Lentil Pasta with mushrooms

 1/3 cup lentil pasta (from Trader Joe’s)

1 Tsp vegan butter

1/3 cup onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced 

4 cremini mushrooms, sliced

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup frozen corn

1 large handful of spinach

1 tbsp Italian herbs

Pinch of salt and pepper

1/4 lemon zest

Vegan Parmesan to taste 

Optional nutritional yeast

Cook pasta as directed.  Meanwhile, heat butter in pan.  Once hot, add onions and garlic until fragrant.  Add mushrooms, then peas and corn, stirring frequently.cheese at the last minute.  Plate and add lemon zest.    Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning.  Add cooked and drained pasta and stir.  Toss in spinach and Parmesan  at the last minute,  remove from heat and plate, and then sprinkle lemon zest on top.  Serve hot. 

Chow Mein!

 I have been obsessed with Chow Mein since trying my local vegan restaurant’s version.  I was craving it, but they are not open today, so I tried my hand at it.  This recipe is quick and delicious!

You need:

Fistful of noodles - I used spaghetti, but you can also use ramen

1/2 bag of shredded cabbage and carrot from Trader Joe’s, or make your own

1/4 cup diced onion

Cubed tofu, I used about 1/2 cup

Scallions

For the Sauce:

4 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp peanut butter 

1 tbsp blackstrap molasses 

2 tsp seasoned rice vinegar 

1 garlic clove, finely minced

2 tsp sesame oil

First, boil the water for the pasta.  Begin to mix the sauce in a jar - whisk until fully immersed.  As soon as the water is ready, toss it in to cook and begin to heat up a pan. Throw a couple of dashes of water in the pan to cook onions first.  Once the onions are translucent, toss in the vegetable mix and tofu to the pan.  Mix until slightly wilted, cooking on medium heat.  

Once the noodles are cooked, drain and add them to the pan, turning up the heat to high.  Stir around for 30 seconds or so, and slowly add the sauce to the pan to reach desired consistency (I only used about half for 2 servings).  Let it begin to boil, so you can scrape the glazed bits off the pan as you fervently stir the mix.  Remove from heat and garnish with scallions.  Serve immediately.

If you make this, let me know!

 

Tomato Lentil Soup

 It finally got colder, so I’m sharing my latest lentil soup recipe!

Serves 2

1 pat of vegan butter

1/2 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cups water, with 1 tsp vegetable bouillion

1/2 can tomatoes 

1/2 cup red lentils, rinsed and sorted

1/2 cup farro

1/2 Tsbp cumin

1/2 Tbsp turmeric

1 dash pepper

Squeeze of lemon

Heat water and immerse bouillon.  While heating, melt butter in a saucepan and add onions and garlic.  Cook until translucent, then transfer to pot.  Once bouillon is fully immersed, add tomatoes, lentils, farro, onions, garlic, spices.  Cook for about 15-18 minutes, until farro is completely cooked.  Take 2 ladles of soup and blend in a blender, and add back to the pot.  Bring to a simmer.  Serve with a dash of lemon. 

simple Vegan “Brownie”

 Simple Vegan “Brownie”

1.5 cups oatmeal, ground 

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup vegan cocoa powder

6 dates

1. Melt the peanut butter and maple syrup together.  

2 .Place oats and cocoa powder in a bowl and combine. 

3. Blend dates in high speed blender with some water.  

4. Add maple syrup and peanut butter to date mixture, mix well.  Combine all ingredients.

5. Smash with a rubber spatula in a loaf pan and refrigerate.  No need to bake. (can also be rolled into energy bites)

Vegan Sushi Bowl