Elegant Vegetarian Entrees

The more experience I get in the kitchen, the more I realize that the most elegant creations have the most simple ingredients. The old cliche' "less is more" holds true here. It's all about showcasing and matching delicious, high-quality ingredients and really appreciating the flavors. I have a couple of vegetarian entrees listed below that do just this. Delicious, uncomplicated ingredients that allow you to really appreciate the elegant flavors of the meals.

Polenta with roasted Tomato, Garlic and Basil sauce
- roll of organic prepared polenta (I used this to save time, but if you have some time here is a recipe for preparing the polenta yourself. It's pretty easy and really good!)
- about a pound of cherry tomatoes
- 3 garlic cloves
- couple handfuls of fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil for pan frying
- Gorgonzola cheese (for sprinkling)
* peel the garlic cloves and slice in half. Place them on a roasting pan with the tomatoes and roast for about 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Pull from the oven and allow to cool. Next, slice the polenta into rounds and heat the other tablespoon oil in a pan. Gently pan fry the polenta rounds until they are crispy on the outsides (Note: you can also grill the polenta for a slightly different texture). Put the roasted tomatoes and garlic in a food processor with the basil. Gently pulse until the mixture forms a sauce. Heat the sauce on the stove and stir in salt and pepper to taste. To serve top each polenta round with sauce and Gorgonzola cheese.

This was so delish! We ate this with a side of roasted rosemary asparagus. As far as wine goes, I would pair this with a Chianti or maybe a Pinot Noir.

Pumpkin dumplings with Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup pumpkin (I used organic canned pumpkin but you can also use fresh if you have it)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- about a half teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup flour (use whole wheat for a healthier option)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Whisk together the pumpkin, egg, salt, nutmeg and baking powder in a large bowl. Slowly mix in the flour to form a soft dough. Boil a large pot of water and add a bit of salt. Carefully scoop and drop a teaspoon of the dough at a time into the boiling water until all the dough is used. Allow the dumplings to boil for 10-12 minutes and then strain in a colander. In a large skillet melt the butter and sautee the dumplings for 7-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve hot. You could eat these with roasted butternut squash or steamed broccoli.
I would also recommend pairing this recipe with a light sparkling white wine. I think Prosecco would be a nice accompaniment. I do not have a picture of this meal (I really need a new camera!) but it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it tastes good!

Both of these recipes are pretty easy and do not take much time to make. They are filling and provide healthier alternatives to eating a large meat entree. Remember, you don't need elaborate complicated ingredients and techniques to make elegant meals!

Happy Eating!