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Simple Creamy Tomato Pasta with Chick’n | Vegan + Oil-Free

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A week night dinner saviour!

This pasta is super delish, and takes no time.

The creaminess? Hello cashews.

The simple-ness? Hello blender.

Pretend you’re a top chef for a minute with out actually having the credentials.

The biggest bonus of it all? The creaminess and decadent mouth feel we all crave… doesn’t have to come from the cow!

As for the vegan chick’n; it can be taken out completely, or replaced with any other kind of vegan meat you like. I’m thinking cauliflower ground round would be delish in here from Big Mountain Foods, or Gusta sausages, or Very Good Butcher’s bangers, or Field Roast sausages, or a little more indulgent Gardein or Yves ground round. Make this multiple times, and switch it up every time!

Why not add a side of steak? Cauliflower steak that is… Just douse a thick slice of cauliflower in your fave sauce (used Naked Coconut Teriyaki for this one), and sear them on the BBQ for 4-5 minutes a side!

Don’t forget to whip up some ridiculously easy vegan parm.

Simple Creamy Tomato Pasta with Chick'n | Vegan + Oil-free
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Simple Creamy Tomato Pasta with Chick’n | Vegan + Oil-free

Recipe by JulesCourse: DinnerDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

12

minutes

Ingredients

  • Creamy Tomato Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup cashews (soaked over night or a couple hours for the most creaminess)

  • 1 tbsp onion powder

  • 2 tsp oregano

  • 1 tsp basil (or 2 sprigs fresh basil

  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp white pepper (optional)

  • 1 cup diced canned tomatoes

  • Pasta Fixin’s:

  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 4-5 mushrooms of choice, sliced

  • 1 red pepper, diced

  • Meatiness: pre-cooked brown lentils or vegan chicken or ground round (Sweet Earth seitan strips, Very Good Butchers bangers, Gusta sausage, Field Roast weiners, Gardein chicken, Yves Veggie Cuisine Ground, Big Mountain Foods Ground

  • 2 handfuls kale or spinach, chopped

  • 300g whole grain pasta of choice (choose one with a couple of ingredients only… like brown rice or quinoa or chickpeas and water)

Directions

  • Turn pan to medium heat, add onions and let brown. Add a splash of water to de-glaze the pan. Then add in the pepper, mushrooms and garlic. Let sauté 5 minutes (add a bit of water if it sticks)
  • Boil water for your pasta
  • Add the ‘meat’ of choice to the pan. Let brown and heat up for 5-10 minutes while stirring periodically
  • Cook pasta according to directions
  • Meanwhile, make the creamy tomato sauce: Add all pasta sauce ingredients to the blender and whizzzz until smooth
  • Add the sauce to the veggie and ‘meat’ pan, stir to combine
  • Strain your pasta, then add that to the loaded pan too. Give it a good stir
  • Blend up some 3 minute cashew parmesan, then serve up your dish with some basil leaves, parm, and maybe even some garlic bread (toast with vegan butter and garlic powder = easiest garlic bread ever).

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The Happiness Burger | Smokey Tempeh Beet Rice Patties

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There’s a million different ways to eat a burger without the beef. But, this Happiness Burger is a special one.

Have you heard of the Delivering Happiness Project?

Hundreds of low-income family homes across the lower mainland and throughout Vancouver are being graced by free vegan burger patties all summer long because of this awesome project. How cool is that!?

Vanessa at Feed Me Fit created this recipe, and Juno is the man behind the Delivering Happiness Project mission.

Juno says; “More than half a million people in B.C. live in poverty. It’s sad to know that low-income families face impossible choices: buying food, heating the house, filling a prescription or paying the rent…”By providing healthy alternative food to families for three months we will not only give them a well-balanced plant-based diet but also the chance to save money on food costs…”

So, here’s a thank you to Feed me Fit and Delivering Happiness! What a way to make a difference in the people’s lives that need an extra boost.

Everyone is loving this patty recipe, so I had to grab it off Vanessa and share it with you!

Happiness Burgers | Smokey Tempeh Rice Patties
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Happiness Burgers | Smokey Tempeh Rice Patties

Recipe by juliaCourse: Lunch, DinnerDifficulty: Medium
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2-3/4 cups quick oats (add more if the mixture seems too wet at the end)

  • 12 oz tempeh (about 320 grams or about 1.5 packages)

  • 2 cups short grain rice, pre-cooked

  • 3 cups (or 10 oz) sliced mushrooms

  • 1 cup grated beets

  • 3 cups onions, sliced (will caramelize down to 1.5 cups)

  • 1/4 cup vegan bbq sauce

  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp onion powder

  • 1/2 tsp liquid smoke, or smoked paprika

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 tsp pepper

Directions

  • Sauté onions and mushrooms until caramelized: Heat a pan to medium, add onions and mushrooms. Let sauté for a couple minutes, then turn the heat down to low. Let sauté for 15 minutes, adding a little bit of water when needed if it’s sticking. This should make about 2 cups of mushrooms and onions.
  • Add the onions and mushrooms to the food processor with all the other ingredients and pulse until evenly combined, but not quite smooth! Make sure there are still a few chunks (you could even leave 1/2 of the rice out, and hand mix it into the mixture after).

  • Once mixed, put the mixture in the fridge for 1 hour. Then take out to mould into burger patties.
  • BBQ, bake or pan-fry! About 5 minutes per side…Vanessa says: ‘We’ve tried baking them, and pan-frying them and I like the pan-fried option better myself, but many people disagree and like the baked version, so I suggest trying both!’

Notes

  • Prep time doesn’t include the pre-cooking time for the rice, and the hour of fridge time for the mixture!

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If you make these, be sure to tag @hookedonplants @feedmefit & @deliveringhappiness on instagram)!

Need a guide towards a plant-based lifestyle? Try the 80/20 Plants Program.

Check out my e-book (your new vegan handbook) AKA …all you need for a #PlantsForAWeek mini challenge.

For more inspiration and info on eating plant-based, sign up to my emails for bi-weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

Creamy Portobello Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo

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Even Mr. Alfredo himself would FOR SURE give this Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo a 10/10. Even without cream, butter or cheese at the party.

Cream-ified with cauli and cashews and simplified with just 8 ingredients, making it the perfect answer to your weeknight scramble-fest (just takes 20 minutes).

Kids will love it too.

Use this sauce for anything else you need to add flavourful creaminess to (lunch wraps, sandwiches, glory bowls…)

I’ve added in some portobellos, smoked tofu, and peas for extra Alfredo pasta pizzazz.

Double it up, so you don’t have to worry about dinner a few nights away (my tastebuds wouldn’t have any problem at all if this was on repeat multiple times a week).

Cauliflower for the win once again. Love you, you versatile bundle of cruciferous-ness.

Creamy Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo
 
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A creamy pasta minus the heaviness! Cauliflower is the star in this one, serving as the base for a deliciously decadent feeling Alfredo sauce. Throw in some smoked tofu for that bacon-y feel, and you have yourself a nostalgic favourite to trick any comfort food lover!
Author:
Recipe type: pasta
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 1 large cauliflower, chopped (5 heaping cups of cauliflower florets)
  • 1-2 tbsp tamari
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 portobellos, sliced
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • ¾ cup soaked cashews
  • ¾ cup veggie broth
  • ½ cup nutritional yeast
  • juice of ½ lemon (about 1 tablespoon), plus 2 wedges for serving
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp pepper, to taste
  • 1 package (350 g) fettuccine or rotini pasta (gluten free if needed)
  • ½ cup smoked tofu, chopped
  • Fresh minced parsley, or sage for garnish

  • Optional:
  • Smoked Vegan Parmesan
  • ¾ cup green peas
Instructions
  1. Steam cauliflower florets in a steamer basket with the lid on for 10 to 15 minutes until fork tender.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a pan to medium heat and add the onions, garlic and mushrooms. Sauté for 10 minutes using splashes of tamari and water to de-glaze the pan if they’re sticking at all.
  3. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain well, pour it back into the pot, then set aside.
  4. Make the sauce! Blend the steamed cauliflower, lemon, milk, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper with HALF of the sautéed mushrooms, onion, garlic mix in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  5. Add the cauliflower sauce to the pasta pot and stir well.
  6. Add the green peas (if using)and heat over low-medium until everything is heated through. Taste and add more salt, lemon or pepper if needed.
  7. Serve it up! Divide the pasta into bowls, and add a sprinkle of fresh minced parsley. Add any other veggies you feel would be delicious with this creamy concoction!
  8. Optional: sprinkle with this Smoked Vegan Parmesan.

Tag me if you make this! LOVE seeing your creations.

@hookedonplants

Maple Dijon Pecan Hasselback Butternut Squash | Simple Vegan Holiday

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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
 
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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.

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Caramelized Onion Sage Cream BBQ Pasta

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Lucky for you, you’ve found yourself on a page with the secret to my new favourite sauce…all mixed up with the pasta that tells me ‘summer is on, baby’! This creamy vegan pasta could easily become a staple for those summery patio days.

Serve it up family style. Picture this… an outdoor picnic with a big bowl o’ pasta, a salad bowl packed with greens drizzled with this flavourful oil-free dressing, and a bowl of smokey vegan parm…now all that’s missing is funky tunes and fruity popsicles.

Caramelized onions give anything a deeper, sultry taste. Double or triple the caramelized onions I call for in this recipe, just so your fridge can be a good friend by having it on hand for your next savoury meal.

The BBQ’d veggies give this pasta a smokey flavour, and keep the house a little cooler than the oven would on a hot summery day.

And fresh sage… the ingredient that makes any dish seem more professional that it really is. Take a simple meal, sage it up, and voila: Top Chef material. Sage is so easy to grow outside or on a window sill (unlike basil, which somehow likes to wither away anytime I try to give it a good life…)

Benefits:

  • Zucchini has a good dose of antioxidants to help prevent disease, vitamin C to boost your immunity and potassium to help balance electrolytes and blood pressure.
  • Sage is commonly used for digestive issues, like bloating, gas, diarrhea and stomach pain. Plus, it’s fantastic for depression, memory loss and the prevention of Alzheimers
  • Onions contain sulfur, which is needed for the synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione, plus it helps strengthen hair and nails.

Caramelized Onion Sage Cream BBQ Pasta
 
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A simple dinner packed with nutrients. A go-to weeknight scramble recipe. Make lots of it, because the leftovers taste better by the day!
Author:
Recipe type: pasta, dinner, bbq
Serves: 3-4
Ingredients
  • 1 package of brown rice pasta (or any other pasta with just 2 ingredients...like quinoa + water)
  • 3-4 sweet onions, de-skinned, halved, then sliced in ⅛ inch pieces
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 zucchinis, halved lengthwise
  • 2 red peppers, de-stemmed, halved lengthwise
  • 3 portobello mushrooms (crimini or white work, too)
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • Salt + Pepper
  • Vegan sausage of choice (I used Gusta)

  • Sage Cream Sauce:
  • ½ cup cashews, pre-soaked overnight or for 10 minutes in hot water
  • ½ cup fresh sage
  • 2 tbsp miso paste
  • ¾ cup caramelized onions, with a few tablespoons of the liquid
Instructions
  1. Caramelize onions: heat large pot to medium, then add onions. Let brown a few minutes, then add ¼ cup water. Turn down the heat, add the garlic and let simmer for 30 minutes, lid on. Stir every 10 minutes or so to make sure they're not burning. If they're sticking just add a bit more water.
  2. Heat the BBQ to 400°F.
  3. Prep the veggies by adding the coconut oil to your hands and massaging the oil all over each piece of veg and place on the grill. Twist some salt and pepper on them, and let cook for 10 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add a dash of salt and pour in the pasta. Cook according to time on the package.
  5. Flip the BBQ'd veggies, and salt + pepper the other side. Let cook another 10 minutes.
  6. Throw the sausages on the BBQ. Cook for 8 minutes, rotating every couple of minutes.
  7. Strain the pasta and pour the pasta back into the pot.
  8. Make the sauce: add all sauce ingredients to your blender, and blend until smooth.

 

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