HookedOnPlants

When getting hooked is a good thing

hooked on plants

Maple Dijon Pecan Hasselback Butternut Squash | Simple Vegan Holiday

By

Simple.

Beautiful.

Delicious.

Tha’s what I’m talkin’ about!

This Holiday, why not skip the Turk and whip yourself up a hasselback butternut squash?

Hasselback it up to prett-ify it to the maximum, and you have yourself a wow-effect kinda dish.

Why Hasselback? According to the Google-tron, it’s because once upon a time at the Hasselbacken hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, they sliced up potatoes like this, served them to the guests and dubbed them the funky name. Ya learn something new every day.

If you’re a last minute kind of person, and you need to whip something special up for the holiday table, I’ve got you.

In just a few steps, your house will be smelling better than Jamie Oliver’s fancy kitchen.

This is a dish that looks fancier than the minimal effort you put into it. Shhh… You can tell everyone you were in the kitchen for hours and hours, I won’t tell.

This Maple Dijon butter topped off with caramelized pecans really does take your typical butternut to the next level. Grab a beauty organic squash from Spud (you can use my code if you’re around the Vancouver area CRVAN-MURJUB, for 20$ off 🙂

Happy Holidays!!


Maple Thyme Hasselback Butternut Squash | Simple Vegan Holiday Dish
 
Save Print
A delicious way to devour the butternut squash. If you're looking for a beautiful dish for the holiday table, you've come to the right place! A simple dish with a big wow factor.
Author:
Recipe type: Holiday
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 large butternut squash, halved length-wise, seeds scooped out, then peeled to the bright orange colour
  • 1 tsp coconut oil (or avocado oil)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 garlic clove, sliced

  • Baste:
  • 1 tbsp thyme, minced
  • 1 tbsp vegan butter (I used 'Melt')
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1½ tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place squash face down on a parchment-covered baking sheet, rub with oil and sprinkle with salt.
  3. Bake for 10-15 minutes (to soften).
  4. Take out of the oven, and transfer to a cutting board to cool for 10 minutes.
  5. When the face-down squash is cool enough to handle, slice the hasselback cuts as thinly as you can. Stop slicing ¾ of the way down the squash to keep the base in tact.
  6. Place the squash, face-down, back onto the parchment covered baking sheet.
  7. Stuff a few garlic slices throughout the sliced squash.
  8. Bake for 10 more minutes while you make the baste.
  9. Make baste: whisk all of the baste ingredients together in a bowl.
  10. Remove the squash from the oven and pour ¾ of the baste over both halves. Use a basting brush to get it all over!
  11. Bake for another 20 minutes. Then add the pecans to the rest of the baste, and pour this mixture over the squash. Use the basting brush to spread any excess liquid on the pan, overtop of the squash.
  12. Bake 10 more minutes.
  13. Serve with roasted veg!

Tag me if you make this! (@hookedonplants on instagram)

I love seeing your recipes.

… and if you want more:

Sign up to my emails for weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

Try the #PlantsForAWeek challenge by grabbing my brand new E-Book!

Cheezy Chickpea Tahini Drizzle

By

Ahhhh the feeling of having that something in the fridge that will make any meal taste and look gourmét … Well, make this, and then you’ll get that warm fuzzy feeling. That feeling of… no matter what I make… it’s going to taste fantabulous with this drizzle-y goodness. This cheezy chickpea tahini drizzle is up there as one of my faves at the moment!

I love this because it’s not as heavy as making a tahini-only sauce.

Adding those chickpeas makes the sauce go further…meaning I can smother my dish even more liberally.

It really is all about the sauce. Dinners can be so incredibly easy when you have a pre-cooked grain, protein (bean, legume, tempeh, tofu), a bunch of greens or sprouts, and a whole lot of sauce.

Pro tip:

Each week, switch up the sauce, cook up a couple different grains and proteins, and use what ever raw veggies and greens that are on sale…and you have a quick, throw-together, uber nutritious, super delicious, stress-free DINS. You could even wrap this up and take it out to lunch.


Cheezy Chickpea Tahini Drizzle
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
An everything sauce to pump up that gourmét chef in you!
Author:
Recipe type: sauce, drizzle, dip
Serves: 1 cup
Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup tahini
  • ⅔ cup chickpeas
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 3 tsp tamari
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • ½-3-4 cup water
Instructions
  1. Blend all ingredients until smooth! I used the smaller blender attachment for my high speed blender. Add just enough water for it to be the consistency that you can drizzle.

Tag me if you make this! (@hookedonplants on instagram)!

I love seeing your recipes.

…Want more?

Sign up to my emails for weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

Try the #PlantsForAWeek challenge by grabbing my brand new E-Book!

Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin Spice Muffins + Charcoal Turmeric Icing

By

I can’t boolieve it’s Halloween already!

Time for a funky, trying to be scary…not so scary…super dense, delish muffin recipe. These Pumpkin Spice Jack-O-Lantern Muffins are a cute replacement or add-on to your carved up big one. Or, if you don’t want to carve up a big one this year, just make these little guys and enjoy that halloween pumpkin-y feeling, and eat it, too.

These turned out better than Jack himself could have hoped for.

Sweetened mostly with dates, and packed with pumpkin-y goodness makes them so dense and so flavourful!

Smush in some vegan butter and call it a good day! (Used ‘Melt’ vegan butter here OMG)

…Density. A must have in a good muffin.

Add in that activated charcoal and turmeric to the cashew icing mix and you can pretty much call them superfood muffs!

Grab some kids, or call out your inner child, along with the squeeze bottles to create some delicious art (that will hopefully turn out spookier than my attempt at scary).

And…. Happy Halloween!

For more Halloween-y treat ideas, check out this Homemade Candy Bar round-up or these Top 15 Candy Recipes!


Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin Spice Muffins
 
Save Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Dense, halloween-y, super pumpkin-y muffins with a superfood-y turmeric and charcoal cashew icing!
Author:
Recipe type: halloween, snack, dessert
Serves: 10
Ingredients

  • Dry Ingredients:
  • 2 cups oat flour (blend 2 cups oats into a fine flour in a food processor or blender)
  • ½ cup coconut sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup chopped pecans

  • Wet Ingredients:
  • 1 can pumpkin pie mix puree
  • 2 chia eggs (2 tbsp chia soaked in 6 tbsp water for 5 minutes)
  • ¾ cup medjool dates (about 6-8), soaked in warm water for 10 minutes
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • Icing:
  • 1 cup cashews, pre-soaked for at least 3 hours (or over night for smoother icing)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ cup vanilla almond milk
  • 1½ tsp activated charcoal
  • 1½ tsp turmeric
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
  2. Mix together dry ingredients.
  3. In blender, mix together wet ingredients until smooth.
  4. Then add the wet to the dry and until combined.
  5. Spoon about a ¼ cup in each lined (with paper muffin cups or re-usable silicone ones) muffin tin.
  6. Bake for 22 minutes.
  7. Make the icing: In a small food processor, or blender, blend all pre-soaked cashews, almond milk and maple syrup until smooth (you will have to scape down the sides and leave it running for a few minutes).
  8. Take out a ¼ of the cashew icing and set aside. Add the turmeric to the icing in the blender and blend until combined.
  9. Spread this orange icing over the top of the muffins.
  10. Then, add the white icing back into the blender with the activated charcoal. Blend until smooth.
  11. Scoop this black icing into a squeeze bottle or a ziplock with a tiny hole cut in the corner, and create your jack-o-lantern art!
Notes
*Prep-time does not include the soaking of cashews

Tag me if you make these! @hookedonplants on instagram.

I love seeing your recipes.

Want more?

Sign up to my emails for weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

This week’s email was all the crazy things that happen by going vegan for just 1 day, plus a Doc spotlight on Joel Fuhrman.

Quarter Pounder Red Lentil Rice Veggie Burgers | Gluten-Free

By

It’s burger o’clock! Maybe you caught this recipe over on my instastories (@hookedonplants)? I completely wung it, and it completely worked out (love when that happens). These red lentil rice veggie burgers are not only a complete protein, but also packed with flavour and easy to whip up.

There’s a few things you should always have in the fridge, ready to grab:

  • A cooked grain
  • A cooked legume
  • A sauce
  • Greens

Have these 4 magical ingredients ready to go, and the whole ‘last minute dinner’ freak out thing is a lot less dramatic.

And the possibility of last minute creations like this actually come into fruition is at an all time high.

The universal problem with veggie burgers is:
The squish-outta-the-bun issue. Know what I mean?

They can taste amazing, but the texture just isn’t there.

Well, after the pan-fry, the longer you leave these patties in the oven, the stiffer the texture you will have to bite down on.

The first round we did 20 minutes, without flipping half way. Not enough.

30 minutes (flipping half way through) did the trick, but 40 minutes gives you even more of a stay-together kinda patty. Crispy outside, soft inside. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!


Red Lentil Rice Burgers
 
Save Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A flavourful veggie burger that won't squish outta your bun.
Author:
Recipe type: burgers, dinner, lunch
Serves: 6
Ingredients

  • Burger Patties:
  • 2 cups brown rice, cooked
  • 2 cups red lentils, cooked
  • 2 cloves, garlic
  • ¼ cup red onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp molasses
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp tamari
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • Extra:
  • 1 tsp coconut oil

  • Burger Sauce:
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup vegan mayo (from Hellmans or Veganaise or Sir Kensington's)
  • 1 tbsp onion powder (or chipotle!)

  • Burger fixin's:
  • Buns (or use a collard green wrap)
  • Vegan Cheese (I use Violife or sliced Gusta Blockor Sheese Cheese ~ all of the melt deliciously)
  • Tomato, sliced
  • Avocado, sliced
  • Sprouts of choice
  • Romaine or spinach
  • Sauerkraut
  • Pickles, sliced

  • Caramelized Balsamic Oil-Free Onions (optional):
  • 3-4 sweet onions, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup balsamic
  • ½ cup water (might not need it all, but have it on hand if it's sticking)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 375°F
  2. Make caramelized onions (optional and not included in cooking time (yummy but takes some time): heat a wide pot or deep pan to medium heat. Throw in all of the onions and let brown for a few minutes. De-glaze with a bit of water. Do this a couple of times. Add balsamic vinegar. Turn heat down to low. Let them simmer for up to 1 hour (could just go for 15 minutes, but the longer you go, the deeper the caramelization). Check them every 15 minutes. If they're sticking to the bottom of the pot, just add a bit more water or balsamic.
  3. Blend all burger ingredients (except for ½ cup of the red lentils) together until nearly smooth in your food processor. Add the rest of the lentils at the end and pulse.
  4. Form the mixture into 6 patties on a parchment covered baking sheet.
  5. Heat a pan to medium heat, and melt the coconut oil.
  6. Fry the patties for 3 minutes on each side.
  7. Place the patties on the baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway. Go for 40 minutes if you want a dryer, stiffer patty!
  8. For the last 2-3 minutes of baking, place cheese slices on the patties to melt and the sliced buns on the pan to get toasty.
  9. Assemble the burger to your liking!

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

Want more?

Sign up to my emails for weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

This week’s email was the so-called ‘healthy’ egg (not so healthy…)

Simple Tofu Scramble + Breakfast Taters | Plant-Based Weekend Brunch

By

When your tastebuds are demanding you to chomp down on something savoury, eggy & satiating, PRONTO…here’s the cure-all.  This super simple tofu scramble with all the fixin’s is a 10 on the brunch-o-meter.

After a busy first week of September action, Saturday is the day to take a moment in the kitchen to whip up this yumminess.

These breakfast taters satisfyingly pop in the mouth.

Adding the hummus to the scramble helps soak up those spices to create a flavourful smorgasbord.

I used to love cheese eggs before I became vegan. You know that melted cheese all over a scramble? It was our go-to on camping trips. If you like the cheese + egg combo, spruce this recipe up a bit by melting some vegan cheese over the scramble in the pan for the last few minutes with the lid on (drooling just thinking about it).

 

The meltiest vegan cheeses? Gusta block (grated), Violife cheddar, or Sheese Cheese.

Vegan food is not a compromise.

Let’s get into it!


Simple Tofu Scramble with Breakfast Taters | Plant-Based Weekend Brunchin'
 
Save Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A simple tofu scramble you can whip up this weekend to cure that savoury breakfast craving!
Author:
Recipe type: breakfast, brunch
Serves: 3
Ingredients
  • ½ large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 6 white mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp Hawaiin black salt (for sulfur/egg taste!)
  • ¼-1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 block of organic medium or soft tofu (about 350g)
  • ½ cup hummus of choice or this Roasted Garlic Hummus

  • Taters:
  • 4-5 russet potatoes, scrubbed clean then diced (into small ¼ inch cubes)
  • 1 tsp avocado oil
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt

  • Extras:
  • Sliced tomato
  • Sliced avocado
  • Hot sauce
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 425°F
  2. Coat the potatoes with avo oil, onion and garlic powder. Then lay them out on a parchment-covered (or silicone sheet-covered) pan, making sure they're barely touching each other (you may need 2 pans).
  3. Bake potatoes for 20-30 minutes, flipping half way. They should be golden on all sides.
  4. Oil-free sauté your onions: Bring pan to medium heat, throw onions on and let heat until they brown. Then add a bit of water to de-caramelize the pan. Do this until they are translucent (about 5 minutes, adding water if they stick).
  5. Add mushrooms, pepper and garlic. Let sauté a couple of minutes.
  6. Add the spices and a bit more water (about ¼ cup)
  7. Crumble the tofu with your hands (trying to get the tiniest crumbs possible) into the pan.
  8. Add the hummus.
  9. Mix it all together and let sauté for a couple more minutes.
  10. Serve it up with the potatoes, avocado, fresh tomato, and Sriracha hot sauce!

Want more?

Sign up to my emails for weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

This week’s email was all about eating this, not that for weight loss on a vegan diet.