To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
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.
The video for this recipe is up on the Youtube channel. Click the image below to watch & please subscribe!
So – flipping around the internet, I came across a recipe from a blog I love. The blog is Pinch of Yum. I love the blog because the photographs are mercilessly lush & gorgeous. About a year ago, she posted her “life-changing 30 minute masala sauce” and the photos are so great – I just could not get the recipe out of my mind – so – I made it! She offers the recipe for a masala paste & then how to make a sauce from the paste. She served the sauce over her “30-minute vegetarian meatballs.” I did not have the ingredients for the meatballs so I decided to serve my sauce over Gardein beefless tips & chickpeas.
The paste is SUPER easy. You just whip it up in a food processor. The sauce is super easy, too, and she is right! It is delicious! You could serve the sauce over any meat or meatless meat or veggie or even rice or pasta you desire. The paste makes a lot so maybe freeze some.
I did not have onions so I used shallots & scallions. I used two tomatoes & some tomato paste in place of her suggested 1½ cups tomato puree + ½ cup water or broth – just because that was all I had. Worked out great! I recommend you make this sauce & follow her blog. It is really wonderful!
Vegan Life Changing Masala with Beef & Chickpeas
Serves 4 with rice
INGREDIENTS
9 oz vegan beef (or other vegan meat)
1 15-ounce can chickpeas – drained
for the masala paste
2 onions
5 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, crushed
3 tablespoon garam masala
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon cumin
1½ teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
a small pile of of cilantro stems
a fistful of almonds
juice of one lemon
for the masala sauce
1½ cups tomato puree + ½ cup water or broth
1 14-ounce can coconut milk
½ teaspoon salt (taste and adjust)
GARNISH – cooked rice & cilantro
DIRECTIONS
Pulse all the ingredients for the Masala Paste in a food processor until smooth. Put it into a container for storage in the fridge or freezer – reserving only 1/4 cup of the paste for this recipe. The rest is extra!
Heat a drizzle of oil in a skillet. Add 1/4 cup masala paste to the skillet and with a little bit of oil and stir around in the pan until fragrant (3-5 minutes). Add the tomato puree and water and simmer until t’s a rusty-deep-red color – about 5-10 minutes. Add the beef & chickpeas. Add the coconut milk; simmer for 10 minutes or so until thick and creamy. Longer simmer = thicker and better flavor.
Serve over warm rice & garnish with chopped cilantro.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
I have a video on my Youtube channel for this recipe. Click the image below to watch & please subscribe.
This is a 5 minute recipe so – if you can boil pasta & own a blender – you can make this dish. I had an avocado that was about a day past its prime & loads of spinach – so this was born. I used a few serrano peppers for heat but that it totally optional.
*NOTE – I also used fresh basil that I had frozen a few weeks ago. Worked great – so – if you are ever wanting to preserve fresh herbs so they do not go to waste – they can be frozen & then used in pestos & sauces.
Vegan Pasta with Creamy Avocado & Spinach Pesto
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1 lb pasta – cooked as directed
1 large avocado
2 packed cups of fresh spinach
2 garlic cloves
1/4 packed cup fresh basil *See note above
2 serrano or jalapeno peppers (optional) – seeded
1/2 to 1 cup vegan Parmesan (or nutritional yeast or a combo) – quantity to your taste
S&P to taste
DIRECTIONS
Blend everything except the pasta in a blender or food processor. Season with S&P & adjust anything else to suit your fancy.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
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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Ok – I have been seeing versions of these two recipes everywhere & decided I had to try them. I have a video of my efforts on my Youtube channel. Click the image below to watch.
Neither of these is difficult to pull off but for my money, neither was really worth the effort. Despite looking as convincing as you could really hope – the flavors were not especially strong. A fun & novel experiment.
1 tsp roasted sesame seeds & seaweed (or use only this)
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
Create a thick layer of salt in an oven-safe pan. Place the carrots on top & sprinkle the carrots on both sides with kelp granules and the roasted sesame seeds & seaweed – or – wrap each carrot in a slice or nori. Do not let carrots touch the pan. Cover with salt & bake for 90 minutes.
Removes carrots from salt and, when cool enough to handle, slice as thinly as possible. Even consider using a vegetable peeler or mandolin. Mix the marinade & marinate the carrot slices for 2 or more days. Be sure the carrots are always in contact with the moisture.
Serve as you would serve smoked salmon. I used bagels, sliced tomato, red onion, capers, dill, lemon and S&P.
Carrot Hot Dogs
INGREDIENTS
Carrots – peeled down to a hot dog shape
Olive oil for frying
for the marinade
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari or liquid aminos)
1 TBS rice vinegar
1 TBS sesame oil
1/2 TBS apple cider vinegar
A few dashes liquid smoke
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp garlic powder
DIRECTIONS
Peel the carrots down to hot dog shapes. Boil for about 8 minutes or until they have the tenderness of a hot dog.
Whisk the marinade together & submerge the carrots in it. Add water or soy sauce to cover them. Marinate overnight or longer.
Fry the carrots in a little olive oil & serve as you would eat a hot dog.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
This is a very easy recipe & it is very flexible. You can use the veggies that I did or sub in ones you prefer. You could use jalapeno for a spicy dish or add brown sugar for a sweeter dish. Click the image below for the recipe video & please subscribe to my channel.
Sweet & Spicy Vegan Island Chicken with Pineapple
INGREDIENTS
2 TBS coconut oil
9 oz vegan chicken
1 jalapeno – diced (optional)
1-2 cups dice fresh pineapple
1 red bell pepper – diced
1 cup carrots – chopped or grated
1-2 cups broccoli florets
3 garlic cloves – chopped
2 TBS soy sauce (or liquid aminos or tamari)
2 TBS sriracha
2 TBS ginger – minced
juice if 1/2 lime
2 TBS brown sugar (optional – I did not use it as I am not a fan of things too sweet)
Cornstarch
S&P
2 cups cooked rice OR tortillas (for tacos or wraps) OR lettuce leaves (for lettuce cups)
Garnish: cilantro or sesame seeds or sliced scallions
DIRECTIONS
Thaw the chicken, cube it & toss with some cornstarch. Set aside.
Heat the coconut oil in a large pan or wok. Add the veggies (bell pepper, broccoli, jalapeno, carrots) & saute until soft. Add the soy sauce, sriracha, ginger & combine. Add brown sugar (if using – I did not). Combine & then add pineapple. Combine & then add rice (if doing a stir fry). Stir in the garlic & squeeze in the juice of 1/2 lime. Season with S&P to taste. Heat through & serve (either with rice or as tacos, wraps or lettuce cups). Garnish as you desire & devour!
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
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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 am reposting an updated version of my original post for these dished from July 30, 2013. Originally, this was posted as vegetarian recipes. I updated them to be vegan & there is a video on my channel to accompany it. Click the image below to watch & see how easy this stuff is to make.
From July 30, 2013:
In my hunt for other recipes meant to provide a cauliflower version of fried chicken, I ran into THIS post about Popeye’s Fried Chicken. Here is a picture from that site:
I have never eaten at Popeye’s or any other fried chicken joint (except KFC & Dinah’s here in Glendale) and I haven’t tasted ANY fried chicken in over 25 years – but my boyfriend Miles eats it all the time. In fact, he eats it weekly now that the famous Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken opened a few blocks away from him in downtown Little Rock. Miles is always sending me (at my request) pictures of the food he eats & I find myself looking at fried chicken so much – I have developed an undeniable craving for it. And – that blogger that spoke of an incredible meal at Popeye’s didn’t help. And that Delta sauce? I liked the sound of it & a few clicks here & there revealed that Popeye’s discontinued it. In fact, there seems to be quite a bit of hand-wringing going on about the now-unavailable Delta Sauce and that piqued my curiosity. Fortunately, the blogger who loved the Delta sauce posted a copycat recipe for it & I could not resist. So – I made it & I include that recipe here. It is like a spicy Thousand Island dressing & it is INCREDIBLE on my – wait for it – Southern Fried Cauliflower!
Doesn’t that look just like a fried chicken plate? I was so Goddamn happy with myself yesterday – you have no idea. If you make any of my zillions of cauliflower recipes – I have to say – it should be THIS one! So easy & so delicious! And if, like me, you don’t eat meat but the reasons for that do not include any distaste for meat products – this might really satisfy any existing fried chicken craving you might be in denial about.
It also includes some smashed baked potatoes & a vegan white gravy.
This is quite a decadent meal & the perfect fix on those days when the hole in your heart is bigger than your ass & you just don’t give a fuck. You wanna eat & you wanna eat something bad. This is as Paula Deen as I am likely to get but even with this dish – the fried chicken is really cauliflower & there is no bacon (or other meat) fat in any of it (excepting egg & milk) & the potatoes were made with a minimum of butter & WATER – because I’d run out of milk. So – seriously – AT LEAST try the southern fried cauliflower & Delta dipping sauce. I am certain you will enjoy!
Spicy Southern Fried Cauliflower and Delta Dipping Sauce with Smashed Baked Potatoes and White Gravy and Buffalo Mac & Cheese (All Vegan)
(This feeds about two (very well) so increase the recipes if you are feeding more. The mac & cheese recipe feeds at least 4.)
INGREDIENTS
For the Southern Fried Cauliflower
(depending on the size of your cauliflower – you may need more or less of the other ingredients – so maybe have extra on hand)
1 head cauliflower
2 eggs worth of egg replacer (optional)
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce
2 cups flour
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp each of S&P
1 tsp chipotle chili powder (or smoked or regular paprika)
1 tsp garlic powder
Lots of vegetable oil for frying
1 gallon zip lock baggy (not necessary but it makes life easier)
Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Rub olive oil on the potatoes & sprinkle with salt. Bake them – DIRECTLY on the oven rack – for about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven & allow to cool a bit. Peel the potatoes (I left bits of skin & browned spots for some color) & mash them up with the butter & some salt & pepper and as much milk or water (I used water as I was out of milk) as you need to get to a texture you like. I used an old school hand masher & left them chunky & on the drier side. I smashed them a bit more at the end with an immersion blender. You do it however you like.
For the white gravy
Heat the butter in a sauce pan & add the bouillon cube & the shallots. Cook a minute or two until the shallots soften & the bouillon cube is dissolved. Add the flour, sage & salt and pepper & stir constantly for about 2 minutes. It should be quite dry. Add the milk 1/2 cup at a time & allow it to thicken. Continue until all the milk is incorporated and heat until the gravy is at your desired thickness. Add milk if it is too thick.
For the Southern Fried Cauliflower
In a bowl – whisk together the egg replacer, water & hot sauce. I think you can omit the egg replacer with no real effect on the recipe.
In a zip lock bag or in a deep bowl – blend the flour with the rest of the dry ingredients.
Cut the cauliflower into the largest “drummettes” possible so they resemble chicken thighs & a few wings. I sprayed my cauliflower with water so the flour mix would stick.
Put the cauliflower in the flour mix & toss to coat. Dunk into the egg mix until covered & then back into the flour. Coat again with the flour.
I do not have a thermometer to measure oil temp but I think 350 is the correct temperature for frying. I just let it get hot, put one drummette in there & once that started bubbling pretty rapidly – I added a few more pieces
Turn a few times & fry until they are a golden brown all over. Drain on a paper towel. Repeat until all the cauliflower is cooked. Now – just divvy up the goodness & fill up that whole in your heart with some old school home cooking!
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
Black bean brownies? Am I to believe my eyes? Yes & yes! These babies are amazing & nobody would ever guess that they are flourless & made of canned beans. Rich & delicious & packed with protein – even the fussiest kids will chow these babies down.
Click the image below for the video & please subscribe to my channel.
Vegan Black Bean Brownies with Peanut Butter Swirl
INGREDIENTS
1 (15 oz) can black beans – drained & rinsed
2 vegan eggs (use your favorite egg replacer)
3 TBS coconut oil
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips plus extra for topping
1/8 – 1/4 cup peanut butter
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a food processor, blend all the ingredients except the chocolate chips & peanut butter.
Mix in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
Grease an 8×8 baking pan. Spread the mix in there. Drop some peanut butter on top and – with a skewer or the tip of a knife – swirl the peanut butter. Top with some extra chips & then bake for 20-30 minutes or until the top is dry & the edges are separated from the pan. Allow to cool for about 30 minutes before cutting them. Refrigerating them will facilitate cutting them up.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
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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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My original post for shawarma (May 30, 2014) only presented the recipe as a traditional pita sandwich. But – today on my Youtube channel (www.VideoVegan.com) – I offered the idea of making tacos. They are a revelation! I recommend them very highly! Click the image below to watch the video & please subscribe to my channel.
OK! There are not a lot of foods I really miss since I gave up meat 25 years ago but gyros & shawarma are two things definitely on the “miss list.”
I used Beyond Meat vegan chicken & I recommend it very highly – though you can use another brand. At any rate – whatever you use – the longer you marinate if for the better – overnight being optimal.
I made the garlic paste (or a version of it) that they serve at Zankou chicken, here in LA. It is a bright, white paste that has a bit of a gritty texture & seems to be just mashed garlic. I was HORRIFIED to discover – it does have a lot of garlic but it has even more OIL! It is basically an aioli. Or a mayonnaise. Damn. So – it is not a guiltless pleasure but you don’t need tons before you run the risk of setting things ablaze just by breathing your garlic shit storm on them – so do not sweat the calories too much.
Mmmm! Tzatziki!
There are a lot of ingredients in the chicken marinade but only the cardamom is remotely exotic & you probably already have most of them in your cabinets – so do not be intimidated. If you do not have or cannot find ground cardamom – never fear! Substitutes: equal parts ground nutmeg and cinnamon OR equal parts ground cloves and cinnamon OR nutmeg OR cinnamon
Garlic Paste (Toum)
This makes quite a bit but it should keep in the fridge for a few weeks.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 small potato (I used a Yukon Gold) – boiled until soft & cooled
1 full cup garlic cloves (peel fresh ones & do not use the pre-peeled cloves as they have been frozen & are not as flavorful)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 cups grapeseed oil (or sunflower oil)
DIRECTIONS
In your food processor, pulse the garlic, potato, lemon juice & salt until they are pureed. You might need to scrape the sides of the bowl down a few times. Then, VERY SLOWLY drizzle the oil in as the pureed is being spun about. Do this in a very slow & steady stream. Lots of recipes suggested it should take ten minutes. I got it done in under five but if you add the oil too fast – it will not emulsify properly. Check it as you go & if it begins to separate – stop adding oil & keep processing it until it comes together again.
That’s it! You MIGHT want to experiment with an increased quantity of potato & a lesser quantity of oil. I think I will the next time.
Tzatziki
Makes about 1.5 cups
INGREDIENTS
6 oz vegan yogurt
1 TBS lemon juice
1 garlic clove – minced
1/4 – 1/3 cucumber – peeled & diced
pinch of salt
1 tsp or more fresh dill – chopped
DIRECTIONS
Mix that shit up! Add water if you think it is too thick – but not a lot.
Done!
Tahini Sauce
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup tahini
1/4 cup water
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
DIRECTIONS
Whisk it together. Use thick or water down to drizzle on your shawarma.
Vegan Chicken Shawarma (for Pita or Tacos)
Serves 2 or 3
INGREDIENTS
Flour tortillas (for tacos) or pita bread or wraps or naan
9 oz vegan chicken
4 garlic cloves – minced
1 TBS smoked paprika (or regular)
1 TBS ground cumin
1 TBS ground cardamom (or substitute from the note above)
1 TBS chili powder
1 TBS ground coriander
1 tsp pepper
Olive oil
juice & zest of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup yogurt (optional) – but adding the yogurt makes a far more mellow marinade so I recommend using it unless you love heavily spiced food
Mix the spices in a large glass container with the vinegar, lemon juice & zest, 2 TBS olive oil & yogurt (if using). This is pretty thick stuff. Feel free to thin it with water if you like. Add the chicken & marinate it for at least an hour or overnight. Try not to use a plastic container as it could get stained or left stinky from the spices.
When you are ready to eat – heat a little olive oil in a pan & heat the chicken. Allow the marinade to come away as you likely won’t want as much in the actual sandwich. When it is warm, assemble the tacos or wraps. Slather some garlic paste on the bread or tortillas & layer the ingredients on top. Add some tzatziki or tahini sauce or hummus & chow the fuck down!
