Meatless Monday Roundup: 5 Cinnamon Recipes
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! It’s only the beginning of the month, but soon the Christmas recipes will be coming out of their boxes (or bookmarked pages!) and you know what that means! Cinnamon. For some reason, cinnamon is linked to Chrismas recipes, but it doesn’t have to be relegated simply to spiced cookies and cakes. Cinnamon is full of health benefits when added to your daily diet: it can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar, and it also has antioxidant and anti-microbial benefits. And to top it all off, it’s delicious! This week, we’re looking at the wide variety of vegetarian, savory cinnamon dishes and picking the very best for you to try in your own kitchen.
Try mixing cinnamon with two other fall flavors — apple and pumpkin — in this delicious savory pumpkin soup with apple croutons. Cinnamon adds warmth and spice to the subtle sweetness of the squash and apples. You can substitute any squash you like for the pumpkin; go with what your local farmer suggests!
North African recipes often add sweet cinnamon and dried fruits to savory dishes, and this chickpea tagine is no different. A combination of spices blend together to create a warm, humble stew of chickpeas and carrots with just enough zing to be unique and unexpected!
For a simple gourmet snack, our autumn spiced popcorn is perfection. It combines cinnamon, stevia and truffle oil for an inspired and unique combination of flavors. Consider popping a batch of this and serving it with cocktails when your friends begin arriving at your holiday party!
Lentils, raisins and mushrooms are bound together with cinnamon for a savory, spiced lentil stew that can be served over garlic pasta, as the recipe suggests, or even with quinoa, to pack a double protein punch.
We’re used to seeing cinnamon show its sweet side, but sweet cinnamon recipes can be healthy too! Like this delicious honey-and-cinnamon marinated tofu. It’s marinated for hours to soak up the flavors, then pan-seared for a crisp crunch. Serve this at your holiday table for vegetarian guests, and even the carnivores will be jealous.
