Chickpea & Tempeh Sunbutter Curry Over Jasmine Rice

I probably should be packing a box or working on my finals right now but it seems the internet has other plans...Upon this highly distracting internet adventure, I realized whilst perusing my recipe lists that I had not included a recipe with tempeh...I've had some killer tempeh dishes at places like The Bee's Knees and the late Amy's Cafe but despite my pescatarian lifestyle I don't actually cook with this ingredient often...

Tempeh is essentially made from the same ingredients as tofu just processed in a different way. Since tofu is made from soy milk, it has lighter texture than tempeh which is fermented whole soy beans. Because of it's more substantial texture, tempeh also has a higher amount of protein and fiber per serving (boy, I bet all this talk about yummy fermented soy beans and fiber has you really psyched to try this stuff - trust me, it's better than it sounds).

I will say that I think still prefer the taste and texture of tofu, but I am still willing to experiment with this ingredient. As far as the sunbutter twist, it happened to be the only thing in our pantry even slightly resembling peanut butter, you could also sub out cashew butter too if you have a peanut allergy.

Chickpea & Tempeh Sunbutter Curry Over Jasmine Rice

serves 2-3

2 cups cooked Jasmine rice
1 TBS coconut OR vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely sliced (about 1 cup)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 red bell pepper, diced small, seeds removed
2 tsp dried basil
1 TBS Peanut butter OR Sunbutter
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
1 package of tempeh or tofu cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 TBS yellow curry powder
2 tsp paprika
Squeeze of fresh lime juice (about 2 tsp)
Salt to taste

Sliced green onions and toasted sunflower seeds for garnish (optional)
1/4 soy sauce mixed with 1 TBS honey (for marinade)

Directions:

1.In a sauce pan heat oil on medium heat, add onion and saute until translucent. Add peppers and garlic and cook for at least 6 min.

2.Marinate tempeh in soy sauce and honey - set aside.

3.Add spices to onion mix (adding more oil if needed) and toast spices until fragrant. Add coconut milk and mix. Add sunbutter, chickpeas, and tempeh, and let sit on medium low heat for 10-15 min, stirring often. Add basil and cook until chickpeas are tender. Finish with lime juice and serve atop jasmine rice.

Curry Butternut Squash and Pear Soup (Vegan Option)

Don't you love it when "happy accidents" happen in the kitchen.

The plan was to make butternut squash apple soup - I was in the kitchen, apron on, tunage playing, getting into the zone when I reached my hand in the fruit bowl only to find that I unkowingly devoured the last apple days before. Crap. With not enough squash to make a plain squash soup and no car to go to the store I was stuck - the only fruit in our house were three under ripe Barlett pears (which I had been saving to make a tart). And then, it hit me...apples are sweet and... pears are sweet so what's the big deal? Time to sacrifice that tart in the name of soup!

I have previously confessed my love of curry so you shouldn't be surprised at the savory - sweet combo. This soup blew my expectations! The sweetness of the roasted squash and pears meld perfectly with the savory back heat of the curry. you can easily adjust this recipe to fit a vegan diet too, just note the parentheses in the recipe!


Curry Butternut Squash and Pear Soup

serves 4-5

1 (2 pound) butternut squash
2 firm Bartlett pears, peeled and diced
1 TBS coconut oil
1 small onion, diced fine
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1 TBS yellow curry powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
4 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock)
1/2 cup half and half (or soy milk)
salt and pepper to taste
sour cream and thyme to garnish (no sour cream for vegans obviously)

Directions:

1.Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membrane. Rub squash down with a little vegetable oil, salt, and pepper. Place squash halves, cut sides down, on the prepared baking sheet. Roast in preheated oven until very soft, about 45 minutes. Scoop the pulp from the peel, and reserve.

2.Melt coconut oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, cook and stir until the onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Add spices and toast until fragrant, about 2 min. Pour the chicken broth into the pot, and bring to a boil. Stir in the pears and the reserved squash, and simmer until the pears are very soft, about 30 minutes.

3.Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender. Puree in batches until smooth (or you can use an immersion blender which is 1000 times more convenient). Return the soup to the pot, stir in the half and half (or soy milk), and reheat. Add salt and pepper to desired tastes.