Parchment paper packets
Hello! I recently joined this community when it was featured on community spotlight. I’m really enjoying it so far, although I have yet to try a new recipe acquired here.
Here is one of my favorite meals since going vegetarian. It's easy to make and tastes fantastic. Ironically, when I first learned this recipe from some friends, it did include shrimp in it. But I was happy to discover that it's just as good--or even better--without.
Ingredients:
1/2 c whole wheat couscous, cooked
1-2 T basil or tomato pesto*
A generous heap (around 1/2 c) of chopped vegetables (zucchini, carrots, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.--whatever you like, as long as it's not too slow-cooking)
Tear off a piece of parchment paper about as long as it is wide. Cut it in the shape of a heart by folding it in half and cutting a large half-heart. Open the heart-shape and layer couscous, vegetables, and then pesto onto half of it (that is, don’t let your pile extend past the fold down the middle.), leaving about a 1” margin around the edge. If desired, sprinkle a little of your favorite kind of cheese over the top. Fold over the other half of the parchment heart, then crease and fold around the edges, starting at the round part and working toward the point, to seal it in a packet. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes.
*I’m kind of lax about rennet personally, but if you’re concerned that store-bought pesto might contain animal rennet, you could try this vegan basil pesto recipe (untested by me): http://vegetarian.about.com/od/morerecipes/r/Veganpestorec.htm
Joie
Here is one of my favorite meals since going vegetarian. It's easy to make and tastes fantastic. Ironically, when I first learned this recipe from some friends, it did include shrimp in it. But I was happy to discover that it's just as good--or even better--without.
Ingredients:
1/2 c whole wheat couscous, cooked
1-2 T basil or tomato pesto*
A generous heap (around 1/2 c) of chopped vegetables (zucchini, carrots, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.--whatever you like, as long as it's not too slow-cooking)
Tear off a piece of parchment paper about as long as it is wide. Cut it in the shape of a heart by folding it in half and cutting a large half-heart. Open the heart-shape and layer couscous, vegetables, and then pesto onto half of it (that is, don’t let your pile extend past the fold down the middle.), leaving about a 1” margin around the edge. If desired, sprinkle a little of your favorite kind of cheese over the top. Fold over the other half of the parchment heart, then crease and fold around the edges, starting at the round part and working toward the point, to seal it in a packet. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes.
*I’m kind of lax about rennet personally, but if you’re concerned that store-bought pesto might contain animal rennet, you could try this vegan basil pesto recipe (untested by me): http://vegetarian.about.com/od/morerecipes/r/Veganpestorec.htm
Joie