Naraya Cooking Health Recipe: sesame oil

KIMCHI BREAKFAST TACOS

3:06 PM

Now that kimchi has been added to the recipe collection, it's time to experiment with this spicy, tangy mixture. What better way than to add this spiciness to a tofu scramble. Tofu at times can use a little help, kimchi is a perfect addition and will whip that tofu into shape. This is my vegan version of a recipe I saw for a kimchi scramble using eggs. My tofu interpretation came out amazing and I'm very happy with the results. If you're a kimchi lover and tofu appreciator, than I think you'll agree! I first made this recipe using spinach (which tasted great, of course!) but ultimately decided to use kale here as we try to use the most nutrient dense foods possible whenever we can. I loved the kale, it cooks down beautifully adding a nice pop of green to the scramble. I've kept the seasoning super simple, it doesn't need much as the kimchi will shine through. Best to use your most fermented batch of kimchi, the ripened flavors will work best when cooking with kimchi. These tacos can be eaten any time of day. It pairs great with green tea. If having these for lunch or dinner and you're a beer drinker, I think an Asian or Mexican beer would be great too. Beers like Kirin Ichiban, Sapporo, Corona and Dos Esquis are vegan friendly. To see if your favorite beer or alcohol is vegen, check this great guide: Barnivore. Whatever your drink of choice is, you're going to love every bite of these kimchi tacos!

All cooked and ready to go. I could eat it just like you see it above...so good! But we're making tacos here, so fill your warmed tortillas (I used corn), you may like to use two if your mixture is very wet. Top with cilantro sprigs, scallions, sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime. Enjoy to the fullest!

KIMCHI TOFU SCRAMBLE TACOS

Ingredients

1 tablespoon sesame seed oil, optional
1 block (14 - 16 oz) organic tofu, firm or extra-firm
4-5 large leaves of kale, center stem removed and julienned
3 scallions, sliced (divided)
1-2 tablespoons tamari
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1-2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
1 cup kimchi
cilantro sprigs, for garnish
sesame seeds (toasted, black or white), for garnish
lime wedges, to serve
6 corn or flour tortillas, to serve

Measure out 1 cup kimchi and let come to room temp.

Open and drain tofu. You may like to give it a quick press to remove moisture if not using a vacuum packed brand.

In a large wok/skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add tofu, crumbling between your fingers, cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 -3 minutes. Turn heat to medium, carefully add tamari and garlic powder, give a good stir. Add kale and 2/3 - 3/4 of the scallions, cook, stirring occasionally until kale becomes soft and wilts, cover partially to help with the process, about 5 - 7 minutes. Lastly, add the nutritional yeast and kimchi, mix and cook just until kimchi has warmed through, about 1 minute or so. We don't want to overcook the kimchi or it will destroy some of the health benefits of the probiotics.

Heat your tortillas. I like to heat mine carefully over a gas burner until lightly charred in spots. Use your preferred method.

Layer your tortillas with the scramble mixture, add a few sprigs of cilantro, some of the reserved scallions, a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime.

Serves 3

Notes:

Use spinach in place of kale.

Use ripened kimchi, the flavors will be more pronounced. You may prefer fresher kimchi, in which case use your favorite.

You may like to chop your kimchi a bit before adding it to the tofu. I kept it as it was but it's an optiona.

Try adding a drizzle of this Garlic Miso Cashew Sauce, or for extra heat try the Dynamite Sauce or Sriracha Cashew Cream. You can control the heat when adding the spice to each of these condiments.

almond butter

Chinese Chop Salad + Peanut Sesame Dressing

10:55 PM

arrowroot powder

Hot Pepper Tofu

7:21 PM

For those of you who follow this blog, you know how much I love spicy food. And if you’re a lover of spiciness, this hot pepper tofu will work well for you too. I've simplified the traditional black pepper tofu which calls for 1 stick of butter and 3 types of soy sauce, these items are just not in my kitchen essentials. I can't even imagine eating/using a whole stick of butter these days, vegan or not! It's simply not an option for me anymore and I would be so sick to my stomach if I did. Lol But not to worry my pepper lovers, this simple and healthy version is so flavorful that you won't miss a thing. Feel free to change up any of the ingredients using some of the suggestions in the notes or making it your own using whatever ingredients you have on hand (like I did). I've really tried taking into account all the different levels of eating habits creating a version for almost everyone. You'll find various things on most of the ingredient lines reflecting this, and in the notes too. The thing I love about this recipe is that it's pretty much fool proof. The only thing you may end up doing is adding too much pepper/heat for your taste, those of you who are more sensitive should stick to using the lesser amounts called for and go up from there.

I love using this high protein tofu. It holds up really well. Another benefit from using this is that it doesn't need to be pressed. It's so dense that not much water is absorbed making it one less step in preparing your tofu recipes. I've used this one from Trader Joe's pictured above and a few various ones from Wildwood that also do not need to be pressed. Both tofu brands, firm and extra firm, are very versatile and can go from being used in salads to skewered for grilling. And remember, TOFU is one of those foods that should be eaten in moderation, it has many health benefits but is not for everyone. Just a note about the soy beans that whole foods recommends are whole soybeans or fermented ones like tempeh, soy sauce, tamari, miso & tofu. Soy milk (in most cases), soybean oil and soy protein isolates are highly processed and should be avoided. Read more here.

Hot Pepper Tofu

Ingredients

1 block (14-16oz.) organic tofu (firm or extra firm), cubed
1 tablespoon toasted sesame, sesame or grapeseed oil
1/4 cup tamari, soy sauce or coconut amino's
1/4 cup water or veggie broth
3 tablespoons maple syrup or liquid sweetener of choice
2 teaspoons arrowroot or tapioca flour (cornstarch is fine too)
1 - 2 tablespoons fresh cracked pepper
3 - 4 cloves garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 inch knob ginger, minced
1 bunch scallions, chopped
1 - 2 chili's peppers, sliced and seeds removed or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped, to serve

If not using one of the tofu's mentioned above, you'll want to drain and press your tofu to remove excess water. Simply cut tofu into slabs and place between paper towels or a clean dish cloth. With wrapped tofu laying on a flat surface, place a heavy book/object on top for about 15 minutes or so. Here's a great tutorial from Olives for Dinner: How to press tofu perfectly in six steps

In a small/medium bowl, combine the tamari, water, sweetener and flour. This will be your slurry, ensuring your tofu will be coated nicely.

Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium high. Add tofu and cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Your tofu will slightly brown (we're not going to worry about it getting super brown and crispy here but if you want it browner and crispier, cook another 5 minutes or so stirring occasionally).

Add in your slurry mixture, ground pepper, garlic and ginger. It will sizzle at first when adding the liquids. Stir fry another 3 minutes or so, add in hot peppers and scallions. Liquids should start to thicken a bit, cook another 5 minutes or until the scallions are just softened.

Serve with brown rice, brown rice/quinoa mix, basmati or jasmine rice. Soba noodles would be great too. Add a large handful of chopped cilantro on the side, it will add to the flavors while giving a nice dose of freshness to the pepperiness. If you love cilantro, you will truly appreciate it here!

Serves three.

Notes:

Add more or less of any ingredient to suit your taste. You can also sub in mild chili peppers or sliced jalapeno peppers with the seeds removed.

For the scallions, you'll notice that I cut the darker green parts into 1 inch sections while slicing the white and light green parts into 1/4 inch pieces. Just a thought if you'd like to do the same.

Feel free to use 2 tablespoons pure cane sugar, raw sugar or coconut sugar in place of the liquid sweetener.

Enjoy!

basil

Soba Noodles with Tofu, Broccoli & Carrots

9:43 PM

carrots

Carrot Miso Soup

11:18 AM

This wonderful soup comes from the Smitten Kitchen. It's the simplest of ingredients with such great flavor. Yes, there are a lot of carrots involved but carrots are really on the cheap. I can pick up a 5 lb bag of organic carrots for under $5 making this a very inexpensive soup to prepare (double the recipe and store in the freezer for later if you like). The miso costs a bit more at around $8-9 a tub but will last up to a year + in the fridge. If you follow my recipes you will be sure to use it more than once. The miso compliments this soup beautifully making it a classic favorite. I love miso for its flavor and health benefits, it is quite unusual and irreplaceable. The only changes I made to Deb's recipe was adding a little tofu to round this soup out with some protein. I have chosen to use a silken tofu, sliced and topped with a bit of cayenne for a little kick of spice. The tofu is soft and silky blending in almost seamlessly with each bite and the cayenne adds a bit of warmth. So delicious! Feel free to omit the tofu if you're not a fan. And if you are a fan, feel free to add more for extra protein.

Carrot Miso Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 - 2 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely grated
4 cups water or vegetable broth (I used water)
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) white miso paste
8 oz. organic silken tofu, sliced thin and at room temperature
cayenne pepper as garnish, to taste
chives, chopped OR scallions, thinly sliced

In a large dutch oven or pot, heat oil over medium heat, add onion, carrots and garlic, saute until onion is translucent, about 7 minutes. Add liquids and ginger. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes, or until carrots are tender.

Let soup cool a bit. Add miso to soup and puree using 1 of 3 methods: An immersion blender right in the por, a food processor or a regular blender. You may have to puree the latter two methods in batches.

Add a bit more water as needed. Taste for seasoning adding salt, especially if you didn't use veggie stock you may like to add salt. Add pepper, more miso or grated ginger to taste.

Slice your tofu, ladle your soup into serving bowls, top with tofu, a sprinkle of cayenne for some heat and a nice bunch of chives or scallions.

Enjoy!

cabbage

Asian Slaw Salad + Miso Ginger Dressing

9:29 PM

basil

Vegetable 'Fried' Quinoa

10:31 AM

This is one of those recipes that will make it into the meal rotation consistently. I'm always looking for ways to make my dishes more nutrient dense and this was a great recipe for that giving me protein and fiber. I'm happy to have another great addition to the recipe collection. This was a nice use of quinoa and fantastic!

Another reason I love quinoa so much is it comes out of the fridge the next day as well as it went in. It also tastes just as great warm as it does cold. It's unlike rice that hardens and doesn't reheat very well for my liking. Quinoa is a sure staple in my kitchen.

This dish can go any way you like...add/subtract whatever you want...my favorite kind of cooking. You could up the amount of quinoa to vegetable ratio. Here I have one cup quinoa to about 3 - 4 cups vegetables. You don't have to use all these vegetables either but I highly recommend a good assortment for nutrition, texture and color. I have so many because I love veggies! This is also a great recipe for a 'cleaning out the fridge' meal. Almost everything and anything will be tasty. Try snow peas, broccoli, sweet peas, bean sprouts, baby corn and/or celery for variety. Add in some cubed tofu for added protein. Top with white and/or black sesame seeds for a little extra nutrition.

So easy to make...cook your quinoa, stir fry your vegetables, add in quinoa, stir fry a little longer and done. I guarantee you will love this as much as I do! I can easily eat this to myself given the opportunity.♥

Vegetable 'Fried' Quinoa

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water
1 corn off the cob
1 8 oz. package mushrooms, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
3 scallions, thinly sliced (green and white parts)
1 small zucchini, diced
1 cup shredded cabbage
1/2 cup bell pepper, diced...red, orange or yellow
1/2 cup basil, chopped, optional
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons tamari, Bragg's Liquid Amino's or soy sauce
1 tablespoon garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste
Sriracha hot sauce, red pepper flakes or dash of cayenne pepper, to taste

Rinse your quinoa in a fine mesh sieve under cool running water. In medium sauce pan combine quinoa with 1 1/2 cups water or vegetable broth, bring to a boil, simmer covered for 15 minutes. Once done remove cover and let set for another 15 minutes to soak up the excess water. Fluff with a fork and set aside.

In wok or large skillet, heat oil over medium high, add vegetables and stir fry for 1 minute or so. Add tamari, garlic powder and other seasonings to taste. Cook for another 3 - 4 minutes stirring occasionally, use a lid if needed to help soften the vegetables a bit. Add in quinoa, turn heat to high, cook another 3 - 5 minutes stirring constantly adding a drizzle of oil if mixture seems too dry.

Serve warm. Top with a little sriracha or tamari if you like.

Notes:

I added a few drops of sriracha while adding the garlic powder and tamari, a little goes a long way. This dish doesn't need a lot of seasoning, I felt that the tamari alone would've been enough.

Feel free to use any assortment of vegetables, and be sure to use as much or as little as you like of each vegetable. Try snow peas, broccoli, sweet peas, bean sprouts and/or celery for variety. I always feel you can almost never have too many vegetables!

Use thawed frozen vegetables of choice for convenience.

Add some extra firm cubed tofu in with the vegetables for added protein.

Enjoy !

basil

SPICY RAMEN NOODLE BOWL

10:30 AM

Ramen noodles with bell pepper, green onion, garlic powder, ginger, bean sprouts and basil lightly stir-fried in sesame oil w/ red pepper flakes, a little tamari in the mix and all topped with sesame seeds. Not too shabby for this last minute throw together meal. I should call it 'the cleaning out the fridge recipe', as it was just that and so very good!

I've used ramen noodles here to add them to the recipe collection but you can sub in 100% soba noodles making this a gluten free dish. I've been going through most of the Asian noodles and thought I would give these a try. They cook up quick, 4 minutes, making this dish come together in under 30 minutes.

Feel free to add in as many veggies as you wish. Keep it simple like shown or add sliced mushrooms, carrots, zucchini and/or broccoli florets just to name a few for your consideration. You can never have enough vegetables in my opinion, so overshooting is ok, especially the basil...the more the merrier!

An easy and basic recipe, perfect for those who want a hearty noodle dish pronto!

SPICY RAMEN NOODLE BOWL

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 bundles from a package of ramen noodles (about 6 oz.)
2 red bell pepper, chopped
3 - 4 scallions, sliced
2 cups bean sprouts
1/2 cup fresh basil (lightly packed), chopped
1 tablespoon toasted sesame, sesame or grapeseed oil or 1/4 cup veggie broth
1/2 - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced
1 inch knob of ginger, peeled and minced
2 - 3 tablespoons tamari, soy sauce or coconut amino's
1 tablespoon rice vinegar, optional

Directions...easy as 1 -2 -3

1. Cook your ramen noodles according to package and set aside.

2. While water is boiling start chopping your produce. In wok or saute pan, heat oil on medium high. Add your veggies and spices, cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Slowly add tamari and rice vinegar, it will sizzle, continue to cook for another 3 minutes or so, depending on how you like your veggies cooked (I prefer mine al dente). Add the ramen noodles to the pan and toss, cook for 2 more minutes, or until noodles are warmed.

3. Place in serving dish and top with sesame seeds, mineral salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste.

Notes:

Add in any extra veggies you like. This was just a throw together with what I had in my fridge. Feel free to add more of any of the spices and tamari. Fresh cilantro would be great at serving too. As always my recipes are just a template, adjust to your liking.

Sub in 100% soba noodles for the ramen noodles to make this gluten free.

To make oil free, use 3 - 4 tablespoons of veggie broth or water to stir fry. Add it just as you would the oil and cook accordingly. If you have room in your freezer, you can use an ice cube tray and freeze some veggie broth cubes. 3 cubes = approx. 1/4 cup.

Add in some cubed tofu while cooking the vegetables for added protein.

Enjoy!

I would to see your masterpieces! #thesimpleveganista