Dinners Archives - Page 3 of 31

Enchilada Lasagna with Cilantro Ricotta

January 3, 2016 by Epicurean Vegan

Talk about a tasty international combination! And why not? Two cuisines, Mexican and Italian come together beautifully for this amazing dish that will wow any meat eater. Oh, and it’s gluten-free! Voila! I mean . . . ole! Hmmm…okay, how about yum!

INGREDIENTS:
Enchilada sauce
28-oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1/2 C vegetable broth
2-1/2 tsp Ancho chili powder
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
3 jarred roasted red peppers
3 cloves of garlic
Cilantro Ricotta
14-oz extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
2-1/2 C fresh cilantro
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
2 Tbs lime juice
The rest
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped or diced
1 C corn kernels
2 15-oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
4 C fresh baby spinach
18 5-inch corn tortillas
Optional toppings
Guacamole
Pepita seeds
Green onion, sliced
Vegan sour cream
Salsa
Lettuce, chopped

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. Begin making the sauce by combining the diced tomatoes, broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Simmer for 15 minutes. Toss the garlic cloves, roasted red peppers, and half of the sauce into a food processor. Process until smooth, then return to the pan with the rest of the sauce. Simmer on low.

To make the cilantro ricotta, place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onion and green pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables soften. Add the corn and black beans and cook for another 5 minutes.
Pour about half of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan. Place 6 tortilla shells on the bottom of pan, letting them overlap each other.
Spread a third of the ricotta on top of the tortillas:
Next, add a third of the spinach leaves, then a third of the bean mixture:
Repeat layering two more times then top with remaining sauce:
Cover and bake for 40-45 minutes. Top individual servings with the (optional) toppings and enjoy!

Enchilada Lasagna with Cilantro Ricotta

Talk about a tasty international combination! And why not? Two cuisines, Mexican and Italian come together beautifully for this amazing dish that will wow any meat eater. Oh, and it's gluten-free! Voila! I mean . . . ole! Hmmm...okay, how about yum!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

Enchilada sauce
28-oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
½ C vegetable broth
2-1/2 tsp Ancho chili powder
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
3 jarred roasted red peppers
3 cloves of garlic
Cilantro Ricotta
14-oz extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
2-1/2 C fresh cilantro
⅓ C nutritional yeast
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cumin
2 Tbs lime juice
The rest
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped or diced
1 C corn kernels
2 15-oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
4 C fresh baby spinach
18 5-inch corn tortillas
Optional toppings
Guacamole
Pepita seeds
Green onion, sliced
Vegan sour cream
Salsa
Lettuce, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.
Begin making the sauce by combining the diced tomatoes, broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Simmer for 15 minutes. Toss the garlic cloves, roasted red peppers, and half of the sauce into a food processor. Process until smooth, then return to the pan with the rest of the sauce. Simmer on low.
To make the cilantro ricotta, place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onion and green pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables soften. Add the corn and black beans and cook for another 5 minutes.
Pour about half of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan. Place 6 tortilla shells on the bottom of pan, letting them overlap each other.
Spread a third of the ricotta on top of the tortillas.
Next, add a third of the spinach leaves, then a third of the bean mixture.
Repeat layering two more times then top with remaining sauce.
Cover and bake for 40-45 minutes. Top individual servings with the (optional) toppings and enjoy!

Truffle Gnocchi and Roasted Veggies with Lemon-Butter Sauce

December 14, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Oh my. Where to start? First, this meal comes together in less that 30 minutes, so it’s ideal for a busy weeknight. But you won’t care if it took hours—it’s that amazing. Creamy, lemony, truffle-y, decadent . . . Low in calorie? Uhhh . . . not so much. But you know what? That’s okay! For Pete’s sake, live a little! Even vegans indulge! (All right, enough exclamation points—I got carried away.) But seriously, this is divine. Pre-packaged gnocchi makes this a quick and easy meal and did I mention it’s truffle-fied?!

Truffle and lemon totally get it on in this dish. You will fall in love too. So pair it with a salad (so you don’t eat the entire thing) and spice up a regular, ol’ Tuesday night with this decadent dish.

INGREDIENTS:
16-oz pkg. truffle & porchini mushroom gnocchi (like this one from World Market)
1 small bundle asparagus, ends trimmed and stalks cut into thirds
8-10 large mushrooms, quartered
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Lemon-Butter Sauce
3 Tbs vegan margarine
1 large garlic clove, minced
4 Tbs flour
1/8 C white wine
1/4 C lemon juice
1/2 C water
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
Zest from one lemon
1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400. In a medium bowl, combine the asparagus and mushrooms and drizzle with a little olive oil—just enough to coat—and season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a large baking sheet. These will only take about 10-12 minutes to roast, so get the water boiling for your gnocchi which only needs about 5 minutes. The sauce will only take about that much time, so start the sauce once you toss the gnocchi in.

To make the sauce, melt the vegan margarine and add the garlic. Whisk in the flour. It will thicken up quickly. Whisk in the white wine; it will thicken even more and then add the lemon juice. Let it thicken, then slowly add a bit of water to thin it out. You may or may not need the full 1/2 cup of water, so add as much as you think you need to get a sauce that isn’t too thick. (Think Caesar dressing-like.) Finally, whisk in the nutritional yeast, lemon zest, and salt.

Once the gnocchi is drained, add it to the roasted veggies.
Add the sauce and coat thoroughly. Enjoy! Seriously. Enjoy.

Truffle Gnocchi and Roasted Veggies withLemon-Butter Sauce

Oh my. Where to start? First, this meal comes together in less that 30 minutes, so it's idea for a busy weeknight. But you won't care if it took hours---it's that amazing. Creamy, lemony, truffle-y, decadent . . . Low in calorie? Uhhh . . . not so much. But you know what? That's okay! For Pete's sake, live a little! Even vegans indulge! (All right, enough exclamation points---I got carried away.) But seriously, this is divine. Pre-packaged gnocchi makes this a quick and easy meal and did I mention it's truffle-fied?! Truffle and lemon totally get it on in this dish. You will fall in love too. So pair it with a salad (so you don't eat the entire thing) and spice up a Tuesday night with this decadent dish.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 4

Ingredients

16-oz pkg. truffle & porchini mushroom gnocchi (like this one from World Market)
1 small bundle asparagus, ends trimmed and stalks cut into thirds
8-10 large mushrooms, quartered
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Lemon-Butter Sauce
3 Tbs vegan margarine
1 large garlic clove, minced
4 Tbs flour
⅛ C white wine
¼ C lemon juice
½ C water
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
Zest from one lemon
½ tsp salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400.
In a medium bowl, combine the asparagus and mushrooms and drizzle with a little olive oil---just enough to coat---and season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a large baking sheet. These will only take about 10-12 minutes to roast, so get the water boiling for your gnocchi which only needs about 5 minutes. The sauce will only take about that much time, so start the sauce once you toss the gnocchi in.
To make the sauce, melt the vegan margarine and add the garlic. Whisk in the flour. It will thicken up quickly. Whisk in the white wine; it will thicken even more and then add the lemon juice. Let it thicken , then slowly add a bit of water to thin it out. You may or may not need the full ½ cup of water, so add as much as you think you need to get a sauce that isn't too thick. (Sorry to be vague!) Finally, whisk in the nutritional yeast and salt.
Once the gnocchi is drained, add it to the roasted veggies.
Add the sauce and coat thoroughly. Enjoy! Seriously. Enjoy.

Pasta with Creamy Coconut-Mushroom Sauce

December 11, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

I struggled with what to call this dish. I used canned coconut milk for the sauce, but it doesn’t have a strong coconut flavor. I could have called it Pasta with Creamy, Savory, Flavorful-Mushroom-Olive Sauce That You Will Absolutely Love. But that was too long. I basically made a roux with coconut milk that turned out pretty damn tasty–and in less than 30 minutes. So this dish is also known as Pretty Damn Tasty Pasta Dish. Simple as that.

INGREDIENTS:
16-oz farfalle pasta
1 Tbs olive oil
16-oz pkg. baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
1/2 C green onion, sliced
2 Tbs vegan margarine
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbs flour
1/4 C white wine
3/4 C vegetable broth
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried tarragon
2 tsp dried chives
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
13-oz can lite coconut milk
2.25-oz can sliced black olives

DIRECTIONS:
Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Once drained, return the pasta to the pot. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the mushrooms. Cook for about 4 minutes over medium-low heat, or until they begin to soften and brown. Stir in the green onion and cook another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit.
In a medium saucepan, heat the vegan margarine over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and combine well; whisk in the remaining flour. You’ll have a thick, paste-like consistency. Turn the heat down a little if it’s starting to stick. Next, whisk in the white wine.
Whisk in the vegetable broth a quarter cup at a time. Let it thicken each time before adding more.
Stir in the nutritional yeast, thyme, tarragon, chives, salt, and pepper. Whisk in about a 1/3 cup of the coconut milk, let it thicken, the add more coconut milk. Repeat until you’ve added all of the coconut milk.
Add the sauce to the skillet with the mushrooms and green onions. Add the black olives. Stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Combine the pasta with the sauce and enjoy!

Pasta with Creamy Coconut-Mushroom Sauce

I actually struggled with what to call this dish. I used canned coconut milk for the sauce, but it doesn't have a strong coconut flavor. I could have called it Pasta with Creamy, Savory, Flavorful-Mushroom-Olive Sauce That You Will Absolutely Love. But that was too long. I basically made a roux with coconut milk that turned out pretty damn tasty--and in less than 30 minutes. So this dish is also known as Pretty Damn Tasty Pasta Dish. Simple as that.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

16-oz farfalle pasta
1 Tbs olive oil
16-oz pkg. baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
½ C green onion, sliced
2 Tbs vegan margarine
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbs flour
¼ C white wine
¾ C vegetable broth
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried tarragon
2 tsp dried chives
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
13-oz can lite coconut milk
2.25-oz can sliced black olives

Directions

Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Once drained, return the pasta to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the mushrooms. Cook for about 4 minutes over medium-low heat, or until they begin to soften and brown. Stir in the green onion and cook another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit.
In a medium saucepan, heat the vegan margarine over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and combine well; whisk in the remaining flour. You'll have a thick, paste-like consistency. Turn the heat down a little if it's starting to stick. Next, whisk in the white wine.
Whisk in the vegetable broth a quarter cup at a time. Let it thicken each time before adding more.
Stir in the nutritional yeast, thyme, tarragon, chives, salt, and pepper. Whisk in about a ⅓ cup of the coconut milk, let it thicken, the add more coconut milk. Repeat until you've added all of the coconut milk.
Add the sauce to the skillet with the mushrooms and green onions. Add the black olives. Stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Combine the pasta with the sauce and enjoy!

Roasted Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Pasta {Gluten-free}

December 7, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

This is a keeper. Creamy and savory, it’s a satisfying dish that everyone at the table is bound to enjoy. Potatoes and carrots make an ideal sauce for pasta, as we’ve seen with this dish, so why not butternut squash and sweet potatoes? Plus, I had some leftover coconut milk from these aww-mazing vegan peanut butter cup cheesecakes, which was perfect for this dish that was ready in about 45 minutes or less. And did I mention it was gluten-free?! Yes, you may dig in.

INGREDIENTS:
3 C cubed butternut squash, peeled (medium-sized)
2 C cubed sweet potato, peeled (medium sized)
3 Tbs olive oil, divided
Salt & pepper, to taste
8-oz gluten-free elbow macaroni
2 C chopped onion (medium-sized)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 C white wine
1-1/2 C vegetable broth (plus more for thinning out the sauce, if necessary)
3/4 C lite canned coconut milk
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1 Tbs tamari

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400. In a medium bowl, combine the squash and sweet potato with about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, along with some salt and pepper (to taste). Spread out evenly on a large baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes.

About ten minutes into roasting the veggies, start the water boiling for the pasta. Cook it according to package instructions. I used Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta:

Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet and add the onion. Cook the onion for about 10 minutes, and once it starts to brown, add the garlic; cook another 2-3 minutes.

Transfer the squash, sweet potatoes and onions to a blender. Add the wine, broth, coconut milk, Dijon, lemon juice, paprika, salt, nutritional yeast, and tamari. Blend several minutes until completely smooth. You’ll probably need to scrapes the sides of the blender once or twice. If it’s too thick, thin it out with a little more broth. Once the pasta is done, return it to the pot and add the sauce. Heat over medium-low heat. Enjoy!

Roasted Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Pasta {Gluten-free}

This is a keeper. Creamy and savory, it's a satisfying dish that everyone at the table is bound to enjoy. Potatoes and carrots make an ideal sauce for pasta, as we've seen with this dish, so why not butternut squash and sweet potatoes? Plus, I had some leftover coconut milk from these aww-mazing vegan peanut butter cup cheesecakes, it was perfect for this dish, which is ready in about 45 minutes or less. And did I mention it was gluten-free?! Dig in.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

3 C cubed butternut squash, peeled (medium-sized)
2 C cubed sweet potato, peeled (medium sized)
3 Tbs olive oil, divided
Salt & pepper, to taste
8-oz gluten-free elbow macaroni
2 C chopped onion (medium-sized)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ C white wine
1-1/2 C vegetable broth (plus more for thinning out the sauce, if necessary)
¾ C lite canned coconut milk
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbs lemon juice
½ tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
⅓ C nutritional yeast
1 Tbs tamari

Directions

Preheat oven to 400.
In a medium bowl, combine the squash and sweet potato with about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, along with some salt and pepper (to taste). Spread out evenly on a large baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes.
About ten minutes into roasting the veggies, start the water boiling for the pasta. Cook it according to package instructions. I used Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet and add the onion. Cook the onion for about 10 minutes, and once it starts to brown, add the garlic; cook another 2-3 minutes.
Transfer the squash, sweet potatoes and onions to a blender. Add the wine, broth, coconut milk, Dijon, lemon juice, paprika, salt, nutritional yeast, and tamari. Blend several minutes until completely smooth. You'll probably need to scrapes the sides of the blender once or twice. If it's too thick, thin it out with a little more broth. Once the pasta is done, return it to the pot and add the sauce. Heat over medium-low heat. Enjoy!

Rice Bowls with Kale, Mushrooms, and Chickpeas

October 13, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

We’ve been having a beautiful fall season here in Colorado, so when a friend and I decided to have lunch on her back patio, I knew this would be the perfect dish to bring. We’re not in hunker-down mode yet and this made for a light, healthy, and satisfying lunch. I also needed to make it gluten-free to accommodate my friend’s diet, so it worked beautifully. It takes only about 45 minutes to pull together, but I suggest soaking the cashews earlier in the day for the sauce. If you can’t get to it, no worries! The sauce will still be creamy and smooth. If you take a lunch to work everyday, this is a great option; just make a batch ahead of time, and you have several days’ worth of delicious, high-protein lunches. I used Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Medley which is made up of long grain brown rice, black barley and daikon radish seeds, however, any rice medley will do.

INGREDIENTS:
2-1/2 C vegetable broth
1 C Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Medley
1 Tbs vegan margarine
4-5 C kale, chopped or torn
2-3 C baby portobello mushrooms, sliced (I find this variety to be heartier/meatier)
1 14-oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1 C cilantro, chopped
1-1/2 C green onion, chopped
1/3 C pepita seeds
Cashew-Curry Sauce
1/2 C cashews
1 clove garlic
3/4 C canned coconut milk
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 Tbs peanut butter
2 Tbs lime juice
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
Start with the rice since it will some time to cook. In a medium sauce pan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Add the vegan margarine and rice. Stir, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 35-45 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. If you soaked the cashews ahead of time, drain and rinse them under cold water. Transfer to a food processor and puree with the clove of garlic. Add the remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. You may need to scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice. Transfer to a small saucepan and place over low to medium heat. Stir often until it begins to thicken. Remove from the heat. I then like to funnel the sauce into a squeeze bottle.

Once the rice is done, fold the kale, mushrooms, and chickpeas into the rice and cover for about 5 minutes, or until the kale and mushrooms soften.
In a small bowl, combine the cilantro, green onions, and pepitas.
To assemble, start with a scoop or two of the rice mixture, then some of the green onion goodness, then top with sauce. So delicious! Enjoy!

Rice Bowls with Kale, Mushrooms, and Chickpeas

Cook time

45 mins

Total time

45 mins

We've been having a beautiful fall season here in Colorado, so when a friend and I decided to have lunch on her back patio, I knew this would be the perfect dish to bring. We're not in hunker-down mode yet and this made for a light, healthy, and satisfying lunch. I also needed to make it gluten-free to accommodate my friend's diet, so it worked beautifully. It takes only about 45 minutes to pull together, but I suggest soaking the cashews earlier in the day for the sauce. If you can't get to it, no worries! The sauce will still be creamy and smooth. If you take a lunch to work everyday, this is a great option; just make a batch ahead of time, and you have several days' worth of delicious, high-protein lunches. I used Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley which is made up of long grain brown rice, black barley and daikon radish seeds, however, any rice medley will do.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6

Ingredients

2-1/2 C vegetable broth
1 C Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley
1 Tbs vegan margarine
4-5 C kale, chopped or torn
2-3 C baby portobello mushrooms, sliced (I find this variety to be heartier/meatier)
1 14-oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1 C cilantro, chopped
1-1/2 C green onion, chopped
⅓ C pepita seeds
Cashew-Curry Sauce
½ C cashews
1 clove garlic
¾ C canned coconut milk
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 Tbs peanut butter
2 Tbs lime juice
1 tsp curry powder
½ tsp salt

Directions

Start with the rice since it will take some time to cook. In a medium sauce pan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Add the vegan margarine and rice. Stir, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 35-45 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. If you soaked the cashews ahead of time, drain and rinse them under cold water. Transfer to a food processor and puree with the clove of garlic. Add the remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. You may need to scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice. Transfer to a small saucepan and place over low to medium heat. Stir often until it begins to thicken. Remove from the heat. I then like to funnel the sauce into a squeeze bottle.
Once the rice is done, fold the kale, mushrooms, and chickpeas into the rice and cover for about 5 minutes, or until the kale and mushrooms soften.
In a small bowl, combine the cilantro, green onions, and pepitas.
To assemble, start with a scoop or two of the rice mixture, then some of the green onion goodness, then top with sauce. So delicious! Enjoy!

East Meets West Chickpea Lettuce Wraps

October 1, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Garbanzo beans (or chickpeas) are such a versatile bean. (I shudder to think of a world without hummus!) I obviously couldn’t decide on Asian or Mexican food, so why not combine them? It turned out to be a very tasty, gluten-free collaboration, not to mention easy to make. All you need is about an hour to marinate the beans and the rest is a breeze.

INGREDIENTS:
2 14-oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Marinade
4 Tbs tamari
3 Tbs lime juice
3 Tbs red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs arrowroot or cornstarch
The rest
2 C cabbage, roughly chopped
8-10 mushrooms, quartered
6 green onion, cut into large pieces
1 C cilantro leaves
1 Tbs olive oil
3/4 C General Tso stir-fry sauce
1/4 C hoisin sauce
12 iceberg lettuce leaves
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1/2 C roasted and chopped peanuts or cashews

DIRECTIONS:
To prepare the chickpeas, mix all of the marinade ingredients in a resealable plastic bag; add the chickpeas and coat them well. Refrigerate for at least an hour, turning the bag over halfway through. To make things easy, I pulsed the chopped cabbage in a food processor a few times:
I transferred it to a large bowl, then added the mushrooms, green onion, and cilantro to the food processor. It helps to mix the vegetables up in the processor bowl beforehand so that you get a consistent chop. Add to the cabbage.
In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the olive oil and chickpeas (with the marinade). Saute for about 5-7 minutes; the marinade will start to thicken. Reduce the heat if it starts to stick too much.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the General Tso sauce and the Hoisin sauce, then add to the skillet. Let it simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow the chickpeas to cool a little. To assemble your lettuce wraps, place a little bit of the slaw on the bottom of a lettuce cup, add a scoop or two of the chickpeas, then some slaw, and top with a little avocado and nuts. Enjoy!

East Meets West Chickpea Lettuce Wraps

Garbanzo beans (or chickpeas) are such a versatile bean. (I shudder to think of a world without hummus!) I obviously couldn't decide on Asian or Mexican food, so why not combine them? It turned out to be a very tasty, gluten-free collaboration, not to mention easy to make. All you need is about an hour to marinate the beans and the rest is a breeze.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 12

Ingredients

2 14-oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Marinade
4 Tbs tamari
3 Tbs lime juice
3 Tbs red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs arrowroot or cornstarch
The rest
2 C cabbage, roughly chopped
8-10 mushrooms, quartered
6 green onion, cut into large pieces
1 C cilantro leaves
1 Tbs olive oil
¾ C General Tso stir-fry sauce
¼ C hoisin sauce
12 iceberg lettuce leaves
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
½ C roasted and chopped peanuts or cashews

Directions

To prepare the chickpeas, mix all of the marinade ingredients in a resealable plastic bag; add the chickpeas and coat them well. Refrigerate for at least an hour, turning the bag over halfway through.
To make things easy, I pulsed the chopped cabbage in a food processor a few times.
I transferred it to a large bowl, then added the mushrooms, green onion, and cilantro to the food processor. It helps to mix the vegetables up in the processor bowl beforehand so that you get a consistent chop. Add to the cabbage.
In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the olive oil and chickpeas (with the marinade). Saute for about 5-7 minutes; the marinade will start to thicken. Reduce the heat if it starts to stick too much.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the General Tso sauce and the Hoisin sauce, then add to the skillet. Let it simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow the chickpeas to cool a little.
To assemble your lettuce wraps, place a little bit of the slaw on the bottom of a lettuce cup, add a scoop or two of the chickpeas, then some slaw, and top with a little avocado and nuts. Enjoy!

Lasagna Bolognese

August 31, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

This picture was taken mid-process. I forgot to take a picture of the final product, but that’s okay . . . it wasn’t as pretty as this shot. It’s all about taste anyway, right? (Yes, I know, presentation counts, too.) Anyway, this is adapted from Mastering the Art of Vegan Cooking cookbook. I made some changes and tailored it to my own tastes and what ingredients I had on hand. It’s a fantastic variation of typical lasagna. I also went rogue by not boiling the noodles ahead of time! Ack! I totally took a gamble, especially since I was feeding guests who are not vegan. I took the advice of Kathy Hester who advises (in her new cookbook, The Easy Vegan Cookbook) not to cook the noodles ahead of time. It actually worked beautifully. It could have helped that I made this a few hours ahead of time, thus, giving the sauces times to soften the noodles. Either way, this is a will-make-again dish. (By the way, look for my review tomorrow of Hester’s new book.)

INGREDIENTS:
Bolognese sauce
2 Tbs olive oil
1 red onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 Field Roast Sausages, Italian Seasoning flavored, crumbled
1 tsp fennel seed
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 pinches red pepper flakes
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Dash of vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 24-oz jar marinara sauce
2 Tbs sherry
Vegan Bechamel Sauce
2 Tbs vegan margarine
1/4 C nutritional yeast
3 Tbs whole wheat flour
1 Tbs white wine
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vegan Parmesan cheese
1-1/2 C almond milk
2 tsp lemon juice
Lasagna
9 lasagna noodles (I used Bionaturae brand) Keep the leftovers for a fabulous Lasagna Soup!
2 large tomatoes, sliced
3-4 C chopped spinach

DIRECTIONS:
Start with the Bolognese sauce. In a cast iron sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrot; cook until tender. Add the Field Roast, fennel, pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, celery salt, paprika, vegan Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. Stir occasionally for 5 minutes. Add the soy sauce, marinara sauce, and red wine. Reduce heat and simmer while you prepare the rest of the dish.Now start the Bechamel sauce. In a medium sauce pan, melt the vegan margarine over medium heat. Whisk in the nutritional yeast and flour, then whisk in the white wine, soy sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, nutmeg, vegan Parmesan, almond milk, and lemon juice. Whisk until thick and creamy. This may take a few minutes, and you might need to reduce the heat a little. Transfer to a large measuring cup.
Preheat the oven to 350 and start assembling the lasagna. Ladle some sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan. Keep it thin, not too much. Next, place 3 uncooked lasagna noodles on top, followed by some Bolognese sauce, some spinach, 2 slices of tomato (per noodle), then pour a little Bechamel sauce on top.
Go easy on the Bechamel sauce because you will need to top the dish at the end, covering the noodles completely. Repeat this step two more times, ending with the last 3 lasagna noodles. Top with the remaining Bechamel sauce.
Cover and bake 30-40 minutes. If you make this ahead of time and it’s been in the fridge for a while, add about 10 minutes to the cooking time. Let cool 5-10 minutes, then slice and enjoy!

Lasagna Bolognese

Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

This picture was taken mid-process. I forgot to take a picture of the final product, but that's okay . . . it wasn't as pretty as this shot. It's all about taste anyway, right? (Yes, I know, presentation counts, too.) Anyway, this is adapted from Mastering the Art of Vegan Cooking cookbook. I made some changes and tailored it to my own tastes and what ingredients I had on hand. It's a fantastic variation of typical lasagna. I also went rogue by not boiling the noodles ahead of time! Ack! I totally took a gamble, especially since I was feeding guests who are not vegan. I took the advice of Kathy Hester who advises (in her new cookbook, The Easy Vegan Cookbook) not to cook the noodles ahead of time. It actually worked beautifully. It could have helped that I made this a few hours ahead of time, thus, giving the sauces times to soften the noodles. Either way, this is a will-make-again dish. (By the way, look for my review tomorrow of Hester's new book.)

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 9

Ingredients

Bolognese sauce
2 Tbs olive oil
1 red onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 Field Roast Sausages, Italian Seasoning flavored, crumbled
1 tsp fennel seed
¼ tsp black pepper
2 pinches red pepper flakes
1 tsp Italian seasoning
¼ tsp celery salt
½ tsp smoked paprika
Dash of vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 24-oz jar marinara sauce
2 Tbs sherry
Vegan Bechamel Sauce
2 Tbs vegan margarine
¼ C nutritional yeast
3 Tbs whole wheat flour
1 Tbs white wine
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vegan Parmesan cheese
1-1/2 C almond milk
2 tsp lemon juice
Lasagna
9 lasagna noodles (I used Bionaturae brand) Keep the leftovers for a fabulous Lasagna Soup!
2 large tomatoes, sliced
3-4 C chopped spinach

Directions

Start with the Bolognese sauce. In a cast iron sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrot; cook until tender. Add the Field Roast, fennel, pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, celery salt, paprika, vegan Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. Stir occasionally for 5 minutes. Add the soy sauce, marinara sauce, and red wine. Reduce heat and simmer while you prepare the rest of the dish.
Now start the Bechamel sauce. In a medium sauce pan, melt the vegan margarine over medium heat. Whisk in the nutritional yeast and flour, then whisk in the white wine, soy sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, nutmeg, vegan Parmesan, almond milk, and lemon juice. Whisk until thick and creamy. This may take a few minutes, and you might need to reduce the heat a little. Transfer to a large measuring cup.
Preheat the oven to 350 and start assembling the lasagna. Ladle some sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Keep it thin, not too much. Next, place 3 uncooked lasagna noodles on top, followed by some Bolognese sauce, some spinach, 2 slices of tomato (per noodle), then pour a little Bechamel sauce on top.
Go easy on the Bechamel sauce because you will need to top the dish at the end, covering the noodles completely. Repeat this step two more times, ending with the last 3 lasagna noodles. Top with the remaining Bechamel sauce.
Cover and bake 30-40 minutes. If you make this ahead of time and it's been in the fridge for a while, add about 10 minutes to the cooking time. Let cool 5-10 minutes, then slice and enjoy!

Thai Green Curry Bowls

August 26, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

It’s perfectly fine to let someone else take the lead on a recipe once in a while. In this case, Trader Joe’s. I had a jar of their Thai Green Curry Sauce and some (quick cook) Organic Brown Basmati Rice, and together, they made the perfect base for this meal. Add a few veggies, some healthy protein, and you have a delicious meal in no time.

INGREDIENTS:
1 C Trader Joe’s quick cook brown rice
2-1/2 C vegetable broth
1 jar of Trader Joe’s Thai Green Curry Sauce
2-3 C mushrooms, quartered
1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drain and rinsed
1 bell pepper, cut into chunks (I had half a red; half a yellow)
3-4 green onions, sliced
1 Tbs olive oil

DIRECTIONS:
Start with making the rice. If using the TJ brand, it’ll only be about 15-20 minutes; cook according to package instructions using the vegetable broth. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the bell pepper and cook 8-10 minutes, or until they are softened.
Add the mushrooms and chickpeas and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms cook down a little.
Next, add the sauce and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
For individual servings, top rice with the curry mixture a some green onions. Enjoy!

Thai Green Curry Bowls

It's perfectly fine to let someone else take the lead on a recipe once in a while. In this case, Trader Joe's. I had a jar of their Thai Green Curry Sauce and some (quick cook) Organic Brown Basmati Rice, and together, they made the perfect base for this meal. Add a few veggies, some healthy protein, and you have a delicious meal in no time.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 C Trader Joe's quick cook brown rice
2-1/2 C vegetable broth
1 jar of Trader Joe's Thai Green Curry Sauce
2-3 C mushrooms, quartered
1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drain and rinsed
1 bell pepper, cut into chunks (I had half a red; half a yellow)
3-4 green onions, sliced
1 Tbs olive oil

Directions

Start with making the rice. If using the TJ brand, it'll only be about 15-20 minutes; cook according to package instructions using the vegetable broth. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the bell pepper and cook 8-10 minutes, or until they are softened.
Add the mushrooms and chickpeas and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms cook down a little.
Next, add the sauce and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
For individual servings, top rice with the curry mixture a some green onions. Enjoy!

Teriyaki-Quinoa Burgers

August 22, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

These veggie burgers are quite amazing. They’re easy to make, delicious, and they actually hold together when you cook them—that’s not always an easy thing when making veggie burgers. I got the recipe from Thrive Forward and I’ve had them a couple of times now. I’ve made some subtle variations and added the teriyaki-pineapple-avocado part, which I think you will love.

INGREDIENTS:
1 15-oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I use a tri-bean blend)
1 C cooked quinoa (I like the tri-color variety and I cook it in veggie broth)
1 C quinoa flakes or oats (I opt for oats since I usually have those on hand)
1/2 C red onion, chopped (I use 1 cup)
1/3 C chopped cilantro (I use 1 cup)
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 Tbs chia seeds mixed with 1/3 C water (recipe says to use ground chia seeds, but I use them whole)
Cooking spray
Toppings
Pineapple rings, jarred Teriyaki sauce, avocado slices. Veggie bacon is also a great option.
6-8 burger buns

DIRECTIONS:
I start by mixing the chia seeds and water together and setting aside. Cook the quinoa (1/2 C quinoa with 1-1/4 C broth). In a food processor, add the beans, onion, cilantro, garlic, salt, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper. I didn’t mince the garlic beforehand; it’s up to you.
Blend everything to the consistency you’d like. If you want some chunks, go for it. Of course, you may not want to bite into a piece of garlic, so you may want to mince it first. You decide how much you want to blend it. I went for it and mostly pureed it. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the quinoa, oats, and chia mixture.
Shape the batter into patties. You could make beefy burgers or even some sliders. I went for the beefy kind (about 4″ across, 3/4″ thick).
I actually got 5 burgers, but only had room for 4 on the pan. Again, you get to make the executive decision on this. Much will probably depend on how large or small of buns you use. Feel free to use a grill pan, too. Last time I made these, I used my grill pan and they came out great with fancy grill marks and all. I should add that you’ll need to spray the pan first with cooking spray. I should also tell you that I typically chill these in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cooking them. I don’t know if it helps keep them together or not, but it just so happens that each time I’ve made these, I’ve prepared them ahead of time. Just cover with plastic wrap first.

When you’re ready, cook them over low-medium heat for about 5-6 minutes per side.
Serve on a toasted bun with a ring of pineapple, avocado slices, and some Teriyaki sauce. Enjoy!

Teriyaki-Quinoa Burgers

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

32 mins

These veggie burgers are quite amazing. They're easy to make, delicious, and they actually hold together when you cook them---that's not always an easy thing when making veggie burgers. I got the recipe from Thrive Forward and I've had them a couple of times now. I've made some subtle variations and added the teriyaki-pineapple-avocado part, which I think you will love.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 15-oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I use a tri-bean blend)
1 C cooked quinoa (I like the tri-color variety and I cook it in veggie broth)
1 C quinoa flakes or oats (I opt for oats since I usually have those on hand)
½ C red onion, chopped (I use 1 cup)
⅓ C chopped cilantro (I use 1 cup)
3 garlic cloves, minced
¾ tsp salt
1 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs cumin
½ tsp black pepper
2 Tbs chia seeds mixed with ⅓ C water (recipe says to use ground chia seeds, but I use them whole)
Cooking spray
Toppings
Pineapple rings, jarred Teriyaki sauce, avocado slices. Veggie bacon is also a great option.
6-8 burger buns

Directions

I start by mixing the chia seeds and water together and setting aside. Cook the quinoa (1/2 C quinoa with 1-1/4 C broth).
In a food processor, add the beans, onion, cilantro, garlic, salt, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper. I didn't mince the garlic beforehand; it's up to you.
Blend everything to the consistency you'd like. If you want some chunks, go for it. Of course, you may not want to bite into a piece of garlic, so you may want to mince it first. You decide how much you want to blend it. I went for it and mostly pureed it. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the quinoa, oats, and chia mixture.
Shape the batter into patties. You could make beefy burgers or even some sliders. I went for the beefy kind (about 4" across, ¾" thick).
I actually got 5 burgers, but only had room for 4 on the pan. Again, you get to make the executive decision on this. Much will probably depend on how large or small of buns you use. Feel free to use a grill pan, too. Last time I made these, I used my grill pan and they came out great with fancy grill marks and all. I should add that you'll need to spray the pan first with cooking spray. I should also tell you that I typically chill these in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cooking them. I don't know if it helps keep them together or not, but it just so happens that each time I've made these, I've prepared them ahead of time. Just cover with plastic wrap first.
When you're ready, cook them over low-medium heat for about 5-6 minutes per side.
Serve on a toasted bun with a ring of pineapple, avocado slices, and some Teriyaki sauce. Enjoy!

Edamame Spaghetti with Lemon-Garlic Sauce

July 27, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

That’s right, edamame spaghetti. In 12-ridiculous steps that include cooking the beans, mashing them, adding flour, six other ingredients, and running the dough through a pasta machine, you’re in business! Or . . . you can go the easy way by picking up pre-made edamame noodles like I did:
This 2-lb box is from Costco and will run you about $9. And you can’t get simpler as far as ingredients go: soy beans and water. I think it’s a nice change up from pasta, and here’s the skinny: they’re gluten-free; high in protein and fiber; half the carbs of pasta; and a bit less calories, too. I thought I’d give them a whirl. Because the spaghetti only takes 4-5 minutes to cook, this is a great meal to prepare when you want something quick and easy. How do they taste? Delicious. Not much flavor on their own, but there’s no reason you can’t dress them up with a sauce or seasonings. A tomato sauce doesn’t seem like the right choice though, but more of a light cream or olive oil sauce. Just like with regular pasta, the possibilities are pretty endless.

INGREDIENTS:
8-oz edamame spaghetti
2 Tbs olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
zest and juice from one lemon
salt
2 Tbs Earth Balance margarine
2 C mushrooms, sliced
1 tomato, diced
Parmezano Sprinkles (from The Uncheese Cookbook)
1/2 C blanched almonds
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
1-2 tsp light or yellow miso
1/4 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
I made the Parmezano Sprinkles first: To blanch the almonds, place in a small sauce pan with just enough water to cover them and boil for 2 minutes. Drain, rinse, and pinch the skins off. Transfer to a food processor along with the other ingredients and grind it all together. Keep in the fridge in a tightly-lidded container.

Next, bring a large pot of water to a boil and simmer the noodles for 4-5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, melt the margarine and add the mushrooms. Saute for about 3 minutes. Before draining the noodles, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Drain the edamame noodles and rinse with cold water. In the same cooking pot, heat the olive oil and add the garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt to taste, and then the noodles. Use a fork or tongs to incorporate the sauce. Add some water if it seems a little dry. Serve with some mushrooms and tomatoes, then top with the Parmezano Sprinkles. Enjoy!

Edamame Spaghetti with Lemon-Garlic Sauce

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

15 mins

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

8-oz edamame spaghetti
2 Tbs olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
zest and juice from one lemon
salt
2 Tbs Earth Balance margarine
2 C mushrooms, sliced
1 tomato, diced
Parmezano Sprinkles (from The Uncheese Cookbook)
½ C blanched almonds
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
1-2 tsp light or yellow miso
¼ tsp salt

Directions

I made the Parmezano Sprinkles first: To blanch the almonds, place in a small sauce pan with just enough water to cover them and boil for 2 minutes. Drain, rinse, and pinch the skins off. Transfer to a food processor along with the other ingredients and grind it all together. Keep in the fridge in a tightly-lidded container.
Next, bring a large pot of water to a boil and simmer the noodles for 4-5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, melt the margarine and add the mushrooms. Saute for about 3 minutes.
Before draining the noodles, reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid. Drain the edamame noodles and rinse with cold water.
In the same cooking pot, heat the olive oil and add the garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt to taste, and then the noodles. Use a fork or tongs to incorporate the sauce. Add some water if it seems a little dry.
Serve with some mushrooms and tomatoes, then top with the Parmezano Sprinkles. Enjoy!

Enchilada Lasagna with Cilantro Ricotta

Truffle Gnocchi and Roasted Veggies with Lemon-Butter Sauce

Pasta with Creamy Coconut-Mushroom Sauce

Roasted Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Pasta {Gluten-free}

Rice Bowls with Kale, Mushrooms, and Chickpeas

East Meets West Chickpea Lettuce Wraps

Lasagna Bolognese

Thai Green Curry Bowls

Teriyaki-Quinoa Burgers

Edamame Spaghetti with Lemon-Garlic Sauce

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