Showing posts with label Meatless recipes. Show all posts
Ceviche de Soya, made with texturized soy protein, is a tasty and refreshing alternative perfect for meatless Mondays or Lent Fridays.



Ceviche de Soya recipe - lacocinadeleslie.com

Soya (texturized soy/vegetable protein) is a very popular ingredient here in Mexico. Not only is it a great alternative to meat, it's also budget-friendly and it's easy to store in your pantry. I use soya (TVP) most during Cuaresma (Lent). It's quick and easy to prepare, and is a perfect substitute for ground meat if your budget is tight or you're simply trying to eat more meatless meals. And best of all, it's super versatile. Some of my favorite ways to prepare soya is in carne adobada for tacos al pastor, sloppy Jose's, and picadillo.

But my favorite way to enjoy soya in a cool and refreshing Ceviche. Made with finely chopped fresh tomatoes, onion, serrano chiles, and freshly squeezed lime juice, Ceviche de Soya is perfect for a light lunch or no-fuss dinner. If you've never tried texturized soy/vegetable protein, this soy ceviche is the easiest and most flavorful way to enjoy it.

Like most ceviches, serve Ceviche de Soya atop crisp tostada shells and garnish with avocado slices and a few drops of your favorite bottled hot sauce. And while you're at it, serve yourself a tall glass of ice cold Agua de Jamaica or pop open a bottle of your favorite Mexican beer.

Mexican Soy Ceviche recipe - lacocinadeleslie.com


Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Ceviche de Soya

Ceviche de Soya, made with texturized soy protein, is a tasty and refreshing alternative perfect for meatless Mondays or Lent Fridays.

prep time: 30 MINScook time: 2 hourtotal time: 2 hours and 30 mins

ingredients:

For the soya:
  • 1/2 medium white onion
  • 2 cloves garlic 
  • 1 handful fresh cilantro 
  • 1 cube Knorr Suiza chicken bouillon 
  • 8 cups water 
  • 8 oz. texturized soy/vegetable protein 
For the ceviche:
  • 5 roma tomatoes, finely chopped 
  • 1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 medium white onion, finely chopped 
  • 4 serrano chiles, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped 
  • 1-1/2 fresh lime juice 
  • Tostada shells 
  • Mayonnaise or Mexican crema (optional) 
  • Avocado slices (for garnish) 
  • Bottled hot sauce (like Tapatío, Valentina or Tabasco) 

instructions


  1. To cook the soya, place onion, garlic, cilantro and bouillon cube in a large saucepan. Pour in the water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, remove and discard the onion, garlic, and cilantro.  
  2. Add the dried soya to the hot broth. Stir gently to combine. Cover and let soak for at least 10 minutes until the soya is completely hydrated. Drain and let cool completely. 
  3. Once the soya has cooled completely, squeeze out any excess broth that the soya has absorbed. (You don't want the excess moisture to water down the ceviche.) 
  4. In a large serving or mixing bowl, add the drained and cooled soya, the tomatoes, onions, serrano chiles, chopped cilantro, and the lime juice. Stir gently to combine. Season with coarse salt to taste. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. 
  5. To serve, spread tostada shells with a little mayonnaise or Mexican crema, if desired. Top with a few heaping tablespoons of ceviche de soya. Garnish with avocado slices and a few drops of your favorite bottled hot sauce. ¡Buen provecho! 
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Ceviche de Soya

Tender pieces of cauliflower in a flavorful tomato chipotle sauce wrapped in a warm corn tortilla is a delicious meatless option for taco Tuesday.


Cauliflower Tinga Tacos - lacocinadeleslie.com


Cauliflower has been one of my favorite vegetables since way before it became the popular veggie it is today. Whether it's steamed, baked and covered with cheese, battered and fried to a golden crisp, or simmered in a spicy tomato chipotle sauce, cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed as a side dish or main dish. Simmered in a spicy tomato chipotle sauce, this Tinga de Coliflor is then wrapped in warm corn tortillas and topped with Cebollas Encurtidas (pickled red onions) and chopped fresh cilantro for a healthy taco perfect for meatless Mondays, taco Tuesdays, or any other night of the week.

Cauliflower Tinga Tacos #TacoTuesday

Crispy taquitos filled with sauteed flor de jamaica (hibiscus flower) and queso fresco topped with lettuce and pickled red onions are a delicious meatless option perfect for Lent.


Hibiscus Flower Taquitos - lacocinadeleslie.com

J is for Jamaica, as in flor de jamaica, which is Spanish for hibiscus flower. Dried hibiscus flowers are used to make one of Mexico's most popular aguas frescas: Agua de Jamaica. Many people make the mistake of tossing out the rehydrated flowers once the agua fresca is made, which is a huge mistake. Rehydrated flor de jamaica is totally edible and can be used as a filling for tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and empanadas.

Taquitos de Jamaica (Hibiscus Flower Taquitos) #AtoZrecipechallenge

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Cuaresma (Lent). Cuaresma is the forty day period (Sundays not included) before Easter. For many of us living in Mexico, Cuaresma is a time when we refrain from eating meat on Fridays from now until Easter Sunday. Cuaresma is one of my favorite times of the year in Mexico because of the traditional Mexican dishes that are especially popular during Lent. Recipes like Capirotada (Mexican bread pudding), chiles rellenos, tacos de papa (potato), tostadas de ceviche (soy ceviche tostadas), and a plethora of seafood and egg dishes.

Mexican Recipe Ideas for Cuaresma (Lent)

Simple and easy to make, Entomatadas Verdes are corn tortillas stuffed with asadero cheese and red onion baked in a mild tomatillo salsa.



For those of you unfamiliar with entomatadas, they are milder version of enchiladas. Simply put, enchiladas are made with a chile-based sauce and entomatadas are made with a tomato or tomatillo-based sauce. Entomatadas Verdes are a childhood favorite of mine. My abuelito (grandpa) used to make Entomatadas on those days when groceries were running low. (Meaning we didn't have any meat in the freezer and/or we still had a few days before payday.) Now that I'm all grown-up, entomatadas verdes are one of my go-to recipes because I always have corn tortillas, some kind of Mexican cheese, and homemade salsa verde in the fridge.

Entomatadas Verdes (Mild Green Enchiladas) #MeatlessMonday

Roasted cauliflower and tart fall apples topped with melted manchego cheese atop toasted bolillo roll slices.

Cauliflower Apple Manchego Melts - lacocinadeleslie.com

¡Hola, mis amigos! Welcome back to another edition of The Secret Recipe Club. This month my assignment is The Wimpy Vegetarian, written by Susan who also happens to be our group's hostess with the mostess. Susan describes herself as a mostly (wimpy) vegetarian married to a mostly carnivore. Her blog is filled with tantalizing vegetarian recipes which also include tips on how to adjust for meat lover's. Comforting fall-inspired recipes like Lightened Maple Carrot Flan, Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, and Mexican Street Corn Tart were just a few of the recipes that caught my eye.

Secret Recipe Club: Cauliflower Apple Manchego Melts

Can you believe how fast time flies by? It feels like it was just the other day that I was posting the reveal of my July assignment for The Secret Recipe Club, and now all of a sudden it's August 1st and time for another installment. Granted, I've been a little distracted lately, and will explain in much more detail later this week. But first, a little about my assignment this month. Lavender and Lovage is a stunningly gorgeous blog written by Karen, whose love of food was greatly influenced by her grandmother and mother. (Something I can relate to.)  Karen divides her time between France and England, and devotes that time to food writing, food styling and photography, and teaching cooking workshops.


Mexican Salsa Roasted Cauliflower - lacocinadeleslie.com

It took me a couple of days to stop swooning over the beautiful photography, mouth-watering recipes, and Karen's dreamy, Julia Child-style kitchen. (Or at least that's how I imagine how Julia Child's kitchen might have looked like.) My original plan while perusing through Lavender and Lovage was to choose an appetizer or dessert to serve at Hope's high school graduation party. But as we read through Karen's blog, Hope and I ended up wanting to make pretty much every single recipe for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert for the next two weeks. We finally narrowed down our choices from Spiced Cinnamon and Coffee Buns, Baked Lemon Chicken w/ Saffron, and Shirred Eggs over Kale & Garlic, down to a rather impressive Whole Roasted Cauliflower in a Spicy Mexican Sauce.

Secret Recipe Club: Salsa Roasted Cauliflower w/ Queso Fresco

Pambazos de Papa (Potato Pambazos) are a delicious meatless take on a classic Mexican sandwich made with crusty bolillo rolls bathed in a spicy guajillo salsa then filled with refried beans, cooked potatoes, shredded lettuce, crumbled queso fresco, and Mexican crema.


Potato Pambazos - lacocinadeleslie.com

Pambazos are a traditional Mexican torta (sandwich) made by splitting open telera or bolillo rolls, dipping them in a spicy guajillo salsa, then frying them in manteca (or vegetable oil). The fried bread rolls are then stuffed with potatoes and chorizo, and topped with garnishes like shredded lettuce, crumbled queso fresco, Mexican crema, chiles en escabeche (pickled chiles) and/or a spicy tomatillo salsa.

Potato Pambazos #MeatlessMonday

Caldillo de Papa is a delicious traditional Mexican soup made with potatoes and queso fresco in a light tomato broth.


Caldillo de Papa y Queso Fresco - lacocinadeleslie.com


A popular soup in Mexican kitchens Caldillo de Papa is comfort food in it's simplest form, and it's been one of my favorite soups since childhood. My grandpa used to make this soup on rainy days when he wanted something comforting to warm him up, while my grandmother usually made this soup at the end of the month when money was tight and the cupboards were getting bare. Whether you're looking for something simple and delicious, or something budget-friendly this soup is for you. Made with bite-size pieces of potato and queso fresco in a light tomato broth seasoned with bacon, onion, garlic, serrano chile, and fresh cilantro this classic Mexican soup is sure to become a family favorite.

Comfort Food Classics: Caldillo de Papa (Mexican Potato Soup w/ Queso Fresco)

Celebrate #MeatlessMonday with these flavorful Squash Blossom Tacos a la Mexicana with chopped onion, tomato, and serrano chiles.


Tacos de Flor de Calabaza - lacocinadeleslie.com

Homemade Mexican food doesn't have to be complicated. Some of the easiest Mexican recipes I know are made a la Mexicana, with chopped onion, tomato, and green chiles. These dishes are called a la mexicana because the red, white, and green ingredients represent the colors of the Mexican flag. Earlier this month I shared my Quesadillas de Flor de Calabaza, stating that cooking with flores de calabaza (which are currently in season here in Mexico) doesn't have to be complicated either. Combining the simplicity of a la mexicana with freshly cut squash blossoms we get these flavorsome Tacos de Flor de Calabaza a la Mexicana that are super quick and easy to make. Enjoy these Squash Blossom Tacos on their own for a light lunch, or serve them with Mexican Rice and Refried Beans for a complete meal.

Tacos de Flor de Calabaza (Squash Blossom Tacos)

Crispy corn tortilla flautas stuffed with refried black beans seasoned with caramelized onion and ground cumin.


Black Bean Flautas - lacocinadeleslie.com

Because sometimes you get a craving for something crispy and fried. Black bean flautas are a meat-free alternative perfect for any night of the week. The kiddies love them because they can eat them with their hands, and Hubby loves the rich flavor the caramelized onions add to the beans. Serve these flautas with Mexican Rice and a simple green salad for a complete meal. Cut the flautas in half to make mini-flautas to serve as appetizers at your next family get-together.

Black Bean Flautas

This recipe for Chile de Huevo (en Chile Colorado) might look familiar to longtime readers of La Cocina de Leslie. It was one of the first recipes I ever posted on this blog. That was six years ago and it's one of those recipes that kind of got lost in the shuffle and hasn't really gotten the love I think it deserves. Because it's Throwback Thursday, and  because Chile de Huevo was one of my favorite breakfasts growing up, I thought it would be fun to share this recipe again.

Chile de Huevo en Salsa de Chile Colorado - lacocinadeleslie.com

Chile de Huevo (eggs in chile sauce) was a dish that both Gramm and Pappy (my grandparents) often made for breakfast. It was one of those easy, no-fuss meals that didn't require anything more than scrambled eggs and leftover enchilada sauce. Pappy liked to add nopales (cooked cactus paddles) to his Chile de Huevo, but back then I was not a big fan of nopales at all. Thank goodness times have changed because now I can't imagine having this dish without the nopales. They really do help to bring this dish together.

Chile de Huevo en Chile Colorado (Chile Colorado w/ Eggs) #ThrowbackThursday

Homemade Tamales de Rajas from scratch - lacocinadeleslie.com

This week's #SundaySupper is Stuffed, Rolled, and Wrapped, hosted by kimchi MOM. Here in Mexico we have plenty of stuffed, rolled, and wrapped foods to choose from like tacos, gorditas, burritos, and enchiladas. The possibilities are endless. But honestly there was really only one thing I had in mind for this week's #SundaySupper theme...tamales! Tamales de Rajas con Requeson to be exact. Rajas are roasted poblano pepper strips, and requeson is like a Mexican ricotta cheese. Together they are a match made in heaven.

I know that the idea of making tamales from scratch can seem intimidating. If that's been the case for you, then this is the tamal recipe for you. Seriously, I don't think recipes for tamales can get any easier. (For easy to follow step-by-step instructions with photos on how to make tamales, see my recipe for Shredded Pork Tamales.) 

Tamales de Rajas con Requeson are a delicious meatless alternative for Lent.

Tamales de Rajas y Requeson (Roasted Poblano Tamales) #SundaySupper

Meatless Mushroom Poblano Tacos - lacocinadeleslie.com

For this week's #SundaySupper theme, hosted by Tammi of Momma's Meals, we are going meatless. Personally, I couldn't be any happier because I'm always looking for new meatless recipes to serve during Lent for our meat-free Fridays.

The recipe I'm sharing today is one I make often, even when we're not observing Cuaresma (Lent). My favorite thing about these tacos, aside from their spicy and earthy flavor, is how incredibly easy they are to put together. All it takes is 3 ingredients: onion, mushrooms, and roasted poblano peppers. Recipes don't get much easier than that.

Mushroom Poblano Tacos #SundaySupper

The other night, Hubby and I were having a profound conversation, trying to answer the age-old question of...If you could only eat one comida (food) for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hubby quickly chose chicken, because it can be prepared in a variety of ways.

I, on the other hand, found it very difficult to answer the question. I love food too much. How could I possibly choose just one food to eat for the rest of my life? But today, after a visit to our local fruteria (produce market), I finally came up with an answer...Zucchini!  Not only is it my favorite veggie, it also happens to be way more versatile than chicken. Can you imagine eating a chicken dessert? No, gracias! But zucchini is so versatile it can be eaten both sweet AND savory.

One of my favorite ways to eat zucchini is in Tortitas de Calabacita (Zucchini Fritters/Latkes).  I love them for breakfast or as a side dish with a little Jalapeño Lime Mexican Crema or Chile de Molcajete on the side. During Cuaresma (Lent) I like to serve my tortitas in Mole Ranchero. But Tortitas de Calabacita also make for a great meatless filling for a veggie burger.


Zucchini Latkes (Tortas de Calabacita) - lacocinadeleslie.com

Tortitas de Calabacita
(Zucchini Fritters/Latkes)

Ingredients:
  • 4 cups shredded zucchini
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 tablespoons masa harina (I use Maseca brand) 
  • 2 tablespoons chopped onion
  • Butter or vegetable oil (for frying)

Directions:
Place the shredded zucchini in a fine-sieve strainer.  Using the back of a spoon, press on the zucchini, to drain all of the liquid.  Transfer the zucchini to a medium bowl.  Add the eggs, masa harina, and onion.  Season with salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.

Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter or vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat.  Spoon 1/4 cupfuls of batter into skillet; flatten the patties slightly.  (Cook 3 or 4 patties at a time.) Cover skillet and let cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown. Serve with Mexican crema or your favorite salsa. Enjoy!


Tortitas de Calabacita (Zucchini Fritters) - lacocinadeleslie.com


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Tortitas de Calabacita {Zucchini Patties}