Tag Archives: Vegetarian

These are my new favorite meatballs!  So easy to make and incredibly tasty!  I have a “don’t knock it until you try it” mentality when it comes to plant-based food.  A lot of it sounds weird but ends up being a winner in my house, so if you are willing to try something new, please give these meatballs a try. They are tender and juicy, packed with flavor, and come together in about 30 minutes.  You can use either the Impossible or Beyond Meat brand, I’m just partial to Beyond Meat.  They do have slightly different textures and tastes but when you combine them with the rest of the ingredients you probably won’t tell a difference. The recipe can be found here. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Start by combining the breadcrumbs and almond milk in a small bowl then … Continue reading

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Every so often, we like to prepare meals with Beyond Meat.  I know it’s not for everyone and some aren’t willing to try it but if you are curious, I highly recommend eating it at least once.  Our latest creation is a Beyond Meat Patty Melt.  It was amazing! Beyond Meat has a similar texture to ground meat but I think it’s a bit moister and juicier.  I also think it has a slightly nutty flavor.  In this case you will know you aren’t eating meat but if you are making other dishes, Tacos or Sloppy Joe’s for example, you won’t taste a difference after adding all the spices and sauces.  The “patty” in this recipe is seasoned Beyond Meat.  You will get the full texture and taste of the product.  Personally, I think it’s great.  Andrew even liked it! The recipe can be found here. Start by dividing the … Continue reading

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Tender farro is paired with caramelized onions in this wonderful French Onion Farro recipe.  It’s a cross between French Onion Soup and a rice bowl and has a chewy texture and great flavor.  It works well as a main course or can be served as a side dish and is a one-pot recipe.  The recipe itself takes a while to prepare but it is quite effortless.  The most time is spent waiting for the onions to caramelize…and we all know how long that takes 😊 But otherwise you don’t have to fuss over the pan too frequently, making it a great weeknight meal.  This is also a meatless meal so it’s perfect for a vegetarian diet or if you participate in Meatless Monday.  If you omit the cheese, it is a vegan meal, so it’s very versatile! The recipe can be found here. Start by heating 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.  Add the … Continue reading

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Sometimes I like to cook with chickpeas.  I know they aren’t for everyone, but they are a wonderful meat substitute in many recipes.  Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are beige in color, pea shaped, and part of the legume family.  They are very versatile and packed with protein. Chickpea Bowls are wonderful.  They are easy to prepare, come together in 20 minutes or less, and can easily be customized with the toppings of your choice.  Wonderful weeknight recipes that are healthy and light but will still fill you up. The 2 recipes I want to share with you today are as follows: VEGAN ORANGE CHICKPEAS are sweet and tangy with a lovely citrusy flavor, similar to orange chicken from a Chinese restaurant. VEGAN SESAME CHICKPEAS are sweet and have a slightly roasted flavor with a sticky sauce, similar to sesame chicken from a Chinese restaurant. Both recipes are vegan.  Feel free to substitute ingredients or add toppings that are … Continue reading

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Vegan Beyond Meat Thai Lettuce Wraps are a great recipe when you are looking for something healthy or are trying to “eat clean”.  They are simple to make, scrumptious, and packed with flavor.  I like how customizable they are because you can add any toppings of your choosing when creating your lettuce wraps.  If you are unfamiliar with lettuce wraps, think of them as a taco but with a lettuce leaf instead of a tortilla or taco shell. The recipe can be found here. Start by preparing the Beyond Meat.  I personally like to use Beyond Meat in a lot of recipes and think it fits well with the flavors in this recipe.  It also makes this recipe vegan if you follow a vegan lifestyle.  If you don’t, feel free to substitute the Beyond Meat with ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground beef. Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the Beyond Meat, onion, and garlic.  Cook for about … Continue reading

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If you aren’t familiar with Beyond Meat, it’s a plant-based “meat” that is quite tasty and gives you the texture and juiciness of ground beef.  I use it in a lot of recipes but recently tried it in a taco salad.  It was colorful, zesty, and packed full of flavor.  I didn’t miss the meat and don’t think you will either!  So, I recommend adding Beyond Meat to your next salad to give it that high quality, premium, restaurant feel. If you keep reading, you will learn about my recipe for a Vegan Beyond Meat Taco Salad.  The recipe is for a vegan meal.  All ingredients in the recipe are vegan conscious.  If you are not vegan, are working your way towards becoming vegan, or are simply intrigued, please give this recipe a shot!  You can substitute virtually any ingredient and make it your own to suit your taste.  There is a high chance you will eliminate the vegan … Continue reading

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Every so often I like to make a vegan dish for a few reasons.  First, the food is actually delicious (don’t knock it ‘til you try it) and second, I have friends and family members who are vegan (or follow a similar diet), so I like to have a few recipes in my back pocket in case I’m ever entertaining them.  I’d rather be accommodating so they know they can comfortably eat at my house than have them eat before coming over.  And truly, the food is quite good, in addition to being good for you! Bruschetta Pasta is one of my to-go dishes.  It is a vegan dish, but you could easily add parmesan cheese or a little shredded mozzarella if you aren’t following a special diet or don’t have dietary restrictions.  I like this pasta because it’s very light and refreshing.  Think of traditional bruschetta, but instead of … Continue reading

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Have you ever had an Empanada?  They are common in Southern Europe, Latin America, and the Philippines but I’m sure you’ve noticed them as a menu item from time to time.  Empanadas are essentially pockets of dough with some kind of filling; typically, meat, cheese, and vegetables, or any combination of those. I think they are pretty easy to make and tend to feed a crowd because the recipe makes so many.  And they are often freezer friendly so you can have leftovers for another day.  You do want to be careful with what kind of vegetable you use in empanadas because some vegetables hold up better when being used as filling.  For instance, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc. all work very well.  Squash, tomatoes, or other watery vegetables will need to be drained before using, otherwise you will be left with some soggy dough!  So, feel free … Continue reading

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Not too long ago, I wrote a blog called Creative Cauliflower Meals about various ways to use cauliflower in Chinese inspired recipes.  We’ve been talking about those recipes ever since and thought, why not try a few more? There are SO MANY ways to utilize cauliflower in recipes.  My most preferred way is to substitute chicken with cauliflower.  Once it’s cooked/baked, it has a very similar texture so you can hardly tell you aren’t eating meat.  This is a great way to expand your pallet if you are vegetarian or exploring a vegan diet. First up is Baked BBQ Cauliflower Wings.  These are just like boneless BBQ chicken wings but a lot healthier and you aren’t sacrificing the taste.  These are full of flavor and easy to make! The recipe can be found here. ***This is a vegan recipe*** Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F.  Line a … Continue reading

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Vegan Lasagna is a flavorful and hearty dish that’s packed with protein.  Yes, it is vegan but even meat lovers will enjoy it!  It’s layered with tender noodles, cashew ricotta cheese, marinara, spinach, and topped with mozzarella cheese. The recipe can be found here. The ricotta cheese is thick, creamy, and is a great recipe to use in lasagna, pasta, pizza, and more.  I was skeptical when making the ricotta because this was my first attempt, but it did not disappoint.  I didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised and admittedly didn’t know vegan cheese could taste this good!  It was also very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients, most of which are pantry staples if you lead a vegan lifestyle.  It has a lovely texture and amazing cheese flavor. The mozzarella is stretchy, creamy, and very smooth.  It’s a wonderful substitute to dairy mozzarella!  … Continue reading

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