See the recipe Obliviously, this dish is inspired by Chilli con Carne. If you’ve not heard of it before, this is a Tex-Mex dish normally made with minced beef, chili peppers, and a mixture of spices. The meatiest of all the chillies, it’s been a challenge to make a vegan version that will make most meat eaters just as happy. But I brough this to a pot luck with friends last week and it was incredibly popular, I think I might have cracked it. Let’s talk about flavour Let’s be honest, this chilli recipe is not quick, it’s all about building up the flavour layer by layer. However, I guarantee…
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Scotsman Approved Vegan Haggis (Vegan & GF)
Originally posted back in 2021. Grab your haggis, we’re wishing you a happy Burns night! Held on the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, events typically include reading poetry, raising toasts (with lots of whiskey for preference), and properly addressing the haggis before eating it. I know – I really do – just how worried some people will be by the idea of doing a vegan version of this meaty dish. Traditionally made from those lesser eaten bits of a sheep (translation – offal like stomach and lungs), it’s the ultimate of waste not, want not food. It also known for a very distinct taste. Surprisingly a lot of…
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Mung Bean Coconut Curry (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Skip straight to the recipe This dish definitely fits the definition of #uglydelicious. I know it looks … dubious but trust me here, it’s so tasty that I probably ate twice as much as I should have. Another recipe borne from COVID lockdown when I was attempting to use every little bit of pantry staples before going shopping again, this turned out so tasty we’ve had it several times since. Like most pulses, mung beans are little powerhouses of nutrition, stuffed full of protein, vitamins, and minerals making them the ideal cornerstone for a plant based pantry. What’s more, they’re cheap and a bag of dried beans is the perfect…
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Indian Beetroot Pancakes or Beetroot Dal Chilla (Vegan & Gluten Free)
I’ve made pancakes inspired by dal chilla before (see here) but with these I’ve gone along the more traditional route. Healthy, nutritious, and packed with protein, these make the ideal companion to your next curry night. We paired them with last week’s Gobi Manchurian which made for a very colourful dinner. I’ve flavoured the pancakes with beetroot and chives and it’s a great way to squeeze in yet another vegetable into your dinner. Provided you have a blender, these are really quite easy to make. Stuff them with your favourite vegan cheese to make a quick snack, fold them up and they make a great addition to any lunchbox, or…
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Moroccan Lentil Soup (Vegan & Gluten Free)
When I’ve had a difficult week I start to crave something nutritious and comforting and this lentil soup is both those things. It may not be sexy but it’s easy to make and just so heart warming. With a complex mix of spices and warming harissa, the deep flavours of this soup will make you think it must have been a deep labour of love. In reality, you will have spent very little time chopping some vegetables and standing over the pot, the soup will look after it’s self and bless your kitchen with amazing smells. The perfect soup for a bad day or even just a mediocre one! Enjoy…
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Vegan Lasagne (Vegan & Gluten Free)
A good lasagne is a labour of love and one of those dishes that is greater than the sum of it’s parts. Everything needed is basics I tend to always have in the house. It’s not difficult and all it needs is plenty of time to turn into a rich, filling, tasty, comforting dish that will feed a crowd with ease. This recipe features a rich lentil bolognese and creamy bechamal – you won’t miss the meat here! I always make a huge batch in a large roasting tin so we can freeze the leftovers as it freezes so well. What’s more, even though it can take a while a…
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Instant Pot Lentil Sloppy Joes (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Sloppy Joes is one of those iconic American foods that you see on TV but don’t really get over here in the UK. Originating in the early 1930s, the basis of this dish is cheap mince meat in a tangy, barbecue or tomato based sauce, served in a white roll. It’s one of those cheap dishes that was created during the depression to serve hungry workers and it’s survived all this time by being greater than the sum of it’s parts. Incredibly tasty and comforting, it’s perfect for those days when you need to make something filling from basic pantry stores – in other words, perfect for during lockdown! There…
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Vegan Mushroom Pâté
The weather we’ve been having recently has put me in the mind of picnics. Whether you’re Eating lunch outside, or having a drink while watching the sun go down, taking a break and spending some time out side can be great for your mental health – especially right now where so many of us are stuck in our own homes! With that in mind, I’ve been thinking about what you’d need for a picnic and it just came to me – Pate! Obviously I haven’t had it in a while but this tasty toast topping and cracker accompaniment is ideal for veganising. My recipe is completely vegan but so meaty…
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Warm Spring Salad
We’re at a slightly odd time of year, the weather can’t seem to decide if winter is over but the sun is definitely starting to push it’s head through the clouds. After days like this weekend I start to crave something light and salad-like but warm. My solution is this salad. It’s incredibly easy to make, takes advantage of seasonal produce like asparagus and salad potatoes when they’re just coming into their own, but it’s warm so it fits in perfectly when the weather is still a little cool. The lentils and potatoes make it filling without being heavy while the dressing brightens the dish with a little tang. If…
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Slow Cooker Lasagne Soup
Lasagne soup was completely foreign to me until recently thanks to some browsing on social media. It seems to be an american invention but what a great idea it is! All the elements of a great lasagne but with almost none of the work since, in my version, most of the cooking is done in the slow cooker. I like to serve mine with an easy homemade vegan ricotta which serves as a great counterpoint to the rich tomato sauce. This recipe works great for a crowd, uses mostly pantry stables, and is really quite hands off so is ideal for these days were so many people are working from…
