Broccoli and Tofu in Spicy Almond Sauce
Ingredients:
Sauce:
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup almond butter or peanut butter
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons tamari soy sauce
2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
1 teaspoon cayenne
Saute:
1 pound broccoli
2 teaspoons ginger
4 cloves garlic
1 pound tofu, cubed
2 cups onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cashews, chopped
3 tablespoons tamari soy sauce
2 scallions, chopped
Directions:
Sauce:
In small saucepan, whisk together almond butter and hot water until you have a uniform mixture. Whisk in remaining sauce ingredients and set aside.
Saute:
Stir-fry half the ginger and half the garlic in 1 tbsp. oil.
Cucumber Almond Soup
Ingredients:
6 larger lemon cucumbers
1 smaller lemon cucumber
4 garlic
cloves
1/2 tsp. sea salt
3/4 cup toasted almond slivers
2 slices of
stale bread, cut into rough pieces
2 tbsps. grape seed oil (or other mild
oil)
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
1/4 cup cold water
2 tsps. lemon
juice
pinch of white pepper
1 large basil leaf (for garnish)
1 tsp.
lemon zest (for garnish)
Directions:
Thoroughly wash and dry cucumbers.
Slice a 1/4 inch off the top (stem side) of the 6 larger cucumbers. Using a spoon and knife as needed, scour and scoop out the insides of cucumbers and put the insides in a blender and set the bowls aside.
Dice the smaller cucumber and set aside. Mince the garlic and sprinkle with salt. Using the back of a wide knife blade, work the salt and garlic together until it forms a smooth paste.
Scrap up the garlic and add to blender. If walnuts aren’t already toasted, do so by spreading on a baking sheet and placing in 200 F oven for about 15 minutes, until golden.
Add toasted almonds to blender, reserving a couple for garnish. Pulse blender to start processing the ingredients. Add the bread and continue to process.
When the mixture is fairly smooth, slowly add the grape seed oil and combine well. Next add the plain yogurt and process again until well combined.
Finally add the cold water and lemon juice. Taste and season a needed with white pepper. Stir (not blend!) the diced cucumber into the soup. Carefully spoon the soup into the cucumber bowls. Put tops on and chill for at least an hour. Before serving, remove tops and garnish soup with ribbons of basil, a pinch of lemon zest, and an almond sliver.
Serve immediately. Yields 6 servings.
Categories: Other Asian Tags: almond, cucumber, soup



