Corn, Kale, and Veggie Soup

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Chilly weather means soup is on the menu… when I bother making it. I love soup but can definitely get repetitive in my soup making. Using up what was left in my CSA, this soup bridges summer and fall with sweet corn, kale, and autumn-inspired herbs.

Corn, Kale and Veggie Soup

1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 large stalks celery, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
4 red pimento peppers (or any small red pepper, these were just in my CSA box), finely chopped
4 corn-on-the-cobs, husked and kernels removed; reserve the cobs
2 medium zucchini, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried ground sage
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
6 handfuls chopped kale, chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons coconut flour

Heat the coconut oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the celery, carrots, and peppers. Cook until softened. Add the kernels and continue to cook until they start to brown, about 5 more minutes. Add the zucchini, oregano, sage, and thyme, and a healthy dose of salt and pepper (if you are using broth, you might want to wait and just add a sprinkle). Mix well. Add the cobs of the corn and about 8 to 10 cups of water, until the mixture is covered. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook, as long or as little as you’d like, but at least until the veggies are soft and tender. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it will be. This is where I shut it off and left my house for about 10 hours. Sort of like a slow cooker… sort of.

About 30 minutes before serving, remove the lid, remove the cobs, and use an immersion blender to pulse sections of the soup, depending how pureed you’d like it. Stir in the kale and basil. Adjust liquids if needed. Bring to a boil then simmer, covered, until the kale is tender. Stir in the coconut flour to thicken it up (adding more or less, depending on what you prefer). Cook about 5 additional minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Beer-Battered Asparagus

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A simple recipe for beer-battered asparagus with a quick flour mix that would work well for any deep-frying.Though I never bake with rice flour, it provides a tempura-like lightness to deep-frying that works really well.

Beer-Battered Asparagus

1 large bunch of asparagus, about 2 pounds
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup quinoa flour
1/4 cup sweet rice flour
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Scant 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1 cup gluten-free beer (I used New Grist)
4 to 6 cups vegetable oil, such as canola
Additional salt for sprinkling

Wash the asparagus and cut off the woody ends. Cut the asparagus into three-inch pieces. Dry thoroughly.

Whisk together the sorghum flour, quinoa flour, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum, lemon zest, garlic powder, salt and paprika. Stir in the beer, mix until combined.

Put the oil in a medium-sized saucepan and attach a thermometer. The oil should be about three to four inches high. Heat until it reaches approximately 375°F (190°C). Dip the asparagus in the batter (coating completely isn’t necessary). Gently insert the asparagus (about six at a time, depending on the size of your pan) in the saucepan and fry, about two to three minutes, until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the asparagus to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt.Continue with the remaining asparagus. Serve warm.

Kelp Noodle Stirfry with Tofu, Veggies, and Tamarind Sauce

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Becoming increasingly popular, kelp noodles are a sea vegetable that is formulated with–you guessed it!–kelp, sodium alginate, and water. They are naturally gluten-free and vegan, and I’m pretty sure every bag I have seen says “gluten-free” right on the package. Kelp noodles stand in for grain-based noodles in this easy stir fry, excellent for those trying out a few meat-free meals. Baking the tofu brings on a meatier texture, and the sauce gives a nice balance of spicy/salty/sour/sweet.

Kelp Noodle Stirfry with Tofu, Veggies, and Tamarind Sauce

For the tofu:
1 (350g) package extra-firm tofu, squeezed of excess liquid, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup vegetable broth
3-4 tablespoons wheat-free tamari
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 (2-inch) piece of fresh ginger, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the stirfry sauce:
1/2 cup vegetable broth, plus more as needed
1/4 cup wheat-free tamari
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
2 teaspoons Thai (or regular) chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons canola or neutral coconut oil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced

Fresh vegetables, such as snap peas, broccoli, carrots, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetable broth, as necessary
2 (12 ounce) bags kelp noodles, rinsed and cut into pieces with scissors
6 cups bean sprouts
4 green onions, chopped

To make the tofu, mix together all of the ingredients. Let sit 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425F. Pour the mixture in a small baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes until the top of the tofu pieces are dry and brown. Flip each piece and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until the other side is browned. Set aside.

For the sauce, blend all ingredients until smooth.

To make the stirfry, heat the oil on high heat in a skillet. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until it starts to brown. Add the vegetables (except for bean sprouts), starting with crispier vegetables such as carrots and broccoli, adding vegetable broth as necessary to keep a bit of liquid in the pan. Once the vegetables are tender crisp, add the tofu, noodles, and bean sprouts. Add sauce, just enough to coat the ingredients. Turn to low heat and cook until the noodles are tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in the green onions. Serve immediately. Leftover sauce can keep covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week.