Great Spring Recipe (Vegan)

[Guest guest]

Green Gumbo Z'Herbes is popular this time of year in and around New

Orleans, but not much further. Don't mind the long ingredient list, the

prep time is minimal. I Just made it last night and served it with some

fried Tempeh nuggets on the side to drop in right when you begin eating. It

rocked the house.

* 1 bunch collard greens

* 1 bunch mustard greens

* 1 bunch turnip greens

* 1 bunch spinach

* 1 bunch watercress

* 1 bunch beet tops

* 1 bunch carrot tops

* 1 bunch radish tops

* 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley

* 1 bunch chicory

* 1 bunch pepper grass (good luck finding this outside of La.)

* 1 bunch arugula

* 1 bunch sorrel

* 1 bunch dandelion greens

* 8 or 10 sprigs of tarragon

* 1 head romaine, green-leaf or butter lettuce (not iceberg)

* 1 green cabbage

* 1/2 bunch green onions

* 1 gallon water, salted

* Omit 1 large smoked ham hock and use liquid smoke instead, to taste

* 6 tablespoons flour

* 4 tablespoons oil

* 1 large white onion, chopped

* 1 bell pepper, chopped

* 3 ribs celery, chopped

* 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

* 2 bay leaves

* 4 sprigs fresh thyme (please try not to use dried for this dish)

* 2 whole cloves

* 2 whole allspice berries

* Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

* Cayenne pepper to taste

* 6 cups cooked short-grain brown rice

Wash all greens thoroughly and remove all stems or hard centers. Boil them

all together in the water for about two hours. Strain the greens and

reserve the water. Chop the greens finely and reserve.

 

In a large, heavy-bottomed stock pot make a brown roux of the flour and

oil. Add the onion, bell pepper and celery and sauté for 10 minutes. Add

the chopped parsley and sauté 5 more minutes.

 

Add the reserved cooking water, greens, herbs, spices, and seasonings.

Simmer on low heat for 1 hour. Adjust seasonings as necessary.

 

Serve in large gumbo bowls. Put 1/2 cup of rice in each bowl, and ladle

generous quantities of gumbo over it. Optionally, you may season each bowl

with gumbo filé [ http://www.farawayfoods.com/gumbofile.html ].

 

Yield: 12 servings