salad Archives - Epicurean Vegan

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

May 22, 2020 by Epicurean Vegan

Let’s see if I can do this blogging thing again . . . after all, it’s been nearly 2-1/2 years since I’ve posted a recipe. Sorry for the long absence; life got busy, I suppose. To update you, we moved from Colorado to Brooklyn in March of last year, the twenty-one-year-old just finished his junior year of college, and we hit our ten-year vegan (and blog)-versary in January. So now you’re pretty much caught up.

Being stuck at home because of the pandemic, I’ve found myself cooking a lot more recently (I mean, come on, it’s NYC–we were definitely eating out more). I’ve also been trying to master the art of cooking for two, which has proved difficult for me, but I’m learning.

I decided to come out of hiding and share this recipe with you because we have been living off of it. It’s so damn good! It’s great by itself, but even better in a wrap with some hummus. Plus, it’s one of those salads that can be made with all kinds of ingredients, but these are certainly my favorites. It’s the perfect lunch, but also ideal after a workout since it’s packed with a nice mix of protein and carbs. Between The Husband and me, it lasts about four days and then it’s time for another batch. I love having something in the fridge that’s ready-to-go so I can get on with my day–which I guess right now, isn’t much, but it fills me up so I don’t find myself sitting around thinking I’m hungry, when I’m really just bored. Anyway, I think you’ll love it.

Other ingredient options: celery, capers, tomato, cucumber, pepitas, artichokes.
Serve with: tortillas (or pitas), and hummus.

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

A flavorful, carb- and protein-packed salad that is perfect for lunch or as a side dish. It's super versatile, so add your other favorite ingredients such as cucumber, tomato, capers, or celery.

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Prep Time 30 mins

Course Salad

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 C couscous (I like the tri-color variety)
1 C vegetable broth
1/2 C red bell pepper, diced
1/2 C onion (yellow or red), diced
2 large carrots, shredded
1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 C olives (green or black), diced
1/2 C dried cranberries
1/2 C cashews, chopped
1/3 C parsley, chopped

Dressing

4 Tbs lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp yellow miso
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
6 Tbs olive oil

Instructions

Start by cooking the couscous. In a small or medium saucepan, heat the vegetable broth and add the couscous; stir to combine. Turn off the heat and cover. After about 5 minutes, fluff with a fork so that it doesn’t get too solid.
In a large bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients, including the couscous.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and combine thoroughly.

Chickpea Salad Tacos

August 2, 2017 by Epicurean Vegan

I find it’s easy to fall into a lunch rut, especially when you don’t have a lot of time to pull something together. The beauty of this salad is that you spend 20 minutes in the kitchen preparing it, but it can last you several days. (I promise you won’t get bored with it!) The chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are an excellent source of protein, so they’ll keep you going through the afternoon slump. I love crunch in my salads, so there’s plenty of that between the celery, carrots, bell pepper, and pepitas. (I had to stop myself from adding water chestnuts and/or red/purple cabbage–next time!) Lately, I’ve been buying the mini sweet peppers which are ideal for snacking, so while the recipe calls for 1/2 a red bell pepper, I used 2 of the mini peppers:

I also went for gluten-free corn tortillas instead of bread, which I think was ideal! However, feel free to enjoy this salad on any bread of your choice.

UPDATE: And for the second batch (because the first batch disappeared fast, I swapped out the carrots with the promised purple cabbage and water chestnuts. Divine)!

INGREDIENTS:
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/3 C onion, diced or minced
1/3 C carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/4-1/3 C pepitas or chopped almonds
Sauce:
1-1/2 Tbs miso + 1 Tbs water
1/2 C vegan mayo
2 Tbs Dijon mustard
1 (heaping) Tbs dill relish
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp kelp powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
The rest:
Gluten-free corn tortillas
Lettuce

DIRECTIONS:
Using a fork or pastry blender, mash the chickpeas until chunky. Add the rest of the salad ingredients.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the miso and water, then add the rest of the sauce ingredients; combine well.

Add the sauce to the chickpea mixture and stir together thoroughly. Top a tortilla with some lettuce and scoop the salad on top. Enjoy!

Chickpea Salad Tacos

Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

I find it's easy to fall into a lunch rut, especially when you don't have a lot of time to pull something together. The beauty of this salad is that you spend 20 minutes in the kitchen preparing it, but it can last you several days. (I promise you won't get bored with it!) The chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are an excellent source of protein, so they'll keep you going through the afternoon slump. I love crunch in my salads, so there's plenty of that between the celery, carrots, bell pepper, and pepitas. (I had to stop myself from adding water chestnuts and/or red/purple cabbage--next time!) Lately, I've been buying the mini sweet peppers which are ideal for snacking, so while the recipe calls for ½ a red bell pepper, I used 2 of the mini peppers. I also went for gluten-free corn tortillas instead of bread, which I think was ideal! However, feel free to enjoy this salad on any bread of your choice.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
⅓ C onion, diced or minced
⅓ C carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
½ red bell pepper, diced
¼-1/3 C pepitas or chopped almonds
Sauce:
1-1/2 Tbs miso + 1 Tbs water
½ C vegan mayo
2 Tbs Dijon mustard
1 (heaping) Tbs dill relish
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp kelp powder
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
The rest:
Gluten-free corn tortillas
Lettuce

Directions

Using a fork or pastry blender, mash the chickpeas until chunky. Add the rest of the salad ingredients.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the miso and water, then add the rest of the sauce ingredients; combine well.
Add the sauce to the chickpea mixture and stir together thoroughly. Top a tortilla with some lettuce and scoop the salad on top. Enjoy!

Seed n’ Green Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

January 8, 2017 by Epicurean Vegan

Next to summertime, I think January is high-salad time (thanks to all those New Year resolutions). I’m a salad gal all the time, but I might as well jump on the bandwagon. I could have called this something more catchy like, Grains n’ Greens, but quinoa is actually the seed that is extracted from the grain. Hence, it’s Seed n’ Green (even though I’m sure I’ve called quinoa a grain many times before). Anyway, quinoa is pretty awesome so it’s an ideal mate for salad fixings. I recommend making the quinoa ahead of time and letting it cool, but feel free to serve this salad warm.

INGREDIENTS:
1 C quinoa
2 C broth or water
6 C baby spinach
1 14-oz can sliced green olives
1 avocado, diced
Pepitas
Lemon-Tahini Dressing
2 Tbs tahini
1 Tbs red miso
1/8 C nutritional yeast
1/8 C lemon juice
1 Tbs chia seeds
1/4 C water (more for thinning out, if necessary)
1/8 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Combine the quinoa and broth or water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed. I then transferred the quinoa to a bowl and chilled it in the fridge, uncovered, for about 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, to make the dressing, combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a mason jar or other glass container. Store in the fridge until ready to use. Depending on how long it sits, the chia seeds will thicken the dressing up, so if you want a thinner dressing, whisk in a tad of water.

To make the salad, start with some spinach, then add a scoop or two of quinoa. Top with olives, avocado, pepitas and dressing. Enjoy!

Seed n' Green Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

Next to summertime, I think January is high-salad time---thanks to all those New Year resolutions. I'm a salad gal all the time, but I might as well jump on the bandwagon. I could have called this something more catchy like, Grains n' Greens, but quinoa is actually the seed that is extracted from the grain. Hence, it's Seed n' Green (even though I'm sure I've called quinoa a grain many times before. Anyway, quinoa is pretty awesome so it's an ideal mate for salad fixings. I recommend making the quinoa ahead of time and letting it cool, but feel free to serve this salad warm.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 C quinoa
2 C broth or water
6 C baby spinach
1 14-oz can sliced green olives
1 avocado, diced
Pepitas
Lemon-Tahini Dressing
2 Tbs tahini
1 Tbs red miso
⅛ C nutritional yeast
⅛ C lemon juice
1 Tbs chia seeds
¼ C water (more for thinning out, if necessary)
⅛ tsp black pepper

Directions

Combine the quinoa and broth or water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed.
I then transferred to a bowl and chilled in the fridge, uncovered, for about 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, to make the dressing, combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a mason jar or other glass container. Store in the fridge until ready to use. Depending on how long it sits, the chia seeds will thicken the dressing up, so if you want a thinner dressing, whisk in a tad of water.
To make the salad, start with some spinach, then add a scoop or two of quinoa. Top with olives, avocado, pepitas and dressing. Enjoy!

A Spectacular Superfood Salad

June 26, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

So what’s a superfood, you might ask? Well, according to the online dictionary, it’s “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” That sounds about right. Chances are, your fridge and pantry are stocked with these very ingredients and a salad is a great way to make the most of them—all in one bite. You won’t find meat and dairy labeled as superfoods. Ever. (Okay, some people consider salmon a superfood, but it’s really the omegas they’re after, which are readily found in plant foods). I made a very light dressing to coat the salad, also packed with immune-boosting deliciousness, so dig in and feel super energized, super healthy, and super happy with this spectacular superfood salad!

The super benefits:

Kale: high in fiber, iron, Vitamin K, C, and A; an anti-inflammatory food, supports cardiovascular health and is full of antioxidants.
Spinach: high in Vitamin A, K, D and E; good source of omega-3 fatty acids, loaded with antioxidants (fights cancer & inflammation), rich in calcium and magnesium, as well as carotenoids for eye health.
Pepitas (pumpkin seeds): high in magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber and anti-inflammatory properties. They’re also high in tryptophan—you know, the “sleep hormone” found in turkey? Sprinkle some pepitas on your next Thanksgiving dish and enjoy the same post-meal nap without the dead bird.
Walnuts: cancer-fighting properties, heart health benefits, extremely high in antioxidants, as well as Vitamin E, folate, melatonin and omega-3 fatty acids.
Red onion: high in quercetin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
Blueberries: said to help with memory decline, reduce heart attack risk, and are full of antioxidants. Also high in Vitamin K, manganese and fiber.
Chia seeds: high in protein, fiber, phosphorus, manganese, calcium and potassium. They also contain healthy antioxidants and are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas): high in fiber, protein, manganese, and iron. They can also stabilize blood sugar and help lower one’s cholesterol.

A Spectacular Superfood Salad

Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Recipe type: Salad

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

2 heads of kale, stems removed and discarded, leaves chopped small
3 C spinach, chopped small
2 C fresh or dried blueberries
1 C red onion, diced small
1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
½ C pepitas
1 C walnuts, chopped
.
Dressing
.
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbs yellow miso
1 Tbs tahini
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 T lemon juice
½ tsp chia seeds
¼ C water

Directions

Toss all of the salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Let the dressing sit about 10 minutes to allow the chia seeds to thicken the dressing just a bit.
Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat thoroughly. 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!

Cinnamon-Soaked Wheat Berry Salad

November 25, 2012 by epicureanvegan

I’ve never had anything with wheat berries in it . . . at least I don’t think so. I had bought a bag a while ago for another recipe (that I can’t even remember now) and so when I saw this recipe in Vegetarian Times, I decided to give it a try. Wheat berries refer to the entire kernel, or whole grain form of the wheat. They’re a great source of fiber and are used in breads, pilaf mixes, stir-fry . . . you name it. It usually needs to be soaked for several hours ahead of time, so keep that in mind, otherwise, they’ll take forever to cook! This salad is delicious warm or cold and was great as a side dish for Thanksgiving.

INGREDIENTS:
Salad
1 C wheat berries
1 2″ cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp salt
3 med carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4″ dice
1 heaping cup thinly sliced apricots
1/2 C toasted slivered almonds
6 Tbs chopped cilantro
Dressing
3 Tbs apple cider vinegar
3 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:
Soak the wheat berries and cinnamon stick in 3 cups of water for 8 hours or overnight. I didn’t have any cinnamon sticks, so I added a dash or two of cinnamon later on. Transfer the wheat berries and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. (This is where I added the cinnamon.)

Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for an hour. Drain any leftover liquid and remove cinnamon stick. In a small saucepan, blanch the carrots, then drain. Toss the carrots with the wheat berries, apricots, almonds, and cilantro.

For the dressing, blend all of the ingredients until creamy and season with salt and pepper. Stir into the salad, cover, and chill for about an hour. Enjoy!

Cinnamon-Soaked Wheat Berry Salad

I've never had anything with wheat berries in it . . . at least I don't think so. I had bought a bag a while ago for another recipe (that I can't even remember now) and so when I saw this recipe in Vegetarian Times, I decided to give it a try. Wheat berries refer to the entire kernel, or whole grain form of the wheat. They're a great source of fiber and are used in breads, pilaf mixes, stir-fry . . . you name it. It usually needs to be soaked for several hours ahead of time, so keep that in mind, otherwise, they'll take forever to cook! This salad is delicious warm or cold and was great as a side dish for Thanksgiving.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

Salad
1 C wheat berries
1 2" cinnamon stick
¼ tsp salt
3 med carrots, peeled and cut into ¼" dice
1 heaping cup thinly sliced apricots
½ C toasted slivered almonds
6 Tbs chopped cilantro
Dressing
3 Tbs apple cider vinegar
3 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp maple syrup
¼ tsp cinnamon

Directions

Soak the wheat berries and cinnamon stick in 3 cups of water for 8 hours or overnight. I didn't have any cinnamon sticks, so I added a dash or two of cinnamon later on. Transfer the wheat berries and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. (This is where I added the cinnamon.)
Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for an hour. Drain any leftover liquid and remove cinnamon stick.
In a small saucepan, blanch the carrots, then drain. Toss the carrots with the wheat berries, apricots, almonds, and cilantro.
For the dressing, blend all of the ingredients until creamy and season with salt and pepper. Stir into the salad, cover, and chill for about an hour. Enjoy!

Wild Rice and Blueberry Salad

August 20, 2012 by epicureanvegan

This recipe comes from Big Vegan cookbook and I thought, what a great combination of ingredients and flavors. The original recipe calls for raspberry vinegar, but after a long search at the grocery store, I found one bottle . . . for $5.99. The fact that I only needed 2 Tbs, and that I rarely come across recipes that call for this fancy vin, I decided to use rice vinegar. Besides, with the maple syrup, I wonder if the raspberry vinegar would make this salad a tad too sweet. Also, may I suggest you buy wild rice in bulk. I went to a regular grocery store (as opposed to Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage) and they don’t have much in bulk. I picked up a small box of wild rice, but failed to notice (until I got home) that it’s only 4-oz. I needed 6 for this recipe. Who makes 4-oz boxes of rice?! Who needs only 4 ounces?! For 2.69 a box, I find it ridiculous that it’s under a cup of rice per box.

This reminded me of the hilarious scene in Father of the Bride where Steve Martin loses it in the grocery store over hotdogs and hotdog buns. I think the people at the rice factory, got together with the people at the grocery store, and said, let’s make a small box of rice so that customers have to buy two boxes to reach a cup of rice, thus, leaving them with a little bit of rice left . . . Ok, it’s an exaggeration. Just outsmart the rice people and the grocery store people by buying wild rice in bulk.

Anyhow, this is an outstanding salad. I love the combination of flavors and is very simple to make. It’s got a unique sweet and tangy flavor and great for summer.

INGREDIENTS:
6-oz wild rice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 C canola oil
2 Tbs raspberry (or rice) vinegar
2 Tbs maple syrup
1 C fresh raspberries
1 C fresh blueberries
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 large green onions, chopped

DIRECTIONS:
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in the salt and rice. Let it cook anywhere from 25-45 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat, cover and let it sit about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cooled. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, and syrup together. It’ll get slightly thick.

Combine the celery and green onions with the rice.

Fold in the berries, then toss with the dressing. Enjoy!

Chickpea Salad

February 28, 2012 by epicureanvegan

I got this recipe from Luminous Vegans who called it “Chick-Peace Salad.” Great name—I didn’t want to steal it, so mine’s just plain old Chickpea Salad. Regardless of the name, it’s a delicious vegan version of tuna salad. LV added crumbled up nori to the mix to give it that tuna taste, but I didn’t have any. I still think it had amazing flavor without it. I did add some carrots and parsley. Just because. I also used Earth Balance’s vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free mayo that my good friend, Angela of The Veracious Vegan turned me on to. It’s fabulous!

I also served the salad on Food For Life’s brown rice tortillas.

I have to say, they’re ok. Heated up, they’re better, but you have to eat it fast before it gets crispy and falls apart. I’m wondering if steaming them would be better, or make it worse. The taste is chewy, but crunchy at the same time. Is that possible? Apparently so. Anyway, they’re not horrible, but they made eating this sandwich a bit tough because they tend to crack and split.

INGREDIENTS:
1 15-oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
1-2 Tbs fresh dill, chopped
1 carrot, shredded
2 Tbs vegan mayonnaise
1 tsp Dijon
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
Veggies, crackers, tortillas, etc.

DIRECTIONS:
Mash the chickpeas. I used a pastry blender. You can also pulse them in the food processor.

Stir in all of the other ingredients and combine well. I layered the salad on some lettuce inside one of the tortillas and added some sliced cucumber and tomato.

This salad would also be great on crackers, or sliced veggies. Enjoy!

Kale & Cabbage Salad with Lemony-Almond Butter Dressing

February 24, 2012 by epicureanvegan

Okay, this is probably my favorite dressing I’ve made so far. Love it! It has just a hint of lemon and with the ginger, goes fabulous with the almond butter. There’s some prep work involved here, but if can, make this the night before and you won’t be able to wait for lunch!

INGREDIENTS:
Salad:
2 large bunches of kale, stems removed and chopped
1/4 of a red/purple cabbage, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 carrot, shredded or finely chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 small red onion, diced
1/3 C sunflower seeds
Dressing:
1/4 C tahini
1/3 C + 1 Tbs almond butter
1″ piece gingerroot
2 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs miso (any variety)
1/4 C nutritional yeast
1/8 C water

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients.

Combine all of the dressing ingredients in the blender—except the water—just start with a little and add more as you blend it to reach the consistency you want. You may need more than the 1/8 cup. It also depends on how lemony you want it—you can thin it out with more lemon juice if you’d like. Blend until smooth.

You can pour the dressing over the salad, just a little at time to coat the salad, or serve on the side and mix into individual servings. Yields about 1-1/2 cups. Enjoy!

Kale & Cabbage Salad with Lemony-Almond Butter Dressing

Okay, this is probably my favorite dressing I've made so far. Love it! It has just a hint of lemon and with the ginger, goes fabulous with the almond butter. There's some prep work involved here, but if can, make this the night before and you won't be able to wait for lunch!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

Salad:
2 large bunches of kale, stems removed and chopped
¼ of a red/purple cabbage, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 carrot, shredded or finely chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 small red onion, diced
⅓ C sunflower seeds
Dressing:
¼ C tahini
⅓ C + 1 Tbs almond butter
1" piece gingerroot
2 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs miso (any variety)
¼ C nutritional yeast
⅛ C water

Directions

In a large bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients.
Combine all of the dressing ingredients in the blender---except the water---just start with a little and add more as you blend it to reach the consistency you want. You may need more than the ⅛ cup. It also depends on how lemony you want it---you can thin it out with more lemon juice if you'd like. Blend until smooth.
You can pour the dressing over the salad, just a little at time to coat the salad, or serve on the side and mix into individual servings. Yields about 1-1/2 cups. Enjoy!

Couscous and Roasted Asparagus Salad

September 6, 2011 by epicureanvegan

This salad is great because it can be served hot or cold—perfect for a pot luck or feeding a crowd.

INGREDIENTS:
1-3/4 C Israeli/pearl couscous (I used a mixture of whole wheat and regular)
2 shallots, minced
2-1/2 C vegetable broth
3 green onions, sliced
1 small bunch asparagus, cut into 1″ pieces
2 tomatoes, diced
1/2 C pumpkin seeds, toasted
zest from one medium lemon
Dash of cinnamon
2 Tbs fresh basil, minced
2 Tbs Earth Balance margarine
1 Tbs garlic
White pepper, black pepper, and salt
Olive oil

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425. In a small bowl combine the asparagus, black pepper, salt, and enough oil to coat the asparagus. Line a baking sheet with foil; layer on the asparagus and roast for 10 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pan, melt the margarine and add the shallots and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, or until the shallots begin to brown. Add the couscous and combine with the shallots. Pour in the broth, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Dry-toast the pumpkin seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until they begin to brown.

Remove from the heat and stir in the zest, basil, and cinnamon. Transfer to a bowl and stir in green onions, asparagus, and tomatoes. If serving cold, cover and chill for a few hours and stir in the pumpkin seeds before serving. If serving warm, stir the seeds in now. Season with white pepper and salt. Enjoy!

Couscous and Roasted Asparagus Salad

This salad is great because it can be served hot or cold---perfect for a pot luck or feeding a crowd.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1-3/4 C Israeli/pearl couscous (I used a mixture of whole wheat and regular)
2 shallots, minced
2-1/2 C vegetable broth
3 green onions, sliced
1 small bunch asparagus, cut into 1" pieces
2 tomatoes, diced
½ C pumpkin seeds, toasted
zest from one medium lemon
Dash of cinnamon
2 Tbs fresh basil, minced
2 Tbs Earth Balance margarine
1 Tbs garlic
White pepper, black pepper, and salt
Olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 425. In a small bowl combine the asparagus, black pepper, salt, and enough oil to coat the asparagus. Line a baking sheet with foil; layer on the asparagus and roast for 10 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pan, melt the margarine and add the shallots and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, or until the shallots begin to brown. Add the couscous and combine with the shallots. Pour in the broth, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Dry-toast the pumpkin seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until they begin to brown.
Remove from the heat and stir in the zest, basil, and cinnamon. Transfer to a bowl and stir in green onions, asparagus, and tomatoes. If serving cold, cover and chill for a few hours and stir in the pumpkin seeds before serving. If serving warm, stir the seeds in now. Season with white pepper and salt. Enjoy!

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