Here is an easy dinner idea for your busy week ahead. My Spinach Hummus Pitas paired with a large baked and maple-mashed sweet potato. Served with a side of smoky baked tofu squares and pepper truffle shiitake mushrooms. Picnic-inspired. This recipe would make a wonderful eat-outside feast for spring/summer. Get my recipes (and a vegan dessert idea too!)..
Steamy, oven-baked sweet potato. Aka, My favorite thing ever.
Spring-y and Picnic-inspired... We had this casual, picnic-y vegan spread for dinner last night - it was so delicious AND easy (yet still quite a full feast) I had to share. You will notice the absense of tofu and shiitake photos - that is because the sun was fading (bye bye natural photo lighting) but mostly because everything smelled so yummy I just wanted to dive in.
Go-to feast. To add to the "easy" part - I already had some leftover roasted garlic hummus in the fridge so I basically tweaked it by adding in plentiful handfuls of spinach, some lemon juice and water (all done in my Vitamix.) Then I folded in some avocado into the finished hummus to get a sort of chunky-style mixture - I made my hummus a bit thin so it easily drizzled into the pitas and soaked into the toasty pita crevices. I hate pitas/hummus that are too dry - so this helped prevent that. Some fresh sauerkraut added a zesty, crunchy accent to the pitas. (And fyi, if you don't have any pre-made leftover hummus (you probably don't) I've included the complete hummus recipe below.)
More Veggies. If you want to stuff more veggies in your pitas than I did in the photos - go for it. That's why pitas are so rad - you can cram lots of healthy veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans and more in them.
I served the pitas alongside a few of my favorite sides. A sticky-sweet baked sweet potato mashed with a drizzle of grade B maple syrup and a pinch of salt. Then some fresh shiitake mushrooms - sauteed with various spices, a splash of wine and a hint of truffle oil. And lastly, I served some baked tofu squares which I literally just very simply sliced, tossed in some dry spices, salt/pepper, tiny drizzle of oil and baked.
This was easy and amazing. I will be making this meal again! Hope you can try it too.
Spinach Pitas, Shiitakes, Tofu, Sweet Potato - serves 2-4
Super Spinach Chunky Avocado Hummus
This spinach hummus is a bit on the thin side - but that was what I was going for since the creamy chunks of avocado get folded into the mixture. This hummus fills the toasted dry pitas perfectly - with plenty of lemon-y flavor.
1 can chickpeas, drained
3 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2-4 cloves garlic - EVOO roasted in oven
*if you don't use roasted garlic, sub with garlic powder
2 tablespoon tahini
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2-3 handfuls baby spinach
2-5 tablespoon water - thin out to desired consistency
optional: pepper, nutritional yeast, cayenne to taste
fold in: ½ avocado, chopped into large cubes
serve in: 3 pitas, sliced in half and toasted
Directions: process in Vitamix or food processor until smooth and creamy. I needed my plunger for Vitamix blending - to get all the spinach pressed down.
Pour into bowl. Fold in the avocado chunks.
Toast pitas. Add hummus to inside of pitas - generously. Add a few pinches chopped spinach and chilled sauerkraut.
Serve with these sides:
* 1 large sweet potato, oven baked (400 degrees for 30 minutes) - mashed with maple syrup, s&p and optional smoky spices.
* small side of shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced and sauteed win 1 teaspoon truffle-infused oil (or any veg oil) + s&p to taste + a splash of wine added towards middle of cooking process.
* baked firm tofu: toss thick tofu slices in dry spices: salt + nutritional yeast + spices of choice - bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes - until edges become crispy. (I made 3 modest sized tofu steaks for our meal)
tofu - this was a chipotle spiced tofu, but you get the idea 🙂
Want dessert with that? Try my Chocolate Oat Pantry Cookies - recipe on Babble.com's Family Kitchen..
