Boca Archives - Epicurean Vegan

Mexican Pasta Bake

May 23, 2012 by epicureanvegan

As you may recall, a few months ago, I had decided to give up wheat and soy . . . yeah, uh, the soy part has been surprisingly easy. It’s the wheat part. I don’t know how you gluten-free folks do it! Especially if you’re vegan and gluten-free! I’ve certainly laid off of it, but there’s just no way I could swear off of it for good. As for soy, I’ll have the occasional miso or Tofutti sour cream. Otherwise, it’s a no-soy zone for me. For this meal, I broke all my rules by using regular pasta, Boca crumbles, and Tofutti sour cream. *GASP* Yes, I fudged and it was damn good. This creamy, spicy casserole was delicious and I’m thrilled with the results.

INGREDIENTS:
13.25 oz pkg penne pasta
1 Tbs olive oil (I used chipotle-flavored)
1 bag Boca crumbles, or other ground “meat” (Half a bag would probably be plenty)
2 C mushrooms, sliced
1 med zucchini, sliced, then quartered
2-3 C kale, chopped
Sauce:
1 10-oz can Rotel Original with diced tomatoes & green chilies
Seasoning packet (either for tacos, burritos, or fajitas)
1/2 C vegan sour cream
1/4 C nutritional yeast
1/4 C almond milk
1/2 C + some for sprinkling on the top vegan cheddar
The rest: (optional toppings)
Guacamole, or diced avocados, black olives, sliced green onion, fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the Boca crumbles; cook for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and zucchini and cook 7-10 minutes, or until the veggies are tender. Stir in the kale and cook until it softens and wilts.

Meanwhile, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl.

Return the drained pasta to the pot (or you can use a large mixing bowl) and combine it with both the sauce and the veggie/Boca mixture. Pour it into a 9×13 baking dish and sprinkle some Daiya cheese on top.

Cover and bake for 20 minutes. I made some guacamole, so I added a dollop on top with some green onion. Enjoy!

Mexican Pasta Bake

As you may recall, a few months ago, I had decided to give up wheat and soy . . . yeah, uh, the soy part has been surprisingly easy. It's the wheat part. I don't know how you gluten-free folks do it! Especially if you're vegan and gluten-free! I've certainly laid off of it, but there's just no way I could swear off of it for good. As for soy, I'll have the occasional miso or Tofutti sour cream. Otherwise, it's a no-soy zone for me. For this meal, I broke all my rules by using regular pasta, Boca crumbles, and Tofutti sour cream. *GASP* Yes, I fudged and it was damn good. This creamy, spicy casserole was delicious and I'm thrilled with the results.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

13.25 oz pkg penne pasta
1 Tbs olive oil (I used chipotle-flavored)
1 bag Boca crumbles, or other ground "meat" (Half a bag would probably be plenty)
2 C mushrooms, sliced
1 med zucchini, sliced, then quartered
2-3 C kale, chopped
Sauce:
1 10-oz can Rotel Original with diced tomatoes & green chilies
Seasoning packet (either for tacos, burritos, or fajitas)
½ C vegan sour cream
¼ C nutritional yeast
¼ C almond milk
½ C + some for sprinkling on the top vegan cheddar
The rest: (optional toppings)
Guacamole, or diced avocados, black olives, sliced green onion, fresh cilantro

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the Boca crumbles; cook for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and zucchini and cook 7-10 minutes, or until the veggies are tender. Stir in the kale and cook until it softens and wilts.
Meanwhile, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl.
Return the drained pasta to the pot (or you can use a large mixing bowl) and combine it with both the sauce and the veggie/Boca mixture. Pour it into a 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle some Daiya cheese on top.
Cover and bake for 20 minutes. I made some guacamole, so I added a dollop on top with some green onion. Enjoy!

Sweet & Sour Boca Nugget Stir-fry

January 3, 2012 by epicureanvegan

Stir-fries are great ways to use up veggies and they’re typically easy to throw together. I didn’t feel like using tempeh or tofu, so I went with Boca nuggets. The sweet and sour sauce came out perfect–a great balance of both elements!

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. Boca nuggets
2 C mushrooms, cut into chunks
6-8 green onions, sliced
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 C carrots, sliced thin
1 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp garlic, minced
2 C cooked rice
Sauce:
2/3 C rice vinegar
8 Tbs brown sugar
2 Tbs ketchup
2 tsp tamari
4 tsp arrowroot
6 tsp water

DIRECTIONS:
The sauce won’t take long to make, so I suggest combining everything in a small saucepan (except the arrowroot and water) and set aside for now. Bake the nuggets according to the bag’s instructions (12-13 minutes). Then cut each nugget into fourths. (And if using rice, don’t forget to get it started, too!)

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Add the water chestnuts and carrots and cook until tender. Add the mushrooms, green onion, and Boca nuggets.

At this point, bring the sauce to a boil. Mix together the water and arrowroot and whisk it into the sauce to thicken it up. This should only take about a minute.

Pour the sauce over the veggies/nuggets and combine well. Serve over hot white rice and enjoy!

Sweet & Sour Boca Nugget Stir-fry

Stir-fries are great ways to use up veggies and they're typically easy to throw together. I didn't feel like using tempeh or tofu, so I went with Boca nuggets. The sweet and sour sauce came out perfect--a great balance of both elements!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 pkg. Boca nuggets
2 C mushrooms, cut into chunks
6-8 green onions, sliced
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 C carrots, sliced thin
1 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp garlic, minced
2 C cooked rice
Sauce:
⅔ C rice vinegar
8 Tbs brown sugar
2 Tbs ketchup
2 tsp tamari
4 tsp arrowroot
6 tsp water

Directions

The sauce won't take long to make, so I suggest combining everything in a small saucepan (except the arrowroot and water) and set aside for now. Bake the nuggets according to the bag's instructions (12-13 minutes). Then cut each nugget into fourths. (And if using rice, don't forget to get it started, too!)
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Add the water chestnuts and carrots and cook until tender. Add the mushrooms, green onion, and Boca nuggets.
At this point, bring the sauce to a boil. Mix together the water and arrowroot and whisk it into the sauce to thicken it up. This should only take about a minute.
Pour the sauce over the veggies/nuggets and combine well. Serve over hot white rice and enjoy!

Vegan King Ranch Casserole

April 6, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Kelly at Vegan Thyme posted this recipe last week and knowing that the he-gans I live with love casseroles (especially of the Mexican kind), I figured this would be a winner over here. And no surprise, it was. The original recipe calls for Morning Star Vegan Chicken Strips, but I couldn’t find those—at least not the vegan ones. They make vegetarian ones, however. So I opted for Boca Chick Patties instead.

The great thing about this recipe that Kelly pointed out, is that you can use your favorite vegetables and seasonings—there’s no right/wrong way to make this casserole. Next time, I’ll add some guacamole or diced avocados on top, otherwise, it was perfect.

INGREDIENTS:
4 Boca Chicken Patties, slightly thawed and diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 medium zucchini, sliced, then quartered
1 small onion, diced
2 tsp olive oil
12 corn tortillas, sliced into strips
1 C vegan shredded cheese (I used a mixture of pepper jack and cheddar)
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne
Salt and pepper
4 scallions, sliced
1 C black olives, sliced
3 Tbs Earth Balance
3 Tbs flour
1-1/4 C almond milk
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Optional ingredients: Tofutti sour cream, salsa, avocados/guacamole

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. I recommend having all the ingredients chopped, shredded and measured before you get started—it’ll just make things easier on you. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the bell pepper, zucchini, onion, and chick patties; cook 10 minutes. Stir in the cumin, cayenne, and cilantro.

Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan, melt the margarine. Whisk in a tablespoon of flour to thicken it up. Gradually add the other two while whisking, forming a paste. Whisk in the milk and continue stirring over medium-high heat until it begins to thicken. Remove from heat and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

Pour a third of the sauce onto the bottom of the baking pan and spread as evenly as you can. Next, add a layer of tortilla strips. There’s no rhyme or reason to this step—you can layer them down willy-nilly, just as long they evenly cover the bottom.

Pour half of the vegetable mixture on top of the tortilla strips, then another layer of tortilla strips. I then drizzled another third of the sauce on top.

Repeat layers once more and then top with the vegan cheese, scallions, and black olives. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Let it cool 5 minutes before diving into it. Enjoy with sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole on top.

Vegan King Ranch Casserole

Kelly at Vegan Thyme posted this recipe last week and knowing that the he-gans I live with love casseroles (especially of the Mexican kind), I figured this would be a winner over here. And no surprise, it was. The original recipe calls for Morning Star Vegan Chicken Strips, but I couldn't find those---at least not the vegan ones. They make vegetarian ones, however. So I opted for Boca Chick Patties instead. The great thing about this recipe that Kelly pointed out, is that you can use your favorite vegetables and seasonings---there's no right/wrong way to make this casserole. Next time, I'll add some guacamole or diced avocados on top, otherwise, it was perfect.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

4 Boca Chicken Patties, slightly thawed and diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 medium zucchini, sliced, then quartered
1 small onion, diced
2 tsp olive oil
12 corn tortillas, sliced into strips
1 C vegan shredded cheese (I used a mixture of pepper jack and cheddar)
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp cayenne
Salt and pepper
4 scallions, sliced
1 C black olives, sliced
3 Tbs vegan margarine
3 Tbs flour
1-1/4 C almond milk
¼ tsp nutmeg
Optional ingredients: Tofutti sour cream, salsa, avocados/guacamole

Directions

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. I recommend having all the ingredients chopped, shredded and measured before you get started---it'll just make things easier on you. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the bell pepper, zucchini, onion, and chick patties; cook 10 minutes. Stir in the cumin, cayenne, and cilantro.
Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan, melt the margarine. Whisk in a tablespoon of flour to thicken it up. Gradually add the other two while whisking, forming a paste. Whisk in the milk and continue stirring over medium-high heat until it begins to thicken. Remove from heat and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
Pour a third of the sauce onto the bottom of the baking pan and spread as evenly as you can. Next, add a layer of tortilla strips. There's no rhyme or reason to this step---you can layer them down willy-nilly, just as long they evenly cover the bottom.
Pour half of the vegetable mixture on top of the tortilla strips, then another layer of tortilla strips. I then drizzled another third of the sauce on top.
Repeat layers once more and then top with the vegan cheese, scallions, and black olives. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Let it cool 5 minutes before diving into it. Enjoy with sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole on top.

Boca Enchiladas

December 29, 2010 by epicureanvegan

When we first went vegan, the thought of having Mexican (or Italian) food again seemed like a pipe dream, but I think that some of my favorite meals have been just those—thanks to yummy meat and dairy alternatives. Lucky for me, too, because the Husband loves enchiladas and if I didn’t come up with a veg-based one, he wouldn’t be fun to live with. 😉 I’ve also made a seitan version, and these Boca Crumbles ones are pretty darn delish, too. I made a pretty big batch so feel free to halve the recipe for a smaller crowd.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbs olive oil
1-12 oz bag Boca Crumbles
1 medium green bell pepper, diced small
1 small onion, diced small
1-4 oz can diced green chilies (I used mild)
3-10 oz cans enchiladas sauce (I used Old El Paso–mild)
20 LaTortilla Factory Hand Made Style Corn Tortillas (Love these!! They’re a cross between a corn and flour tortilla and come in white and yellow corn—see below)
1 pkg Vegan Gourmet Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded + 1/2 C Daiya cheddar, shredded, mixed together
1 C black olives, sliced
1 bunch green onions, sliced (both green and white parts)
Optional garnishes: Tofutti sour cream, cilantro, diced avocados

DIRECTIONS:
Place the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375. In a large skillet heat the olive oil. Add the bell pepper and onions; saute until softened. Add the Boca crumbles and cook until heated through; stir in the green chilies.

I think it helps to steam the tortillas first, but only do a couple at a time, as the bottom ones will stick if there are too many on top. In a 15″ pan (I made the mistake of using a smaller pan, so I had to use 2 pans) pour 1-1/2 cans of the enchiladas sauce on the bottom of the pan. Place 2-3 spoonfuls of the Boca mixture into the steamed tortillas; add some cheese on top.

Tightly roll up the tortillas and place, fold down, into the baking dish.

Once each tortilla is rolled, top with the remaining sauce and cheese. Sprinkle the olives and green onions on top.

Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and cilantro and/or any of the optional ingredients. Enjoy!

“Chicken” Wrap

February 18, 2010 by epicureanvegan

This is just a pretty simple wrap that is not only great as a post-workout snack, but perfect for a sack lunch. In an effort to get my son to eat less animal products, this is ideal! On Sunday nights, I throw a bag of Boca brand “chicken” nuggets in the oven and then cut each one into fourths and store in the fridge for a week of lunches. I also chop up some tomato and cucumbers as well. Ten minutes of prep time and you have a week of lunches!

INGREDIENTS:
1 bag Boca “chicken” nuggets (or you can use their “chicken” patties and cut them up), baked and chopped up
Small flour tortillas or pitas
Your favorite wrap ingredients, such as:
Romaine lettuce, Tofutti cheese slices, cucumber, sprouts, tomato, hummus, vegan ranch dressing, bell pepper. Try Tofutti cream cheese mixed with fresh chopped chives—it makes a great spread.
Like I said, this is perfect for getting your kids to eat a healthier sack lunch at school, because we all know that every so often, half the PB&J goes in the trash!
What are some of your favorite (easy) vegan wrap ideas?

Mexican Pasta Bake

Sweet & Sour Boca Nugget Stir-fry

Vegan King Ranch Casserole

Boca Enchiladas

“Chicken” Wrap

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