I’ve been playing around with tapenade lately. I love that it is easy to make yet gives you really rich flavors. This is a sun-dried tomato and green olive version. I minced one clove of garlic in the mini-prep. Then I added a small handful of olives, around a teaspoon of capers, half an anchovy, 3 large sun-dried tomatoes that were soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, about 3 basil leaves, and a glug of olive oil. Then I used the mini-prep to grind it all together. It makes a great spread on sandwiches or as an appetizer on toast.

This spicy paste is a needed ingredient in Ethiopian recipes. Not only is it spicy hot it also include coriander, cinnamon, cardamom and other spices so it is very flavorful. I got this recipe from Papa Tofu Loves Ethiopian, a vegan and gluten-free zine by Kittee Berns. You can buy it directly from her for $9. I use this spicy paste to make anything taste better! For example, I bought a “black bean mix” from the co-op this week just to try it out. Well, turns out it was really bland.. I added some of this paste and magically had flavorful and slightly spicy beans. Yum!

I’ve been eating some version of this for dinner for the past few weeks. I love it! It is fast, simple and healthy. Plus the combination is so endlessly variable that I don’t feel like I’m eating the same thing every night. Here is what I do:

1. Cook some mixed, frozen veggies in the microwave. Our microwave has a frozen veggies setting so this part doesn’t even take any thought.
2. Add some beans on top. In the picture above you see refried black beans. I’ve also used whole black beans, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans, lentils, etc. Any well seasoned bean will work. I then pop back into the microwave for about 30 seconds to heat the beans.
3. Add some protein. I like herb-roasted shrimp, pan-grilled tempeh, a fried egg. Again, anything will work.
4. [Optional] Add a sauce. Sometimes I go really simple with this and just add a little soy sauce to the veggies. Or you could add peanut sauce, tomato sauce, tahini goddess dressing, or cilantro dressing.

This is a homemade version of the “French” dressing you find at the supermarket. Though I’ll note that I never found a salad dressing like this in France… Anyhow, this dressing is really tasty and much better than what you buy at the supermarket. It is also really quick. I like it best on simple green salads. The recipe comes from my grandmother’s friend. When I was a teen they invited my mother and I for dinner at their condo. It was a great dinner party and before we left my mom asked for the dressing recipe.

No, those are not carrots… It’s actually fresh turmeric root. I’m marinating it in lime juice and salt for a quick pickle.