QUINOA CHILI VERDE

Here I am again with another recipe for the Soups, Stews & Chilis collection (I just can't help myself!). This recipe has been in the works since December and I'm finally getting around to adding it to the collection. The poblanos and tomatillos have been sitting in my refrigerator for long enough (not since December though lol). So without further ado, I share with you my recipe for Quinoa Chili Verde. It's a hearty and brightly flavored chili. The tomatillos are what brighten this chili with their citrus notes. I've added just enough herbs and spices to be noticed, I didn't want to overpower it, but you can add more if you like. I used a flavorful vegetable broth so if using water you'll most likely want to up the amounts to suit your taste. My first attempt at this I added tempeh but for this recipe I've left it out. It wouldn't hurt to add a package when combining everything while crumbling it between your fingers. Tempeh will make it that much heartier (and its an excellent soy product for most!). I also added some corn which adds color and a nice sweetness. For the beans, you can use any mix. I would stick with any mix of cannellini, kidney, pinto or black. This chili is a one pot wonder and will be ready in under an hour from start to finish. You can be sure this green quinoa chili is going to be a nice departure from the usual chili routine. Round up your ingredients and give it a try!  

I know tomatillos and poblanos are in season and abundant during the summer months, but here in California we have them year round tempting me every time I see them to take them home and make something wonderful. Corn is the only ingredient in the recipe that isn't fresh year round so I used 1 cup frozen. Hopefully you can find all the produce in the winter months with ease or you'll have to wait for the warmer season.

The only thing you have to chop and dice are the onion, peppers and tomatillos. I left my tomatillos on the chunky side, they will soften and fall apart, but you can dice them up as small as you like. 

Get ready, gather your ingredients and start cooking!

QUINOA CHILI VERDE

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil or 3 tablespoons water 
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 heaping teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 12 oz tomatillos, diced or quartered or 1 can (15oz) crushed
• 2 poblano or Anaheim peppers, de-seeded and diced
• 1 corn off the cob or 1 cup frozen or canned sweet corn
• 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• salt to taste

optional garnish

• avocado, diced
• bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
• tortilla strips
• cashew sour cream or cilantro-lime cashew sour cream

In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil/water over medium heat and sautee onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic powder, oregano, cumin and chili powder, cook for 1 minute more stirring frequently, or just until spices and herbs become fragrant. Add tomatillos, poblanos, corn, beans, quinoa and vegetable broth, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover and let rest about 10 minutes before serving.

Serve in individual bowls topped with garnish of choice. Pairs well with corn bread too, either on the side or broken up in your chili!

Serves 4 - 6.

Notes:

Add in a package of organic tempeh for added hardiness. This Three Grain Tempeh is my favorite flavorwise.

You can rinse your quinoa if you like. I honestly usually skip this step but if you prefer you can run the quinoa under cool running water using a fine mesh seive.

Adjust the spices to your taste. If using broth you may like it as is, if using water you may like to add more.

This can also be made in the crock pot/slow cooker, add all the ingredients, cover with the vegetable broth and cook on medium or medium-low for 4 hours.

Miso Noodle Soup with Mixed Vegetables and Paneer

Asian and Indian flavors come together here for one nourishing and stunning bowl of soup. White shiro miso nestles up with tender plump golden brown cubes of fried paneer cheese and loads of vegetables — snap peas, mushrooms, bean sprouts, red pepper, corn and kale. To fill it out even further, rice noodles make an appearance for an extra creamy bowl of bliss. My husband asked if I used coconut milk here, but it wasn't even necessary, as much as I adore adding coconut to soups and grains.

Miso adds a uniquely earthy and salty flavor to soup stocks, and it's an easy way to add plenty of protein to your soups as well. This is also a great soup for using just about any combination of vegetables you might have on hand.

Notes: I used two ears of fresh corn for this recipe. I roasted the corn in their husks directly on the middle oven rack for 30 minutes at 375°. When cool, remove the husks and shave the corn off the cob with a sharp knife. Roasting the corn helps bring out its natural sweetness. Frozen corn can also be used here — simply thaw it before adding it to the soup.

If you want to keep it vegan, fried tofu could be used in place of the paneer.

Miso Noodle Soup with Mixed Vegetables and Paneer

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Asian Published on October 20, 2014 Creamy, flavorful miso noodle soup loaded with nourishing vegetables and fried pieces of paneer cheese Print this recipe Ingredients: 5 tablespoons sesame oil 12 oz (350 g) paneer cheese, cut into cubes 3 scallions, white parts, sliced 1-inch piece ginger, minced 1 large clove garlic, minced 2 red chilies, seeded and minced 1/2 oz (14 g) dried mixed mushrooms 4 tablespoons white (shiro) miso 3 1/2 tablespoons tamari (soy) sauce 5 to 6 cups vegetable stock or water a few handfuls of snap peas, trimmed and halved 4 button mushrooms, chopped a few handfuls of bean sprouts 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 2 ears corn, roasted (1 1/2 cups frozen and defrosted) 2 cups fresh kale, trimmed and chopped 1 1 /2 cups dried rice noodles Instructions: Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the paneer cubes and fry, turning occasionally, until browned on both sides. Remove and transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to soak up any excess oil. Meanwhile, soak the dried mushrooms in 2 cups of hot water for 30 minutes. Drain, reserving the soaking water. Roughly chop the mushrooms and stir the miso and tamari into the soaking water. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the scallions, ginger and garlic, and stir for a few minutes to soften. Add the chilies and fry for another minute. Now pour in the miso mixture and vegetable stock or water and bring to a boil. Stir in the peas, fresh and dried mushrooms, bean sprouts, red pepper and corn. Add the kale a few handfuls at a time until it begins to wilt. Stir in the rice noodles and cook, stirring often, until the noodles are tender. Stir in the paneer cubes, reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes longer. Serve hot. Drizzle some hot sauce or sriracha over each serving if desired. Makes 6 servings

This is my contribution to No Croutons Required, a monthly event alternately hosted by Jacqueline and myself. Jac is hosting this month.

Other miso based soups to enjoy from Lisa's Kitchen:
Miso Soup with Wild Mushrooms
Mushroom, Miso and Seaweed Soup
Miso Vegetable Soup

On the top of the reading stack: My Past and Thoughts - The Memoirs of Alexander Herzen

Audio Accompaniment: morning silence, while it lasts

Pinto and Green Bean Fry with Millet

In my opinion, millet is an under-appreciated grain. Lately, I have been guilty of neglecting this nutty-tasting grain that resembles couscous but is packed with more nutrients and flavor. Here it comes together in a simple and zesty Mexican-style stir-fry that is well-balanced with the addition of pinto beans, crunchy green beans and sweet corn.

You may also consider using quinoa in place of the millet though I found the texture of the cooked millet worked quite well in this dish. The spicing and technique could be used for any combination of vegetables and grains that one fancies to serve as a substantial side.

Pinto and Green Bean Fry with Millet

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Mexican Published on May 30, 2014 Simple, zesty and hearty chili-seasoned pinto bean, green bean, corn and millet stir-fry Print this recipe Ingredients: 1/3 cup dried pinto beans (1 cup cooked) 1/3 cup millet 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 to 4 green onions, trimmed and thinly sliced 1 clove garlic, minced or crushed 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup corn, fresh or frozen 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 large tomato, finely chopped 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste fresh ground black pepper Instructions: Rinse the pinto beans and soak in enough water to cover for 8 hours or overnight. At the same time, rinse the millet and soak in 2/3 cup of water. Drain the pinto beans and rinse. Transfer to a medium saucepan and cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender — about 1 hour. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, bring the millet to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the water is absorbed — about 15 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes and then fluff with a fork. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the green onions, garlic and jalapeños, and stir for a minute. Add the green beans and stir for 4 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the corn, stir for another few minutes, then add the spices and stir to coat the vegetables. Now add the tomatoes to the pan and simmer for a few minutes until the tomato is softened. Stir in the pinto beans and millet and cook for another few minutes until the tomatoes are thickened and everything is heated throughout. Stir often. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot or warm. Makes 4 to 5 servings

More millet recipes you may enjoy:
Northeast African Millet Patties
Spicy Curried Millet and Vegetable Soup
Indian-Style Millet

On the top of the reading stack: stacks of recipes

Audio Accompaniment: Nicolas Bacher

Black-Eyed Peas Simmered in a Spicy Tomato Sauce with Corn

Black-eyed peas are often the legume I go to when I want an easy weeknight meal solution employing staples that I am likely to have on hand. This was another winning dish that went well with a bed of steaming hot buttered basmati rice. The sweet corn adds a nice textural and flavor contrast to the earthy black-eyed peas. The curried tomato base brings the whole dish together in one great big group hug.

Black-Eyed Peas Simmered in a Spicy Tomato Sauce with Corn

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Indian Published on January 20, 2014 Sweet corn and earthy black-eyed peas simmered in a simple and zesty curried tomato sauce Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 cup dried black-eyed peas (3 cups cooked or 2 14 oz cans) 2 tablespoons sesame oil 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon ajwain seeds (optional) 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1-inch piece ginger, grated or finely chopped 2 to 3 fresh chilies, seeded and finely chopped 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon amchoor powder (optional) 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pinch of asafetida (optional) 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped 1 1/2 cups corn, fresh or frozen 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, to taste 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (methi), crumbled 1/2 teaspoon garam masala Instructions: Rinse the black-eyed peas and soak in several inches of water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse, then transfer to a large saucepan. Cover with fresh water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender — about 40 minutes. Drain and set aside. Wipe the saucepan dry and add the oil. Heat over medium heat. When hot, toss in the cumin and ajwain seeds if using. Stir for a few minutes until the cumin seeds darken a few shades. Add the onion to the pan and stir for another 5 minutes or until the onion is softened. Add the ginger and chilies to the pan, and stir for another few minutes. Now add the turmeric, ground coriander, chili powder, amchoor if using, cayenne and asafetida if using, and stir for another minute. Add the tomatoes and simmer until they break down and thicken into a fairly thick sauce, stirring often — about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the black-eyed peas and continue to let the sauce simmer for a few minutes. Now add the corn and simmer until the corn is just tender, adding a little water as necessary to achieve your desired consistency. Stir in the salt, fenugreek leaves and garam masala and cover. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Makes 4 to 6 servings

More black-eyed pea recipes from Lisa's Kitchen:
Black-Eyed Pea Sambar
Black-Eyed Pea Tomato Curry
Black-Eyed Peas in an Indian Curried Soup
Savory Black-Eyed Pea Pancakes (Poora)

On the top of the reading stack: Naturally Sweet & Gluten-Free by Ricki Heller

Audio Accompaniment: Jan Jelinek

Quinoa & White Bean Veggie Burger

It's burger time...

I haven't done a veggie burger in almost a year. It was time to add a new one to the list and this one is as delicious as it gets. These patties are loaded with protein and fiber as well as other beneficial nutrients, and they are very filling. As far as veggie burgers go this is fairly easy. I have to admit that I'm a pretty lazy cook and don't like a lot of steps. I prefer to spend as little time as possible preparing a meal as well as cleaning it up. Fyi, you can make this recipe even simpler by using a pre-made flour instead of processing oats like I did. The patties came out fantastic and held up great without falling apart, and they were not dry at all, nor were they mushy. The texture, taste and visual appeal all hit the mark. Once layered with all the extra goodies this burger was supreme and the best veggie burger I've ever had...am I biased...maybe, but these were divine! And, if you don't feel like having it on a bun, by all means top your veggie burger on a bed of fresh leafy greens with a squeeze of lemon, some avocado, salt and pepper...so good just like that! 

I loaded this beauty up with leafy greens, slice of heirloom tomato, sliced red onion, whole grain mustard, mashed avocado and a nice drizzle of sriracha. Lot's of flavors going on and I loved it. As the saying goes, "Eat like you mean it!" 

And now for the money shot! Having fun with my iphone and the VSCO Cam app (it's free), managed to create this final mouthwatering picture...veggie love at first sight!

Quinoa & White Bean Veggie Burger

Ingredients (makes four patties)

• 1/2 cup quinoa (I used tri-color)
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 teaspoons thyme, divided (oregano would be good too)
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, optional
• 1 can (15 oz.) white beans (I used cannellini), drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup corn, fresh or frozen (about 1/2 fresh corn off the cob)
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced (about 1/2 bell pepper)
• 1/2 cup shallot, finely diced (about 1 medium) or red onion
• juice of one lemon
• 1/3 cup oat flour, or flour of choice 
• 1 Ener-G egg replacer or 1 flax egg (1 Tbs flaxseed meal + 3 Tbs water), optional*
• mineral salt & cracked pepper, to taste
• coconut or olive oil, to grease

To Serve:

• tomato, sliced
• leafy greens
• avocado, sliced or mashed
• red onion, sliced
• whole grain or dijon mustard (hummus or vegan mayo is great too)
• sriracha or Sriracha Cashew Cream (use the sriracha cream in place of mustard)
• burger buns of choice

Start by making your flax egg or ener-g egg replacer and set aside. If baking in the oven, turn oven to 375 degrees F. (It's helpful to read instructions first before making the patties)  

In a medium pot, bring water, quinoa, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon thyme to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Once done, remove cover and let set for 10 minutes.

While quinoa is cooking, prepare your corn, shallot and red pepper. Be sure to dice your onion and red pepper fairly fine, they should be about the same size as the corn kernels.

Next, mash your beans. I mashed about 3/4 of the beans leaving a quarter of the batch whole or somewhat whole.

Once quinoa is ready, add the quinoa to the beans along with the shallots, red pepper, corn, remaining 2 teaspoons thyme, smoked paprika and optional chipotle powder and lemon juice. Mix well. Add in the flour and egg replacer, mix well again. Season to taste with salt, pepper and more of the other spices. We all vary on how strong we like our spices...you can't take out but you can always put in.

Now to divide and make your patties. I like to pat my mixture into the bowl a little and divide it with a knife into 4 sections, making a plus sign if you will. Take each section and pack it tightly into a ball in the palm of your hands. It should be about the size of your hand. Flatten with your palms and place on hard surface. Cup the edges with your palms and tighten them in a bit and flatten the top to the desired size. Mine were about 1/2 inch thick by 3 1/2 - 4 inches.

Cook one of two ways:

In the oven at 375 degrees on a greased or parchment lined cookie sheet for 30 minutes, turning once after 15 minutes. I also added a sprinkle of himalayan salt to the top before baking.

OR

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil over medium to medium high heat. Cook patties about 4 - 5 minutes on each side.

I cooked both ways and had no preference. They both held up well and cooked great. (pic shows skillet cooked)

Serve on bun or bed of leafy greens with choice of toppings!

Notes:

The patties can be made ahead of time and stored covered in the refrigerator for a couple days prior to cooking.

*I have a sneaky feeling that this can be made without the use of any egg replacer if you don't have it available. I have it here for good measure until I try without (in the comments you will see that it has been done). If you decide not to use an egg replacer, when adding the flour, just try adding two - three tablespoons of water instead if needed...the amount may depend on the flour you're using.

For mashed avocado, cut open avocado, remove seed and using a fork, mash the flesh right in the skin...it's like a bowl. Spread on bun for a great creamy condiment!

I hope this makes you want to get in the kitchen and cook.
I encourage you to make these soon and often...

Enjoy!

Cowboy Caviar Quinoa Salad

I love quinoa salads and this version is as simple as can be. It's full of protein, fiber and many other nutrients to keep you feeling at your best. I hope you all have come to love quinoa and can find it at a reasonable price. I happen to see it today in the store for $12 a pound and was stunned. I buy mine from a bulk bin for just under $4 a pound at my local health conscious store. If you can't find it for a decent price in your local stores, check online for the best possible prices and have it delivered to you. I have had great success with Vitacost.com, they have decent prices and ship fast! For a reasonably priced fair trade quinoa that ranges from $6 to $10 a pouch (depending on the color), check Alter Eco. They also have other fair trade items. Also, be sure to tell your grocery store manager to carry these items in the future. Quinoa is such a versatile grain, is full of protein and fiber and should be a staple in your healthy kitchen. 

Ok, back to this cowboy caviar. Usually cowboy caviar is made without quinoa and is served as a dip of sorts along with tortilla chips to scoop. Here we are going to serve it along with some scooping leafy greens making this a super healthy meal or snack. This salad has just the right amount of flavor and I know you will enjoy it as much as I have. It's also a one pot meal making it an easy dish to put together. You can find the inspiration for this recipe here. 

I love not using spoons or forks with this but of course depending on the style of lettuce you choose you may need a little help from your utensils. The endive worked like a charm for scooping up this salad all the way to the end. You can also try romaine, radicchio, bibb lettuce. It's makes for extra freshness to this dish...a perfect match!

Cowboy Caviar Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried quinoa
• 1 3/4 cup water
• 1 can (15oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 fresh corn off the cob (I used a white corn)
• 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 avocado, diced
• cilantro, chopped and added to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin, or to taste
• himalayan salt, to taste
• cracked pepper, to taste
• 2-3 limes
• scooping greens like endive, romaine or bibb lettuce

In a medium size pot, add water and quinoa, bring to boil over medium high heat, reduce to a simmer and cover, cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, remove lid and let set for 10 minutes.

While your quinoa is cooking, prepare your veggies. Once quinoa is done, add the black beans, corn, red bell pepper and onion. Season to taste with cumin, salt and pepper. Add the juice of one or two limes. Just before serving add in the diced avocado and chopped cilantro.

Serve with lime wedges and scooping leafy greens. Serves four.

As with all my recipes, add more or less of any ingredient to suit your tastes...

Enjoy!

Street Tacos + Spanish Fried Quinoa & Black Bean Salad

We have a full meal here, quite a bit going on and all so worth it. Funny how things work, part of this recipe came to be while I was at the gym. I was already planning on making the taco's and quinoa afterwards. And what do you know was on TV...it was Taco Nite on the cooking channel which inspired the black bean salad! They showed that as a veggie taco filler and so I have it here because it's so simple and pairs nicely with the quinoa. As a matter of fact, combined together the quinoa and black bean salad make a great 'Spanish Black Bean Quinoa Salad' to be used for leftovers!

The simple taco filling is pretty fantastic. We're using walnuts, mushrooms and a few spices to create a nut filling. If this is new to you, I think you are going to enjoy this recipe and will make it again and again. For the Mexican flavors use spices like cumin, chili powder, cayenne, coriander, paprika, cilantro and/or lime. You can also use this nut meat in burritos or on top of a taco salad. Or mix up the spices for an Italian flair using oregano, basil, marjoram, sun dried tomatoes, sage, thyme or rosemary and use it in lasagna or on top of spaghetti. 

The thing I really love about all of these recipes together is that you can mix and match everything to your liking making tacos out of it all. I've also included the option of using lettuce leaves instead of corn tortilla's. Both ways are fantastic!

Maybe you'll prefer your tacos on the fresh side! These raw tacos are so delicious and refreshing. If you've never tried them I urge you to pick up some butter, romaine or other leafy lettuce and give this a try....you will not be disappointed. You may also opt to have your nut meat served at room temperature instead of warmed if you like. You could also double up on the leaves. If your interested in the nut meats, I also have a Rawsome Taco Salad w/ Lime Cilantro 'Sour Cream' that you may like to try as well. The Lime Cilantro Cashew 'Sour Cream' would be great along side this recipe as would this basic Cashew Sour Cream.

The traditional corn tortillas warmed on the griddle or warm skillet will envelope all the goodies you put into your street taco. So simple, healthy and delicious! 

Don't forget the Tapatio! Really sets the tacos off nicely, even the lettuce wrapped ones.

Now let's get cooking and eat...

Street Tacos, Spanish Fried Quinoa & Black Bean Salad

Ingredients (serves 3)

Tacos

• corn tortillas (2 per person)
• butter, romaine or other leafy green lettuce leaves for raw taco wrap, optional
• cilantro
• lime wedges
• pico de gallo
• avocado slices
• tapatio

Nut Meat for Tacos

• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup mushrooms (I used baby bellas)
• 1 tablespoon tamari, soy sauce 
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Pico de Gallo

• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
• cilantro, chopped
• juice of 1 lime
• himalayan salt to taste

Spanish Fried Quinoa

• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive or sesame oil
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce or about 3/4 cup 
• 1 cup water or veggie broth (liquid total between water and tomato sauce should be 1 3/4 cup, at most)
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 orange bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeno, seeded & diced
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon chili powder, optional
• himalayan salt to taste
• cilantro, chopped
• (use any veggies you want in place of bell peppers...ie, peas, chopped carrots, chopped tomatoes, etc)

Black Bean Salad

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 2 corn off the cob, grilled (optional) or 1 can corn, drained or 1 cup frozen, thawed
• 1/2 teaspoon or so cumin
• himalayan salt to taste
• juice of 1 lime
• cilantro, to taste

First start with the corn, if roasting. I used my griddle on high and it took about 50 minutes with turning every so often to get the nice roasted look. Fresh corn right of the cob would be great too, it's sweet and tasty without  needing to be cooked. Roasting is optional. 

Onto the Spanish fried quinoa. In medium size pan or skillet, heat oil over medium high heat, add onion and cook for two minutes, add quinoa and cook another five minutes or so stirring frequently until quinoa starts to get toasty and turn slightly golden. Add water, tomato sauce, bell pepper or veggies of choice, jalapeno, garlic powder, chili powder and salt, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. When done, remove cover, stir in some chopped cilantro to taste, and let set for 15 minutes to absorb the rest of the liquids. Taste for seasonings before serving.

Next, put together the pico de gallo. Chop and dice your ingredients, combine everything in a small bowl with lime juice and salt to taste. Set aside to let the flavors mingle. 

Now onto the black bean salad. In a medium size bowl, combine all the ingredients, taste for seasoning adding anything extra you might like. 

Start the nut meat. Place all ingredients in food processor/blender and pulse until you have chunky crumbles. Don't over process or you will have a nut mushroom pate...which wouldn't be so bad but we want a crumbly effect here. :) This is optional but in a small sauce pan, heat the nut meat on low just until warm. You don't want to over heat or the mushrooms will cook too much, we just want it slightly warm. I find both ways, warm and room temp, to be just as appealing. 

Warm your tortillas on the griddle or skillet for 30 seconds per side. 

Finally, put your plates and tacos together as you wish! You may find that you end up combining the black bean salsa with the spanish fried quinoa. You may also find yourself making tacos out of both of those side dishes as well. However you craft your plate....

Enjoy! 

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Raw Veggie Chili with Taco Nut Meat

This is a welcome meal after all the Thanksgiving festivities. Nothing like adding a raw meal into the mix and this was superb! I have to hand it to Ani Phyo for not being afraid to use spices, this packs great flavor with fresh produce to create a raw chili that I absolutely adore and am craving already. Adapted from this recipe 'Fresh Tomato Chili with Taco Nut Meat'. I will definitely be adding this to my to go lunches as well as my at home meals. Feel free to add/subtract any vegetable you wish. Get in as many as you can to really make this a well rounded garden chili recipe. Use as much or as little as you like of each ingredient. This could've really used a dollop of raw Sour Cream or this flavorful Lime Cilantro Cashew 'Sour Cream', it would've added that final touch.

Mine didn't seem to come out with as much soupyness as Ani's photo shows. But never the less, this is so very fresh, hearty and delicious...simply great! Be sure to take a peek at her photo to see what I mean. You can find it here, just scroll down a bit. She also has other recipes you may be interested in. Her focus in on raw food only.

Dice up your vegetables and fresh oregano (if using fresh)...

Combine with seasoning, I also added in some cilantro as an after thought...

Using a food processor, puree half of the mixture... 

Bring back pureed vegetables to diced vegetables and combine. Then, onto your nut meat...

Add nut meat ingredients to food processor and pulse just until crumbly...

Fairly simple...just slicing, dicing, pureeing and pulsing. So fresh and good. I always feel the best after eating meals like this! Don't forget to add some raw Sour Cream or Lime Cilantro Cashew 'Sour Cream' on top for even more added deliciousness, or simply add some avocado slices to round it out even more.

Raw Veggie Chili with Taco Nut Meat

Vegetable Chili

• 3 cups tomatoes (I used roma and grape)
• 1 small red bell pepper (orange would be great too), diced
• 1 large celery stalk, diced
• 1/2 yellow or red onion, diced
• 1 small zucchini, diced
• 1 corn off the cob
• 1 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
• cilantro (as much as you like), chopped
• 1 - 2 teaspoon chili powder, to taste
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon oregano, fresh or dried
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, to taste

Prepare vegetables and combine all ingredients in large size bowl. Place 1/2 or so of the mix into a food processor and blend until pureed. Return puree to diced vegetables and toss well.


Nut Meat

• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons coriander
• 1 teaspoon tamari, bragg's or nama shoyu, or 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, to taste

Place all ingredients into food processor and pulse until crumbly. You don't want to over blend or it will be a paste.

To serve, place vegetable chili in bowls and top with nut meat adding any additional garnishes you like. Serves four, or two generously. Store left overs, if there is any, in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Chili will last for five to six days. Nut meat will last up to two to three days, depending on the freshness of the mushrooms. Before eating let sit at room temp as it tastes best this way.

Enjoy the freshness!