Aubergine and tofu pate

• 2 medium / 1 large aubergine
• 1 large onion
• 300g roasted almonds / walnuts
• 100ml miso
• 150g tahini
• 250g pressed tofu
• 1 Tbsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• ground black pepper

1. Bake the aubergine until it's cooked. A better idea is to pressure cook it for 10 minutes. And then remove the skin and mash it or whizz it. Pulp is what you want.
2. Saute the onion
3. Mix everything
4. Line a loaf tin and fill it with the mixture
5. Make a lid from 2 layers of foil (or use a lid!)
6. Bake it in a water bath in the oven at 175 °C for 2 hours
7. Bake it without the water bath for 30 mins
8. Leave to cool and then refrigerate for 36-48 hours !

Keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks.

Vegan Quiches

Stolen from Miyoko Nishimoto's "The Now and Zen Epicure" p 57-60 and 231-4

Whole Wheat Pie Crust
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1/3 - 1/2 cup chilled apple juice

(makes enough for a 9" tin)

Mix the flour and salt and stir in the oil with a fork.
Add the apple juice and mix well.
Knead for a bit.
I've used this without even rolling it out. Just press it into whatever you're baking in and you're away.

Basic Quiche

14-16 oz tofu
1/2 cup soy milk or cream
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 onions - minced
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste.

Blend the tofu, milk, oil & turmeric then put it in a bowl.
Saute the onion and add to the bowl along with the nutmeg, salt & pepper.
Add some of the optional stuff.

Pastry line a 9" flan dish or some individual shells. Bake it/them empty on 200C for 10/4 mins.

Take out & fill with the mixture and bake on 180C for 45/15 mins or until it looks cooked.

You have to leave the big one to cool, but you can start eating the little ones asap.

Curried Carrot Quiche

3 medium carrots
4 tbsp. raw cashews
stock to cook carrots in
1 tsp. curry powder
2 tbsp. white wine / white wine vinegar
Almond flakes for garnish.

Cook the carrots and cashews in the stock then let them cool enough to stick in the blender with the curry powder & wine.

Add to the basic mixture as optional stuff.

Put almond flakes on before baking.

Try leeks instead of onions.