There isn't mushroom, but lettuce figure it out!
December 12, 2014 8:42 AM Subscribe
Next week, there is a get together at my work place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Due to a fasting period (over 200 days a year are fasting days!), almost everyone is abstaining from all animal products, including honey... What cold appetizer/canape can I bring?
* All the basics are covered, including various lentil curries, salads, vegetables, bread, fasting cake, and a delicious flax seed paste called telba.
* I'd like it to be visually appealing finger food (appetizer or desert), as eating utensils are uncommon.
* I can only prepare using a cooktop- no stove.
* Simple ingredients are key; things like olives are few and far between. So far, I'm thinking cucumber cups with hummus. However, cucumbers are hard to find. Forget about things like capers or fresh mushrooms.
* Access: grains, indian spices, lots of produce, legumes galore. a blender.
Thank you!
* All the basics are covered, including various lentil curries, salads, vegetables, bread, fasting cake, and a delicious flax seed paste called telba.
* I'd like it to be visually appealing finger food (appetizer or desert), as eating utensils are uncommon.
* I can only prepare using a cooktop- no stove.
* Simple ingredients are key; things like olives are few and far between. So far, I'm thinking cucumber cups with hummus. However, cucumbers are hard to find. Forget about things like capers or fresh mushrooms.
* Access: grains, indian spices, lots of produce, legumes galore. a blender.
Thank you!
My first thought was hummous, but you beat me to it.
What about cherry tomatoes with whole basil leaves, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil? Normally I make this with the addition of cheese but I would imagine it would be still totally good without it. You could even make a balsamic reduction so that it is thicker and sticks better.
Also, what about a bruschetta type thing (tomatoes, onions, basil, garlic)?
3 bean salad?
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 8:46 AM on December 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
What about cherry tomatoes with whole basil leaves, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil? Normally I make this with the addition of cheese but I would imagine it would be still totally good without it. You could even make a balsamic reduction so that it is thicker and sticks better.
Also, what about a bruschetta type thing (tomatoes, onions, basil, garlic)?
3 bean salad?
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 8:46 AM on December 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: If you have access to nuts, you could make mini vegan cheesecakes. The crust is a 1:1 mixture of chopped walnuts and dates; the filling is raw cashews, lemon juice, coconut oil, coconut milk, and liquid sweetener (agave or maple syrup). You don't need to cook them at all, just mash together the crust, blend the filling, and refrigerate overnight. Add a couple of fresh berries or slices of fruit to the top of each cheesecake for visual appeal.
Socca (chickpea/garbanzo/gram flour crepes) or chickpea fries are really tasty and packed with protein, plus you can season them however you like. Fry them until they're nice and golden-brown, chop up some fresh green herbs to go on top, and you're good to go.
Otherwise, maybe you could make some sort of tasty, satisfying sandwich (bean or lentil spread with tons of herbs and spices?) and cut them into cute shapes with a biscuit or cookie cutter, or a wrap sliced up and toothpicked for easy eating?
posted by divined by radio at 9:00 AM on December 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Socca (chickpea/garbanzo/gram flour crepes) or chickpea fries are really tasty and packed with protein, plus you can season them however you like. Fry them until they're nice and golden-brown, chop up some fresh green herbs to go on top, and you're good to go.
Otherwise, maybe you could make some sort of tasty, satisfying sandwich (bean or lentil spread with tons of herbs and spices?) and cut them into cute shapes with a biscuit or cookie cutter, or a wrap sliced up and toothpicked for easy eating?
posted by divined by radio at 9:00 AM on December 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Gazpacho would be a nice addition and as long as you can get tomatoes and peppers, any other veggies can be substituted.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:02 AM on December 12, 2014
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:02 AM on December 12, 2014
Stuffed grape leaves (dolma)? (Obviously the ones stuffed with rice, not meat.)
Maybe you can make a cold bean salad and serve in small romaine lettuce leaves?
Agree, bruschetta on sliced bread could work too.
I think cucumber cups with hummus is a good idea. Maybe if you can't find cucumber, there's a way to do it with pita bread or carrots.
posted by AppleTurnover at 10:41 AM on December 12, 2014
Maybe you can make a cold bean salad and serve in small romaine lettuce leaves?
Agree, bruschetta on sliced bread could work too.
I think cucumber cups with hummus is a good idea. Maybe if you can't find cucumber, there's a way to do it with pita bread or carrots.
posted by AppleTurnover at 10:41 AM on December 12, 2014
Looks like beets are on offer in Ethiopia, so how about Borscht? People love it cold.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:33 AM on December 12, 2014
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:33 AM on December 12, 2014
Best answer: Have you heard of muhammara? It's DELICIOUS, so much better than hummus. Also check out this comment of mine from a while back with some recipes for some yummy vegan dips.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 3:36 PM on December 12, 2014
posted by MaryDellamorte at 3:36 PM on December 12, 2014
Rice salad is great cold or warm and you can put it in tiny bowls for easy eating and serving. We do a Persian rice salad with whatever great produce we have, plenty of lemons and herbs to get that sour tangy taste and some sweet peppers.
I will note that the fast-friendly dish to bring that is most popular is inevitably..... Oreos. Because of their horrendous ingredients, they're technically fast friendly.
Stovetop apple crisp is lovely too because the apples provide all the sweetness. You need to replace the butter with a suitable oil, but it doesn't make much difference.
posted by viggorlijah at 3:57 PM on December 12, 2014
I will note that the fast-friendly dish to bring that is most popular is inevitably..... Oreos. Because of their horrendous ingredients, they're technically fast friendly.
Stovetop apple crisp is lovely too because the apples provide all the sweetness. You need to replace the butter with a suitable oil, but it doesn't make much difference.
posted by viggorlijah at 3:57 PM on December 12, 2014
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posted by maryr at 8:46 AM on December 12, 2014