This spicy cashew sauce is absolutely delicious. I’ve been on a vegan cheese kick these past couple of weeks and out of all my vegan cheese recipes, this has got to be one of my top three. I had jalapeños in my fridge and knew that they would be perfect in a vegan spicy cashew sauce. I added some garlic, tomato, cilantro, and spices to the jalapeños and the result was amazing! I served this spicy cashews sauce with some tortillas as an appetizer, along with chickpea meatballs (soon to be posted) and my vegan caramel cheesecake for dessert.
One of the hardest things to give up is cheese but after discovering the wonderful world of cashews, along with other replacers, vegan cheese just got easier folks!
These flourless zucchini fritters come courtesy of my Mama. 🙂 There’s a dish in South Asia called “pokora” or “pokoda.” It’s most commonly made with chickpea flour, vegetables and indian spices. It’s eaten as a snack or appetizer, and usually fried. I used my Mom’s pokora recipe but adapted it to make it a healthier version and one with zucchini as the main vegetable (I’m a sucker for zucchini!). Chickpea flour (also known as “besan”) is so versatile. It’s a great grain-free flour option because it has a great binding quality that works well for frying and baking.
Not only are these flourless zucchini fritters super easy to make but they are even more delicious! I make these as an appetizer when I have compnay, they are always a crowd pleaser! I also make these when I want a quick yummy snack for myself!
Friends, I’ve been pretty excited to do this series: Lunch in a Mason Jar Recipes! Many people have been asking me for quick, healthy lunch ideas. I love lunch in a mason jar recipes. They are quick to make, you can store them for 3-5 days and, most importantly, they are really pretty!
I have tried to make it a point to spend less money on lunch! Lunch is expensive folks and (usually) not as healthy as the things I make it home. It’s a lose lose: expensive and unhealthy. Salad jars will be the name of the game for a bit, until I get tired of them and opt for something else. 😛 In the meantime though, ode to salads!
I’m a sucker for bean salads. They are so versatile! Lemon, garlic, olive oil and a few spices can go a long way. You can see my http://happygut.ca/black-bean-tomato-avocado-salad/ for another super easy and yummy recipe. The next salads I have in the line-up are a mexican salad and a tofu asian salad! Keep your eyes open. Have any other lunch in a mason jar recipes you’d like to try? Let me know and I’ll give it a shot! Feedback is very much appreciated. 🙂
This black bean tomato avocado salad with garlic and cilantro is my go-to weekday meal. Not only is it incredibly easy but it is very delicious. 🙂 I make so many variations of this depending on what veggies I have in the fridge. Feel free to use this as your base and go to town depending on what you have on hand! Sometimes I add some cumin and fresh chilli pepper (chopped) or chilli flakes. Feel free to add any of those if you like your salads spicy. You could also add some more tang by adding apple cider vinegar or some sweet by adding some maple syrup. Don’t be afraid to experiment! It also keeps really well in the fridge. I’ve definitely had this 3 days later and it still tastes great.
I eat this usually as the main meal but it also makes a great side dish or a crowd pleaser for a potluck!
This canned mixed bean salad recipe is courtesy of my super duper Mama-in-law. 🙂
Even though it’s April, it seems that Winter has just arrived in Toronto – we had the biggest snowstorm this past week!
Lucky for me, I had the good fortune to spend this past week on a Caribbean cruise with my Mama. Friends, it was absolutely amazing. I’d never been on a cruise before and now I know why people are cruisers for life. It’s basically a 5-star resort on a ship, in the middle of the ocean. I was a bit worried about the food situation (being gluten-free and vegan isn’t always very easy) but I had no reason to fear! The food was incredible and they were very accommodating to gluten-free and vegan diets! We cruised with Holland American who have impeccable service.
Anywho, I arrived 2 days ago and was not ready for a Toronto winter in April! To keep up with my Caribbean spirits, I have decided to share a summer canned mixed bean salad recipe. This salad is incredibly satisfying with it’s sweet and spicy flavours. It’s basically a flavour party in your mouth. Plus, it’s perfect for the summer! Bring some Caribbean in your life. 😛 Enjoy!
Canned Mixed Bean Salad Recipe | happygut.ca
Canned Mixed Bean Salad Recipe
2016-04-13 12:14:03
This canned mixed bean salad recipe is the perfect spring and summer salad. Not only is it super delicious but it is incredibly quick and easy to make!
This chickpea flour wrap is a vegan/gluten-free/grain-free person’s best friend. 🙂 I have been experimenting with going grain-free recently which my gut my has been lovin’. I eat a lot of Indian-Pakistani food (that’s where my blood is from!) and so wanted a roti replacement as I LOVE roti! Before going grain-free I would usually make my gluten-free buckwheat flour chapati/roti, but now needed a replacement.
(*Update: a reader just told me that buckwheat is in fact a seed, not a grain!
“While many people think that buckwheat is a cereal grain, it is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel making it a suitable substitute for grains for people who are sensitive to wheat or other grains that contain protein glutens.”
There is a traditional chickpea flour roti in India/Pakistan that they call “Besan Roti.” My Mom sometimes makes it and it’s delicious. The only problem though is that it is traditional quite stiff and not as malleable as regular roti. I used my Mama’s recipe as a template and adjusted it to make it more roti like. The result? Perfection. 🙂 Plus, only 2 ingredients are required! See my video and recipe for my chickpea flour wrap below.
Chickpea Flour Wrap | happygut.ca
Chickpea Flour Wrap
2016-03-16 12:33:40
Yields 2
This chickpea flour wrap is absolutely perfect. It's vegan, gluten-free and grain-free. Plus, it only requires two ingredients. Incredibly easy to make!
Pour a couple of tbsp of oil into a small bowl and set aside.
Heat a large non-stick large frying pan over medium heat.
Combine the chickpea flour, water and spices, if using, into a bowl and whisk very well.
Add a few drops of oil into the pan and coat the pan.
Using a 1/3 cup measuring cup for smaller wraps and 1/2 measuring cup for larger wraps, spoon out the chickpea into the pan.
Use a spoon to spread out the batter in a circular motion making sure to cover any holes in the batter. You want it as thin as a crepe.
Wait a couple of minutes and then flip over. (Each side should start to turn brown with brown spots). Cook for another couple of minutes on that side and then serve.
Can be eaten hot or cold.
Notes
If I'm using a pan that isn't very "non-stick" sometimes I dip a spoon into the oil and spread the oil around the edges of the pancake so that it's easier to flip.
I love tofu scramble. I’ve tried many variations of tofu scramble over the years but this tofu scramble recipe with nutritional yeast is absolutely amazing! Nutritional yeast is so versatile and is a vegan’s best friend. 🙂 It’s a terrific veggie/vegan dietary supplement and has a nutty (some even say cheesy) flavour. It’s also rich in vitamin B-12 and packed with protein –1 heaping tbsp has about 8 grams! Aside from it’s nutritional benefits and awesome taste, nutritional yeast is also a wonderful yellow colour! I like my tofu scramble to look like scrambled eggs (this way I get to trick the meat-eaters :P) and so the addition of nutritional yeast is perfect! This recipe came out so wonderfully delicious and satisfying – try it for yourself and see. 😉 I had it with some hummus and avocado.
Drain tofu (I usually do this by placing it between 2 plates, putting something heavy on top, and letting it sit for about 10-20 minutes and then draining the excess water).
Crumble up the tofu with your hands and set aside.
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
When hot, add the chopped garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Next, add the crumbled tofu along with the onions, salsa/tomatoes, nutritional yeast, spinach and pesto, if using. Mix well.
Add all the remaining spices and let cook for abut 5 minutes.
Adjust spices to taste.
If you like, garnish with some chopped cilantro and hummus and avocado.
This paleo coconut flour naan was such an exciting discovery! I LOVE naan and grew up with amazing Afghani naan courtesy of the countless Afghani shops in our neighbourhood (thank you Toronto!). Since trying to cut down on the grains though, I am always experimenting with grain free versions of my favourite grain-filled stuff. I was surprised of how easy this paleo coconut flour naan turned out!
Paleo Coconut Flour Naan | happygut.ca
Directions for Paleo Coconut Flour Naan
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup tapioca starch (also known as tapioca flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 tsp cumin, optional
1/4 tsp garlic powder, optional
*4 chia eggs (4 tbsp of ground white chia + 1/2 cup water)
1/4 cup full fat coconut milk (Full fat coconut milk from the can works best. Almond milk will also work though you may need to add more water and will have a stronger chia taste, I haven’t tried any other dairy free milks yet.)
oil, for frying
*You can use black ground chia as well but it will have a stronger chia-like taste. If you don’t have chia and are not vegan, you can use regular eggs instead. I haven’t tried it with regular eggs but I assume it will work.
Directions for Paleo Coconut Flour Naan
Combine the ground chia with the 1/2 cup water and set aside.
Meanwhile, combine the coconut flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices (if using) and mix well.
Add the dairy free milk and the chia mixture and mix well. The dough/batter should be easily spreadable but not as liquidly as pancake batter. Add some more milk/water if it’s too thick.
Heat a tbsp of oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
When the pan is hot, use a 1/3 measuring cup and slowly pour the naan batter in the pan.
Use a spoon to spread out and pat the batter in a circular motion making sure to cover any holes in the batter. We want a complete naan. 🙂 Don’t spread it out too thin or else it will be like a crepe / may break. I spread my batter out to be about 1/8 inch thick.
Wait 3-6 minutes before you flip the naan to make sure it cooks completely. Wait another 3-6 minutes for the other side and continue flipping until you get some nice dark brown spots.
Remove from pan, coat with some oil, if desired and serve hot.
Sigh, vegan winter salads….the best type of salads! I love salads and eat them all year round. Eating salads is the summer is super easy and refreshing. Having salads in the winter though is not always awesome. My criteria for vegan winter salads: it has be warm and complete with protein (and, of course, delicious and easy).
I was invited to a potluck a couple of weeks ago and decided to bring a salad. In my search for vegan winter salads, I came up with so many delicious options that I decided to bookmark and share with you. 🙂
See below for my roundup for the best vegan winter salads.
All of the salads are complete with protein. The first section of salads calls for lentils, the second section has tofu and the last section has some other type of veggie protein.
This is by far the best tandoori tofu recipe. I have tried many over the years and this one takes the cake! (or tofu, hehe).
My aunt who is a fabulous cook uses this recipe for chicken, I just replaced the chicken for tofu and it was delicious! Not only that, but it was incredibly easy to make – the perfect quick weekday meal.
Ideally, you will want to prep this the night before.
Ingredients for Tandoori Tofu
1 block extra firm tofu, sliced
1 cup yogurt (use vegan yogurt if you’re vegan)
2 tbsp fresh garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/2-2 tsp red chilli powder (I use 2 but I like it spicy!)
3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions for Tandoori Tofu
Combine all the ingredients, except the tofu, into a bowl
Add tofu slices to the sauce mixture and ensure that all the tofu is covered with the sauce
Marinade overnight in the fridge (or a couple of hours)
Pre-heat oven to 400 on bake
Oil a baking tray and place tofu onto tray (you will have excess sauce, use it as a dip if you please!)
Cover baking dish with foil and bake for about 40 minutes
Remove the foil paper and broil each side for about 5-10 minutes
