Minestrone Soup

Healthy and packed with flavor.

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This recipe was inspired by the Sardinian diet, where people live into old age leading active, traditional lives in the hilly countryside of the Mediterranean.  It is both soothing and revitalizing and I enjoy it most served with warm bread dipped in olive oil and dukkah, a simple nut and spice blend. This recipe is equally enjoyable 1-3 days after it is made.

Recipe

1 onion
1 small bulb of fennel, include stalks and fronds
4 carrots
4 stalks celery
1/3 cup white wine
1 tsp salt, or to taste
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp fresh rosemary
2 tsp fresh sage
1/4 tsp cayenne, or to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 13 oz can tomatoes, diced
2 quarts chicken broth OR vegetable broth for vegan
2/3 cup quinoa
1/2 cup dry spaghetti, broken into 1 inch pieces, or small pasta

Directions:
Chop the veggies into the small pieces. Salute the onions, fennel, and 1/4 tsp salt for about 5 minutes. Then add carrots and celery and sauté for about 4 minutes. Thinly slice the sage, and rosemary and add to vegetables and stir. Add the wine and tomatoes with their juice, followed by the rest of the ingredients, minus the pasta. Cook for about 15 minutes and add the pasta when the quinoa is still al dente. Once pasta is al dente turn the heat off and allow the soup to rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

Garnish with lemon, parsley, or parmesan (optional).

Notes:
This recipe is flexible and how you like it depends on your taste. You can try substituting ingredients or herbs to make new combinations. First, however, I do recommend trying it as is for a dependable and delicious version of minestrone.

Roasted Beef with Eggplant Puree, Peppers & Tomatoes

Smokey, Rich, & Healthy... 
 

sultans delight recipe dairy free

In Turkish this recipe is called Sultan's Delight, and for a good reason: it can please even the pickiest of eaters. Stewed beef, or more traditionally stewed lamb, is served over creamy eggplant béchamel alongside fire-roasted green peppers and tomatoes au jus. It is not your average throw-together meal, but the extra work is well worth it as it is probably unlike any dish you have ever tasted. 

sultans delight recipe dairy free 2
 

Recipe

This recipe is an adapted version from the book Sultan’s Kitchen. It has three components to it, as listed below. 

Stew

2 lbs lamb shoulder or beef chuck, cut into 2 inch pieces OR russet potatoes, 1" cubed for vegan
1 tbsp clarified butter (or preferred oil for vegan)
2 roma tomatoes, roughly chopped
2 cups beef stock or water
2 tsp tomato paste
1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp thyme
¼ tsp red pepper (optional) 
½ tsp salt OR 1 tbsp soy sauce for vegan option
¼ tsp black pepper (optional) 

Vegan option: 10 oz mushrooms, sliced and sauteed over medium heat with a drizzle of oil. Add to stew when potatoes are still al dente. 

Vegetables
  
4 cubanelle peppers, or 1-2 green bell peppers, whole
4 roma tomatoes, whole (or preferred variety for roasting) 
2 American eggplants or 4 Italian eggplants
2 lemons, juiced
water, as needed

Sauce

Eggplants, mashed
¾ cup coconut cream (or regular cream)
2-4 Tbsp clarified butter (or coconut oil)
2 tsp glutinous rice flour (or cornstarch) 
1 tbsp water
½ - 1 tsp salt, or to taste

Directions:

Stew 

1. Slice the vegetables and set aside. Slice the meat into 1 x 2 inch pieces (or potatoes). Place a large sauté pan over a medium high burner and add 2 tsp oil (clarified butter, grape seed or canola). Brown the meat (or potatoes) in batches on both sides with at least 1 inch space between the pieces. The oil should sizzle when the meat contacts the pan. Set the meat aside and sauté the onion over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Place all meat back in the pan with the onions and add stock or water to deglaze the pan. Then add the rest of the stew ingredients. Simmer over low heat until meat is tender, about 1 ½ hours. Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables.

Vegan note: If using potatoes, the cook time will be less than 1/2 hour. 

Vegetables 

2. Place oven rack on top of second most top position in the oven, a couple inches below the broiler. Preheat the oven to a high broil. Lay the vegetables on a large baking sheet with at least 2 inches between them. Roast until vegetables are soft and have blackened spots. The eggplant should be very soft when done (it should feel squishy when pierced with a fork). The tomatoes and peppers will finish cooking before the eggplant and will need to be removed from the baking sheet to cool. 

3. Place the tomatoes and Italian peppers aside. If using bell peppers place in a Ziploc bag (or heatproof container with a lid) for about 7 minutes (or longer) while cooling. This makes the skin easier to remove later. Once cool enough to handle, peel the eggplant trying to just remove the dark skin. Once the skin is removed, place the eggplant in lemon water mixture. To make the lemon water, fill a large nonreactive bowl with enough water to submerge the eggplant and squeeze two lemons into the water. Allow eggplant to sit in mixture for about 20 minutes. Peel the bell pepper if using and set aside. 


Sauce 

4. Rinse the eggplant and mash it with a fork. Set it aside while you melt 2 tbsp butter over medium low heat in a medium sized pan. Add the mashed eggplant and cream (or coconut cream). Lastly, mix the flour (or cornstarch) with about 1 tbsp of cool water and pour into mixture while whisking. Turn the heat up to medium and stir until the sauce simmers and thickens. Salt to taste. 

5. Place ½ cup of eggplant puree on a plate. Ladle beef on top with some of the stew juice. Place roasted tomato and pepper alongside. Serve as is, or with parsley sprinkled over the top. 

 
sultans delight dairy free recipe

Nectarine, Tomato & Black Rice Salad with Mint & Cream

nectarine and tomato salad

What is it like?

- fresh

- summery

- satisfying
 

Recipe

This recipe is a traditional Italian recipe and is inspired by Splendid Table’s recipe. However, this recipe is made deliciously dairy free, incorporates whole grains, nuts, and mint instead of basil.

3/4 cup wild or black rice, cooked according to package directions and cooled to room temperature, optional
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 ripe nectarines
3 medium roma tomatoes, or 12 cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup mint, ribboned
1/4 cup coconut cream
1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar (or regular balsamic is good too)
salt & black pepper to taste
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Optional additions
1 fennel bulb, sliced thin
1-2 cups baby spinach
1 cup microgreens

Directions
Have the black rice cooked and at room temperature. Toss rice with olive oil and salt, then layer on top with sliced of nectarines, tomatoes, and mint. Spoon coconut cream on top, then drizzle with vinegar, and sprinkle with black pepper and almonds.

Notes:
If you desire extra vegetables, add in the optional ingredients.
This recipe’s ratios are forgiving, so if you desire extra olive oil, drizzle it on top of the prepared dish.

nectarine and tomato salad recipe

Chocolate Ganache Pudding with Whipped Cream

chocolate ganache pudding recipe

What is it like?

- Extra dark

- Smooth

- Creamy

- Satisfying

Recipe

2-4 servings; time to prepare: 15 minutes active, 2 hours passive

1 oz unsweetened ghirardelli 100% cocoa chocolate, chopped into pieces
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/8 tsp salt, optional
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp coconut milk
2 eggs yolks (for vegan substitute 1 tbsp coconut oil for richness)

Coconut cream:
1 can coconut cream, chilled solids
1 tbsp honey (for vegan subsitute agave or preferred sweetner)
optional 1/2 tsp orange extract
optional 2 tsp Grand Marnier or triple sec

Directions
Ganache
Place first four ingredients in a measuring cup and microwave for 30 seconds (or you can place them in a small sauce pan over low heat). Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a small whisk and if the mixture is only warm, heat for another 30 seconds and mix with a whisk. (If your chocolate pieces are thick they may need to sit for a couple of minutes to melt.) Thoroughly whisk the egg yolks (or vegan option), and then while whisking the egg yolks, slowly pour about half the chocolate mixture into the egg yolks stirring the whole time. Then return the mixture to the measuring cup and whisk to incorporate. Pour chocolate into 2-4 serving dishes and refrigerate.

Whipped Cream
Remove coconut solid from can, leaving behind the clear liquid at the bottom. Place in deep bowl and mix with beaters starting on low then moving to high until soft or stiff peaks form, whichever you prefer (it will harden in the fridge). Turn beaters off and the rest of the ingredients. With the beaters on high give the coconut cream a quick whip, just enough to incorporate the ingredients. Place whipped cream in fridge until ready to use.

Notes: 
I love strawberries, so it is hard to believe, but I actually prefer this recipe without an fruit, but add some in if you like!

 

Roasted Beets with Apples & Slivered Almonds

I am not a fan of beets or beet greens, but this recipe makes both fantastic and can win over even the most beet-fearing mammals.

roasted beet salad

This flavorful beet salad makes a delicious lunch or dinner served with your favorite whole grains and other sides. I prefer to serve it with quinoa, whole milk yogurt, and a slice of bread with olive oil. 

Recipe

3 beets, peeled and chopped into 3/4 inch pieces
2 Pink Lady (or Cripps Pink) apples, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
1 onion, chopped into 1 inch pieces
Optional spices: 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4  tsp tarragon, 1/2 tsp sage, 1/8 tsp powdered ginger
leafy beet greens, washed with stems removed, and chopped
2 tbsp grasped oil
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Sauce & Garnish
2 tsp honey
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 cup roasted sliced almonds, optional

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Have two large baking sheets ready for roasting (a standard cookie sheet is fine). Combine the spices, herbs, salt and black pepper in a small bowl. In a large bowl combine chopped beets, 1 tbsp oil, 1/2 of spice mixture and mix, covering all the pieces with oil and spices. Divide the beets between the two roasting pans, and roast.

2. While the beets are roasting combine the onions, apples, 2 tsp oil, and remaining spice mixture. After about 12 minutes, when you can just stick a fork in the beets but they are still tough, add the onions and apples, dividing them between the trays and cook for about 5 minutes.

3. Mix beet greens with remaining oil, salt and black pepper, divide between pans, and roast for about 4 minutes, or until tender. Remove from oven and let ingredients rest and cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a large serving bowl.

4. Whisk the vinegar and honey together, pour it over the ingredients, and mix. Then sprinkle almonds over the top and serve warm, just above room temperature. This salad can be eaten the next day but is best spiced up with some additional vinegar.

 

Roasted Beet Recipe with almonds