Extra Smoky Eggplant Dip (Baba Ganoush)

Extra Smoky Eggplant Dip (Baba Ganoush)

🍆 Extra Smoky Eggplant Dip 🍆
Baba Ganoush

Baba ganoush is a beloved Middle Eastern dip that celebrates the smoky, earthy flavors of roasted eggplant.

At its core, baba ganoush is made from charred or roasted eggplant, which is blended with tahini (sesame seed paste), garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. The result is a creamy, slightly tangy, and nutty dip with a hint of smokiness, thanks to the roasted eggplant.

Here, the traditional ingredients are used but for extra smokiness a few drops of natural hickory liquid smoke are added. Fans of smoky foods will swoon over this recipe.

Served with pita, cucumber, radish, and gluten-free crackers, this is a terrific vegan appetizer to serve before Thanksgiving (or any) big dinner. With wide appeal, it has tons of flavor, color, and crunch and won’t fill up your guests before the main event.

Extra Smoky Eggplant Dip Recipe

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No-Cook Mexican Corn Soup

No-Cook Mexican Corn Soup

🌽 No-Cook Mexican Corn Soup 🌽

Fresh Corn, Golden Tomatoes, Yellow Bell Pepper
Tortilla Strips, Avocado, Jalapeño, Pepitas
Mexican Crema, Cotija Cheese, Lime Juice, Cilantro

Well…  it’s a “no-cook” recipe, except for the tortilla strips. And I highly recommend frying your own tortillas. The toppings on this raw soup take it over the top – visually, texturally, and flavorfully. The chilled soup itself is refreshingly delicious but definitely don’t skimp on the garnishes.

Corn season in the United States typically runs from late spring to early fall, so we are at the start of another glorious corn extravaganza.

It’s at peak sweetness and flavor when freshly picked. After harvesting, the sugars in corn begin to convert to starches, which diminishes its sweetness and overall flavor. Fresh corn is also higher in moisture, for these reasons this tasty soup is best using only fresh picked corn.

The time it takes for fresh corn to get from the field to the supermarket can vary based on several factors, including the proximity of the farm to the market, the distribution process, and logistical efficiency. However, under typical conditions, fresh corn generally reaches the supermarket within 1 to 3 days after being picked. Once at the supermarket, the corn is typically stocked on shelves quickly to ensure freshness, usually within hours of arrival.

If you can get it from a local farm or farmers market, even better!

No-Cook Mexican Corn Soup

No-Cook Mexican Corn Soup Recipe

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Wolfgang’s Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine

Wolfgang's Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine

Wolfgang’s Carrot and Broccoli Rabe
🥕🥦 Terrine 🥦🥕
Served with Savory Herb Sauce

Of his savory baked vegetable terrine, the Chef says,”It’s impressive and somewhat different.” With broad flavor appeal and a jaunty presentation, this Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine is perfect for entertaining. And Wolfgang Puck sure knows a thing or two about entertaining. This year his catering company hosted Hollywood’s biggest after-party, the Academy Awards Governors Ball for the 30th year!

“To me, spending time in the kitchen should be effortless. It shouldn’t be complicated. It should be fun!” says Wolfgang on Facebook.

While the preparation of this terrine isn’t exactly effortless, it isn’t complicated, and the result is quite fun… Carrots, broccoli rabe, and cheddar are the primary flavors in this delightful layered loaf. Here, I add my umami-rich and creamy Savory Herb Sauce to complement the vegetables, adding another layer of flavors, texture, and herbaceousness.

Wolfgang's Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine

Wolfgang’s Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine Recipe

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Meatless and Marvelous Collard Greens Soup

Meatless & Marvelous Collard Greens Soup

Meatless and Marvelous
Collard Greens Soup

Want to add some pizzazz to a bowl of classic meatless Southern collard greens soup, try this! Greek yogurt brings that rich creamy element, Calabrian chili sauce adds fruity, super-spicy notes, and plenty homemade croutons nail it with a buttery crunch.

This simple, easy soup is so satisfying… (almost) no one will miss the ham. It is chock-full of nutrient-rich collard greens where cannellini beans, carrots, and celery play a supporting role. Onion and garlic provide aromatic and savory undertones, thyme and oregano bring those lovely herbal qualities, where a very flavorful vegetable broth is essential to the recipe.

Meatless & Marvelous Collard Greens Soup

Meatless Collard Greens Soup Recipe

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Two Vegetarian Hominy Soups

Hominy Soup

Two Vegetarian Hominy Soups

Pozole Verde
and
Velvety Hominy Soup

Vegetarian pozole verde offers a delightful departure from the traditional Mexican hominy stew typically featuring pork or chicken. This meatless rendition successfully preserves the lively flavors and comforting warmth that characterize classic pozole.

The heart of this dish lies in its rich green broth, which is made by roasting fresh tomatillos, green chiles, onion, and garlic. This roasted blend is then pureed with cilantro, oregano, and cumin resulting in a zesty and herbaceous base that forms the backbone of the vegetarian pozole verde.

Hominy contributes a pleasing corn-infused chewiness to the stew, while meaty avocado chunks replace the role of traditional meat. Lots of various toppings add flavors, textures, and colors.

The beauty of preparing a big pot of vegetarian pozole verde is the possibility of leftover soup and toppings, providing the chance to reimagine them into a completely new rendition which retains the essence of the original flavor profile but evolves into a unique soup with a creamy and velvety texture.

Hominy Soup

Two Hominy Soup Recipes

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