comfort food – Page 3 – The Vegan Love Project

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

Pesto is a sure sign summer is here, with it’s fresh beautiful taste. Basil also has a whole host of healing properties including anti-bactieral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging as it is filled with antioxidants…..Good news for all of us, and as easy as Pesto! I picked this beautiful bag of basil up yesterday at the local farmer’s market and whipped up this fabulous easy pesto. I ate it over brown rice penne, and I honestly don’t know how it could have been improved upon. #nocheese #noneed

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

1-1/2-2c fresh basil, lightly packed

1/3c raw pine nuts, sprouted if possible

2T sweet mellow white miso

2T nutritional Yeast

1/2c extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

½ lemon, juiced

2t brown rice vinegar

Salt and pepper

—

In a blender, add the basil, oil, garlic, vinegar, lemon and miso. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust the seasoning adding more salt, pepper or lemon juice if needed. Pour out into an airtight container- keep in the fridge. Can easily be frozen.

Gluten Free Flour Free Jam dots

Gluten Free Flour Free Jam dots
makes 20 one oz cookies
1c coconut flour
1c roasted almonds
1 cup oats
1/4t cinnamon
1/2t salt
—-
1/2c maple syrup
1/2c coconut oil
1/2t vanilla
—
3T jam
preheat oven to 350º
If you are starting with raw almonds, roast them on a cookie sheet @ 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, careful not to let them burn. Cool thoroughly before running through the food processor.
In a small bowl, mix all of the wet ingredients together, the maple syrup, oil, and vanilla.
Put all of the dry ingredients into the food processor, the roasted almonds*, coconut flour, cinnamon and salt and process until a fine meal is achieved. *Be sure that the almonds are completely cooled before processing; otherwise you will end up with a pasty mess. In a large bowl, sift the flours, the salt and the cinnamon. Add the nuts to this bowl.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a spatula until everything is well incorporated.
With a one ounce ice cream scoop or two spoons, place batter balls onto a *parchment lined cookie sheets. With a one cup measuring cup, slightly flatten each cookie-This process is a little easier when the cup is dipped into warm water between each cookie. Using a one-teaspoon measure, press the dome side into each cookie, this is where the jam goes. This process is a little easier when the teaspoon is dipped into warm water between each cookie.
Using a 1/2-teaspoon measure, scoop your choice of jam or fruit preserves into the center of each cookie.
Bake for 12 minutes and then rotate the pans in the oven (to insure even baking) and continue to bake for another 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool on the pans for another 5 minutes then remove to a cooling rack.

Simple Lentil Soup with Greens

I used fresh local spinach and it could not have been more satisfying. You can strip this soups down to just the onions and garlic and it would still be delicious. The turmeric adds a boost of anti inflammatory and antibacterial properties that we could all use more of and the cumin just makes it taste good. Serve topped with nutritional yeast and cracked black pepper and gluten free crackers or bread. Super fricken yum

Simple Lentil Soup with Greens

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1c brown lentils, washed and drained

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1-2c spinach, broccoli or other chopped leafy greens

1t turmeric

1/2t ground cumin

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes or 1/2 of a fresh chili or jalapeño

1 vegetable bouillon cube (or 1T veggie broth powder)

2-3T extra virgin olive oil

4c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil, in case you need more

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, spices, hot pepper and garlic until golden and soft. Add the lentils, mixing them into the onion mix. Add the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder) tamari, and Ume. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the greens.

Adjust the seasonings before serving.

Spicy Raw Almond Sesame Sauce

Not all of the ingredients in this sauce are raw, however feel free to add in, subtract out what you need. Just the perfect amount of spicy heat. I sauced up some organic gluten free buckwheat noodles and sprinkled black sesames atop…nomnomnomnomnom

Spicy Raw Almond Sesame Sauce

1/2c raw almond butter

1/2t toasted sesame oil

1T sriracha or hot sauce

2T tamari

2t maple syrup or sucanat

2t hot sesame oil

1/4c sesame seeds

2T mirin

1t brown rice vinegar

1” piece of fresh ginger

1 clove garlic

1/2c- 3/4c water

3T fresh cilantro* opt

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients except the water.

Slowly add the water in, starting out with a 1/2c and adding more depending on the thickness desired, up to 3/4of a cup.

Delicious served over buckwheat soba, or with fresh shredded cabbage to make zesty coleslaw.

**Sriracha hot chili sauce can be found in most specialty markets, Asian markets, and even in some health food stores.

Cheddar Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Cheddar Cheesy Broccoli Soup

1 head broccoli, medium dice, florets and stalks separated

1 onion, medium dice

1c cooked brown rice *optional

1t chipotle powder

1/2t smoked salt or pink salt

1/4t fresh black pepper

1T raw agave or maple syrup

1T coconut or olive oil

4c water

—

Raw Cheddar Cheesy Sauce

1/2c raw cashews

1/4c water

½ red bell pepper

1t chipotle powder

2T nutritional yeast

1T coconut oil or olive oil

1T mellow miso paste

1t brown rice vinegar

1t ume vinegar or lemon juice

Salt and black pepper to taste

In a blender or food processor, place all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. This can be stored as a dip, a spread or as a cream base for soups!

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil (if you should need more water)

Soup Base:

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions with the broccoli stalks until golden and soft. Add the salt, black and red pepper, sweetener and rice if using, sautéing for another 4-5 minutes. Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli florets, reduce heat and continue to simmer until the broccoli has softened and turned bright green. Turn the heat off. With an immersion blender or in batches in a blender, partially puree the broccoli soup; I like to see some broccoli. Add in desired amount of cheddar cheese cream- 1/4c or more and blend well. Serve immediately with more nutritional yeast.

*Caution: blending hot liquids can be extremely dangerous. Fill the blender only half way and proceed in batches if necessary.

Cheddar Cheesy Zucchini Pappardelle

Because it is still apparently winter this late in March, I decided I needed something warming so I am slightly cooking the zucchini- you can definitely eat the noodles raw by salting them and setting them in a food dehydrator for a 1/2 hour or just set aside for 15-20 minutes so they soften. I pan fried the onion and garlic in 1T of coconut oil then quickly sautéed the noodles. Then the sauce and voila! Cheddar Cheesy Zucchini Pappardelle! THIS IS AWESOME.

Cheddar Cheesy Zucchini Pappardelle

1T coconut oil

1/2 onion thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, smashed and thinly sliced

1 zucchini per person, prepared as so;

Prepare the zucchini-

Using a vegetable peeler, create thin slices from the squash. Salt, pepper and set aside.

Prepare the sauce.

Raw Cheddar Cheesy Sauce

1/2c raw cashews

1/4c water

½ red bell pepper

1t chipotle powder

2T nutritional yeast

1T coconut oil

1T mellow miso paste

1t brown rice vinegar

1t ume vinegar or lemon juice

Salt and black pepper to taste (I used a pinch Smoked Salt)

In a blender or food processor, place all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Use over raw or cooked vegetables!!!

Saute the onions and garlic in the coconut oil until golden and browned. Add the squash and sauté just until al dente.

Immediately toss with 2-3T of the Cheddar Cheese sauce and enjoy!

Sticky Sesame Ginger Tempeh

This is so delicious, fast and easy to make. I eat this with sprouted quinoa or brown rice with a big side of fresh or sautéed greens.

SO FRICKEN YUM.

Sticky Sesame Ginger Tempeh

1 package of tempeh, cut in half, then evenly into slices

1large clove garlic, smashed and minced

3T extra virgin olive oil

2” piece of fresh ginger, grated

2T unhulled sesame seeds black or white

2T shoyu or tamari

1t hot sesame oil

3T grade B maple syrup or agave

In a large cast iron skillet or frying pan, heat up over medium heat, add the oil and the garlic and distribute the garlic around the pan- add in the tempeh, face down neatly in the pan.

Pan fry for about 2-3 minutes or until browned, then flip- add more oil if the pan is dry, and continue to pan fry until the 2^nd side is golden brown.

Add in the sesame seeds, grated ginger, and the hot sesame oil and turn the heat up to medium high and then deglaze the hot pan with the shoyu/tamari- toss the tempeh in the pan until the pan is dry and all of the sauce is coating the tempeh. Add the maple syrup all over the top and toss quickly to coat. Cook only until the maple syrup begins to caramelize and thicken, about 1-2 minutes. Turn out into a serving dish.

CAREFUL NOT TO TASTE OFF OF ANY SPOONS! CARAMEL IS REALLLLLY HOT AND STICKY!

Red lentil Dal with Spinach

I made this tonight- SO delicious..I steamed white basmati rice with cumin seeds and it was a perfect whole, quick, satisfying meal. I had a 1/2 of a fresh tomato left over that needed to be used so I added it to the mix- could use more tomato for sure or omit entirely. Totally gluten free.

I highly recommend. XO

Red lentil Dal with Spinach

1 onion, small dice

1” fresh ginger, grated

2T fresh green curry paste

1t mustard seeds

1t cumin seeds

1t ground cumin

1/4t cayenne pepper or 1 pepperonicini

3T olive oil

1t turmeric powder

1/2t pink salt

1/4t black pepper

1c red lentils, uncooked

3T fresh cilantro, chopped *opt

1 fresh tomato, medium dice *opt

2c fresh spinach, cleaned and trimmed

4c water- boiled

In a large pot, heat up the spices; cumin, mustard, turmeric, dried pepper (red and black) until fragrant. Add the olive oil and sauté the onion with the ginger in the olive oil just until golden. Add the tomatoes and lentils and cover with the boiling water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes uncovered or until the lentils have softened. Add the spinach and mix in, cover for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasonings. Serve over white or brown basmati rice.

Peanut Butter Power Smoothie

Peanut Butter Power Smoothie

1c nut milk

1T coconut oil

2t raw agave or raw local honey

2T peanut butter

1t vanilla

1scoop protein powder

1T chia seeds

1T hemp seeds

pinch Himalayan sea salt

1c ice

Blend all ingredients together except the ice and process until smooth- taste and adjust if needed

Add the ice and blend just until smooth.

Kichari (Lentil Rice DELICIOUSNESS)

Ellen’s Kichari (lentil & rice porridge)

Kichari means mixture, usually of two grains. “Kichari may well be the most perfect therapeutic recipe of all because it detoxifies the entire system, while kindling the body’s digestive fires called agni.” This recipe is nourishing and easy to digest, and can literally be paired down to just the rice and beans and still be utterly satisfying. It can be eaten more on the soupy side or as a thicker porridge. SO.SIMPLE.SO.GOOD.

Wheat-free, Gluten-Free

1c red lentils or yellow (dahl), washed and drained

1c white basmati rice

1 medium onion, diced

1t turmeric

1T fresh ginger, sliced or grated/ or 1t dried

1t mustard seeds

1t cumin seeds or 2t ground cumin

1/2t black pepper

1t pink salt

3T extra virgin olive oil

6c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil, more if needed

In a large soup pot, toast the spices (cumin, mustard seeds, pepper, turmeric, salt and ginger- if using dried) until aromatic. Add the olive oil and sauté the onions, and fresh ginger until golden and soft. Add the rice and coat well in the spice mixture. Add in the lentils and cover with the hot water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes, uncovered, adding additional water if needed and or desired, stirring occasionally. In the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Adjust the seasonings before serving. If there is excess water, cover the pot to allow it to be absorbed. Serve optionally with fresh cilantro.