MUSHROOM + GRUYERE QUICHE

Mushroom + Gruyere Quiche

Makes: 6 servings

- 1 recipe shortcrust pastry 

- 6 eggs 

- 2/3 cup crème fraîche (or heavy cream) 

- 1 cup whole milk

- 8 ounces gruyère cheese, grated 

- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (white, crimini, baby portabellas, or shiitake are excellent)

- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg 

- 1 tsp freshly ground pepper

- 1 tbsp butter

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F / 220 C. 
2. Roll out the pastry to fit a 10-1/2 inch pie plate or a cake pan with removable bottom. Press the edges against the pie plate or cake pan, poke the bottom with a fork, and place the pastry in the freezer for 30 minutes. 
3. In the meantime, heat the butter in a pan and sauté the mushrooms until they're cooked and somewhat crisped at the edges. Turn the heat off and set aside. 
4. Remove the pastry from the freezer and line with parchment paper. Add pie weights (I use dried beans that are solely for use as pie weights) and bake in the middle rack of the oven until the pastry is just browned at the edges, about 15 minutes. 
5. Remove from the oven, remove the parchment paper and pie weights. Return the pastry to the oven to bake until the bottom is lighty browned, an additional 5-7 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. 
6. In a blender, process together the eggs, cream, milk, and all the spices and seasonings. 
7. In the par baked pastry, spread the grated cheese in a layer, then add the egg mixture and the mushrooms. 
8. Bake in the center of the oven until the filling is golden and puffed, and is completely baked through, about 30 - 40 minutes. The quiche is done if it's not shaking in the center, or if a sharp knife inserted into the center comes out clean. 
9. Remove the quiche from the oven and serve immediately.

MIXED SPROUTS: GUJARATI CUISINE

Mixed Sprouts: Gujarati Cuisine

makes: 6 servings

- 6 cups sprouts

- 1 tbsp. plain or spiced ghee (or coconut oil)

- 2 dried cayenne chiles or chiles de arbol

- 1 tsp. heeng (asafoetida)

- 1 tsp. ajmo (ajwain, carom/bishop's weed seeds)

- 1 tsp. powdered turmeric

- 1 tsp. powdered cumin

- 1 tsp. powdered coriander

- 1 tsp. cayenne powder

- 1 tbsp. tamarind paste

- 2 - 3 tbsp. jaggery (or sugar, to taste)

- 3 cups water

- 1 tbsp. salt

- 4 tbsp. chopped cilantro, to garnish

- 1 tbsp. lemon juice

1. Heat the ghee in a large pan, add in heeng, ajwain, whole red chilies. 
2. When it's all aromatic, add the sprouts, turmeric, enough water to submerge the sprouts. Pressure cook until done. 
3. OR - Add steamed sprouts, turmeric, and just enough water to submerge the sprouts. 
4. Cook to a simmer, then add powdered cumin, coriander, cayenne powder, tamarind paste, and jaggery. Bring to a fast simmer and cook for a few minutes. 
5. Lower the heat and add salt. Taste and adjust seasonings. 
6. Turn off the heat and garnish with lemon juice and cilantro. Enjoy!

SOUTHWEST SUMMER SALAD WITH MANGO VINAIGRETTE

I travel a fair bit for work, and when I travel, I try to keep to my usual eating habits. Especially in places that I know will have excellent fresh vegan/vegetarian food. A few months ago I was in a small town in southern CA and I looked around for lunch spots. I found a cafe near my site which served only vegan food - I *had* to go! And I was hooked!! I ate there every single day of my trip, and I ate their version of this salad. It's *that* good! And so filling.

And the mango vinaigrette - let's just say I now have this dressing in the fridge *all* the time in case I suddenly crave it! You can really put any vegetables you wish on this salad... if you don't have jicama, use radishes. Toss on some roasted vegetables: cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, a whole jalapeño, etc. Add a bit of roasted chicken or a filet of salmon to make it heartier.

Garnish with parsley instead of cilantro, or coarsely chopped almonds instead of pumpkin seeds. So many ways to make this your own...

Southwest Summer Salad with Mango Vinaigrette

makes: 2 servings

- 1/2 cup diced tomato

- 1/2 cup diced cucumber

- 1 small jicama, peeled and cut into batons

- 1 avocado, halved

- 1/2 cup sliced red onion

- 2 tbsp. lime or lemon juice

- 2 tsp. sea salt

- 3 cups mixed salad greens

- 2 cups cooked quinoa (or rice, millet, or lentils), cooled

- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped

- 2 tbsp. roasted pumpkin seeds

- 2 tbsp. currants or raisins

- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

- 1 jalapeño, sliced

- 1 cup Mango Vinaigrette (recipe below)

1. In a bowl, combine tomato, cucumber, and red onion. Toss with lemon juice, salt, and cayenne pepper.
2. Divide salad greens into two salad bowls or plates.
3. Top each with 1 cup of cooked quinoa/millet/rice. Arrange the tomato mixture, jicama, and an avocado half on the greens. Drizzle with 2-3 tbsp. of the vinaigrette. Garnish with the sliced jalapeño, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, currants/raisins, and cayenne pepper.
4. Serve additional dressing on the side.

Mango Vinaigrette

makes: approximately 1 cup

- 1 cup chopped fresh (or frozen) mango

- 1/2 cups safflower oil

- 1/8 cup maple syrup

- 1/4 cup lime juice

- 1 tbsp. rice vinegar (use lime juice if you don't have rice vinegar)

- 1/2 tsp. salt

- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

- 1/2 in. piece of fresh ginger, peeled

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
2. Store leftovers in the fridge.

MAFÉ: SENEGALESE GROUNDNUT STEW (VEGAN)

I *love* stews and soups. This is one of my all-time favourite stews and I don't know why I haven't shared it here! It's so delicious and versatile. I typically make this vegan version unless meat-eater friends are coming over then I make it with lamb, chicken, venison, elk, etc. I've never made it with fish but I think it would be superb!

Use any vegetables you've got or want to use. Swap the sweet potatoes with a winter squash like butternut, kabocha or acorn. Swap the meat for tempeh or add in sliced boiled eggs just before serving. The variations are endless! For the brave of tongue, add in a chopped habanero while sautéing the vegetables.

MAFÉ: SENEGALESE GROUNDNUT STEW (VEGAN)

makes: 6-8 servings

- kernels from 1 ear of corn (or approx. 3/4 cup corn kernels)

- 2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chunked

- 1 med. potato, chunked

- 3 carrots, chunked

- 2 cups cauliflower florets

- 1 cup young shiitake mushrooms (or 1 cup any mushrooms)

- 2 cups diced capsicum

- 3 cups chopped kale (or any greens)

- 2 cups chopped or lightly crushed tomatoes

- 1/2 cup peanut butter

- 2 leeks, sliced (omit if not available)

- 1 large onion, diced

- 1 tbsp. minced ginger

- 1 tbsp. minced garlic

- 1 tbsp. fresh thyme (or 1 bay leaf, or 1 tsp. dried thyme)

- 1 tbsp. coconut oil (or any oil of choice, not olive oil)

- 4-5 cups water (or vegetable broth)

- 1-2 tbsp. salt, adjust to taste

- 2 tsp. red chile powder (adjust to taste)

- 1 lemon, juiced

- garnishes (as many as you wish): sliced boiled eggs, chopped peanuts, fried onions, parsley, cilantro, sliced chiles, flaked coconut

1. On medium-low, heat the oil in a heavy bottomed large pan. Add the onions, leeks, garlic, and ginger and sauté until translucent.
2. Turn the heat to medium and add the carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and kale and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add the rest of the vegetables and sauté for 5-7 minutes. Turn the heat up to high, add the water (or broth) and the thyme (or bay leaf). Once everything starts to bubble, turn the heat down to medium.
3. Add the tomatoes, peanut butter, chile powder, and salt. Let everything cook for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are cooked, stirring occasionally. Adjust salt and spice to taste.
4. Turn the heat off, stir in the lemon juice, and let the stew rest for 10 minutes.
5. Serve over rice or bread and garnishes of choice.

STIR-FRIED SWEET PEPPERS WITH COCONUT AND PEANUTS

Summer comfort food at it's best! I love these stir-fried peppers - or shaak as we call it in Gujarati - with rotli, these gluten-free flatbreads, or rice. It's flavourful, healthy, fresh, and light. Try it!

Adapted from here.

Stir-Fried Sweet Peppers with Coconut and Peanuts

makes: 4 servings

- 1 lb. (~1/2 kg) sweet mini peppers, stemmed, washed and sliced into rounds

- 1/4 cup raw peanuts

- 2 dried whole cayenne chiles

- 1/4 cup desiccated coconut (unsweetened)

- 2 tsp. salt

- 1 tsp. sugar

- 2 tbsp. coconut, safflower, sunflower, or other neutral oil (not olive oil!)

- 1 tsp. cumin seeds

- 1 tbsp. caraway seeds (shah jeeru, or cumin seeds)
- 1 tsp. mustard seeds

- 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder

- 1/8 cup water

- 2 tbsp. lemon juice

1. Dry roast the peanuts, caraway seeds, and dried chiles on medium-low heat till they are fragrant and the peanuts and chiles are lightly browned in some spots. Turn the heat off and cool. Transfer the roasted peanuts, cumin, and chiles to a blender or spice grinder. Add the coconut, sugar, and salt and grind into a coarse powder.
2. Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat and add the cumin and mustard seeds. Once they sizzle and the mustard seeds start to pop, add the turmeric and sliced peppers and mix well. Add the water, cover, and cook for 4-5 minutes.
3. Uncover, add the coarsely powdered spices, and mix well. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes uncovered, stirring once.
4. Turn off the heat, add the lemon juice, stir.
5. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with the chopped cilantro. Serve with roti or rice.

TEMARIZUSHI: EASY SUSHI!

Temari are beautiful vibrant balls of thread, originally a Japanese folk art. Temarizushi - or temari sushi in English - is named as such because this form of sushi resembles temari balls. It's really versatile, pretty, and you can get creative with the patterns you make with the various toppings! If you can get fresh sashimi-grade fish, do use that. Otherwise, you can make do with smoked fish or of course, vegetables if you're vegetarian. No matter what, you can't really go wrong with this. And it's a fresh, healthy, gorgeous meal! Perfect for warm weather, and even as an appetizer at a party.

Do make the proper sushi rice or your temari (or whatever sushi you're making) will taste awful and bland! It doesn't matter if you don't have the perfect texture of the rice and all that - mine seldom does - as long as it's properly seasoned.

Temarizushi: Easy Sushi!

makes: 12 - 16 pieces

- 2 cups prepared sushi rice (use Marc Matsumoto's recipe here)

- 1 cup sliced assorted sashimi grade fish (salmon, tuna, seabass, shrimp, etc.)

- 1 cup sliced vegetables (avocado, lemon, jalapeno, carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, etc.)

- 1/4 cup fish roe (optional)

- 2-3 squares of plastic wrap or wax paper (4 in - 6 in. squares)

Garnishes:

- 1/3 cup (or more, to taste) tamari or regular soy sauce

- 4 - 5 tbsp. fresh grated wasabi (or packaged if you don't have fresh wasabi root)

1. Put the plastic wrap/wax paper on your palm. Starting with the fish or vegetables you want at the top, layer the ingredients and then add two tbsp. rice on top. Gather the edges of the plastic wrap and pull to the center to wrap the whole thing.
2. Twist the loose ends of the plastic wrap around the fish, vegetables, rice, etc. tightly enough to press everything together into an even round ball, but not so tightly that you tear the plastic!
3. Your temari sushi is almost ready! Unwrap and place the round temari sushi on a plate. Repeat with the rest of the rice and ingredients, replacing the plastic wrap as needed. I can usually use one piece of plastic wrap for 4 - 5 temari before it gets too worn to use again.
4. Serve the temari sushi with tamari or regular soy sauce and wasabi. Or, not so Japanese but delicious nevertheless: with a hot sauce, additional sliced jalapenos, thinly sliced lemon, etc.

SMOOTHIES GALORE, SWEET AND SAVOURY!

My family and friends often ask me for smoothie recipes and everytime - despite having this blog which I started so I could easily share recipes with everyone - I end up typing the recipes a few times to send to each person. So I decided to do a bit of a smoothie compendium. In this post I'm including some of the smoothies I make very often, if not almost everyday.

PRODUCE

Select fresh seasonal produce for your smoothies when its at peak flavour. There are some things I make a point to buy organic - herbs, tomatoes, root vegetables, apples, peaches, all berries, leafy greens, and corn- to name a few. But if you can't get organic produce, it's ok. Use whatever you get at your local market, just make sure its fresh and not wrinkled, stale looking, or partly rotten. Turmeric I always use raw but you could use powdered as well.

SEASONINGS

Remember that seasonings go a *long* way when blended so start small and add more if you want. I sometimes add a small amount of salt to my savoury smoothies because I like the slightly savoury element salt brings to the smoothie. You can, however, easily leave out the salt without negatively affecting the taste. Interestingly, celery adds a hint of saltiness to smoothies so you can use it instead if you wish. To savoury smoothies (sometimes also called raw soups) I add a bit of garlic, pepper, or crushed chile for a slight kick.

STORING SMOOTHIES

Smoothies and juices are of course best within 8-12 hours of blending, but if you really need to, you can safely store them in the fridge for 2 days. Or freeze them for a few days. Before I travel somewhere, I often freeze a couple of smoothies so I have a healthy meal or breakfast ready when I'm back.

Smoothies will develop flavour over a few hours, which is especially great when you're trying to ease into intense tasting things like kale, collard greens, mustard greens, etc. I don't ever have time to make smoothies in the morning so I make them at night and by the next morning, after everything has had time to meld together, I have a refreshing energising and filling bottle of the best meal ever!

The photos below are just ideas, feel free to modify ingredients based on whatever's in season or in your fridge. I don't use dairy in my smoothies and I also don't mix melons with other fruits. Herbs and greens like spinach are ok with melons. More on food combining later... 

PESTO OF FAVA (BROAD) BEAN GREENS

I love Lidia Bastianich. She has an amazing story, cooks incredible food, doesn't get too fusion-y with her food, and her recipes are bonafide. And, I love watching her show on television if she's on when I'm around a TV. I much prefer reading to TV - which I haven't owned in decades - so I don't watch shows too often but I do love watching her, Jacques Pepin, Hubert Keller, and a couple of others. So Lidia had - as she often does - her mum on the show once. And she was cooking while her mum entertained with stories of Lidia's cooking escapades. Apparently, Lidia started cooking when she was 4 - 5 yrs. old, for her dolls! She'd make different dishes everyday for her dolls - SO ADORABLE!!! How can that visual not make anyone smile? It's so cute!

Anyway so I never plan meals... I buy things then make meals around whatever I've found at the market. I'd already bought plenty of greens so I didn't need yet another bunch of anything to stir-fry or make into soup or smoothies... but the fava greens were too pretty to pass up. Especially because they're very much a spring thing, available for a short time since the young leafy tops and flowers of the plant are the best tasting. So if you can find some in the farmer's market, do get them.

So I had the last bit of walnuts in the fridge, the fava greens that were not meant to be anything specific, a few Meyer lemons from a gracious coworker's tree, a couple of leftover garlic cloves I'd roasted for a soup, and some fresh spearmint. I decided to throw it all together in a blender and call it done. And I'm so glad I did! From here on, this clean and bright-on-the-palate pesto is my favourite way of enjoying the earthy buttery flavour of fava greens! Unlike basil pestos, this one doesn't dull in colour so no need for covering with a layer of oil. If you don't have fava greens, use spinach or a combination of spinach and arugula (rocket leaves). And use a regular lemon or any variety of lemons.

To quickly roast garlic, put a few cloves skin-on in a pan and roast on medium-high heat turning occasionally until the garlic is soft and blackened in spots. This won't take more than 5-7 minutes.

Pesto of Fava (Broad) Bean Greens

makes: 1 cup

- 4 cups washed fava greens (leaves, flowers, and tender stems only)

- 1/2 cup mint leaves, washed

- 2-3 cloves roasted garlic

- 1 Meyer lemon, juiced

- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

- 1 tsp. salt

- 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1. Put everything in a blender and blend into a smooth pesto.
2. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
3. Store in the fridge for up to a week.

"EVERYDAY" SALSA: SALSA CASERA

Salsa casera (or ranchera) mean house salsa (or ranch salsa) in Spanish. This is the beloved day-to-day homestyle salsa that is so easy to make and tastes great with everything. There are as many varieties of salsa casera as there are Mexican households... everyone makes it ever so slightly differently, depending on personal taste, tradition, chiles available, etc. It's sometimes made with a mix of tomatillos and tomatoes, or with roasted fresh chiles serrano/jalapeño/de arbol/cayenne instead of dried. Sometimes with chiles pequin added to take the heat up a notch, sometimes without cilantro, sometimes with Mexican oregano. However you make it, you can't go wrong with this salsa. It's quite basic, fresh, and herb-y.

Salsa Casera

makes: ~1-1/2 cups

- 1 lb. ripe tomatoes

- 4 cloves garlic

- 5 - 8 chiles de arbol (or cayenne, commonly used in India)

- 1/2 white onion, unpeeled

- 1 large handful cilantro, leaves and tender stems

- 2 tbsp. distilled vinegar

- 1 tbsp. salt

1. Put the onion cut side down and the unpeeled garlic in a pan. Dry-roast on medium until the garlic is softened somewhat, charred in places, and the cut side of the onion is mostly charred. Peel the garlic and onion and place in a food processor jar.
2. Boil water in a pan large enough to hold the tomatoes. Cut a cross on the top (stem side) of the tomatoes and put into the water. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Allow to cool and peel the tomatoes. Transfer to the food processor.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse into a salsa - don't blend into a soup! Adjust salt and lime to taste.
4. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a week.

SUPER HOT PEANUT SALSA: SALSA MACHA

Macho/macha in Spanish means brave. And this is truly a salsa for the brave... it's fiery but so addictive that you'll want to ignore your blazing tastebuds as you reach for *justonelastbite*. This feisty salsa is easy to make and conveniently, it goes with everything! I keep it around in the fridge because who knows when the urge will strike to dip a few tortilla chips into it to go with a cold beer?! Or to have it over eggs, or simply with a couple of hot tortillas. Or with tamales as in the photo below.

The guajillo chile is a smoky fruity chile that isn't that high on the heat but is sultry and has a gorgeous dark red, almost brown colour. If you don't have guajillos, it's ok... you'll have a brighter coloured salsa, still just as delicious. Enjoy!

Super Hot Peanut Salsa: Salsa Macha

makes: 1 cup

- 1 cup roasted peanuts (skinned or unskinned, salted or unsalted)

- 10 - 12 chiles de arbol, (or cayenne, commonly used in India)

- 2 chiles guajillo (optional)

- 2 tbsp. white or black sesame seeds

- 3 - 4 cloves garlic

- 1 lime/lemon, juiced

- 2 tsp. salt (1 tsp. if using salted peanuts)

- 1/4 cup peanut oil (or olive oil)

- 1/4 - 1/2 cup water, to adjust consistency

1. Dry-roast the guajillos (if using) in a pan until fragrant and transfer into a bowl of hot tap water to soften for about 15 - 20 minutes while you do other things.
2. Dry-roast the sesame seeds in a pan. Transfer to a bowl.
3. Dry-roast the chiles de arbol (or cayenne) until fragrant - be careful not to burn or they'll taste bitter - then transfer into a bowl.
4. Dry-roast the garlic until the it's blackened in spots and softened a bit, about 7 - 10 min.
5. Drain, stem, and de-seed the guajillos - discard the soaking water. Put all the ingredients except water in a blender or food processor and blend well. Add water, 1/4 cup at a time to adjust consistency (sometimes I leave it thick to use as a spread, and other times I add water to make it more of a dip).
6. Adjust salt and lime to taste and serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to a week.

HABANERO-SWEET POTATO HOT SAUCE

This spicy, sweet, tangy hot sauce is so addictive you'll find yourself having it with everything! And the colour is so pretty too.

I first had this hot sauce at the incredible Cochon in New Orleans a few weeks ago. And since then I was a bit obsessed. It was so utterly delicious with enough spice, sweetness, and tang to want it over and over, that I had my muffaletta practically doused in it. As a parting gesture, I photographed the ingredients on the label (they sell bottles at the restaurant and also have the same bottles at each table).

Well I came home and couldn't get it out of my mind, so I looked at the photo with the ingredients and created a version of it. I must say this is pretty darn close to the Cochon version, with a bit more spice and a slightly thicker texture so that I can use it as a dip and a spread. And now I always have some in the fridge!

I've made it with sweet potatoes of all colours - white, yellow, orange, and they're all terrific! So use any type of sweet potato that is available to you. And if you don't have apple cider vinegar, use distilled and adjust the sugar to balance the taste.

Habanero-Sweet Potato Hot Sauce

makes: 16 oz./2 cups

- 2 medium sweet potatoes, washed and unpeeled

- 4 habanero peppers, cut into large pieces (remove the seeds from two if you want to tone the spice down a bit)

- 3 cloves garlic, cut into large pieces

- 1/2 white or yellow onion, cut into large pieces

- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

- 1/2 cup distilled vinegar

- 1-1/2 tbsp. sugar

- 1 tsp. salt (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking tray and bake for 40 - 50 min. until a knife slides easily into the sweet potatoes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
3. In a small pan, bring the distilled vinegar to a simmer. Add the garlic, onion, and habanero and simmer until the onion is mostly softened, 5 - 7 min. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
4. Put the peeled sweet potatoes, vinegar mixture, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt (if using) in a blender jar and blend until smooth. You may need to thin with apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp. at a time, to help blend well.
5. Taste and adjust sugar if needed. Transfer to a jar and store in the fridge for a few weeks.
6. Enjoy with eggs, tamales, sandwiches, burgers, empanadas, steak, chicken, pizza... whatever you please!