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Tag Archives: vegetarian

Tzatziki (Greek cucumber and yogurt sauce)


2 c. Greek yogurt, or 2 c. regular plain yogurt, strained.  To strain yogurt, line a colander with coffee filters.  Dump yogurt over the filters, stick in the fridge for a couple hours.  You’re trying to replicate the creamy texture of Greek yogurt but you don’t HAVE to…..

1 cucumber, peeled, shredded and then the liquid squeezed out with your hands (you can twist it up in a tea towel too to get the water out)

garlic, to taste (1 or more tsp minced)

1 Tb EVOO

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

bit of salt

Combine, let sit a few mins for flavors to combine, and then OPA!!

 
 

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Armenian Lentil Soup (Vospapur #2)


There seems to be an Armenian lentil soup for every day of the week!  This is also a great way to use up left over chicken, especially a chicken prepared with paprika or if you’re daring, leftover Cajun spiced chicken.

For this soup you’ll need –

About 6 c water

Chicken or tomato flavored soup base or bouillon

1.5 cups lentils.  Any color will work, but the orange ones cook to mush in about 15 minutes for a QUICK meal.

1 onion, chopped.  I like red

EVOO to sautee the onion, if desired

1 10 oz pkg frozen spinach

1 lb tomatoes, chopped, juices reserved

couple cloves of garlic, to taste

2 Tb lemon juice or more to taste

.75 tsp cumin

.5 tsp coriander AND hot paprika (or cayenne will do)

Bring lentils to a boil in bouillon, then simmer till soft.  At some point, add the frozen spinach.  While lentils are simmering, sautee onions if desired.  If not, then just chop and toss in the soup.  Add spices to the onions and when they’re almost to desired carmelization, add garlic.  If you add it too early, it can become bitter.

Add tomatoes to soup pot and anything else I forgot to reference above.  Providing it doesn’t get too thick, you can NOT make a mistake with this.  When the tomatoes are soft, turn off the heat and add 2 tb of lemon juice.

While enjoying this delicious Armenian dish, try to think of other famous Armenians besides the KK’s.

 
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Posted by on January 3, 2012 in Pruett's Cruet, Soup

 

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Salsa Cruda or Pico De Gallo Recipe


Salsa Cruda or Pico De Gallo

I have a food scale so I weigh everything.  Roma tomatoes are usually cheaper so that’s why I do that.  I make this by the GALLON. It freezes well enough to be used as a marinade (the texture is kinda wonky but it tastes great!!!)  I use the pan juices from this when cooked with chicken to pour over rice mixed with a bag of steamed mixed veggies and rice.  Delicioso!!

20 oz maters
1/2 bunch cilantro, stemmed
juice of 2 limes (1/4 c I think, lemon will work)
1 small onion or 1/2 a big one, I like red onions
1/8 c (small handful as in what you can inch between thumb and fingers when stuck in the jar) pickled jalapenos
1 tsp or more jarred garlic
1 tsp salt

Toss everything except the onions in a blender and pulse.  Quarter onions and pulse just a couple times. If you do it too long, it will release too much oniony goodness and it’ll be like drinking onion JUICE.  BLECH

 

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Low fat cilantro pesto recipe


Low fat pesto –

2 cups loosely packed cilantro leaves (stems removed) I use one bunch
2 tablespoons slivered almonds (I’ve used sunflower seeds)
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (not the nasty canned stuff, I buy a little block and grate it)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
2-4 teaspoons water (depending on desired consistency)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

 

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Mash Mush (Mung Bean stew)


Note – This is very flexible because the dish will taste like the spices and onions. The rest is very irrelevant, LOL.
2 onions, or one big one. Mine are softball sized. I like red onions
1 potato or sweet potato or 1/2 a butternut squash cubed and cooked but not to mushyness….
3 ripe tomatoes… or tomatillos. Tomatillos would have to cook a bit to soften up. They are often cheaper than tomatoes here.
2 carrots, shredded
3/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/4-1/2 tsp hot paprika or regular with a couple pinches cayenne pepper
garlic, to taste
bouillon equivalent to about 4 servings
3/4 c mung beans, boiled for about 30 mins to make ’em soft and they’ll plump UP!!!!
2 c cooked grain…. rice, (I used rice and left over kasha), barley etc.

Brown onions in EVOO…. Combine, then garnish with cilantro if desired·

Another version with lamb! http://annasrecipebox.com/2009/07/11/grandpas-mashkitchiri/about 2 weeks ago

 
 

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