Napa Cabbage and Tofu Salad with Sesame Dressing

(recipe from Food & Wine magazine)

Dressing:
1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger
1 large garlic clove, coarsely chopped
1/2 large jalapeño, seeded and chopped
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. tahini
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil (I used flax oil)
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. light brown sugar (I used honey)
3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp. chopped mint
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Salad:
1 lb. soft tofu, drained and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cups finely shredded Napa cabbage (about 1/2 large head)
2 cups spinach leaves, finely shredded
1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
1 medium kohlrabi or small jicama, peeled and cut into matchsticks
5 large radishes, cut into matchsticks
1 large carrot, shaved into thin curls with a vegetable peeler (or matchsticks)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp. black sesame seeds or toasted white sesame seeds, for garnish

Make the dressing: Combine all of the ingredients except for the cilantro and mint in a mini food processor and puree until smooth.  (I pureed the cilantro and mint too.)  Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cilantro and mint.  Season with salt and pepper.

Make the salad:  Bring a medium saucepan of water to a gentle simmer.  Add salt.  Put half of the tofu in a small strainer and ease it into the water.  Simmer over moderate heat for 2 minutes, then transfer to paper towels to drain.  Repeat with the remaining tofu.

In a large bowl, toss the cabbage, spinach, red cabbage, kohlrabi, radishes, carrot, and tofu.  Season with salt and pepper.  Spoon the dressing over the salad and garnish with sesame seeds.

Winter Ruby Salad with Pomegranate Dressing

2 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage
2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
2 cups thinly sliced arugula
1 cup seeded and chopped small sweet salad peppers (I used 1/2 cup red bell pepper, 1/2 cup peppadews)
1 cup thinly sliced basil
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1 red grapefruit, peeled, sectioned, and chopped
2/3 cup Pomegranate Dressing (below) (I only used 1/3 cup)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss gently.  Let stand 10 minutes and serve.

Pomegranate Dressing
1/3 cup avocado oil (I used olive oil)
1 shallot, minced
1/3 cup pomegranate juice (I used orange juice)
1 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. sea salt

Combine all ingredients and whisk well to emulsify.  Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.  Makes about 2/3 cup.

(Such amazing flavor!  Refreshing and delightful.)

Grilled Winter Squash with Millet Pilaf and Coconut Chutney Sauce

(recipe from The Vegan Gourmet by Susann Geiskopf-Hadler & Mindy Toomay)

1/2 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup prepared mango chutney
1 Tbsp. fresh-squeezed lime juice
2/3 cup uncooked millet
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
2 medium acorn or delicata squashes (about 1 lb. each)
4 tsp. coconut oil
1 small yellow onion, diced small
1 small carrot, diced small
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. mustard seeds, crushed
1 tsp. cumin seeds, crushed
1 tsp. fennel seeds, crushed
4 cups loosely packed, finely chopped napa cabbage
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne

To make the sauce, combine the coconut milk, chutney, and lime juice in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.  Set aside at room temerature so the flavors can blend.  Preheat a coal or gas grill to medium-high.

Rinse and drain the millet and toast it in a dry, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Meanwhile, bring the stock to a boil in a saucepan.  Add the toasted millet to the hot stock.  Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer 25 minutes.  Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit with lid undisturbed until you are ready for the millet.

Meanwhile, cut the squashes in half lengthwise.  Do not peel them.  Scrape out and discard the seeds.  Slice each half into 1-inch wedges.  Use 2 tsp. of the oil to lightly coat both sides of each squash wedge.  Place the squash on the hot grill and cook about 3-4 minutes per side, turning once.  Squash should be quite tender but not falling apart.

Heat the remaining 2 tsp. of oil over medium heat in a sauté pan or skillet.  Add the onion, carrot, and garlic, along with the mustard, cumin, and fennel seeds.  Sauté, stirring frequently, 5 minutes.  Add the cabbage, salt, and cayenne and sauté 5 minutes longer, until cabbage is wilted.  Gently, but thoroughly, combine the sautéed vegetables with the hot cooked millet.

Mound the hot pilaf onto individual serving plates.  Arrange grilled squash wedges alongside each portion of pilaf.  Spoon the sauce generously over the squash and serve immediately.

(I just baked my squash instead of grilling.  I also just mixed everything together to take for lunches - would recommend cutting squash into a smaller dice to serve in this way.  Be careful of the chutney you buy: some are super sugary!  All in all, this had a nice and interesting flavor.)

Broccoli, Cucumber & Napa Slaw with Coconut Lemongrass Dressing

(recipe from Clean Eating magazine)

1 English cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, and seeded, thinly sliced (or julienned)
2 1/2 cups thinly sliced napa cabbage
2 cups broccoli florets, plus stems (trim and quarter florets; peel and cut stems into matchsticks)
1 tsp. coconut oil
4 green onions, sliced, whites and greens divided (reserve greens for slaw)
1/4 cup finely minced lemongrass
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
5 Tbsp. coconut milk
1 Tbsp. brown rice vinegar
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper

Prepare dressing:  In a small saute pan on medium-low heat, melt oil.  Add whites of onion and lemongrass and cook until just softened and fragrant, 1 minute.  Add garlic and stir for 1 minute, until fragrant.  Let cool for 5 minutes.  Transfer to a blender.  Add remaining dressing ingredients and puree until smooth.  Refrigerate while preparing vegetables.

Prepare slaw:  To a large bowl, add cucumber, cabbage, and broccoli.  Pour in dressing and toss to combine.  Toss in greens of onions and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Savoy Cabbage, Radicchio, and Apple Slaw

(recipe from Energy Times magazine)

1/2 head savoy cabbage, finely shredded (I used Napa cabbage)
1/2 head radicchio, finely shredded
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, cut into 1" pieces (I cut mine into thin strips)
1 tsp. rice vinegar
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Put the cabbage, radicchio, onion, and apple in a large bowl and toss together.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and orange juice.  Add the mayonnaise, and salt and pepper to taste, and whisk until well combined.  Pour over the cabbage mixture and toss until well coated.

Taste, adjust the seasonings, if necessary, and serve.  The slaw will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a day.

(So simple and tasty!  I found the slaw kept for a few days in the fridge.)

Braised Napa Cabbage and Shiitakes

(recipe from Organic Style magazine)

12 small dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked, then halved
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced
24 leaves napa cabbage, halved length-wise and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 scallions, trimmed, cut into 1-inch-long pieces, then julienned
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
salt and freshly ground pepper

Put shiitakes in a bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside until soft, about 30 minutes.  (Cover bowl to keep water hot.)  Drain; remove and discard stems.

Heat oil in a large pan or a wok over medium heat.  Stir-fry garlic until golden, 3 to 5 minutes.  Add shiitakes, cabbage, scallions, soy sauce, and sesame oil.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Reduce heat to low, cover, and braise until cabbage is tender, about 20 minutes.

(I used fresh shiitakes, just sliced and added, so skipped the first step of the recipe.  I also didn't count out leaves of cabbage, just used one small head.  This is simple, but tasty!  The slow braising creates a slightly soupy dish, which tasted a bit like a bowl of ramen.  I've been cutting out grains, so, alas!, haven't eaten a noodle in a while - I may be exaggerating.  Anyway, a nice variation on cabbage.)

Vietnamese Salad

(recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow's blog, GOOP)

Dressing:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 tsp. soy sauce
1/4 cup fish sauce (I left this out)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. agave nectar
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. minced ginger
2 Tbsp. finely diced red onion or shallot

Mix everything together.

Salad:
4 large bok choy leaves, rough bottoms discarded, stems cut into 1/4" bias and leaves shredded
4 big Napa cabbage leaves, shredded
1 bunch watercress, thick stems discarded, roughly chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks
the leaves from about 8 stems each basil, mint, cilantro, roughly chopped
1/2 small cucumber, thinly sliced on the bias
1 red Thai chili (or more... or less), thinly sliced
1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts, roughly chopped (I also used walnuts to good success)
grilled fish, shrimp, tuna, chicken, or tofu for serving (optional) (I used tempeh)

Toss the bok choy, cabbage, watercress, carrot, herbs, cucumber, chili, and 1/4 cup of the peanuts together with enough dressing to coat.  Serve sprinkled with the remaining peanuts and whatever protein you like.

(This is my new favorite salad.  So good!  Amazing flavor.)