Tofu tortillas

At the same time, in another pan, fry garlic with cumin and chile. Add grated tofu, sunflower seeds, and soy sauce. When brown, fill tortillas. 

Dinner is ready. Raoul, the children, and I sit down and each take a corn tortilla with melted Gruyere and load it up with the garlic-flavored, cumin-infused tofu, avocadoes, Micaelas salsa, chopped tomatoes, and fresh greens. We serve the kale-asparagus dish on the side. 

Humans can synthesize only 10 of the 20 amino acids needed for protein synthesis. The remaining 10, called essential amino acids, must be obtained from the diet and consumed on a regular, almost daily basis. Diets that include animal products readily supply all the needed amino acids. Because no one plant source has sufficient amounts of all the essential amino acids, vegetarian diets must be carefully balanced. Grains—wheat, rice, and corn—are low in lysine, and legumes— beans, peas, and peanuts— are low in methionine, but a combination of these foods provides all the needed amino acids. Thus, a diet of corn tortillas and beans, or rice and tofu, provides all essential amino acids. A peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread does, too. 

In the center of each tortilla, spoon a line of brown rice, then add tofu, onion, red pepper, tomato, and avocado. Fold in sides of tortilla to hold ingredients together. 

If you have a taste for East Coast tradition, try the New York seitan cheese steak. Well-seasoned seitan substitutes for the steak, and a soy mozzarella for the cheese. On the list of entrees is the Very Veggie Mexican Burrito - a whole wheat tortilla filled with chili, grilled tempeh and steamed greens, served over brown rice and topped with salsa and a wonderful non-dairy tofu sour cream. Do-it-yourselfers will appreciate the Good Food side dishes. Make a meal out of baked sweet potato, grilled tempeh, corn bread, sea vegetables or other tasty sides. 

Stuffed mushrooms were rich and, well, meaty - mushroom caps stuffed with a mixture of soy, scallions, carrots and black mushroom in a spicy, black mushroom sauce. Also excellent were the black bean quesadillas - an unusual mix of feta cheese, black beans, brown rice, corn and sun-dried tomatoes in a flour tortilla. A tangy, house-made salsa makes the dish. The sesame noodles salad is also a crowd-pleaser - chilled lo mein noodles mixed with sesame and peanut butter. Save room, though. The biggest hit at Cafe Sunflower is the vegan carrot cake - a killer dessert with a tofu cream cheese frosting that will fool even the most die-hard sweet tooth. 

The spinach enchiladas are a victory for green - two corn tortillas filled with spinach and topped with spinach sauce and soy cheese. If you have experimented with a lot of different soy cheeses with mixed results, you ll be pleased to know that A Votre Sante gets it right. The curry wrap is also popular - tofu or chicken, asparagus, broccoli and brown rice sauteed in a mild curry sauce and wrapped with hummus and tomato in a whole wheat chapati. Dishes can be served oil-free upon request. A Votre Sante has three other locations 242 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, s 310-860-9441 13016 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, B 310-451-1813 and 1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, it 310-314-1187. 

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