It started slowly, a tingle in the back of my mind. For the last few weeks, I've been thinking about wanting to play with vegetarian dishes. Next thing I knew, this morning my creative juices were flowing like apple cider in October, and by the time the Giants game started, the internal brainstorm session was in full swing.
Black beans... black beans with something in the orange family... pumpkin? Butternut squash? Sweet potatoes. Ok, black beans and sweet potatoes with... Contrasting flavors and textures... spinach. What if they all go together? Like a casserole? Something on the bottom - has to be fresh.
The result? Something I'm calling Bliss Casserole. Why Bliss? Because I happened the flavors were heavenly and when before I could think of a better name, I saw an open bottle of Bliss Cabernet Sauvignon on the counter.
The presentation needs some work - Each layer needs to be set one at a time instead of all at once.
Layer 1 (bottom): Green Rice; long-grain rice with cilantro and lime zest
Layer 2: Black bean puree with a hint of jalapeno and onion
Layer 3: Wilted spinach with garlic and nutmeg
Layer 4: Mashed sweet potatoes with cinnamon, chipotle, lime juice and a touch of brown sugar
The key is to flavor each layer as if you would eat it on its own. Make sure each is seasoned to your liking with salt and pepper.
Bon Appetite.
1 comment:
Dana this sounds delish!!!!
have you ever played with kabocha squash?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabocha
My mom intro'd me to these and minus the major hacking I have to do to get them ready, they're hands down my favorite squash to eat in the winter -- very hearty. (i have to recently become a vegetarian to drop some weight.)
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