Epicurean Vegan

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Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes

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Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes -- Epicurean VeganAvocado and chocolate? Absolutely! You can’t taste the avocado, but it takes the place of eggs, as well as some of the oil. These cupcakes are so rich, moist, fluffy and decadent. Even the Husband said, “Oh man, these are dangerous.”

INGREDIENTS:
Cupcakes:
1-1/2 C flour
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 avocado, pitted and peeled
1 C pure maple syrup (I used light pancake syrup)
3/4 C plain soy milk (I used almond milk)
1/3 C canola oil
2 tsp vanilla

Glaze:
1/4 block soft silken tofu (from a 14-oz container), drained and patted dry
3 Tbs pure maple syrup (again, I used light pancake syrup)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips, melted

DIRECTIONS:
To make the cupcakes, preheat oven to 350. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Puree the avocado in a food processor until smooth. Add the maple syrup, almond milk, oil, and vanilla; blend until creamy. Whisk into flour mixture.

Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cups. I wasn’t sure how much to fill them because you never know with muffins, but as long as you evenly divide the batter among the cups, you’ll be fine.

Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes -- Epicurean Vegan

Bake for 25 minutes.

Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes -- Epicurean VeganTo make the glaze, blend the tofu, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt in the food processor. Add the melted chocolate and blend thoroughly.

Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes -- Epicurean VeganTransfer to a bowl.

Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes -- Epicurean VeganDip the tops of the cupcakes into the glaze, pulling up straight to form peaks. Enjoy!

Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes -- Epicurean Vegan

Recipe: Vegetarian Times

Chipotle-Lime Pasta with a Cream Sauce and Avocado

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Vegan MoFo, Day 21

Chipotle-Lime Pasta with a Cream Sauce and Avocado -- Epicurean VeganI picked up some Pappardelle’s Whole Wheat Chipotle Lime pasta and since it has a bit of kick, I figured a cream sauce would be ideal to go with it. I also had an avocado on-the-verge of being tossed, so it all came together beautifully!

INGREDIENTS:
8-oz Chipotle Lime pasta
2 tsp garlic, minced
2 Tbs Earth Balance margarine
2 Tbs flour
1 C almond milk
2 Tbs Vegan Parmesan cheese
1 tsp lime juice, plus a little more for thinning, if needed
1/2 C Tofutti sour cream
2 green onions, sliced (white and green parts)
1/3 C fresh cilantro, chopped
5-6 mushrooms, diced
1 avocado, diced

DIRECTIONS:
Cook pasta 10-12 minutes, or until al dente. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat margarine and garlic. Whisk in the flour. Once the flour is thoroughly combined, whisk in the almond milk, then the sour cream and Parmesan. Stir in the lime juice, mushrooms, cilantro, and green onions. Add more lime juice, if needed.

Chipotle-Lime Pasta with a Cream Sauce and Avocado -- Epicurean Vegan

Ladle the sauce over single servings of pasta and top with the diced avocado. Enjoy!

Quinoa Wraps

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Quinoa Wraps -- Epicurean VeganMy favorite vegan restaurant, Tasty Harmony, makes the best quinoa wraps and I wanted to duplicate it at home. I think I did a pretty good job, but theirs are just plain awesome and hard to totally copy.  You can serve these warm or cold and ordinarily I would use whole wheat wraps, but I didn’t have any. I served these with a spinach salad and it made a quick and healthy meal (especially after all those cupcakes)! They are also ideal to pack for a picnic–don’t forget, quinoa is a great source of protein!

INGREDIENTS:
1 C quinoa
1 avocado, diced
1/2 pkg baked tofu, such as from Westsoy, diced
1 plum tomato, diced
Sandwich wraps
Caesar dressing:
1 Tbs Vegenaise
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp vegan Worchestershire sauce
1/4 C olive oil
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Add quinoa to 2 cups of boiling water. Stir, cover, and reduce heat to low for 20 minutes. If you want a cold wrap, make this earlier and keep refrigerated. If you’re in a rush, place pan of quinoa in a sink of cold water. To make dressing: Whisk together all ingredients. Pile on the quinoa, avocado, baked tofu, and tomato onto a wrap and drizzle with the dressing. Enjoy!

Quinoa Wraps -- Epicurean Vegan

Portobello Burgers

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Portobello Burgers -- Epicurean VeganThis is my kind of burger! They took no time at all to prepare—you can saute or grill the portobellos and use your favorite toppings. I went with Hawaiian-style.

INGREDIENTS:
4 portobello mushrooms, cleaned and patted dry
1 avocado, smashed
4 Tbs Tofutti cream cheese
4 pineapple rings
4 burger buns
Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Coat portobellos with oil and salt and pepper. Saute in olive oil for 5-7 minutes on each side over medium heat.

Spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese on one bun and about a 1 tablespoon of avocado on the other. Top bottom bun with a portobello and then a pineapple ring. It’s that easy! Enjoy!

English Muffin and Avocado Delight

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English Muffin and Avocado Delight -- Epicurean VeganI’m really not sure what to call this–“delight” is really an understatement. I needed a snack that was fresh and flavorful, so I scoured my kitchen for ideas. I had avocados that I was needing to make something with and voila! And idea was born…The avocado paired beautifully with the roasted red pepper and balsamic vinegar. Plus, ot was so easy to throw together.

INGREDIENTS:
1 English muffin, sliced in half and toasted
1 small tomato, sliced or for even more flavor, a slice of roasted red pepper
1 small avocado, sliced
1-1/2 tsp hummus
Balsamic vinegar
Spinach leaves, optional

DIRECTIONS:
Spread hummus evenly on both slices of English muffin. Top with a tomato slice and 2-3 avocado slices. Drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar. It’s that easy! My tastebuds were loving me! Enjoy!

Soyrizo Layer Dip

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Soyrizo Layer Dip -- Epicurean VeganMeat-eaters won’t know the difference! I like to use Soyrizo instead of refried beans because it adds so much flavor. Soyrizo needs no seasoning, isn’t raw and can be served cold or heated up. I served this dip cold and didn’t tell people it was vegan. It was gone in a matter of minutes! The ingredient amounts are approximate–I just threw it together and how much you layer on is up to you.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg Soyrizo
1 C Tofutti sour cream
1 C Vegan cheddar, shredded
1 C sliced black olives
1 C green onion, sliced thin
1/2 C salsa
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped
1 C fresh roma tomatoes, diced
Optional: 1C prepared guacamole, or 1-2 C diced avocado

DIRECTIONS:
Layer Soyrizo, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, green onion, tomatoes, cheese, olives and enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips!

Classic Guacamole

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Classic Guacamole -- Epicurean VeganThe recipe is actually my sister-in-law’s and perhaps it’s just how most guacs are made, but this recipe is always a hit. The ingredients are kind of approximate–don’t get too heavy-handed with them right away–you can always add more flavor to taste. Keep in mind that most tortilla chips are salted, so I wouldn’t go too crazy with the garlic salt.

INGREDIENTS:
6-7 ripe avocados
2 Tbs lime juice
1/2 C salsa
1/2-1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 C fresh cilantro, chopped (A total must)!

DIRECTIONS:
Mash the avocados with one of these (pastry blender)…it works the best, especially if the avocados aren’t quite ripe enough.

Add the lime juice, garlic salt and salsa, mix well. Taste to adjust seasoning. I then gently stir in the cilantro and serve with tortilla chips! Always a crowd-pleaser…enjoy!
NOTE: To keep it from browning, cover with plastic wrap, but mold the plastic wrap to the top of the dip so that air will not get to it.

Classic Guacamole -- Epicurean Vegan

Soyrizo Tacos

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Soyrizo Tacos -- Epicurean VeganSoyrizo is such a perfect alternative to meat and these tacos are so satisfying and delicious. Combined with fresh ingredients, vegans and non vegans alike will love them!

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbs olive oil
8 oz vegan chorizo or taco crumbles (found in the tempe and tofu section)
4-6 corn shells (or soft, if you prefer)
1/2 C diced onion
1/2 C chopped tomatoes
1 C tofu sour cream (Tofutti brand)
2/3 C shredded vegan cheese
Prepared salsa
I added diced avocado and chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over med-high heat (I added the onions at this time and cooked until softened). Add the chorizo or taco crumbles and cook, stirring until heated through, 3-4 mins.

Soyrizo Tacos -- Epicurean VeganArrange onions (if you want more), lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, cheese, avocado, salsa and cilantro in bowls. Assemble as you want! Enjoy!

Soyrizo Tacos -- Epicurean Vegan

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