Food

Composed, warm salads bring Mediterranean sunshine to the plate any time of year. Sous vide cooking’s precise and steady temperature control in a water bath means sustainable, better-than-canned tuna, is easier than ever. Crisp, tender, and decadent all at once, this French “comfort food” meal is tied together with a zippy lemon-mustard vinaigrette.

Tip

Lentils capture flavours beautifully in recipes. The combination of fresh herbs and the zip of lemon make it a delicious side dish to grilled meats.

Tips

• If you’re making extras, this recipe can be refrigerated for several days and flavoured up to suit any meal.
• To soak or not to soak is always the question. The beauty of using French lentils is that, unlike peas and legumes, they hold their shape, even after cooking. Avoid adding seasonings such as salt or acids (like lemon juice) until lentils are cooked.

Indian-spiced flavours paired with any grain create a taste sensation. Folded into cooked barley, it’s a double win. The turmeric and mustard seeds coupled with barley are touted as excellent foods for brain health.

Tips

• Allergic to barley? Substitute with rice or another gluten-free grain such as millet or sorghum.
• Time crunch? Cook barley ahead and refrigerate or freeze. Bring to room temperature and stir-fry a little bit longer to make sure it’s sizzling hot.

These are so delicious! They’re ideal hot or cold as a mezze dish, starter, snack, or spicy picnic addition. Kaffir lime leaves are commonly used in Thai, Indonesian, Cambodian, Malaysian, and Vietnamese cooking and can be sourced in frozen form quite easily from Asian grocers. They impart a very distinct citrus note unlike any other ingredient I know—just their aroma makes me hungry. Inevitably, lemongrass goes very well with them, but the sweetness of roasted carrot and the slightly bready caraway seeds just make this dish irresistible. Lime leaves are double-shaped, making them perfect to wrap around things for cooking. Otherwise, wrap a large single leaf around each carrot piece. You don’t eat the leaves, by the way … but you knew that, right?

Tips

• You can leave out the chili if you prefer—these kebabs still work really well.
• For quicker prep, instead of roasting the kebabs at 200 C (400 F), preheat the oven broiler and broil the kebabs for 1 to 2 minutes to get them lightly charred.

Not to worry, these swoon-worthy pancakes don’t taste beety despite including the root vegetable for its red touch. The batter can be prepared up to two days in advance and kept chilled in the refrigerator. But it’s best used at room temperature. Thin with additional milk or yogurt if the batter becomes too thick. Makes about 14 pancakes. 1 medium-sized beet, peeled and chopped 1 1/4 cups (310 mL) gluten-free oat flour 1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon, divided 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt 1 cup (250 mL) milk 1/2 cup (125 mL) plain yogurt 1 medium banana 1 large free-range egg 1/3 cup (80 mL) chopped walnuts (optional) 1 Tbsp (15 mL) unsalted butter 2 cups (500 mL) frozen pitted cherries 3 Tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup 1 tsp (5 mL) lemon zest 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) cornstarch, dissolved in 1 Tbsp (15 mL) water 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract Place beet in steamer basket set over at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of water and steam until tender. Set aside to cool. In large bowl, stir together oat flour, 3/4 tsp (4 mL) cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Place beet, milk, yogurt, and banana in blender container and blend until smooth. Blend in egg. Add beet mixture to dry ingredients and gently combine. Fold in walnuts if using. Let batter rest for 10 minutes. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add butter to skillet and melt. Pour 1/4 cup (60 mL) batter for each pancake into pan and cook for 2 minutes, or until darkened around the edges and bubbles form on the surface. Flip and cook for 2 minutes more. Test a pancake to see if it has cooked through. If not, increase cooking time. Transfer cooked pancakes to baking sheet and keep warm in preheated 200 F (95 C) oven as you prepare remaining pancakes. To make cherry sauce, bring cherries, maple syrup, lemon zest, remaining cinnamon, and 1/4 cup (60 mL) water to a simmer in medium-sized saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes and then gently mash cherries into a pulpy purée. Stir dissolved cornstarch and vanilla extract into cherry mixture and simmer for 2 minutes more, or until slightly thickened. Serve pancakes topped with cherry sauce. Serves 4. Each serving contains: 402 calories; 14 g protein; 13 g total fat (3 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 60 g total carbohydrates (27 g sugars, 6 g fibre); 236 mg sodium source: "A Red Inspired Menu", alive #388, February 2015

A creamy cold soup, perfect for a sunny May lunch, most vichyssoise recipes are made with chicken stock and plenty of cream. This one is totally vegan, with tofu giving it exceptional creaminess. Jazzed up with a Jalapeno Verde Swirl, it’s delicious served either chilled or hot.

This highly nutritious version of the age-old common cold elixir will also work to keep you hydrated, which can soothe a sore throat. Other greens, such as kale and chard, work here too.

Tip

Breaking up a whole frittata into individual parts slashes cooking time, allows the egg cakes to be easily movable from the kitchen, and makes for an undeniably cute presentation. These can be served warm or at room temperature.

Hot stuff

You might never want to go back to regular lasagna after this plant-based version. The creamy tofu-cashew ricotta with lemon zest is the perfect foil to juicy eggplant cooked with a minimal amount of oil. You should probably make two trays and freeze one for later. Or at least make a double batch of the ricotta for a high-protein snack on crackers or carrots the next day.

Brilliant orange sweet potatoes blended with black beans and spices create a perfect warming dish for January. But this dish provides more than just eye appeal. It’s got a wealth of antioxidants to protect your body from chronic disease.

We took classic cheesy nachos and gave them a breakfast vibe with scrambled eggs and then took them to the next level with satisfying add-ins including beans and creamy avocado. This is a perfect dinner to share around the table where a bit of mess is to be celebrated. You can also serve it with your favourite salsa.

Elevate your summer gatherings with this Italian pasta salad. Bursting with Mediterranean flavours and vibrant colours, this refreshing dish is a celebration of seasonal produce. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or a light lunch on a sunny day, each forkful delivers a symphony of fresh ingredients and zesty dressing, promising to delight your taste buds!

Fill this free-form rustic tart with your favourite combination of seasonal fruits, from sweet berries in the spring, juicy stone fruits in the summer, apples, pears, and dates in the fall, to pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and squash in the winter.

Cook’s Tips:

Well, it wouldn’t be a vegan Christmas without a nut roast! Roasted in a wreath tin and topped with my cranberry sauce, it’s the perfect Christmas centerpiece.

Sage wisdom

Cooked tomatoes are an excellent source of the powerful antioxidant lycopene. This simple yet luxurious dish is based on a dish from the south of Spain, similar to a North African shakshuka. The recipe draws on Spanish paprika and roasted red pepper for its smoky flavour. It’s a satisfying meal, equally at home on the dinner table as on the breakfast bar.

When show-off tomatoes and cling-free peaches are in season, this combo salad ticks all the boxes. The flavour combination coupled with fresh mozza cheese and the salty tang of olives shows summer at its finest.

A delicious start to a day includes eating beans. Plant-based, naturally nutritious, and oodles of filling fibre—you’ll be satisfied all morning with this Mexican breakfast.

DIY cooked beans

• Soak overnight.
• Place in large saucepan with aromatics such as bay leaf, onion, garlic, and cumin.
• Cover with water at least 1 in (2.5 cm) above beans.
• Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until as tender as you like. Drain.
• Season with salt after cooking.

I can never decide which is better—the pancake or the waffle. Sitting on a plate with fresh fruit and some yogurt, both can be a filling breakfast or brunch dish that will delight all those around the table.

A slow cooker is ideal for making this Moroccan-influenced dish. The long cooking time results in a meal that has a complex blend of flavours and smells heavenly. Consider serving this meal over brown rice or couscous with a dollop of yogurt stirred in for added richness and a spot of protein.

The brilliant orange of sweet potatoes blended with black beans and Indian spices create a perfect warming dish for January. But its tremendous eye appeal provides more than just looks. The flavour and nutritional benefits contribute a wealth of antioxidants that will protect your body from chronic disease. Any bean’ll do  We used black beans for a visual punch, but any bean, lentil, or legume will make a great substitute. And if dried beans are your preference, soak overnight, drain, and cook in a large saucepan with enough water to cover by 3 in (8 cm). Then add to cooked potato.   

A Caprese salad is a deliciously simple Italian dish consisting mainly of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. This spin obtains plenty of fresh flavour from the arugula-basil pesto and added protein courtesy of the shrimp.

Serves 4

Chewy spelt holds up wonderfully in salads, and this one is sure to become your new go-to picnic or potluck option. Mackerel contains a boatload of heart-healthy, brain-nourishing omega-3 fats. Take the extra step of parboiling the potatoes to shorten their roasting time considerably. This ensures that the outsides don’t become crispy well before the interiors are cooked through. If making this salad ahead of time, it’s best to toss the greens in just before serving so they don’t become soggy. To expedite the process of preparing large, slow-cooking grains such as spelt and Kamut, try soaking them overnight. This will slash the simmering time by about 25 percent.

My mother’s Maritime roots meant that scallops were an occasional midweek meal. As an adult, I would struggle with cooking scallops until our friend Chef Matt DeMille set me straight. His instructions were simple: “Brine them for a few minutes in salt water.” This removes the guesswork from cooking them and makes them easier to sear without overcooking. The gastrique can be made with 2 Tbsp (30 mL) of any jam instead of apple slices, or you may wish to add a bit of infused booze for more flavour. Both would be added at the same time as the lemon zest and honey.