Rich in protein, and filled with vitamin and mineral nourishment from bananas and dates, sweetened with a little honey, and absolutely rave-worthy, this is a vegan recipe that you will want to pass along to your friends.

INGREDIENTS:

Crust
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon canola oil
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla

Filling
1 pound firm tofu
1 1/8 cups pitted dates
1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 cup tahini
2 tablespoons honey

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Combine all crust ingredients in a mixing bowl, leaving out 1 tablespoon canola oil for oiling the pie pan. Oil a 9-inch pie pan, then press dough evenly into it. Poke a few holes in the dough with a fork, then bake for 10 minutes.

2. To prepare filling, place all ingredients in a food processor and blend briefly, then taste and add more honey if desired. Pour filling into prebaked pie crust and bake 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool before serving. (Or you could serve the filling as it is, without baking, as a pudding.)

Serves 6 to 8.