Vegan and Vegetarian

Cannellini Bean and Kale Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 can cannellini beans
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 3 - 4 tbsp. spicy harissa sauce
  
• 2 cups lacinto kale
• 1 shallot or 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 - 3 garlic cloves
• 1 cup water or gluten free vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (optional)
  
• seasoning: Italian seasoning, paprika, onion and garlic powder
  

Directions:  Finely chop shallot/ onion and garlic.  Clean and roughly chop kale.  Rinse and drain cannellini beans.  In a skillet or large pot, saute onions and garlic in olive oil and seasoning mix.  Add harissa sauce and marinara sauce.  Add kale and water and let cook until kale softens.  Add cannellini beans and cook for another 5 minutes.  Top with grated parmesan cheese (optional.)

See YouTube

General Tso's Tofu

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of extra firm or firm pressed tofu
• cornstarch
• tofu seasoning: white pepper, onion and garlic powder
• 1 cup of sticky rice (optional) boiled in 1 3/4 cups of water with a dash of sea salt and a spoonful of coconut oil
  
• Black Bean Sauce: 2 tbsp. black beans from a can along with some of the liquid, 1 minced garlic clove, brown sugar, chili powder / flakes, tamari, vegetable or avocado oil
  
• 5 Spice seasoning: ground cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, white pepper, ground cloves
• Hoisin Sauce: black bean sauce, chili powder, cornstarch, rice vinegar, sesame oil, tamari (gluten free soy sauce), 5 spice seasoning, brown sugar 
• General Tso's Sauce (vegan recipe): hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, tamari, brown sugar, cornstarch, water, 1 - 2 garlic cloves (process in blender to remove any lumps)

Directions:

Use a mortar and pestle to grind 5 Spice ingredients into a powder.  Set aside.  Add 2 tbsp. of black beans along with some of the liquid in the can to a container.  Add minced garlic, chili powder and 2 tbsp. of brown sugar.  Mash black beans.  Add in tamari and avocado oil and set aside.  To make the hoisin sauce, in a larger container, add black bean sauce, more chili powder, rice vinegar, sesame oil, tamari, brown sugar, 5 Spice seasoning and cornstarch.  To make the General Tso's sauce add 1 tbsp. of cornstarch to a bowl with enough water to make a liquid slurry.  Add hoisin sauce, more tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil and 1 - 2 minced garlic cloves.  Puree until smooth.

Cut tofu into cubes and do not pat dry.  Save the liquid.  In a separate container, add a little over 1/4 cup of cornstarch and season with white pepper, onion and garlic powder.  Stir in seasoning, thoroughly toss tofu in cornstarch mix, making sure all sides are covered.  Heat a neutral oil in a skillet (canola, vegetable, sunflower) on high.  Add tofu to the skillet and shallow pan fry for a total of about 10 minutes, makes sure all sides are a light golden brown, reducing heat from high to medium to low as needed so you don't burn tofu.  Remove tofu and drain most of the oil.  Add in General Tso's sauce and add water as needed to loosen up sauce.  Add fried tofu back to the pot, cover with sauce and cook on low for another 3 - 5 minutes.  Serve with sticky rice and enjoy.

See YouTube

Miso Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 1/2 package of silken tofu
• 3 tbsp. gluten free miso paste
• 2 - 3 scallions (green parts only)
• 2 - 3 garlic cloves
• seaweed paper (I used seaweed chips)
• shiitake mushrooms (optional)
• 3 cups of water

Directions:

Soak shiitake mushrooms in warm water for about 2 minutes until softened.  Then drain water and slice mushrooms into pieces and set aside.  Carefully slice up tofu into cubes (silken tofu is very fragile).  Slice up the green tops of a few scallions and mince some garlic.  In a pot heat water to a boil and add miso paste, tofu, shiitake mushrooms and seaweed paper.  Cook on medium high for about 10 - 15 minutes and serve.  Makes 2 bowls.

See YouTube

Tofu Tacos

Ingredients:

• 1 container of plain, extra firm tofu
• 1 can black beans
  
• 1/2 bell pepper
• 1/2 onion
• 2 - 3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup taco sauce
• drizzle of liquid smoke
• corn tortillas
• cilantro (optional)
• sour cream (optional)
  
• seasoning: Tajin, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, black pepper, onion and garlic powder
  

Directions:  Rinse and drain black beans and set aside.  Drain tofu and press between paper towels to squeeze out excess moisture.  Chop tofu into small cubes.  In a skillet cook onions and garlic on medium heat until softened.  Add tofu, seasoning mix and liquid smoke.  Let tofu cook for about 15 -20 minutes before adding black beans and taco sauce.  Continue to cook for another 15- 20 minutes.  Serve with toasted corn tortillas.

See YouTube