Chilli Beef Lettuce Wraps by Gordon Ramsay

capture_08122014_160031This should be a simple makeover candidate for those who wish to make it a vegan dish.  Gordon pan fries some ground beef and pork and adds it to a sauteed mixture of chilli pepper, ginger, garlic green onions, sesame seed oil and brown sugar.  Then, he adds fish sauce, lime zest and lime juice.  He places this Continue reading

How to Make a Vegetarian Alternative to Fish Sauce by Christie Morrison (America’s Test Kitchen)

capture_08122014_141445There are delicious recipes that include fish sauce.  Fish sauce adds umami, or depth of flavor and savoriness to recipes.. Most umami-rich foods are animal based, such as bacon or fish or parmesan cheese.   However, several vegan foods such as seaweed, mushrooms, and miso also contain umami.   And, fermented foods, such as soy sauce, are loaded with umami.   Here is an easy to make recipe, developed by America’s Test Kitchen, to make a vegan fish sauce alternative.  Or, you can buy a commercially available vegan fish sauce. Continue reading

Vegetarian Bean Burger by Sorted Food

capture_04122014_150544The guys at Sorted Food create a burger with butter beans, mushrooms, onions, lemon zest, thyme and garlic.  After they saute the onions, mushrooms and garlic, they add it in a blender with butter beans and bread crumbs, fresh parsley, an egg and lemon zest.  They form their burgers, coat them with flour, and fry them in a little oil.  Continue reading

Southwest Veggie Burgers by Chad Sarno with Whole Foods Market

capture_04122014_140604Chad makes these healthy burgers with black beans, brown rice, roasted bell pepper, fresh tomato, carrot, green onions, sweet potato, nutritional yeast, cumin, chili powder, hot pepper sauce, and garlic.  He uses the pre-cooked sweet potato as a binder in this recipe.  He mixes all these ingredients together, and places the mixture in the refrigerator for a little while to firm it up.  Then, he forms his burgers and places them in the oven.    He builds his burgers on a whole wheat bun, with guacamole, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and cilantro.  He serves it with baked “sweet potato fries”.  This is a delicious and very healthy alternative to a traditional hamburger made with meat.  Try it and Enjoy. Continue reading

How To Replace Eggs in Recipes by Gillian B

capture_04122014_130242Gillian demonstrates how easy it is to prepare a vegan egg replacer using chia seeds.  Ground flax seeds can be used in the same way.  If you don’t want to use a commercial egg replacer, chia seeds or flax seeds are great healthy alternatives for recipes that use eggs as binders.  She also talks about what she did to make French toast without using any eggs. Continue reading

Hearty Lentil Loaf by Chef AJ and Dr. Matt

capture_03122014_144808Do you like meatloaf for dinner or on a sandwich?  Chef AJ shows how to make a very healthy alternative to a traditional meatloaf.  She only needs a food processor and an oven.  However, she did use a coffee grinder to create a powder from sun dried tomatoes packaged without oil, which she uses as a seasoning.  This recipe includes healthy grains and legumes, no salt, and no oil.  She uses oats instead of an egg to act as a binder.  It gets better after is sits for a day.  So, it can be a good make ahead dish.  Enjoy. Continue reading

Christmas Nut Roast by Anna Jones

capture_02122014_125130Are you ready to try something new?  Do you feel adventurous?  Then, prepare this “delicious vegan nut roast recipe that’s gluten and dairy free too. A nutty, buttery galette base with a creamy pesto topping of greens and cashews finished with roasted squash and caramelised red onions. This centrepiece recipe is a fantastic alternative to Christmas turkey that even the meat eaters will love.”  (quote from recipe description on youtube)  This recipe looks wonderful.  Try it and impress your friends and family.  Enjoy. Continue reading

Creamy Mint Pea Soup by Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa)

capture_26112014_133439This is a very simple, healthy, and delicious soup.  Ina sautes chopped onions and leaks, adds vegetable stock, frozen peas, and fresh mint. After she simmers the mixture, she carefully blends it to a smooth creamy consistency.  She adds chopped fresh chives as she she serves it.  Enjoy. Continue reading

Chili Roasted Broccoli with Garlic by Rachael Ray

capture_26112014_122957 Rachael shows a very quick and easy way to make a flavorful and healthy side dish.  She coats fresh broccoli with a mixture of spices and olive oil, adds some chopped garlic, and roasts it.  She points out, any leftovers from this delicious side dish can be used with pasta to make a great pasta salad.   Enjoy. Continue reading