Meatless meals - quick and easy recipes - page 76

Inspired by a recipe Chef David Chang created for Momofuku, this simple mixture takes rich butter and umami-laden white miso and combines them for a savory topping perfect for corn on the cob. Miso replaces the need for salt here, and is a great balance to the sweet corn. If you have any left over, try sautéing scallops in this versatile butter.

Aioli goes great on a burger, a sandwich, or even dolloped on a baked potato, so why not slather it over corn on the cob? This dairy-free recipe is full of flavor thanks to the addition of roasted garlic and Dijon mustard. Lime adds a nice kick of acidity to balance out the rich mayo-based aioli, and smoky paprika gives the creamy topping a bit of bite. Vegan? Replace the egg, vegetable oil and olive oil with Vegenaise and mix it with the garlic purée and Dijon mustard.

This umeboshi paste combines the saltiness from salt-pickled Japanese plums with the sweetness from mirin (a low-alcohol wine made from rice) to create the perfect topping for summertime’s sweet corn. If the umeboshi are too tart and salty for your liking, just add more mirin to balance out the brined plums. Umeboshi can be found in cans and jars in Asian supermarkets and gourmet grocery stores.

Sweet pickle relish on a hot dog? Not for me: I want heat! Essentially a salsa, this relish works on a whole range of casual foods besides franks—nachos, burgers, tacos, you name it. Since this recipe makes a lot, you’ll be able to extend your condiment adventure into next season, slightly perspiring all through the cold months.

You hear pizza, you think cheese that flows like roof tar; pepperoni slices cupping in the oven, filling with grease; and a crust so overladen with toppings it droops like sorrow when you try to lift a slice. It is both elegant and summery, full of flavor from good-quality cheeses and produce—so flavorful, in fact, that you won’t even notice it’s vegetarian.

Everybody likes lasagna, so it’s great to serve at a party or bring to a potluck. These individual lasagna roll-ups solve the problem of messing around with a spatula to hoist servings out of a baking dish. Instead of layering the ingredients en masse, you simply layer pasta strips with spinach and cheese, roll them up cinnamon bun–style, and cover with sauce. They’re easy to make, and it’s a great activity to do with the kids.

Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, the waffles for this bacon, cheese, and fried egg breakfast sandwich are a cool transformation of ramen noodles. Just boil the noodles, drain, and incorporate them into a straight-up waffle batter (chicken flavoring packet added for a savory boost).

Ah, the fried egg taco, favorite of the early-morning protein seeker and the late-night fridge raider. In this healthy twist, you start by sautéing shallots and quickly wilting some arugula. Then fry your eggs, transfer to warm corn tortillas, add your favorite red salsa, and you’re done.

This fun, slightly wacky twist on the chile relleno calls on everybody’s favorite savory snack food—ramen noodles—to stuff poblano chiles. Simply boil the noodles, then mix with Jack cheese, bacon, and mushrooms, and stuff away. Since the starchy element (the ramen) is already inside the peppers, you can bypass dipping the stuffed chiles in batter and frying. Just bake and enjoy.

In this adaptation of a classic coffee-table snack, the usual mix of almonds, cheese crackers, cereal squares, and oyster crackers turns extra-crisp and savory as it slowly cooks in a smoky soy-sauce-and-paprika seasoning blend. It takes a bit of minding, but once it’s done, you’re good for hours of party snacking.

We got the idea for these impromptu gnocchi from our Home Cooking community discussion board. All you need is half a pound of pizza dough, a pot of boiling salted water, and a sauce (marinara is perfect). Enlist your kids to help with the shaping, then let them watch you poaching the dough and tossing it in the sauce. What to buy: Premade pizza dough is available bagged in 14- or 16-ounce portions at well-stocked groceries.

Rolls hot from the oven can take a dinner party from nice to amazing, but with all the other things clamoring for a cook’s attention, home-baked bread tends to fall through the cracks. These knot-shaped, garlic- and parsley-flavored rolls are different: You start with store-bought pizza dough, which slashes prep time; then just roll, brush with butter and flavorings, and bake. The dough knots also work as a stand-alone nibble, served with marinara sauce for dipping.

The Spanish brought ensaïmadas—rich, tender rolls originally from Mallorca—to the Philippines. The spelling morphed into ensaymada, and what had been bread dough heavily enriched with pork lard became buttery rolls crowned with grated cheese and sprinkled with sugar. We slashed the prep time by starting with store-bought pizza dough. They end up chewier and a bit more rugged than classic brioche-based ensaymadas, but what you lose in tenderness you make up for in prep time.

We couldn’t resist trying this simple yet sophisticated baked asparagus “fries” recipe developed by one of our community members, AngelaID. This supereasy, and healthy, take on deep-fried potatoes is a great side or appetizer at any meal. If you can’t find fresh asparagus because it’s not in season, most stores sell frozen asparagus that’s often cut in stems and pieces, which could be good for bite-sized “fries.”

A soft taco topped with a fried egg is perfect as the first thing you eat in the morning or the last thing you eat at night, even when those lines blur a bit. These have refried beans, melted cheddar, and creamy Greek yogurt to boot.