Whenever I serve this thick and creamy potato chowder to guests (non plant-based), they can’t believe it doesn’t contain dairy or cheese. For an even lower-fat version, leave out the cashews. The result will still be delicious.
I had never made pumpkin soup before. Shocking, I know, considering what a pumpkin freak I am. Well, I gave it a go recently. As per normal, I was determined to listen to my culinary instincts rather than follow a recipe…not sure if that’s big ego or just a can-do attitude talking :). Either way, my instincts paid off, big time!!! This soup rivaled any pumpkin soup I’d ever had, including the non-vegan, really fattening varieties I’d had in years past. Try it! As you know, I don’t cook with oil as a rule, but the small amount of truffle oil stirred in just prior to serving MAKES this soup, in my opinion.
Unlike traditional Sloppy Joes which are made with ground beef, these Josephines are made with either crumbled tofu, chickpeas or tempeh. Either is delicious!
Minestrone is easy to make, and there are a ton of recipes out there with different ingredients. I don’t know that there’s anything spectacularly different about this one but I love it, and wanted to put it out there. Feel free to play around with the types of veggies and amounts. The basil pesto topping is a MUST! You can find that recipe in Recipes on this site, or in the Forks Over Knives Cookbook.
If you’re thinking “BBQ, and lentils – in a taco!? Weird!”, think again. It’s delicious. Of course, if you aren’t a fan of BBQ, you won’t like it because it has a strong BBQ flavor. Personally, I’d like the lentil mixture without the sauce just as much, but the BBQ is yummy. These are easy to make and so flavorful. We enjoy them topped with my homemade non-dairy sour cream (see in Recipes on this site for Sour Un-Cream), raw cabbage and lime.
Note: this recipe is gluten-free only if you use a BBQ sauce that is gluten-free.
Why are they called red lentils when they are pink, and become yellow once cooked? Weird. All I know is they make an amazing soup! Unlike other types of lentils, these cook and break down quickly, and end up soft, almost as if they have been pureed. The first few times I made this soup it was on the stove, but recently I used the crock pot and it was even better. There really is something to slow cooking, allowing the flavors to build and grow. Either way, it’s an easy, delicious meal, any time of year. One of our favorites!!
I’ve served this dish to cabbage haters who loved it, and to meat eaters who went back for seconds. It’s a dish yet to disappoint, and another crock pot recipe – I love those! While it’s technically fall, it’s still really hot here but that didn’t hold me back from making this last night. I’m craving the feelings and flavors associated with autumn. If you think about it, a crock pot is a great way to cook without heating up the kitchen! Works for me.
Chili. Not the most creative dish, and almost everybody knows how to make it. There are a gazillion recipes out there, and I’ve tried many of them (the ones without meat, of course). For whatever reason, I’ve never been completely satisfied with any of the chili dishes I’ve made, whether I followed a recipe or made it up myself. I always felt like there was something missing, and I couldn’t describe or figure out what that something was. Also, I always made it too spicy, and as I’ve said many times, I’m a spice wimp. All this changed last night. Finally!
The mushrooms and cauliflower may sound like strange additions but trust me, they work. You can’t really taste them but they add a nice texture and I’m sure contribute to the overall flavor. The real secret in the great flavor, I believe, comes from the baked beans and liquid smoke. The fresh corn is a great addition, especially now when corn is in season. Add more chili powder and maybe some cayenne if you like your chili spicy. Try it and let me know what you think.
When I was on Maui last week, we ate at a cool restaurant called Monkey Pod. They had an interesting menu filled with varieties of different foods, all using sustainable, local ingredients. I was super excited when I saw Potato Tacos on the menu. I wasn’t super excited to see, when the server brought them to the table, that they were made with french fries. Yikes! As you can imagine, they were very greasy (don’t worry, I didn’t finish them, and I picked out many of the potato pieces). The wheels immediately began turning in my head as I thought about how best to recreate a healthy version of the dish. Here’s the recipe! It was delicious, even made without french fries. See what you think!
I used to love chicken and tuna salad sandwiches, but I’ve have had to do without since I happily gave up animal foods years ago. Sure, there are plenty of faux-chicken and even tuna products out there but they are not what I’d call healthy since they are highly processed and contain oil. Well, thanks to Lindsey Nixon, The Happy Herbivore, I got the idea for this tasty sandwich filling. Her recipe is for tuna, but I’ve made a few changes to make mine more like a chicken-salad. Both of them use….wait for it…..smashed garbanzo beans!! Weird, right? I thought so too, but seriously people, it’s good! And since the mayo is fat free, it truly is a guilt-free, healthy treat! Try it and let me know what you think!