vegan dinner – Kacey Tess

{Grandma’s} peas and potatoes

What you’ll need:

2 C milk (I use flax seed milk)
1/4 C butter (I use vegan butter)
6-7 red potatoes washed and cut into small chunks
1 small bag of frozen peas
1 yellow onion chopped finely
1/4 C unbleached all purpose flour
1 Tsp sea salt
2 Tsp black pepper
1/2 Tsp cayenne pepper
2 C cooked brown rice (cook according to the directions on the bag)
1/2 of one vegetable bullion cube

What you’ll do:
Put chopped potatoes in a large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil

Cook for about 10 minutes until potatoes are soft

Add peas and cook another few minutes until peas are warmed through

Drain the potatoes and set aside

In a large skillet add butter and onions

Cook 3-4 minutes until translucent

Add flour and mix thoroughly

Add sea salt, pepper and cayenne

Slowly add milk and mix well

Let cook for 2 minutes

Add potato and pea mixture

Add bullion to cooked rice

Mix thoroughly and serve with brown rice on top

Enjoy!!

Veggie pot pie casserole

What you’ll need:

1 package of extra firm tofu pressed (if you don’t have a tofu press place on a plate and wrap in paper towels, place heavy books or pans on top until excess water is removed)

Extra virgin olive oil

1 parsnip peeled and chopped
1 carrot chopped
1 russet potato peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
1/2 C sugar snap peas cut
1 yellow onion chopped
2 garlic cloves chopped finely
1/4 C unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 C water
1 vegetable bullion cube
1 Tbsp soy sauce or tamari
1Tbsp nutritional yeast
Sea salt to taste
Plain bread crumbs
Black pepper to taste
Fresh rosemary
Fresh sage
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

What you’ll do:
Hear oven to 400
In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium and add tofu
Brown tofu
Remove tofu from skillet and set aside
Add more olive oil to coat the pan
Add garlic, onions and carrots
Cook until onions are translucent
Add potatoes, peas, and parsnips
Mix thoroughly
Add flour, soy sauce and 1/2 Tbsp of nutritional yeast
Add water and bullion
Mix thoroughly
Add sage, rosemary, sea salt and pepper, tofu
Mix again
Transfer to a glass baking dish
Top with nutritional yeast, bread crumbs and red pepper flakes
Bake for 10 minutes
When playing top with fresh rosemary or sage

Enjoy!!!

I served mine with whole wheat toast topped with fresh avocado and ground peppercorn

Rosemary polenta with turmeric white beans

What you’ll need:

1 C uncooked polenta
3 C water
1 vegetable bullion cube
1 small fresh package of rosemary
1 can white beans drained and rinsed
2 cloves if garlic chopped
1/2 jar of marinated red bell peppers
1/2 Tsp red pepper flakes
1 Tsp turmeric
1 Tsp coriander
Sea salt to taste
2 celery stalks chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 bunch of young broccoli (opt)
1 bunch of green onions chopped (light part only)

What you’ll do:
Cook polenta according to directions on package, mine were quick so I brought 3 cups of water to a boil added to bullion and polenta, reduced the heat and wisked frequently for about 5 minutes

Add rosemary and remove from heat

Keep covered and set aside

In a large skillet add olive oil, red pepper flakes and garlic

Let cook for about 1-2 minutes

Add celery cook another 2 minute

Add beans and red pepper, cook until beans are heated through

Add 1 C of water and mash mixture

Add turmeric, coriander and sea salt to taste

Add cleaned, cut young broccoli

Let simmer covered until thickened a few minutes

Spoon the polenta mixture on a plate and cover with white bean mixture

Add broccoli and green onions

I also did a micro radish greens salad with cherry tomatoes and a homemade dressing of red wine vinegar, lemon juice, agave nectar and sea salt.

Enjoy!!!

Vegan ramen soup with tofu

What you’ll need:

1 package if extra firm tofu

1 package of refrigerated Undon or ramen noodles (discard sauce it comes with)

1 Tbsp soy sauce

Homemade or store bought vegetable stock (I use a spicy one my local store carries) 2 cups

2 cups of water

1 package if dried shiitake mushrooms rehydrated and cut if desired

1 bunch of green onions chopped (white part only)

1 head of bok choy chopped (white parts separated from the green leafy part)

1/2 head of napa cabbage chopped

2 cloves of garlic chopped finely

1/4 Tbsp of ginger paste

Hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce

Bean sprouts (optional)

Lime slices (garnish, optional)

What you’ll do:

Press your tofu in a tofu press or on a plate wrapped in paper towels with a heavy pot or book on top until all excess moisture is removed (about 20 minutes)

Rehydrate mushrooms in a bowl of warm water for 20 minutes

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat a small amount of olive oil, garlic, ginger, onions and white part of bok choy for about 5 minutes until soft

Add the vegetable stock (2 cups)

Add 1 cups of hot water

Add the soy sauce

Add the mushrooms

Bring to a boil

Mix well

Reduce heat to low and simmer

In a large skillet over medium add a small amount of olive oil and brown the tofu

Once the tofu is browned on all sides remove it from the pan and glaze it with hoisen or teriyaki sauce in a separate bowl

In the same pan add the ramen noodles, bok choy and cabbage and fry for about 2 minutes

Pour the contents of the sauce pan into the large skillet and mix well

Spoon with a large ladle into a small bowl

Add bean sprouts

Add tofu

Add lime slice

Enjoy!!!

Cold Undon Noodle Salad

What you’ll need:
1 package of dry Undon noodles
1 bottle of soy or miso dressing of choice

1 yellow tomato (if available, if not red) cut thinly

5 cherry tomatoes chopped
1 carrot chopped
1/4 package of bean sprouts
1/4 package of snap peas
Any other veggies you have in the fridge

What you’ll do:
Cook Undon noodles according to directions on the package (normally boil for 8 minutes)

Rinse noodles in cold water

Transfer the noodles into the serving dish

Combine miso dressing with noodles

Add all veggies and mix thoroughly

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour

Enjoy!!

Whole wheat pasta primavera

What you’ll need:

1/2 container of cherry tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 TBSP olive oil
2 garlic cloves chopped
1/2 TBSP Italian seasoning or to taste
1/2 white onion
1/2 container of sliced mushrooms
2 Cups if broccoli florets
1 package of whole wheat linguine

What you do:

Heat olive oil over medium and add garlic and olives, cook for about 5 minutes until onions start turning translucent

Add diced tomatoes and Italian seasoning

Lower heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes

Cook pasta according to instructions on box (normally for al dente pasta boil for 7 minutes then drain)

Strain pasta, add a small amount of olive oil to noodles to prevent them from sticking

Add pasta sauce to pasta

Enjoy!!!

Veggie Pad Thai

Vegan Pad Thai

What you’ll need:
1 package of brown rice noodles
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves chopped finely
1 shallot chopped finely
1/4 head of cabbage chopped finely
1 Cup of sugar snap peas cut in half
4-5 radishes cut finely
1-2 TBSP Sriracha (use more to make it more spicy or leave out if you don’t like spice)
Fresh cilantro (use as garnish)
1/2 lime quartered (for garnish)

1/3 Cup vegetable stock
3 TBSP rice wine vinegar
1/2 lime (juice)
3 TBSP brown sugar
2-3 TBSP fish sauce (can be found in the asian section of your grocery store)
1-3 TSP cayenne pepper (use to taste)
1 TSP black pepper

What you do:

Heat a pot of water until boiling
Add brown rice noodles to boiling water, turn the burner off and let noodles sit 5-9 minutes until soft

Drain and rinse noodles with cold water (this will help prevent them from sticking)
Set aside

In a bowl mix:
1/3 Cup vegetable stock
3 TBSP rice wine vinegar
1/2 lime (juice)
3 TBSP brown sugar
2-3 TBSP fish sauce (can be found in the asian section of your grocery store)
1-3 TSP cayenne pepper (use to taste)
1 TSP black pepper
Set aside

Heat a skillet over medium and add olive oil, shallot and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes

Add cabbage and Sriracha and mix thoroughly, let cook for 1-2 minutes

Add rinsed noodles and pad thai sauce you already mixed

With two forks continuously mix noodles and sauce until completely absorbed

When sauce is completely absorbed into noodles fold in peas, radishes and/or any other veggies you like

After you plate the noodles top with fresh cilantro and place one quartered lime on plate

Enjoy!!

Cabbage Stir Fry

What you’ll need:

1/2 head of cabbage chopped
5 carrots chopped (one small bag of shredded carrots would also work)
1 large yellow onion
5 red potatoes chopped ( I like the skins left on but you can peel first if you prefer)
Olive oil (enough to coat the bottom of the pan you are using 3-4 TBSP)
1 TSP sea salt or to taste
1 TSP ground black pepper or to taste
1 TBPS turmeric
1 TSP cayenne pepper (you can leave this out)
Fresh cilantro (a few sprigs to use for garnish at the end)
1/2 lime

What you do:

Heat oil in skillet over medium

Add chopped onion and carrots and cook until tender about 5 minutes

Add all spices and cabbage

Let cook until cabbage is soft about 5 minutes

Add potatoes, reduce heat and cook over low heat until potatoes are soft about 15-20 minutes

After you dish this up on a plate or in a bowl squeeze lime juice over mixture and add cilantro

Enjoy!!!

Veggie Enchiladas

What you need:

1 batch of green enchilada sauce—see my earlier blog post for recipe (or a bottle of store bought green sauce)

1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
2 Bell peppers of any kind chopped
1 Red onion chopped
1 Small package(8 oz) of baby portobello mushrooms chopped
1/2 lime (just the juice)
1 TSP sea salt
1 TSP season salt
1 TSP ground black pepper
1 Can pinto beans rinsed and drained
6 Whole wheat soft taco tortillas

What you’ll do:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Put the chopped peppers, onion and mushrooms on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

Coat the veggies with the olive oil
Sprinkle the salt and pepper on veggies

Bake for about 10-15 minutes stirring halfway through

Remove veggies from oven and stir in rinsed pinto beans

Coat the bottom of a large glass baking dish with the green sauce

Fill each flour tortilla with green sauce and veggie mixture

Roll each tortilla tightly and place seam side down in the baking dish

Continue this until baking dish is full

Pour the remaining sauce on top of the enchiladas

Bake until heated through, about 20 minutes

Optional:
Add fresh salsa (see previous blog post)

Enjoy!!!

Curried Cauliflower with Vegan Sausage on Wild Rice

What you’ll need:
1 head of cauliflower
1 Cup wild rice
2 Links of vegan sausage (I prefer italian flavored)
3 TBLS extra virgin olive oil
1 TBLS curry powder
1 TSP turmeric powder
1 TSP sea salt
1/2 lemon (juice)
1 cube vegetable bouillon(optional)

What you do:
Pre heat oven to 450 degrees
Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil
In a bowl mix together 2 TBLS olive oil, curry powder, turmeric powder, sea salt and lemon juice

Cut cauliflower into bite size pieces
Place cauliflower in curry mixture and lightly coat all pieces

Place cauliflower on cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes

While cauliflower is baking cook wild rice according to directions (Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup wild rice, reduce heat and simmer with lid on for 15 minutes)

After rice is cooked add bouillon and let melt into rice, stir occasionally until thoroughly mixed in

Heat remaining 1 TBLS of olive oil in a skillet or frying pan on med-high heat

Cut vegan sausage into 1/4″ pieces
Cook until golden brown on each side in olive oil
(about 3 minutes per side)

Place rice on plate, add sausage and cauliflower
Squeeze any remaining lemon on top
Sprinkle with sea salt

Enjoy!!