Tempura Beet Rollatini With Balsamic Gastrique Food

TEMPURA BEET ROLLATINI WITH BALSAMIC GASTRIQUE

Steps:

• Place the beet in a pan and cover with water. Add vinegar, and bring to a boil. Cook until tender when pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes. Place the tofu, nutritional yeast, onion, lemon juice, cashew cream, miso paste, 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/8 teaspoons pepper in a food processor and blend until the mix has the texture of ricotta cheese.
• In a small bowl, prepare the tempura batter according to the package directions, then fold in chives, 1 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Hold the cooked beet under cold running water until it's cool. Peel the skin. Slice the beet paper thin on a mandoline(a cheese slicer may work too). Dry the slices with paper towels and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Spread a small mounded strip of the tofu ricotta mixture on one end of each beet slice and roll up, using a dab of the ricotta mixture to hold the roll closed if needed.
• Pour 2 inches of the oil into a large, heavy pot and heat to 375*F. Holding a roll together, dip in the tempura batter, coating completely, and carefully lower into the oil. Fry the rolls, a few at a time to avoid crowding the pot, until well browned and crisp, about 2 minutes.
• Remove to a pan or plate lined with paper towels and set aside in a warm oven until all the rolls are fried.
• Serve hot, drizzled with the Balsamic Gastrique.
• To make the gastrique, in a small sauccepan over medium high heat, stir together the vinegar and sugar. Cook until syrupy and reduced by two thirds, about 15 minutes.

STEAMED OR ROASTED BEETS AND BEET GREENS WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut greens away from beets, leaving about 1/4 inch of stems. Scrub beets with vegetable brush. To steam beets, place in a steamer above 2 inches water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cover. Turn down heat to medium. Steam small and medium beets for 30 minutes and large beets for 40 minutes, until you can pierce the beet to the middle with a knife or skewer. Remove from heat and allow to cool. To roast, preheat oven to 425ºF and place beets in a baking dish (or lidded ovenproof casserole). Add 1/4 inch water to the dish. Cover tightly. Place in the oven and roast small beets (3 ounces or less) for 30 to 40 minutes, medium beets (4 to 6 ounces) 40 to 45 minutes, and large beets (8 ounces) 50 to 60 minutes, until they are easily penetrated with the tip of a knife. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the covered baking dish.
• When beets have cooled, cut away ends and slip off skins. Slice in rounds or cut into wedges or half-moons.
• Blanch greens in salted boiling water for about 1 minute, just until they wilt. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess moisture, taking up the greens by the handful. Alternatively, steam for 2 minutes, using tongs to flip the greens over top to bottom halfway through, for 2 minutes, or until wilted. Rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess water and chop coarsely.
• To make sauce, purée garlic cloves with a generous pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle, or put through a garlic press. Transfer to a bowl or measuring cup and whisk in sesame tahini. Whisk in lemon juice, beginning with smaller amount. The mix will stiffen up. Gradually whisk in up to 1/4 cup water, until sauce has consistency of thick cream or runny yogurt. Taste and adjust salt and lemon juice.
• Line a platter with the beet greens and arrange beets on top and around greens. Drizzle on tahini sauce, sprinkle with parsley and serve.