Pasta con Sesamo e Zucchine

I stumbled upon this delightful combination of flavors in Parma, Italy, perhaps the unlikeliest of places to find a delicious plant-based dish given that the city is best known for its prosciutto and cheese. The name grabbed my eye on the menu and I was in heaven as soon as I took the first bite. The beauty of this dish is its simplicity, allowing you to really taste each ingredient in its full glory. For the best results, use a really great quality olive oil, choose mature (but not too overgrown) end-of-season zucchini, and do not skip the step of toasting and grinding the sesame seeds.

Prep time: 30m | Serves 4

Ingredients:

2½ Tablespoons sesame seeds
12 ounces fusilli pasta, regular or gluten-free*
3 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 medium zucchinis, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons
1 Tablespoon tahini
Salt

Preparation:

Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the sesame seeds and toast for 2–3 minutes or until slightly brown and fragrant, stirring often. If the seeds “jump” out of the skillet, lower the heat slightly. Remove skillet from heat, and when seeds have cooled slightly, transfer them to a mortar and pestle or mini-food processor and grind lightly. Set aside. (This step can be done ahead of time, but I would recommend not doing it too far in advance; same-day is ideal.)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat and place the tahini in a small bowl. While you wait for the pasta water to boil, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the zucchini and a large pinch of salt. Cook the zucchini for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned, flipping it once the first side has developed color. (If your skillet is not large enough to hold all the zucchini in a single layer, do this step in batches.) Once the zucchini has finished cooking, remove from heat and set aside.

When the pasta water is boiling, cook the pasta until al dente. Just before draining the pasta, transfer 3 tablespoons of pasta cooking water to the bowl with the tahini and whisk together. Once the pasta is drained, add it back into your pot, along with the tahini mixture, the cooked zucchini, the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, most of the ground sesame seeds (save a little for garnish) and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir well and serve immediately, garnished with the reserved sesame seeds.

* Jovial’s brown rice pasta is my choice for a gluten-free option.

Almond & Apricot Tart

This vegan and gluten-free tart recipe can be made using whatever fruit is in season, but if you can find apricots, I highly suggest them. We technically had a "cold" spring in Southern California this past season, which has meant a delayed and slightly longer apricot season than in many years. I was able to find some amazing apricots this last week at the market, even though it's mid-July! They won't be around for long, so if you do desire to try this with the golden gems, make this soon.

What I love most about this tart is that it is not too sweet (the almond marzipan layer is made with a touch of maple syrup, rather than traditional powdered or cane sugar). You can use the crust recipe for savory tarts and omit the coconut sugar. A food processor is essential for this recipe, and make preparation quite quick.

Prep time: 55m | Serves 8–10

Ingredients:

For maple marzipan:
1 cup blanched almonds* (see note below)
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup filtered water
1½ teaspoons almond extract

For crust:
2½ cups + 2 Tablespoons almond meal
¼ pound vegan butter (I recommend using Miyoko's Kitchen butter)
2–3 Tablespoons coconut sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
1½ teaspoons ground cardamom (optional)
Pinch of salt

For fruit topping:
¾ pound apricots (or fruit of your choice)

Preparation:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Place all marzipan ingredients in food processor and blend until an even paste is achieved. You will likely need to stop the machine and scrape down the sides a few times. Once marzipan is complete, transfer it to a small bowl and set aside. Wash and dry the food processor thoroughly.

Place all crust ingredients in the food processor and turn it on. Let the machine run until all ingredients have combined to form one "ball" of dough. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch tart pan and use your fingers to press the dough evenly into the pan to form a crust (I like to use a sheet of parchment to help press the dough so it won't stick to my fingers). Use a fork to prick some small holes into the bottom of the crust to allow steam to release while pre-baking the crust (alternatively, you can use pie weights or dried beans to weigh down the crust – google if you're curious how to do that :)) For easiest handling, place the prepared tart pan on a larger baking tray. Bake the crust for 8-10 minutes until it just starts to turn a slight touch of brown. Some parts may still look a little doughy, and that is fine. Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool slightly. While the crust is cooling, prepare your fruit by slicing it evenly (or, for smaller apricots or fruits like cherries, just cut in half).

When crust is cool, spread the maple marzipan in an even layer in the bottom of the crust using a spatula or your fingers (again, parchment is really helpful here if you use your hands, which I recommend). Then arrange the sliced fruit on top of the marzipan layer in any pattern you like. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the crust is golden and fruit is has softened slightly. Cool tart completely before removing the outer ring of the tart pan, then you're ready to slice and serve.

To blanch your own almonds:

Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add almonds, then immediately drain and rinse with cool water. Use your fingers to pop the skins off. This is one of my most favorite meditative cooking practices...and kids LOVE helping with this!

Spiced Black Lentil Burgers with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

These easy, kid-friendly burgers can be spiced any way you like – feel free to substitute different fresh herbs and spices as you wish. Black lentils are sometimes sold as beluga lentils, or use French green lentils in their place if you cannot find them. Leftover burgers are easily re-heated for a quick meal.

Prep time: 55m | Serves 6–8

Ingredients:

¾ cup black lentils
¾ cup rolled oats
½ onion, roughly chopped
1 egg (for vegan version, use 1 Tablespoon ground flax mixed with 2 Tablespoons water)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 handful cilantro, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
Neutral cooking oil (for brushing)

For sauce:
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in hot water until soft and drained
½ cup canned tomatoes or blanched/peeled fresh tomatoes (when in season)
1 clove garlic, peeled and quartered
A few sprigs of fresh oregano (remove leaves from stem) or a couple leaves of basil
2 teaspoons olive oil
1–2 pinches salt

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking pad.

Place lentils in a medium pot and add water to just cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat, cover the pot and simmer lentils for 15–17 minutes. They should be cooked through but not mushy. Drain lentils in a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cool water. Let lentils cool slightly before proceeding. 

While lentils cool, prepare the sauce: Place sun-dried and regular tomatoes in a food processor, along with garlic and oregano/basil leaves. Process until sun-dried tomatoes are chopped well. Add in the olive oil and salt and pulse a few times to incorporate. Taste sauce and adjust flavors as you like. Transfer sauce to a bowl for serving.

Place oats in a food processor and process them until they resemble a coarse flour. Transfer the oat flour to a large mixing bowl. Place the onion and lentils in the food processor and use the pulse function a few times until onion is chopped and lentils start to break down (do not overprocess – mixture should not become a paste). Transfer lentils to the same bowl as the oats, and add in the egg, spices, cilantro and salt. Use a wooden spoon or silicon spatula to stir the burger mixture well. Taste and adjust any seasonings as you wish.

Divide the mixture into 6–8 even portions, then use your hands to shape them into uniform patties. Lightly brush both sides of each burger with oil and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake burgers for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. Serve immediately, accompanied by the prepared sun-dried tomato sauce.

Spiced Cauliflower

To balance the predominant kapha (water + earth element) energy of spring, it's a great idea to skip heavy things like eggs and oatmeal for breakfast and start your day with something lighter. I love having this warming cauliflower for breakfast, either on its own or as the base for a healthy breakfast bowl, along with greens and other seasonal veggies. It's great at other times of day as well and makes a great plant-based taco filling too!

Prep time: 20m | Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 medium head cauliflower (approximately 1½ pounds)
1½ teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon red chile powder
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1–2 pinches ground cayenne pepper (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
½ red onion, finely diced

Preparation:

Cut cauliflower into small florets. Process florets in a food processor fitted with an S-blade, pulsing until the cauliflower roughly resembles rice and being careful not to overprocess or you will end up with cauliflower paste. (Depending on the size of your machine, you may need to do this in batches. Do not fill the food processor bowl more than about halfway, or cauliflower will not process evenly.) Place processed cauliflower in a large mixing bowl, and add all spiced and salt. Stir the cauliflower well until it is well-coated with spices.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add onion. Sauté onion for about 5 minutes, or until it begin to soften and turn translucent. Stir in the cauliflower and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often. When cauliflower is soft and heated through, taste and adjust salt if desired and then serve immediately.