gluten-free Archives - Page 3 of 7

Vegan & Gluten-Free Falafel with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce

October 6, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

You may be surprised how easy falafel is to make at home. Plus, you can play with the spices and ingredients to suit your fancy. One thing I noticed, is that they are typically sauteed in a skillet with lots of oil, which is something I try to avoid doing too often. They’re also not typically gluten-free, so I decided to go all out and create gluten-free, baked falafel. Oh, and make them tasty. I think I accomplished all of that. The yogurt-tahini sauce couldn’t be easier to make, using only a few ingredients and a food processor. Usually, falafel sandwiches will have tabbouleh, but I opted for a quick and easy meal with lettuce, tomato and red onion instead. The falafel are also delicious on their own as a protein-packed snack dipped in sauce. Either way, I think you’ll enjoy this Greek classic.

INGREDIENTS:
1 small carrot, cut into 3-4 pieces
3-4 garlic cloves
1 small white onion, chopped
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 C fresh cilantro
3/4 C fresh parsley
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 C rice flour
1 tsp baking powder
Yogurt-Tahini Sauce
12-oz plain nondairy yogurt
1/3 C tahini
2 Tbs lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
The rest
Lettuce
Tomato
Red onion
Cucumber slices would be great, too.

DIRECTIONS:
Toss the carrot pieces into the food processor and pulse just a couple of times until coarsely chopped. Add the garlic cloves and onion and pulse 2-3 more times.

Next, add the garbanzo beans, cilantro, parsley, cumin, salt, and pepper. Blend 10-20 seconds until smooth-ish . . . you just don’t want a major chunks. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in the baking powder and rice flour.
Cover and refrigerate for about 20-30 minutes. In the meantime, preheat oven to 350 and then make the sauce. In your newly cleaned-out food processor bowl, combine all of the sauce ingredients and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside, along with your prepared veggies:
To make the falafel, line a large baking sheet with foil and spray it with a little cooking spray. Using your hands, scoop out about a 1/4 cup of the batter and create a mini patty; place onto the baking sheet. I ended up with 15:
Bake for 15-20 minutes, then turn them over and cook another 15-20 minutes. Fill a pita with some lettuce, sauce, tomato slices, red onion slices, 2-3 falafel and top them off with a bit more sauce. Enjoy!

Vegan & Gluten-Free Falafel with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce

Prep time

45 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

1 hour 25 mins

You may be surprised how easy falafel is to make at home. Plus, you can play with the spices and ingredients to suit your fancy. One thing I noticed, is that they are typically sauteed in a skillet with lots of oil, which is something I try to avoid doing too often. They're also not typically gluten-free, so I decided to go all out and create gluten-free, baked falafel. Oh, and make them tasty. I think I accomplished all of that. The yogurt-tahini sauce couldn't be easier to make, using only a few ingredients and a food processor. Usually, falafel sandwiches will have tabbouleh, but I opted for a quick and easy meal with lettuce, tomato and red onion instead. The falafel are also delicious on their own as a protein-packed snack dipped in sauce. Either way, I think you'll enjoy this Greek classic.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 small carrot, cut into 3-4 pieces
3-4 garlic cloves
1 small white onion, chopped
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
¾ C fresh cilantro
¾ C fresh parsley
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¾ C rice flour
1 tsp baking powder
.
Yogurt-Tahini Sauce
.
12-oz plain nondairy yogurt
⅓ C tahini
2 Tbs lemon juice
¼ tsp salt
.
The rest
.
Lettuce
Tomato
Red onion
Cucumber slices would be great, too.

Directions

Toss the carrot pieces into the food processor and pulse just a couple of times until coarsely chopped. Add the garlic cloves and onion and pulse 2-3 more times.
Next, add the garbanzo beans, cilantro, parsley, cumin, salt, and pepper. Blend 10-20 seconds until smooth-ish . . . you just don't want a major chunks. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in the baking powder and rice flour. Cover and refrigerate for about 20-30 minutes.
In the meantime, preheat oven to 350 and then make the sauce. In your newly cleaned-out food processor bowl, combine all of the sauce ingredients and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside, along with your prepared veggies.
To make the falafel, line a large baking sheet with foil and spray it with a little cooking spray. Using your hands, scoop out about a ¼ cup of the batter and create a mini patty; place onto the baking sheet. I ended up with 15.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, then turn them over and cook another 15-20 minutes. Fill a pita with some lettuce, sauce, tomato slices, red onion slices, 2-3 falafel and top them off with a bit more sauce. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Mexican Quinoa & Black Beans

October 4, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

This has been a favorite at our house for some time now. I found the original recipe on Pinterest, but have just tweaked it a little here and there. I also double the recipe because it makes great leftovers. I like to serve this with some tortilla chips, cilantro, avocado and vegan sour cream, but we’ve also been known to scoop it into a warm flour or corn tortilla with all fixins’ like tomato, cilantro, avocado, etc. It’s so easy to make; just toss in a slow cooker and it’s ready in about 3 hours. (And it’s gluten-free!) You can sub in any other kind of bean, such as kidney or chili beans, but I also think some lentils would be perfect too. And why not throw in a diced red bell pepper? The possibilities are endless!

INGREDIENTS:
2 15-oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
3 C vegetable broth
1-1/2 C tri-color quinoa
1 C salsa
2 bay leaves
3 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
1-1/2 tsp garlic powder
Black pepper, to taste
Zest and juice from 1 lime
1-2 avocados, peeled, pitted and cubed
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped
Vegan sour cream
Corn tortilla chips
Optional: flour tortillas or corn taco shells

DIRECTIONS:
Combine the beans, broth, quinoa, salsa, bay leaves, cumin, salt, and garlic powder in a slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3 to 3-1/2 hours. If you can, stir it around once or twice. Once done, stir in the lime zest and juice. Season individual servings with pepper and top with avocado, cilantro and sour cream. Enjoy with tortilla chips.

Slow Cooker Mexican Quinoa & Black Beans

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

3 hours 30 mins

Total time

3 hours 35 mins

This has been a favorite at our house for some time now. I found the original recipe on Pinterest, but have just tweaked it a little here and there. I also double the recipe because it makes great leftovers. I like to serve this with some tortilla chips, cilantro, avocado and vegan sour cream, but we've also been known to scoop it into a warm flour or corn tortilla with all fixins' like tomato, cilantro, avocado, etc. It's so easy to make; just toss in a slow cooker and it's ready in about 3 hours. (And it's gluten-free!) You can sub in any other kind of bean, such as kidney or chili beans, but I also think some lentils would be perfect too. And why not throw in a diced red bell pepper? The possibilities are endless!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6

Ingredients

2 15-oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
3 C vegetable broth
1-1/2 C tri-color quinoa
1 C salsa
2 bay leaves
3 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
1-1/2 tsp garlic powder
Black pepper, to taste
Zest and juice from 1 lime
1-2 avocados, peeled, pitted and cubed
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped
Vegan sour cream
Corn tortilla chips
Optional: flour tortillas or corn taco shells

Directions

Combine the beans, broth, quinoa, salsa, bay leaves, cumin, salt, and garlic powder in a slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3 to 3-1/2 hours. If you can, stir it around once or twice.
Once done, stir in the lime zest and juice.
Season individual servings with pepper and top with avocado, cilantro and sour cream. Enjoy with tortilla chips.

Black Rice & Lentil Thai Bowls with Cashew-Coconut Curry Sauce

September 29, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

You’re going to need a big bowl to fit in all this goodness. It’s easy to go overboard with different veggies and toppings, but I think I found a great combination for these Thai bowls. Not only are they vegan, but they’re gluten-free too. The flavors of the sauce mingle beautifully with the steamed cauliflower, tofu and kale. The pepitas also add a nice extra crunch as well. Served warm or cold, these bowls are great to take to work for a filling, protein-packed lunch.

INGREDIENTS:
2-1/2 C vegetable broth
1 C black rice
1 C green lentils
1 head cauliflower
14-oz extra firm tofu, drained, pressed and cubed
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 carrots, grated
3 C kale, chopped
1 C green onion, sliced
1/2 C pepitas
Cashew-Coconut Curry Sauce:
1 C cashews, soaked in hot water for about an hour
2 cloves garlic
1 can coconut milk
1 Tbs fresh ginger, grated
2 Tbs peanut butter
Juice from one lime
1 Tbs curry powder
1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
To begin, combine the rice, lentils and vegetable broth in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Stir, reduce heat, and cover; cook for 40-45 minutes. This will give you plenty of time to get everything else prepared: chop the veggies, saute the tofu and steam the cauliflower. For the tofu, I just sauteed the cubes in a dry skillet until slightly browned. Steam the cauliflower florets for about 8-10 minutes—not too much though because you want to avoid making the cauliflower too mushy (unless you like that sort of thing). I prefer them to have a little bit of crunch. To make the sauce, toss the garlic cloves in a food processor and mince. Next, add all of the other sauce ingredients and puree for several minutes until completely smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until it thickens just a little—only a couple of minutes.

Once the rice and lentils are done, fluff with a spoon. To serve, start with some rice-lentil mixture, then add the kale, tofu, cauliflower, carrots, green onions, sauce and top with the pepitas. Absolutely delicious! Enjoy!

Black Rice & Lentil Thai Bowls with Cashew-Coconut Curry Sauce

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

45 mins

Total time

55 mins

You're going to need a big bowl to fit in all this goodness. It's easy to go overboard with different veggies and toppings, but I think I found a great combination for these Thai bowls. Not only are they vegan, but they're gluten-free too. The flavors of the sauce mingle beautifully with the steamed cauliflower, tofu and kale. The pepitas also add a nice extra crunch as well. Served warm or cold, these bowls are great to take to work for a filling, protein-packed lunch.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6

Ingredients

2-1/2 C vegetable broth
1 C black rice
1 C green lentils
1 head cauliflower
14-oz extra firm tofu, drained, pressed and cubed
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 carrots, grated
3 C kale, chopped
1 C green onion, sliced
½ C pepitas
.
Cashew-Coconut Curry Sauce:
.
1 C cashews, soaked in hot water for about an hour
2 cloves garlic
1 can coconut milk
1 Tbs fresh ginger, grated
2 Tbs peanut butter
Juice from one lime
1 Tbs curry powder
1 tsp salt

Directions

To begin, combine the rice, lentils and vegetable broth in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Stir, reduce heat, and cover; cook for 40-45 minutes.
This will give you plenty of time to get everything else prepared: chop the veggies, saute the tofu and steam the cauliflower.
For the tofu, I just sauteed the cubes in a dry skillet until slightly browned.
Steam the cauliflower florets for about 8-10 minutes---not too much though because you want to avoid making the cauliflower too mushy (unless you like that sort of thing). I prefer them to have a little bit of crunch.
To make the sauce, toss the garlic cloves in a food processor and mince. Next, add all of the other sauce ingredients and puree for several minutes until completely smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until it thickens just a little---only a couple of minutes.
Once the rice and lentils are done, fluff with a spoon.
To serve, start with some rice-lentil mixture, then add the kale, tofu, cauliflower, carrots, green onions, sauce and top with the pepitas. Absolutely delicious! Enjoy!

Zucchini Noodles with a Macadamia Nut Cream Sauce

August 20, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

As you probably know, I love pasta. I’m very fortunate that I don’t have a gluten intolerance, but I have to say, these zucchini noodles make a wonderful pasta substitute with it’s fresh flavor and slightly crunchy texture. This is a very easy dish to throw together and you could easily add your favorite veggies such as bell peppers or artichokes. You may recall my first zucchini noodle recipe with pesto as sun-dried tomatoes and I really love my spiralizer . . .
This works fabulous and is so easy to use. I haven’t spiralized any other veggies yet, but it takes only a few minutes to turn small to medium zucchinis into wonderful noodles. Pasta with cream sauce dishes (my favorite!) are notorious for being full of fat and calories (thanks to dairy products) but even cream sauces made with nuts can be up there too, but fortunately, between subbing in zucchini noodles and the fact that nuts are full of healthy fats and calcium, you don’t have to feel guilty about loading your plate with these “noodles.”

INGREDIENTS:
4-5 small to medium zucchinis
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large white onion, sliced
3 C mushrooms, sliced
Macadamia Nut Cream Sauce
1 C macadamia nuts
1 large garlic clove
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 C white wine
1/2 C water
The rest
1-2 tomatoes, diced

DIRECTIONS:
Spiralize your zucchinis into a large bowl and set aside.
Next, start the sauce by pureeing the nuts and garlic clove. While the machine is running, add the nutritional yeast, salt and pepper. Add the white wine, water and apple cider vinegar. You’ll probably need to scrape the bottom edge of the food processor bowl and continue to puree until completely smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan and heat over low heat until warm—keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn. Also, if it’s too thick, whisk in some water or vegetable broth.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onions and saute for 5-8 minutes, or until the onions are softened and browned. Add the mushrooms and cook for just a couple of minutes.

Transfer the veggies to a bowl and add the zucchini noodles to the skillet. You might want to add a tad more oil, or even some water to the skillet. Zucchini will cook pretty quickly and I recommend using tongs to turn the noodles over medium heat.
Once the noodles cook down a bit, add the mushroom and onion mixture and mix together.
You can either transfer the noodle mixture to a large bowl and coat with the sauce and serve family-style with some tomatoes on top, or create individual servings topped with a ladle of sauce and tomatoes. Enjoy!

Zucchini Noodles with a Macadamia Nut Cream Sauce

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

35 mins

These zucchini noodles make a wonderful pasta substitute with it's fresh flavor and slightly crunchy texture. This is a very easy dish to throw together and you could easily add your favorite veggies such as bell peppers or artichokes.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6

Ingredients

4-5 small to medium zucchinis
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large white onion, sliced
3 C mushrooms, sliced
.
Macadamia Nut Cream Sauce
.
1 C macadamia nuts
1 large clove garlic
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp apple cider vinegar
¼ C white wine
½ C water
.
The rest
.
1-2 tomatoes, diced

Directions

Spiralize your zucchinis into a large bowl and set aside.
Next, start the sauce by pureeing the nuts and garlic clove. While the machine is running, add the nutritional yeast, salt and pepper. Add the white wine, water and apple cider vinegar. You'll probably need to scrape the bottom edge of the food processor bowl and continue to puree until completely smooth.
Transfer to a small saucepan and heat over low heat until warm---keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn. Also, if it's too thick, whisk in some water or vegetable broth.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onions and saute for 5-8 minutes, or until the onions are softened and browned. Add the mushrooms and cook for just a couple of minutes.
Transfer the veggies to a bowl and add the zucchini noodles to the skillet. You might want to add a tad more oil, or even some water to the skillet. Zucchini will cook pretty quickly and I recommend using tongs to turn the noodles over medium heat.
Once the noodles cook down a bit, add the mushroom and onion mixture and mix together.
You can either transfer the noodle mixture to a large bowl and coat with the sauce and serve family-style with some tomatoes on top, or create individual servings topped with a ladle of sauce and tomatoes. Enjoy!

Lemon Garlic Orzo with Fresh Veggies {Gluten-Free}

July 22, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

This amazing dish will be ready in less than 30 minutes but will taste like you spent a good hour on it. I came across Viviana Foods gluten-free & vegan lemon garlic orzo and it looked pretty interesting, so I thought I’d give it shot.
The orzo is ready in about 7 minutes and all I had to do was just had to chop some veggies and herbs and saute some for just a few minutes. The flavor is fantastic; I only seasoned it with a tiny bit of salt and pepper. The only downside is that the orzo costs around $7! Yeah, it was a splurge. I guess I was so drawn to the cute little package. So it may not be something I’d buy on a regular basis, but it really was tasty!

INGREDIENTS:
1 8-oz pkg. Viviana Lemon Garlic Orzo
1 tsp olive oil
2 C mushrooms, sliced
1/2 C green onion, sliced
3/4 C fresh basil, chopped
1 C cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Cook the pasta in boiling water for 6-9 minutes. Test it for doneness. You’ll want to use a fine mesh strainer to drain the orzo, otherwise you’ll pretty much lose most of it down the drain. Rinse with hot water and return to the pan.

While it’s cooking, however, heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the mushrooms and green onion. Saute over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes—just until the mushrooms start to cook down. Fold the mushrooms and green onions into the orzo and season with salt and pepper. Top individual servings with some basil and tomatoes. Enjoy!

Lemon Garlic Orzo with Fresh Veggies {Gluten-Free}

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 3

Ingredients

1 8-oz pkg. Viviana Lemon Garlic Orzo
1 tsp olive oil
2 C mushrooms, sliced
½ C green onion, sliced
¾ C fresh basil, chopped
1 C cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
Salt and pepper

Directions

Cook the pasta in boiling water for 6-9 minutes. Test it for doneness. You'll want to use a fine mesh strainer to drain the orzo, otherwise you'll pretty much lose most of it down the drain. Rinse with hot water and return to the pan.
While it's cooking, however, heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the mushrooms and green onion. Saute over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes---just until the mushrooms start to cook down.
Fold the mushrooms and green onions into the orzo and season with salt and pepper.
Top individual servings with some basil and tomatoes. Enjoy!

Vegan & Gluten-Free Lasagna

July 7, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

I’ve had some rice lasagna noodles sitting in the cupboard for quite a while, so I thought I’d finally give them a try. They are from Ener-G (which strangely, I couldn’t find on their website). I was really impressed with them. You can use your favorite ingredients, but I went with tofu ricotta, mushrooms, spinach and Field Roast (which isn’t gluten-free, so omit for a 100% gluten-free dish). The noddles are the perfect size for an 8×8″ pan, so great for a small batch. I also recommend cooking them until they are completely done. Typically, when I make lasagna with regular noodles, I don’t cook them all the way because they tend to cook more in the sauce in the oven. These rice noodles, however, don’t do that, so make sure you cook them completely. I also usually add 2-3 extra ones in case any of the noodles come out ripped and unusable. I would certainly use these gluten-free noodles again—I thought they tasted great.

Vegan & Gluten-Free Lasagna

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

50 mins

You can use your favorite ingredients, but I went with tofu ricotta, mushrooms, spinach and Field Roast (which isn't gluten-free, so omit for a 100% gluten-free dish). The noddles are the perfect size for an 8x8" pan, so great for a small batch. I also recommend cooking them until they are completely done. Typically, when I make lasagna with regular noodles, I don't cook them all the way because they tend to cook more in the sauce in the oven. These rice noodles, however, don't do that, so make sure you cook them completely. I also usually add 2-3 extra ones in case any of the noodles come out ripped and unusable. I would certainly use these gluten-free noodles again---I thought they tasted great.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 9 servings

Ingredients

12 Ener-G rice noodles (If you'd like, add 2 more if any rip during the boiling process)
2 Field Roast sausage links, crumbled (I used Apple-Sage flavor--again, omit if you want this 100% gluten-free)
2 C mushrooms, sliced
2 C fresh spinach, chopped
1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jar marinara sauce
.
Tofu Ricotta
.
14-oz container extra firm tofu, drained, pressed and crumbled
1 tsp basil
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp black pepper
⅓ C nutritional yeast
2 Tbs lemon juice
Optional: ½ C Daiya Mozzarella shreds

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.
Cook pasta according to package instructions (about 10-12 minutes).
Prepare the ricotta by placing all of the ingredients, except the Daiya cheese, in the food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the cheese. Set aside.
Saute the Field Roast in the olive oil and garlic on medium heat for 5-7 minutes.
To assemble, pour about a cup of the marinara on the bottom of an 8x8" baking pan and top with three cooked noodles. Layer on some mushrooms, spinach and Field Roast. You can also spoon a little sauce on top.
Repeat layers until you've topped the lasagna with the final three noodles.
Pour the rest of the sauce on top.
Cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Slice and enjoy!

Vegan & Gluten-Free Mini Quiches

January 21, 2014 by epicureanvegan

I’ve been wanting to figure out how to make vegan mini quiches for a while now, but I wasn’t sure where to start. Do I use tofu? Flour? Wave a magic wand? Well, when I came across this recipe, I knew my search was over. I only made one modification and that was to add the veggies to the batter instead of just topping the batter with them. Doing so, will give you about 4 more quiches (16 instead of 12) unless . . . you have a larger muffin tin like I do—you’ll just get 12 larger quiches. Otherwise, you could add your veggies just to the tops. I was thoroughly impressed with these. They taste like a cross between an actual egg-y quiche and a biscuit. They’re packed with protein and make a great quick breakfast on the go—just zap in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and you’re good to go. (These are especially ideal for a post-workout snack.) Also, think about making these in tart pans, ramekins, or other small dishes for various presentations.

INGREDIENTS:
2-1/2 C garbanzo/chickpea flour (I also had some garbanzo & flava flour mix that worked great, too)
3 C cold, filtered water
3 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp salt
Cooking spray
Veggies/toppings: Use your favorites, but I like to use 1-1/2 to 2 cups of chopped . . . spinach, tomato, mushrooms, green onion, cilantro
Other options: veggie bacon or ham, bell pepper, sauteed garlic, olives, broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, basil, Swiss chard, shredded (and squeezed dry) zucchini, peas, . . . the list is endless. (My favorites are mushrooms, onion, and kalamata olives along with some dried rosemary, thyme, and garlic. YUM!)
Note: I used sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil) in a batch and I recommend easing up on the oil in the batter by at least a tablespoon.
Also, throw in some chia seeds. Pepitas or sunflower seeds would also be great additions. I also sometimes add some seasonings or herbs such as thyme, basil, or garlic powder for some extra flavor.

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 500 and lightly spray the muffin tins. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, water, oil, and salt. Be sure to whisk until all the lumps are gone and you have a smooth batter. You can then pour the batter evenly among 12 muffin cups and just add your veggies to the top, OR (as I would recommend) add the veggies to the batter.

Fill the muffin tins . . . Bake for 14 minutes, then crack the oven door slightly, and cook another 11 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes or so, and remove with a knife. Enjoy!

Vegan & Gluten-Free Mini Quiches

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

30 mins

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 12-16

Ingredients

2-1/2 C garbanzo/chickpea flour (I also had some garbanzo & flava flour mix that worked great, too)
3 C cold, filtered water
3 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp salt
Cooking spray
Veggies/toppings: Use your favorites, but I like to use 1-1/2 to 2 cups of chopped . . . spinach, tomato, mushrooms, green onion, cilantro.
Other options: veggie bacon or ham, bell pepper, sauteed garlic, broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, basil, Swiss chard, shredded (and squeezed dry) zucchini, peas, . . . the list is endless. (My favorites are mushrooms, onion, and kalamata olives along with some dried rosemary, thyme, and garlic. YUM!)
Note: I used sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil) in a batch and I recommend easing up on the oil in the batter by at least a tablespoon.
Also, throw in some chia seeds. Pepitas or sunflower seeds would also be great additions. I also sometimes add some seasonings or herbs such as thyme, basil, or garlic powder for some extra flavor.

Directions

Preheat oven to 500 and lightly spray the muffin tins.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, water, oil, and salt. Be sure to whisk until all the lumps are gone and you have a smooth batter. You can then pour the batter evenly among 12 muffin cups and just add your veggies to the top, OR (as I would recommend) add the veggies to the batter.
Fill the muffin tins.
Bake for 14 minutes, then crack the oven door slightly, and cook another 11 minutes.
Let cool 5 minutes or so, and remove with a knife. Enjoy!

Quinoa-Rice Salad with Tempeh and “Feta”

July 5, 2013 by epicureanvegan

We had a fabulous July 4th holiday feast with great friends and family. Our friends made these incredible grilled vegetable sandwiches and an outstanding gazpacho! (recipe soon to come, for sure).

Cold quinoa and/or rice salads tend to be ideal for outdoor get togethers, plus, being vegan AND gluten-free, makes it so everyone can enjoy. Granted, there was a lot of prep work for this salad, but you can save yourself some time by making certain things ahead of time. I love the different flavors in this salad, as well as the crunch from the nuts. I made quite a big batch, so feel free to halve the recipe for a smaller crowd.

INGREDIENTS:

Salad:
2 C wild rice mix (cooked in 2-1/4 C vegetable broth)
1 C quinoa (cooked in 1-1/4 C vegetable broth)
1-1/2 C dried apricots, diced
1-1/2 C toasted nuts, chopped (I used walnuts and pecans, but I think pepitas and almond slivers would be great too)
1 C fresh parsley, chopped
Tempeh + marinade:
8-oz pkg. tempeh, cut into small cubes
1/4 C tamari
1 Tbs vegan Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
Tofu “feta”: (adapted)
1 14-oz pkg extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
1/4 C cashews
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp yellow or mellow miso
2 Tbs reserved marinade (below)
Marinade:
3 Tbs lemon juice
5 Tbs white wine vinegar
1-1/2 Tbs yellow or mellow miso
1 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
Dressing:
1/2 C lime juice
4 Tbs red wine vinegar
4 Tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
I recommend making the feta and marinating the tempeh ahead of time, even a day or two ahead if you can. I didn’t, and I think the salad still turned out great, but it’ll bring out the flavors even more. We’ll start with the feta.

Slice the tofu into 1/2″ slabs and place into a large dish. Whisk together the feta marinade and coat the tofu thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for several hours, or preferably over a night or two. Next, blend the cashews, olive oil, miso, and reserved marinade. I used my blender, but I couldn’t get a smooth consistency, so I transferred the mixture to a mortar and pestle, to mash it up even more.

Crumble up the tofu with your fingers, then add the cashew mixture; combine well. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container.
To make the tempeh, combine all of the marinade ingredients in a medium zip bag and add the tempeh. Let it marinade for several hours to overnight.

When ready, heat a tiny bit of olive oil to a small skillet and add the tempeh. Saute over medium heat until the tempeh has crispy edges.

Meanwhile, cook the rice and quinoa (separately) according to package instructions. I tend to use veggie broth for added flavor. I also used what quinoa I had: some red, some regular.

Combine the two in a large bowl and refrigerate until cooled. (Be sure to place a hot pad or trivet underneath the bowl when placing directly onto a cold, glass refrigerator shelf.) Once cooled, fold in all of the ingredients: nuts, feta, parsley, tempeh, and apricots. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour over the salad; fold gently to incorporate everything. Enjoy!

Quinoa-Rice Salad with Tempeh and "Feta"

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

Salad:
2 C wild rice mix (cooked in 2-1/4 C vegetable broth)
1 C quinoa (cooked in 1-1/4 C vegetable broth)
1-1/2 C dried apricots, diced
1-1/2 C toasted nuts, chopped (I used walnuts and pecans, but I think pepitas and almond slivers would be great too)
1 C fresh parsley, chopped
Tempeh + marinade:
8-oz pkg. tempeh, cut into small cubes
¼ C tamari
1 Tbs vegan Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt
1 tsp brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
Tofu "feta": (adapted)
1 14-oz pkg extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
¼ C cashews
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp yellow or mellow miso
2 Tbs reserved marinade (below)
Marinade:
3 Tbs lemon juice
5 Tbs white wine vinegar
1-1/2 Tbs yellow or mellow miso
1 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
Dressing:
½ C lime juice
4 Tbs red wine vinegar
4 Tbs olive oil
½ tsp salt

Directions

I recommend making the feta and marinating the tempeh ahead of time, even a day or two ahead if you can. I didn't, and I think the salad still turned out great, but it'll bring out the flavors even more. We'll start with the feta.
Slice the tofu into ½" slabs and place into a large dish. Whisk together the feta marinade and coat the tofu thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for several hours, or preferably over a night or two. Next, blend the cashews, olive oil, miso, and reserved marinade. I used my blender, but I couldn't get a smooth consistency, so I transferred the mixture to a mortar and pestle, to mash it up even more.
Crumble up the tofu with your fingers, then add the cashew mixture; combine well. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container.
To make the tempeh, combine all of the marinade ingredients in a medium zip bag and add the tempeh. Let it marinade for several hours to overnight.
When ready, heat a tiny bit of olive oil to a small skillet and add the tempeh. Saute over medium heat until the tempeh has crispy edges.
Meanwhile, cook the rice and quinoa (separately) according to package instructions. I tend to use veggie broth for added flavor. I also used what quinoa I had: some red, some regular.
Combine the two in a large bowl and refrigerate until cooled. (Be sure to place a hot pad or trivet underneath the bowl when placing directly onto a cold, glass refrigerator shelf.) Once cooled, fold in all of the ingredients: nuts, feta, parsley, tempeh, and apricots. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour over the salad; fold gently to incorporate everything. Enjoy!

Polenta Marsala

July 2, 2013 by epicureanvegan

It’s great to be back with a new recipe! I haven’t worked with polenta much, so I decided to take the easy route and use the pre-cooked version.

It’s great when you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Having always liked Marsala-anything, I wanted to give it a try with polenta, another new favorite around here. The recipe calls for flour, but feel free to make this meal gluten-free by using another type of flour, such as rice flour. The Husband called this “f***ing brilliant.” Need I say more?

INGREDIENTS:

1-18 oz tube of pre-cooked polenta (I used the basil garlic variety)
1-2 Tbs olive oil
2 C mushrooms, sliced (I recommend cremini or baby portobello)
1/2 C green onion, sliced
3 Tbs Earth Balance
1/4 C flour, any variety
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 to 1-1/4 C vegetable broth
1/4 C Marsala cooking wine

DIRECTIONS:
Slice the polenta into about 18-19 slices.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, marjoram, and pepper; set aside. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the polenta slices. You may have to do a couple of batches, like I did. Brown the polenta, about 5-7 minutes on each side.

Once they are all browned, set aside. Wipe out the skillet and add the Earth Balance. After it melts, whisk in the flour mixture. Over medium heat, add the broth and Marsala, little by little, continually whisking until it’s smooth. You may have some extra broth leftover at this point, but hang onto it in case you need to thin the sauce out more later. Add the mushrooms and green onion, and mix together. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mushrooms cook down a little. You may need to add a little more broth to thin the sauce.

Add the polenta slices to the pan and carefully fold them into the sauce. Simmer on low until the slices are heated through again. Enjoy!

Polenta Marsala

It's great when you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Having always liked Marsala-anything, I wanted to give it a try with polenta, another new favorite around here. The recipe calls for flour, but feel free to make this meal gluten-free by using another type of flour, such as rice flour. The Husband called this "f***ing brilliant." Need I say more?

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1-18 oz tube of pre-cooked polenta (I used the basil garlic variety)
1-2 Tbs olive oil
2 C mushrooms, sliced (I recommend cremini or baby portobello)
½ C green onion, sliced
3 Tbs Earth Balance
¼ C flour, any variety
½ tsp marjoram
¼ tsp black pepper
1 to 1-1/4 C vegetable broth
¼ C Marsala cooking wine

Directions

Slice the polenta into about 18-19 slices.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, marjoram, and pepper; set aside. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the polenta slices. You may have to do a couple of batches, like I did. Brown the polenta, about 5-7 minutes on each side.
Once they are all browned, set aside. Wipe out the skillet and add the Earth Balance. After it melts, whisk in the flour mixture. Over medium heat, add the broth and Marsala, little by little, continually whisking until it's smooth. You may have some extra broth leftover at this point, but hang onto it in case you need to thin the sauce out more later. Add the mushrooms and green onion, and mix together. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mushrooms cook down a little. You may need to add a little more broth to thin the sauce.
Add the polenta slices to the pan and carefully fold them into the sauce. Simmer on low until the slices are heated through again. Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Burrito Bowls with Avocado-Lime Rice

April 5, 2013 by epicureanvegan

This is my new favorite versatile meal. I saw this recipe for the avocado rice, where they also suggested making burrito bowls using it. Obviously, I wasn’t keen on their meat and dairy version, so I made my own, healthier ones. I also made some changes to the rice recipe by using this awesome rice from Lundberg. The guys tend to be white rice kind of men, but there were no complaints! It’s a blend of sweet brown rice, short grain brown rice, long grain brown rice, whole grain Wehani (brand) rice, whole grain black Japonica (brand) rice.

And I have to mention the quite ingenious Velcro re-closeable bag!

This is such a fresh, simple, and healthy meal where everyone in the family can create their own with their favorite fresh ingredients. Now, my new favorite ingredient . . . is this tri-bean blend. Organic and on sale for $1 a can! Love these. Packed with protein and fiber.

So, on to the recipe!

INGREDIENTS: (Makes 6 bowls)
Rice:
3-1/2 C water
2 C Lundberg Jubilee rice
2 avocados, mashed
1/2 C cilantro, chopped
zest and juice from one lime
The beans:
3 cans tri-bean blend (black bean, pinto, and kidney)
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp Ancho Chili pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 C water
The rest (toppings):
Green onion, sliced
Tomato, diced
Daiya cheese
Sour cream
Lettuce, chopped
Salsa
Corn tortilla crunchies/chips

DIRECTIONS:
The rice will take 35-40 minutes, so you’ll want to get that started first. Bring the 3-1/2 cups of water to a boil, add the rice, stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Check after 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small to medium saucepan, add the beans, seasonings, and water. Heat on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

When the rice is done, stir in the mashed avocados, cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice.

Fill a bowl with about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of the avocado rice . . .

. . . layer on some beans and toppings and enjoy!

Gluten-Free Burrito Bowls with Avocado-Lime Rice

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 3

Ingredients

Rice:
3-1/2 C water
2 C Lundberg Jubilee rice
2 avocados, mashed
½ C cilantro, chopped
zest and juice from one lime
The beans:
3 cans tri-bean blend (black bean, pinto, and kidney)
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp Ancho Chili pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
⅓ C water
The rest (toppings):
Green onion, sliced
Tomato, diced
Daiya cheese
Sour cream
Lettuce, chopped
Salsa
Corn tortilla crunchies/chips

Directions

The rice will take 35-40 minutes, so you'll want to get that started first. Bring the 3-1/2 cups of water to a boil, add the rice, stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Check after 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small to medium saucepan, add the beans, seasonings, and water. Heat on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
When the rice is done, stir in the mashed avocados, cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice.
Fill a bowl with about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of the avocado rice and layer on some beans and toppings and enjoy!

Vegan & Gluten-Free Falafel with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce

Slow Cooker Mexican Quinoa & Black Beans

Black Rice & Lentil Thai Bowls with Cashew-Coconut Curry Sauce

Zucchini Noodles with a Macadamia Nut Cream Sauce

Lemon Garlic Orzo with Fresh Veggies {Gluten-Free}

Vegan & Gluten-Free Lasagna

Vegan & Gluten-Free Mini Quiches

Quinoa-Rice Salad with Tempeh and “Feta”

Polenta Marsala

Gluten-Free Burrito Bowls with Avocado-Lime Rice

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