Chicken, Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Vindaloo with Quinoa
Along with the bounty of the fall harvest comes cooler days and longer nights, and a craving for hearty dishes that bring you back to the warmth of the stove. We turn to comforting inexpensive staples like potatoes, carrots, apples, and grains, for rich autumnal inspiration. The desire for comfort is universal, and a simmering pot is the marker of fall.
Instead of armchair traveling, I suggest you travel via your kitchen, and explore global cuisine. Take a trip from Tokyo, to Goa, to Naples to Budapest, all in the course of a week. Following on my last post for Pasta e Fagioli with “Cheesy” Garlic Croutons, this week, I’m sharing an Indian dish. Come back next week for Japanese-Style Chicken Curry (Wafuu Chicken Curry).
Chicken, Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Vindaloo with Quinoa
Vindaloo hails from Goa India, and can be made with pork, prawns, lamb, chicken or beef. Goa was settled by the Portuguese, and this dish is a direct reflection of that influence with the tangy combo of vinegar and spice. Portuguese Vindaloo usually includes malt vinegar, which is derived from barley. To keep it gluten-free, I opt for apple cider vinegar.
Serves 4
Free of: gluten and all top allergens
Ingredients
2 tsp finely minced garlic
1 tsp finely minced or grated ginger
2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp garam masala
½ tsp cayenne pepper
Large pinch cinnamon
4 tbsp canola oil, divided
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups diced yellow onion
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed into 1-inch pieces
3 whole cloves
8 peppercorns
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets (about 5 heaping cups)
1 14.5-ounce can crushed tomatoes (1¾ cups)
1 cup chicken broth (look for allergen-safe brands)
4 cups cooked quinoa
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1. Grind the first 6 ingredients into a paste with a small food processor or a mortar and pestle. It will be dry.
2. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add sweet potatoes and sauté until golden, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a bowl.
3. Add onions to the pan and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes.
4. Add chicken, cloves, and peppercorns, and cook stirring often, until chicken is no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Add sugar and salt, and sauté 3 minutes more until chicken is turning golden brown.
5. Stir in the spice paste and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in vinegar, then cauliflower, tossing well to coat. Add tomatoes and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, loosely cover and simmer, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
6. Add reserved sweet potatoes, loosely cover and cook 3 minutes more.
7. Serve over quinoa and garnish with cilantro.
Chicken, Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Vindaloo with Quinoa © 2013 by Cybele Pascal
This recipe first appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Allergic Living Magazine
Allergy Free French Apple Cake
French Apple Cake is a rich tasting healthy cake that is wonderful for teatime, as a seasonal dessert, or perfect for celebratory brunches. I’ve whipped up a gluten-free, vegan, and top 8 allergen-free version that will knock your socks off. Allergy-Free French Apple Cake is one of my new favorites, and as apple season comes into full swing, I hope it will be one of yours’ too!
The key to this cake is precooking the apples for 3 minutes in the microwave. This ensures you’ll have tender apples without them releasing too much moisture into your cake.
Allergy-Free French Apple Cake
Serves 8 to 10
prep time: 20 minutes
bake time: 60 minutes
2 large granny smith or other large baking apples (1 lb), peeled, cored, cut into 8 wedges, and sliced 1/8th inch thick crosswise
2 teaspoons brandy (Calvados if you have it)
¾ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups Authentic Foods GF Classical Blend or my Basic Gluten-Free Flour Mix
½ teaspoon xanthan or guar gum
1 Tablespoon double-acting baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup dairy-free, soy-free vegetable shortening
¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
½ cup plus 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
4 ½ teaspoons Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 6 Tablespoons rice milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup rice milk
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Grease a 9-inch springform pan, sprinkle with a little gluten-free flour mix, tapping out any extra, and place prepared pan onto baking sheet.
2. Place apple slices in a microwave-safe pie plate, cover and microwave 3 minutes until apples are slightly tender and pliable, toss with brandy and lemon juice, and set aside on a wire cooling rack to cool.
3. Whisk together flour mix, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine shortening, light brown sugar, and ½ cup of the granulated sugar. Mix on medium-high speed for 1 minute, or until fluffy. Whisk egg replacer with 6 Tablespoons rice milk, till frothy.
5. Add egg replacer and vanilla extract, and mix for 20 seconds.
6. Reduce the speed to medium and beat in one-third of the flour, mixing for 15 seconds.
7. Add half the rice milk, mixing for 20 seconds.
8. Beat in half the remaining flour, then the remaining rice milk, and finally the remaining flour mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
9. Scoop out 1 1/3 cups of the batter and set aside.
10. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold cooled apple slices into the remaining batter. Transfer to the prepared springform pan, smoothing batter evenly to edges of pan.
11. Top with the reserved batter, using an offset spatula or rubber spatula to smooth batter evenly to edges of pan. Sprinkle top evenly with the remaining 1 Tablespoon of granulated sugar.
12. Bake in center of oven until top is golden and pulling away slightly from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer cake pan to a wire cooling rack. Let cool about 10 minutes, then run a butter or pairing knife around the sides of the pan, and let cool completely, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Cut into wedges and serve. Store covered with a cake dome at room temperature. May be reheated at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes the following day to freshen and be served warm.
Allergy-Free French Apple Cake © 2012 by Cybele Pascal Photos by Stephen Scott Gross
(Please note that all my recipes are completely free of all top allergens (wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, and gluten), so as many people as possible can enjoy them. Additionally, all the ingredients are available atWhole Foods, and online at Amazon.com. If you have trouble finding something, let me know and I’ll help you find it.)
SAFETY NOTE: Because each person’s food sensitivity and reaction is unique, ranging from mild intolerance to life-threatening and severe food allergies, it is up to the consumer to monitor ingredients and manufacturing conditions. If manufacturing conditions, potential cross contact between foods, and ingredient derivatives pose a risk for you, please re-read all food labels and call the manufacturer to confirm potential allergen concerns before consumption. Ingredients and manufacturing practices can change overnight and without warning.
New England Pear Soup with Chervil
I get very excited when So Delicious comes out with new products. Their dairy-free offerings open up all sorts of new recipe possibilities. Which is why I felt gleeful when they rolled out their “Greek Style” coconut milk yogurts this year. This new yogurt can be used most places you’d use sour cream or Creme Fraiche. If you can eat dairy, by all means, go for the Creme Freiche, it’s hard to find excuses to eat full fat dairy. But bare in mind, the So Delicious Greek Style yogurt has no cholesterol and 9 grams of fiber per 6 ounce container! Have your tried this yogurt yet? Is it in your stores? Leave me a comment and let me know.
New England Pear Soup with Chervil
Makes 4-6 servings.
This warm pear soup is light and elegant. It’s the perfect way to dress up lovely fall pears. My husband calls it “Divine!” And if you know my husband, yes, he really said that.
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
6 large pears (Comice, Anjou, Bartlett, etc. – just under-ripe is perfect because they’ll be firm enough to work with easily)
3 Tbsp. sunflower oil (or other mild flavored oil, such as safflower or canola, try Spectrum)
1 1/2 large shallots, minced (1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp.)
3 Tbsp. honey
3 cups organic vegetable broth
white pepper (black pepper will NOT do for this)
1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh chervil (or chives), finely minced
So Delicious Plain Greek Style yogurt, (or Creme Fraiche – try Bellwether Farms)
Directions:
Put lemon juice in a bowl. Peel, core, and dice pears into 1-inch chunks, adding to the bowl and tossing them in lemon juice as you work, to prevent pears from turning brown.
Heat sunflower oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add pears and drizzle with honey. Cook 10 minutes, stirring often.
Transfer pears to a food processor and pulse. Pulsing will prevent them from overflowing. Once pears are almost smooth, run food processor about 1 minute until completely pureed.
Return puree to pan, add broth and stir to combine thoroughly. Add a few turns of freshly ground white pepper, (or a couple pinches if it’s already ground). Stir in chervil. Heat soup to just below simmering point, do not boil.
Remove from heat, ladle into bowls and top each with 1 Tbsp. Greek Style yogurt or creme fraiche. Swirl through soup gently.
New England Pear Soup with Chervil © 2013 by Cybele Pascal (this recipe originally appeared on Gaiam.com)
(Please note that all my recipes are free of all top allergens (wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, and gluten), so as many people as possible can enjoy them. Additionally, all the ingredients are available at Whole Foods, and online at Amazon.com. If you have trouble finding something, let me know and I’ll help you find it.)
SAFETY NOTE: Because each person’s food sensitivity and reaction is unique, ranging from mild intolerance to life-threatening and severe food allergies, it is up to the consumer to monitor ingredients and manufacturing conditions. If manufacturing conditions, potential cross contact between foods, and ingredient derivatives pose a risk for you, please re-read all food labels and call the manufacturer to confirm potential allergen concerns before consumption. Ingredients and manufacturing practices can change overnight and without warning.