatillos to a food processor. Cut off the stems of the chiles and add, (seeds and all, for extra heat), to the food processor. Pulse just until combined and still chunky. Scrape the salsa into a bowl and stir in the cilantro and salt to taste.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned lightly, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and pepper to taste and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Set the mushroom mixture aside.

Lay 3 tortillas flat on a work surface. Sprinkle goat cheese on top, leaving a 1/2 border around the edges. Divide the mushroom mixture evenly among the tortillas. Top with the remaining tortillas. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the first quesadilla and cook, turning once, until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large plate and repeat with the remaining quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into quarters. Spoon some salsa into the middle of each quesadilla. Serve the remaining salsa on the side.

Published in Lunch
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Green Soup

Green Soup


A few years back I had a summer when I ate variations of this soup all of the time. Sometimes I would throw different herbs into the pot. I would also liberally substitute radish or beet greens for mustard, or chard for spinach, etc. Serves 8.

2 lbs. spinach
1 bunch mizuna (about 1/2 lb.)
1 cup loosely packed cilantro
5 cups water
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1 large potato, peeled and chopped in large pieces
1 TB, + 1 tsp olive or sunflower oil
2 onions, chopped
1 TB sherry or Madiera, optional
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 TB lemon juice
freshly ground black pepper

Wash and roughly chop the greens. Place greens, cilantro, water, salt and potato in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. While greens are simmering, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add onions and a sprinkling of of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are golden brown and soft, up to 45 minutes or more. When nicely browned, add liqueur or a bit of water and stir to bring up any remaining bits in the bottom of the pan. Add cooked onions to the pot with greens. Back in the skillet, heat remaining 1 tsp of oil and garlic. Saute for a minute or two until soft. Add to the pot. Add broth and red pepper flakes and simmer for another 10 minutes. Working in batches puree soup in a blender, or use an immersion blender in the pot. Process just until smooth, but do not over blend or the potato can make the soup gummy.

Back in the pot, return soup to a simmer. Add pepper, a dash more salt and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve garnished with yogurt, feta or goat cheese.

Published in Soups and Stews
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Sprouted Bean Salad with Roasted Beets

Sprouted Bean Salad with Roasted Beets


I adapted this recipe from the Food Network site. The original recipe is attributed to Sophia Wakefield of the Harvest Bakery and Cafe, Jackson Hole, WY. I added beets for color and variety.

2 cups sprouted beans
1 cup roasted beets, in a small dice
1/3 cup minced cilantro leaves
3 TB lemon juice
3 TB sunflower or olive oil
1 TB muchi (spicy) curry powder
Pinch organic cayenne pepper
2 tsp soy or tamari sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
3/4 tsp stone-ground mustard

Toss all of the ingredients together in a serving bowl. Serve immediately.

Published in Salads
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Cream Soaked White Bread with Maple Sugar

Cream Soaked White Bread with Maple Sugar


OK, I know this is not exactly healthy fare... I found it on www.saveur.com and I couldn't pass it up. Crunchy Maple sugar, lush pillowy cream, on coarse country white bread ...mmmmm.

3/4 cup heavy cream
4 thick slices of hearty white country bread
4 tbsp. coarsely grated maple sugar

Put cream into a medium bowl, and whisk until slightly thickened. Pour 1/4 cup of the cream over each slice of bread. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of the maple sugar over the cream. Serve immediately.





Published in Desserts
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Tabouli

Tabouli


I had to include this to go along with the parsley. Make sure you give it time to marinate in the fridge! Serves 6.

1 cup bulgur
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice -- and/or lime juice
1 teaspoon garlic -- crushed
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1/2 teaspoon dried mint flakes
1/4 cup olive oil -- (good quality)
fresh black pepper
2 medium tomatoes -- diced
1 cup fresh parsley -- chopped and packed

Optional: 1 cup chopped cucumber and/ or 1/2 cup coarsely grated carrot

Combine bulghar, boiling water, and salt in a bowl. Cover and let stand 15-20 minutes, or until bulghar is chewable. Add lemon juice, garlic, oil, and mint, and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate 2-3 hours (this is important, the bulgher needs to marinate). Just before serving add the vegetables and mix gently. Correct seasonings. Garnish with olives.

Published in Salads
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Cucumber, Goat Cheese, Sun Dried Tomato Appetizer

Cucumber, Goat Cheese, Sun Dried Tomato Appetizer


These are tasty little cucumber morsels made by blending goat cheese with sundrieds and garlic and then squeezing the spread out onto individual cucumber slices.

4 oz goat cheese softened (in microwave for 10-15 seconds)
1/2 TB minced garlic
2-3 sundried tomatoes soaked in 1-2 TB olive oil, and then minced very fine or pureed
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cucumber - peeled and sliced into rounds

Mix the above together. You should have a fairly smooth spread. Put the spread into a plastic bag and cut off a small corner of the bag. Squeeze the spread onto the cucumber slices. For added zest, garnish with finely chopped basil! Yum.

For an even easier dish, simply dice up peeled and seeded cucumbers, add minced garlic, chopped sundried tomatoes soaked in a couple tablespoons of olive oil, crumble the goat cheese on top and some minced basil and dig in.







Published in Light Sides
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Scallion Pesto

Scallion Pesto


Try making some scallion pesto and using it with different dishes this week. It could be used as a pasta sauce (blend in some tasty hard crumbled cheese), but would also be nice on fish, or mixed with mayo for a sandwich spread. Using less oil will result in a thicker pesto, one that can be formed as a garnish. Using more oil will result in a more sauce like pesto. I had some this week mixed with blue cheese on pasta. It was pretty darn good.

One big bunch of scallions – trimmed to remove the white bottoms (you only want the less assertive greens here)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
juice of 1-2 limes
1 clove of garlic
1/4 - 1 cup of sunflower oil (or any mild tasting oil)
Salt to taste

Chop the green onions roughly and toss into the blender along with the nuts, the garlic and the lime juice. Turn on the motor and drizzle in the oil until the desired consistency is reached. Season to taste with salt

Variations
try it with olive oil and lemon
try it with different nuts
mix it with sour cream for veggie dip
toss it on hot pasta
keep it thick and spread on toasted crusty bread sandwiches
toss it with simply steamed new potatoes
use it for a 10 minute dinner as a coating for simply broiled white fish fillets

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