Pasta primavera, revisited

Colorful, delicious, fresh, fresh, fresh. Adapted by me to non-dairy. (I also left out the broccoli, which I forgot to buy!)

Pasta primavera (from Saveur)

salt

1 medium zucchini, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4″ thick pieces

1 medium yellow summer squash, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4″ thick pieces

1 1/2 cups fresh shelled green peas

8 spear asparagus, trimmed, cut crosswise into thirds

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

16 button mushrooms, stemmed, caps quartered

1/4 cup pine nuts

4 plum tomatoes, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped

1 pound spaghetti

1 cup soy cream

1/4 cup grated soy parmesan

1/4 cup vegetable stock

4 tablespoons margarine, softened

12 – 14 leaves, basil, shredded

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Saute zucchini and squash until just beginning to brown, 2 – 3 minutes. Add peas, one-third of the garlic, and salt to taste, saute for 1 minute, then transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and set aside. Wipe skillet clean. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet over medium-high heat and saute mushrooms until golden brown, 2 – 3 minutes. Add pine nuts and saute until golden, 1 – 2 minutes. Add half the garlic and salt to taste, saute for 30 seconds, then transfer to a small bowl, cover, and set aside. Wipe skillet clean. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the skillet over medium-high heat, saute asparagus until lightly browned, about 1 minute, then transfer to a small bowl, cover, and set aside. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, tomatoes, remaining garlic, and salt to taste to the skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until tomatoes break apart and release their juice, 3 – 4 minutes. Cover and set aside.

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water over high heat until just cooked through, 10 – 12 minutes. Meanwhile, boil the soy cream in a large skillet over medium-high heat until slightly thickened, 5 – 6 minutes. Stir in the parmesan and salt to taste. Drain pasta, add to skillet with cream, and cook, stirring often, until pasta absorbs sauce, 2 – 3 minutes.

Divide pasta among 4 plates. Dividing quantities equally, top paste with zucchini mixture, mushroom mixture, tomato sauce, and asparagus, in that order. Garnish with basil. Makes 4 servings.

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Eggnog ice cream (dairy-free)

Smooth and creamy. Dreamy. LOVED this recipe from Couldn’t Be Parve – many thanks! Good any time of year.

Eggnog ice cream

3 cups almond milk (used Almond Breeze unsweetened original)

1 cup soy milk powder

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup sugar

pinch of salt

6 large egg yolks

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons dark rum

2 tablespoons brandy

1 tablespoon vanilla

In a medium saucepan, whisk together 2 cups of almond milk, soy milk powder, oil, sugar, and salt. Place the egg yolks into a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Place the remaining cup of almond milk in another medium bowl set over a bowl of ice water and set the strainer on top.

Slowly stream the warm mixture into the egg yolks while whisking constantly. Scrape the warmed yolk mixture back into the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan with the spatula while stirring. Cook until the mixture thickens and coats the back of the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer into the remaining almond milk. Stir in the nutmeg, rum, brandy, and vanilla. Stir over the ice bath until cool.

Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator and then freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Makes approximately 1 quart.

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Egg salad gribiche

From Chow, truly an elegant egg salad.

Egg salad gribiche

6 large eggs, hard-boiled

2 teaspoons dijon mustard

5 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed

1/2 cup finely chopped cornichons

1 tablespoon finely chopped brine-packed capers

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chervil

Peel the eggs, halve, and separate the whits from the yolks.

Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl and mash until they resemble cornmeal (some pea-sized pieces will remain). Add the mustard and continue mashing until it is well incorporated.

Add the oil to the yolks, pouring in a thin, steady stream while constantly whisking to form a paste. Stir in the vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Finely chop the egg whites and add them to the yolk paste. Add the remaining ingredients and fold everything until evenly combined. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Makes about 2 cups.

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Vegetable frittata

Chock full of veggies, this frittata was an easy nondairy adaptation. From SFGate.com

Vegetable frittata

1 small zucchini

1/2 bunch chard

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

kosher salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon minced fresh dill

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

8 large eggs

2 teaspoons soy cream (optional)

1/2 cup chopped canned plain artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained

2 green onions (green part only), thinly sliced

1 cup grated soy cheddar or mozzarella

1/4 cup soy sour cream (I used Tofutti brand)

several grape tomatoes

Cut the zucchini lengthwise and then into 1/4″ thick half moons; set aside. Cut the tough rib from each chard leaf, then cut enough leaves crosswise into 1/4″ thick ribbons to make about 2 cups. Rinse and drain well.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat oil in a 10″ ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until it starts to soften. Add the chard and zucchini. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the vegetables are cooked and the moisture has evaporated. Stir in 2 teaspoons of the dill and 2 teaspoons of the parsley. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and soy cream in a medium bowl.

Add the artichokes, green onions, and about half the cheese to the vegetables in the skillet. Pour in the eggs and stir lightly. When the eggs start to set, use a heat-resistant plastic spatula to lift the edges of the frittata, tilting the pan so the uncooked egg flows under the edge. When the eggs are almost fully cooked, sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and place in the oven until the frittata is done and the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 5 – 7 minutes.

Divide into portions, top each portion with an optional tablespoon of sour cream and tomatoes and remaining chopped herbs. Makes 4 – 6 servings.

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Pasta with pesto, asparagus, and artichokes

I saw this first in Chow.com, and adapted it to be nondairy. Also used this whole grain pasta, which I love, and used canned artichokes, which is probably a travesty compared to the beautiful photos of the artichoke preparation on the Chow.com site. But I made this after work, was tired and hungry, and I thought it came out delicious anyway.

Pasta with pesto, asparagus, and artichokes

For the pesto:

1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more as needed

1 medium clove garlic, minced

1 cup packed fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup packed fresh Italian parsley leaves

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup grated soy parmesan

For the pasta:

8 asparagus spears, tough ends removed

3 tablespoons olive oil

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 12-ounce can artichoke hearts, packed in water, drained and halved

10 ounce dried pasta, long strands

soy parmesan, for serving

For the pesto:

Place the pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process until finely ground, about 20 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl using a rubber spatula. Add the salt and pepper, garlic, basil, and parsley; process until pureed, about 15 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

With the processor running, slowly add the oil in a thin stream until incorporated. Add the parmesan and pulse a few times to incorporate. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, as needed.

For the pasta:

Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the asparagus and blanch til crisp-tender, about 30 seconds. Using tongs, remove the asparagus to an ice water bath to cool. Keep the pot of water at a boil for the pasta. Transfer the asparagus from the ice bath to a cutting board. Using a vegetable peeler, shave each spear lengthwise into thin strips, then cut the strips in half crosswise. Place in a bowl and set aside.

Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta water, then drain the pasta.

Return the pot to medium-high heat, and add the pesto, 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water, and the asparagus strips. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Add the pasta, toss to combine, and bring to a simmer. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

I served this in an attractive plain white bowl, and garnished the top with the artichoke halves, sprinkled with soy parmesan.

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Kefta

Middle Eastern food is probably my greatest weakness. I tried my hand at other burgers, and when I found this recipe, well, how could I resist. These were VERY good.

Kefta (confession – I used ground turkey; recipe called for beef and lamb)

16 ounces ground turkey breast

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 small onion, quartered

2 cloves garlic, peeled

8 pitted green olives (Israeli are the BEST)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Place turkey and lemon juice in a large bowl. Gently combine until incorporated. Marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.

Transfer the meat to a colander and press to squeeze out excess moisture. Place onion, garlic, and olives in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Add to the marinated meat along with oil, cilantro, parsley, cumin, salt, and pepper. Gently combine until evenly incorporated.

Position rack in upper third of oven, preheat broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack on it. Using about 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture for each, form 12 thin patties, about 2 1/2″ wide and 1/4″ thick. Place on wire rack.

Broil patties until brown and cooked through, 8 – 10 minutes.

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