One of the most challenging aspects of creating food is often simply this: finding good inspiration. Regardless of your cooking skill, or how you eat, I've had countless discussions with folks who all agree that finding inspiration, or just coming up with the very idea of what to make can be the biggest challenge when attempting good, sensible meal preparation in the home.
It takes a lot of time to think of what would not only be be good to eat, but healthy to eat, and of course also appealing & tasty too. Add to that always taking into account individual preferences, dietary restrictions (if applicable), and it can get downright disabling. But despair not! There is always a way to find inspiration. If you are anything like me, you've got your fave ways to get the juices flowing, whether it's a trip to the Farmer's Market to see what catches your eye, or a flip through your favourite cookbook, it can really just take one thing. Add to that the countless amazing Instagram accounts & Pinterest, and inspiration is never far.
When it comes to cooking with vegetables, legumes and grains, there is one thing that can always turn what seems like nothing into something truly great, and that is (hands down the easiest trick up a clean eater's sleeve) a really good sauce. A killer sauce can make something plain into something downright sexy. Take this bowl: some lettuce, a roasted yam, some chopped tomato. Rabbit food as many I know might call it (hey I'm used to it). Add some fresh herbs, maybe a fried or boiled or poached egg. Add this sauce.......all of a sudden we're talking.
A great way to make more from (what can seem like) less. So don't go crazy, and don't over think it, just get saucy....it's easy, simple and works every darned time. This simple cooking tip of the week is brought to you by my favorite versatile plant food, the avocado, and of course the ever handy and inspiring cookbooks from the Moosewood Collective. So go ahead, dig in!
Creamy Avocado Citrus Sauce:
~ Adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Cooking For Health
- 1 large Hass avocado, ripe
- (1/3) cup orange juice
- (5-6) tbsp lemon or lime juice
- (1) tsp ground cumin, or toasted whole cumin seeds (my personal fave)
- (1/4) cup chopped cilantro
- (1-2) tbsp chopped shallots
- (1) tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth & creamy. If desired, add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to get the mixture moving. Transfer to a clean container and if kept in the fridge, this sauce will keep for up to 2 days. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the avocado did not turn brown...perhaps from the abundance of citrus, either way, a big bonus!
Use for tacos, rainbow bowls, chips, raw veggies or as a spread for burgers, wraps or fritters. We loved this easy take on an all-time favourite health food, and I think you will too.