VEGAN LOVE – Page 4 – The Vegan Love Project

Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Talk about instant gratification, this dessert is not only filled with healthy fats and beautifying agents, it TASTES AMAZING. Let it set up in the fridge if you can wait and serve with fresh berries and/or a whipped coconut cream topping. It really is outstanding and takes less then 5 minutes to prepare, 35 if you are willing to wait out the chill factor. This was my first run through so I can totally see how easy it would be to change up the flavors by using different milks, extracts, even by adding texture with nuts or seeds. #FRICKENDELCIOUS

Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding

1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and chopped

1/4c raw cacao powder

1T coconut oil

1t vanilla

1-2T raw agave or raw honey

1/2t cinnamon

1/3c cashew or almond milk (made on the creamier side)- more if needed

Pinch pink salt

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In a blender, combine all ingredients and process until super smooth and creamy.

Transfer into a serving bowl or dish and refrigerate to chill the pudding and let it set up- about 30 minutes.

Pickled Beets with Onions

Pickled Beets with Onions

These keep amazingly well in the fridge- even though they may not last as long as you would like because they are SO DELICIOUS! They are a great accompaniment to lunches and sandwich type meals.

2 pounds red beets, scrubbed and washed

1 small onion, sliced very thinly

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/4c apple cider vinegar

1T red wine or rice wine vinegar

1/2t salt

1/4t black pepper

1T maple syrup or raw agave or raw local honey

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4c water

1/2t salt

Trim both ends of the beet off but leave the skin on. In a large pot, place the trimmed, whole beets and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, simmering for 30-40 minutes partially covered, until the beets are tender all the way into the center. Drain. The skin should slip off the beets, if not, using a peeler, remove the skins and set aside. Using a mandolin or a sharp knife, slice the beets in rounds, evenly and thin. In a large bowl, place the sliced beets, sliced red onion, salt, pepper, olive oil, sweetener, and vinegar. Gently toss with a large spoon. Adjust the seasonings. This can be eaten right away but it gets better as it sits- I recommend letting stand at least 6 hours before serving.

Serve cold or at room temperature.

Tomato Red Lentil Soup

This soup is so easy to make and a quick cooking source of vegetable protein. Delicious on its own, or packed with freshly steamed, or sautéed greens.

Tomato Red Lentil Soup

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 large can or 1 jar (28oz) strained, pureed tomatoes

1 clove garlic, smashed

1t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper or fresh jalapeno

1c dried red lentils, rinsed

3T extra virgin olive oil

1t chipotle powder

1-2 veggie bouillons or broth equivalent

6c boiling water (in place of liquid broth)

1t smoked salt or pink salt to taste

OPTIONAL: 2 c fresh greens- 1 bunch kale, bok choy or escarole, coarsely chopped and (pan sautéed in olive oil and garlic is optional)- added in at the end

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions with the garlic and hot pepper until golden and soft. Add the lentils, tomato puree, black pepper and chipotle powder. Add the boiling water and the bouillon. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Adjust the seasonings. You can puree the entire soup until super smooth or simply run a burr mixer through it to incorporate the vegetables and lentils or serve it as is.

To serve, in a bowl, place the greens and ladle the soup over. Top with nutritional yeast and season to taste.

Creamy Vegan Coleslaw

Creamy Vegan Coleslaw

1/2 head of green cabbage, shredded

1 medium carrot, shredded

1T maple syrup or raw agave or raw honey

1/2c veganaise or another type prepared vegan mayonnaise

2T olive oil

1/4c apple cider vinegar

1T salt

1/2t ground black pepper

Place the cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Sprinkle 1T of salt over the cabbage/ carrot mixture. Place a plate over it and let stand for 20 minutes. or longer. You can actually let the cabbage stand overnight to initiate fermentation- which makes the cabbage easier to digest.

Remove the plate and rinse the cabbage and drain well. In a large bowl, add the cabbage and the remaining ingredients; the mayonnaise, sweetener, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and pepper, and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. You may or may not need to salt the mixture.

Adjust the seasoning before serving.

Green Juice with Kimchee Brine

I can’t even express how much I love the taste of this juice. It is my go to alkalinizing recovery detox juice. The addition of Beet Kvass, Kimchee or Sauerkraut brine takes this juice to another level of deliciousness- in addition adding a whole slew of vitamins, minerals, and gut loving healthy pro-biotics. SO YUM.

Da Juice

If you are juicing for two, simply double the recipe. I use all organic veggies.

1/2 cucumber with the skin

1 stalk celery

1 small handful of cilantro

1 small handful of parsley

1 lemon, peeled

1″ piece of fresh ginger

1 stalk kale with the stem

10 oz. brine or kvass

Pass all of the vegetables through the juicer. Strain into a serving glass and add in the brine.

Drink immediately. On an empty stomach is best.

Pasta Con Tanti Funghi alla Crema / Pasta with Many Mushrooms Cream Sauce

Pasta with Many Mushrooms Cream Sauce

I made this pasta on my birthday and I am telling you, NO ONE, unless they were crazy, would miss the dairy, butter, or cheese in this recipe. The cashews offer a super creamy, velvety texture; paired with the divine savory intensity of the mushrooms is SUPER FRICKEN YUM. Shitake, porcini, and maitake mushrooms are going to lend the most flavor, however, the combo of onion, garlic, mushroom and wine is LEGENDARY and I wouldn’t be to concerned about your selection. Clearly the above picture was prior to me getting the parsley on it- the parsley adds a level of freshness that is SO YUM, but not required. I have even squeezed fresh lemon into the mix prior to serving- it brightens the deliciousness up but is so not necessary. You could totally make this as a fettucini or linguine, just be sure to thin the sauce a bit so that the mix isn’t too heavy for the pasta. Oh, also…crack a TON of black pepper into the mis ALL ALONG THE WAY.

HAVE FUN!!! I LOVE THIS DISH!

4c mixed fresh mushrooms (shitake, maitake, crimini, portobellos, button), thinly sliced

3T extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

1c white wine

1t smoked salt *optional (can use reg pink salt)

1t smoked chipotle powder *optional or 1/2t red pepper flakes

Fresh cracked black pepper- LOTS OF IT

1/4c fresh parsley, minced- reserved for end

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1c raw cashews

2T nutritional yeast

1 clove garlic

1T mellow miso paste

1t ume vinegar

1t brown rice vinegar

1-2c water

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1-pound gluten free pasta- rigatoni, linguine or farfalle- cooked al dente

tossed in 1T vegan butter or olive oil

In a large, heated, skillet or cast iron pan, over medium heat, add the olive oil, hot pepper and onions and sauté until they onions begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and the sliced mushrooms and sauté until the mushrooms have a golden crust on the edges. Add the wine and sauté and move the mix quickly around the pan. Season the mushroom mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Remove about 1 cup of the mushrooms and set aside.

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In a blender, add the cashews, garlic clove, miso, vinegars and about a ½ cup of water to get the mix blended. Process until smooth and taste- it should be on the saltier side, you will be adding more water to the sauce.

Add about another cup of water to the cream mixture to thin it out. Add the cream to the mushrooms remaining in the skillet and over medium low heat, incorporate the mushrooms into the cream sauce., add water if it seems to thick, if it seems to watery, let some of the water cook out, gently stirring frequently.

Add the cooked pasta into the skillet of cream sauce and cook just until heated through. Finish with a little bit of vegan butter or olive oil and add in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately. FRICKEN UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS.

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!

Strawberry Coconut Power Smoothie

Strawberry Coconut Power Smoothie

1c nut milk

1T hemp seed

1t raw agave or raw local honey

1c strawberries

1T gold flax seeds

1T coconut manna

1t vanilla

1scoop protein powder

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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.

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

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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.