zucchini and green apple salad

Without a doubt my favorite new recipe so far this summer! This is beyond “a keeper” into the territory of “one of my favorite salads of all-time”! Happy to share this recipe from Didem Şenol‘s Aegean Flavours, which I read on a wonderful Turkish food blog called Pantry Fun. I’ll include both the original, and the version I made with what I had.

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MY VERSION:

1 large zucchini
1 large sour green apple like Granny Smith
a few spikes of garlic chives and a handful of mint leaves from my garden
half of a small container of goat cheese, crumbled
just a tiny bit of vinegar and olive oil
half a lemon, juiced
a sprinkle of nigella seeds, salt, and pepper

I sliced the zucchini and apple on a mandoline, tore the herbs by hand, and then added the other ingredients and mixed everything together.

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THE ORIGINAL:

2 green courgettes/kabak

1 green apple/yeşil elma

½ bunch of dill/dereotu

1 spring onion/taze soğan

a handful fresh mint leaves/nane

150g lor peyniri OR goat’s cheese/keçi peyniri

20g nigella seeds/çörekotu

sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

juice of half a lemon

100ml vinegar/sirke

extra virgin olive oil/sızma zeytinyağı

Slice the courgettes and apple as finely as possible. I used a mandolin slicer. Place the apple slices in water with lemon to prevent them from discolouring. Finely chop the dill, spring onion, and mint and mix with the courgette, apple and cheese. Add the nigella seeds. Add the vinegar and salt, and then finally the olive oil and mix together. The recipe states that if you add the olive oil first, the salad won’t absorb the vinegar. I would say, go carefully with the vinegar and taste the salad as you add it. You don’t want it to be overpoweringly vinegary.

write-up by Claudia at Pantry Fun – original recipe by Didem Şenol

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Absolutely wonderful, fresh, delicious, and healthy. August is the perfect time of year for a no-cook recipe! The goat cheese and lemon are tangy, and the garlic chives and nigella seeds add just enough interesting flavor while still allowing the apple and zucchini taste to shine through. I didn’t have any dill in the house, but I can only imagine that the addition of fresh dill would make this salad almost too delicious to eat. I plan to eat this again and again!

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Looking for more healthy plant-based summer recipes? If you like fresh raw salads, fresh fennel and cucumber salad in yogurt sauce is a favorite of mine. Cucumber salads are so budget-friendly and infinitely adaptable, and of course cooling, refreshing, and hydrating in increasingly hotter summers. I love a charred onion and cucumber salad (vegan!) and a Sichuan style cucumber salad and, if you love the mint and lemon in the zucchini and green apple salad, you’ll love this five-minute healthy cucumber, lime, and mint salad.

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pulp crisp: a savory okara / dòuzhā / biji pancake made with leftovers!

Making soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, nut milk, or tofu, and looking for something to do with the leftover pulp? Soy pulp, also known as okara in Japanese, biji in Korean, and dòuzhā in Chinese, can be used in almost any recipe you can think of! Hide it in a stir-fry, mush it into morning porridge, or tuck it into breads, cookies, or cakes! How you use it might depend on whether your pulp is just pure soybean, grains, nuts, or some combination. The pure pulp is fairly flavorless compared with, say, a grain-based milk made with dried fruits and nuts – which means the possibilities for cooking with it are endless!

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Yes, I got an $8 used soymilk machine about three months ago – and it’s become a part of my daily life in a way I was never expecting. Homemade nut and grain milk is sweeter and creamier than milk. I drink it every morning. Tastes nothing like the soymilk from the store! Stay tuned for a mega-post chronicling months of experiments with different combinations of grains, beans, nuts, fruits, and seeds!

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So far, this is one of my favorite “waste not” recipes using okara! Ever since I began my grain and nut milk obsession a few months ago, I have been combing the internet for ways to use the leftover soy pulp. This recipe is ridiculously easy. If you use enough soy milk or water, you’ll be really surprised by the crepe-like texture. These pancakes will keep you full way longer than a “typical” pancake due to all the protein.

My recipe is modified from The Foodie Baker's version in one huge way that really changes the texture and flavor. Curious?

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SAVORY OKARA PANCAKE modified from The Foodie Baker

50 grams fresh okara

50 grams rice flour (all-purpose flour is fine, too)

100 ml soy milk or water

2 pinches salt

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

2 spring onion finely chopped (optional)

your favorite spices (optional – black pepper is recommended – a pinch of Chinese five-spice is great in this!)

neutral oil, to fry (like canola, vegetable, etc.)

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note: If you don’t have a scale, it’s important to note that depending on how much soy milk you squeezed out of your pulp, 50g okara might be a quarter-cup, or a half-cup. If you’re very lazy, like me, and your hands get tired after a few squeezes, use a little less okara. If yours is very fluffy, use a little more. Or – and this has been true for me so far – just eyeball it, because the amount doesn’t matter too much! 50g flour is probably about a third of a cup. 100ml is about a half-cup. You can eyeball these amounts – it really doesn’t matter that much.

Mix everything together, with whatever spoon or whisk you like, or your hands. Pour batter into preheated oiled skillet and fry like a pancake. Eat with your favorite dipping sauce. I loved a chili oil/black vinegar sauce, but anything from soy sauce to plain yogurt would be good. Or serve with eggs – soy-cured eggs would be amazing with these – or leftover veggies!

original recipe by the foodie baker and modified by friedsig

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The original recipe calls for egg, which makes more of a typical American-style pancake. I could really taste the egg in it, which would be great for someone who loves that hard cooked egg / French toast flavor! However, if you prefer a crispy dosa-style pancake like I do, you’ll much prefer the eggless version. Obviously, vegans will prefer it without egg. I love eggs, and much prefer a soft cooked egg wrapped in one of these crispy pancakes, rather than the egg overcooking inside the pancake.

Experiment with this! I bet this would be amazing with a ton of sugar and cinnamon if that’s your jam. I’m on a savory kick lately, though. I have loved these strongly seasoned with a Chinese five-spice blend, with a homemade Sri Lankan curry powder, with a basic blend of garlic powder and black pepper, and just plain with sesame oil and salt.

The edges get quite crispy and crunchy, so I have named these “pulp crisps” because my “okara” is usually some blend of peanuts, Chinese red dates, millet or oats, black soybeans, rice…. not just pure soy okara.

If you’re curious about my journey with this soymilk machine, fear not! Recipes are coming.

cacik (cooling turkish cucumber and yogurt)

A hot weather, no-cook, quick, light, and cooling vegetarian side.

Think of it like raita without cilantro and cumin.

PERFECT for cooling down something that is a little too spicy. Just serve a small bowl as a side dish!

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2 cups plain yogurt
1 cup water
4 Persian cucumbers or mini cucumbers
a half-clove to 3 cloves garlic, minced FINELY
1/4 t to 1/2 tsp salt, to taste
1 1/2 tsp dried mint, or to taste
a drizzle of olive oil

Whisk the yogurt in a large bowl to make sure it’s smooth. Add water to the yogurt and whisk until it’s completely incorporated.
Grate the cucumbers in another bowl and if they’re too watery, squeeze out the excess water. If they’re not too watery, add the directly to the yogurt and water.
Mix well and add garlic, salt and dried mint. Taste and add more salt if needed.
Don’t heat or cook this. Just chill cacik in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.
To serve, divide it between 4 bowls and top each with a little bit of olive oil.

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Recipe by Unicorns in the Kitchen and adapted just a bit by friedsig

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A great cooling raw sauce for anything super spicy, or even mild Turkish meals, anything from veg kofte to roasted chicken.

If you don’t like raw garlic, 3 cloves will be way too many. Even a half of a giant clove was quite a bit.

The neutral flavor is a bonus in the sense that it can go with foods that you would never pair with a middle Eastern appetizer, especially if you reduce the mint. I ate some with Sichuan style deep fried fish that got almost too spicy to eat overnight as it steeped in hot chili oil. The yogurt and cucumber and mint added such a cooling, fresh flavor to the way-too-spicy fish. I highly recommend the unusual combo of super spicy Asian food with this cacik!

Not something you would find yourself eating for a whole meal, like any other yogurt sauce. Just a perfect simple and cooling sauce to help use up your midsummer cucumber harvest.

Note: I recommend delicate Persian cucumbers for this. My coworker gave me two enormous heirloom cucumbers that had grown a bit woody and chewy. It did impact the texture of the cacik, even when grated.

fresh fennel and cucumber salad in yogurt sauce

One of my new favorite salads!

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fresh cucumber, chopped into bite-sized pieces
minced fresh fennel leaves

plain unsweetened yogurt
minced or jarred horseradish
fresh lemon or lime juice and/or zest
minced garlic
pinch of sugar (optional)
salt and pepper

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original recipe by cooking light and adapted by friedsig

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Experimenting a lot with fennel this week, after scoring a giant fennel root with tons of plant still attached. This was my favorite of all those recipes! This sweet horseradish yogurt dressing is addictive. My other favorite was the roast chicken with roasted fennel root and caramelized onion and garlic in a white wine and dijon sauce. Great fall recipe. The miso-sesame fennel salad is definitely decent, but I like how fresh and crisp the fennel stayed in the yogurt sauce compared with the miso-sesame.

Anyway – highly recommended.

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If you like a cucumber salad, try some of my other favorite cucumber recipes: a flavorful vegan charred onion and cucumber salad, a spicy sichuan cucumber salad, or a summery cucumber, lime, and mint salad

liangban tofu (chilled soft tofu salad)

ten minutes til a quick snack full of protein, all nine essential amino acids, iron, calcium, magnesium, and more…

one block soft tofu
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon black vinegar
2 fresh Thai peppers (you can replace it with chili oil)
1/2 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 green onion, finely chopped
minced cilantro, to taste
toasted Sichuan peppercorns, to taste

1. cube tofu and steam for ten minutes
2. separately, mix together all other ingredients
3. dump ingredients on top of tofu and refrigerate

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adapted from china sichuan food and tim elwyn

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my favorite tofu is definitely mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐) and my favorite junk food tofu is crispy vegan kung pao tofu…

…but what if you don’t have an hour to press and fry tofu? what if you like mapo tofu but you don’t eat pork?

THIS is my new go-to quick tofu recipe for lazy vegans. it’s a great summer recipe, too, since you don’t have to kick your wok up to high heat.

i wasn’t completely smitten with it when i first tasted it, but once the tofu sucked up the sauce, i had no trouble eating an entire brick of tofu myself.

if you don’t care for wild splattering oil, if you’re on a diet, if you’re not into pork, if you’re in a rush, or on a soft food diet after surgery or dental problems, or if you’re just too lazy to cook, i definitely recommend this!

tuscan white bean and tuna salad

Want a lunch that costs less than a frozen meal, takes less than 5 minutes to prepare, requires no cooking, is impossible to mess up, and tastes great?

This is an adaptation of a northern Italian recipe.

– 1 can tuna
– 1 can drained and rinsed white beans, or leftover cooked white beans (cannellini, great northern, or similar)
– olive oil and red wine vinegar, to taste
– minced raw garlic and/or onions
salt and black pepper, to taste
optional: capers or minced pickles
optional: sliced olives
optional: fresh lemon juice
optional: tiny bit of mayo or plain yogurt for creaminess
optional: salad greens

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Finally posting this, although it’s been a go-to for me for years for a quick and lazy lunch. This is packed with protein. Eat a clump of it on a big green salad with an Italian vinaigrette, pile it on a slice of whole-grain bread with a mustardy vinaigrette and fresh tomatoes and greens, or just scoop it up with crackers.

For a similar northern Italian salad, try this roasted eggplant and tuna salad, or this springtime niçoise style salad.

charred onion and cucumber salad (vegan!)

In the middle of the winter, it’s easy to get tired of your favorite soups and heavy, stewed dishes. After a few weeks of holiday eating, I was craving something light and fresh. This recipe is from bon appetit.

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1 medium English hothouse cucumber, sliced into rounds

1 small to medium onion

1 Fresno chile, thinly sliced into rings, seeded if desired

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for serving

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

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GRILL DIRECTIONS:

Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Combine chile and 2 Tbsp. vinegar in a small bowl; set aside.

Place onions on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with 2 Tbsp. oil; season with salt and pepper. Turn to coat. Grill onions directly on grate until lightly charred and softened, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with remaining 2 Tbsp. vinegar; let cool.

Coarsely chop ½ cup grilled onion and return to bowl. Add chile and soaking liquid, cucumber, dried oregano, and 2 Tbsp. oil and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Serve drizzled with more oil.

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NO GRILL DIRECTIONS:

Heat a cast-iron to be ripping hot on the stovetop, probably at least medium-high heat. Combine chile, vinegar, cucumber, oregano, and oil. Set aside.

Heat onions on cast iron until charred. Remove from pan and transfer to separate bowl with vinegar. Let soak five minutes, then combine everything.

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The seasoning of just red wine vinegar and oregano makes it taste exactly like an East coast style sub sandwich/hoagie. I found it extremely nostalgic. This was great brought along to lunch and used to top salads, sandwiches, and grains. The flavor is simple and uncomplicated. Next time, I will experiment with charred onions and cucumbers by adding some other spices, so it doesn’t taste like a sandwich. Mark suggested adding some toasted cumin. I think I will try something even more balanced and complex, like dukkah, or numbing xi’an spice. Or maybe it’s better to go simple, with some fresh dill and other herbs, and a pinch of sugar to bring out the caramelization of the onions. Whatever you do, charring the onions does add something interesting, so experiment and let me know what you think!

(If you live on the East coast, this red-wine-vinegar-and-oregano combo might not be all that exciting, so can I recommend slicing cucumbers and adding some garlicky Syrian yogurt and tahini sauce? It’s one of my favorite ways to eat a cucumber.)

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recipe adapted from bon appetit by friedsig

healthy arugula and sunflower seed vegan sandwich spread

i have been on a sandwich kick lately, since i have been baking bread for the first time in a while.

i tried this recipe from leanjumpstart for a cress and sunflower seed sandwich spread.

the recipe calls for:
a splash of water
about a cup of sunflower seeds
a tablespoon of lemon juice
a “bed” of cress
pepper to taste

mixed in a blender and ready to eat.

my recipe:
i added a cup of sunflower seeds, a splash of water, and a ton of lemon juice. then i added a few handfuls of locally grown arugula, because there was no cress at the co-op.

things it’s been amazing in so far:
– tastes like pesto when added to tomato sauce
– tastes creamy on a sandwich with tomatoes and goat cheese and a little mayo-based sandwich spread (mayo, fresh lemon juice, steak seasoning, roasted garlic, a splash of worcestershire, and horseradish mustard) and it was great
– tastes like sour pine nuts mixed into hummus or used as a dip

on its own, it tastes like sour sunflower butter, so it seems like a great way for vegans and athletes and dieters to get some extra protein and a nice kick of sour flavor.

ideas i had for it?
– sandwich spread with roasted red peppers
– caprese sandwich with tomatoes and basil, or goat cheese
– spread on bread with sharp cheddar for grilled cheese
– scooped onto a salad in clumps, like vegan ricotta, on a salad with nuts and dried fruit
– creamed up and added to coconut vegan yogurt, it would make an unbelievable vegan dipping sauce for spicy vegetables
– as a savory note added to some vegan sauce

if you want the world’s creamiest texture you may need an expensive (or at least effective) blender, but a used cheap blender makes a nice texture, partially crunchy and partially creamy, thicker than thick store-bought hummus, which some might find meaty and fun and others might find annoying and seedy. for a vegan sandwich i think the texture it adds is really interesting. i like it. i like it a lot more than i thought i would, and i have been putting it in everything.

as a meat eater i think it would go great with chicken salad with spinach, green apple, and dill on a sweet whole wheat bread.

thanks to leanjumpstart: simply clean eating habits to get in shape for your recipe “garden cress sunflower seeds spread”

15-minute broccoli, spinach, and green curry coconut soup

green curry paste (1T-1/3c, depending on your preference)
one can of coconut milk
3 cups of water
a pound of broccoli florets, chopped
a handful to baby spinach leaves
fresh cilantro leaves (coriander leaves)
salt and pepper

stir-fry the curry paste
if you’re using real Thai green curry paste, DON’T use a third of a cup unless you have a steel stomach – start with a tablespoon and add more later if it needs it
if the paste is thick, add a little water

when fragrant, add the water and chopped broccoli stems, and boil about five minutes

add the rest of the broccoli, salt and pepper, turn down the heat, and simmer until soft, about ten minutes

add the coconut milk, simmer another few minutes

turn off the heat

add the spinach leaves and cilantro

blend, adjust seasoning to taste

can top with crispy fried scallions if you’re feeling fancy, or a scoop of plain yogurt, but it’s great just as is

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modified from epicurious

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really fantastic. if you love the flavor of cilantro more than you love broccoli and spinach, it’s a great way to get all your veggies. it takes just as long to cool the soup for blending as it does to cook it.

again, seriously be careful how much curry paste you use – i’m in so much pain from heartburn. but the flavor is amazing. perfect way to use up those curry paste packets i’ve had sitting in the pantry for a year. i definitely recommend this recipe.

chinese sesame paste dressing

trying to get some vegetables back into my diet… salads last week with marinated mushrooms and balsamic vinaigrette were great, so this week maybe i’ll toss some cucumbers and radishes in this for lunch.

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this recipe is from the book phoenix claws and jade trees by kian lam kho

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2 T chinese toasted sesame paste* + 2 T water
1 t toasted sesame oil
1 t chile oil (optional)
1 t white rice vinegar
1 large clove or 2 small cloves garlic
1/2 t salt
1/2 t sugar

stir together and let sit at least ten minutes before using

* = i don’t have this but omnivore’s cookbook suggested 1 part tahini, 1 part peanut butter, and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil as a substitution

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modified from the highly recommended cookbook phoenix claws and jade trees by kian lam kho

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fantastic – fast and easy peanut sauce with a great sesame flavor