Guacamole

I LOOOVE guacamole...  Who doesn't? 

But, do you know how to make a good one? 

Authentic Mexican recipe, courtesy of my husband.

INGREDIENTS

2 ripe avocados

1/2 garlic clove 

2 green onions

3 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves

1 lime juice

1/4 ripe tomato (or 3 cherry tomatoes)

Salt to taste

1/2 red chili (optional)

PREPARATION

Cut the avocados in halves.  Discard pits.
Scoop out the avocado flesh with a spoon.  Place in a food processor or blender.
Peel and slice garlic, add.
Wash and chop onions, add.

Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth (or blend for as long as you like, if you prefer the chunky consistency).

Serve immediately on a bowl, with corn chips or corn tortillas for dipping.

You can NOT keep this in the fridge!  You'll have to it all of it... but don't worry, it won't be difficult.

Hummus

The most popular Middle Eastern dip ever!

INGREDIENTS

425g cooked garbanzo beans (= 15 OZ canned garbanzo beans)

2 garlic cloves (or just one, depending on how "garlicky" you like it)

1 lemon juice

3 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)

1/2 cup spring water
Salt to taste

Extra virgin olive oil
Ground paprika
Ground cumin
Ground coriander
Ground sumac
1 ripe tomato (optional)
Fresh coriander leaves (optional)

PREPARATION

Wash the garbanzo beans with cold water, rinse and place them in a food processor (or blender).
Peel and chop the garlic cloves and add.
Add lemon juice, tahini, water and salt.
Blend it until smooth.

Place the puree in plate and spread it out with a spoon.

Garnishing: pour some extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle some spices on top.
You can decorate the hummus with the spices and it will look very pretty
(but as you can see, I was VERY hungry when I made it and took the photo, so I just threw everything on top of it!)

It's really good if you chop a tomato into small cubes for garnishing, as well as some fresh cilantro leaves.
You can also squeeze more lemon juice if you prefer it more lemony.

Serve with warm pita bread (or corn tortillas or chips for GLUTEN-FREE) for dipping.

You can keep this in the fridge in a proper container for 3-4 days.

Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto

My favorite pasta sauce!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup walnuts
2 garlic cloves
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil
1 lime juice
1/3 cup olive oil


PREPARATION

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Serve with pasta!
You can keep it in the fridge for 3 days.

Mint Chutney

This is just ridiculously good.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup fresh mint leaves

1 cup fresh cilantro

2 tbsp vegan tofu cream cheese*

1 tsp sugar

1 garlic clove

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

1/2 lime juice

1 tbsp tamarind paste or pomegranate molasses**

* I used Trader Joe's non-dairy spread.

** If you don't have this it's ok, but it gives the chutney that special sourness...

PREPARATION

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until you get a smooth texture. 

Serve with pakoras, veggie burgers...  It's a great dip/sauce that you can serve with many dishes, but it -obviously- goes very well with Indian food. 

Muhammara (Red Pepper Dip)

"Muhammara" means "reddened" in arabic.  
It's also called "Acuka" in western Turkish cuisine.

INGREDIENTS

2 large roasted red peppers*

1 garlic clove

2 tbsp walnuts

1/2 lime juice

1 tbsp pomegranate molasses

1 slice fresh bread 

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt to taste

1/3 tsp ground cumin

*The canned ones also work for this recipe (use 1 cup and squeeze excess oil).

PREPARATION

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until you get a smooth texture. 

Serve with pita bread.

Baba Ghanouj (Cold Eggplant Puree)

INGREDIENTS

2 large eggplants

2 garlic cloves (or just one, depending on how "garlicky" you like it)

1 lemon juice

3 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (or 1-2 tbsp dry mint)

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Salt to taste

Extra virgin olive oil

Ground paprika

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 350°F. 

Wash the eggplant and cut in halves. 

Cover an oven tray with aluminum foil and place the eggplant on top, skin side up.
Pour a little olive oil on top and cook in the oven for 30 minutes.

Remove the eggplant from the oven and peel it (discard the peel).
Let them cool down to room temperature.

Place the eggplant in a food processor.

Chop and slice garlic, add.
Add lemon juice, tahini, salt, black pepper and mint leaves.

Blend it until smooth.

Serve on a plate, spreading it out with a spoon.
Pour some extra virgin olive oil on top.
Sprinkle ground paprika and decorate with mint leaves.

Serve with warm pita bread (or corn tortillas or chips for GLUTEN-FREE) for dipping.

You can keep this in the fridge in a proper container for a couple of days.