As promised…
PASTA WITH GARLIC AND ZUCCHINI
3 medium zucchini
3 TBSP unsalted butter
1 TBSP good olive oil
4-5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1-2 TBSP chopped fresh basil (or mint)
1 cup warm water or vegetable broth
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound fusilli pasta
Freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
Slice the zucchini into circles, then each circle in half. Heat butter and olive oil (or substitute more oil for the butter) in medium skillet; add garlic and cook gently, just until it becomes opaque. (Don’t let it brown!) Add the zucchini and cook until it becomes very soft—almost like a thick puree—about 15-20 minutes. Add broth/water is the mixture becomes dry, deglazing the pan each time. Add the basil/mint in the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Season to taste w/ salt & pepper, then toss w/ hot, drained pasta. Top w/ cheese if desired. Serves 4-6.
PASTA WITH ARTICHOKE SAUCE
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 TBSP. good olive oil
1 pkg. Artichoke hearts, cooked and drained
2 TBSP. dry white wine
¼ cup parsley, finely chopped
3 TBSP. (oil cured) black olives, pitted and chopped
½ tsp. lemon zest
cooked fettucine
grated Parmesan
Saute the chopped onion and garlic in olive oil until soft and just slightly gold in color; add cooked artichoke hearts and cook over medium-low heat for about 3-5 minutes until flavors blend. Add chopped parsley, wine, olives and lemon zest and cook briefly. Season to taste w/ salt & fresh pepper, toss with hot pasta and top w/ grated cheese.
MARINATED PORTABELLO MUSHROOMS
4-5 large portabello mushrooms, sliced @ ½” thick
½ to ¾ cup good olive oil
juice of 2 limes (can substitute lemon, but lime is better)
2 cloves minced garlic
3 TBSP chopped parsley
2 shallots, peeled and chopped
salt & pepper to taste
Saute the mushrooms in oil olive (medium-high heat) about 2-3 minutes per side or until tender. Remove from heat; arrange slices evenly in layers in large dish. Combine rest of ingredients and pour over ‘shrooms, allowing them to marinate at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and serve at room temperature.
(Great served with thick slices of ripe garden tomato if they’re in season.)
BABA GANOUJ
(Eggplant, garlic and tahini spread)
(Less a recipe than a method; I do it the way I was shown, so amounts are guesses)
1-2 medium eggplants (look for firm, shiny skin); do not peel, just cut off stem, slice down the middle lengthwise and place cut-side down on baking sheet covered w/ aluminum foil and lightly brushed w/ olive oil. Bake at 350-375 for @ 40 minutes or until very soft. They’ll collapse in on the themselves. Remove from oven and let cool.
When cool, scrape eggplant meat into large bowl or food processor. (It can be done by hand; it just takes a bit of extra work.) Squeeze in 1-2 cloves garlic, about half a squeezed lemon, @ ¼ cup or so well-stirred tahini (sesame seed paste), and a pinch of cumin if desired. Mix or process very well until smooth. Spread evenly on large plate; garnish w/ a generous drizzle of flavorful olive oil. (You can add finely chopped parsley if you want, too.) Serve w/ toasted pita wedges for either spreading or scooping.
I adore hummus—a similar dip/spread made w/ chickpeas, garlic, tahini, etc.—but really prefer this.
And from Zenster’s thread:
#18: Pasta with Vodka and Lemon Sauce
(note: the description is misleading; the cheese is used only as an optional topping; it isn’t part of the sauce. But the sauce does contain whipping cream.)
29: Bean sprout salad with garlic
(Asian in taste; served cold as salad; totally vegan)
Opal: please advise on the dairy issue. I could provide more recipes, but it’d help if I knew whether to eliminate those with milk or cheese.
Veb