Chow Vegan

Butternut Squash-Bartlett Pear Soup from Vegan Soul Kitchen

November 29, 2009 By chow 5 Comments

Even though I love my spicy Butternut Squash Soup, I’m still curious about other versions, especially the ones that have fruit in them.

Seeing the Butternut Squash-Bartlett Pear Soup from Vegan Soul Kitchen in the latest issue of Vegetarian Times pushed me over the edge and into the kitchen to give it a try.

It’s a much milder, sweeter soup than what I’m used to, but still very good. Preparation and cooking were similar in both recipes. I made a couple of changes as I always seem to do; I didn’t have any coconut milk handy so I used soy milk instead.

I also didn’t have any pumpkin seeds for the garnish and so I cut up an extra piece of pear to sprinkle on top. It worked out well – adding a bit more of the pear taste and a crunch to the soup.

Smoked Vegetarian Goose For The Holidays

November 22, 2009 By chow 12 Comments

This is what I want to eat for the holidays. Thanksgiving or Christmas, it doesn’t matter, I just want it. What is it you say?

It’s smoked vegetarian goose. I picked it up from Sogo Tofu, a small vegetarian shop that produces all manner of tofu and soy products in San Jose. Expertly made, it has just the right amount of smokiness so it’s not overwhelming and the taste of the yuba comes through.

That’s right, you read that correctly. It doesn’t look like it but that roll is made from layers and layers of yuba, tightly rolled up with a layer of vegetable filling and smoked. At least that’s how I think it’s made. I’ve been unsuccessful in finding an actual recipe for this particular dish. I’m just happy to be able to get it at all.

Serve with a simple sauté of swiss chard and Cumin-Cayenne Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions from Vegan Soul Kitchen. I’ve been making all sorts of things out of that cookbook (the recipe is also available in the current issue of Vegetarian Times). The mashed potatoes is another winner – it has a spicy, rich taste about it. No gravy needed.

Related Posts
Mock Chicken
BBQ Yuba Ribs
Yuba Rolls

Roasted Tofu with Leeks and Black Bean Sauce

November 19, 2009 By chow 31 Comments

I meant to experiment with version 2.0 of the Salt and Pepper Roasted Tofu. But since I had a leek to use up, I went with a black bean sauce and threw the poor leek in the sauce.

I prepared the tofu using the method for Vegan Soul Kitchen. I left out the rosemary but kept the paprika for the beautiful color.

For the sauce, I like to use dried fermented black beans instead of a bottled black bean sauce. Also called preserved black beans, salted or dried black beans and in Cantonese, tau see. The flavor is more intense, stronger and fresher tasting than the bottled stuff.

Not to be confused with the black beans associated with Mexican food, these are small black soy beans dried and fermented with salt and sometimes ginger. The brand I use is Yang Jiang Preserved Beans, it comes in a cylindrical cardboard container at the Asian supermarket. It’s very easy to use, just soak a few minutes to soften, rinse and mash a little with a fork to release their flavor.

And don’t forget to check your teeth after eating anything with black bean sauce. You wouldn’t want to be walking around with black specks all over your mouth. It’s not pretty.

Roasted Tofu with Leeks and Black Bean Sauce
Serves 2

1 16-ounce block of extra-firm tofu
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Sauce
1 medium leek, white and some green part, cut into 2 inch sections
2 tablespoons fermented black beans, mashed with a fork
1 teaspoon oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup water
Arrowroot dissolved in water

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a bowl, combine the oil, salt and paprika. Cut the tofu into cubes and gently toss to coat with the mixture. Place each tofu cube in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Roast for 15 minutes on each side.

Heat a wok to hot, add the oil. Swirl the oil to coat the wok. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and black beans. Stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the leeks. Stir-fry for a few minutes, add the water and cook until the leeks are tender.

Slowly add the arrowroot mixture and stir to thicken the sauce to desired consistency. Add the tofu and mix well. Serve with rice.