Epicurean Vegan

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Asian Coleslaw

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Asian Coleslaw -- Epicurean VeganWe received another head of cabbage from our CSA this week and I wanted to try making an Asian version of coleslaw.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cone-headed cabbage before. . .anyway, this is would great as a side dish, in a wrap with Asian-spiced seitan, baked tofu strips, or with plum sauce and sauteed tempeh.

INGREDIENTS:
1 head of cabbage, sliced thin/shredded
3 Tbs rice vinegar
3 Tbs vegetable oil
1-1/2 Tbs Shoyu (you can also use tamari or soy sauce)
1-1/2 Tbs brown sugar
1 Tbs grated ginger root
1 tsp garic, minced
1 large carrot, grated
1 yellow or red bell pepper, sliced thin
1/2 C fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1/8 C Vegenaise
3 green onions, sliced thin
1/4 C sunflower seeds
1/4 C slivered almonds

DIRECTIONS:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together vinegar, vegetable oil, shoyu, brown sugar, ginger root, Vegenaise, and garlic. Add cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, sunflower seeds, and slivered almonds. With a rubber spatula, fold and stir all the ingredients together until well combined. Enjoy!

Asian Coleslaw -- Epicurean VeganFor this, I layered on some plum sauce, the coleslaw and some teriyaki baked tofu on a tortilla, then warmed it in the microwave for about 20 seconds.  Fold in half and enjoy a quick and tasty lunch or dinner!

Spinach and Pesto Lasagna

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Spinach and Pesto Lasagna -- Epicurean VeganOh, man. Have you ever made it to vegan food nirvana? Well, this lasagna will take you there. Of course, you’ll have to come back, but you can always go back for seconds. It looked so good as I assembled it, I wanted to eat it right then and there. I used my previous pesto recipe as well as my “ricotta” cheese recipe that I use for the stuffed shells and vegetable lasagna. To make things easier, I made those earlier in the day. I also decided to use regular lasagna noodles instead of the no-boil variety, and I was a little weary, but not only were they easy to use, we preferred them over the no-boil ones.  I just cooked them very al dente since they will continue to cook later in the oven.

INGREDIENTS:
Sauce:
3 Tbs Earth Balance Margarine
2 shallots, minced
1/4 C all purpose flour
2-1/2 C almond milk
1/2 C white wine
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbs vegan Parmesan cheese
2 portobellos, diced
“Ricotta Cheese”:
1-14oz pkg extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1 C fresh basil leaves
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 to 3/4 C vegan mozzarella, shredded
Pesto:
2-1/2 C fresh basil leaves
1/2 C parsley
1 C pine nuts
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/8 C lemon juice
1/3 C olive oil
3 Tbs vegan Parmesan cheese
The rest:
2-1/2 C vegan mozzarella, shredded
4-5 C baby spinach
12 lasagna noodles

DIRECTIONS:
I recommend making the “ricotta” mixture and pesto earlier. To make pesto, combine the basil leaves, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil in a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the pine nuts and Parmesan cheese and process until well combine and smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To make the tofu mixture, combine all ingredients except the mozzarella cheese in a food processor. Process until smooth and then transfer to a bowl. Stir in the cheese and again, store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Preheat oven to 350.

Boil the noodles until al dente–don’t have to cook them like regular pasta. While these are boiling, start the sauce: In a large saucepan, melt the margarine over medium to high heat. Add the shallots and saute for a couple of minutes. Whisk in the flour and white wine. Add the almond milk and lower heat; cook until it begins to thicken, stirring often. Add salt, portobellos, and Parmesan cheese.

Spinach and Pesto Lasagna -- Epicurean VeganSpread a ladle full of sauce on the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish.  Make sure you rinse the noodles with water to keep them separated—you may have to do this a few times throughout the process. Layer 3 noodles on the bottom of the pan, on top of the sauce. Next, add about 2-3 tablespoons of the tofu mixture onto each noodle. Do the same with the pesto. Then add a later of spinach, then sprinkle on some cheese.

Spinach and Pesto Lasagna -- Epicurean VeganTop with 3 more noodles and then another 1-2 ladles of sauce on top. Repeat layers 2 more times and then top with remaining 3 noodles, the rest of the sauce, and the cheese.

Spinach and Pesto Lasagna -- Epicurean VeganCover with foil and bake for 40-45 minutes. For the last 5-7 minutes of baking, you can remove the foil and continue baking in order to melt the cheese on top. Let sit a couple of minutes before slicing up. Next stop: vegan food nirvana.

Enjoy!

Spinach and Pesto Lasagna -- Epicurean Vegan

Quick Szechuan Stir-Fry

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Quick Szechuan Stir-Fry -- Epicurean VeganCAUTION: this can get hot very quickly—that is, when I make it. I tend to get a little heavy handed with the hot spices, much to the dismay of the rest of family. Once again, I put a little too much heat on this stir-fry, earning a few glares from the Husband and 6th Grader. They agreed that it was really tasty and liked the udon noodles a lot, but the numb lips interfered a little. Next time I’ll go easy on the szechuan sauce.

INGREDIENTS:
1-8oz pkg Koyo Organic round udon noodles
1/4-1/2 C szechuan sauce like San-J brand
1/4-1/3 C tamari sauce
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1″ pieces
1 garlic clove, minced
1-2 Tbs olive oil
1 small summer squash, cut into small pieces
1 can sliced water chestnuts
8-10 mushrooms, sliced
4-5 green onions, sliced
Toasted sesame seeds

Quick Szechuan Stir-Fry -- Epicurean Vegan

DIRECTIONS:
Cook noodles according to package instructions (they take about 7-8 minutes). Heat olive oil and garlic in a skillet. Add bell pepper, water chestnuts, and squash; saute for about 15 minutes, or until softened. Add mushrooms, green onions, tamari, and szechuan sauce. I’d start with about a 1/4 cup of the szechuan sauce and go from there. Cook for another 5-7 minutes, then add the cooked noodles to the pan and stir to combine everything. Top with sesame seeds. Depending on how hot you make it, serve it with a hankie to wipe the brow! Enjoy!

“Tuna” Salad Sandwich

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"Tuna" Salad Sandwich -- Epicurean VeganThis recipe is from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone who says this recipe doesn’t exactly replicate tuna, but isn’t necessarily trying to. It has a taste all its own and she’s correct. It’s delicious in its own right. I recommend making this ahead of time as it requires steaming tempeh and marinating onions, as well as chilling time—all worth it.

INGREDIENTS:
1-8oz pkg tempeh
1 red onion, minced
1/4 C umeboshi vinegar
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/2 carrot, chopped (I used a full carrot as I usually don’t have a use for 1/2 a carrot)
1/2 C frozen corn kernels, thawed
1/3 C frozen peas, thawed
1/2 small cucumber, chopped
1/4 C chopped kosher dill pickles
1 Tbs Vegenaise
1/2 tbs Dijon mustard
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
2 Tbs chopped fresh dill, or to taste
1 Tbs drained capers (I left these out–not a big fan)
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
Optional ingredients: I added about 2 tablespoons of Tofutti sour cream for extra creaminess and also some salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Cut tempeh in half and steam for 20 minutes. Set aside to cool. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the onion and boil for 10-15 seconds. Used a strainer or slotted spoon to transfer onion to a mixing bowl. Keep water boiling on the stove. Add the vinegar to the onions and let marinate for 30 minutes.

"Tuna" Salad Sandwich -- Epicurean VeganBlanch the celery, carrots, corn, and peas in the reserved boiling water for 10 seconds each, scooping them into a mixing bowl as each veggie is done. Set aside to cool.

"Tuna" Salad Sandwich -- Epicurean VeganDrain the marinated onions on a sieve, and rinse quickly under running water. Squeeze the excess liquid from the onions, and add to the bowl with the vegetables. Cut the cooled tempeh into small cubes, and add to the bowl along with the cucumber, pickles, Vegenaise, mustard, lemon juice and dill. This is also were I added the sour cream and salt and pepper. Serve topped with capers and parsley. (I stirred parsley in with the other ingredients). Enjoy!

Vegetable Soup

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Vegetable Soup -- Epicurean VeganI have been craving soup for two days now and since I’m not big on the canned variety, I finally made my own fresh batch. It was exactly what I’ve been needing. This has got me all geared up for fall soup season!

INGREDIENTS:
8 C vegetable broth (you can substitute up to 3 cups with water if you wish)
3 organic potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced thin
3 celery stalks, sliced thin
1 small onion, diced
6 mushrooms, sliced thin
1/2 C white wine
1/3 C fresh parsley, chopped
2 Tbs fresh chives, chopped
1-1/2 Tbs fresh oregano, chopped
1 tsp dried tarragon
1 Tbs dried minced onion
1 Tbs garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:

In a large soup pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add the potatoes, carrots, onion and celery. Cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes, carrots, and celery soften. Add the mushrooms, fresh herbs, tarragon, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and wine; cook another 5-8 minutes. Voila! You’re done and ready to enjoy!

Breakfast Burritos

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Breakfast Burritos -- Epicurean Vegan

I love lazy Sunday mornings. The Husband and I decided to combine forces and throw together a tasty breakfast. He loves hasbhbrowns, so he fired those up and I worked on the rest of the ingredients in another pan. It was a lovely joint venture.

INGREDIENTS:
1 16-oz bag hashbrowns
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
4 green onions, sliced thin
2 Field Roast sausages (Chipotle flavor)
1/2 C fresh cilantro, chopped
Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Flour tortillas, warmed
Optional ingredients: Tofutti sour cream, vegan shredded cheddar, salsa

DIRECTIONS:
Pretty easy: The Husband seasoned the hashbrowns with salt and pepper and cooked them in one skillet, while I sauteed the peppers in some olive oil for about 10-15 minutes in another skillet. I then added the sausage, which just needs to be heated through–no “cooking” involved. I had two leftover sausages from the casserole, so this was perfect.  Then I added the green onions and cooked them a few more minutes until they began to soften. Once the hashbrowns were browned, about 25 minutes, we combined the two pans and stirred in the cilantro. Spoon onto a tortilla, adding the optional ingredients, if using. Enjoy!

Breakfast Burritos -- Epicurean Vegan

Sauteed Tofu with Shallots, Almond and Amaretto

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Sauteed Tofu with Shallots, Almond and Amaretto -- Epicurean VeganThis recipe, from Vegan Planet, was certainly yummy, but it struck us as more of a breakfast than a dinner meal. The tofu had a pancake-like texture and the amaretto gave it a sweet, syrup-y taste. It was delicious, but I could see serving it for breakfast or brunch, rather than dinner.

INGREDIENTS:
1-16 oz (I used 14 oz) pkg extra firm tofu, drained and pressed and cut into 1/4″ thick slices
1/4 C all purpose flour
Salt and black pepper
3 Tbs olive oil
4 shallots, thinly sliced lengthwise
1/2 C vegetable broth
1/4 C amaretto or other other almond-flavored liqueur
1/2 C slivered almonds, toasted
1 Tbs minced fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS:
Dredge the tofu in the flour. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu and cook until brown on both sides, 2-4 minutes per side. Remove from skillet, transfer to a plate; set aside.

Sauteed Tofu with Shallots, Almond and Amaretto -- Epicurean VeganAdd the shallots to the skillet, cover and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and liqueur and heat almost to boiling. Reduce the heat to low, return the tofu to the pan, add the almonds and parsley, and simmer to infuse the tofu with the flavor of the sauce and heat through.

Sauteed Tofu with Shallots, Almond and Amaretto -- Epicurean Vegan

Serve hot and enjoy!

Quinoa with Shallots and Pine Nuts

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Quinoa with Shallots and Pine Nuts -- Epicurean VeganThis is one of those easy side dishes that is not only versatile, but hard to screw up. Quinoa is such a great source of protein and inexpensive. I decided to just throw together different ingredients and came up with this uncomplicated accompaniment to any main dish.

INGREDIENTS:
1 C quinoa
2 C vegetable broth
2 shallots, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/4 C fresh chopped parsley
1 tsp truffle oil
1 Tbs olive oil
1/2 C pine nuts

DIRECTIONS:
In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil, then add the shallots. Saute them a about 5 minutes until they soften. Add the quinoa and toast it for a couple of minutes until they begin to pop and brown. Add broth and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for about 10 minutes.

In the meantime, in a small saute pan, heat the truffle oil. Add the pine nuts and toast them until they begin to brown. Stir in the parsley and pine nuts into the quinoa and serve. Enjoy!

Feast On This!

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Would You Serve an All Vegan Wedding or Party?

This question came up onYumSugar, prompted by the recent wedding of Chelsea Clinton, a fellow vegan. She threw an all-vegan wedding, however, did offer a grass-fed beef. Allergic to gluten, she had a gluten-free cake, as well. The responses were mixed. Some people felt that the bride and groom were obligated to offer different types of food for their guests and make their guests comfortable. (How can veggies make someone uncomfortable)? Others felt that if the bride and groom are paying for it, they should serve whatever they like.

I was surprised by the amount of people who expected meat at a wedding. It’s ONE meal. And it’s free! I think serving an all vegan wedding would be such a fabulous opportunity to show people how amazing vegan food is. The problem is, (I think) is that people have a preconceived notion that vegan food is boring and tasteless, so they’ll hate it before they even taste it. VegNews highlighted several different vegan weddings that would inspire anyone!

What do you think? Do you feel obligated to serve meat at a party or wedding?

Veggie Power!

Urban Veganista did a great post on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recent report of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. You can read the report here.  As Urban Veganista pointed out (and what got me so excited) is that the Dietary Guideline Committee suggests that Americans should transition to a plant -based diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains., but fell short of promoting a vegan/vegetarian diet. Still, it’s awesome news.

“Our review indicated that intake of vegetable protein is generally linked to lower blood pressure, but this could be due to other components in plant foods, such as fiber, or other nutrients. Individual sources of vegetable protein have no unique health benefits so choice of plant protein sources can come from a wide range of plant-based foods.”

However, when I read, or should I say, tried to decipher, the report, I was a little frustrated. Studies they cited throughout the report were all “inconclusive”, especially regarding soy protein vs. animal protein. Luckily, there were some studies that helped propel a vegan view point:

  • Processed meat is linked to cancer, particularly breast, prostrate and colorectal cancers
  • Consumption of total meat and red and processed meat (combined) was linked to developing elevated blood pressure and hypertension
  • Increase plant-based foods in order to combat obesity

The report clearly shows that there needs to be more research and studies done, but it’s a positive start and step in the right direction.

“I abhor vivisection with my whole soul. All the scientific discoveries stained with innocent blood I count as of no consequence.”

– Gandhi

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