Today I’m sharing a delicious mushroom and lentil ragout that is hearty, warming and filling. It’s just perfect for serving on a chilly day! Rich in umami flavour, this plant-based ragout is simple to make and uses basic pantry ingredients. It is also super cheap too!
Today I’m sharing a delicious miso soup that has quickly become my new favourite ‘working from home’ lunch. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare and is so warming and filling. It also happens to be packed full of nutritional goodness. This is one of those meals that makes me feel really energised… like I’m ‘zinging’ on the inside! It’s been a big hit with the family too. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Today, I’m sharing a tasty plant-based alternative to the classic Tuna salad sandwich filling. It’s creamy, crunchy, sweet, salty and tangy! I do love to have a mixture of flavours and textures going on in my sandwiches and today’s recipe certainly fits that bill! It is really easy to make and takes less than ten minutes to prepare.
The idea of using smashed chickpeas, mayo and seaweed as a vegan alternative to tuna has been around for a while now. I don’t know who originally came up with the idea, but it’s genius! I like to add a dash of mustard, lemon juice, tahini, dill and salt into the mix as I find it really helps to make the flavours ‘dance’.
Sweetcorn is a classic addition to the Tuna salad sandwich and it lends some sweetness and texture, as well as some welcome pops of sunshine yellow. I also love to add some chopped dill pickles for crunch and tang.
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Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Salad Sandwich Filling
This tasty plant-based alternative to the Tuna Mayo Salad sandwich is creamy, crunchy, sweet, salty and tangy! It is really easy to make and perfect for lunchboxes.
3TBSPvegan mayonnaiseeither home-made or shop-bought*
1TBSPlight tahini
1-2TBSPfreshly squeezed lemon juice
1tspDijon mustard
2tspnori sprinkles(I use Clearspring)
½tspdried dill
¼tspsalt
50g/ ¼ cup canned sweetcorndrained
40g/ ¼ cup dill pickles (aka cornichon gherkins)chopped
Instructions
Place the chickpeas in a mixing bowl and roughly mash using a potato masher.
Add the mayonnaise, tahini, lemon juice and mustard and stir through until fully combined.
Add the dried dill, salt, sweetcorn and pickles and stir to combine. Taste test and adjust the seasoning to suit.
Store the sandwich filling in an airtight container in the fridge, where it will keep for three days.
Notes
* There are lots of options available now for vegan mayonnaise! You could either use a shop-bought mayo such as Hellmans, Vegenaise or M&S Plant Kitchen… or make you own. My ‘Quick and Easy’ Vegan Mayonnaise recipe can be found here.
NB: The above values are estimates and for illustration purposes only. Actual nutritional values will vary depending on the specific ingredients used. Percentage Reference Intakes (RI) will also vary depending on individual factors such as age, gender, height, BMI and activity level.
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If you make this Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Salad Sandwich (or any other recipes on my blog), I’d love to hear your feedback and any suggestions for adaptations! Tag your photos with #bitofthegoodstuff on social media – I always love to see your creations! You can also connect with me on my social media channels here: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest.
In today’s post, I’m sharing a twist on our original Vegan Spanish Potato Omelette (‘Tortilla de Patatas’). A new favourite of ours, this version features roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomato. It is so flavourful and eye catching. I love those pops of vibrant colour running through the omelette!
For lunch, we love to serve it with salad or use it as a sandwich filling. We were introduced to the ‘Tortilla Sandwich’ in Seville last Summer and it is unbelievably good! I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t had one before.
As a main meal, we’ve been enjoying it with mixed salad, roasted veggies and vegan coleslaw. Tasty and so colourful too!
And when we’re out of ‘lockdown’, this omelette is going to be perfect for summer picnics, buffets and tapas parties.
It’s equally delicious served hot and cold.
Since this omelette is vegan, of course it doesn’t contain any eggs. How do we make omelette without eggs you may ask? Well the secret ingredients are silken tofu and chickpea flour. The combination of these two, for me, makes the perfect consistency for an egg-free omelette. If you’d like to add some ‘eggy’ flavour, a pinch or two of kala namak (black salt) will do the trick.
If you haven’t made vegan Spanish omelette before, rest assured that it is easy to make. I’ve made this one even easier by giving the option of baking it in the oven rather than cooking it on the stove. Once the batter is prepared, you can simply pop it in the oven, set the timer for half an hour then walk away.
Traditionally, Spanish Omelette is quite heavy on the oil so, to make this one a bit lighter, I first boil the potatoes until they are just soft. I then pan fry them with the onion and garlic in a little extra virgin olive oil and salt to enhance their flavour.
Since I posted the original vegan Spanish omelette recipe back in February 2019, it’s become a firm favourite with our lovely readers, and I’ve absolutely loved seeing all the photos you’ve been sharing on social media! It was these photos and your lovely feedback that inspired me to experiment with new veggie and flavour combinations. I can’t wait to see your pictures of this one!
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Vegan Spanish Potato Omelette with Roasted Red Pepper and Sun-Dried Tomato
This vegan Spanish omelette is easy to make and equally delicious served hot and cold. As a main meal, my family loves to serve it with colourful mixed salad and roasted veggies. For lunch, it’s great served on its own, or sliced into a sandwich. It’s also perfect for serving at picnics, buffets and tapas parties.
400g/ 14 oz waxy potatoes e.g. charlotte, maris peer or salad potatoes (no need to peel)
1½TBSPextra virgin olive oildivided
1large brown oniondiced
2 tspgarlicminced
½tspsalt
60ml/ ¼ cup plant milk(I used soya milk)
300g/ 10½ oz silken tofudrained
2tspDijon mustard
45g/ ⅓ cup gram flour (aka chickpea flour, besan flour)
2TBSPnutritional yeast flakes
2TBSPcornflour (cornstarch)
¼tspground turmeric
¼tspblack salt ('kala namak') optional – adds an ‘eggy’ flavour
2roasted red pepperssliced (I used peppers from a jar, fully drained)
8sun-dried tomatoes in oildrained and sliced
vegetable oil for greasing the pan
Instructions
Prepare a pan of boiling water.
Cut the potatoes into halves or quarters, then into 0.5cm / ⅕ inch slices. Boil the potatoes for 10 minutes or until tender, then drain using a colander.
Meanwhile, heat ½ TBSP extra virgin olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan (skillet) on medium-low heat and cook the onion, stirring now and then.
Prepare the batter: place the milk, silken tofu, mustard, gram flour, nutritional yeast, cornflour, turmeric and black salt (if using) in a large mixing bowl and blend smooth using a hand blender.
When the potatoes are tender, tip them into the frying pan with the onion. Add 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil, 2 tsp minced garlic and ½ tsp salt. Continue cooking for a couple of minutes on medium heat, stirring regularly until the potatoes are fully coated in the oil and salt. (They should start to turn a light yellow colour). Taste test and add a touch more salt or oil, if needed.
Add the contents of the frying pan, roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomato slices to the batter in the mixing bowl and stir through.
To Pan-Fry the Omelette:
Coat the bottom of a clean, non-stick oven-safe frying pan (skillet) with oil and heat on medium heat. (I use a rapeseed/canola oil spray as I find it less sticky than olive oil). Tip the omelette mixture into the pan and use a silicone spatula to distribute it evenly; smooth the top and neaten the edges. Cook for 15 minutes on medium-low heat, or until the edges start to firm up.
Towards the end of the cooking time, preheat the grill (broiler). Place the frying pan under the grill (with the handle sticking out) until the omelette is lightly browned (about 3 minutes). Keep a watch on it as it can burn quickly. Using an oven glove, remove the pan from the grill. Leave to rest for at least 10 minutes (it will firm up as it cools), then loosen with a slotted turner and transfer onto a chopping board.
To Oven-Bake the Omelette:
Pre-heat the oven to 200C (180C fan). Grease the sides of a 22cm / 9” loose-bottom flan tin and line the bottom with non-stick baking paper. Add the omelette mixture and press it down using a silicone spatula. Cook for 30 minutes, or until the tortilla is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted through the middle comes out clean. Leave to rest for at least ten minutes (it will firm up as it cools), then gently run a knife round the outer edge and transfer the omelette to a chopping board.
Notes
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, the omelette will keep for up to five days. It can be eaten cold, straight from the fridge. Alternatively, to re-heat, I squirt a couple of sprays of rapeseed (canola) oil in a frying pan and cook the omelette slices on medium heat, turning regularly until warmed through.Recipe adapted from Bit of the Good Stuff’s Vegan Spanish Potato Omelette – Tortilla de Patatas
If you make this Vegan Spanish Potato Omelette, I’d love to hear your feedback and any suggestions for adaptations! Tag your photos with #bitofthegoodstuff on social media – I always love to see your creations! You can also connect with me on my social media channels here: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest.
Today’s recipe is for a deliciously decadent French Toast that’s just perfect for serving as a weekend breakfast or brunch. It’s really easy to make and the batter uses just a handful of ingredients. The real challenge at the moment is getting hold of a loaf of bread! (who would have thought eh?) But if you’re able to seek it out, I would highly recommend using sourdough as it takes this toast to the next level! ✨
Back in October 2018 I had my first experience of vegan French Toast at The Canvas Cafe in London. It was honestly one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever eaten! (and I’m so glad I took a photo before I devoured it… I have so many fond memories when I look at that photo.) I vowed that one day I would have to try and recreate this deliciousness at home.
But there it languished on my ever growing ‘to do’ list… until last month when I spotted this ‘Peaches & Cream Sourdough French Toast’ in the Vegan Life magazine. The recipe looked pretty simple and I happened to have all the batter ingredients in the pantry so I was excited to give it a try! The next time we went grocery shopping, I managed to get my hands on a wholemeal sourdough, which was a win as it was pretty much the last loaf of bread left in the shop!
* Disclaimer: Vegan Life kindly sent me a complimentary copy of this magazine
It turns out that vegan French Toast is so easy to make! It is literally a matter of whizzing the handful of batter ingredients in a high speed blender (I used my Optimum Nutri Force Extractor), then dipping the bread in the batter and frying it.
Kala Namak is totally optional, but if you want some ‘eggy’ flavour in your vegan French Toast then a pinch of this salt will do the trick. It’s really cheap and you can purchase it from Asian grocery stores or online. I purchased a 100g bag from Amazon UK and it cost just a couple of pounds. Be warned, it is very potent stuff so a little goes a long way!
The French Toast is especially good topped with some Coconut Whipped Cream, slices of fresh berries or some berry compote and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Can’t wait to see how you decide to top it!
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Vegan French Toast with Strawberries and Cream
This vegan version of French Toast makes a delicious weekend breakfast or brunch. We love to top it with a generous dollop of coconut whipped cream, sliced berries and a drizzle of maple syrup. We would love to see how you decide to top it!
pinchof kala namak (aka black salt) to impart an ‘eggy’ taste, optional
4slicesof sourdough bread(we used wholemeal sourdough)
1TBSPdairy-free butter
Suggested Toppings
Coconut Whipped Cream*
Slices of strawberry or your favourite fresh fruits. (Compote made from frozen berries is also delicious on this toast!)
Drizzle of maple syrup
Instructions
Add all the batter ingredients – milk, chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla extract, pinch of kala namak (if using) – to a high speed blender and whizz until smooth. Pour into a wide shallow container.
Place two slices of bread in the batter. After a few seconds, flip to coat the second side, making sure all areas of the bread are coated.
Heat ½TBSP vegan butter in a non-stick frying pan (skillet) on medium heat. Swirl the pan to ensure the bottom is covered entirely in butter, then place the two slices of bread in it. Cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. To flip the bread, carefully loosen it first using a slotted turner to ensure all the lovely batter stays on the bread.
Transfer to a plate and place in the oven on low heat to keep it warm while you prepare the next two slices of bread. Coat the bottom of the pan in another ½ TBSP vegan butter and repeat the process as above.
Once the French Toast is ready, arrange on plates with your chosen toppings and serve.
N.B. The above values are estimates. The actual nutritional values will vary depending on the brands and ingredients used.
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Big thank you to Vegan Life magazine and Anthea Cheng for inspiring today’s post! ✨
If you make this Vegan French Toast, I’d love to hear your feedback and any suggestions for adaptations! Tag your photos with #bitofthegoodstuff on social media – I always love to see your creations! You can also connect with me on my social media channels here: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest.
Today I’m sharing the recipe for a delicious plant-based curry that is filled with sunshine colour. The stars of this dish are butternut squash and red pepper, which are roasted in warming spices to bring a richness and depth of flavour. The sauce is coconut based, adding the touch of sweetness and creaminess that we associate with Sri Lankan curries. I’ve kept the recipe mild enough to suit all family members, but feel free to crank up the heat by adding some fresh chilli.
The inspiration for today’s post was a recipe that I spotted in February’s Vegan Life Magazine. With its vivid oranges and reds, this curry looked so appealing! It also reminded me of Deliciously Ella’s Sri Lankan Curry, which has been on my ‘to try’ list for ages now. Rather than buying new ingredients that I wouldn’t normally purchase, I decided to use the recipes from Ella and Vegan Life magazine as inspiration to create my own version of this delicious-looking curry.
* Disclaimer: Vegan Life kindly sent me a complimentary copy of this magazine
And I was so happy with how it turned out! The colours and flavours of this curry are beautiful!! I used a mix of spices that I always have on hand (turmeric, chilli, cinnamon, curry powder and mustard seeds) which gave the dish the warm, sweet and spicy flavour that I associate with Sri Lankan-style curries. I also chose to add some marinated tofu to increase the protein content. The texture and flavour of the tofu worked really well in this curry, so I will definitely use it again in the future!
Since I first made this curry last month, I’ve gone on to make it twice more already! It’s been a big hit with family and friends, so I know I’ll be making it many more times in the future. This recipe is a keeper! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
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Sunny Sri Lankan Curry (Vegan)
Filled with beautiful sunshine colour and delicious flavours, this curry is sure to be a crowd pleaser! It’s easy to make and suitable for preparing in advance. I’ve kept it mild enough to serve to children, but feel free to ramp up the heat by adding some fresh chilli. We love to serve it on a bed of brown rice.
800g/ 5 cups butternut squashpeeled and sliced into bite-size chunks (no bigger than 1 inch / 2.5cm)
1½TBSPextra virgin olive oil
½tspground turmeric
½tspmild chilli powder
½tspground cinnamon
1tspmild curry powder
1tspblack mustard seeds
1large red oniondiced
2tspminced garlic
2tspminced ginger
200g/ 7 oz marinated tofuor other protein source, sliced into chunks [See note *]
400ml/ 14 oz can coconut milk
120ml/ ½ cup vegetable stock (broth)
2red bell peppers (or use a mixture of colours)deseeded and sliced into chunks
2handfuls (about 60g) of baby spinach
saltto taste
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 430F / 220C (200C fan). Line a large roasting tin with non-stick baking paper.
Arrange the squash in the roasting tin and sprinkle the spices (turmeric, chilli powder, cinnamon and curry powder) and 1 TBSP oil on top. Give it a good stir to ensure the squash is thoroughly coated in the spices then roast for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, gently heat ½ TBSP oil in a large saucepan. Add the mustard seeds and cook until they start to pop. Stir in the onion and cook for a couple of minutes until it starts to soften (add a splash of water if it starts to stick). Add the garlic and ginger (and fresh chilli, if using) to the pan, and continue cooking for one minute. Finally add the tofu chunks (or other protein source), the coconut milk and vegetable stock. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to low, partially cover with a lid and gently simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
Once the squash has roasted for 20 minutes, add the bell pepper to the roasting tin and stir through. Continue cooking until for another 10 minutes or so, until both the squash and pepper are tender.
Tip the roasted vegetables into the saucepan and stir through to coat in the coconut milk. Simmer for a couple of minutes to allow the flavours to meld. Finally, add the spinach and stir through until it wilts.
Taste test and season with salt, if desired.
Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to three days (be sure to check the storage instructions for the tofu or other protein source that you are using).
If you make this Vegan Sunny Sri Lankan Curry, I’d love to hear your feedback and any suggestions for adaptations! Tag your photos with #bitofthegoodstuff on social media – I always love to see your creations! You can also connect with me on my social media channels here: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest.
Big thank you to the Vegan Life magazine and the lovely Ella Mills for today’s recipe inspiration! ✨