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Cashew Tofu with Teriyaki-Peanut Sauce

What’s a hungry veghead to do when you have a fridge full of fresh local veggies? You slice, dice and sauté! Stir fry dishes are easy go-to meals. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and you’ve got a delicious bowl of goodness for dinner (and for lunch he next day if you prepare enough!) This one-pan recipe (or one-wok, if you will), calls for crunchy cashews and protein-packed tofu. What’s even better is that you can prepare this meal without producing any waste (opt for farmers market produce and bulk nuts when available!).

The best part about this recipe is that in can be easily modified to please your palate. Swap the veggies in this recipe for your favorites. You can even use peanuts instead of cashews. That possibilities are endless! Pair this Asian-inspired veggie medley with a mound of fluffy white rice and a savory, nut-based sauce. Oh, and I can’t forget about my top-secret ingredient: organic Japanese cola. Pour some into the wok for a tasty finish you won’t believe you prepared yourself!

 

Yields 3 Servings 

Ingredients 

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 cup basmati white rice

1 1/2 cup water

1 celery stalk

8 oz. Nasoya Organic Cubed Super Firm Tofu

3 cloves of garlic

1 tsp. of finely chopped fresh ginger 

I medium green bell pepper, chopped

1/4 lb. baby bok choy, coarsely chopped

1 handful of Vitacost Organic Whole Raw Cashews Unsalted Large

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Pink Salt- Fine

1 Tbsp. La Tourangelle Delicate Avocado Oil

Teryaki-Peanut Sauce:

3 Tbsp. Kikkoman Organic Soy Sauce 

3 Tbsp. Edward & Sons Organic Teriyaki Sauce Gluten Free

3 Tbsp. Vitacost Certified Organic Light Brown Sugar – Non-GMO 

1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar 

2 Tbsp. Vitacost Certified Organic Crunchy & Unsalted Peanut Butter – Gluten Free and Non-GMO

 

Directions

  1. Get rid of any leaves that are discolored and place the baby bok choy in a colinder. Rinse until clean and pat dry. Repeat this process with the celery stalk, red onion, and green bell pepper. To prep your tofu, cut a small slit in the package to release the liquid. Pour tofu onto paper towels and allow to drain.
  2. In a small pot, combine rice and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover with lid; simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove rice from heat and fluff with fork. Set aside.
  3. On medium heat, add the oil to a saucepan along with your onion, celery, bell pepper and cashews. Sauté for 6 minutes. Add in the garlic and ginger and allow to cook for 2 minutes. 
  4. In a seperate bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and peanut butter together; stirring until combined. 
  5. Pour sauce mixture into pan and allow to bubble and thicken. 
  6. Lastly, add the tofu and baby bok choy. Remove from the heat and mix together to combine. The baby bok choy will wilt as it is mixed into the sauce and vegetable mixture. 

 

Chef’s tip: You can put black sesame seeds and fresh green onions on top of your white rice. 

Bedner’s Fresh Farm Market

Farmers Market

Looking for somewhere worthy of your time this weekend? Visit a farmers market! There’s nothing better than strolling a market lane by lane to browse the bounty of fresh fruits, veggies and unique homemade and locally made creations.

Farmers Market

Every Saturday, my roommate, friend and I head to the notorious Bedner’s Farm Fresh  Market in Boynton Beach, FL. The best part about this market is the ever-exciting U-pick; meaning you get to pick your own produce right from the vine, bush or tree!

Upon entering, I’m immediately overloaded with amazing fruit, breads, vegetables, herbs, wines, freshly squeezed orange juice and more. It’s tempting not to toss one of everything in my reusable grocery bags.

When I’m finally ready to check out, I often find myself pausing after I unload the cart because I have no idea what the grand total is going to be. It’s like a game! But when you purchase organic, local produce you don’t have to worry about the bill! When you shop at a farmers market, you’re essentially cutting out the middleman. You pay for your food at cost rather than marked up prices (think big-box retailers). Plus, nothing beats the level of freshness you get when you buy local—especially when you know the level of care being sowed in.

Farmers Market

It’s also smart to always ask your local farmers if their produce is organic, what pesticides are used and if it’s Non-GMO. Like I always say, once you go farm, you’ll never go back!

If you would like to plan a visit to Bender’s Fresh Farm Market- click here. 

Farmers Market

Nut-Free Banana Bread

Banana Bread

Seeing spots? Nope, your speckled bananas aren’t spoiled! It’s just a result of the fruit’s ripening process. The more brown spots a banana has, the more sugar it contains—thus, the sweeter it becomes! It’s incredible, it’s edible and it’s perfect for making sweet, nut-free and eggless banana bread. So next time you think about tossing a bushel of mushy bananas, opt to reduce food waste with this simple, vegan-friendly recipe. If you’re craving some extra flair, add chocolate chips, raisins or seeds into the mix before baking!

Photo Cred: Ivy Becker

Yields 8-10 slices

Ingredients

4 or 5 ripe bananas, mashed

1-1/2 cup Organic King Arthur All-Purpose Flour

1 cup organic cane sugar

1/2 cup dairy-free butter

2 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer + 4 Tbsp. water

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Pink Salt

1/2 tsp. Simply Organic Madagascar Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In small bowl, prepare egg replacers according to package directions.

2. In mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar until creamy. Slowly add egg replacers, one at a time, and mix well. Add bananas and stir to combine.

3. In separate mixing bowl, sift flour, baking soda and salt.

4. Slowly combine dry and wet ingredients until fully incorporated. Add vanilla and stir until just combined—do not overmix.

5. Pour batter into greased and/or floured loaf pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until golden brown. When ready, remove from oven and let cool completely.

 

Chef’s tip: If you prefer your bread on the fancier side, slice a banana in half lengthwise. Then, take one half and slice it again. Lay two slices on top of batter in loaf pan before placing in oven. Bake according to directions above.

As seen on Vitacost’s Blog- click here. You may also find the above listed ingredients and more by visiting Vitacost.com