italian – The Vegan Rhino

July 19, 2021

Socca (Chickpea Flatbread)

Looking to try something new and absolutely delicious!? This soccer, which is made from chickpea flour, is slightly earthy in flavor, smooth, moist interior and a crispy outer edge. Whether you are dunking the slices in homemade sauce or eating it as a flatbread, the options are endless.

Yield: 8 slices

Serves: 2-3 people

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup chickpea flour

1 1/4 cup water

3/4 tsp. Himalayan pink salt

1 Tbsp. + 1 1/2 tsp. avocado oil, for greasing pan

Extra

2 cups arugula

1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

Oil & Rice Wine Dressing

1 Tbsp. avocado oil

1 1/2 tsp. Mirin rice cooking wine

Pinch Himalayan pink salt

Pinch ground black pepper

Directions

Pour dressing ingredients into a mason jar with lid and shake vigoursly. Set aside until ready to use.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, water, salt and allow to sit for 30 minutes until batter thickens.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Preheat 10-inch cast iron skillet in oven for 6 minutes with oil. Remove pan and pour batter in. Bake for 12 minutes on middle rack.
Turn oven to broil. Move skillet up one rack placement (about 7-in. from the heating elements) and broil for 5 minutes with oven cracked open or until top and sides begins to brown and blister.
Remove from oven and use a spatula to help slide socca carefully on to a piece of parchment paper or cutting board. Cut into slices.
Serve topped with arugula, onion, cherry tomatoes, and oil & vinegar dressing.

Chef’s tip: Make sure to watch your socca closely under the broiler otherwise it can burn quickly. You can also let your Socca batter sit covered on the counter top at room temperature for up to 24 hours, with 12 hours being a sweet spot! This longer process gives the final product a fragrant tartness that pairs well with the nuttiness flavor from the chickpeas.

July 15, 2021

Bruschetta

Need something quick-and-easy to make for an upcoming party or friendly gathering? Nothing screams hors d’oeuvres for a party quite like bruschetta. Crusty sliced French baguette is drizzled with olive oil and baked to perfection. Each slice rubbed with garlic and topped with fresh tomato and basil salad with balsamic and oil. Keep an eye on these because they will disappear before you know it!

Yield: 15

Serves: 5 (3 slices per serving)

Ingredients

1 French baguette, sliced diagonally

8 plum tomatoes

1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped

1 Tbsp. fresh basil, to garnish (chiffonade cut)

3 garlic cloves, minced (plus 1 peeled whole garlic clove)

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. avocado oil, extra for bread

1/4 tsp. Himalayan pink salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Slice baguette diagonally and place on baking sheet. Lightly drizzle each side with avocado oil and bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and scrape tops with garlic.
Slice plum tomatoes in half and scoop out seeds. Slice into long strips and cube.
In a bowl, combine cubed plum tomatoes, basil, minced garlic, balsamic vinegar, oil, salt, pepper and mix. Refrigerate until cold, roughly 30 minutes.
Serve on toasted bread slices and garnish with basil.

Chef’s tip: For best flavor, make the tomato mixture the night before and refrigerate until ready to use.

September 29, 2020September 29, 2020

Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper) is an Italian dish consisting of 4 ingredients that make it thick and creamy. The key is to perfectly cook the pasta and retain that liquid once done for the sauce. The starch from the pasta water is critical to making this pan sauce so make sure not to skimp on this step. If you do, you most likely will not get the proper consistency once it’s finished.

Yield 3

Ingredients

1 lb. box tonnarelli or bucatini pasta

5 Tbsp. vegan butter, cubed

1 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1 cup vegan parmesan cheese

1 cup reserved pasta water

Directions

In a large pot, bring 3.5 quarts water to a boil and season well with salt (should be salty to taste). Cook the pasta until al dente, roughly 10 minutes. Reserve pasta water before draining.
In a skillet on medium heat, melt the butter and add the pepper, stirring around until toasted, about 45 seconds. Add reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Stir in the cheese until melted and pour in the drained pasta, tossing to coat.
Serve immedietly.

Chef’s tip: If the sauce seems dry, add more of the reserved pasta water to thin it out.

June 15, 2020December 21, 2020

Gourmet Mushroom Risotto

This creamy gourmet mushroom risotto is a real crowd pleaser and a must try! Making a creamy homemade risotto takes time but its well worth it. With just a few simple ingredients, you can turn plain rice into a delicious entree or side dish.

Yield 5 servings

Ingredients

.7 oz. dried porcini mushrooms

4 1/2 cups vegetable broth

2 Tbsp. avocado oil + 2 Tbsp. vegan butter

16 oz. sliced baby Bella mushrooms

1/2 cup shallots, chopped

1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 sprig thyme

2 Tbsp. vegan butter

1-1/2 cups Arborio rice

1/4 tsp. Himalayan pink salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup vegan parmesan

Parsley, to garnish

Directions

In medium pot, bring vegetable broth to boil and reduce heat to low. Add porcini mushrooms, cover and cook for 4 minutes. Remove porcini mushrooms and slice.
In large pot over medium heat, warm avocado oil and butter mixture. Add porcini mushrooms, baby Bella mushrooms, shallots and onions; cook for 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook another 2 minutes. Transfer mixture (including liquid) to bowl and set aside.
In same large pot, combine 2 tablespoons vegan butter with uncooked rice for 1 minute (avoid browning rice). Add salt, pepper and white wine. Cook until liquid absorbs.
Return mushroom mixture to pot with rice. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup hot vegetable broth and stir until mostly absorbed. Add another 1/2 cup and so on until rice absorbs all of the liquid (this step takes roughly 35 minutes). Remove thyme spring and stir in vegan parmesan.
Spoon into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

Chef’s tip: In step No. 4, make sure liquid absorbs completely before adding more hot broth. This is VERY important!

February 26, 2020May 14, 2020

Vegan Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup has always been one of my favorite soups, especially growing up as a kid. Thanks to SunFlower Family, I’m able to recreate some awesome meatless meatballs using their sunflower haché, while keeping it 100% vegan. It’s packed with protein and a great alternative to tofu, tempeh, or seitan.

Yield 54

Ingredients

3 (16 oz.) vegetable broth

2-1/4 cups chopped escarole

1 cup Acini de pepe or pearl couscous

“Meatballs”:

1 box Sunflower Haché

1 small onion, grated

2 Tbsp. avocado oil

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

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

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp. Nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat air fryer or oven to 350 degrees F.
In a bowl, soak the haché according to the box instructions. Combine the onion, parsley, egg replacer, garlic cloves, salt, breadcrumbs, and nutritional yeast. Using a Tbsp., shape the mixture into 1-inch round “meatballs”; Set aside.
In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth to a boil on medium-high heat. Add the acini de pepe, and escarole; Simmer on medium for 10 minutes, or until al dente.
Using a 1 tsp. measuring spoon, roll meatless meatballs into rounds and place into air fryer.
Cook “meatballs” for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Add to individual soup bowls with broth before serving.
Serve warm

Chef’s tip: Add a can of mashed black beans or chickpeas! The meatballs will not hold together when cooking in the broth, so be sure to cook them in the oven.

February 15, 2020May 14, 2020

Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup has always been one of my favorite soups, especially growing up as a kid. Thanks to Sunflower Family USA, I’m able to re create some awesome meatless meatballs using their sunflower haché. It’s packed with protein and a great alternative to tofu, tempeh, or seitan. This is one of the best Italian wedding soups I’ve had, and I’m here to tell you how easy it truly is to make this soup. It may just be your new favorite thing to make!

Yield 54

Ingredients

3 (16 oz.) vegetable broth 12 c

2-1/4 cups chopped escarole

1 cup Acini de pepe or pearl couscous

“Meatballs”:

1 box Sunflower Haché

1 small onion, grated

2 Tbsp. avocado oil

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 Tbsp. Egg Replacer + 4 Tbsp. filtered water, mixed

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp. Nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat air fryer or oven to 350 degrees F.
In a bowl, soak the haché according to the box instructions. Combine the onion, parsley, egg replacer, garlic cloves, salt, breadcrumbs, and nutritional yeast. Using a teaspoon, shape the mixture into 1-inch round “meatballs”; Set aside.
In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth to a boil on medium-high heat. Add the acini de pepe, and escarole; Simmer on medium for 10 minutes, or until al dente.
Cook meatballs for 10-12 minutes or until lightly brown.
Serve soup with meatballs added at the last minute.

Chef’s tip: Do not cook the meatballs in the soup or it will fall apart.

December 30, 2018May 14, 2020

Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

If you are looking for a classic lasagna recipe, then give this plant-based version a try! Each New Year, we would always have a lasagna at the dinner table, amongst other things.Being able to re-create a favorite meal, that my aunt used to make, is truly special. This plant-based mushroom and spinach lasagna is packed with flavor, protein, and nutrients our bodies need and can easily consume. Although making lasagna may take a little bit of prep and cleanup, it is totally worth the creation. From the homemade ricotta to the oh so yummy mushroom mixture of onion, spinach, garlic and tons of cheese, you will surely impress your guests and family with this recipe.

Yields 4-6 servings

Ingredients

12 lasagna sheets, cooked

1 (8 oz.) baby Bella mushrooms, diced

4 cups spinach

2 Tbsp. hemp seeds

1 large onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1-1/4 cup lentils, cooked

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

5-6 cups pasta sauce

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/2 cup Follow Your Heart Parmesan Cheese

1 Tbsp. avocado oil

Ricotta Cheese:

2 cups cashews, soaked overnight

4 Tbsp. filtered water

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. basil, chopped

1 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

Pinch of Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Directions

Ricotta Cheese:

In a blender, combine cashews, water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast and salt. Blend for 1-2 minutes using your stick, until smooth consistency is achieved.
Add the chopped basil to the mixture and stir in. Set aside.

Lasagna:

In a pot, cook the lasagna pasta according to the box instructions. Drain and individually lay pasta sheets out to avoid sticking together or tearing.
In a frying pan on medium-high heat, add onions, mushrooms, garlic and sauté for 4-6 minutes. Add the spinach and cooked lentils, and stir until spinach has wilted. Season with salt, pepper, oregano and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
On the bottom of your casserole dish, put 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom. Add the lasagna sheet in an even layer, followed by 1/3 of the following: homemade ricotta cheese, mushroom mixture, hemp seeds, basil, more sauce, and topped with Parmesan cheese.
Repeat layers and top with remaining Parmesan cheese and ricotta. Cover with foil and make sure it does not touch the cheese to prevent sticking.
Bake for 25-30 minutes and remove the foil. Bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until bubbling and brown on top.
Serve with side salad.

Chef’s tip: Allow lasagna to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

December 26, 2018May 14, 2020

Walnut-Pesto Pasta

This aromatic and simple walnut-pesto goes great on any pasta you choose! Whether its bow ties or penne, it’s simply delicious. When you make your own, with fresh basil and mint, there is something about the flavor and and feeling of doing it on your own, that doesn’t compare to any store bought version. To make this, just clean the leafs, add some oil, walnuts (a few other ingredients), and you are on your way to a delicious and versatile sauce that you can use for pasta’s, salad’s, sandwiches, are more!

Yields 3-4 servings

Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil

1/4 cup fresh mint

1/2 avocado

1/4 cup walnuts

2-3 Tbsp. avocado oil

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Pink Fine Salt

1 clove garlic, minced

1 box pasta of choice

salt, for boiling

Directions

In your food processor, combine all ingredients until well mixed.
Cook pasta according to box directions. When finished cooking, drain and stir in pesto sauce.
Serve with vegan parmesan cheese and parsley.

Chef’s tip: Feel free to go with pine nuts for a more classic spin.

September 18, 2018May 14, 2020

Parmesan Chickpea Cutlets

I’m a sucker for authentic Italian food. Pretty much any combo of sauce, cheese and some sort of breading used to be my go-to. Going vegan certainly doesn’t change this. All it takes are a few alternate ingredients to duplicate any classic Italian dish. I created the following recipe to vegan-ize my favorite one of all! These chickpea cutlets come together super quickly and taste great when smothered in homemade tomato sauce with cashew “Parmesan” (or your preferred dairy-free cheese!). Be sure to pile your serving platter high because your family will devour this delicious, cruelty-free take on typical Parm.

Yields 4 cutlets

Ingredients

1 cups Vitacost Garbanzo Beans, soaked and drained

1 cup Lundberg Organic California White Basmati Rice

1 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer Gluten Free + 2 Tbsp. Water, mixed together

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley + extra for garnish

1 small clove garlic

1/4 tsp. Simply Organic Thyme

1 tsp. Simply Organic Oregano

1 tsp. Frontier Co-Op organic Poultry Seasoning

1/4 cup Edward & Sons organic Panko Breadcrumbs

1 cup plain almond milk

1 cup King Arthur Flour Organic Unbleached All Purpose Flour

2 cups tomato sauce

2 cups vegan Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/2 tsp. Spicely Organics ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In food processor, pulse chickpeas, white rice and egg mixture until well combined.
Mix in poultry seasoning, parsley, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper.
Form dough-like mixture into flattened patty-shape discs.
Bread chickpea cutlet first by dipping into almond milk, then into the flour, then back into the almond milk, and finally into the bread crumbs.
Place breaded cutlets onto lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Chef’s tip: For easier breading, place formed cutlets into the freezer to harden.

September 11, 2018May 14, 2020

Eggplant “Meatballs”

The best meatless “meatballs” recipe, that is made out of farmed fresh ingredients, is here. Italian food like this is normally made with large amounts of cheese and meat. But not these ones guys! Having a dinner like this brings back so many good memories. In the process of making this recipe, I was able to reminisce in flavors that I remember as a child with my grandmother’s cooking. Those ladies sure know how to cook! Being able to create something that is 100% fresh and plant-based but still taste like a meatball is molto bene in my book!

Yields 10 medium

Ingredients

1 eggplant, peeled

1 cup cooked TruRoots Organic Sprouted Green Lentils

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small yellow onion

1 tsp. fresh thyme

1 tsp. Simply Organic Oregano

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley

2 Tbsp. fresh basil

1/2 cup Edward & Sons Organic Panko Breadcrumbs

1/4 cup Bragg Premium Nutritional Yeast Seasoning

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/2 tsp Spicely Organics ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Begin by chopping both the eggplant and onion and placing onto a baking sheet that has been lightly oiled. Roast for 15 minutes or before it browns, once the liquid has been released.
In a food processor- take your cooked lentils, eggplant and onion mixture, and garlic and pulse until mixed and smooth. Pour mixture into a mixing bowl.
Add your thyme, oregano, parsley, and basil, breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper and mix to combine. If mixture is moist, add more breadcrumbs. Allow mixture to set in fridge for 15 minutes.
Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls and place and light oiled pan. You will bake for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown. Turning every so often to get all sides crispy.
Remove from the oven and serve with favorite sauce.

Chefs tip: You can add 1/2 cup vegan parmesan cheese to the mixture before rolling into balls.