Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook (11 page)

MEDJOOL DATES
are one of the many varieties of fruits from date palm trees. Medjool dates are larger and sweeter than many of their cousins.

MELLOW WHITE MISO
(look for low-sodium varieties) is made by fermenting soybeans, often with other grains. It is used to flavor sauces and soups, and it makes a great salad dressing.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST
is a deactivated yeast that comes in flaked or powdered form. It is popular in plant-based cooking for its umami, “cheesy” flavor and strong nutritional profile. Some find that it is an acquired taste, so when it is called for in the recipes in this book, it is generally optional—but I encourage you to try it!

PORCINI MUSHROOMS
are earthy-flavored mushroom from Italy. Outside of Italy, they may be purchased in dried form.

OAT FLOUR
can be found among the alternative flours available at many grocery stores, or you can make your own oat flour by pulsing rolled oats in a blender or food processor.

SAMBAL OELEK
(Indonesian chili sauce) is another distinct condiment used in Asian cooking. It has quite a kick and should be used sparingly if you are not sure how much heat you can take.

TAHINI
is a paste made of ground, most often preroasted, sesame seeds. It can be found in many grocery stores alongside other Middle Eastern products.

THAI RED CURRY PASTE
is a popular condiment in Thai cooking and has a distinct pungent flavor. It is made from shallots, garlic, ginger, chilies, and spices.

TOFU, EXTRA-FIRM SILKEN
, is a particular type of tofu that, despite its “extra-firm” name, is soft and creamy. Like other forms of tofu, it takes on the flavor of whatever food it is cooked with. In this book, it is used for sauces, salad dressings, and puddings.

VEGAN WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
is made without anchovies, which is a common ingredient in traditional Worcestershire sauce. It adds a salty, tangy pungent flavor to many dishes.

The following is a list of some basic tools that will help you to prepare easy, delicious, healthy, plant-based meals.

BLENDER
.
Handy for making smoothies or combining mostly liquid ingredients. Because of the toughness of kale and some other green vegetables that are often added to smoothies, consider buying a blender with a strong motor, such as a Blendtec or Vitamix.

CITRUS REAMER OR SQUEEZER
.
Very useful if you like using juice from fresh citrus fruits. See
Zesting and Juicing Citrus
.