Recipe: Tom Yum Tofu

This is absolutely the opposite of authentic Thai food but I was able to find some really great tom yum soup base. I would tell you the brand but it’s literally only in Thai on the label and unfortunately I don’t read Thai. However, you can use whatever ready tom yum soup base you’re able to find though they do all taste different. This comes together pretty quickly and would be great with lots of extra vegetables especially corn or bamboo shoots and greens of any type.

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Recipe: Vegetable Kadai

Technically I did not make these in a kadai which is a rounded bottom pot that is about halfway between a wok and a skillet with high sides but if you have a wok or a kadai it would be even better. This is a really great recipe that makes really delicious, unctuous vegetables in a thick creamy gravy. It’s great over rice or with most types of roti, naan, or other forms of bread. I topped mine with yogurt but feel free to use cream or coconut cream if you’re feeling luscious.

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Recipe: Chipotle and Bean Chili

This is a super simple but really hearty chili that can be made with very minimal prep. This can also easily be adapted for any diet. It can be made vegan using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock, and it can be gluten-free by substituting potato starch instead of flour. This is a fairly spicy chili so you might want to serve it with cream, cheese, or some bread but it’s not so hot you can’t just eat it as it is. If you want a thicker chili you can mash a portion of the beans before you put them in the pot as well.

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Recipe: Vada Pav Burger

This burger is basically inspired by vada pav which is a kind of dreamy street food that is carbs (potatoes) on carbs (bread) with spicy chilies. You can use whatever bun you like, traditionally it’s made in something more like a parker house roll. You can also pick and choose your own toppings though I kept it really simple and went for cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a ketchup-mayo mix for a sauce but feel free to experiment!

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Recipe: Chickpea Soup

This really hearty and delicious stew is great for a cold day or any occasion. You can make this ahead of time without the noodles and just add them as you’re warming it up (if you’re using thin vermicelli style noodles). This is basically minestrone but with slightly different flavors and chickpeas instead of beans in case you need a little variety in your life.

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Recipe: Panzanella

This is a great recipe for the summer because it’s not really cooking, it can be served cold, and it takes very minimal effort to make. Basically a dressed up bread salad and while I feel like it’s usually an appetizer dish, in the summer paired some fruit it could easily be a whole meal especially if you use really hearty bread (I used a thick seed-filled sourdough), this would pair really well with a nice piece of grilled fish or meat for a BBQ or cookout also.

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Recipe: Sweet and Sour Tofu

I was finally able to find reasonably priced firm tofu in the store so I’ve been trying out more tofu recipes lately and this is the winner by a large mile. It’s super easy to make, you can customize the sauce in a lot of ways, and it comes together with only one bowl and one pan. You can use fresh vegetables if you prefer but I love recipes where you don’t have to chop anything because some days you just don’t have the energy. I don’t love tofu but in this recipe it’s pretty tasty and it’s a nice change of pace every now and then.

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Recipe: Spicy Tomato Dal

This is one of those absolutely great recipes for when you have a bit of time but no time energy. You probably have everything you need on hand to make a tasty, healthy, filling, cheap, vegan, and exceptionally low effort food. The only thing you have to do is chop an onion and then sometimes check on the pot and stir it a little. This can be eaten on its own or with naan or pretty much any other bread product or even over rice. You can add in whatever you like to finish the dish: cream, nuts, cilantro, even fried onions. Also I like my dal thick but feel free to make it any consistency you like.

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