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VeganVegetarian

Meatless Monday – Avocado Pesto with Peas & Gemelli Pasta

Happy Meatless Monday! Today I was craving something rich & decadent, but I didn’t want something heavy that I had to feel guilty about later. ?This pasta hit the spot.  The avocado with it’s creamy texture really tastes and feels like cream, and the lemon adds that tangy note which somehow makes you forget there is no cheese in here. Be sure to use fresh basil, lemon, and nice ripe avocado for this – and be generous when salting your pasta water. Comes together super quick & easy. Although this is best eaten immediately, I store leftovers in the fridge and eat it as a cold creamy pasta salad. Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 cups Gemelli pasta
1 cup fresh avocado
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves, rinsed and dried
2 tablespoons dry toasted pine nuts (I got mine at Trader Joes)
1 clove garlic
4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup frozen peas
Salt & black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in well salted water. Drain and set aside in a large bowl.
2. In a small saucepan cook peas according to package directions – do not overcook. (My peas were ready in 4 minutes-package said 8 minutes, so keep an eye on them.) You want them just tender, not mushy. Drain and rinse with cold water in a colander – set aside.
3. In the meantime place avocado, basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil in food processor. Process until smooth and creamy.
4. Place avocado pesto and peas in the large bowl with the pasta. Stir until combined.
5. Serve immediately.
6. Enjoy!

   

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. ?
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IndianVeganVegetarian

Meatless Monday – Cabbage with Black Cumin Seeds and Golden Raisins

This is one of those super quick and delicious ways to prepare cabbage.
Love this served over a bed of brown rice, or with lentils on the side. Spices are mild, just enough to give a boost of flavor. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Ghee
1/4 teaspoon black cumin seeds
1/4 of a serrano chili pepper deseeded (optional)
1 10oz bag shredded cabbage (I got mine at Trader Joe’s)
1/2 teaspoon ginger, grated with a microplane
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Salt to taste
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

Instructions

1. In a large skillet heat ghee over medium heat.
2. Add cumin seeds, chili, cabbage, and ginger. Stir.
3. Add raisins, turmeric, and salt to taste. Cook 2 minutes.
4. Add cilantro, stir.
5. Cook one minute, stirring occasionally.
6. Serve and enjoy!

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. ?

   

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SaladsVeganVegetarian

Meatless Monday – Fall Salad with Orange-Maple dressing

Happy Fall y’all! This salad is making it’s way to our table at least once a week. The addition of maple syrup to the orange dressing gives it a wonderful sweetness, richness, and depth. The salad is fresh and crisp and makes good use of what’s in season at this time of year. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the dressing:
2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of vinegar (apple cider or Trader Joe’s Gourmet Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar)
2 heaped tablespoons of frozen orange juice concentrate
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Squirt of yellow mustard
Dash of garlic powder, or one small clove of fresh garlic pushed through a garlic press
Salt and pepper to taste
For the salad:
3 cups Sweet lettuce (loosely packed), tough stems removed and leaves roughly chopped
**sweet lettuce is similar to romaine
3 Rainbow carrots, peeled into strips (using a vegetable peeler)
1 cup mixed cherry tomatoes, halved
One bell pepper (red, yellow, or orange), finely chopped
2 Persian cucumbers, finely chopped
1/4 to 1/2 cup of candied Pecans, roughly chopped into small pieces

Instructions

  1. Place ingredients for salad dressing into a mason jar fitted with a lid. Shake vigorously and set aside.
  2. Toss lettuce and carrots together in a large bowl.
  3. Add tomatoes, bell pepper, and cucumbers to the lettuce salad mixture.
  4. Sprinkle pecans on top.
  5. Give dressing another shake and pour desired amount of dressing over salad.
  6. Toss and serve.

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

   

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IndianVegetarian

Meatless Monday – Spinach with Garbanzo Beans, Indian Style

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I typically have frozen spinach and cans of garbanzos in my pantry, making this an easy fix for me. It’s just kissed with exotic spices to add flavor, and makes a hearty meal. You can eat it on it’s own, with rice, tortillas or flatbreads. Enjoy!

Ingredients
3 tablespoons melted ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 cup onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated with a microplane
1 16 oz package of frozen spinach
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Dash of cayenne pepper
3 cloves of garlic, put through a garlic press, or finely minced
1 15oz can of garbanzo beans, rinsed (cold water) and drained in a colander

Instructions
1. In a large skillet heat ghee over medium heat.
2. Add cumin seeds.
3. When the cumin seeds start to “crackle” add onions.
4. Saute onions until golden.
5. Add ginger, stir
6. Add spinach, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, and garlic, stir to combine.
7. Add garbanzos, stir.
8. Add salt to taste.
9. Cook for roughly 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted and cooked through.
10. Serve and enjoy!

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

   

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SaladsVeganVegetarian

Meatless Monday – Sumi Salad

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The summer heat has me craving salads, so today I made my longtime friend Audrey’s Mom’s Sumi Salad recipe (wow that was a mouthful). I’ve been enjoying this salad for over 20 years now! The dressing is a cinch to make and has that perfect salty-sweet balance. (It makes a great marinade for grilled veggies as well) Love the crunchiness of the cabbage, combined with the juicy mandarin oranges and the sesame flavor just makes me oh so happy. This salad can sit for a while without getting soggy, which is great for BBQ’s, picnics, etc. Feel free to play around with the veggies, I have added avocado to this with creamy delicious results. Enjoy!

Ingredients
For the dressing:
⅛ cup organic sugar
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup mild tasting oil
3 Tablespoons rice vinegar
½ tablespoon sesame oil
⅛ cup toasted sesame seeds

For the salad:
3 cups shredded green cabbage (I got mine prepackaged at Trader Joe’s)
1 cup purple shredded cabbage (I bought prepackaged)
½ cup grated carrots
1 Persian cucumber, skin on and finely chopped
8 sugar snap peas (edamame is great too), finely chopped
1 small red pepper, finely chopped
3 green onions, green parts only finely chopped
1 11oz can of mandarin oranges, drained
Handful of shelled roasted and salted sesame seeds
Handful of dry toasted sliced almonds

Instructions
1. Place sugar, pepper, salt, oil, vinegar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds in a mason jar fitted with a lid and shake like crazy. Set aside.
2. Add cabbages, carrots, cucumber, snap peas, red pepper, green onion, oranges, sesame seeds, and almonds in a large bowl.
3. Give the dressing another shake and pour over salad. (Pour as much or little dressing as you desire)
4. Toss until salad is well coated with dressing. Enjoy

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

   
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Vegetarian

Meatless Monday – Basil-Kale Pesto

Happy Monday! Starting off the week here with one of the pastas that is always in heavy rotation at our house. It’s a kid and adult pleaser. The addition of baby kale is pretty much undetectable in the sauce, as the basil is still the star here. This pasta would happily accept the addition of any grilled veggies stirred in at the end. Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 cups packed, rinsed and dry fresh basil leaves
1 cup packed, rinsed and dry fresh baby kale
1 clove garlic
1⁄2 cup Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
2 heaping tablespoons roasted and salted Marcona almonds (Trader Joe’s carries these), or any roasted and salted almonds
1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 lb pasta of your choice (I used medium shells), cooked according to package directions
2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

  1. Pulse basil, kale, garlic, Parmesan, almonds, and olive oil in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.
  2. In a large pot cook pasta according to package directions in salted water. Drain.
  3. Return pasta to pot and stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of butter, to coat pasta. (Whole wheat and multigrain type pastas may require 3 tablespoons, but you don’t want it overly greasy)
  4. Add pesto to pasta and stir to combine and coat pasta completely with basil mixture.
  5. Serve immediately. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
  6. Enjoy!

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

   


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SaladsVegetarian

Meatless Monday – Panzanella (Tuscan Bread Salad)

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Panzanella, what used to be considered a “poor man’s salad”, has in recent years become hip and trendy. My version features pieces of crusty bread, juicy tomatoes, and fresh basil, with cubes of creamy soft mozzarella cheese. I used a balsamic vinegar in the dressing, adding some darkness, earthiness and sweetness to this summer salad. If you don’t like the bread a bit moist, add it last (after the dressing) and serve immediately. Enjoy! 🙂

Ingredients

3 cups stale crusty bread (I used baguette)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 springs fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
Dash of garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

For the dressing:
1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 clove garlic
Salt and black pepper to taste

For the salad:
3 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup soft mozzarella cheese, cut into bite sized cubes
1⁄2 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon capers
1⁄4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced in half

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375.
  2. Prepare a cookie sheet with a silpat, or nonstick tin foil.
  3. Place bread in a large bowl, and drizzle with olive oil.
  4. Add rosemary, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper and toss to combine.
  5. Spread bread into a single layer onto prepared cookie sheet and bake for roughly 15 minutes, or until bread is slightly golden and crunchy.
  6. In a medium sized bowl whisk together olive oil, balsamic, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper.
  7. In a large bowl combine tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, capers, and olives.
  8. Add bread, and drizzle with desired amount of dressing.
  9. Toss and serve.
  10. Enjoy!

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

   

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SaladsVegetarian

Meatless Monday – Summer Salad with Quinoa and Citrus dressing

Hi there! I’ve got a fun Summer salad here for you. Some of you may not be huge quinoa fans, but it’s pretty well hidden in this salad and oh so good for you – so give it a try! I love the earthiness and texture the quinoa adds to the salad, coupled with the brightness of the citrus here. Vegans can use maple syrup instead of honey, and omit the goat cheese. Quinoa and dressing can be made the night before and stored in the fridge. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the dressing:
1⁄4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed)
2 tablespoons honey
Small squirt of yellow mustard
1 teaspoon dill, finely chopped
1 teaspoon mint, finely chopped
1 teaspoon parsley, finely chopped
1 small clove garlic, finely minced

For the salad:
1⁄3 cup cooked quinoa (room temperature)
2 heaped cups loosely packed fresh spinach leaves
2 heaped cups loosely packed baby spring lettuce mix
1⁄2 cup fresh blueberries
5 large strawberries, finely chopped
1⁄2 cup Granny Smith apple, finely chopped
1⁄4 cup mandarin oranges (juice drained)
Handful of raw sliced almonds
1 to 2 tablespoons goat cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
  2. Place olive oil, lime juice, orange juice concentrate, honey, mustard, dill, mint, parsley and garlic in a mason jar fitted with a lid and shake until well combined. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl combine quinoa, spinach, lettuce, blueberries, strawberries, apple, and oranges.
  4. Add desired amount of dressing and toss to combine.
  5. Sprinkle almonds and goat cheese on top of salad mixture and serve.
  6. Enjoy!

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

   

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Vegetarian

Meatless Monday – Rigatoni with Swiss Chard & Ricotta

I knew I had a hit here when my oldest daughter said after the first bite, “Yum, it tastes like healthy Mac & Cheese!” You could easily substitute the Swiss chard for spinach, or even peas would taste great. Simple recipe, that comes together quickly. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 lb box of Rigatoni noodles
1⁄2 cup vegetable broth, hot
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced or put through a garlic press
1 large bunch Swiss Chard, leaves only – chopped into bit sized pieces
1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese, grated (more for topping if desired)
1⁄2 cup ricotta cheese (I used whole milk from Trader Joe’s)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions
1. Cook rigatoni according to package directions in generously salted water, drain and set aside.
2. Heat vegetable broth in a small saucepan over low heat. Keep hot until ready to use.
3. Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat.
4. Add garlic, stir.
5. Add swiss chard leaves, stir.
6. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until chard is wilted.
7. Stir in 1⁄4 cup hot vegetable broth.
8. Cook for 2 minutes.
9. Remove from heat, and stir into rigatoni.
10. Add parmesan to rigatoni mixture, stir.
11. Add ricotta to rigatoni mixture, stir.
12. If the rigatoni seems dry at this point, add small amounts of vegetable broth until desired creaminess is reached.
13. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
14. Serve immediately, top with extra parmesan if desired.
15. Enjoy!

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

  


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Vegetarian

Meatless Monday – Vegetarian Soft Tacos

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These are probably my all time favorite tacos. The portobello mushrooms have a rich meaty flavor/texture and the “slaw” is crunchy, creamy and tangy all at the same time. You can get all the ingredients at Trader Joe’s, and although there are a few steps – it’s not difficult. 🙂 I used Trader Joe’s version of “Middle Eastern Flatbread” for the “shell”, because it is a bit thicker than a tortilla and oh so soft. So many flavors and textures going on here to entertain your taste buds. Enjoy!

Ingredients
For the slaw:
2 cups shredded cabbage
1⁄4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 tablespoon green onion, finely chopped
1⁄4 cup sour cream
1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1⁄8 teaspoon cumin powder
Dash of garlic powder
Dash of cayenne pepper
Dash of paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste

For the portobello mushrooms:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 portobello mushrooms stems and gills removed, rinsed and sliced into thin strips
2 tablespoons soy sauce

For the bell peppers:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
11⁄2 cup onions, sliced into thin strips
2 bell peppers (I used red and yellow), sliced into thin strips
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon taco seasoning

Taco Shell & Garnish:
1 package of 6 Middle Eastern Flatbread, available at Trader Joes, or tortillas of choice
1 Roma tomato, diced into small pieces
2 avocados, cut into slices
1⁄2 cup grated cheese of choice – sharp cheddar, monterey jack, cotija, or pepper jack
2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped

Instructions
For the slaw:
1. Toss cabbage, cilantro, and green onion in a medium sized bowl, set aside.
2. In a small bowl stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, cumin, garlic, cayenne, paprika, salt and pepper until well combined.
3. Add dressing by the spoonfuls folding and tossing until cabbage mixture is well coated (reserving leftover dressing for garnish) set aside.

For the portobello mushrooms:
1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add mushrooms, stir.
3. Cook stirring frequently until mushrooms release their juices and the liquid evaporates. (Roughly 8 to 10 min.)
4. Add soy sauce.
5. Cook for 1 minute, or until soy sauce is absorbed by mushrooms.
6. Remove from heat,

For the bell peppers:
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat,
2. Add onions, stir.
3. Cook stirring frequently for 5 minutes until onions are translucent and turning golden.
4. Add peppers, stir.
5. Add taco seasoning, stir.
6. Add salt, stir.
7. Cook stirring frequently for 7 to 10 minutes until peppers are tender.
8. Sprinkle with lime juice, stir.
9. Remove from heat.

Plate the tacos:
1. Place 1 flatbread on a plate.
2. Top with slaw.
3. Add 1⁄6 or 1⁄4 of the mushrooms on top of the slaw.
4. Add 1⁄6 or 1⁄4 of the bell pepper mixture on top of the mushrooms.
5. Garnish with tomatoes, avocado, cheese, cilantro and extra dressing if desired.
6. Enjoy! *feel free to heat the flatbread first over a hot skillet before making your taco if desired.

**Check out some of the items I used here by clicking on the Amazon link below. This link is an affiliate link, your purchase costs will be the same but The Masala Girl will automatically receive a small commission, thanks for your support. 🙂

  


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