One of my favorite restaurants Native Foods has an African Peanut Soup that I adore. It tastes very fattening though so I wanted to try and make something similar, but with less fat. As well, theirs is a very smooth soup and I prefer chunkier soups – I like chewing! This version is thick and chunky, while still being creamy. And this can vary depending on how much of it you want blended, using your immersion or regular blender. Feel free to play around with spices and amounts. Those listed here result in a mild flavor.
I knew I wanted to make some type of noodle/stir-fry dish with a sweet-spicy-savory-tangy sauce, but I wasn’t thrilled about any of the recipes I came across. So, I threw a few things together – paying attention to amounts and making notes in case it worked out and I wanted to share with you, and it worked out! I love it when that happens! Love it even more when I’m not the only one in the house who thinks it’s yummy. For lack of a more creative idea, I’m calling these Asian Noodles. Any configuration of veggies would work, and you could add tofu or tempeh as well for extra protein. To make it super easy, Trader Joe’s sells packages of pre-shredded cabbage and carrots. I’d use two packages of cabbage. Typing this up makes me want to make and eat it again!
BBQ Jack WHAT?!? If you’re thinking “She’s lost her mind. What weird vegan food is she eating NOW?” bear with me! Jackfruit, the young/unripened variety, is popular primarily in Asian countries. It can be found in Asian grocery stores and is sold in cans. It has a mild flavor and poultry-like texture. I know it sounds weird; trust me, I was skeptical too, but it’s really good this way, and a heck of a lot healthier than pulled pork! Can be made gluten-free when using a gluten-free BBQ sauce.
I enjoyed this dish off of the Seabirds’ vegan food truck and have done my best to recreate it here. Tasted the same to me, only theirs was spicier (I’m a spice wimp so I didn’t use hot sauce).
