Sweet, Spicy and Creamy

In honor of my Fiery Vegan Valentine Contest I decided to try out a few new spicy recipes that I have been working on.  Of course I am not entering these recipes into my own contest but if you are looking for some delicious spicy recipes to heat up your Valentines Day meal (or any meal) try these yummy recipes.  I have received a number of great recipes for the contest and there is still time to enter!

Spicy Asian Pear BBQ Sauce

Yields 1-1.5 cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium asian or bosc pear, peeled & seeded, diced small
• 1 jalapeno, minced
• 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
• 1″ ginger, peeled and minced
• 1/4 cup +1 tbsp lite soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp agave
• 2 cloves minced garlic

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat and stir in the pear, jalapeno, sesame seeds and ginger; saute for 5-7 minutes until lightly caramelized.
2. Stir in the 1/4 sup of soy sauce, rice vinegar and agave; bring to a boil, reduce and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
3. Transfer the mixture to a food processor, add the remaining soy sauce and the garlic and pulse until smooth.

Slather tofu, seitan or tempeh with this sauce and bake in a 400F oven for 20-30 minutes until lightly browned.

Almond Butter Sauce

Yields 1-1.5 cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced small
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1″ ginger, peeled and minced
• 1/2 tbsp chili flakes
• 2 tbsp lite soy sauce
• 3/4 cup coconut creamer or coconut milk
• 3 tbsp almond butter
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 2 tsp lime juice

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat and stir in the onion saute for 5-7 minutes until softened.  Stir in the garlic, ginger and chili flakes and cook for 2 minutes.
2. Whisk in the soy sauce and cook for 1 minute.
3. Whisk in the coconut creamer, almond butter and sriracha; whisk until smooth.
4. Whisk in the lime juice. Remove from heat.

Serve this sauce hot or cold over tofu, seitan, tempeh, toss it with noodles or use a dipping sauce for veggies.

I tossed mine with whole wheat spaghetti, shredded kale, green onions and julienned carrots.

Soy-Sesame Broccoli

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp lite soy sauce
• 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 4 cups broccoli florets

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400F. Toss the veggies with the soy sauce, sesame seeds and sesame oil.
2. Pour the broccoli onto a sheet pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until florets begin to brown.