Category: Vegetarian

  • Califlower and Potato Curry – allo gobi

    Califlower and potato curry

    I have also had this with carrots added.  Also excellent. Califlower is not my thing but while traveling, a friend ordered this dish and the memory is still with me. 

    1 ½ cups chopped fresh coconut (or substitute 1/2 cup toasted coconut and 1 1/2 cups of coconut milk)

    7-8 T oil

    1 ½ onions, chopped

    Curry Powder:

        5 dried red chilis

        2 tsp coriander seeds

        1/8 tsp mustard seeds

        1/8 tsp fenugreek seeds

        ¼ tsp cumin seeds

        1 inch cinnamon stick

        4 peppercorns

        2 cloves

        ½ tsp turmeric

        ½ tsp paprika

        1 heaped tsp tamarind

        ¾ inch piece of fresh ginger, grated

        4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

    1 cup potatoes, peeled, chopped large pieces

    14 ounces cauliflower cut into large flowerettes

    Topping:   Toasted Coconut, Almonds, or Cashews 

    Soak 1 cup coconut in 2 cups of warm water, blend, then strain reserving milk. 

    In non-stick pan heat oil and remaining chopped coconut for 2-3 minutes.Set aside.

    Heat oil and sauté half the onions for 2-3 minutes and set aside.

    Heat oil and sauté red chilis, coriander, mustard, fenugreek, cumin seeds, cinnamon, pepper, cloves for 30 seconds and remove from heat.

    Now put coconut, onions, spices, into a blender.  Add turmeric and paprika and tamarind and ½ cup water and grind to smooth paste. 

    In saucepan, 4 T oil sauté ginger and garlic for 15 seconds, followed by balance of chopped onions for 7-8 minutes until translucent, add spice paste and sauté for 2 minutes, then add a little water and sauté potatoes for 5 minutes.  Salt, add water to cover and cook 5-7 minutes. 

    Then add cauliflower, coconut milk and cook until done.

    Serve with rice.

    If that recipe is too tough or you don’t have all the ingredients, you can substitute a can of coconut milk and you can always use a curry powder that has most of the ingredients above.  Feel free to leave out the potatoes or to add some carrots to the mix or just use califlower alone.    Best vegetarian dish!

  • Green Pasta – al verde pasta

    Green Pasta – al verde pasta

    Fresh Spinach works great in this recipe.

    My mom didn’t have a food processor when I was kid, so all this would have been hand chopped.  I loved green spaghetti night.  I didn’t have the original recipe, so I kept trying to find a recipe that came close.  This is the grown up version, my mom would not have used hot pepper flakes, feeding so many kids, but it does make it good.  Speaking to many different cooks, they assumed that green spaghetti would be pesto.  Maybe, but my mom had limited ingredients.  She would use basil and parsley fresh from the garden, and she  may have walnuts and almonds, but certainly no pine nuts. 

    Ingredients:

    • 5 cloves garlic
    • 1 bunch green onions
    • 3 cups packed fresh basil, stems removed
    • 3 cups packed fresh italian parsley or spinach or swiss chard, stems removed
    • 1 lemon; remove zest and squeeze juice
    • 1 (10oz) jar stuffed olives, drained
    • 1 (3 oz) jar capers, drained
    • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
    • good quality olive oil

    Preparation:

    In food processor, with the motor running, drop in garlic, green onions, and lemon zest. Process until finely minced. Add olives, capers, & hot pepper flakes and process until finely minced. Add as much parsley and basil as will fit and process with pulse turns. Repeat until all ingredients are processed. With motor running, add lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Slowly add enough olive oil to make a “pesto” consistency. Separate into 1 cup containers. Each cup coats about a pound pasta.  I like it on fettuccini or spaghetti. Mix sauce with hot pasta and toss well. Garnish with cherry tomato quarters and fresh basil leaf slivers. Sauce freezes well.
    Fettuccini noodles

    I made this green pasta into a pasta salad, served cold and added chopped olives and tomatoes. Add a bite Lite Champagne Vinegarette or Dill Ranch so it is moist. Everyone loves it!

  • Ravioli – Swiss Chard and Cheese Filling

    Ravioli – Swiss Chard and Cheese Filling

    6 cups Spinach or Swiss Chard stems and spines removed, finely chopped 

    12 T oil

    12 eggs

    1 cup grated cheese or mixture of grated parmesan and ricotta cheese

    1 tsp nutmeg

    1/2 tsp cloves

    parsley

    garlic

    marjarom

    grated bread crumbs

    Stuff into cannelloni shells, wonton wrappers or make your own ravioli pasta