Category Archives: Asian

Pad Thai Sauce

Pad Thai Sauce by Alison's AllspiceI used to live about a block away from a Thai restaurant in a loft apartment.  We would frequent the restaurant with family, to celebrate, or to grab an easy dinner.  Luckily, we still live close by, but these days I cook at home more.  This pad Thai sauce recipe allows me to make my restaurant favorite at home.

You only need 4 ingredients, one for each flavor: sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.  The tamarind paste is your sour flavor, and it varies greatly from brand to brand in my experience. You might have to do some trial and error with the specific brand you can get to figure out just how you like it, but it will be worth it! Continue reading

Asian Noodle Stir Fry Salad

Asian Noodle Stir Fry Salad by Alison's AllspiceDuring summer, I don’t like to use the oven or do too much serious cooking that will heat up the house.  I eat a ton of salads during summer, but sometimes you just want something a little more substantial, but still light and refreshing.  This Asian noodle stir fry salad hits all those points. Continue reading

Smoked Tofu Brown Rice Onigiri with Miso Sauce

Smoked Tofu Brown Rice Onigiri by Alison's AllspiceToday we are taking a short trip around to the word with a Japanese recipe, onigiri.  My take on onigiri includes smoked tofu and brown rice, with a delicious miso sauce for dipping!  What is onigiri exactly?  Well, let me explain!

Onigiri are Japanese rice balls that are traditionally eaten as a snack or taken on-the-go for an easy lunch.  They are filled with various kinds of fillings, usually fish or briny vegetables like pickled plum or kelp. Continue reading

Smoked Tofu Summer Rolls

Smoked Tofu Summer Rolls by Alison's AllspiceI can’t believe how fast the summer has gone, school starts in only a few weeks! I had to share these smoked tofu summer rolls before summer is over.  They are a fresh, light meal that can be easily made without heating up your kitchen!

I like to use the smoked tofu in my summer rolls because it is already cooked.  You could probably use “raw” tofu straight out of the package, but the smoked tofu has better texture and it adds more flavor. Continue reading

Red Lentil Dal Spinach Bowls

Red Lentil Dal Spinach Bowls by Alison's AllspiceRed lentil dal is a popular Indian dish where red lentils are stewed in aromatics and spices until super flavorful.  It is fast, inexpensive and easy so it’s no wonder why it is popular.  Today, I want to share my twist on this class, red lentil dal spinach bowls!

To get started, lets discuss red lentils.  Red lentils are the fastest cooking lentil, have a sweeter and milder flavor, and tend to get kind-of mushy when cooked.  Kinda. Continue reading

Coconut Turmeric Noodle Bowl with Tofu and Veggies

Coconut Turmeric Noodle Bowls with Tofu and Veggies by Alison's AllspiceThis coconut turmeric noodle bowl with tofu and veggies was inspired by golden milk, a creamy drink or tea made with a base of plant-based milk and turmeric.  I used the golden milk in place of broth to make a creamy noodle bowl that can be eaten hot or cold.

This isn’t a soup recipe because the ingredients are prepared individually, not together in one pot.  It resembles a buddah bowl more than it does soup. Continue reading

Sesame Soba Noodles with Asparagus and Tofu

Sesame Soba Noodles with Aspragus and Tofu by Alison's AllspiceThis sesame soba noodles with asparagus and tofu recipe is one that takes me back many years.  I made this recipe often when I was a young person traveling for work every few months.

The ingredients are simple and there are many swaps that can be made with success, even for a novice cook like myself when I was young.  It is also full of flavor making it an easy favorite to have again and again, which I did! Continue reading

Sweet Potato Coconut Curry

Sweet Potato Coconut Curry by Alison's AllspiceA few months ago, I posted this recipe for butternut squash chickpea curry.  One week when I was cleaning out the fridge, I used the recipe but made alterations based on what I had.  My family loved this sweet potato coconut curry even more than we loved the butternut squash version, so I just had to share it with you all!

So, what alterations did I make?  Two major swaps and one omission is all that you will find.  I swaped sweet potato for the butternut, and tofu for the chickpeas. Continue reading

Butternut Squash Chickpea Curry

Butternut Squash Chickpea Curry by Alison's AllspiceCurry is a great dish to make in advance for busy nights because the flavors only get better as it sits.  This butternut squash chickpea curry is loaded with vegetables as well as flavor!

I like to prep all the ingredients for this recipe in advance to make it an easy and pleasant cooking experience.  Chopping the butternut squash can be time consuming, and sometimes difficult, so you don’t want to rush for safety’s sake. Continue reading

Tandoori Grilled Tofu and Vegetables

Tandoori Grilled Tofu and Vegetables by Alison's AllspiceTandoori grilled tofu and vegetables is a recipe that I wanted to try for a long time before I finally did.  I love anything grilled and the spice mix used in the sauce is gold, literally.

What is tandoori?  It is a dish that originated in India that uses a yogurt based sauce and a tandoor oven, which is heated with wood or charcoal.  I grilled mine to acheive the smokey flavor of a traditional tandoor dish. Continue reading