dinners – Page 4 – Bit of the Good Stuff

Family-Friendly Vegan Ranchero

Published on October 17, 2017 by Sharon11 Comments

Today, I’m sharing a recipe for a family-friendly vegan version of the Mexican classic ‘Huevos Rancheros’. The eggs have been replaced with golden cubes of pan-fried tofu which sit on a bed of rich, flavourful tomato sauce. I’ve toned down the chilli to make the dish kid-friendly (and ‘Sharon-friendly’ as I’m a complete heat wimp) but of course, feel free to crank up the chilli heat as high as you wish.

The inspiration for this recipe was the cover photo on the September issue of Vegan Life magazine. At first glance, Lucien and I were instantly attracted to this dish but, when we read that the recipe contained half a cup of green chillies plus three tablespoons of chilli powder, we knew it was going to be way too spicy for us. It didn’t deter me from giving it a try though, and I simply omitted the chillies to make it less spicy. Since the tomatoes, onions and garlic are roasted, they make the sauce rich and flavourful, so we really didn’t miss the chilli.

I first experimented with this recipe a few weeks ago and it was an instant hit with the family. We rarely eat the same meal twice in the same month, but we’ve made this one three times already! It’s quickly become a family favourite.

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Wagamama-Inspired Yasai Cha Han Donburi (Brown Rice Bowl with Stir-Fried Veggies and Tofu)

Published on August 14, 2017 by Sharon4 Comments

In early Summer, my family were eagerly anticipating a trip to Wagamamas. On the way there, we psyched each other up, talking about how much we were looking forward to tucking into our favourite Wagamama dish – the Yasai Cha Han Donburi. Upon arrival, the waiter showed us to our seats and handed us the menu. Our eyes immediately moved to the spot where the dish is usually listed, but it wasn’t there. We scanned both sides of the menu but it was nowhere to be seen. We called over the waiter and he explained that they had a new summer menu. Sadly, the Yasai Cha Han Donburi hadn’t made the cut.

Has that ever happened to you? Where you’re looking forward to tucking into your favourite dish at a restaurant, or you specifically go to that restaurant because you’re craving a dish… only to find that it’s been taken off the menu. It’s happened to my family a few times and it’s always such a bummer.

Well this time, I decided to look on the bright side. I’d been meaning to try my hand at making the Yasai Cha Han Donburi at home for a while, and now was the perfect opportunity. I could still remember what the bowl tasted like and its main components, so I set to work re-creating it.

One of my favourite parts of the bowl is the flavouring added to the rice, so I really wanted to nail this part. I chose to use two of my favourite pantry staples as the basis of the dressing – Clearspring Organic Tamari Sauce and Meridian Organic Toasted Sesame Oil. The tamari provides the ‘umami’ flavour, while the toasted sesame oil add a touch of smokiness. I then added a tablespoon each of maple syrup and rice vinegar for some ‘sweet ’n’ sour’ flavour, and finished it off with a sprinkling of garlic granules. I was extremely happy with the way the dressing turned out. For me, it’s the perfect compliment to a Japanese-inspired rice bowl.

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Naturally Nourished and Kid-Approved Broccoli Basil Broth with Noodles

Published on July 8, 2017 by Sharon5 Comments

Today on the blog, I’m sharing a review of Sarah Britton’s new release Naturally Nourished and one of my family’s current favourite recipes from the book – Broccoli Basil Broth with Noodles.

I’m sure a lot of my blog readers will already have heard of Sarah Britton. She is the creative force behind the hugely popular vegetarian blog My New Roots and launched her debut cookbook, under the same name, in 2015. Responding to her readers’ requests, her follow-up cookbook is filled with recipes and inspiration for weeknight cooking, using easy-to-source ingredients.

Though Naturally Nourished is a vegetarian cookbook, by far the greatest majority of the recipes are vegan (I counted 89), plus most of the non-vegan recipes can be easily “veganized” by switching the dairy cheese or yogurt for their vegan counterparts.

Sarah’s style of cooking really appeals to me as it focuses on using natural, whole food ingredients. This is the kind of food that my family loves to eat and we thrive on it. After eating meals like this, I always feel highly energised and great ‘on the inside’. I tend to make all our meals from scratch, so I’m always on the look out for simple, whole food recipes that are easy to throw together.

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Pulled Jackfruit BBQ Sandwiches

Published on June 20, 2017 by Sharon11 Comments

Today I’m sharing a recipe that caught my eye in the June edition of Vegan Life magazine. The recipe is for Pulled Jackfruit BBQ sandwiches. Don’t they look delicious?

I don’t know who started the pulled jackfruit craze, but it sure has taken the plant-based world by storm. I first tried it at a vegan fair last year, where it was served as part of a Tex Mex dish with nachos. I absolutely loved it and it’s been on my ‘to try at home’ list ever since.

So when I spotted this recipe in the Vegan Life mag, which had just a handful of ingredients and simple instructions, I was excited to give it a try.

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Saffron Soul Book Review plus 2 Quick & Easy Curry Recipes

Published on May 16, 2017 by Sharon10 Comments

In today’s post, I’m sharing a review of Mira Manek’s debut cookbook Saffron Soul plus two delicious recipes – Rajma – Simple Kidney Bean Curry and Fansi nu shaak – Green Bean Curry. These dishes are quick, easy to make and super cheap too! We’ve been enjoying them as a weeknight meal, served as a ‘mini Thali’ with some chapattis. As Mira mentions in the book, these curries are perfect for serving as part of a Thali, which is my absolute favourite way to enjoy Indian food.

While I already own a number of traditional Indian cookbooks, for me, Saffron Soul is like a breath of fresh air. Inspired by her family’s traditional cooking, Mira has created ninety recipes, each with a modern healthy twist on a traditional recipe. Continue reading “Saffron Soul Book Review plus 2 Quick & Easy Curry Recipes” →

Fifteen Minute Ratatouille and Pesto Butter Bean Mash from Vegan in 15

Published on February 23, 2017 by Sharon5 Comments

In today’s post I’m sharing two recipes. The first is for a delicious, quick and easy Ratatouille. It’s a versatile dish which can be served myriad ways. My family’s current favourite way to serve it is with Seared Polenta. The polenta does need preparing in advance but it’s most definitely worth it. If time is of the essence though and you need a quick meal, how about serving it with some crusty pesto-topped bread, stirred through pasta or with a side helping of butter bean mash (recipe below).

So many options!

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