Tag Archives: vegan

Warm Roasted Potato and Green Bean Salad

I have a propensity towards warm salads. Don’t ask me why, but they seem ever so much more interesting than cold salads. This recipe on Tasty Kitchen caught my eye–roasted potatoes + delicious and creamy mustard dressing? Yes, please! I made a few changes, choosing to roast everything together instead of roasting the potatoes alone and steaming the green beans, and tweaking the oven time and temperature. But credit must go to the fabulous creators of the original recipe. Let’s observe a moment of silence for their Awesome Contribution to My Dinner Table.

When my darling husband heard that dinner was going to be a salad, I watched his reaction closely. And though he was perfectly polite, methinks I detected a glimmer of concern in his eyes. I could almost see the gears and cogs in his mind turning “A salad? Is she serious? Is it going to fill me up? Is it going to be satisfying enough?” 

Of course, that’s all speculation. But whatever may have been going on in his precious man-brain, he absolutely loved it. We devoured the entire thing between the two of us. “This might have been good with a steak alongside,” I said. “No!” he exclaimed. “This is great just like this!”

When I have his full and enthusiastic endorsement, I know that my kitchen endeavors have met their ultimate goal.

And indeed, the sweet roasted flavor of the beans and potatoes with the tang of the vinegar and mustard dressing is perfection.

Ingredients

(Serves 2 as a main dish, 4 as a side dish)

1 lb small or fingerling potatoes
2 TBS olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cloves garlic
1 lb green beans
2 shallots

For the dressing

1/4 cups olive oil
3 TBS white wine vinegar
1 1/2 TBS Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 425. Halve or quarter the potatoes . . .

. . . and set them aside. Wash and halve the green beans . . .

. . . mince the garlic, and quarter the shallots, separating out the lovely violet-colored layers with your fingers.

Put the potatoes, beans, garlic, and shallots on a large baking sheet.

Douse them with a generous amount of salt, pepper, and 2 TBS of olive oil.

Toss the veggies so that everything is coated evenly in the oil and seasoning, and then spread them into a single layer, like so.

Pop ’em in the oven, and bake them for 45 minutes, turning everything over at the halfway point.

In the meantime, put the dressing ingredients into a small bowl.

Whisk them together vigorously!

I tasted the dressing and wondered if it needed a little sugar, but trust me–it doesn’t. The roasting adds sweetness to the other ingredients, so once everything is combined, there will be a perfect balance of flavors.

Once the potatoes and green beans are finished, take ’em out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.

Dump everything in a large bowl, and pour the dressing over top.

Give it a good tossing to combine, and serve it warm!

So tasty. So filling.

I would eat this as a main dish any day. This salad doesn’t have to play second fiddle to anything else.

Do you need further evidence than this?

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Baba Ghanoush

I love pretty much all of Ree’s recipes, and this one is no exception. Add to that the fact that it’s both vegan and (when served with corn chips) gluten free, and it’s also a great appetizer to keep in mind for anyone with dietary restrictions. Of course, all of that means nothing unless it’s delicious.

And this is delicious.

Ingredients

(Serves 6-8)

3 medium eggplants
4 TBS tahini
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 TBS good quality olive oil
1/3 cup parsley, minced
Salt, to taste
Chips, crackers or bread, to serve

Prick each eggplant with a fork until the surface is covered with holes.

‘Bout like so.

Place the eggplants under a broiler (or on a grill) and cook for 30-40 minutes, until blackened, turning occasionally.

Ree says that when you think they’re blacked enough, blacken them some more.

I trust Ree. After drinking her wine and bathing in her bathtub, I kind of have no choice.

Once the eggplants are very schmooshy, let them cool. When they’re cool enough to handle, scoop the eggplant flesh into a bowl with a spoon, discarding the skins.

This part is gross and messy. The term ‘eviscerating’ comes to mind, and you will strongly consider becoming a vegetarian.

Oh wait–this is a vegetable.

Discard the skins . . . and discard your memories of handling those slimy innards too, while you’re at it.

It’s going to be delicious once it’s all over–I promise.

Using a fork, mash the eggplant.

If you think the texture is going to wig you out, you can give it a few pulses in a food processor for a smoother consistency. Personally, I like a little texture in my dip.

Whack the cloves of garlic and remove the skins.

Then, mince it or squeeze it directly into the eggplant with your handy-dandy garlique press.

Measure out that delectable, nutty tahini (essentially a sesame seed puree) . . .

. . . and add that into the eggplant.

Squeeze in the lemon juice . . .

. . . drizzle in the olive oil . . .

 . . . give the parsley a quick wash-and-chop . . .

. . . and add that in, too.

Stir in a good amount of salt, tasting as you go so that it’s perfectly seasoned (you don’t want to undersalt this!).

Mix ‘er all up, and serve with chips, pita bread, a baguette, crackers, or whatever bread-type product strikes your palate’s fancy that day.

Mmm. Let’s load up a chip, shall we?

If you must know, I feasted on this while watching ‘My So-Called Life,’ which by the way is an amazing series and I can’t believe it only ran for one season!

My husband was out of town, and the dose of Baba Ghanoush + Claire Danes hit exactly the right spot. I mean, if I have to be lonely and comfort myself with Netflix instant play, I can think of no better accompaniment than a bowl of dip . . . followed by a bowl of mush . . . followed by a bowl of popcorn. Bowls, bowls, bowls.

I know. It’s so cliché to comfort oneself with food. But this is a pretty healthy way to do it. And see how creamy it is?

This is one of those appetizers that’s there one minute . . . *chomp!*

. . . and gone the next.

So fresh. So garlicky. I sweated garlic for the next 2 days.

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