Pretty Quick Pinto Picadillo

By Sarah Taylor in Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 1 Comment

 

Pretty Quick Pinto Picadillo

This recipe pleases all the sense: the crunch from the almonds, the cool fresh parsley, the sweet burst of the raisins, and the salty olives.

I like the idea of using it for burritos as eating it plain can start to be a little bland after a while. When we reheated for leftovers I added more salt.

The recipe states that it serves 4 but I found that it makes more than that. If it’s just two of you, like it is for me, then cut the rice quotient in half and you should be fine.

Pretty Quick Pinto Picadillo
Serves 4
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. 1.5 cups quick-cooking brown rice
  2. 1 tbsp olive oil
  3. 1/2 cup chopped onion
  4. 1/2 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
  5. 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  6. 1 16oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  7. 1 15oz can petite diced tomatoes, drained
  8. 1 Granny Smith apple, halved, cored, and chopped
  9. 1/2 cup raisins
  10. 1/4 cup sliced pimento-stuffed green olives
  11. 2 tbsp mild or hot canned chopped green chilies
  12. Salt and pepper
  13. 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  14. 2 tbsp toasted slivered almonds
Instructions
  1. Cook the rice according to package directions. While the rice is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, bell pepper, and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft.
  2. Stir in the pintos, tomatoes, apple, raisins, olives, chilies, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, adding a little water if the mixture becomes too dry.
  3. To serve, combine the pinto mixture with the hot rice and transfer to a large shallow serving bowl. Garnish with the parsley and almonds.
Notes
  1. Serving Suggestion: serve the picadillo with guacamole, salsa, and a green salad. It also makes an unusual and tasty filling for burritos.
Adapted from Quick Fix Vegetarian
Adapted from Quick Fix Vegetarian
Sans Carne https://sanscarne.com/

Zucchini and Pesto Strata

By Sarah Taylor in Vegan, Vegetarian 1 Comment

zucchini and pesto strata

I adore this recipe. It tastes like a rich cream sauce but is made with pureed white beans and pesto. I consider it clean eating with fresh ingredients – tomatoes, zucchini, and beans.

My only gripe about making this dish is cutting the crusts off the bread. I have yet to find an efficient way to do this. However, the nuisance is worth the final product. 

ingredients for zucchini pesto strata

To adapt it to be vegan consider making your own pesto as most store-bought contains parmesan. I sprinkled parmesan on top at the end which could also be skipped if you were going for vegan. 

Zucchini and Pesto Strata
Serves 4
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Cook Time
30 min
Cook Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup basil pesto, store-bought or homemade
  2. 1 cup canned white beans, drained and rinsed
  3. 3 tbsp olive oil
  4. 1/2 cup vegetable broth
  5. 4 cups cubed day-old French or Italian bread, crusts removed
  6. 1.5 lbs zucchini, trimmed and thinly sliced
  7. Salt and Pepper
  8. 4 ripe plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
  9. 1 roasted red bell pepper, bottled or homemade
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375.
  2. In food processor, combine pesto, beans, and 2 tbps of the olive oil, and blend until smooth. Add the broth and process until well blended. Set aside.
  3. Spread about two thirds of the bread cubes in the bottom of a lightly oils gratin or baking dish and layer half of the zucchini slices on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon about half of the pesto sauce on top of the zucchini and top with half of the tomato slices. Sprinkle the chopped roasted red pepper over the tomato slices and season with salt and pepper. Top with a layer of the remaining zucchini slices. Season with salt and pepper and top with the remaining pesto, followed by the remaining tomato slices. Season with S&P.
  4. Top with the remaining bread and drizzle with the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Cover tightly and bake until the vegetables are tender and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
  5. Remove the lid and bake until the top is lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Adapted from Quick-Fix Vegetarian
Adapted from Quick-Fix Vegetarian
Sans Carne https://sanscarne.com/

Pinto Bean and Couscous Tostadas

By Sarah Taylor in Vegan, Vegetarian 4 Comments

pinto bean and couscous tostadasCraving some Mexican fare but looking to mix it up? I found this recipe in our local grocery store’s publication and have loved it ever since. Pinto bean and couscous mixIt’s a tostada made with a healthy mix of pinto beans, couscous, and carrots. It’s a dish that is easy to keep on hand as either a back-up for those nights when you can’t figure out what to make or don’t have much time. The beans, couscous, salsa, and tostadas have a long shelf life and all you need are the fresh veggies to add on top.
I like to use the large couscous for the mix.

The mixture of this dish is vegan; however, adding regular cheese and sour cream on top changes it to being vegetarian. So it’s completely up to you on how you put on the finishing touch. 

 

 

Pinto Bean and Couscous Tostadas
Yields 4
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Ingredients
  1. 1 15oz can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  2. 3/4 cup vegetable broth
  3. 1/2 cup water
  4. 1/2 cup chopped carrot
  5. 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  6. 1/2 cup salsa
  7. 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
  8. 4 tostada shells
  9. 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  10. Optional: sour cream and lettuce
Instructions
  1. In a medium saucepan combine beans, broth, water, carrot, and crushed red pepper. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup salsa and couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
  2. Serve bean-couscous mixture on tostada shells. Top with cheese. If desired serve with sour cream, lettuce, and additional salsa.
Adapted from Publix Greenwise magazine publication
Adapted from Publix Greenwise magazine publication
Sans Carne https://sanscarne.com/