Summer

Entrée, Gluten Free, Salad, Side, Summer

Quinoa & Sweet Potato Salad w/ Turmeric Tahini Dressing

Sara Forte ·

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It used to be easier to write here. I like imagining who I am writing to and I’ve lost some of that here. I thought Instagram was a more effective place to share, but that place changed for me, as well. So, I want to be back here like I used to be. Every week if I can, which may be lofty, but I’m going to try. Writing about life or nothing, and sharing something that I made with you all. Perhaps not always a meal, even just a dressing we liked or something from a cookbook I’m enjoying. Would love to engage with you all. I just feel like there are almost too many ways now, and I need to keep shifting to find what fits. Anyway. Hi.

Speaking of you and me and connecting. I am doing a short-ish Zoom demo/class with my Cooking Club folks on Sunday morning at 9am PST. Admittance will be the recipe of a donation to Cajun Navy Relief, or any non-profit involved in the relief efforts in New Orleans. Please email or DM a receipt by Saturday. I would love to have any of you non-members along as well. We’re making some kid-friendly things - zucchini and bean taquitos with some avocado dressing to dip and maybe a nectarine crumble crisp if there is enough time.

Quinoa & Sweet Potato Salad
w/ Turmeric Tahini Dressing

Serves 2

The recipe is tinkered from the Many’s Gourmet Salads cookbook which has some truly excellent ideas for fellow salad lovers. It can take add ins, a swap of olives in for the feta to keep it dairy free, but by all means, double the dressing. It works as a dip and dressing for all sort of things. Have to laugh at home many meals on this site include sweet potatoes and quinoa BUT! Here we are, and it’s so good.

You can cook quinoa and lentils together with 2:1 water to lentil and quinoa ratio. Bring to a simmer, turn down the heat and cook with the cover ajar for about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.

This does require a wee bit of prep, so if you are a salad person, I suggest doubling it and having the components on hand to make this salad a few times throughout the week. Everything saves well. I’ve added grilled chicken or salmon or toss extra firm squares of tofu in oil and coconut aminos and roasting it at a high heat until golden, about 20 minutes, for a veg friendly topping. However, it doesn’t need any of these add-ins, it is plenty satisfying as is!

Recipe adapted from Mandy’s Salads

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato - peeled & diced
1 Tbsp. of avocado oil
sea salt
fresh ground pepper

4 cups of spring mix
2 cups of baby kale
1/2 cup of cooked quinoa
1/2 cup of cooked & drained lentils
2 cups of diced cucumbers
1 cup of cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup of red onion - sliced paper thin
4 oz. of crumbled feta
1/4 cup of torn mint leaves
1/4 cup of chopped parsley
1/2 cup of crispy chickpeas - store-bought or homemade
2 Tbsp. of sesame seeds
handful of dill

For the turmeric tahini dressing

1/4 cup of tahini
1/4 cup of room temp water
1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
1 lemon - juiced
1 tsp. of turmeric
dash of cayenne
1/2 tsp. of curry powder
2 cloves of garlic - grated
1 tsp. of toasted sesame oil
1/3 cup of flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. of sea salt
fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425’ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the sweet potato chunks in oil, salt and pepper. Spread them in a single later and roast for 20 minutes until tender. Remove to cool.

Combine all the dressing ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste. If making this in advance, keep it covered in the fridge. If the dressing is too thick or the tahini seizes, add water in tablespoon increments.

Combine all the other ingredients in a giant bowl. Drizzle in the dressing in tablespoon increments, toss until well mixed and it is dressed to your liking. Serve your salad with some sesame seeds and dill to finish.

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Appetizer, Gluten Free, Salad, Side, Summer

ZHOUG SAUCE

Sara Forte ·

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I love love Trader Joes Zhoug sauce and we use it often, but I’m trying to reduce our single use packaging, and this is way better anyway. I finally have notes down so we can make and gift it on our own. I have written about 3 dozen green sauce-ish recipes here, SK Cooking Club etc. - each a little bit different. This one, heavy on the heat and herbs, and a few warm spices. Because it is so warm, I think of it like a concentrate instead of just straight up (ie. putting a dollop in salad dressing or mashing with avocado). Adding just a pinch of sugar and squeeze of lime to balance it. Zhoug is of Yemenite origin, and usually found on tables in Syria and Israel. It truly boosts anything and will certainly be a go-to summer condiment for salads and flatbread and grilled items.

Uses

  • Stir a spoonful into a salad dressing

  • Mix with plain Greek yogurt to make a dip

  • With avocado toast

  • As a protein marinade for any meat, often mixed with some toasted sesame oil and citrus for meat and chicken, or painted on seafood after grilling.

  • Cucumber salad with this, a splash of champagne vinegar, tons of dill, shaved red onion

  • Egg sandwich spread

  • Grilled corn

  • Pasta salad with lots of grilled zucchini, more herbs, baby tomatoes, feta cheese

If you make it, leave a comment about how you used it!

ZHOUG SAUCE

Makes about 10 oz.

You can use a bit more oil if you’d like a thinner yet richer sauce, something closer to traditional Italian pesto. The below will be very herb heavy, as I prefer it this way so it can be thinned with citrus for dressings, marinades, smashed with avocado and the like. It will separate a bit which is absolutely fine and expected.

The sauce will last for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Getting spicier as it sits so heads up!

Riffed from both Ottolenghi and Cookie and Kate

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Ingredients

4 cloves garlic
3 jalapenos, stemmed, partially seeded and chopped
1 bundle of parsley (1 packed cup)
1 bundle cilantro (1 packed cup)
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
dash of cayenne
1/2 tsp. cardamom
pinch of sugar
3/4 tsp. sea salt
squeeze of lime

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, as needed

Directions

Put the garlic and jalapenos in a food processor and pulse a few times to chop. Add the parsley, cilantro, cumin, coriander, cayenne, cardamom, sugar, salt and lime juice and pulse a few more times. With the motor going, drizzle in the oil, scrapping down the sides to get an even, smooth sauce (still a little chunky tho).

Taste for salt and seasonings. You can always add more cayenne if needed but it will get spicier as it ages.

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Entrée, Gluten Free, Summer

LENTIL-CAULI TACO MEAT

Sara Forte ·

cauliflower and lentil tacos 'meat'

Ok. I had to double post on both SKCC and here because so many of you asked me for this recipe. The first time I made this, I was literally grasping at what was left in the fridge. It made a wet gross mush in a pot that I had no interest in eating, so I tried to save it by drying it out in the oven because I HATE wasting food. It had crispy edges and a deep tomato flavor and I ate it for three meals straight. To be honest with you, I cannot get it as good as it was the first time. Below is something pretty damn close.

My family does eat meat, but in an effort towards sustainability and health, we eat a lot of vegetarian meals. Love a good mushroom taco, or even some saucy tempeh, but this mixture has the crumbly, spicy, crisp edges I remember from the ground beef tacos of my youth. Chili, sloppy joes, tacos, hamburger helper, any other babies of the 80’s know that dinner rotation?

If you give it a whirl. Let me know your thoughts. I’ve used it in tacos, as shown, but also sprinkled it in a salad with avocado and peaches and pepitas, and put it in burritos for my wee ones. You could add rice and stuff it into bell peppers (there is a recipe in my story highlights). Anyway, you get the idea.

LENTIL-CAULI TACO MEAT

Makes about 4 cups / Serves 6

If you need to cut a corner, use the steamed lentils from Trader Joes. I actually prefer them - they are drier than the ones I cook at home. Keep an eye on it while it’s in the oven, and stir it around. We want to dry it out to get some crunchy edges.

Try it in tortillas with smashed avocado, cabbage and taco sauce below.

Quicky Taco Sauce

  • Blitz Together:
  • + 1 cup plain, whole greek yogurt
  • + 1 jalapeno
  • + 1 large garlic clove
  • + zest & juice of 1 lime
  • + small bunch cilantro
  • + salt & pepper

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. avocado or extra virgin olive oil
1/2 a yellow onion, roughly chopped 
3 garlic cloves
1 (1.5 lb.) head of cauli, leaves and core removed, broken into florets (or 12 oz. fresh, not frozen, riced-cauli)
3/4 tsp. Kosher salt/ 1/2 tsp. sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. coriander
1 cup canned tomato sauce (I like Muir Glen!)
1 cup cooked lentils, drained

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Preheat the oven to 400’ and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment.

Into a food processor, add the onions and garlic. Pulse a few times to chop well. Transfer to the pot with the hot oil and give it a quick stir. Put the cauli florets into the food processor and pulse, scraping down the sides every few times until it is in tiny rice-like pieces. Add it to the pot along with salt and pepper, sauté about 5 minutes until things soften and get golden in places. 

Add the cumin, chili powder, coriander (or about 1 Tbsp. taco seasoning) and stir. Add the tomato sauce and lentils, stir again. You’re going to think it looks like a soggy mess, but press on! Turn off the heat, let the mixture cool down. 

Transfer the cauli mixture to the prepared baking sheet and spread it in an even layer. Let all the steam off, then bake it in the upper third for 35 minutes, stirring once or twice during the baking time. Turn the oven up to 450’, and cook another 5-10 minutes. Turn off the oven, but leave the tray in there for another 10-15 minutes to dry it out further. The moisture level will be different per person because some cauli can be pretty watery, lentils can have different textures etc. It should look a little charred in spots. Stir it around to cool.

Assemble as you wish - into a taco or roasted sweet potato or room temp into a taco salad. We didn’t make it super spicy so it would be kid-friendly too. 

Store covered in the fridge for up to five days, or freeze for up to a few months.

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