Last night VegNews Magazine posted an article called “8 Delicious Vegan Aphrodisiacs.” These 8 foods are: almonds, asparagus, avocados, banana, basil, chocolate, figs and garlic.
Since we are going out to Candle Cafe West for an official Valentine’s Day dinner tomorrow night, I decided it would be fun to make a full on aphrodisiac menu for tonight’s pre-Valentine’s Day dinner, and, as any good scientist would do, measure the results. Enjoy!
Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu
Warm Asparagus Salad with Toasted Almonds & Avocado Dressing
Spaghetti with Garlicky Almond Basil Pesto
Chocolate Chip Fig Banana Cake with Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream
Warm Asparagus Salad with Toasted Almonds
1 bunch asparagus
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 avocado
1 head of lettuce (I used a heart of romaine)
Olive oil
S and P
Avocado Dressing
1/2 avocado
1/2 cup water
The juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt, to taste
Toast the almonds in a 350 oven for about 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Check on them!
Snap off the ends of the asparagus and then cut into small pieces. Toss with olive oil and salt and pepper and place under the broiler until slightly charred.
To make the dressing, place the flesh of half of the avocado along with the water, the juice of 1/2 a lemon and a dash of salt into the food processor. Process until it thins out. Add more water to get it to a nice dressing consistency. Taste and adjust lemon and salt.
Chop up the lettuce. In a big bowl, add the lettuce, warm asparagus and almonds and toss with the dressing. Serve topped with few slices of avocado.
Spaghetti with Garlicky Almond Basil Pesto
1 lb. of gluten-free spaghetti
1 cup basil
1/4 cup olive oil
3 big garlic cloves
2 tablespoons raw whole almonds
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (nooch)
Salt, to taste
Make the spaghetti. Combine all ingredients in the processor and combine until it looks like pesto. Toss with warm pasta.
Chocolate Chip Fig Banana Cake with Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream
2 flax eggs (1 flax egg = 1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoons water)
3 very ripe big bananas
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup vegan cane sugar
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup pureed dried figs (about 6oz.)
1/2 cup mini vegan chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350.
Prepare the flax eggs by whisking the flax and water. Let it stand for a few minutes to get really thick. Mash the bananas really well.
Place the figs in the food processor and process until it forms a paste.
Combine all of the ingredients in a big bowl and bring together into a dough. Pour into 9×9 pan and bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Serve with vegan chocolate ice cream.
Enjoy the LOVE!
This looks delicious, Lisa! Have fun at Candle!!