Category Archives: Vegan

Really Good, Really Easy Tofu Stir Fry

Lots of people *think* they don’t like tofu.  There is no question that tofu that is not prepared well can be bland, mushy, and generally not that great.  Tofu that is well-prepared is delicious.  It absorbs the strong flavors of stir-fry sauces beautifully, and tofu that has been pressed and added to a stir fry complements the textures of stir-fried vegetables perfectly.  The secrets to great tofu are:

1. Buying the right kind of tofu

2. Seasoning and cooking it properly

This recipe is a great one to try if you think you don’t like tofu or are on the fence about it.  Just take care to follow the preparation directions carefully, the preparation makes all the difference.  

tofu broccoli stir fry2
Continue reading Really Good, Really Easy Tofu Stir Fry

Tortilla Soup

This vegan soup is a wonderful, healthy, low calorie and low fat meal that is a great antidote to holiday indulging.  The soup is delicious on its own, but what really takes it to the next level is serving it with a selection of different toppings/ condiments on the side.  You can serve this soup year-round; in the summer I take advantage of fresh corn, in the winter I use hominy instead of corn.  

If you aren’t familiar with hominy, it is corn that has been soaked in an alkali solution, which causes it to swell to 2-3 times it’s normal size.  The flavor of hominy is not as sweet as fresh corn, it tastes more like the corn flavor in a corn tortilla or a tortilla chip: slightly sour and more mineraly than fresh corn.  The texture of hominy is it’s best feature, it has a lovely chewy bite.

condiments for tortilla soup

tortilla soup

Continue reading Tortilla Soup

Guacamole 101

A traditional Mexican dip, guacamole has become a staple in the American diet as well.  Avocados are high in fat, but they also have a number of nutritional strengths such as a high potassium and fiber content.  

There are two main components to making the perfect guacamole.  Choosing good avocados, and properly seasoning.

guac

 

Continue reading Guacamole 101