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Loaded Baked Potatoes

January 20, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Loaded Baked Potatoes -- Epicurean VeganThese loaded baked potatoes are new favorite at our house. They’re so easy to make and you can play with the toppings to change them up. I went pretty unconventional by topping these with kale chips and a delicious cilantro cashew cream that is to die for. I also topped them with a “Parmesan” from Oh She Glows, which is ideal for salads or pasta dishes, too. You can’t see them in the picture, but there’s diced tomato, green onion, and avocado on these as well. These make a great weekday meal when you don’t have a ton of time, although, they might become a weekend favorite, too!

INGREDIENTS:
6 large russet potatoes
1-2 large avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
1-2 large tomato, diced
1 C green onion, sliced
Tofutti sour cream (optional)
5 C kale, torn into pieces
Olive oil
Salt
Cilantro-Cashew Cream
1 C unsalted cashews
3/4 C cold water
1 garlic clove
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C fresh cilantro
3/4 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
Nut and Seed Parmesan (from Oh She Glows)
1/4 cup raw cashews
1 tablespoon raw sesame seeds
2 tablespoons hulled hemp seeds
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
fine grain sea salt, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425. I prepared everything and then nuked the potatoes because it just seemed easiest that way. First, place the cashews in a bowl and pour boiling water over them; set aside. (You’ll prepare the rest of the sauce last). To make the Parmesan, place all of the ingredients in a food processor and grind to a fine crumble. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Nut and Seed ParmesanNext, to prepare the kale chips, place the kale in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Using your hands, massage the oil onto the kale leaves. Transfer to a baking dish and set aside.
Kale ChipsI then microwaved the potatoes. Stick each one several times with a fork first, then nuke. (I used the potato setting), so about 5 minutes, then turn and another 5 minutes. During the first five minutes, prepare the cashew sauce: Drain the cashews and place in a food processor along with all of the other ingredients; puree 2-3 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl a few times.
Loaded Baked Potatoes, Cilantro-Cashew Cream -- Epicurean VeganUsing a funnel, I poured the sauce into a squeeze bottle.
During the last five minutes of potato cooking, place the kale chips in the preheated oven. Keep an eye on them so they don’t turn black—they’ll shrivel up, but still have bright green spots. Let them bake 4-5 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle with salt.

To assemble, cut each potato in half and top with sour cream (if using), tomato, avocado, green onion, cilantro-cashew cream, crumbled kale chips, and finally, the nut and seed Parmesan mixture. So good! Enjoy!

Loaded Baked Potatoes
 
Print
Prep time
20 mins
Cook time
10 mins
Total time
30 mins
 
These loaded baked potatoes are new favorite at our house. They're so easy to make and you can play with the toppings to change them up. I went pretty unconventional by topping these with kale chips and a delicious cilantro cashew cream that is to die for. I also topped them with a "Parmesan" from Oh She Glows, which is ideal for salads or pasta dishes, too. You can't see them in the picture, but there's diced tomato, green onion, and avocado on these as well. These make a great weekday meal when you don't have a ton of time, although, they might become a weekend favorite, too!
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 6 large russet potatoes
  • 1-2 large avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
  • 1-2 large tomato, diced
  • 1 C green onion, sliced
  • Tofutti sour cream (optional)
  • 5 C kale, torn into pieces
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • .
  • Cilantro-Cashew Cream
  • .
  • 1 C unsalted cashews
  • ¾ C cold water
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ C fresh cilantro
  • ¾ tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • .
  • Nut and Seed Parmesan (from Oh She Glows)1/4 cup raw cashews
  • .
  • 1 tablespoon raw sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons hulled hemp seeds
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • fine grain sea salt, to taste
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425. I prepared everything and then nuked the potatoes because it just seemed easiest that way. First, place the cashews in a bowl and pour boiling water over them; set aside. (You'll prepare the rest of the sauce last).
  2. To make the Parmesan, place all of the ingredients in a food processor and grind to a fine crumble. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  3. Next, to prepare the kale chips, place the kale in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Using your hands, massage the oil onto the kale leaves. Transfer to a baking dish and set aside.
  4. I then microwaved the potatoes. Stick each one several times with a fork first, then nuke. (I used the potato setting), so about 5 minutes, then turn and another 5 minutes.
  5. During the first five minutes, prepare the cashew sauce: Drain the cashews and place in a food processor with the garlic. Puree for 30 seconds. Add all of the other ingredients and puree 2-3 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl a few times.Using a funnel, I poured the sauce into a squeeze bottle.
  6. During the last five minutes of potato cooking, place the kale chips in the preheated oven. Keep an eye on them so they don't turn black---they'll shrivel up, but still have bright green spots. Let them bake 4-5 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle with salt.
  7. To assemble, cut each potato in half and top with sour cream (if using), tomato, avocado, green onion, cilantro-cashew cream, crumbled kale chips, and finally, the nut and seed Parmesan mixture. So good! Enjoy!
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Filed Under: Dinners Tagged With: avocado, baked potatoes, cashew cream, cilantro, fast and easy, green onion, kid-friendly, loaded baked potatoes, tomatoes, toppings, vegan Parmesan

Pasta with Cashew Cream & Cheese

July 30, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

Pasta with Cashew Cream and Cheese -- Epicurean Vegan(Unfortunately) most of us probably grew up on the boxed mac and cheese stuff, and likely, so have our kids. And kids like their mac and cheese. Instead of giving them that nasty, chemical-filled boxed junk, try making this kid-pleasing version using grated vegan cheese and cashew cream. Not only is it creamy, but it actually tastes cheesy and pretty darn delicious. While this may not top the list of the most healthiest vegan dishes, it’s miles from the fat-laden dairy version. Cashews are loaded with heart-protective monosaturated fats, antioxidants, calcium and protein. You can use your favorite vegan cheddar such as Daiya, Follow Your Heart or even make your own. This is also an easy recipe that your kiddos can help out with too!

INGREDIENTS:
16-oz uncooked pasta, such as elbows, shells or spirals
1 to 1-1/4 C vegetable broth (it just depends on how thick you want it)
4-oz vegan cheddar, shredded (I used Follow Your Heart brand)
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1 C cashews, soaked for at least an hour in hot water (if you can; no biggie if you can’t soak them)
1/2 C water
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
2 dashes of nutmeg
Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional ingredients: sneak in those veggies by adding peas, carrots or broccoli. Or spice it up with green chilies or salsa.

Pasta with Cashew Cream and Cheese -- Epicurean Vegan

DIRECTIONS:
Cook the pasta according to package instruction, or until al dente. Meanwhile, make the cashew cream. If you soaked the cashews, drain them and transfer to a food processor. Puree until finely ground, scraping the sides of processor bowl if necessary. Add the water, apple cider vinegar and salt. Puree 2 minutes, or until smooth. Drain the pasta, then return it to the pot. Over medium-low heat, fold in the grated cheese,  cashew cream, broth and nutritional yeast. Combine well and continue to stir until the cheese is completely melted. Season with the nutmeg, salt and pepper. If using, add the optional ingredients and stir until heated through. Enjoy!

Pasta with Cashew Cream & Cheese
 
Print
Prep time
5 mins
Cook time
15 mins
Total time
20 mins
 
(Unfortunately) most of us probably grew up on the boxed mac and cheese stuff, and likely, so have our kids. And kids like their mac and cheese. Instead of giving them that nasty, chemical-filled boxed junk, try making this kid-pleasing version using grated vegan cheese and cashew cream. Not only is it creamy, but it actually tastes cheesy and pretty darn delicious. While this may not top the list of the most healthiest vegan dishes, it's miles from the fat-laden dairy version. Cashews are loaded with heart-protective monosaturated fats, antioxidants, calcium and protein. You can use your favorite vegan cheddar such as Daiya, Follow Your Heart or even make your own. This is also an easy recipe that your kiddos can help out with too!
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 16-oz uncooked pasta, such as elbows, shells or spirals
  • 1 to 1-1/4 C vegetable broth (it just depends on how thick you want it)
  • 4-oz vegan cheddar, shredded (I used Follow Your Heart brand)
  • ⅓ C nutritional yeast
  • 1 C cashews, soaked for at least an hour in hot water (if you can; no biggie if you can't soak them)
  • ½ C water
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 dashes of nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional ingredients: sneak in those veggies by adding peas, carrots or broccoli. Or spice it up with green chilies or salsa.
Directions
  1. Cook the pasta according to package instruction, or until al dente. Meanwhile, make the cashew cream. If you soaked the cashews, drain them and transfer to a food processor. Puree until finely ground, scraping the sides of processor bowl if necessary. Add the water, apple cider vinegar and salt. Puree 2 minutes, or until smooth.
  2. Drain the pasta, then return it to the pot. Over medium-low heat, fold in the grated cheese, cashew cream, broth and nutritional yeast. Combine well and continue to stir until the cheese is completely melted.
  3. Season with the nutmeg, salt and pepper. If using, add the optional ingredients and stir until heated through. Enjoy!
3.4.3177

 

 

 

Filed Under: Dinners, Lunches Tagged With: cashew cream, cashews, comfort food, creamy, fast and easy, Follow Your Heart, kid-friendly, Pasta, vegan mac and cheese

Experimenting with Ramen: Let Junior Cook

August 17, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Experimenting with Ramen: Let Junior Cook -- Epicurean VeganThe Seventh Grader loves to cook. He’ll help me out in the kitchen whenever possible and makes some pretty darn good chocolate chip cookies! There are times, however, when he wants to create something for lunch and be the master of kitchen without me hovering over him. In comes Top Ramen and Maruchan Ramen. Ask any college student (or any one who spent a few semesters in a dorm) and they’ll tell you that Top Ramen accounted for about 60% of their diet (along with beer, Lucky Charms and Totino’s pizzas). At 19 cents a package, Top Ramen is a mainstay for those on a tight budget.

The spice packets that come with the noodles are not vegan, but who needs them? This has prompted the Seventh Grader to come up with his own ramen meals. The variations are endless. Today, I took some pics of his cooking and I thought I’d pass along his recipe of the day. He didn’t really measure the ingredients, but that’s the fun of winging it. So if you have middle schoolers at home, this is a fabulous way to give them some freedom and independence in the kitchen. I also think it’s imperative to teach boys how to cook . . . girls dig a guy who can cook.

INGREDIENTS: (serves 2)
2 packages Oriental Top Ramen
Tamari
black pepper
garlic salt
cayenne pepper
olive oil
Optional ingredients: green onion, minced garlic, mushrooms, red bell pepper

DIRECTIONS:
After adding the noodles to boiling water, he added some tamari, then continued to cook for 3-4 minutes. He drained the noodles, but reserved some of the cooking water because The Husband likes his with some broth. In a large skillet, he heated about a tablespoon of oil and then added the noodles. He added some water once the noodles started to get dried and sticky. This created more of a sauce. Add the spices here, too.

Experimenting with Ramen: Let Junior Cook -- Epicurean Vegan

Once the noodles begin to get a bit crispy, he separated them into two bowls, adding the reserved broth to one.

Experimenting with Ramen: Let Junior Cook -- Epicurean Vegan

Enjoy! (and of course, use chopsticks!)

Experimenting with Ramen: Let Junior Cook -- Epicurean Vegan

Filed Under: Lunches Tagged With: cook with kids, fast and easy, kid-friendly, Ramen, tamari, Top Ramen

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The Epicurean Vegan is devoted to those wanting to eat healthy, save animals, and reduce their carbon footprint. My decision to go vegan started out as a quest to get healthier, but the more I learned about veganism, the more I realized how damaging the meat and dairy industries are to the environment and, of course, the animals. And it is for these reasons, that I would never go back to eating or wearing animal products. Ever.
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