Ryan – Page 19 – The Vegan Rhino

November 16, 2018May 14, 2020

Cashew Broccoli

You don’t need to call for take-out to enjoy this vegetable wok of goodness tonight. I promise this recipe will be a huge hit at your next family dinner! Cashews and broccoli are some of my favorite things to eat (and they’re really healthy too!), so when you put those together for this classic dish, your taste buds won’t know what hit them. Paired with some steamed rice or quinoa, you will have yourself a hearty and nutritious packed meal for any occasion!

Yields 2 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted raw cashews

1 broccoli head, florets head only

1 small onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

1 celery stalk, diced

1-2 Tbsp. vegetable broth

Cashew sauce:

1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce

1 Tbsp. rice vinegar

1 Tbsp. agave

1/4 cup saki, (optional)

1/2 tsp. ginger

1 garlic clove

1/4 cup filtered water

3 tsp. cornstarch

1/8 cup green onions

Directions

In a skillet, add a little bit of vegetable broth and turn to medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté for 3-5 minutes. Then add the broccoli, celery, and carrots, adding more vegetable broth as needed so it does not stick. Sauté for roughly 5 minutes longer and then add the garlic and ginger.
Turn to high heat and deglaze with saki. Once alcohol has cooked off, add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, agave.
Mix together cornstarch and water and pour into the pan. Allow sauce to thicken and remove from heat.
Toss in cashews and green onions.
Serve with white rice or noodles.

Chef’s tip: If you would like to use oil instead of vegetable broth, use 1 Tbsp. avocado oil or sesame oil.

November 15, 2018May 14, 2020

Cuque de banana (Banana Cake)

This recipe was shown to me by a coworker who wanted to challenge me to think outside my comfort zone and bring a childhood memory of hers back to life. Cuque de Banana is a classic Brazilian banana cake that is normally made with eggs and milk, so I decided to create my own plant-based version. Essentially, it’s a cross between crumb cake and banana bread and it’s super addicting. This dish makes a wonderful breakfast or even an after dinner treat. Whichever you decide, just know that a hint of Brazil has touched your kitchen.

Ingredients

Cake:

3 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer + 6 Tbsp. filtered water

2 Tbsp. vegan butter, softened

1 cup plain almond milk

1-1/2 cup organic sugar

2-1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 bananas

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup organic sugar

1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

4 Tbsp. vegan butter, melted

1/4 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, coming the sugar and butter. Mix well until smooth, add the eggs and stir until combined. Mix in the almond milk and vanilla, set aside.
In another mixing bowl, sift flour, salt, and baking powder. Pour mixture into into wet ingredients and stir to combine.
To make the crumb topping: pour all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Set aside until you are ready to assemble.
Take your cake pan and line it with parchment paper and grease it with butter and pour cake batter in.
Slice bananas in half and then in half long ways. Place the bananas on top of the cake and top with the crumble mixture.
Bake cake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool slightly before serving.

Chef’s tip: When using the toothpick to check on the cake, make sure you do not get a banana chunk. This will make you think the cake is not finished cooking, when it could be done.

November 14, 2018May 14, 2020

Pasta Fazool (Pasta e fagioli)

With the weather starting to get colder, I thought now would be a great time to break out one of my favorite family recipes: Pasta Fazool (pasta e frasule)! This dish brings back so many memories of family dinners with my Nana cooking this soup for us all. This old school “peasant” dish has really become a staple in my life as a go-to comforting meal, especially when I want a taste of home. Get ready to break out some crusty bread to scoop up all this soupy goodness! I hope that you all enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I do.

Soup:

2 cans northern beans (juice in)

2 Tbsp. tomato sauce, canned or homemade

2 cup vegetable broth

2-3 cloves garlic, (sliced)

1/4 cup avocado oil

1 cup onion, chopped

1-2 tsp. oregano, to taste

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

2 cans of water for EACH can of beans

1-1/2 to 2 cup Ditalini Macaroni, cooked

Directions

In a medium soup pot on medium heat, add olive oil and diced onions. Sauté for 5-7 minutes or until onions are translucent.
Next, add all above ingredients (except for Ditalini macaroni). Bring to a boil and then reduce to medium-low stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
Slowly add the cooked Ditalini macaroni to the soup. Note: Start by adding 1-1/2 cups and see how the thickens turns out. If you desire a thicker soup, add remaining 1/2 cup macaroni.
After 10-15 minutes of simmering, remove from heat and serve with choice of bread (or my personal favorite: pizza!)

Chef’s tip: the more macaroni you add to the soup the thicker the soup will get.

November 13, 2018May 14, 2020

Another “Neat” Taco

Fast and healthy meals don’t always have to be made from scratch, but that doesn’t mean they need to be completely store bought either. This taco “meat” is really neat! (pun intended) Why you may be wondering? Because it has all of the flavor and ingredients inside, all you need to do is add water and give it a good ol’ mix and voila- you are ready to go. You will be delighted to find out how great this Mexican style taco neat “meat” tastes! Don’t forget to kick it up a notch by adding a bunch of plant-based toppings like lettuce, guacamole, and mango salsa!

Yields 8 tacos

Ingredients

1 pouch Neat Foods Mexican-Style

1/2 cup water

1 small onion, diced

1 Tbsp. avocado oil

1/2 cup cooked white rice

1/4 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/2 lime, squeezed

1 tsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Toppings:

Guacamole

Mango salsa

Lettuce

Directions

Using a bowl, pour the contents of the pouch into a bowl and mix with water. Set aside.
Heat a sauté pan on medium-high heat. Add the oil and onion, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes.
Add the neat Mexican style “meat” to the pan, breaking it up into crumbles as if browns, roughly 10-12 minutes.
In another bowl, add the rice, minced cilantro, salt, and lime juice and mix (season to taste).
In either a hard or soft shell, place some of the rice, followed by taco meat, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole (or with whatever toppings you’d like).

Chef’s tip: if you would like to spice up the neat Mexican style mix, add 1-2 tsp. siracha.

November 11, 2018July 7, 2020

Condensed “Milk”

Buying condensed “milk” from the store can be quite tricky when you are dairy-free, which is why I have created this 2 ingredient simple version. The only ingredients that you will need are full fat coconut cream (the entire can) and organic cane sugar. Simply reduce the two together to get an amazing ingredient that you can use for baking, caramel, and other recipes!

Yields 8 oz

Ingredients

2/3 cup sugar

1 can full fat coconut cream (and liquid)

Directions

In a sauce pan, add all ingredients and set to medium-high heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.
Once a summer begins, set your timer for 40-45 minutes and reduce heat to low. Allow to reduce and turn darker in color.
Transfer liquid to a mason jar or other container to cool.

Chef’s tip: Make sure not to stir this mixture during the cooking process at all or it will cause crystals to form.

November 9, 2018May 14, 2020

Roasted “Tomato” Sauce

With more people unable to eat acidic foods, I wanted to create this “tomato” sauce that everyone could enjoy on their pizza! This sauce uses red peppers and mushrooms which gives an almost tomato sauce flavor. Whether you are gluten-free or not, you can enjoy this sauce on a cauliflower pizza crust or a regular crust made from dough. Whichever you chose, you will be impressed.

Yields 1-1/2 cups

Ingredients

2 medium red peppers

4-5 medium baby bella mushrooms

1 medium red onion, halved

2 Tbsp. fresh parsley

2-3 cloves of garlic

Pinch of Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Pinch of Spicely Organics ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
On a baking sheet, place peppers on and place into the oven. Roast for 25-30 minutes. Once peppers are soft, turn them on their sides and turn oven to broil. Place peppers on top rack and allow to “burn” until the skin is black. Remove and set aside to cool.
Remove skins once peppers have cooled down.
In a blender, add your red pepper, mushrooms, onion, parsley, and garlic. Blend until mixture is well combined. Pour on to favorite pizza crust, or pasta dish.

Chef’s tip: This sauce is great for those who would like to enjoy pizza but can not have tomato sauce or vinegar.

November 6, 2018May 14, 2020

Southwestern Black Bean Salad

Cut the carbs and try this loaded salad for #TacoTuesday today! This salad is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables like red onion, juicy mango and pineapple, cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocados. One bite and you won’t be able to stop! That’s because the reviving taste of the fresh lime juice mixed with the black beans and other flavors will keep you wanting more!

Yields 2 servings

Ingredients

16 oz. organic spring mix

1/2 cup black beans

2 Tbsp. hemp seeds

1/3 cup mango salsa

1/8 cup red onion, sliced

1/2 avocado, sliced

1 tsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup avocado oil

1/8 cup agave

1/2 cup lime juice, fresh squeezed

1 tsp, garlic

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. Spicely Organics Ground Black Pepper

Directions

Salad:

On a large plate, place all of the lettuce down in a big layer. Top with cooked black beans, hemp seed, mango salsa, red onion, cilantro, and avocado.

Dressing:

In a small bowl, mix together all dressing ingredients until well combined.
Top salad with dressing and serve with sides of lime wedges.

Chef’s tip: To spice things up, add 1/4 tsp. jalapeño to the dressing,

November 4, 2018May 14, 2020

Rich Dark Chocolate Mousse

Rich and decadent chocolate mousse has never been so easy to make! Using both cacao nibs and Hershey’s unsweetened coco powder gives this recipe a dynamic duo that will make you melt in your seat. Grinding up the cacao nibs into a fine powder is key to getting this texture right, but once you do, it will be amazing and well worth it! Treat yourself and your friends to this truly amazing dessert that may leave you licking the bowl at the end.

Yields 3 servings

Ingredients

1 container silken tofu (454 g/1 lb)

3 Tbsp. Madhava organic amber raw blue agave

1/4 cup Vitacost organic ground chocolate-covered cacao nibs – non-GMO

1/4 cup Hershey’s Natural Unsweetened Cocoa

Directions

Blend all ingredients in your Vitamin blender until smooth.
Pour into ramekins and place in the refrigerator to set for 30 minutes.
Serve with fresh fruit and mint sprigs.

Chef’s tip: Using freshly ground cocoa nibs will deepen the chocolate flavor, if you do not have, it is more than alright to use a 1/2 cup of Hershey’s chocolate powder instead.

November 4, 2018May 14, 2020

Herb-Coated Cheese

Why go to the market to buy cheese when you can make it at home! Using a few probiotics, you can create a smooth and flavorful herb-crusted cheese wheel. This plant-based and dairy-free cheese is a great alternative and simple appetizer for any party. Your family or guests will surely be impressed when you pull this out of the fridge!

Yields 4-6 servings

Ingredients

Cheese:

3 cups Vitacost organic cashews, soaked overnight 8-10 hours

4 capsules New Chapter Probiotic All-Flora

1/2 cup filtered water

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Herb coating:

3 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped

3 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

4 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

1-1/2 tsp. lemon zest

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. Spicely Organics Ground Black Pepper

Directions

In a bowl, cover the cashews with water for about 9 hours (or overnight). Drain and rinse the cashews. Set aside.
In a blender, add the cashews, probiotic powder (from the capsules), and water. Blend ingredients until smooth in texture.
Using two cheese clothes layered in a colander, pour the mixture into the lines colander- folding the cheesecloth on top.
Place this in a warm spot to culture for roughly 24-36 hours.
Mix salt into the cultured cheese and stir to combine. Press mixture into desired mold and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Roll the cheese carefully in the herb mixture.
Serve with your choice of crackers, veggies, or fruit.

Chef’s tip: For maximum flavor, roll the cheese carefully into the herb mixture and refrigerate for a few hours to let flavors meld.

November 1, 2018May 14, 2020

Twice Baked Potato

These twice baked potatoes are a great side dish to any meal and even warm up well the next day for lunch. They are filled with fresh herbs, vegan cheese, and a homemade “bacon” as well as tasting amazing! The silky smooth and creamy texture of the potato being blended and baked makes this fancier version of a baked potato that much more special.

Yields 5 servings

Ingredients

5 potatoes

1/3 cup plain almond milk

2 Tbsp. Earths Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1/4 cup vegan cheddar cheese

1/4 cup mushroom “bacon” (see below for recipe)

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Pink Fine Salt

1/4 tsp. Spicely Organic Ground Black Pepper

Pinch of smoked paprika

Mushroom “bacon”

1 Portabello mushroom, sliced

1 tsp. smokey flavor

1 Tbsp. Vitacost Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Pinch of Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Pinch Spicely Organics Ground Black Pepper

Directions

Bacon:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In bowl, drizzle oil over sliced mushrooms.
Add salt, pepper and smoke flavor. Mix until evenly coated.
On baking sheet, evenly arrange mushrooms.
Bake 10-15 minutes.
Flip mushrooms and bake for another 10 minutes or until brown and crispy.

Potato:

On a baking sheet, place potatoes and set into the 400 degree F oven you preheated for the mushroom bacon.
Allow potatoes to bake for 1 hour. Remove form oven and set aside to cool so you can easily touch it.
Cut 1/3 of the way down from the top and scoop out the middle portion, careful not to break the skin. Place the potato into a mixing bowl.
Add butter, almond milk, chives, garlic, cheese, “bacon”, salt and pepper to taste, mix until well incorporated and smooth.
Scoop or pipe back into the potato shell. Instead of throwing out the top portion you cut off, you can use that by placing it at the bottom of the potato. This will also give you an illusion of over stuffed potatoes.
Sprinkle the top with smoked paprika and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until top is golden brown at 350 degrees F.
Serve with sour cream, cheese, and chives on top.

Chef’s Tip: I let the potatoes cool down in the oven after baking for an additional 5 minutes since I did not use any tin foil around my potato, this helped soften them up a bit further.