HookedOnPlants

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Winter

Grateful Fred Stuffed Tofu Turkey | Vegan Holiday Feast

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The holidays are all about love, connection, community, cheersing and good times. The food and the love that goes into it is always big part of all the festivities. So, this Thanksgiving, here’s a stuffed tofu turkey recipe to spread the love, and fall in love with…without the cost of the turkey, Fred (he’s grateful).

Turkey shmurkey. Ham shmam. Steak shmeak.

Eating plant-based during a holiday dinner party isn’t always an easy task, that is unless you bring this comfort-food recipe of a lifetime!

I wanted to help you create something that won’t be a compromise… and may even be just as popular at the Thanksforgivin’er shindig than your Auntie’s turkey pie!

If you’re looking for a pre-made option, Gardein makes a delicious ‘stuffed turkey’ (use CRVAN-MURJUB to shop at Spud to get 2 free ones in your order), and Tofurky does too.

But, if you want to go the cooking route and put as much of that love ingredient in there as possible, look no further!

Fred is thankful he can live out that Turkey life of his, and the fam will be thankful that the vegan doesn’t bring carrot sticks to the comfort-food party!

This turned out really well. The outside is browned, the inside is tasty with pecan stuffing, and the overall feel is incredibly turkey dinner-like.

Top it all off with this mushroom gravy, and this mashed cauliflower for your tastebuds to explode.

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Other ideas for a Holiday dinner recipes… Meatless Balls, Whole Roasted Cauliflower, Mashed Butternut Swirl, Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake, or this Apricot Butternut Lentil Loaf (an oldie but a goodie).

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Grafeful Fred Stuffed Tofu Turkey
 
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A perfect replacement for Fred the Turkey for a holiday feast! This pecan stuffing rolled up in a tofu 'turkey' will shine on the centre of the dinner table.
Author:
Recipe type: thanksgiving, holiday, christmas, dinner
Cuisine: holiday, thanksgiving
Serves: 8
Ingredients

  • Tofu Turkey:
  • 4 blocks organic firm tofu (each 350g)
  • 2 vegetable bouillon cubes
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tbsp onion powder
  • 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2½ cups of vegan stuffing (recipe below)
  • 3-4 tbsp Bragg's liquid aminos (for basting)

  • Vegan Pecan Stuffing (makes enough for stuffing the tofu turkey, plus a side dish):
  • 8 cups bread of choice, cubed
  • 1 cup large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1½ cups celery, chopped
  • 7-8 white mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 tbsp dried thyme, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh sage, minced
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • ½ cup pecans, chopped
  • ½ tsp Pink Himalayan or sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

  • Goes well with this Mushroom Gravy
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Press tofu: Place a layer of paper towel on a plate, then the tofu cubes, then another couple layers of paper towel, then a cutting board, then a bowl filled with water. Let sit for at least 30 minutes (the longer the better)
  3. Meanwhile, make the stuffing! Start by spreading the cubed bread out over a cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes (stir at the 10 minute mark), until it's dry...smells so good.
  4. In a large pot, oil-free sauté the onions, celery and mushrooms for 5 minutes (just add a bit of the veggie broth if it's sticking), until softened. Add the herbs and salt and pepper. Mix it up, then add 1½ cups of broth. Add the bread and pecans then mix everything well. The stuffing should be moist, but not soaking wet. If your stuffing is still a little dry, keep adding a bit of veggie broth until it's moist (you shouldn't need more than 2 cups total)
  5. Set aside 2½ cups of stuffing for the turkey filling.
  6. Pour the rest of the stuffing into a baking dish and bake in the oven for 25 minutes (hello side dish!)
  7. Prepare your 'turkey' zone: Lay out 2 sheets of tin foil, side by side overlapping about 3 inches, with a layer of parchment on top. The parchment paper should be about 15 inches long by 13 inches wide, with the tinfoil as a border beneath it.
  8. Time to make the 'turkey': To go easy on your food processor, start by blending half of all the tofu turkey ingredients together (except for the stuffing and Bragg's liquid aminos) for at least 1 minute in your food processor, or until a dough-like ball starts to form. Place that mixture as a ball on the parchment paper.
  9. Then, blend the other half of all the tofu turkey ingredients (again, except for the stuffing and Bragg's liquid aminos) in the food processor, and add it to the pile on the parchment.
  10. Spread out the tofu mixture into a ½ - ¾ inch thick rectangle (about 8x12")
  11. Spoon the 2½ cups of stuffing into the middle of the tofu rectangular 'turkey' in a lengthwise tube shape.
  12. Use the parchment paper to roll one side of the tofu turkey over the stuffing, then the other side until the tofu turkey just overlaps. Give it a nice squeeze to make sure it's all overlapping by at least 1 inch.
  13. Unwrap it and fold the ends. Use your fingers to press down any open areas, or cracks.
  14. Pour Bragg's liquid aminos over top and use basting brush to cover the whole turkey.
  15. Then wrap it up with the parchment and tinfoil nice and tight, folding on top and twisting the ends (so it looks like a tootsie roll turkey)
  16. Bake in the oven for 1 hour.
  17. Let cool 15 minutes, then place in the fridge.
  18. When you're ready to serve it, take it out of the fridge, slice in 1 inch slices, wrap it back up and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F.
  19. Serve with the mushroom gravy from this recipe and this cauliflower mash!
  20. Happy Holidays! The Turkey's thank you!
Notes
*Great to make ahead of time, then store in the fridge until you're ready to put it in the oven for 30 more minutes before serving
*If you want to make it right before, just skip the fridge part, and keep it in the oven for another 15-30 minutes, then slice when it comes out!

Tag me make this! (@hookedonplants on instagram)! I love seeing your recipes.

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Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Curry Tahini Sauce | Vegan Main

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Whole Roasted Cauliflower is the easiest and one of the most delicious ways to enjoy your cauli!

This flavourful bomb of a recipe can take place of that main roast on the table.

Get those steak knives out, it’s time to carve up the cauli! Said no one, ever… until NOW.

But, you won’t need that steak knife, because this juicy cauliflower cooked to perfection, allows any dull knife to easily make it’s way to the bottom of the dish.

Let’s talk about this sauce. First, it’s massaged into the cauliflower, then it turns into a beautiful and delicious golden crust. Then, the other half of the golden goodness is drizzled liberally over the finished product.

Warning: this sauce may be your new addiction.

I brought this one to a potluck, and it was dubbed the vegan turkey. If you’re bringing it to a dinner, place it in a roasting dish, surround it in kale leaves, and put it in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes when you get there (the kale will turn into kale chips, and your roast will be extra golden).

In just a few steps you’ll have yourself a killer main.

Sauce the cauli.

Bake the cauli.

Slice and drizzle.

 

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Curry Tahini Sauce
 
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One of the easiest ways to prepare cauliflower. It's perfect for an impressive looking main dish!
Author:
Recipe type: dinner, main,
Cuisine: vegan, plant-based, vegan main
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 head cauliflower, wash it and take off the greenery, but leave the stalk on (you may have to trim it for the cauliflower to site flat)

  • Curry Tahini Sauce:
  • ½ cup tahini
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1½ tbsp curry powder
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup plain, unsweetened almond milk (or any other plain, unsweetened plant-milk)
Instructions
  1. Pre-Heat oven to 400°F
  2. Meanwhile, make the sauce: blend all sauce ingredients together EXCEPT for the almond milk.
  3. Place cauliflower head, stem-side down, in an oven safe baking dish.
  4. Pour half of the sauce over the cauliflower and spread evenly with your hands over the whole head of cauliflower (except for the bottom).
  5. Place cauliflower back in the dish, and fill the dish with ½ inch of water.
  6. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a knife easily pokes through the centre.
  7. When you take the cauliflower out, heat up the rest of the sauce in a small pot with the ½ cup of almond milk.
  8. Serve the cauliflower with a good drizzle of the the warm sauce!

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Hot For You Caramel Cacao Bites | Vegan | Gluten-Free

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This Valentines, you’ll be needing decadent, melt-in-your-mouth, sweet and sultry caramel cacao bites for your honey (who are we kidding…these happy bombs are as much for your self as they are for anyone else).

Are you in for some whole food dessert goodness? I’ve got you covered.

Dates and cacao are two of nature’s superfoods, and this time they make an amazingly sinful-tasting dessert that is actually benefiting your bod’.

Perfection.

The chewy base with the chocolate-y layer provides you with a melt-in-your-mouth experience you’ll be dying for over and over again. And that’s ok, because they’re tiny bites, with a nutritional punch.

A spicy surprise aftertaste gives these Hot For You Bites babies their name. The cayenne pepper in here is great for blood flow too, so that’s a bonus!:)

Benefits:

  • Cacao (the purest form of chocolate) has 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries and a whole bunch of magnesium for your heart and brain. Perfect for your valentine.
  • Cayenne pepper  increases your circulation and detoxifies your digestive system.
  • Dates are an amazing source of soluble fibre, an energy booster and increase your sexual stamina! Plus, if you drink too much champagne this Valentines, dates actually have a sobering effect. Perfect for the end of your night before you hit the hay.  Again, perfect for your Valentine.

 

 

Hot For You Caramel Cacao Bites | Vegan | Gluten-Free
 
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A melt-in-your-mouth whole foods dessert that tastes sinful, but packs a nutritional punch. Perfect for sharing with your valentine (or yourself;)
Author:
Recipe type: dessert, valentines, vegan dessert, snack
Serves: 20 bites
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp shredded coconut **optional

  • Caramel layer:
  • 1 cup pitted dates (soaked for 10 minutes to soften)
  • ¼ cup almond butter
  • 2 tablespoons water, or more as needed
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil

  • Chocolate coating:
  • ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
  • ¼ cup cacao powder
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • ¼ tsp cayenne powder
Instructions
  1. Make caramel sauce: blend all caramel sauce ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.
  2. Spread layer of caramel along bottom of silicone mold or muffin paper in a muffin tin. I find using a silicone mold is the best option, and easiest to pop out the bites after the freeze time!
  3. Freeze for at least 30 minutes
  4. Make chocolate sauce: melt coconut oil in sauce pan, then add rest of ingredient and whisk until smooth
  5. Spoon layer of chocolate sauce over the caramel layer to fill silicone molds
  6. Top chocolate with a goji berry or two
  7. Freeze at least 15 minutes
  8. Pop out of the silicone mold, or muffin papers (may need a knife to get all of the caramel layer)
  9. Optional ** Garnish with shredded coconut
  10. DEVOUR
  11. Store in freezer

Creamy Lemony Nooch Dressing | Oil-Free & 4 Ingredients

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You’d have a tough time trying to find a day to look in my fridge without seeing a jar of this Lemony Nooch dressing.

I’m telling you now… triple or quadruple this recipe so you can have this amazingness available in your fridge for up to 10 days, and finally get excited to make friends with salad er’yday.

This dressing works with any kind of salad. Greens, beans, grains, legumes, you name it, just add it, and it’s all better.

The best way to use this is to mash your torn up kale leaves in the dressing, and let it sit for 10 minutes in your salad bowl (this softens the kale), then add the rest of your salad ingredients and toss it all up! I try to get a salad in my system on the daily, and this dressing makes it easier than ever!

The nooch, paired with the dijon creates a cheeziness and creaminess without the need for any oil!

If you’re looking for more oil-free salad dressings, here’s a few to play around with.

Feel free to use apple cider vinegar to instead of lemon, and add a bit more maple syrup if you like it sweeter!

Benefits:

  • Nooch (Nutritional yeast) is packed with vitamin B12 (which everyone needs to make sure they get in their diet either by supplementing or eating B12 fortified foods like nooch’ or fortified plant-based milks), and has a cheesy flavour! It’s so delicious to sprinkle on anything, and add to any sauce to get that creamy, cheesy taste.
  • Lemon is detoxifying, great for your skin, high in Vitamin C and helps indigestion.
  • Oil-free dressing means you’re salad will be mega healthy! Oil is a refined fat, without fibre and with minimal nutrients. So if you’re trying to keep your salads low in empty calories, yet nutrient-dense and delicious, try ditching the oil and using these ingredients to create the creamy dressing you’re after!

 

5.0 from 2 reviews
Creamy Lemony Nooch' Dressing | Oil-free & The Best
 
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An oil-free, yet creamy dressing that will make any salad a winner. This is my go-to! Triple the recipe so you have it on hand for easy salad making anytime.
Author:
Recipe type: dressing, sauce
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
  • ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1-2 tbsp water, optional (depends on how thick or thin you like it!
  • * I recommend tripling this recipe and keeping a jar of dressing in the fridge ready to go*
Instructions
  1. Pour all ingredients (except for the optional water) in a mason jar and shake! Or, pour all ingredients into the bottom of your salad bowl, and whisk!
  2. Add a bit of that water if you want a thinner dressing.
  3. *I recommend adding some kale to the dressing in your bowl, and mashing it in the dressing with your salad tongs, then letting that sit a few minutes before adding the rest of your ingredients. This provides a delicious massaged kale base for the rest of your salad. My usual salad for 2 consists of 4 leaves of the massaged kale, tomato, ½ avocado, 1 pear, 2 green onions, 1 head romaine, 1-2 tbsp raisins and sunflower seeds.

Raw Carrot Cake Bliss Balls + Cashew Frosting

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When carrot cake and healthy bites collide. These raw carrot cake bliss balls are good for… everything in life.

Desserting, snacking, tea timing, adventuring, lunching, or breakfasting.

They really could be your 24 carrot gold ticket for any of these life happenings.

They’re vegan, and easily made gluten-free, with zero refined sugar.

If you run into me in the mountains on a ski tour, bike adventure, hiking mission, or paddle board camping trip, and raid my backpack, you will find some kind of balls in there like these ones, or these coconut hemp ones, or these nut-free maca ones…

They’re the perfect on the go snack, and are ridiculously easy to make.

You could keep it simple and leave the bliss balls naked without the cashew frosting (which would take the cashew soaking time out of the equation), but…

If you want to take it to the next level… MAKE THE CASHEW CREAM CHEEZE.

The taste is on par with your fave carrot cake, but the health factor is untouchable.

So, if you’re into carrot cake, you’re going to dig these balls (it’s official, I’ve said ‘balls’ too much).

Benefits:

  • Carrots. Need I say more? Carrots are a super food. They’re packed with Vitmain A in the form of beta-carotene to make your eyes into warriors. They’ll boost your immunity too because of the antiseptic and antibacterial abilities they have, along with the Vitamin C they’re packing. Of course, they’re high in fibre, yet low in calories which will help reduce cholesterol, heart disease, and aid in your digestion.
  • Dates are nature’s candy! They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre and if you get the juiciest ones you can find, they’re the tastiest things you’ll ever eat. The minerals like selenium, manganese, copper, and magnesium all help prevent osteoporosis. They’re high in iron to prevent anemia, and they’re packed with fibre to help with constipation. Yes.
  • Oats are high in fibre, minerals, and vitamins, too! See a theme here? Whole foods are where it’s at. Oats also have 2 antioxidants that are almost solely found in oats (avenanthramides and ferulic acid), which both help reduce blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide levels to help dilate blood vessels.


Raw Carrot Cake Bliss Balls + Cashew Frosting
 
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These bliss balls are perfect for taking with you on adventures, eating for breakfast or having for a guilt-free dessert!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert, Snack
Serves: 22 balls
Ingredients
  • 3 carrots (about 6 inches long)
  • 9-10 large medjool dates
  • 2 cups oats (gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp ginger
  • ¼ cup walnuts
  • ⅛ tsp salt

  • Cashew Cream Cheeze Frosting (optional but SO GOOD):
  • 1 cup cashews, soaked at least 2 hours (the longer the creamier)
  • ½ cup plant-based milk (I used this hemp milk recipe)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
  1. Blend carrots in your food processor until a fine meal forms.
  2. Set the carrot aside into a bowl.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and blend until evenly blended together, then add the carrots back in, and blend until a sticky ball forms (or close to it).
  4. Roll into 1 inch balls with slightly wet hands.
  5. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
  6. You can be done! Or.... keep going to make a frosting covered bite, mmmm!
  7. Make the frosting! Blend all frosting ingredients together in a blender until smooth and creamy.
  8. Dip your bliss balls in the frosting, and place back in the freezer for storage.
  9. These keep well in the freezer, and travel nicely in a to-go bag!

 

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