quick protein – Page 3 – The Vegan Love Project

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!

Strawberry Coconut Omega 3 Boost Power Smoothie

Strawberry Coconut Omega 3 Boost Power Smoothie

1c almond nut milk

1T hemp seed

1/4c coconut meat

1t raw agave or raw local honey

1c strawberries

1t maca powder

1T chia seeds

1T golden flax

1t vanilla

1scoop protein powder

—

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.

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!

Blueberry Macqui Acai Berry Power Smoothie

Blueberry Macqui Acai Berry Power Smoothie

vegan, RAW, awesome

1c nut milk

1T hemp seed

1t raw agave or raw local honey

1T coconut oil

1/2c BLUEBERRIES (fresh or frozen)

1t MAQUI BERRY POWDER

1T Acai Berry Powder

1T chia seeds

1t vanilla

1scoop protein powder

___

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.

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.

Coconut Cinnamon Cream Power Smoothie

Coconut Cinnamon Cream Power Smoothie

1c fresh coconut meat or 2T coconut manna

1T coconut oil

1t cinnamon

1T chia seeds

1T hemp seeds

1 scoop protein

2t coconut sugar or raw honey

1c nut milk

1t vanilla

1c ice

Blend all ingredients together except the ice until smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness etc.

Add the ice and blend just until smooth.

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.

The City’s Gone Nuts Granola

I first made this recipe while I was living in NYC for my blog Slow Food In A Fast City, in a teeny tiny kitchen; I made it in my toaster oven. It is a super straight forward awesome granola recipe that is easy to modify by varying the nuts, adding dried fruits, and spices. This is my favorite taste combination, something about the almonds, cinnamon and vanilla that keeps me coming back to the original. I used black sesame seeds to add color contrast.

City’s Gone Nuts Granola

4 c GF rolled oats

1/3c coconut oil

1/3c maple syrup

1T ground cinnamon

1/2t sea salt (or less if desired)

1c almonds, coarsely chopped

2T black or white sesame seeds

2t vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients and stir until well incorporated and the oats are coated.

Pour out onto a baking sheet (I had a super small convection oven so I did this in two batches- you could either do what I did, or ½ the recipe- unless of course you have an oven!)

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and aromatic. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack. The granola will crisp up as it cools. Store in a cool dry place. DELICIOUS served with cashew nut milk as a cereal with fresh berries.

Curried Moong Dal Soup (Yellow Split pea)

Moong Dal is a traditional Indian pulse, it is a yellow split pea with the hull removed. It has a sweet and nutty flavor to it and makes a perfect addition to any vegan, gluten free diet as a quick cooking source of vegetable protein. This is one of my most favorite of the lentils. The soup cooks relatively fast and has a tremendous amount of flavor.

CURRIED MOONG DAL SOUP

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1-1/2c moong dal, (yellow split peas) washed and drained

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

2t chipotle powder

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper

1 vegetable bouillon cube (or veggie broth to replace the water)

3T extra virgin olive oil

4c boiling water

1T mild curry powder

2t cumin powder

1t turmeric

1t salt or to taste

1/2c fresh cilantro, minced

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

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions until golden and soft. Add the salt, chipotle powder, black and red pepper and the other spices. Add the split peas, mixing them into the vegetables. Add the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or broth). Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. In the last few minutes of cooking, add in the fresh cilantro.

Serve with fresh cilantro sprinkled on top.

At this point, the soup is delicious as is or can be pureed to make a lovely, smooth, soup.

FOR PUREED SOUP:

In batches, in a blender or vitamix*, puree the split pea soup. Adjust the seasonings before serving.

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