Sauces and Dips

Creamy Basil Pate

1 head cauliflower, steamed and cooled
lots of ghee, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
large handful of fresh basil
3 large eggs

Blend in Vitamix or good blender; pour into greased loaf pan.

Bake at 350f for ~1 hour.

Our Favorite Hummus

This recipe is based on the one by Cooks Illustrated; it produces a creamy, delicious, "restaurant style" hummus that is unlike the usual grainy dip that often emerges from the home food processor. I'm using canned beans here to illustrate quantities, but I usually make my own and don't measure so precisely--it's the technique that matters most, and adding enough salt, and not adding too much garlic. ;)

--2 small garlic cloves
--1 1/2 tsp. salt

Amazingly Tasty, Crispy-Crust Sheet Pan Pizza

(adapted from Cook's Country)
Serves 6-8/Makes 13x18 sheet pan pie

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 3/4 cup hot water (110f)
1Tbsp sugar
4.5 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
2 envelopes or 4 1/2 tsp instant or rapid-rise yeast
2 tsp salt

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200 degrees, turn off oven. Grease large bowl. Evenly coat 18- by 13-inch rimmed baking sheet with 1/4 cup oil.

How to Make Gomasio

A really delicious Japanese condiment:

Preheat the oven to 350f. Rinse 1 cup of unhulled sesame seeds in a mesh strainer, and drain well.

Spread seeds on a baking sheet, and bake 8-12 minutes or so, until the seeds crush easily between your pinkie and thumb. Stir every two minutes after the 8-minute mark.

Put seeds in some sort of grinding device with 1 tsp. salt, and grind until about half of the seeds are crushed.

Sprinkle on everything! Enjoy. :)

Super-Good Sesame Noodles

--George St. Co-op Cookbook
servings: 4-6

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup hot water

1/4 cup tamari

2 tbsp. red wine or apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp. toasted sesame oil

2 tsp. honey

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4-1/2 tsp. red pepper

1 tbsp. canola or olive oil

1 lb. spaghetti (wheat or rice), cooked with

1 bunch broccoli, chopped small, including stems (peel off tough parts)

1/2 cup scallions (optional)

Combine sauce ingredients and stir till creamy.

Linguine with White “Clam” Sauce

Adapted from "Pasta for All Seasons"

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
8 oz. oyster mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon white miso paste dissolved in 1/3 cup hot water
2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 pound linguine (or use rice pasta, or cooked grain instead)

Spectacular Enchilada Sauce

This is an awesomely complex and delicious sauce. I've adapted it from Mexican Vegetarian Cooking, by Edith Metcalfe de Plata

1-2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped onion and

1/2 cup green pepper

3 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped

2 tbsp. whole wheat flour
(or other flour of your choice)
2 tbsp. chopped parsley

2 tbsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. clove

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. oregano

1/4 tsp. crushed cumin seed

1/4 tsp. marjoram

Ruthe's Pesto

servings: 6-8

source: Mama Dearest

4 medium garlic cloves
1 tsp. salt
4 lightly packed cups fresh basil (2-4 oz.)
6 oz (1 heaping cup) raw walnuts or pine nuts (optional; when I do use these, I soak (and sometimes dehydrate) first)
4 tbsp. Parmesan (optional)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Blend all ingredients except for olive oil in the food processor in the order listed, until they form a smooth paste. Add olive oil in a slow stream and process till blended.

Tempeh With Spicy Peanut Sauce

4 Servings

Adapted from "The Complete Soy Cookbook"

3 tbsp. peanut butter

1 tbsp. dark sesame oil

1 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce

2 tsp. honey

2 tsp. minced jalapeno pepper, or 3/8 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 cup water, or as needed

1 tbsp. canola oil

8 oz tempeh, cut cross-wise into 12 even-size slices

(I usually double the sauce recipe, and serve the tempeh over quinoa (about 1 1/4 cups (dry) is good for four servings) and sauteed kale.)

Tofu and Broccoli in Creamy Peanut Sauce

servings: 4-6

from Breitenbush Cookbook

Sauce:

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup hot water

1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 tbsp. tamari

2 tbsp. molasses

1 pinch cayenne

1 pinch crushed red pepper

Saute:

1 1/2 tbsp. canola oil

1 tbsp. sesame oil

1 lb. broccoli

1 lb. tofu, cubed

1 cup onion, sliced

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbsp. ginger, grated

1 cup peanuts, chopped

1 tsp. black pepper

2 tbsp. tamari

1/2 cup scallions, chopped

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