For many people grilling a steak is the height of culinary mastery. I’m not a fan of beef myself. The way I feel about meat is how others feel about veggies. My theory is this is because so few of us know how to cook with them.
Over my adult years I’ve moved away from the meat-centric diet I grew up with. Meat is still part of my meals but rarely centre stage. I make the protein round it out the meal, rather than scrambling to round out a meat focused dinner with some humdrum greenery. In fact, in some of my favourite meals, meat has disappeared all together.
This is my number one challenge with my step sons. Even my hubby, who has a broader palate, maintains a pretty long list of veggies he doesn’t eat. In both cases it’s because they didn’t grow up with vegetables as integral, flavour contributing parts of the meal. My son, on the other hand, has been raised with vegetables given the care and attention they deserve, and so has a palate inclined toward them.
Cooking for the full family can be a very frustrating, even depressing, endeavor for me. If I cook what my step sons want neither my son or I enjoy it. If I cook the way my son and I prefer the other boys are not happy.
It’s for this reason that I am giddy at the prospect of my son’s new girlfriend coming for a visit. She’s a vegan. I am going to love cooking for her.
Now, I am not a vegan. I like my eggs and my cheese. However, I can cook several very delicious vegan meals.
This is one of my son’s most requested. Easy peasy, tasty pleasing.
Roasted Tomato and Spinach Coucous
Ingredients: One small onion, two celery stalks, one medium carrot, one can of fire roasted tomatoes, one jar of roasted peppers, one clove of garlic, fresh spinach, one litre vegetable stock, olive oil, two cups couscous, salt and pepper to taste.
- Dice the onion, celery and carrot.
- Saute in olive oil until they are tender.
- Deglaze the pan with a bit of stock, then pour it all in.
- Add finely minced garlic.
- Add chopped roasted peppers and roasted tomatoes.
- Bring to a simmer.
- Add coucous.
- Stir. Add the spinach.
- Cover.
- Turn off heat and let sit until the coucous is fluffy.
Voilà. A delicious dish fit for a vegan and good enough for the rest of us too.
Make me eat my words. 