All posts filed under: Vegetarian

Baked Sweet Potato with Broccolini and Gooey Vegan Cheddar Cheese Sauce

This recipe is such a treat! It tastes so rich it almost seems like it must be bad for you, but it’s actually packed with nutrients. The secret ingredient is tapioca flour, sometimes called tapioca starch, which is made from the cassava plant and naturally gluten-free. This is what gives  your cheese sauce a thick, creamy, too good to be good for you  texture! I use Bob’s Red Mill brand available at Whole foods and Trader Joe’s. Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, vitamins A, B5, B6, thiamine, niacin and riboflavin. They get their pretty orange color from the plant pigments carotenoids which are powerful antioxidants. The broccolini has vitamin C and calcium and you get some protein and healthy fats from the nuts so you’ll feel full and satisfied for hours. Best of all you get to enjoy the sweet, spicy, cheesy, yummy flavor! Enjoy xJacq Pre-heat oven to 400* Ingredients: 2-3 servings  Sweet Potatoes: 2 Sweet Potatoes 1 tsp Coconut Oil 3 tsp Cashew Sour Cream Fresh Parsley or Chives, chopped, for garnish Broccolini: 1 tbsp …

Feel Good Jicama Nachos

This is an awesome, healthy, plant-based alternative to traditional fat and calorie laden nachos. The best part is you get all of the delicious flavors of regular nachos without that heavy, greasy feeling. Since they are made with vegetables, nuts and legumes, you’ll be getting tons of fiber, vitamins minerals and healthy fats instead. These happen to be vegan, but everyone loves them. I put them out as a snack during football and my meat-loving husband gobbled them all up before I could even have two bites! Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: 1 small Jicama 1/2 Onion, thinly sliced 2 Tbs Coconut or Olive Oil 1 can Black Beans, rinsed Pinch Salt, Pepper, Cumin and Cayenne 1/2 lime 3/4 cup Pico de Gallo 3/4 cup Guacamole 3/4 cup Cashew Cheese 1/4 tsp Taco Seasoning 1/2 lime 1/4 cup each chopped Olives, Jalapeño, Bell Pepper and Cilantro 2 Radish, thinly sliced Sauté the onion in oil over medium heat until it starts to brown add the black beans, a pinch cumin, salt & pepper, and cayenne and lower …

REAL FOOD FAST- Clean Veggie Curry Bowl

  Next time you’re feeling peckish try this quick and clean curry bowl. So many delicious flavors come together in this recipe- sweet, savory, spicy, nutty – all in just 10 minutes. Here I’ve laid out traditional measurements for everything, but also more casual measurement so you can just eyeball it when you’re in a hurry. I promise it will turn out perfectly either way. This is real food fast at its best. Ingredients: 1-2 servings 1/4 Onion 2 tsp coconut oil 1/2  Zucchini, 3/4 cup Mushrooms, (about 2  handfuls) 3/4 cup Cauliflower, broken into small florets (about 2 handfuls) 1 Garlic Clove, chopped 1/2 cup Vegetable Broth 1/4 tsp EACH Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Curry Powder (2 big pinches each) 1 can Garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained Fresh Cilantro and Italian Parsley leaves (1 small handful each) 1/4 cup Walnuts, chopped (1 small handful) 1 Tbs Mango Chutney 1 Tbsp Coconut Yogurt or Cashew Sour Cream Sriracha (optional) Sauté the onion in coconut oil over medium heat. Meanwhile thinly slice the zucchini, and mushrooms. Add them to …

Feel Good Chocolate Mousse made with Avocado

 This chocolate mousse takes only minutes to prepare and tastes deliciously rich and creamy. It’s the perfect recipe for a quick afternoon chocolate fix or a crowd pleasing end to a dinner party. Best of all, it’s a sweet treat you can feel good about. The cocoa powder is full of antioxidants, the avocado gives you healthy fats and the almond milk has a good amount of protein. If you’re feeding picky eaters, try not telling them what’s in it until they’ve gobbled it all up, then enjoy the look on their face when you reveal your secret ingredients. 😉 Enjoy! xJacq INGREDIENTS:  1-2 servings 1 ripe Avocado 1/2 cup unsweetened Almond Milk 1/4 cup unsweetened Cocoa or Cacao Powder* 1/4 cup raw Agave syrup** 1 tsp Vanilla Extract Kosher Salt, pinch Cinnamon, pinch 3 ice cubes Blend everything in a high-speed blender until it turns into a thick, creamy mousse. You may need to scrape down the sides. If it gets too thick for the blades to turn add another splash of almond milk. Serve plain …

REAL FOOD FAST- Artichokes Provençal

This french inspired meal comes together in 5 minutes and is super nutritious. All the veggies are packed with vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients. When parsley and garlic are eaten together they provide a synergistic boost to the immune system, aid digestion, and have natural antibiotic, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. The beans are full of protein and fiber and the olives have healthy fats which means you’ll stay full and energized for hours. I use kitchen scissors to cut the sun-dried tomatoes, bell pepper and parsley. You don’t even really have to measure them; this recipe is so flexible you really can’t go wrong. Of course the most important thing is that it is absolutely delicious and makes a perfect quick lunch or dinner.  Bon Appetit! xJacq Ingredients:  Serves 1-2 1 Garlic clove, finely chopped Herb d’ Provence Olive Oil 1 can Cannellini (White Kidney) Beans 1 can Artichoke Hearts, halves or quartered Splash of White Wine or Veggie Broth Salt & Pepper 1/4 cup Black Olives 1.5 Tbsp Sun-dried Tomato, sliced 1.5 Tbsp Bell Pepper, chopped, fresh or jarred Fresh …

Sautéed Greens With Smoked Salt and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette

Sautéed greens with smoked salt are my new favorite thing to eat at the moment! Smoked salt adds amazing depth to the flavor to any vegetable dish. My absolute favorite is called “7-fire” from  Hepp’s Salt Co., available at farmer’s markets around Los Angeles and online, but you can also find smoked salt at Whole Foods, Walmart and most gourmet markets. You could also make some next time you BBQ. The greens are very tasty on their own, but even better with this warm cherry tomato vinaigrette and crunchy Marcona almonds. This makes a delicious and nutritious side or a light meal. You can also serve it over quinoa or brown rice to make it a hearty bowl. Ingredients:  serves 2 as side 1 as a main dish For the Vinaigrette: 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved 1/2 Shallot, chopped 1 cloves Garlic 1 sprig Thyme Salt & Pepper Olive Oil Red Wine Vinegar For the Greens: 1 bunch Kale or Swiss Chard 1 cup packed Baby Spinach 1 Tbsp Olive or Coconut Oil 1/4 Onion, thinly sliced …

REAL FOOD FAST- Ezekiel Hummus Wrap

REAL FOOD FAST is a new series consisting of super fast, healthy, plant-based recipe ideas that take around 5 minutes to make. People often make excuses about being too busy to eat right, but there are lots of healthy meals and snacks you can make in less time than it would take to hit a drive through. These are my go-tos for a quick meal on the run. Ezekiel Bread Hummus Wrap– What you’ll need: 1. Ezekiel Bread or other whole grain or gluten free tortillas – I love Ezekiel sprouted whole grain tortillas because they are preservative free, organic, and since they are made with a variety of grains and legumes they are actually a complete protein! You can find them at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. 2. Hummus- today I used lemon, but any flavor you like will work. Since hummus is so rich in protein and fiber, it fights off hunger and can balance blood sugar levels. Try my Artichoke Hummus  or my Canellini Bean Hummus  recipes. 3. Veggies- I like to start with a leafy …

Salad with Green Beans, Pickled Persimmon and Dried Cherries

Salad with Green Beans, Pickled Persimmon, Dried Cherries, and Pistachio

This is my favorite fall salad! It’s so scrumptious and full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The lettuce has a delicate, mildly sweet flavor that works beautifully with the sweet/tart flavor of the persimmon and dried cherries. The green beans add substance and the pistachios and shallot add a ton of flavor and crunch. It’s so good that I’ve decided to add it to my Thanksgiving menu this year. The great thing about making this for a holiday or dinner party is you can make the persimmon pickles and cook the green beans a couple of days ahead of time, making it really easy to put together on the big day. Ingredients: Serves 4 Green Beans: 1/2 lb Green Beans, trimmed 1 tsp salt Shallot: 3-4 Tbsp Olive Oil 1 Shallot, thinly sliced, separated into rings Salad: 1 head Butter or Green Leaf Lettuce 1/4 cup Pistachios 1/4 cup Dried Cherries 8 slices Ginger-Chili Pickled Persimmon Sea Salt & Black Pepper Dressing: 3 Tbsp Vinegar from the Pickles 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Olive Oil Juice of 1/2 …

Better Than Nutella

This spread is absolutely heavenly. It’s super quick to put together and full of anti-oxidants thanks to the raw cacao nibs, minerals thanks to the nuts and healthy fat from coconut oil. That’s why I think it’s better than Nutella, which is 54% sugar and contains palm oil. I love it with apple slices or thinly spread on toast with fresh strawberries sliced on top. Yum!   Ingredients: 1/3 cup EACH Hazelnuts, Pecans, Cacao Nibs, Honey, Coconut oil Pinch of Salt 1 Tbsp water Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Enjoy! This spread hardens when refrigerated because of the coconut oil, so allow leftovers to come to room temp before serving.

Easy Homemade Corn Tortillas

Homemade tortillas taste infinitely better than store-bought. The dough is super simple to make and takes all of 5 minutes to come together. When I first started making them I shaped them by hand, but since I invested in a tortilla press I haven’t looked back. That was $15 well spent! I bought mine at a great restaurant supply store called Surfas in Los Angeles but they are widely available at Mexican markets and online. Corn tortillas are made with a special corn flour called Masa Harina  which is made with corn that is dried and then treated in a solution of lime (calcium hydroxide) and water to loosens the hulls from the kernels, soften the corn and make it more easily digestible. My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill because of its fresh corn taste. They also make a certified gluten-free version. Masa Harina is naturally gluten free but using a certified version is best for those with celiac disease as it ensures it has been processed in a gluten-free facility. As with all Bob’s Red Mill products …