zucchini and tofu satay
July 10, 2010
This is from the rebar cookbook. Their recipe is actually eggplant and tofu satay but I don’t love eggplant and so substitute zucchini for it whenever I get the chance. We tried it tonight and it was really good. It would have been better had we started the marinade yesterday but we just aren’t that organized so, instead of 24 hours, it marinated for about 1 hour. Nevertheless it was still awesome and got the thumbs up from Rebekah!
1 tbsp minced lemon zest
2 tbsps miso
3 tsbps fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
4 tbsps brown sugar
2 tsp minced ginger
1 tbsp wasabi
1 block extra firm tofu
2 zucchini
8 bamboo sticks
Prepare the glaze by whisking together the first eight ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside for 1 hour, then strain through a sieve to remove the solids. (I must admit I didn’t strain. Why bother?) Next, cut pressed tofu into 1-inch cubes. Arrange them in a single layer in a shallow dish with sides. Pour half of the glaze over the tofu, toss to coat, and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
Slice zucchini into 1/2″ thick coins and pour remaining glaze over the zucchini. Toss to coat and let marinate for 30 minutes.
To assemble, pre-heat the grill to 375 degrees. Thread 4 cubes of tofu and 4 half coins of zucchini per skewer, leaving a bit of space between each piece. Reserve glaze for basting. If oven-baking, arrange the skewers on an oiled baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until the zucchini and tofu are golden and cooked through. Halfway through cooking, turn the skewers over and baste. Serve hot and use leftover glaze for dipping.
totally vegan super satisfying cesar salad
July 9, 2010
My cookbook of choice this holiday – to read, explore, focus on, and experiment with – is the rebar modern food cookbook by Audrey Alsterberg and Wanda Urbanowicz. Today for lunch I decided to experiment with the rebar Cesar Salad which is not a vegan salad but I veganized it to see what it would taste like. It was a highly successful lunch. Who needs cheese, anchovies, and bacon when you’ve got roasted garlic, local romaine lettuce, and homemade croutons? Not me! Andrew and Bekah decided they wanted shaved parmigiano on theirs; I went without. We were all super satisfied.
1 bulb roasted garlic (see below)
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp capers
1 tbsp caper juice
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cracked pepper
1 cup olive oil
Combine all of the ingredients, except oil, in a blender or food processor and blend. Add olive oil in a slow, thin stream. Correct seasoning to taste.
To serve, toss the dressing with washed, dried, and torn romaine lettuce and fresh croutons (see below), and garnish with shaved parmigiano (optional), fresh cracked pepper, and lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Roasted Garlic
1 garlic blub
2 tsps olive oil
pinch of salt
pinch of cracked pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a sharp knife, slice the top off the garlic bulb, just enough to expose the tops of the garlic flesh. Center bulb on a square piece of parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pop it into the oven.
After 45 minutes you should start to smell the sweet roasting aroma, but depending on the size of your bulb, it may need a bit more time. Test by slipping the sharp point of a paring knife into one of the cloves. If it slides in effortlessly, or the bulbs are starting to poke out of their skins, then the garlic is ready.
Garlic Croutons
5 slices of bread, cubed
3 tbsps olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp salt
Toss the bread cubes with oil, garlic, and salt. Spread out on a lined baking sheet and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 8 – 10 minutes, or until evenly browned and crisp on the outside.
v:gourmet 