Tag: Vegan

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“Lobster” Bomb Sushi Roll

"Lobster" Bomb Sushi Roll

"Lobster" Bomb Sushi Roll

Sushi for dinner is always a fun night out, but why not bring that fun into your own kitchen! This “lobster” bomb roll packs healthy ingredients like an Asian-style chickpea salad and fresh veggies from the farmers markets all rolled in a nori sheet. Bake this until the chickpea salad is bubbly and warm and serve with your favorite garnishes like wasabi, or pickled ginger. This plant-based “lobster” bomb will give you that sushi satisfaction while being in the comfort of your own home. Who’s ready?

"Lobster" Bomb Sushi Roll

Yields 4 rolls

Ingredients

1 (8 oz.) firm tofu

4-1/2 nori sheets

1/4 cup almond milk

1/4 cup vegan mayo

1 cup panko bread crumbs

1 avocado, sliced

1 carrot, julienned

1 cucumber, julienned

2 cups sushi rice, cooked

1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar

1 tsp. agave

Chickpea topping:

1 cup Vitacost garbanzo beans, cooked

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 garlic clove

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. siracha

1 Tbsp. green onions, chopped

1 tsp. agave

1 Tbsp. vegan mayonnaise

Directions:

Lobster Tempura:

  1. Place tofu in a press or on paper towel and drain the water out. Slice into 8 cubed sticks.
  2. In a bowl, combine the almond milk and vegan mayo and mix well.
  3. Roll the tofu sticks into the mixture. Then place into the bread crumbs and continue until all tofu has been breaded.
  4. Preheat oven or air fryer to 375 degrees F.
  5. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Set aside to cool.

Chickpea Topping:

  1. In a food processor, combine all of the toppings for the “lobster bomb” topping and pulse until well mixed (leave some chunks of chickpeas for texture).

Rice:

  1. In a sauce pan, add the rice and water according to the package instructions and cook until done, about 20 minutes or so deepening on the sushi rice. Add the agave and rice wine vinegar, and mix carefully. Set aside to cool.

Assembling:

  1. Add 1/2 cup of rice to the nori sheet (shiny side facing up). With wet finger tips, carefully press the sushi rice to cover the entire sheet, except for an inch from the top.
  2. At the base, add the carrots, cucumber, avocado, and “lobster” tempura. To roll, take the bottom of the mat and roll the sushi forward while tucking the filling in. Pull the roll back and press it firm to make sure it is tight. Roll it again and pull it taught and press it firm until it is completely rolled. Do this to the next three nori sheets until you are finished.
  3. To slice the sushi, cut the roll in the middle, and then the middle of those halves and so on. Lay the sushi on a oven safe plate and top with the chickpea mixture.
  4. Preheat oven to broil.
  5. Place the sushi on the top rack and allow the mixture to get bubbly and a bit brown; remove from oven.
  6. Serve with wasabi, ginger, soy sauce, or your toppings and sauces of choice.

Chef’s tip: Feel free to add whatever you would like as vegetables to this sushi roll. Its a really great recipe to build off of.

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Carrot Cake with “Cream Cheese” Frosting

Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

This spiced cake with organic carrots and a non-dairy cream cheese frosting is perfect for any occasion or birthday celebration! Feel free to make this cake gluten-free by using TigerNut flour- its’ a great option for those with nut allergies. I do have to warn you that this cake is effortless to make and dangerously moist so be careful when you taste how flavorful it is. Thanks to this recipe that I get to share with you all, you too will be able to enjoy this amazing dessert!

Carrot Cake

Ingredients

Cake:

2 cups organic flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

4 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer + 8 Tbsp. filtered water

1 cup organic sugar

1 cup Vitacost brown sugar

3/4 cup avocado oil

1/4 cup apple sauce

1/4 cup crushed pineapple

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups shredded carrots

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8 oz) Mykonos Cream cheese 

1/2 cup vegan butter, softened

2 cups Vitacost powdered sugar 

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions 

Cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine white and brown sugar with oil and Egg Replacer. Mix until well combined and then add the apple sauce, crushed pineapple, and vanilla. 
  3. Then add the nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and the flour. Once mixed, add the carrots and fold them in. 
  4. In a greased cake pan, pour the cake batter in and place in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the top is nice and golden brown. 

Frosting:

  1. In a bowl combine all ingredients and beat until frosting has formed. 
  2. Spread evenly over the cake once it has cooled and top with walnuts. 

Chef’s tip: If you would like, you can add 1/2 cup raisins to the batter at the end, mixing it in.

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Potato Latke

Potato Latkes

Potato Latkes

When I was a kid growing up, I couldn’t wait for my grandmother to bring these fresh-piping hot latkes out of the kitchen. This classic style potato latke is unbearably hard to resist with that crispy, salty and oh so fluffy center! Just add a spoonful of homemade applesauce on top and you’ll be pleasantly delighted by those traditional latke flavors melding in your mouth. 

Potato Latkes

Yields 8-10 latkes

Ingredients

4 cups of potatoes, shredded and pressed

1 Tbsp. matzo meal

1/4 cup onion, shredded and pressed

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

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

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp, ground black pepper

Oil for frying

Directions 

  1. Using a box grater, shred the potatoes and onion together. Using a towel or napkin, squeeze out all of the water and set the drained potato and onion into a bowl.
  2. Add remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix until well combined. 
  3. In a skillet, add oil and set to medium-high heat. Start with 1/4 cup and if you need more oil, you can. Add a spoonful of the mixture until pan is filled and cook for 2-3 minutes or until each side is brown and crispy. Flip and brown the other side an additional 2-3 minutes. 
  4. Repeat until potato mixture is all gone. 
  5. Serve warm with choice of apple sauce of sour cream.

Chef’s tip: Don’t forget to add a spoonful of sour cream on top of these if you’d like as well!

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Homemade Ranch Dressing

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing is usually made with buttermilk or other dairy ingredients, but not this time! My homemade ranch dressing is made with fresh parsley, dill and other plant-based ingredients. It’s really the best tasting ranch I’ve had, and better than anything store-bought. Other than it being super easy to make, the benefit of making it at home are having no added chemicals or preservatives that would otherwise been added. This dressing is great to drizzle on any salad or even as a dip for vegetables, so be sure to keep this stocked up in your fridge!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Yields 2-3 servings

Ranch Dressing:

1 cup vegan mayonnaise

1/2 cup vegan sour cream, (optional)

1/4 cup cashew milk

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

2 tsp. fresh parsley

1/2 tsp. fresh dill

1/2 tsp. chives

1-1/2 tsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Directions

  1. In your blender, add all of the dressing ingredients (except parsley, dill, and chives) and blend until well mixed. Mix in the herbs and set in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld together.

Chef’s tip: Feel free to add some cayenne pepper or some sriracha to make this ranch spicy!

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Banana Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie

Feast your eyes on the best Banana Cream Pie that is 100% dairy-free and homemade! This graham cracker pie shell filled with bananas and a homemade vanilla pudding is the ultimate dessert! Simply add cacao nibs and sliced bananas to the top and you are ready to serve. This banana cream pie has an amazing natural flavor of fresh organic bananas as well as a smooth  coconut cream.

Banana Cream Pie

Yields 8 slices

Ingredients

1 Keebler Ready Crust Graham Pie Crust

1/3 cup organic cane sugar

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

1-1/2 cup almond milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract + 1/2 tsp. for whipped cream

1-2 banana, sliced

1 (14 oz) can coconut cream, not the liquid

4 Tbsp. Vitacost powdered sugar

pinch of Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt, optional

Directions

  1. In a sauce pan on medium-high heat, add the almond milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt; stirring until dissolved.
  2. Once mixture is boiling, reduce to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes, removing from heat and setting side. When cooled, add the vanilla extract.  Place into a glass bowl and cover the top. Chill for 2 hours in the fridge.
  3. In a KitchenAid stand mixer, add the cream and whip on high until soft peaks form. Slowly add the powder sugar to the mixer. Then add the vanilla and whip again for 1-2 minutes.
  4. Take the pudding out of the fridge and fold together the whipped cream and pudding. 
  5. Slice bananas and add some to the bottom layer. Fill with pudding mixture and top with bananas, cacao nibs, and extra whipped cream if you’d like. Place back into the fridge for 2 hours to set before serving.

Chef’s tip: For optimal quality, allow to set overnight and then serve.

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Baked Enchiladas

Baked Enchiladas

Baked Enchiladas

This has been one of my favorite dishes to whip up ever since my friend introduced me to her tomatillo enchilada sauce. This version that I’ve created is tasty and easy for any weekday meal. Normally, you would see enchilada’s stuffed with either shredded chicken or beef, but not these! This recipe is mixed with mushrooms, black beans and a variety other flavorful plant-based ingredients. Be sure to show up to your next taco Tuesday in style with these enchiladas.

Baked Enchiladas

Yields 8 enchiladas 

Ingredients

Enchiladas:

8 flour tortillas

2 cups Vitacost black beans

1/2 cup corn

1/2 jalapeño, de-seeded and chopped

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1 (8 oz.) shitakii mushroom, chopped

1/2 cup salsa

1-2 Tbsp. vegetable broth, for sautéing 

1 tsp. fresh cilantro

1 tsp. fresh parsley

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Sauce:

6 vine tomatoes + 1-1/2 cup filtered water

3 Tbsp. chili powder

1 cup vegetable broth

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 Tbsp. garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

2 Tbsp. flour

 

Directions

Sauce: 

  1. In a medium sauce pan on medium-high heat, add the tomatoes and 1-1/2 cup of filter water and cover half way with a lid.
  2. Cook for 15-20 minutes and pour into a blender, mixing until smooth.
  3. Return back to stove and reduce until you have 2 cups of sauce. Add all of the remaining ingredients and stir until well combined.
  4. Set aside until you are ready to pour over the enchiladas. 

Enchiladas: 

  1. In a frying pan on medium heat, add onions and some vegetable broth for an oil-free approach. Use vegetable broth as needed to avoid sticking. Cook for 2-3 minutes. 
  2. Add the mushrooms and jalapeño next and sauté for additional 1-2 minutes. Then add in the salsa, seasonings and herbs, black beans, and corn. Mix until all has warmed through. Remove from heat. 
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  4. Take your tortilla and scoop some of the mixture on to the center. Fold the sides in and flip the top over and roll. Place into a casserole dish and repeat until mixture is gone. Top with enchilada sauce.
  5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbling. 
  6. Serve with guacamole and salsa, or toppings of choice.

 

Chef’s tip: If you would like to make these a bit spicier, add some extra jalapeño into the enchilada sauce. 

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Tofurky and Roasted Vegetable Medley

Tofurky and Roasted Vegetable Medley

Tofurky and Roasted Vegetable Medley

Roasted to perfection, these oil-free potatoes and veggies are the ultimate holiday experience! Using some vegetable broth and lemon, you can actually create a natural oil that will allow your food to not stick. Toss in fresh slices of orange and some herbs from your garden to give you the perfect side dish for any dinner or holiday party. Simply add your roast of choice and allow all of the flavors to meld together until its all done.

Tofurky and Roasted Vegetable Medley

Yields 5 servings

Ingredients

1 Tofurky

1/4 cup vegetable broth

24 oz. potatoes

3-5 small carrots

1 celery stick, cut in 4 pieces

1 small onion, halved and quartered

1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. black ground pepper

Tofurky and Roasted Vegetable Medley

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a roasting dish, place the thawed Tofurky on the bottom. Season and coat evenly with poultry seasoning, vegan butter, and thyme.
  3. Place the potatoes, onion, celery, and carrots around the Tofurky.
  4. In a small bowl, mix the rosemary, parsley, lemon juice, and garlic. Pour this mixture over the potatoes and season with the salt and pepper.
  5. Place in to the oven and bake for 1-1/2 hours.
  6. Serve and enjoy

Chef’s tip: You can always add orange slices for extra citrus flavor!

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Stuffed Pumpkin with Rice and Mushroom

Stuffed Pumpkin with Rice and Mushroom

Stuffed Pumpkin with Rice and Mushroom

Have you ever tried stuffing a pumpkin and roasting it to perfection? If not, then you should try this recipe! Every Thanksgiving, my aunt makes this stuffed pumpkin with rice, sautéed onions, celery, and lots of sausage…so I took the challenge of re-creating her dish with a vegan twist. Living a plant-based life can be easy and enjoyable; I’m here to show you that all of your favorite foods can still be made with plant-based ingredients. Instead of sausage, I reconstituted dried shiitake mushrooms for a “meaty” texture which gives the dish a wonderful flavor profile!

Stuffed Pumpkin with Rice and Mushroom

Yields 2-3 pumpkins

Ingredients

2-3 pumpkin pie pumpkin (or 1 large pumpkin)

2 oz. dried Shitake mushrooms, chopped and reconstituted (see notes)

4 cups white rice, cooked

1 stick vegan butter

2 cups onion, chopped

1-1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup red wine, de-glaze

3 Tbsp. Worcestershire, to coat each pumpkin

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

2 tsp. pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. To reconstitute the dried shitaki mushrooms, fill a bowl with hot water and soak for 1 hour. Remove the stems once they are all soft and dice the shiitake mushroom into 1-in. Note: Make sure that the mushrooms are soft and well hydrated.
  3. Saute the onion and celery for 5-7 minutes. At this same time, cook your rice according to the package instructions. Remove the onion and celery from the pan and set aside in a small bowl.
  4. In the same frying pan, add butter and reconstituted mushrooms and pan fry for 3-5 minutes. Add the red wine to the mushrooms and cook on high for 2 minutes. Add to the cooked rice, onions and celery mixture, season with salt and pepper to taste, and set aside.
  5. Cut the top off of your pumpkin and remove the top, seeds, and clean the inside out. Brush the inner walls with Worcestershire and add the mushroom and rice mixture.
  6. Place the pumpkin inside of a pan with 1-in” water to steam. Cover the pumpkin with the top and bake for roughly 40-50 minutes. The pumpkin should be soft and the outside should be charred.

Chef’s tip: The darker the pumpkin the better. The

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Garlic and Chive Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

This plant-based mashed potato with garlic and cloves is so unbelievably delicious! Not only is this perfect for those Thanksgiving side dishes, but it may even qualify for Christmas. The best combination (in my opinion) are russet and Yukon gold potatoes. They really give you that perfect fluffy and creamy texture that you are looking for. Pair that texture with the fresh herbs, seasoning, and cashew milk and you’ll have yourself the perfect duo!

Mashed Potatoes

Yields 3-4 servings

Ingredients

4 potatoes, peeled and diced

1/4 cup cashew milk

1 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion powder

2 Tbsp. chives

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

  1. In a pot on medium-high heat, add the peeled and diced potatoes and cook until you can stick it with a fork and it falls off. Pour into a strainer and add to a mixing bowl.
  2. In the bowl with potatoes, begin to mash with a mixer (or stand mixer) and add the butter. Next add the cashew milk, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic, nutritional yeast, and chives.
  3. Place potatoes into a serving dish and enjoy

Chef’s tip: If you would like to make these a bit more on the garlic and cheesy side, feel free to add double the amount

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Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

It’s the dish that most of us have been waiting for all year, Green bean casserole! Using cashew milk to recreate a “cream of mushroom” soup is a fantastic way to alter this classic side dish for Thanksgiving. Topped with crispy fried onion and baked to perfection, this plant-based alternative will leave you are your guests mouths watering for more!

Ingredients

4 Tbsp. avocado oil

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1 small shallot, diced

2 lbs. green beans, trimmed

1/2 cup baby Bella mushrooms, diced

2-3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 tsp. Himalayan pink salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. smoked paprika

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1/2 cup cashew milk

1 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

1 Tbsp. tahini

1 1/2 cups crispy french fried onions

Directions 

  1. In a frying pan on medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add in the mushrooms and garlic, sauté for an additional 4-5 minutes.
  2. Next, add in paprika, nutritional yeast, pepper, salt, thyme, and flour. Coat the veggies and add the cashew milk, vegetable stock, and tahini.
  3. Turn heat to medium, and allow mixture to thicken, roughly 2-3 minutes. Set aside in the stove. 
  4. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Dice and trim off the green beans ends, slice in half, and place in boiling water. Cook for 2-3 minutes and remove green beans from pot into a bowl of ice water.
  5. In a big mixing bowl, add your cooked & drained green beans and pour the sauce over the green beans. Add about half of the fried onion crisps to the bowl and give a good mix.
  6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  7. In a greased casserole dish, pour the mixture in and top with remaining onion crisps. 
  8. Bake covered for 40 minutes. Remove cover and continue baking until top is browned and bubbling.
  9. Serve immediately.

Chef’s tip: If you do not like mushrooms, you can leave them out of this recipe.