BRIGHT GREEN PEA & COCONUT SOUP

It’s beginning to be that dreary time of Winter where it feels like the beginning of the end.  After getting back from LA over the holidays, I arrived to 20-something degree weather, and the last few days couldn't have been more dreary.  It’s easy to feel like spending all day on the couch or eating a banana for dinner is not out of the realm of possibilities.  I’m fighting my “dreary” feelings by blasting myself with brightness, in food more than feelings, but I’m working on both.

This soup, from Anna Jones’ new book, is a fresh and vibrant recipe that is remarkably flavorful despite its few ingredients. I doctored it up just barely, but it was exactly what I needed.  It uses those frozen peas I always have in my fridge, and made me feel a little more “awake” after eating it.  Bright foods for fighting seasonal depression ? I’ll take it. 

Bright Green Pea & Coconut Soup (Gluten-free, Vegan) Serves 4-6

*Adapted from A Modern Way to Cook

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 bunch of green scallions, chopped (green and white parts)
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 2lbs. frozen green peas
• 1 (15oz.) can of coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon white or yellow miso
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (stems, too!)
• 1 bunch of fresh basil, roughly chopped (stems, too)
• 1 lemon
• Extra virgin olive oil, to serve
• Freshly ground pepper, to serve
• Microgreens, to serve (opt.)

In a large saucepan, heat coconut oil over medium high heat.  Once pan is hot, add scallions, shallots and celery. Cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes or until ingredients have softened.

Then, add frozen peas, coconut milk, miso, salt and 3 cups of filtered water.  Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat.  Stir in all herbs and the zest + juice of 1 lemon.  Transfer mixture to vitamix/blender and puree until smooth.  (*If you have an immersion blender, use it here and dirty one less dish.)  Once soup is smooth, divide amongst bowls.  Top with freshly ground pepper, micro greens and a drizzle of olive oil. 

SAVORY TOMATO & PARMESAN CRUMBLE

It’s just beginning to feel real Wintry here in NYC.  It happens that way each year, where one day, it just gets cold and we begin to hunker down for the Winter ahead.  We roast squash and make soup and need to wear socks to bed.  It’s a new season and we learn how to submit to it.

In terms of cooking, the warmer and heartier the better. I’ve been making soups like crazy and roasting a whole kabocha squash each week.  Some people feel daunted by the produce limitations, but I’ve learned some things over the years to help inspire cold-weather cooking.  Besides beans, lentils, etc, I always have preserved tomatoes on hand: canned, chopped, fire-roasted or whatever you like.  It’s the simplest thing to keep around that can make cold, Winter nights a little better.  I use them in soups, make a quick tomato sauce, a savory braise - the options are endless.  We may not have fresh tomatoes, but we wouldn’t want to eat them this time of year anyway.  It’s time for baking, braising, roasting - all the warm things in life.

Savory Tomato & Parmesan Crumble (Gluten-free) Serves 8

-This recipe, at its base, is a simple crumble.  I used romesco and cannellinni beans, but you could use any veggies or herbs you have on hand and need to get rid of! A few notes, too: you can use all cornmeal instead of cornmeal/corn flour to keep it simple.

FILLING:

• 26 oz. Pomi Chopped Tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 lemon, juice and zest
• 2 teaspoon tamari
• 2 teaspoons sumac
• 2 teaspoon sea salt
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 small romanesco, chopped into about 1 inch pieces
• 1 (15 oz.) can of cannellinni beans, drained 
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large shallot, diced
• 1/3 cup basil, sliced thin or chiffonade
• 4 sprigs thyme
• 4 sprigs marjoram

TOPPING:

• 1 1/4 cup gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1/4 cup cornmeal 
• 1/4 cup corn flour
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 5 sprigs thyme leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk chopped tomatoes together with cornstarch, lemon juice + zest, tamarin, sumac, salt and red pepper flakes.  Then, stir in romesco, beans, garlic, shallot and herbs until well combined.  Add to 9x9 or similar sized baking dish and set aside.

In another mixing bowl, stir together oats, almond meal, cornmeal and flour, parmesan, thyme and salt.  Mix until well combined, then add chilled butter cubes,  Using your hands, work together dough - breaking down butter - until mixture looks and feels like oatmeal cookie dough.  Add olive oil, and mix in well with your hands, making sure to get all the flour bits at the bottom.

Add crumble evenly over top tomato filling.  Bake for exactly 30 minutes or until tomato is bubbling up around the sides and topping is golden browned.  Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

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RED CABBAGE & FENNEL SLAW WITH TOASTED PISTACHIOS & TANGY MUSTARD DRESSING

For a long time I didn’t know how to explain my sensibility with food.  I always loved to cook, but I never considered myself a “food person” until my health issues began.  From then on, I was on a rather dismal quest to find things that didn’t make me ill.  I tried a million diets which kept me constantly trying new vegetables, weird ingredients - looking for the few things in the market that were “free” of all the things I needed.  My love for food didn’t start from a rich family or cultural history, but as a result of chronic pain.  Limitation has always been my menu.

Although I’ve had periods of “indulgence” - wanting to cook / eat / bake everything I never had (or could eat) - I always come back to a sensibility that can only be described as Californian (where I’m from).  I relate to avocado, to any kind of sprout, and basically anything that can be described as “1970’s Topanga Canyon vegetarian”.  I would self describe it as hippie food with a bit of culinary curiosity.  

And it’s what I always come back to that helped me understand who I was.  I’ve been having some stomach issues lately that have left me craving comfort.  What I seem to grab in these occasions, when I’m looking for something healing rather than “good”, is always something simple in a bowl. It could be some vegetables, a grain, maybe some avocado.  Usually arugula (my favorite green, especially when my digestion is off).  It’s my own version of comfort food; simple meals that feel like “home”.

California Red Cabbage & Fennel Slaw (gluten-free, vegan) serves 4

• 4 cups shredded red cabbage
• 1 cup sliced fennel, thin on mandolin
• 3-4 radishes, sliced thin on mandolin
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup sliced chives
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/3 cup pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped
• Fennel fronds, to serve

dressing:

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 lemon, juice
• About 1/4 cup olive oil
• Sea salt, to taste
• Freshly ground pepper

In a large bowl, mix together cabbage, fennel, radishes and all herbs.  Squeeze over the juice of one lemon and toss to combine.  Set aside.    

To toast pistachios, add to a skillet and toast over medium heat until browned or add to a baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees until browned and smelling nutty (about 10-12 minutes).

To make the dressing, whisk together all ingredients until emulsified (until it’s a thick, cohesive dressing).  

Add the dressing to the bowl of "slaw" and toss together until well combined.  Season with flaky sea salt, freshly ground pepper and top with pistachios and fennel fronds  Optional toppings: baked tofu, avocado or sprouts ;)

*For simple baked tofu, I add 1 inch slabs to a foil-lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and tamari. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, flip and bake another 15-20 or until browned and tender.  Season with sea salt  & freshly cracked pepper.