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Sunday, February 26, 2012
Easy dinner idea: Quick curried chickpeas
Grilled paneer cheese
Indian paneer cheese works well on your indoor or outdoor grill, as it chars lightly instead of melting away like other cheeses. In this Indian tandoori-inspired recipe, paneer cheese is coated in a yogurt sauce, smothered in tandoori spices, and grilled on skewers just until lightly charred. Serve it up with extra sauce. Yum!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup plain or lemon yogurt
- 2 tbsp tandoori seasoning blend
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste (optional, if you like your food a bit spicy!)
- 8 ounces paneer cheese, chopped into 1-inch cubes
Preparation:
Pre-heat an indoor or outdoor grill to medium low heat. Skewer paneer on soaked bamboo skewers, and grill for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly charred, coating well with extra sauce.
Serve your grilled paneer drizzled with extra sauce, or serve the extra sauce on the side for dipping.
New! Vegan recipe of the week newsletter!
Pictured: Tofu fish sticks, one of the Vegan Recipes of the Week.
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Saturday, February 25, 2012
Easy Vegan Pancake Recipe
Prep Time: 5?minutes
Cook Time: 10?minutes
Total Time: 15?minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 cup soy milk
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Preparation:
Mix in the soy milk and oil and beat together until batter is smooth.
Drop 1/4 cup of batter at a time onto a hot oiled griddle, or well greased frying pan over medium high heat. When bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake, approximately 3 minutes, flip, and cook the other side for another 2 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts (from Calorie Count): One pancake provides approximately: Calories: 149, Calories from Fat: 50
Total Fat: 5.6g, 9% Saturated Fat: 1.0g, 5%
Cholesterol: 0mg, 0%
Sodium: 58mg, 2%
Total Carbohydrates: 22.2g, 7%
Dietary Fiber: 1.2g, 5%
Sugars: 2.4g
Protein: 3.7g
Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 22%, Iron 9%, based on a 2000 calorie diet
More Vegetarian and Vegan Breakfast Recipes:
Fat-Free Vegan Apple Banana Muffins
Vegan Blueberry Muffins
Basic Tofu Scramble Recipe
Tofu Spinach and Artichoke Quiche
Spicy Tofu Scramble Recipe
Vegan Blueberry Pancakes
Cereal Breakfast Bars
Vegan Pumpkin Scones
Low Fat Vegan Coffee Cake Recipe
Peanut Butter Coffee Cake Recipe
More vegetarian recipes
Raw Food Cinnamon Apple Pancakes
These fancy raw food pancakes or flapjacks take some time in the dehydrator but are a fantastic addition to a raw food breakfast. The harder the dates, the longer you'll need to soak them. Thirty minutes at least, even for relatively soft dates, is normal. You want them to blend up evenly and provide the raw batter with stickiness. You'll probably find these raw food pancakes to be sweet enough on their own, but if you can handle a little more decadence, try some Raw Almond Vanilla Spread to go with them.
Prep Time: 30?minutes
Dehydrator Time: 12?hours
Total Time: 12?hours, 30?minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 pancakes
Ingredients:
- 8 dates, pitted and soaked for at least 30 minutes
- 1 cup buckwheat groats
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped apples, fuji, gala or honeycrisps
- 1/4 soak water from dates
- 1/4 cup agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 teaspoons cinnamon, to taste
- 2 tablespoons ground golden flax seed
- Pinch sea salt
Preparation:
1. Soak the dates in water to cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grind the buckwheat groats in a blender or food processor until they are fine crumbs, almost flour. Set them aside in a separate bowl, add the shredded coconut and mix well.
2. In a food processor, blend the remaining ingredients on high speed for 20 seconds or until a chunky batter forms. Add to the buckwheat coconut mixture and combine well.
3. Scoop pancakes onto Teflex-lined dehydrator trays and flatten them out to your desired size. The smaller they are, the less time they'll take to dehydrate. You'll want them to be about 1/2-inch thick to start because they'll flatten out a little as they dry out.
4. Dehydrate at 115°F for 6 to 8 hours, flip them over, remove the Teflex sheets and continue dehydrating for another 4 to 6 hours. You want them to be a bit squishy still when you press on them with the outsides not too dry. They are definitely best served fresh out of the dehydrator but will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days.
New video: Apple cream cheese spread
Link: Apple cream cheese spread video recipe
Like flavored cream cheese? Here's a few more to try:
Citrus pecan flavored cream cheese
Nutty orange cream cheese
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Raw Foods Cole Slaw Recipe
Prep Time: 10?minutes
Total Time: 10?minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 head green cabbage
- 1/2 head purple cabbage
- 2 carrots, grated
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 cup raw olive or flax seed oil
- 1/2 tsp agave nectar
- salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
In a separate small bowl whisk together the vinegar, mustard, oil and agave until a creamy dressing forms, and pour over the cabbage and carrots.
Mix until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
More Raw Food Recipes:
Easy Raw Pad Thai Salad
Raw "Burrito" Recipe
Vegan Pesto Recipe
Jicama "Fries"
Fig and Mint Salad Recipe
Red Pepper Gazpacho Soup
Watermelon Gazpacho Soup
Raw Applesauce Recipe
Tuscan Orange and Fennel Salad Recipe
Fresh herb marinade for tofu
A simple marinade for tofu made from plenty of fresh herbs. Marinate your tofu as long as you'd like - even overnight - and then grill it to perfection. Use bamboo skewers if you have them on hand.
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped basil
- 1 tsp fresh chopped thyme
- 1 tsp fresh chopped tarragon
- 1 tsp fresh chopped rosemary
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 block firm or extra firm tofu, well pressed
- Optional veggies: bell peppers, mushrooms, eggplant, tomatoes, etc.
Preparation:
Whisk together the remaining ingredients and place in a shallow pan or zip-lock bag. Add tofu and any additional veggies you'd like. Allow to marinate, making sure tofu is well coated, for at least one hour, and up to overnight.
Place tofu and veggies on bamboo skewers and grill for about 4-5 minutes on each side.
Apple Pizza Recipe
See also: More vegetarian pizza recipes
Ingredients:
- 1 12-ounce can refrigerated ready-made pizza dough
- 3 large apples, sliced thin
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese
Preparation:
Lightly coat a 14-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. Press dough into pizza pan.
Cook apples in apple juice until tender. Drain off juice and reserve.
Place apple slices on dough.
Dissolve cornstarch in apple juice, cinnamon, and honey. Cook over medium heat until clear. Spread sauce over apples.
Sprinkle pecans on top. Top with cheese.
Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
Makes 8 slices of apple pizza.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories: 270
Total fat: 9g, Saturated fat: 3.5g, Calories from fat: 80
Protein: 7g
Carbohydrates: 41g
Cholesterol: 15mg
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Sodium: 370mg
Source: U.S. Apple Association
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Fingerling Potatoes with Dulse
Tal says: "This is an upgrade of a very easy, old-fashioned recipe—the twice-baked potato. In this version, you get the richness from cashew cream spiked with horseradish and the sea vegetable dulse. If you’re not a fan of horseradish, skip it and fold in fresh herbs instead. Good at room temperature, so you can make them a bit ahead of time."
Recipe and photo courtesy of The Conscious Cook, by Tal Ronnen.
Ingredients:
- 12 fingerling potatoes, cleaned and dried
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons regular cashew cream
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Earth Balance vegan margarine
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 1 or 2 small pieces dulse
- Paprika
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
Preparation:
Place the potatoes on a baking sheet coated with spray oil and bake for 20 minutes, or until tender.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the horseradish, mayonnaise, cashew cream, and salt and pepper to taste.
Heat the oil in a small nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the dulse and cook, turning once or twice, until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Watch closely so that it doesn’t burn. Remove the dulse to paper towels, let cool, then break into small pieces.
Cut the cooked potatoes in half lengthwise. Being careful not to burn your fingers, scoop the pulp from each potato with a teaspoon, leaving a thin shell. Place the potato pulp in the bowl with the horseradish mixture and the Earth Balance. Mash together, then fill each potato half with the mixture, mounding slightly. Put the potato halves filling side up on the baking sheet.
Sprinkle the potatoes with paprika, return to the oven, and bake for 10 more minutes. Garnish with the chives and crisped dulse.
Makes 24 pieces; 12 servings of fingerling potatoes as a vegetarian and vegan appetizer.
Tastes like pizza!
- Toasted pizza sandwiches
- Sloppy Joe pizza burgers
- Taco pizzas (Ok, so this one actually is a pizza! Pictured.)
- Pizza cookies
Chinese Scallion Pancakes
I was lucky enough to visit Taiwan recently and tasted these amazing scallion pancakes which are served up hot and fresh in stacks from street vendors. Yum! These green onion pancakes are more than just a breakfast food, so enjoy them anytime. Serve plain or dipped in a good quality soy sauce. This recipe for Chinese Scallion (Green Onion) Pancakes is both vegetarian and vegan.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups cold water
- vegetable oil or vegan margarine
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 large bunches green onions, sliced
- oil for frying
- soy sauce for dipping
Preparation:
Roll out the dough to a 1/8 inch thickness. Brush a thin layer of oil or vegan margarine on the top, sprinkle with salt, and then press a layer of green onions into the dough.
Roll into a ball, then roll out a small ball onto a floured surface to a 1/8 inch thickness, pushing any green onions that escape back into the dough.
Fry in 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in a skillet. Cook for approximately 3 minutes on one side then flip and cook for 2 more minutes before placing the pancakes onto a paper towel-lined plate. Salt to taste and serve immediately with soy sauce for dipping. Yum!
Valentine Menu
The appetizer in this menu allows you to get your hands on a shared baked artichoke with a spicy dip, or, you'll sit close together and lean over a steaming mushroom fondue. For the main course, risotto is simmered in white wine, and to top it all off, champagne turns into a sweet dessert in this sorbet recipe. Cook it with love, and enjoy your meal together.
1) Appetizer: Roasted Artichoke with Chipotle Aioli
For this appetizer, the sweet tangy richness of the artichoke is complimented by the smoky flavor of the chipotle aioli dip. You'll share a single artichoke, gently pulling off each leaf, one by one, leaving only the heart, which is to be shared. What could be more romatic than artichokes?
2) Appetizer: Mushroom Fondue
Fondue is perfect for a romantic meal for two. This mushroom fondue has a cheesy flavor and will warm your heart as well as your palette.
3) Entree: Stuffed Peppers with White Wine Risotto
A generous amount of white wine sets a romantic mood in this aromatic and colorful dish.
4) Beverage: Fruity Sangria
This fruity chilled sangria complements both the spicy chipotle aioli and the sweetness of the stuffed peppers.
5) Dessert: Strawberry Champagne Sorbet
Serve this heavenly champagne sorbet in wine or martini glasses and top with fresh fruit for a picture perfect dessert.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Romantic Valentine's Idea: Fondue for two
Valentine's gift idea: Homemade cheesecake
Keeping your coffee cruelty-free
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Raw food coconut soup recipe
See also: How to open a young coconut
Ingredients:
- 1 young coconut
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tsp fresh minced ginger or galangal
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp cold pressed olive or flax oil
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 medium tomato
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp fresh minced chili, or to taste (I used cayenne pepper)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- diced bell pepper (optional)
- chopped cherry tomatoes (optional)
- mushrooms, thinly sliced (optional)
Preparation:
Add garlic, ginger or galangal, lime juice, oil, curry powder, tomato, salt and chili. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasonings to taste.
Add cilantro and pulse until cilantro is finely minced.
Pour into serving containers and add any chopped veggies you like: bell pepper, tomatoes and thinly sliced mushrooms work well.
This raw coconut soup works well after it's had a chance to chill in the fridge for a couple hours to allow the flavors to set. It'll need a good stirring before serving, however, as the oils and coconut water will tend to separate.
Enjoy your raw food Thai coconut soup! Yum!
Scroll down for more easy and healthy (and free!) raw food soup recipes to try.
How are your New Years resolutions going?
Did you resolve to exercise more, go vegetarian or eat more raw foods? If you're struggling with meeting your goals (or have completely forgotten about them already!) it might be time to reevaluate. Are your goals SMART? That is, are they achievable and specific? "I will go vegetarian" is a bit vague, for example. A better choice might be, "I will reduce my meat consumption by only eating meat twice a week for two months, once a week for one month and I will be completely vegetarian by May." If you need any help, feel free to post questions in the forum, or leave me a note by replying to this post.
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All vegetarian recipes
Vegan Lemon Vinaigrette
This easy lemon vinaigrette dressing recipe is courtesy of Ener-G Foods.
Ingredients:
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Preparation:
Whisk or blend together all ingredients.
Tomato and barley vegetable soup
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups good quality vegetable broth
- 1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cups spinach leaves (optional)
- salt and pepper
Preparation:
Add tomatoes (do not drain), vegetable broth, barley and Italian seasoning, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil, cover, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
Cook for 30-40 minutes, or until barley is cooked and carrots are soft. Stir in spinach, heat for one more minute, then turn off heat. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Traditional Game Day Idea: Mini-meatballs! Vegetarian, of course!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Romantic Valentine's idea: Cook up a gourmet meal!
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Champagne glasses photo courtesy of stock.xchng/fangol
Cold Chinese Sesame Noodles
See also: More Easy Vegetarian Recipes
Ingredients:
- 1 pound Chinese-style noodles
- water for boiling
- 2 tbsp sesame oil + 1 tbsp
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp water
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1 tbsp cooking sherry or rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp fresh ginger minced or grated
- 3 green onions, sliced
Preparation:
In a large skillet, fry the noodles in 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, stirring frequently. Allow to cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until noodles are soft. Remove from heat.
In a large bowl or blender, whisk or blend together the 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, peanut butter, water, soy sauce, tahini, sherry or rice vinegar, maple syrup, garlic and ginger. Toss this mixture with the noodles.
Stir in the green onions.
Chill before serving, if desired.
More Vegetarian and Vegan Chinese Recipes:
Chinese Style Spaghetti
Sweet and Sour Tofu with Vegetables
Low-Fat Chinese Vegetable Stir-Fry
Vegetarian Gingered Lo Mein
Chinese Style Spring Rolls
Cold Asian Rice Salad
Sweet Cabbage Stir Fry
Chinese Style Stir-Fry with Seitan and Hoisin Sauce
Vegetable Fried Rice
Asian Green Beans
Tofu and Cashew Fried Rice
Sweet and Sour Tempeh Recipe
Vegetarian Chow Mein Recipe
Vegetarian Potstickers
Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce
Vegetable Chow Mein
Miso and Spinach Stir-Fry
Sweet and Sour Vegetables
Quick 7 Layer Dip Recipe
See also: More bean dip recipes
Ingredients:
- 1 16 ounce container sour cream
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 2 16 ounce cans refried beans
- 1 16 ounce jar salsa
- 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 2 avocados, diced
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 1 4 ounce can sliced black olives
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- tortilla chips
Preparation:
In sauce pan, combine vegetarian refried beans and salsa. Heat on medium until evenly blended. Let cool.
Shred lettuce. Dice tomatoes, avocados, and green onions.
Take cooled beans and salsa and spread in 11x13 inch pan. Spread sour cream/taco seasoning mixture over beans. Layer the cheese, olives, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and green onions in that order evenly over each ingredient.
Serve your seven layer dip with with tortilla chips.
See also: More vegetarian recipes
Homemade tortilla chips recipe
Banana Carob Smoothie
A thick, creamy and sweet smoothie that's more like a chocolate milkshake, yet because it's vegan, sugar-free and very low-fat, it's healthy enough for breakfast everyday. Carob is a healthy and low-fat chocolate substitute, but you could use cocoa powder instead of the carob, if you prefer.
Ingredients:
- 3 frozen chopped bananas
- 3/4 cup soy mik or rice milk
- 1 1/2 tbsp carob powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Preparation:
Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. You can add more or less soy milk to get the consistency that you prefer.
Countdown to the Super Bowl!
Vegetarian Seven Layer Dips:
- Vegetarian Seven Layer Dip with Mock Meat (pictured) Season some mock meat crumbles with chili powder for a seven layer dip with a meaty texture.
- Vegan 7 Layer Dip Tofutti vegan cream cheese forms the bottom layer of this vegan Mexican dip.
- Quick and Easy Vegetarian Seven Layer Dip Taco seasoning adds extra spice to this quick and easy recipe.
- 7 Layer Dip for Kids Use a mild chili powder and salsa to make this snack for the kids.
Of course, no Super Bowl party is complete without a cooler of beer. Check out my colleague Bryce's suggestions for a Super Bowl beer pick.
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