Za'atar Cashew Cheese Log and Lentil & Olive Paté
Hello guys! It's Rita here. How come we're suddenly well into the month of December? Honestly, I didn't feel these last two months go by. We were in Bali when we last posted a few recipes and got right back to work once we came home. Lots of exciting things we'll be happening for us in the near future and we can't wait to share them all with the world. But hey, Christmas is just around the corner and in no way we would allow ourselves to not do something special about it and share it with you guys!
Particularly since we became vegan, Christmas means we have to put in that little bit extra work because, well, there's nothing even slightly vegan-ish about the holidays in Portugal. We always have to make sure there will be something for us on that table, whether it's appetizers, entrées, side dishes or desserts. Luckily, we know our way around the kitchen and we have a bunch of curious folks in our families who never hesitate to scarf down something new (and plant-based). We take this into serious consideration and cook about twice the amount we would normally cook for a dinner party. We're thrilled to be able to say that usually, our vegan trays and dishes are the first to be wiped clean.
This post is all about the snacks and appetizers, and it's one we are very excited about. If you've seen our vegan "cheesecakes" or our vegan parmesan "cheese", you've probably realized we're very much into making cheese-like noms with one particular ingredient: cashew nuts. We're nuts about cashews and this "cheese" log has taken our passion to a whole new level: one where we can demolish one of these babies in a sheer 30 minutes. You'll see a bunch of different cashew and almond based recipes of vegan cheeses scattered around the internet, but we gave ours a little extra something and paired it with the delicious middle eastern herb and spice mix called Za'atar. These umami flavours will definitely be knocking your (and your families') socks off this Christmas!
As far as the second recipe is concerned, what's there to not like about a Lentil & Olive Paté? It's surprisingly light, not too salty, perfectly tangy and addictive as heck. This one doesn't even involve pre-soaking or setting in the fridge – you chuck the ingredients in the food processor, blend them all up and boom! You've got yourselves an appetizer that surely nobody will pass up on. We suggest serving this "cheese" log and paté on a large tray amongst all things dippable: grissinis, whole grain toasts, carrots, green apple slices, radishes, celery, bell peppers, medjoul dates, dried figs... And more. We hope you'll enjoy this guys. Stay put for our next Christmas recipe, a sweet and colourful pie for dessert.
ZA'ATAR CASHEW "CHEESE" LOG
AND LENTIL & OLIVE PATÉ
(min. 4 hours soaking +) 15 minutes (+ 30 min. cooling)
INGREDIENTS
CASHEW "CHEESE" LOG
3 cups | 300 gr. raw cashews, pre-soaked for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight)
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional, but delicious)
1/2 tsp sea salt
pinch of black pepper
ZA'ATAR SPICE MIX
1 tbsp sumac
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp thyme
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
LENTIL & OLIVE PATÉ
1 cup | 165 gr. cooked green lentils, rinsed and drained
2 cups | 240 gr. mixed olives, de-pitted (we used black, green and kalamata)
1/4 cup | 50 gr. roasted bell pepper
1 garlic clove, center germ removed
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
STEP BY STEP
Start by gathering, preparing and measuring all of the ingredients. This will improve your dynamic in the kitchen.
ZA'ATAR CASHEW "CHEESE" LOG
Make sure you start by soaking the cashews overnight
Drain and rinse the soaked cashews
Put them in your food processor or high speed blender, along with the rest of the ingredients for the "cheese" log
Blend until a thick yet slightly wet and crumbly paste forms
Place the mix on a sheet of parchment paper and roll into a log shape
Roll the log in the parchment paper and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
Meanwhile, prepare the Za'atar spice mix by mixing all of the herbs and spices in a small bowl
After the log has chilled and set, remove from the fridge and sprinkle the spices on top and around it
The spices are just enough to cover the whole log, so roll the log in the spices until it is fully covered in them
LENTIL & OLIVE PATÉ
Put all of the ingredients in your food processor or high speed blender and blend for about 1 minute or until the mixture is evenly broken down.
Scoop the paté into a serving bowl and refrigerate before serving.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY!
Share the photos of your creations on Instagram with the tag #cocooncooksblog so we can see it! xo