DDD #120 – Spicy Vegan Chinese Eggplant – Better Than Take-Out!

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2018

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This dish is SO easy & outrageously delicious!  It is also genuinely spicy but you can control that level yourself.

Spicy Vegan Chinese Eggplant

Serves 2 or more

INGREDIENTS

2 medium eggplants – cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 onion – diced

Thai basil (or red basil or regular basil) – chopped – optional

Sesame oil

6 garlic cloves – chopped

4 TBS minced ginger (I used jarred)

3 TBS brown sugar

1 TBS sriracha

2 TBS sambal oelek (or chili garlic sauce)

2 tsp molasses

3 TBS reduced sodium soy sauce

1/2 cup tomato sauce

2 TBS rice vinegar

Crushed red pepper

Salt

Sesame seeds

1/2 cup water

OPTIONAL – 1-3 TBS black soy sauce for a richer color

Scallions – green parts sliced – as garnish or sesame seeds or additional sliced basil.

 

DIRECTIONS

Heat 1-2 TBS sesame oil in a pan & add the eggplant.  Add a little salt & some crushed red pepper.  Add the diced onion.  Saute over medium heat until tender but not mushy.  Maybe 5-8 minutes.

 

 

Add 2-3 TBS sesame seeds & the garlic & the ginger.  When the garlic begins to brown add the tomato sauce, brown sugar, sriracha, sambal oelek (or chili garlic sauce), molasses, soy sauce, rice vinegar, & water.  Simmer over med-low heat for ten minutes.  Add the eggplant & onions & simmer another 5 minutes.  Stir in some chopped basil (if using).

Serve over rice garnished with additional chopped basil, the scallions & some additional sesame seeds.

 

 

DDD #119 – Vegan Sriracha Chicken Bowl with Broccoli

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2018

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Click the image below to watch the video for this recipe.  Plus – watch it to meet my newest foster dog – an adorable & brave trauma rescue from Uruguay and hear how I met Rachel Maddow, Fairuza Balk, Doyle from the Misfits & more!

This chicken & broccoli comes together faster than the rice – so – if you have warm, cooked rice ready – you can serve this in ten minutes.  None of the ingredients are particularly exotic but it is GENUINELY spicy.  I like a lot of heat & this took it to my limit – so – if you are more timid in the spice department – cut the spicy things way back or drop them completely.  I used – as always – Beyond Meat brand vegan chicken because it is absolutely the best on the market.  It comes in 9 ounce packages.

10-Minute Spicy Vegan Sriracha Chicken & Broccoli Bowl

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

9 to 12 ounces vegan chicken – cubed

1 jalapeno – seeded & diced (optional)

1/4 red bell pepper – chopped

Olive oil

1-5 dry red chilies – halved & seeded (VERY optional as these are VERY spicy – and if you use hem – do not chew & swallow them – but pick them out when you eat)

1/2 cup vegan hoisin sauce

1-2 TBS sriracha sauce

1-3 tsp crushed garlic (I used jarred)

1 TBS ginger (I used jarred)

Broccoli for 2 – fresh or frozen

Salted peanuts

Sliced scallions as garnish

Cooked rice for 2

DIRECTIONS

Cook the rice.  If you are using fresh broccoli – steam it a few minutes until it is done to your taste & set aside.  If using frozen – cook it according to directions & set aside

Heat 1 TBS olive oil in a pan.  Saute the jalapeno & red chili – if using them.  When the jalapeno is softens (a few minutes) – add the garlic & ginger & saute 1 minute.  Add the hoisin & sriracha and the chicken & heat the chicken through.

Assemble the bowls with the rice, broccoli & chicken & garnish with peanuts & scallions.

DDD #118 – Vegan Cauliflower Gnocchi with Arugula Pesto

 

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2018

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All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option.  Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out.  It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing.  The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.

Click the image above to watch the video.

Arugula Pesto

INGREDIENTS

Handful of fresh basil

1/4 cup olive oil

3 garlic cloves

juice of 1 lemon

1/3 cup nutritional yeast (or vegan Parmesan)

1/3 cup vegan Parmesan

1/2 cup pecans (or other nuts)

5 oz fresh arugula

S&P

DIRECTIONS

Blend in a food processor until smooth.  Add water or more oil if it is too thick.  Season with S&P.  Set aside.

Cauliflower Gnocchi

INGREDIENTS

1 head cauliflower – cut into florets

Flour

GARNISH: basil, parsley, or lemon wedges

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oven to 400 degrees & roast the cauliflower for 20-25 minutes.  Allow to cool.

Pulse the cauliflower in a food processor until it is finely chopped.

Put some flour on a kneading space.  Knead just enough flour into the cauliflower until you have a nice, dough that is no longer tacky.  Use as little flour as possible or your gnocchi will be too dense.

Quarter the dough & roll each quarter out to a long snake that is about 3/4 inch thick.  Cut your gnocchi in about 3/4 inch pillows.  You can rill them on a fork or gnocchi board (below) – to aid in making sauces cling but that is unnecessary.

If the gnocchi are still tacky, dust with more flour.  Set aside until you are ready to eat.

When ready, heat the pesto.  Bring salted water to a rolling boil.  Put the gnocchi in the water & boil until they float to the top – a few minutes.  Drain & toss with the pesto.  Garnish with fresh basil or parsley or lemon wedges.

To freeze some, put them on a floured cooking sheet or on a cooking sheet with parchment paper & freeze flat.  Once frozen, you can transfer them into any other container – even a Ziploc bag.  Always put frozen gnocchi into water at a rolling boil without letting them defrost first – or they will become a gooey mess.

 

DDD #117 – Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Casserole with Cauliflower Rice & Sausage

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2018

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All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option.  Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out.  It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing.  The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.

Photo from The Iron You.

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The photo just above is from the wonderful blog – The Iron You.  It is their Eggplant Parm Rice Casserole and it is that recipe that inspired mine here.  There are a few subtle changes but the primary difference is that I used cauliflower rice rather than real rice and I made it vegan.  That way – this dish is very light & nearly guiltless.  Is is very easy to make & comes together in less than 45-60 minutes – 30 of which are in the oven.  It is a surprisingly tasty recipe & chock full of fresh vegetables.

Eggplant Parmesan Casserole with Cauliflower Rice (Vegetarian or Vegan)

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

1 large head of cauliflower

2 eggplants – cut into 1/4 inch slices

Olive oil

1 cup basil – chopped

2 large shallots (or 1/2 small onion) – diced

2 cups cherry tomatoes – quartered (reserve a few extra to garnish)

2-3 cups vegan mozzarella – according to your preference (I used 3 cups)

1-2 cups grated vegan Parmesan – according to your preference

S&P

1 TBS oregano

1 TBS crushed red pepper (optional)

1 cup vegetable stock

1 1/2 cups of your favorite pasta sauce

3 (or more) vegan sausages – cooked

Parsley or basil – chopped as garnish

DIRECTIONS

If you have a grill or grill pan, spray some olive oil on the eggplant (or toss them in a light coating of olive oil or dressing) & grill on each side until a bit charred & soft.  Set aside.

If you do not have a grill or grill pan – follow Iron You’s oven method directions:  Preheat oven to 400°F  and place a rack in the middle. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and grease them with vegetable oil. Set aside.
Fill a large bowl with cold water, add 1 teaspoon of salt and stir until it dissolves completely.
Add eggplant slices and let them sit for at least 20 minutes to draw out the bitterness.  Fish the eggplant slices out of the water, pat them dry, and arrange them on a single layer on prepared baking sheets. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until the slices turn deep brown on top.
Remove the slices from the baking sheets and carefully transfer them on a plate to cool.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Cook sausages & chop.

Cut the florets from the cauliflower & either grate them on a box grater or using the grater of your food processor (the FAR neater way to go).  Set aside.

Toss the tomatoes with basil, a pinch or S&P & the oregano & crushed red pepper & set aside.

Heat a TBS or so of olive oil in a large frying pan (large enough to hold all the cauliflower rice) & saute the shallots or onion until soft.  Add the cauliflower rice & the stock.  Over high heat – saute until the cauliflower is soft & the bulk of the stock has evaporated.  Stir in the tomato & basil mix and the sauce.

Grease a casserole pan (I used cooking spray) and layer 1/3 of the rice on the bottom.  Top with half the eggplant and 1/3 of the cheese and 1/2 the sausage.  Add another 1/3 of the rice, remaining eggplant and 1/3 of the cheese & the remaining sausage.  Top with a final layer of rice & cheese.

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted & the casserole is heated through.

Let sit for 10 minutes & then serve with parsley or basil & maybe extra diced tomato.

DDD #116 – Homemade Rosemary Guacamole

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2018

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My friend, Suzie, brought this to a party & it was so delicious – I had to try to recreate it.  It is earthier than most guacamole & has a lovely, herbed flavor that would go great on crostini or bruschetta – as will as with chips or on anything else you might put guacamole.  It would also make a terrific pasta sauce.

Rosemary Guacamole

INGREDIENTS

4 large avocados – pitted & peeled (Reserve a pit or two to put in the completed guacamole.  Pits prevent guacamole from turning brown.)

5-10 stems FRESH rosemary (not dried) – leaves removed from the tough stems

1 large garlic clove

1 seeded jalapeno or other hot pepper

1 lime

salt

DIRECTIONS

You need to create a paste from the garlic, jalapeno & rosemary.  Start with 5 stems of rosemary & increase it to taste. A mortar & pestle (like above) would be the most effective.  A really course mortar & pestle.  I used a Magic Bullet & mortar & pestle combo (see the video).  Do whatever you can to get the rosemary a fine as possible & the garlic & jalapeno minced.

Mash the avocado, mix in the rosemary paste & add lime & salt to taste.  Season to taste – even adding more rosemary paste if you think it needs it.  Drop in a reserved avocado pit.

Enjoy!

 

DDD #114 – Rabbit Hole Foods – Vegan Egg, Tuna & Chicken Salads Reviewed

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2018

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All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option.  Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out.  It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing.  The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.

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DDD #113 – Vegan Heirloom Tomato Tart (Pie) with Homemade Buttery Crust

 

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2018

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All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option.  Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out.  It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing.  The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.

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I keep throwing softballs like this out there to you kids.  Softballs in that the recipe is easy & the result delicious.  When, oh when, will you trust me & try one?

This one is almost like a quiche but uses no eggs or heavy cream – and it is vegan!  I used three colors of heirloom tomatoes but any tomatoes would work, even cherry tomatoes, I suspect.

For the pastry crust

makes two tarts

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

16 TBS ice cold (even frozen) vegan butter

1/4 cup or more of ice water

Heirloom Tomato Pie with Arugula, Tofu, Cream Cheese & Parmesan

makes two tarts

INGREDIENTS

Pie crust – uncooked

5-6 heirloom (or other) tomatoes – sliced thin

2 cups fresh arugula

2 cloves garlic

1 (14 oz) block firm tofu

4 oz vegan cream cheese

2 slices of your favorite flavor vegan cheese

1/4 cup vegan Parmesan – grated  (plus a bit extra for topping – optional)

S&P

Basil – as garnish

DIRECTIONS

For the pastry crust

Put the flour, salt & sugar in a food processor.  Pulse to blend.  Then, 1 TBS at a time, pulse in the cold butter until it is all incorporated.  Add a few TBS water & pulse until little balls of dough begin to form & it falls away from the bowl of the processor.

Remove from the bowl & press into two balls – one a tad larger than the other.  Press flat, wrap in plastic wrap & chill for about an hour.  Let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before you roll it out.

DIRECTIONS

for the Heirloom Tomato Pie with Arugula, Tofu, Cream Cheese & Parmesan

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Press the dough into a greased pie or tart pan.  A traditional pie dish is absolutely OK to use – as is a spring form pan.  Slit the crust at the bottom and par-bake it for 7 minutes.

Put the sliced tomatoes on paper towels, salt them & press more paper towels on top.  If your tomatoes are very wet & seedy, squeeze some of the seeds out to avoid excess moisture in the pie.  You can see that I did this with my red tomatoes.

Meanwhile, blend the tofu, cream cheese, cheese slices, vegan Parmesan, arugula & garlic in a blender or food processor.  Season with S&P.

When the crust has baked 7 minutes, top with the cup of grated Parmesan, the tofu mix & the drained tomatoes.  Add some S&P.  Maybe sprinkle some grated vegan Parmesan on top.  Drizzle a bit of olive oil on top.

Bake for 45-60 minutes – or until the ricotta is set.  You might need to wrap the edges of your pie with foil (or one of these cool silicone things – the red thing below – that I got at Bed Bath & Beyond) to prevent the crust from over-browning.

When the center seems set, allow this to cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into it.  It can be eaten warm or room temperature.

Garnish with basil & eat it up!