Vegetarian Christmas Recipes
Christmas is the season of cooking and eating lots of varied and interesting food. It is also the season of putting on extra weight that most people can ill afford to. One wholesome option for all health conscious people is a vegetarian Christmas menu which helps one feel satisfied without feeling stuffed. So this Christmas season cook up a storm without cooking the goose. Here are two popular vegetarian recipes for the holiday season.
Broccoli cream cheese soup
Ingredients:
A head of broccoli; 1 large onion; 1 cup white section of leek (chopped); 50 gm butter; 2 cups vegetable stock; 100 gm low fat soft cheese; 2 tbsp fine oatmeal; 2 ripe pears, 50 gm flaked almonds (toasted); 2 cups milk; salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Method:
Snap the broccoli florets and chop the stalk into small pieces. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the butter and add the chopped leeks, onion and broccoli stalk. Stir well and leave for ten minutes till limp and wilted. Then add chopped pears, oatmeal, almonds and milk, a little at a time, and stir well after each addition. Simmer for a while then add milk, stock and seasoning. Simmer gently for ten more minutes. In another pot, steam the broccoli florets for about 5 minutes. Cool the soup and blend the soft cheese and the soup in a food processor, until smooth. Put the soup back on the fire, add the boiled broccoli florets. Re heat gently and adjust the seasoning.
Brown rice risotto
Ingredients:
200g brown rice (washed); 400ml water(hot); 1 medium onion; ½ red pepper; 200g sunflower seeds; Mixed herbs; 100g sweet-corn/frozen peas; soy sauce and salt to taste
Method:
Wash rice and drain. Cook the chopped onion in the oil to soften, add the rice and cook for several seconds, stirring with a fork. Add hot water, soy sauce and mixed herbs. Bring to the boil and simmer gently. After 15 minutes add sweet-corn/peas and simmer for a further 20 to 25 minutes until the rice is almost cooked. Add the chopped and seeded red pepper and cook till done. Season to taste, top with toasted sunflower seeds and serve.