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It took me several tries to perfect my own version of vegan Sloppy Joe filling. The last attempt set my mouth on fire! Technically, it’s a bit too thin to use as a sandwich filling. It’s more like a thick soup. You can adjust the water quantity if you like.
I’m avoiding processed grains, so I chose to eat my creation over boiled, mashed sweet potato. This is Vegan Style NSNG (No Sugar No Grains) except for the 1 tablespoon of molasses. (The recipe makes about 7 pints, though. That’s close enough to no sugar for me.)
Sloppy Lentils Over Sweet Potato, with Avocado
INGREDIENTS:
Coconut oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 green peppers, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
20 crimini mushrooms, sliced
dash garlic powder (I like garlic!)
1/4 t black pepper
1/2 t BBQ seasoning blend (Omit if you don’t have it. I found mine in the bulk spices area of my food Co-op)
1 t salt
3 t chili powder
4 t oregano
2 cups lentils, rinsed (I like to use a combo of red and green)
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes with basil
4 cups water
1 vegan broth cube
1 T molasses
2 T mustard
ASSEMBLY:
Use a large soup pot. Use about 1/2 T oil to saute the veggies and spices for several minutes on medium heat. Add the lentils, tomatoes, water and broth cube. Simmer covered for 1/2 hour. Add the molasses and mustard and simmer for another 1/2 hour, until the lentils are fully cooked. Turn off the stove and let rest uncovered for 10 minutes. Freeze in 1 pint size wide mouth canning jars. Makes about 7 pints.
Sloppy Lentils
This is heavenly with slices of ripe avocado.
Avocado
I created this dish as a healthier alternative to the packaged vegan taco meats that I’ve used in the past (like Yves Meatless Ground Taco Stuffers and Soyrizo). For sure, they are delicious (YUM!), but they’re also highly processed (BOO!). I’m striving to use more whole foods.
Tempeh is a fermented, whole soy food. My favorite brand is Turtle Island Foods. The Organic Five Grain flavor contains (organic) non-GMO soybeans, millet, brown rice, sesame seeds, apple cider vinegar, and rhizopus oligosporus starter culture.
Tempeh can have a bitter edge, so it’s best to cut and steam the pieces of tempeh for about 10 minutes before using. I like tempeh best when it has a chance to soak up flavors from a liquid-based marinade or sauce. The black spots are molds that are supposed to be there.
Steaming the tempeh.
Chopped steamed tempeh.
INGREDIENTS
1- 8 0z “block” or “cake” tempeh, thawed, steamed and chopped
20 crimini mushrooms, chopped or sliced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1-2 carrots, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and minced
1/2 red pepper, chopped
Dash garlic powder
1/2 t salt
1/2-1 t chili powder
1 t oregano
1 t cumin
1 1/2 t salt-free fajita seasoning blend (contains paprika, onion, garlic, black pepper, oregano & cumin)
2 T apple cider vinegar
1 T tamari
1/4 C tomato paste
3/4 C water
Chopped Crimini Mushrooms
ASSEMBLY
While you’re steaming the tempeh, chop the veggies. Keep the mushrooms separate, but you can combine the garlic, onion, carrots, jalapeno, and red pepper in a bowl. Combine the spices. Combine the wet ingredients (vinegar, tamari, tomato paste & water.) After the steamed tempeh cools, chop it.
I used 2 large saute pans, each on medium heat with a little coconut oil.
In the first pan, saute about half of the veggies, half of the spices and all of the mushrooms.
Sauteed crimini mushrooms, veggies & spices.
In the second pan, cook the other half of the veggies and spices with the chopped tempeh and wet ingredients. The liquid marinade will soak into the tempeh. Cook down some of the liquid, but not all.
Tempeh, veggies, spices and liquid marinade.
Finally, combine the two. Portion in 1 cup sized wide mouth freezer jars. Makes 6- 1 cup servings.
Tempeh Mushroom Taco Filling
Eat this filling with your favorite taco fixings, in tortillas or as a salad.
Don’t forget the Pinto Bean Dip!
Chinese 5 Spice Gingerbread (GF)
This gingerbread is delicious and “just sweet enough.”
For this, I started with my Sunflower Butter Energy Bar (GF) recipe. My original goal was to create a gingerbread-flavored version. However, I decreased the seed butter by quite a bit, and I added some baking soda and vinegar. This resulted in a fluffy “cake,” rather than a dense “bar.” The tofu and molasses create a moist sponginess.
I also wanted to use some Chinese 5 Spice that I’d been neglecting. It contains a blend of star anise, cinnamon, clove, fennel, and pepper. It smells heavenly!
Don’t use it for meat and poultry!
WET INGREDIENTS
1 box (12.3 oz) Firm Silken Tofu (Mori Nu)
1/4 C maple syrup
1/4 C molasses
1/4 C Once Again sunflower seed butter
1/2 C non-dairy milk
1/2 t apple cider vinegar
1 t vanilla extract
DRY INGREDIENTS
1/4 C EACH: quinoa flour, millet flour, brown rice flour, garbanzo bean flour & rolled oats (GF)
1/2 C oat flour (GF)
2 T ground flax seed
3 T fine shred unsweetened coconut
1 t baking soda
1/2 t EACH: Chinese 5 Spice, cinnamon, ground ginger & cardamom
1/4 t EACH: salt, coriander & nutmeg
ASSEMBLY
Puree the wet ingredients in a food processor. Combine with the dry ingredients. Grease a square glass pan with coconut oil. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. (You can also try baking in muffin liners for 23 minutes. I’m going to do that next time!) Cool on a wire rack before cutting.
This is the soup that I eat at least 3 days per week. It’s my “go-to” lunch entree when at work. I just grab a jar from my freezer in the morning, and then heat and eat in the same 1 cup wide-mouth glass jar.
CHOP THESE VEGGIES: (It goes really fast if you use the slicing blade of a food processor)
1 large onion
5 cloves garlic (mince)
2 carrots
1 medium head cauliflower
20 crimini mushrooms
28 oz crushed organic tomatoes with basil OR 5 medium tomatoes
(I slice tomatoes by hand using a really sharp knife that only gets used for tomatoes. That way, my “tomato knife” doesn’t get dull. Who enjoys slicing tomatoes with a dull knife? Not me!)
COMBINE THESE SEASONINGS:
4 t tarragon
3 t paprika
2 t thyme
3 t veggie broth powder
1 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
dash granulated garlic
2 bay leaves
SET ASIDE:
1 C rinsed lentils (whatever kind you like)
6 C water
1 T dijon mustard
ASSEMBLY:
Use a large soup pot. On medium heat, melt 1/2 T coconut oil. Saute the veggies with the seasonings (start with the onion and garlic, then gradually add the other veggies). Add the lentils, water and mustard. Simmer for about an hour, or until the lentils are cooked. Add more water if needed, depending on how thick you like it. Portion in 1 cup or 1 pint jars and freeze. Makes about 17 cups.
Orange Spelt Scones with Raspberry Pomegranate Jam
Dry Ingredients:
2 1/2 C all-purpose flour
3/4 C spelt flour
4 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t salt
Wet Ingredients:
1/2 C non-dairy milk (I used homemade rice/Brazil nut)
1/2 C fresh-squeezed orange juice (approximately 1 juicy Valencia)
1/3 C agave nectar
1 t vanilla extract
Zest of 2 lemons and 2 oranges
Fat Source:
6 T coconut oil, cold (portion out 1 T measurements onto parchment and refrigerate until cold/solid)
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut the coconut oil into the mix with a pastry cutter. Add the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
Turn out onto a floured surface. Pour a teaspoon of olive oil in your clean palms and lightly knead the dough to form a uniformly thick circle. With a pastry cutter, divide into 12 wedges.
Bake at 375 degrees on a Silpat liner (if you have one) for 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with jam.
Almond Butter Strawberry Energy Bars
“Wet” Ingredients:
1 box (12.3 oz) Firm Silken Tofu (Mori Nu)
1/2 C vegan brown sugar
1/2 C organic apple juice
2/3 C almond butter
Dry Ingredients:
1/4 C EACH: quinoa flour, millet flour, spelt flour, ground oats & rolled oats
1/3 C whole wheat pastry flour
3 T ground flax
2 T fine shred unsweetened coconut
1 T ground walnuts
1/2 t salt
Organic Strawberries – Wash and pat dry. Slice. Use enough to cover the area of a square glass pan. (I didn’t measure.)
In a food processor, puree the “wet” ingredients. Add to the dry ingredients. Spread about half of the mixture in a greased square glass pan. (I like to use coconut oil to grease pans.) Spread the strawberry slices on top.
Spread the rest of the mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool completely before cutting. I like to use a pastry cutter. Freeze them in a container with a little space between each one.
I take these skiing and mountain biking. Take one out of the freezer in the morning and it’ll be thawed out by the time you’re ready to eat. Enjoy!
