It should come as no shock that I'm a fan of Robin Robertson's cookbooks. I've reviewed (and given away) two of them in the last year and a half- Fresh From The Vegan Slow-Cooker and Nut Butter Universe. When Harvard Common Press asked me to be a part of the book tour for One-Dish Vegan, I jumped at the chance!
One-dish meals are amongst one of my favorite types of meals. I'm all about not having to cook multiple side dishes to make a complete meal. When I'm not testing out recipes of my own to share with you, Chris and I are almost always having some sort of one-dish wonder- usually consisting of some sort of bean, some sort of grain, and whatever veggies we have on hand.
To be honest, I haven't had time to try out as many of the recipes from One-Dish Vegan as I would've liked. I have, though, dog-eared several recipes to try in the future: Risotto with Artichokes and Mushrooms, Lebanese Bread Salad with Chickpeas, Rapini and Cannellini Rotini, and Cauliflower Comfort Bake being amongst them. Oh, and there's an entire Chili Chapter that needs exploring!
Before I tell you how great the Frittata Puttanesca I tried was, I should tell you a little about the day on which it was made. I'd had a long day of writing and recipe testing, my brain was fried and if I hadn't planned on making this dish from One-Dish Vegan that night, I wouldn't have been able to pull anything together on my own. I began preparing this dish, which came together very quickly, in hopes that it would be ready right when Chris got home so we could photograph it, eat it, and just crash.
When Chris did come home, he was panicked. He had grabbed his computer bag from his trunk and it was empty. He came in and was in absolutely shock because apparently, someone had gotten into his car and stole his laptop. He tried to remember where he'd had it last (his job requires him to drive all over town and sometimes he needs to pop into a Starbucks here or there to use their internet) but all he could focus on was how much we'd just lost- all of our photos from our last trip, all of the recipes we'd shot in the last week (so, like, the last 8 things I made), plus tons of work photos, videos of the twins from when they were little, and countless documents he needed for work. Finally, he remembered where he'd had it last and in whatever was left of his hope, he called them to see if they'd found a laptop. Sure enough, he'd left it on the counter at a Kinko's. He drove all the way back to downtown LA, picked it up and came home and then we still had to photograph this dish.
It was after 9pm and both of us were exhausted and borderline irritable (hungry irritable). We very quickly took some shots of the frittata, grabbed our plates and dug in. And this dish was incredible. It may have been due to how tired, hungry, and relieved we both were (it truly felt like we'd been through an emotional roller coaster. It's so crazy how dependent we are on our computers!), but this one-dish meal totally hit the spot. We both went back for seconds, and then Chris went back for thirds. We were both over the moon about all of the olives and capers that are packed into this frittata! It was so delicious and tasty and such a great meal to have at the end of a very long day. The leftovers made for a great lunch the next day too. I would make it again in a heartbeat, but I may need to make it in a different pan- I think because of the size of the pan I used, it took about an hour to cook, rather than the 40 minutes suggested.
Frittata Puttanesca
One-Dish Vegan
Recipe © 2013 by Robin Robertson and used by permission of The Harvard Common Press
Gluten-free | Serves 4
The bold flavors of pasta puttanesca translate beautifully into this vegan frittata. It’s great for brunch or dinner, either served on its own or accompanied by toasted Italian bread and a crisp green salad.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound firm tofu, well drained and blotted dry
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or tapioca starch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped reconstituted or oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 3 tablespoons water
- 5 scallions, minced
- 8 ounces white mushrooms, thinly sliced or chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
- 1/3 cup pitted green olives, halved
- 1 tablespoon capers, chopped if large
- 1/2 cup shredded vegan mozzarella cheese (optional)
- 1 medium-size tomato, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly oil a shallow 1 1/2‑quart baking dish.
2. In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the tofu, broth, wine, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, cornstarch, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Add 1 tablespoon of the sun-dried tomatoes and process until smooth and well blended. Set aside.
3. Heat the oil or water in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallions, mushrooms, thyme, dried basil, and salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the remaining sun-dried tomatoes, both kinds of olives, and the capers.
4. Spread the cooked vegetable mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add the reserved tofu mixture, stirring to combine all of the ingredients, then spread the mixture evenly. Sprinkle on the vegan cheese (if using) and tomato. Bake until firm, golden brown, and slightly puffed up, about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with the fresh basil, cut into wedges, and serve hot.
Not only has Harvard Common Press been kind enough to share the recipe for this dish, they're also letting me give away one copy of One-Dish Vegan! The giveaway will run until 11:59pm on 11/21/13 and is open to U.S. residents only. Please use the box below to enter.
Thank you so much to Robin Robertson for creating another awesome book and thank you to Harvard Common Press for letting me share it! Also, in honor of World Vegan Month, Robin is running a "30 Days of Vegan Cooking" campaign. Every day this month, she is sharing a recipe from the new release of Vegan Planet. You can follow along on her blog and Vegan Planet's Facebook page.
Photography by Chris Miller
Melissa Bechter
This frittata looks scrumptious! I do love a one dish meal & the fave is a toss up depending on mood - if I'm feeling wholesome, a macro bowl a la Native Foods with sauerkraut, steamed greens, rice, tempeh & tahini; if I need true comfort food, Mac & cheese, baby!!!!
Becca F
I love quiche!
The Peace Patch
Vegan lasagna is my current favorite although I frittatas spin me happy every time! That Frittata Puttanesca is the perfect anti-panic remedy...so cool that you got the laptop back too!
Ali Seiter @ Farmers Market Vegan
We make a LOT of stir fries in my college vegan co-op and I never get sick of them!
Beth
We do a lot of "bowls": quinoa or rice, bean and veggies and greens if I have them. Current favorite is a buffalo tofu power bowl. Yum.
saniel
Quiche or super veggie enchiladas. Gonna make some today
Wendy
My favourite one dish meal jambalaya. Loved it when I was omni and still love it now as vegan (only the vegan version of course). I love the spicy rice and veggies, beans and what ever else. In fact I love any rice dish with lots of stuf in it.
Shannon C
Do leftovers tacos count as a one dish meal? I think I need Robin's help.
Katie
Since I own only one pot, everything is a one-dish meal ...
My favourite standby comfort food cure-all-that-ails-you is Miso Soup. You always have the ingredients, and it always makes me feel better!
(Any spicy curry is a very close second).
Ann Taylor
anything that can be made quickly and give us a few minutes back in a busy schedule!
sara
Enchiladas with cashew cheeze and spinach 🙂
Jacqui Pappas
I think that frittata would definitely become a favorite! Great photos, Chris. My one-dish meals usually consist of whatever needs using up. Add broth & you've got soup.
kimberley
This looks so good!!!
I love having cooked chickpeas sauteed with any veggie I have!
Molly
Any type of casserole!
Maria
I loooove quiches, and this recipe looks amazing!
Melly
Casseroles and vegetable bakes are my favorite. Yum!
Claire
My fav one dish meal with probably butternut squash vegan mac and cheese with kale stirred in! Yum!
Emma
What a nightmare! So glad you recovered the laptop. Did you photograph this with a light box then? I have to take any pictures before 4pm these days!
I'm not too familiar with Robin's books but this one sounds great and love the frittata recipes. I'm a fan of all those strong Mediterranean flavours.
Mary
My favorite one dish meal is quinoa salad!
Suzanne @ hello, veggy!
I love curries as a one dish meal!
Jordanne A.
A big pot of veggie soup in the fall!!
Amanda
I love that we chose to feature the same recipe! haha I also found that I had to bake it for closer to an hour, but the end result was so delicious and flavorful. I can't wait to work my way through the cookbook.
Glad everything worked out with the laptop. That would have sent me into a panic!
Nicole Selah Destrampe
shepherds garden pie!
Jolie
Favorite one dish meal is frittata. Yum!
Aimee B.
It's hard to pick just one dish, but vegan lasagna is among my top favorites. 🙂
Tami @Nutmeg Notebook
I like chickpea curry - it can be made in one pot and on the table in 30 minutes!
Mike
Scrambled Tofu is a great dish packed full of many flavors! My favorite!
Michelle
Quiche ! yum
thank goodness on the laptop
Laura S.
Mac and cheeze! I consider it a one-dish meal!!
Thanks for the giveaway Kristy!
Laura S.
FYI I can't get the #3 Rafflecopter entry to work (I'm guessing that is Global Vegan or Robin's FB page)..anyone else having this issue?
Richa
I couldnt tell that these were night time shots.. they look awesome! and so does the frittata. glad that things turned out ok. 🙂
Kelly
Rustic Tomato Soup 🙂
The Vegan Cookie Fairy
This looks great 🙂 I've always wanted to try a frittata, but I went vegan before I did try it and then I thought I'd never get the chance. But eggless frittatas look fantastic!
My favourite one-pot dish is my five-minute cream of tomato soup. (http://www.thevegancookiefairy.com/2013/01/five-minute-cream-of-tomato-soup.html) So simple, so quick, and you only need one pot to cook it all. Plus it's healthy.
Jenny B
My favorite one-dish meal is chilli and cornbread 🙂
By the way, the PunchTab doesn't work for the 3rd entry (to become a facebook fan). It's blank with no button to click so I had to skip it and couldn't get credit for the entry.
Thanks for hosting a giveaway!
Marlee
One favorite that comes to mind is a "haystack." All you need is one big plate and all your fixings. Corn chips first, then hot chili or chili beans, vegan cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, sliced olives, diced onion, bits of cucumber or avocado, cilantro, vegan sour cream/ranch/salsa/hot sauce/whatever sauce your little heart desires. Yummy!
Courtney
A big huge salad is my favorite one dish meal!
Anna {Herbivore Triathletre}
Currently my favorite one dish meal is Vegan Richa's Nacho Mac and Cheese with Tempeh Taco Meat. It is fabulous!
luminousvegans
Holy crap this looks delicious! It has capers AND olives which I love so much! My favorite one -dish meal is THIS! I know I would like it because it looks so delicious.
Melissa
I'm a huge fan of some good baked beans!
Rebecca
I love lentil vegetable soup, especially in the winter!
Meridith
Probably tofu scramble. Clearly I need more one dish recipes!
janet @ the taste space
Looks great! I love curries as a one-dish meal. 🙂
Mahdi M
My favorite one dish meal is my homeburger helper.
Meghan
Beans and greens are my favorite one-dish meal--it's so predictable, but sometimes a big skillet of garlicky greens and white beans are all I need. Throw in some lemon juice, olive oil, and a whole ton of nutritional yeast...heaven!
Nora
Veggie Paella is a big hit at my house!!
Kelly G.
Cheddar potato soup!
Connie Fletcher
From Fire and Spice the West African Groundnut Stew!!!
Alicia
Southwestern Salad !
Heather
I love a baked pasta casserole with lots of veggies & sauce.
Kelly
Definitely chili!
Mason
I LOVE veggie Chili with beans and veggies and lots of spices!
Jen
Turkish lentil stew.
Beth
soup is my favorite one dish meal!
Terri Cole
My favorite one-dish meal is gnocchi, white beans, swiss chard & tomatoes cooked in a giant skillet (with onion, garlic & Italian seasoning). Pretty much perfect!
Terri Cole
Like everyone else, number 3 did not work for me.
Mara
Soup!
Mabel Chan
I love pot roast!
Meeble F
carrot ginger soup
Carolsue
I love to make Vegan General Tso’s Tofu
Connor
There is something about chili that is so luring. A soup. But it can also be reduced to a dip. If broken down and/or modulated it can be used for sloppy joe's or (if it is more TVP and less bean) a good substitute for meat sauce in a pasta bake
Kristhy Bartels
my favorite one dish vegan meal is definitely baked banana coconut oatmeal 🙂
candace
skillet lasagna!
Andrea
A warm bowl of minestrone soup with toasted bread during cold weather
nancy
mac and cheeze
Erin
I love Tofu with Chipotle sauce and veggies. Adding the equal blend of sweet and spicy to a dish can heighten the sense!
Ilene
I was going to say Chili but the picture looks so good I might change my mind.
Robyn B | Modern Day Missus
I remember my wedding day - huge distaster, but at the end, at about 10pm at night, I went to the bar and ordered a pizza - same scenario. It was probably the tiredness and the fact the I was SO hungry, that I thought the pizza tasted delicious.
I love one pot meals - will have to give this a go!
A. Cook
Nothing beats a good chili!
Heather
Beans 'n quinoa!
Krista
My husband makes a fabulous Moroccan stew 🙂
Linda Neighbors
One-dish meals are the norm around here. So, it's hard to choose a favorite. But, there's nothing more comforting, or easy, than a big pot of beans with greens and root vegetables.
Monica
Anything on top of marinated Kale is a favorite one dish meal!
holly
chili!
Beverlee
Pot pie or chili
Melissa
Vegan enchiladas!
Chelsea Bates
I really love enchilada pie! It takes a minute to put together, but it all comes together in one dish! MMM MMM Good.
Kim
We've been grooving on a pad Thai kind of think made with pad Thai noodles tossed with an Asian cabbage salad. Yowsa it s goooood! Can't wait to try yer frittata. Makin it tomorrow night while everyone else eats baked eggs.
Sharen
My favorite one dish vegan meal changes with the seasons. I love a good stir fry where I put veggies that need to get eaten into the pan. Right now, I am making a soup that contains barley, lentils, and loads of vegetables.
Heather
Love one dish meals! This looks pretty amazing with the capers- so happy that Chris found his laptop; I would have totally gone into panic mode too!
Lindsey
I made this tonight and it was so good! Instead of mushrooms I used broccoli, spinach and kale. I'm not sure why but it didn't hold together very well.. didn't matter though, both my boyfriend and I scarfed it down!
Trish
KEEPER! Made this last night and it was delish! Had the tiny leftovers for breakfast and tasted even better (hard to imagine as this was so tasty last night). My husband, not a tofu fan and not a vegan, also said it was a keeper and he loved it. Thanks SO much for a fab recipe!
Shannon
I made this for Christmas morning. Instead of mushrooms (not a fan) I used some finely diced zucchini and also added fresh garlic with it. Did not use optional cheese. The quiche looked to be falling apart in the pictures & another comment above said it didn't hold well, so I added some chickpea flour to the blended mixture. Worked like a charm. Beautiful dish that delighted all members of our mixed vegan/non-vegan/tofu-skeptic crowd. Served 4 as advertised.