Geetha's Kitchen

Lettuce Wrap with Tofu Filling is wonderful for casual family/company dining as well as a lovely starter.   Use the smaller inner leaves from the lettuces; Belgian endives and green or purple cabbage leaves work well too.  Instead of the shiitake mushrooms, other mushrooms maybe used. Hoisin sauce (~1/4 cup) maybe used instead of the coconut aminos and tamari in the sauce given below; but it usually contains wheat so I don't use it. INGREDIENTS TOFU FILLING 1 tsp sesame oil 14 - 16 oz Firm/extra firm Tofu 3 oz fresh Shiitake/Other mushrooms, diced 1 Carrot, shredded 2-3 Tbsp fresh grated ginger 2-4 cloves Garlic, minced 1-2 Shallots thinly sliced Red Pepper flakes (optional) 1-2 heads Belgian Endive/Butter/Romaine lettuce SAUCE 1 1/2Tbsp Each Coconut Aminos & Tamari (Soy sauce GF) 1 Tbsp rice vinegar GARNISHES 4-5 scallions thinly sliced 3-4 Tbsp roasted Peanuts, chopped 2-3 Tbsp toasted Sesame seeds INSTRUCTIONS Wash lettuce, drain...

Creamy Pumpkin Soup Quick Creamy Pumpkin Soup is ready within 15-20 minutes! This is one of my go to soups anytime I need a quick, easy, homemade soup. A can of pumpkin puree, a little coconut milk, some simple seasonings, and Et Voila! - comforting and flavorful pumpkin soup is ready! Canned pumpkin makes this soup go fast but needs the help of spices and fresh herbs to breathe freshness. Pumpkin perks right up when smoky cumin, along with warming combination of ginger, red pepper (cayenne), and freshly ground black pepper. Thyme adds that fragrant freshness and a few sprigs can be added without a lot of fuss and the woody stems removed at the end. The dates add delicious caramel flavoer as well as a touch of sweetness. Don't forgo the topping; the delicious spice and crunch of the toasty thyme-scented pumpkin seeds amp up the flavors and adds the crowning touch! Thyme-scented Pumpkin seeds make a wonderful snack or starter in addition to making a lovely topping for ...

A rich and delicious Korma-like stew, Masala Kadapa is a fabulous taste treat served with Idlis and Dosai in Kumbakonam -Thanjavur area, the Eastern part of South India. Masala Kadapa is just like Simple Kadapa  but is enriched with the fragrant addition of a few more spices. It is phenomenal as a side served with Pongal, plain rice, etc. also. Although split and skinless yellow moong/mung dal is the traditional dal used in this stew, I have used others with good results. For example, if I make Sambar or a Red Lentil dish, I usually cook a little extra Toor Dal/red lentils and put aside to use in making Rasam, mulagutal, etc. I also often add cooked whole Peas, Chickpeas, etc in addition to whichever dal I use if they happened to be available.  The traditional Kadapa uses only potatoes; I love to add lots of vegetables in my recipes as they make them filling and rich in nutrients. I have included carrots, green beans, cauliflower and green peas in addition to the ...

Shiitake & Cremini Mushroom Larb Flavorful Mushroom Larb In Cabbage/Lettuce Cups is a fabulous treat composed of tasty, toasty mushrooms flavored with scallions, garlic, ginger, and mint. The brilliant mix of fragrant fresh herbs, crunchy toasted peanuts, the umami of the browned caramelized mushrooms, and the pungent, salt, sweet, and hot flavors make every bite of larb very interesting and extremely satisfying. This is one of my favorite way to enjoy mushrooms. Mushroom Larb makes a protein-rich, easy, and sumptuous lunch, light dinner or an appetizing and refreshingly pleasing starter. Mushroom Larb is gluten and dairy free.  Delicious Mushroom Larb is a one-pot dish as all cooking is done in one pan; after the mushrooms are done, all the other ingredients are added right into the same pan. I like to call them Laos/Thai tacos; the larb is served in lettuce/cabbage cups/boats and picked up with hands to enjoy without any need for utensils. Although one can serv...

Peach Salad w/Oil-free Creamy Vinaigrette is a refreshing and luscious salad when the fragrant and juicy peaches ripen in the summer. The creamy vinaigrette pairs perfectly with the sweet peaches, buttery avocados and the fresh greens.  Oil-free Creamy Vinaigrette is a snap to prepare and is delicious on any salad. The wholesome and mild tasting oatmeal and hemp hearts help make it creamy. This dressing is so good that we love to make daily salads just to enjoy it! The vianigrette is oil, gluten, and dairy free. Oil-free Creamy Vinaigrette maybe prepared ahead and will stay fresh for 1 week. Use this dressing to season your favorite salads. Spinach, Arugula, Butter/Green/Red Leaf Lettuces, Curly or Belgian Endive, etc all work well as salad greens. Readily available Spring mix consisting of baby greens is another easy option. 4 Servings INGREDIENTS: Vinaigrette 1/4 cup Oatmeal 1/4 cup Hemp Hearts 1 medium Shallot 2 cloves Garlic 2 Tbsp White Wine...

Zucchini Kimchi Easy Zucchini Kimchi is exactly that and tasty as can be. This is a fantastic recipe for a beginner's first foray into kimchi making; it goes together in minutes and the results are very impressive. Another great way to enjoy the abundant harvest especially if you grow these generous veggies or know someone who does! The tasty kimchi maybe served with any meal that needs a flavorful side. We love fresh small batches of kimchi. I slice and salt the zucchini while preparing a meal or cooking. When the rest of the work is done, it takes a couple of minutes to finish the kimchi. This recipe is gluten and dairy free; and oil free too if the sesame oil is not used. Once you start making and enjoying this kimchi, you will find many ways to enjoy every morsel. I love to pile them on my avocado or peanut butter toast for a lovely savory breakfast, brunch or snack! You may like to double the recipe because it disappears very fast! NOTES: If Korean r...

Frijoles Negros or Seasoned Black Beans are amazingly delicious; just a handful of ingredients produce lip smackingly yummy beans! With a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot, cooking beans becomes so easy and quick. Do try to cook the beans if possible rather than using canned for the wonderful and rich taste. See Ode to Beans or Basic Black Beans for more ideas on cooking beans. Any leftovers maybe used as filling for tacos/burritos/tostadas etc. or in the delicious  Black Bean and Corn Casserole , Burgers ,  Cuban Black Bean Soup , or Casamiento .  Black Beans belong to the superfood family of legumes; they are typically served as part of meals in Mexican, Central & South American, and other cuisines. Cooking beans is quite simple and very cost effective. Similar to most beans, black beans have negligible amounts of fat. They are a great source of protein, fiber, and thiamin. Black beans are loaded with anthocyanins and also contain good amounts of iron, calcium...

We love all things lentils and this Everyday Lentil Soup is a favorite! Lentil soup can serve as a main dish, light meal/snack, or starter. This luscious soup enriched with the trio of onions, garlic, and carrots can stand alone or served with grains or bread. According to Hema, this soup is based on Mauritian recipe where Indian and local ingredients are combined to produce the unique dishes reminiscent of Indian cuisine. The soup begins with preparing a flavorful basic seasoning of toasted cumin seeds, onions and garlic common to most dals along with carrots which add color, texture, and sweetness plus tomato for a little tang. I like to cook the lentils by themselves and add them to the soup after the seasonings are ready. Then the soup is simmered with fragrant thyme and finished with a sprinkle of parsley or cilantro.  Leftovers are fabulous for about a week in the fridge or maybe frozen for up to 3 months. Or, turn the delicious leftovers into a yummy casserole: stir...

Mushroom Fazzoletti is delicious over polenta, pasta, toast, or other grains. This recipe is my recreation of a lovely dish made with trumpet mushrooms we enjoyed in a lovely vegan restaurant in Washington DC. Although it is delicious served over any pasta or purchased/homemade regular polenta, we particularly enjoy it served over soft creamy polenta . I make the polenta in the Instant Pot which makes it a breeze to have everything ready in record time without undue attention or stirring; plenta could be made in a regular pressure cooker as well. While the commonly available mushrooms work fine, other flavorful mushrooms would be awsome additions if you can get them. Fresh herbs and tomatoes are important for Fazzoletti, as they lend a more delicate flavor than dried or canned. If you are serving over pasta, you can use the water in which it was cooked as needed to finish the sauce for a velvety finish. 4 Servings INGREDIENTS: Fazzoletti: 2 lbs Mushrooms - Bab...

Pulled Broccoli Salad is the brainchild of havng to figure out how to eat healthy with a few ingredients ready at hand. We all are trying to stay and eat healthy despite being in isolation and having to make do with available ingredients. I had a couple of handfuls of kale, half a carrot, and some broccoli and a few other odds and ends. I was trying to create different ways of making and presenting salads to make them more interesting, delicious and nutritious. On a whim, I thought of just pulling off bits of the broccoli rather than chopping .... and I really liked the way they looked. Long story short, here's the Pulled Broc Salad! Pulled Broccoli Salad is gluten/dairy free; it has barely much oil - only the few drops to massage the kale. It was really awesome - gorgeousl colors as well as tasty - was gobbled up in record time by a very appreciative family :). Note: if the almond slices are raw, just heat them in a small pan and stir until lightly browned and toasted. ...

Creamy Mushroom Soup, is so delicious and rich flavored that it is hard to believe there's no cream! The cashews and most of the mushrooms are pureed to a silky and creamy scrumptiousness. The garlicky topping gives the diner a hint of the treat that they are about to enjoy and finishes off the soup so elegantly! Use whatever mushrooms are available, while a mixture is great (such as baby Bella, Cremini, Button etc), the soup maybe made with only one type also. Creamy Mushroom Soup 4-6 servings Ingredients: SOUP: 1.5 lbs Mixed Fresh Mushrooms, sliced (reserve a few for topping) 3-4 cloves Garlic, minced 4-6 Fresh Thyme Sprigs 4 Tbsp Brown Rice Flour 4 cups Vegetable Broth or Water 1/4 cup Raw Cashews Salt & Pepper 1 Tbsp Tamari or Coconut Aminos 1-2 pinches Cayenne, to taste Garlicky Topping: 1 tsp Olive Oil 2 Shallots, thinly sliced 2 cloves Garlic, minced A handful of the mushrooms 1 Tbsp fresh Thyme Salt & Pepper Method:...

Turn frozen artichoke hearts into this fabulous salad that can be served warm, cool, or cold with just a few ingredients. You may use canned beans also; about 2 standard cans should do it.  Ingredients: 1 cup Great Northern Beans 1 clove Garlic, minced 1 Shallot, thinly sliced 1 Lemon, juiced Salt and Pepper to taste 1 tsp Olive oil 1/2 medium Onion, diced 2 Garlic cloves, finely minced 2 Ripe Tomatoes, diced 2 (9 oz) pckges frozen Artichoke Hearts 1 tsp Lemon Zest 1/2 tsp Salt, to taste 1/2 cup Kalamata Olives 8-10 fresh Basil leaves, torn Freshly ground Black Pepper Method: Prepare the beans: sort, soak overnight, and rinse the beans. Cook in water to cover until soft but not mushy. Drain the beans while still warm and add the garlic, shallot, salt and pepper, and lemon to taste.  Heat oil with the garlic and onions; when they soften and become translucent, add tomatoes, artichoke, lemon and a sprinkle of water. Cook covere...

Maple Roasted Carrots With Citrusy Carrot Top Chimichurri uses the carrots as well as their tops, a delicious, no waste, naturally gluten-free and vegan recipe. Multicolor carrots work really beautifully in this recipe. Maple Roasted Carrots are a perfect side for any holiday meal. Chimichurri is a wonderful condiment for adding to anything you like, pasta, soups, stews, sandwiches, or salads. The chimichurri may be frozen; an ice cube tray is handy for this. When frozen, store the frozen cubes in a resealable freezer plastic bag or container. To thaw, remove the required amount from freezer and allow to come to room temperature. You can also use it to flavor soups and stews by dropping a cube or two in them. Chimichurri may also be prepared using equal parts parlsley and cilantro. Also check out this recipe for carrot tops  Chimichurri . 2-4 Servings Ingredients: Carrot-Tops Chimichurri 3 cups Carrot-tops, washed, drained and finely chopped  2 Tb...

Almost Bagel Spice & Seed Mix is a savory spice mix that can be sprinkled on just about everything for a nutty, crunchy flaovor boost. It is my version of a very popular spice mix. The toasted seeds, crisp onions and garlic add a lively and wonderful flavor to even the simplest of foods. Delicious on toast, salads, pasta,  guacamole ,  hummus , or anything at all. Toast the seeds before mixing with the rest of the ingredients to bring out their nutty flavor. Onions and garlic maybe omitted if you like; add a couple of pinches asafetida instead along with the pepper and chile. Just like the sesame seeds, I like using a combination of black and white poppy seeds also. White poppy seeds and Asafetida are available in Indian markets. INGREDIENTS: 3 Tbsp Poppy seeds 3 Tbsp Sesame seeds, a mixture of black and white 1 Tbsp dried minced Garlic 2 Tbsp dried minced Onion 3 Tbsp coarse Sea Salt Optional 1- 2 tsp freshly cracked Black Pepper 1/2 - 1 tsp ...

Vegan Buttery Chickpeas is a delicious entree that works well for batch cooking, it keeps in the fridge for a week or freezes for up to 3 months. Although there is no butter nor any dairy ingrediens, the cashew cream adds the rich buttery and creamy taste. The sauce is wonderful as a base for Vegan Chik'n chunks/strips, Soy Curls, Tofu cubes, Cauliflower florets, etc also. Vegan Buttery Chickpeas doesn't need much to complete the meal; a platter of fresh sliced veggies and hot cooked rice/grains or roti/naan will make it a feast. If you have either the chickpeas or the sauce made ahead, it goes together very quickly. Notes: Preparing Chiles: Core and discard it with any seeds and whitish ribs (the heat source with the most amount of Capsaicin) unless you want a spicy curry. Garam Masala, ginger, and cayenne contribute enough spice so try the recipe with cored chiles first and then decide if you want to take it up a notch with the whole chiles and/or more cayenne. You m...

Pasta With Roasted Butternut Squash & Onions is a lovely dish to celebrate the delicious and super nutritious butternut squash. Once you have the butternut and onions roasted, the rest of the recipe goes really fast. Roasting brings out the nutty sweetness of both the butternut and onions.  Use non-wheat pasta for a Gluten Free recipe. Pasta With Roasted Butternut Squash & Onions INGREDIENTS: 1 small Butternut, peeled and cut into bite size chunks 1 large Onion, cut into largish dice 1 tsp Oil 2-3 pinches Red Pepper Flakes 1 big clove Garlic, minced 1 tsp dried Thyme leaves Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper 3-4 Green Onions, thinly sliced 4 oz dried short Pasta, cooked 2-3 Tbsp pasta cooking water Vegan Parmesan Or chopped Toasted Nuts and Seeds, to serve METHOD: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. Place the butternut and onions in a single layer evenly. Sprinkle with a good ...

Tofu Tikka Masala is a hearty dish and although it sounds like a lot of work, it can be done in steps. Both the tofu and the sauce maybe prepared a day ahead and assembled the next day. Making the sauce one day ahead helps to make it a lot easier; and the sauce is fabulous after it gets a chance to meld all the flavors. Do try it; when you taste and see how delicious it is, you will agree it is worth the effort. Serve with plain rice, any pulao or biriyani, roti, naan etc. accompanied by a platter of sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions or a raita. Notes:  Tandoori Masala  may be homemade or purchased. 4-6 Servings Ingredients: Tofu: 1 block of extra-firm tofu (16 oz) 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Kasoori Methi (dried Fenugreek Leaves) 2 tsp Ginger, grated 2 Tbsp Tandoori Masala 2 Tbsp Cornstarch Oil for coating the pan Sauce: 2 medium tomatoes 2 tbsp raw cashew nuts 1 tsp Oil   1 large Onion, Divided - one half into 1-inch dice, the other half fin...

Carrot Creme or Creamy Carrot Soup is quite simple, yet, so delicious! Although we call it "Creme", there is no cream or other fat/oil in this gorgeous soup. Carrot Creme, just like its cousin Butternut/Pumpkin Creme , is naturally gluten, dairy, and fat free; the nuts and coconut provide creaminess and a small amount of natural fats. Just a few basic ingredients contibute to a wonderfully scrumptious and creamy sunset-colored soup!  An abundance of fresh carrots prompted this recipe. The pepper provides a nice contrast to the natural sweetness of the carrots and nutmeg takes it to the next level of carroty scrumptiousness. As there aren't many steps to follow other than the basic prep, the soup comes together quite quickly. Onions and garlic maybe omitted; if you omit them, a pinch or two of freshly ground cumin maybe added. Makes about 10 cups INGREDIENTS: 6-8 Cashews, preferably raw 6-8 Almonds, raw 1 1/2 lbs Carrots, scrubbed and cut into large c...