Veganomicon_ The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook - Isa Chandra Moskowitz [141]
ALMESAN
MAKES ⅓ CUP
TIME: 5 MINUTES OR LESS
This is our vegan version of Parmesan, made with almonds, sesame seeds, and a little lemon zest. It’s great for when your pasta needs a sprinkle of a little some-thin’ somethin’. If you have a mini processor, there is no better time to use it.
¼ cup slivered or sliced almonds
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon lemon zest
COMBINE ALL ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until everything turns to tiny crumbs. That’s it!
BACKYARD BBQ SAUCE
MAKES ABOUT 4 CUPS
TIME: 40 MINUTES
The basic components of a BBQ sauce are something sweet, something sour, and something tomato-y. This sauce is super versatile—you can replace the molasses with maple syrup or just plain sugar, you can replace the crushed tomatoes with tomato sauce or diced tomatoes (but you should puree it at the end if you use crushed tomatoes). Red pepper flakes add a little heat, but you can use a bit of cayenne or hot sauce instead. The longer you cook this sauce, the thicker and more delicious it gets, but if all’s you got is half an hour, it’s still yummy!
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium-size yellow onion, chopped as finely as you can
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
⅓ cup molasses
⅓ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard (Dijon is fine, too)
2 teaspoons liquid smoke
PREHEAT A saucepan over medium heat. Place the onions in the pan and sauté in oil until browned (about 7 minutes). Add the garlic and sauté for another minute. Add all the other ingredients except the mustard and liquid smoke, and cook for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat if the sauce begins to splatter everywhere. Add the mustard and liquid smoke, and taste for sweetness/sourness. Adjust the flavors if you think it’s necessary, and cook for 5 more minutes. If you like a smooth BBQ sauce then puree it, but that’s not entirely necessary.
APRICOT BBQ SAUCE
MAKES ABOUT 4 CUPS
TIME: 40 MINUTES
This is a fruity, kid friendly BBQ sauce that isn’t too sweet. It’s wonderful on any of the holy trinity (tofu, tempeh, or seitan). See the recipe for Baked BBQ Tofu (page 128). It’s also wonderful on steamed veggies, especially broccoli. As with all recipes where you cook with fruit, the sweetness will need to be adjusted depending on how sweet your fruit is.
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1½ pounds apricots (6-8, depending on their size),
pitted and sliced about ½ inch thick
½ cup vegetable broth or water
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
Several pinches of freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup molasses
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
IN A small saucepan over medium-high heat, sauté the onions in oil for 7 to 10 minutes, until browned. Add the garlic, sauté for 2 more minutes. Add the vegetable broth to deglaze the pan. Add the apricots, black pepper, ginger, and coriander. Cover and bring to a boil. Once the sauce is boiling, lower the heat to medium-low and let cook for about 10 minutes, until the apricots are mushy.
Uncover and add the remaining ingredients. Cook for about 10 more minutes, stirring often and mashing the apricot as you stir. Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness, if necessary.
Remove from the heat and let cool until it’s not steaming, stirring occasionally to speed up the cooling. Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until completely smooth. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use.
HORSERADISH-DILL SOUR CREAM
MAKES ABOUT 3 CUPS
TIME: 15 MINUTES,