Tag: vegan lunchbox ideas

Tofu Halloumi

Tofu ‘Halloumi’

Published on by Sharon6 Comments

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In today’s post, I’m sharing the recipe for a delicious plant-based alternative to halloumi. Simple to prepare, this Tofu ‘Halloumi’ is highly versatile. We love to add it to Greek-style salads, sandwiches, pittas, wraps and mezze platters. 

Tofu Halloumi

It was the Greek Vegan Deli guys that first introduced me to Tofu ‘Halloumi’ back in 2018 at Bristol VegFest. It was absolutely delicious!! Since then, every time I see the Greek Deli guys at a festival, I really look forward to tucking into their Tofu ‘Halloumi’, either stuffed into a pitta or as part of one of their incredible Greek platters. 

I love Greek food and halloumi used to be one of my favourite cheeses. However, once I’d tried the tofu version, I was hooked. I loved it even more than the original!

And if I’d known just how easy it is to make, I would definitely have tried making Tofu ‘Halloumi’ a long time ago!

It involves three simple steps …

  1. Pressing the tofu
  2. Marinating it for an hour
  3. Then grilling it for a few minutes.

Job done!

I especially love to use a griddle pan to get those beautiful grill lines.

Tofu Halloumi

For the marinade, I used five ingredients that are basic staples my kitchen – nutritional yeast flakes, lemon, oregano, extra virgin olive oil and salt. The resulting tofu was so flavourful. It was salty, tangy, cheesy and herby – all the flavours I associated with Greek halloumi (for Cypriot halloumi you could switch the oregano for mint instead).

Tofu Halloumi

Recipe Card

Tofu Halloumi

Tofu ‘Halloumi’

This tofu is a delicious alternative to halloumi. It can be served warm or cold, and is perfect for adding to Greek salads, sandwiches, pittas, wraps and mezze platters.
5 from 3 votes
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Hands-on Time 18 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Salad
Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle East
Servings 3

Ingredients
 

  • 1 block (about 400g / 14 oz) of super firm tofu*
  • 4 TBSP nutritional yeast flakes
  • 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice
  • 1 TBSP dried oregano
  • 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Press the tofu for 30 minutes**. Slice into ½ inch (1.3 cm) thick rectangles.
  • Add the nutritional yeast flakes, lemon juice, dried oregano, oil and salt to a bowl and stir until thoroughly combined. The nutritional yeast should start to dissolve into the oil.
  • Add the tofu to a wide, shallow container and use a pastry brush or spoon to coat both sides in the marinade (it doesn’t matter if you need to stack the tofu). Cover and leave for an hour to marinate. Alternatively you can leave it overnight in the fridge.
  • When ready to cook, spray a non-stick griddle pan or frying pan (skillet) with oil and pre-heat on medium-high. Add the tofu in a single layer and press down on it with a slotted turner spatula (you should hear it sizzle). Cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown on the underside then flip over and repeat.
  • Stored in an airtight container, the tofu will keep for a couple of days.

Notes

* I used Cauldron Extra Firm Organic Tofu (available in the chiller cabinet in most big UK supermarkets). I like this tofu as it is set in calcium sulphate so it’s an easy way to boost our calcium levels. According to their website, Cauldron Organic Tofu contains approximately 400mg of calcium per 100g (a quarter block). 
**Here’s my preferred way to press tofu (since I don’t have a tofu press): Place the tofu on a rimmed baking tray. Place a chopping board on top of the tofu, followed by a heavy object to weigh it down. The water collects in a pool round the tofu. After 30 minutes, drain off the liquid. Give the tofu a quick pat with kitchen paper to soak up any residual liquid, then it’s good to go.
Keyword Easy Vegan Meals, Gluten-Free, Plant-Based, Vegan Lunchbox Ideas, Vegan Sandwiches
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Tofu Halloumi

I’m really looking forward to seeing how you would use this Tofu ‘Halloumi’. Today, I added it to a toasted sandwich with baby leaves and shredded beetroot, sun-dried tomatoes and mayo. It was so delicious! If you make it, remember to take a photo and tag it 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.    

With love,

Sharon xx

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Cranberry Glazed Nut Loaf (Vegan)

Cranberry-Glazed Nut Loaf (Vegan)

Published on by Sharon31 Comments

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When it comes to Christmas dinner, for me, nothing can beat a nut loaf served with a big pile of roasted veggies and onion gravy ♥ 

My mum made me my first nut roast for Christmas when I was 12 and it was by far the best Christmas dinner I’d ever had! In contrast to turkey (which I’d always found pretty bland), the nut roast was packed with beautiful flavours and textures. Since then, I’ve always chosen to have nut loaf as the centre piece of my Christmas dinner… and for many years now, my mum has chosen it over turkey too!!

In fact, pretty much everyone I know loves a nut roast, regardless of whether they’re vegetarian, vegan or not, so this is a great meal to serve to friends and family over the Christmas holidays, or as a special Sunday roast dinner.

Cashew Nut and Red Lentil Loaf

The nut loaf recipe I’m sharing today has be my family’s all-time favourite. It’s the one we’ve chosen as the centre piece of our Christmas dinner for the past ten years or so. We only make it at Christmas (to keep it ‘special’) and I’m already looking forward to tucking into it again this year!

Not only does it taste delicious, but it is easy to make too! It also stores really well, which means you can make the loaf a few days in advance of Christmas (or Thanksgiving) then simply heat up some slices before serving. The last thing I want to be doing in the Christmas holidays is slaving away in the kitchen and missing out on the fun, so this kind of ‘make ahead’ meal really suits me!

Cashew and Red Lentil Nut Loaf

This Cranberry-Glazed Nut Loaf has proven to be popular with our lovely readers too. I first posted this recipe back in December 2013 and I’ve absolutely loved reading your feedback and seeing your photos on social media. Thank you so much to everyone that’s taken the time to do this. It means a lot to me!

This blog post was in desperate need of updating (especially since we moved our website to a new format this year) so I’m really happy to have finally found the time to do so. This is one recipe that I’m sure my family is going to be making for many years to come!

Recipe Card

Cranberry Glazed Nut Loaf (Vegan)

Cranberry-Glazed Nut Loaf

This nut loaf is perfect for sharing with friends and family over the festive holidays or as the centrepiece to a Sunday roast dinner. It can be made two or three days in advance and warmed through in the oven or a microwave just before serving. It also makes a delicous sandwich filling served with caramelised onion chutney or sweet pickle.
5 from 2 votes
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Hands-on Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American, English
Servings 6

Ingredients
 

  • 250 g / 1½ cups cashew nuts
  • 125 g / 1¾ cups fresh wholegrain bread
  • 200 g / 1 cup red lentils
  • 500 ml / 2 cups vegetable stock (broth)
  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 large red onion (160g) finely diced
  • 2 celery sticks (140g) finely diced
  • 2-3 garlic cloves minced
  • 100 g / 1 cup mushrooms finely chopped
  • 1 tsp dried sage
  • 2 TBSP tomato purée (paste)
  • 40 g / ⅓ cup wholemeal (whole wheat pastry) flour or chapatti flour
  • 2-3 TBSP fresh parsley finely chopped
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 TBSP each of pine nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
  • 4 TBSP cranberry sauce

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan) / 375F.
  • Grease a large (3lb) loaf pan (about 24cm x 13cm x 7cm in size) and line with a strip of non-stick baking paper to cover the bottom and long sides. Leave a little excess paper hanging out to make it easy for you to lift out the loaf. (Alternatively you can use a non-stick loaf liner).
  • Pulse the cashews in a food processor until coarsely chopped, then place in a large mixing bowl. Process the bread into breadcrumbs, then add to the mixing bowl.
  • Place the lentils in a fine mesh sieve and wash under running water, agitating them with your hand until the water runs clear.
  • In a pan, bring the vegetable stock and lentils to the boil, then reduce the heat and gently simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the lentils have become a soft purée and all the water has been absorbed. Stir regularly towards the end of the cooking time to prevent the lentils from sticking.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan (skillet) and cook the onion and celery until they start to soften. Add the garlic, mushrooms and sage, and cook for a further three minutes. Stir in the tomato purée and flour, then remove from the heat.
  • Add the contents of the frying pan to the mixing bowl with the cashews and breadcrumbs. Add the cooked lentils, parsley and salt, and stir until thoroughly combined.
  • Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin. Gently press down and level the top. Sprinkle with pine nuts and seeds, and press them into the loaf. Spread the cranberry sauce on top. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 30 minutes. When ready, the loaf should feel firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin for at least 20 minutes, before turning out and slicing (it will firm up more as it cools). If you’re making it ahead of time, you can leave it in the pan until completely cooled.
  • This loaf will keep for five days in the fridge, and for weeks in the freezer. If you’re not planning on eating the loaf in one go, you can slice it and freeze it in portions. The loaf can also be served cold and makes a great sandwich filling.
Keyword Lunchbox Ideas, Vegan Christmas Dinner, Vegan Dinners, Vegan Roast Dinner, Vegan Sandwiches, Vegan Thanksgiving
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Nutritional Breakdown

N.B. The above values are estimates. The actual nutritional values will vary depending on the brands and ingredients used.

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Cranberry Glazed Nut Loaf

If you have any leftovers, I can highly recommend stuffing them into a sandwich or pitta bread, along with some caramelised onion chutney or sweet pickle. My family calls this our ‘Boxing Day’ sandwich. It’s delicious!!

If you make this Cranberry-Glazed Nut Loaf, 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.   

With love,

Sharon xx

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