All posts tagged: easy vegan recipes

Spicy Buffalo Tofu Fingers with Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing

Game Day Spicy Buffalo Tofu Fingers with Avocado Ranch Dressing

I make these Spicy Buffalo Tofu Fingers for Super Bowl every year. They are always a big hit with vegans and meat eaters alike so I wanted to share the recipe before the big game this Sunday. You don’t have to be watching a sporting event to enjoy these, but they do happen to have a spicy kick that stands up nicely to a cold beer and a loud television. I like to use Wildwood Organic Tofu made with sprouted soybeans because it is vacuum sealed rather than packed in water, but any extra-firm tofu will work. I use an organic Jalapeño Hot Sauce, but you can use any hot sauce you like, Just make sure vinegar is listed as an ingredient, to ensure that you get the right flavor. My favorite Sriracha comes from Organicville. All of these ingredients are available at Whole Foods or other natural foods markets. Try them with my creamy Avocado-Herb Ranch Dressing. It’s the perfect cooling compliment to these spicy treats. Nutritional Highlights: Tofu is a complete protein, containing all 9 …

Spinach Pasta with Roasted Pumpkin, Pomegranate and Pecans in Sage Garlic Oil

Roasted Pumpkin, Pomegranate and Pecan Pasta in Sage Garlic Oil

Published by Jacqueline King

I came up with this roasted pumpkin pasta recipe as a way to make the best use of the pumpkins that had been decorating my front entryway. I bought a couple of varieties that were new to me this year rather than the traditional jack-o-latern type. When I cut into them with plans to make toasted pumpkin seeds, the color of the flesh inside told me that these pumpkins were made for more decorating doorsteps. I’ve tried cooking those regular pumpkins before and they were flavorless and fibrous, but these brightly colored pumpkins have a smooth, sweet flesh similar to butternut squash. The types to try are Cinderella, Fairytale, Hubbard or Sugar Pie. All you have to do to bring out their rich, sweet pumpkin flavor is roast them with a few spices. You can serve roasted pumpkin as a hearty seasonal side, but here it is paired with earthy spinach pasta, meaty pecans and sweet-tart pomegranate seeds to become a main dish that is not only beautifully balanced in flavor, but also beautiful to look …

Rainbow Root Vegetable Salad

Published by Jacqueline King

This rainbow root vegetable salad is a beautiful and easy dish that adds a gorgeous array of colors to your winter table. All of the vegetables are raw so the trick is to use a mandolin to slice the veggies so they are just thick enough to hold their shape. Then we add sweet persimmon and golden raisins to perfectly balance the earthy flavor of the root veggies. It’s a celebration of the seasons bounty which makes it a perfect dish for the holidays! Enjoy and best wishes to you as we step into this busy season! With love, Jacq Rainbow Root Vegetable Salad Serves 6 as appetizer Ingredients 1/4 Fennel bulb and fronds 3 small watermelon radish 1 persian Cucumber 2 baby turnip (or 1/2 small turnip, peeled) 1/2 Yellow Beet, peeled 1/2 Chioggia (striped) Beet, peeled 1/2 Red Beet, peeled 3 rainbow Carrots 1 large Fuyu Persimmon (sub fuji apple if not available) 3 Romaine Lettuce Hearts 5 tablespoons Almond Oil, divided 1/2 Lemon Sea Salt and Black Pepper 1/2 Orange 1 tablespoon Red …

Creamy White Wine Risotto With Roasted Mushroom and Thyme

Published by Jacqueline King

If you’re looking for a beautiful and delicious main dish to serve this holiday season, look no further than this creamy White Wine Risotto with Roasted Mushroom and Thyme. I lived in Italy for a while and have so many memories of celebratory dinners with risotto at the center. I think of it as the world’s most elegant comfort food. It’s so satisfying and warming, but still feels like a special occasion food. Like a lot of people, I assumed that to get a creamy risotto, you have to add a lot of butter and cheese, but as I began to study plant-based cooking I found out that is absolutely not true! The creaminess is actually achieved by coaxing the starch out the of the special type of rice that is used to make risotto. You do this by adding hot liquid, a little at a time as it cooks, and by stirring a lot. To get the umami flavor that is usually provided by parmesan we add a little miso paste and nutritional yeast instead. …

6 Easy Veggie Swaps to Cut Calories and Boost Nutrition

10 Easy Veggie Swaps to Cut Calories and Boost Nutrition

Published by Jacqueline King

We know by now that eating a diet rich in vegetables is good for our health, our mood and even our looks. Here’s a list of the veggie swaps you can make to get more of them into your meals while lightening up on calories. If you’re worried about feeling deprived, don’t. Because they’re so nutritionally dense, you may actually fuller with the veggie versions! 1. Instead of Flour Tortillas use Collard Greens- Swap out the refined flour for a crunchy collard greens next time you make a wrap and save over 100 calories while getting the anti-inflammatory benefits of vitamin K and omega-3 fatty acids. How-to: Cut off the thick stem and carefully slice the rib so that it is flush to the leaf. That way it won’t break when you roll it up. Remember to always cut with the knife cutting away from your hand to avoid accidents. Add your filling in the center of the leaf, perpendicular to the stem, then fold in the sides and roll it up like a burrito. Try a …

Your New Favorite Weeknight Dinner- Veggie Tempeh Bolognese

Published by Jacqueline King

My aunt recently told me she had tried to make tempeh, but thought it tasted like cardboard. I had to agree with her, on its own it can be pretty bland. However, when prepared the right way it can be a savory, hearty, protein filled base for a delicious meal. She was skeptical, but willing to try a dish that might redeem it for her, so I shared this Veggie Tempeh Bolognese recipe that is one of my weeknight favorites. Later that night she messaged an adorable picture of her toddler gobbling it up with spaghetti and my uncle with an empty bowl and a big smile on his face. Now, he is not what you would call an adventurous eater, so a little white lie was in order. She let him think it was a turkey Bolognese until after he had cleaned his plate. Now it is one of their favorite easy dinner recipes and hopefully it will be one of yours too. This recipe is perfect… When you want a quick, filling, delicious …

Lemon-Thyme Blackberry Crumble

Published by Jacqueline King

Blackberries are just so delicious in the summer and they’re even better when baked with a crunchy crumble topping. This recipe adds a touch of maple sweetness to the berries without covering up their natural goodness with piles of white sugar. A little lemon adds brightness and the thyme gives it a subtle herbal flavor that makes it a step above your ordinary crumble. It took several attempts to get it just right, but the result is well worth it! A sweet-tart filling that is just the right consistency, not too watery or too thick and jammy, and a delicious topping made with ingredients you can feel good about like oats, almonds, and coconut oil. The key is cooking it partway on the stovetop to allow some of the berries to release their liquid. This is wonderful for breakfast topped with coconut yogurt, but in my humble opinion even better as dessert served with your favorite vanilla ice cream (mine is Vanilla NadaMoo!). Make it for your next BBQ or family gathering and trust me, you will put …

Real Food Fast: Sautéed Mushroom and Wilted Spinach Salad with Cashews and Sun-Dried Tomato

Published by Jacqueline King

Here is another healthy, flavorful meal you can throw together in 10 minutes or less. I served this with toast topped with protein-rich sage hummus that I made by blending regular hummus with a couple of fresh sage leaves. It was quick, delicious and super satisfying! Ingredients: 2 Servings 3 Tbsp Olive Oil, divided 6-8 Sage Leaves 1 Shallot, chopped 1 lb. Button or Cremini Mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar 1 tsp Dijon Mustard, preferably whole-grain Sea Salt & Black Pepper 6 cups Baby Greens (spinach, kale and/or chard etc.) 1 Radish, thinly sliced 1/4 cup Cashew, Raw 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato, sliced Heat a pan over medium-high then add 2 Tbsp olive oil. When hot, fry the sage for 30-60 seconds, if it starts to brown remove immediately from the pan. Use tongs or a fork to transfer the leaves to a plate covered with a paper towel to drain and crisp. In the same pan add the chopped shallot and mushrooms and cook 5 minutes until the mushrooms have softened. Add the …