Vegetarians and carnivores will unite over this loaf. Cranberries provide an unexpected pop of sweetness, while cooking the lentils in broth instead of water adds another layer of flavour. Liquid smoke, a condensed smoke in water and not an artificial flavour, is a way to infuse meat-free loaves with hot-off-the-grill smoky flavour.
To make it vegan, replace eggs with 2 Tbsp (30 mL) ground flax or ground chia mixed with 6 Tbsp (90 mL) water. Let mixture stand for 15 minutes before mixing into loaf batter. Try topping with Chili BBQ Sauce (see sidebar) or your favourite store-bought version.
1 cup (250 mL) green or brown lentils
3 cups (750 mL) low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tsp (10 mL) grapeseed oil or camelina oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
8 oz (225 g) cremini mushrooms, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup (250 mL) rolled oats
2 large free-range eggs
2 Tbsp (30 mL) unsalted tomato paste
2 tsp (10 mL) dried thyme
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1/4 tsp (1 mL) black pepper
1/2 tsp (2 mL) liquid smoke (optional)
1 cup (250 mL) grated carrot
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped walnuts
1/2 cup (125 mL) dried cranberries
Rinse lentils and then combine them with vegetable broth in medium-sized saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until tender. Drain any excess liquid and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C) and grease 9 x 5 in (23 x 13 cm) loaf pan.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic; heat until mushrooms have softened.
Place oats in food processor container and pulverize into coarse powder. Blend in 2 cups (500 mL) cooked lentils, eggs, tomato paste, thyme, cumin, salt, pepper, and liquid smoke (if using) into a coarse mixture. Place in large bowl and stir in remaining lentils, onion mixture, carrot, walnuts, cranberries, and mushrooms.
Place mixture in loaf pan and press down firmly into an even layer. Bake for 40 minutes, or until set in the middle and darkened around the edges. Let cool for several minutes before slicing.
Serves 6.
Each serving contains: 328 calories; 15 g protein; 11 g total fat (2 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 44 g total carbohydrates (11 g sugars, 7 g fibre); 265 mg sodium
Top it Off
Chili BBQ Sauce
Soak 1 dried ancho chili pepper in hot water for15 minutes. Slice off stem, discard most of the seeds, and blend with 1/2 cup (125 mL) tomato sauce, 1 Tbsp (15 mL) tomato paste, 2 shallots, 2 garlic cloves, 2 Tbsp (30 mL) cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp (15 mL) molasses, 1 Tbsp (15 mL) Worcestershire sauce (vegan if desired), 1/2 tsp (2 mL) cumin, 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground allspice, and 1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and black pepper until smooth. Brush some on top of loaf before cooking and serve additional sauce with loaf slices.
source: "Loafing Around", alive #389, March 2015
While sablefish’s texture and fat content stand up admirably to the heat of the grill, this firm fish is also delicious poached. For this recipe, sablefish’s luxurious taste is combined with a light fragrant broth of lemongrass and ginger punctuated with the heat of Thai chili. Sustainability status Sablefish, also known as butterfish or black cod, is a rich and satisfying fish, plentiful in omega-3s and sourced sustainably from the Pacific Northwest. Skin and bones Sablefish has large pin bones. Ideally, your fishmonger will remove them, but if not, before you begin, locate them along the fish’s centreline and, using a pair of needle nose pliers, grasp them firmly to remove. You can leave the skin on for this recipe, which may help the fish hold together a little better while cooking, but it can be tricky to peel the skin away from the cooked fish and discard before plating. I opted to remove the skin first and simply keep a close eye on the cooking time, being careful to remove the fish from the poaching liquid before it flakes apart.
These mildly spiced salmon tacos served with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds will bring a party together. Make a small quantity of salmon go further when you pair it with a fresh red cabbage slaw featuring citrus and cilantro. Drizzled with some bright lime yogurt, the flavours come together perfectly. Sustainability status Wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are considered among the most sustainable, as the fishery is subject to limited harvests. With salmon stocks in decline, supporting managed fisheries such as these can help maintain populations into the future. That may also mean eating salmon less often than we do now. Salmon is a favourite Salmon is the most popular variety of fish in Canada and the second most popular in the US.
B12-rich mussels are a very good and economical source of protein and iron. Steamed mussels are a classic way to enjoy seafood—and so is this rich, aromatic broth of tomato, fennel, and saffron. Be sure to allow saffron to fully infuse to get the full flavour benefit, and finish off the dish with the fragrant fennel fronds. Sustainability status Farmed mussels are considered highly sustainable due to their low impacts on the environment. They are easy to harvest, require no fertilizer or fresh water, and don’t need to be fed externally, as they get all their nutritional requirements from their marine environment. Mussel prep Selection: Look for mussels with shiny, tightly closed shells that smell of the sea. If shells are slightly open, give them a tap. Live mussels will close immediately. Storage: Keep mussels in the fridge in a shallow pan laid on top of ice. Keep them out of water and cover with a damp cloth. Ideally, consume on the day you buy them, but within two days. They need to breathe, so never keep them in a sealed plastic bag. Cleanup: In addition to being sustainable, farmed mussels tend to require less cleaning than wild mussels. Most of the fibrous “beards” that mussels use to grip solid surfaces will have been removed before sale. But if a few remain, they’re easily dispatched: grasp the beard with your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward the hinge of the mussel and give it a tug. Afterward, give mussels a quick rinse and scrub away any areas of mud or seaweed, which, with farmed mussels, will require minimal work.
The delicate flavour of shrimp is highlighted with just a touch of lemon and a hint of mustard, while radish and celery give some fresh crunch to this dish. Eat it in lettuce cups, on top of greens, or served on whole grain bread for a filling snack. Sustainability status Both wild and farmed shrimp can be sustainable depending on where they’re caught and how they’re raised. See our article “Sea Change” for more information about choosing ethical shrimp.