One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

I saw this non-vegan dish and it sounded so good and seemed fairly simple. So, I made it vegan by using Impossible meat, that was thawed, veggie broth instead of chicken broth, vegan cheese and left out the oil. It was delicious!!! It's not WFPBNO, but you could use crumbled soy curls or crumbled tofu and make your own cheese sauce and it would be WFPBNO. It is definitely a make again and next time I'll try making it whole food. It think either the soy curls or the super firm tofu crumbled would work fine.  Try this for Taco Tuesday this week.

• 1 cup chopped sweet onion
• 1 12-ounce package Impossible Beef Lite, thawed
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• 1 heaping teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 15-ounce can, black beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 cups of your favorite salsa
• 8 ounces dry elbow macaroni
• 2 1/2 cup veggie broth
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels (not in pic, sorry)
• 2 cups Colby Jack shreds
• Garnish: diced avocado, sour cream, pickled jalapeno slices

Heat a couple of tablespoons water in a Dutch oven. Add onion and cook until it is translucent. Stirring occasionally.

                                        

Add the Impossible beef, taco seasoning and garlic. Cook, breaking up the beef into smaller pieces using a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink remains.

Add the beans, salsa and macaroni. Stir well to combine. Add the broth and cover, bringing the pot to a boil. Uncover, cook, stirring occasionally, the pasta will try to stick to the bottom of the pan. Be sure to scrape the bottom often. Cook until pasta is done, about 12-15 minutes. Again, be sure to stir.

Add the corn and 1-1/2 cups cheese. Stir well.

Sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top and add the lid. Turn the heat off. Leave for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melty.

Add your garnishes, you could also use chopped cilantro, more salsa, hot sauce, crushed tortilla chips.

Enjoy!!!

15 Bean Soup (WFPBNO)

I'm sorry these pictures don't do this recipe justice. This is so easy and super delicious as well as filling. I used the Slow Cook feature on my Instant Pot to make this soup. Also, one of the things I love about this dish is you don't have to soak the beans in advance!! I have several recipes that don't require pre-soaking of the beans and I love that they are so easy to throw together. I know the weather is really heating up; but I'll tell you, I can eat soup year round. Throw most of the ingredients in your slow cooker and when you get home in the afternoon all you have to do is add the diced tomatoes and let it cook another 30 minutes. How easy is that? Be sure to throw some of your favorite hot sauce on and a garnish before eating! Remember we eat with our eyes first.

• 1 package 15 Bean Soup mix
• 8 cups vegetable broth (if you like it real soupy you can add more)
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 can (15 ounce) diced tomatoes
• Garnish: hot sauce and sliced scallions

In a colander rinse the beans and remove any small rocks or unwanted debris. To your slow cooker add the beans, broth, onion, and garlic. Stir well. Set slow cooker on high and cook for 6 hours. Test a couple of beans to ensure they are tender. If not cook longer. Once the beans are tender stir in the tomatoes and chili powder. Cook an additional 30 minutes so the tomatoes heat up.

This is the soup once it's removed from the slow cooker to cool before storing in the frig.

This is a delicious bowl of yummy. Serve with cornbread or serve over rice.

Enjoy!!!

Mexican Stew (WFPBNO)

I've made this recipe several times but this is the first time it's been WFPBNO. I used soy curls, which are compliant instead of a vegan meat substitute. I think it turned delicious and is definitely healthier. It has my favorite black bean and corn combo and the freshly roasted tomatillos give it that Mexican flair. If you can't find fresh one look for canned ones in the ethnic isle. Be sure your fresh tomatillos have a tight fitting husk and are bright green and firm.

• 1-1/2 pounds fresh tomatillos, husks discarded, rinsed and quartered
• 4 ounces soy curls, snapped into bite-sized pieces and rehydrated in water or broth
• 1 large or 2 medium sweet onions, chopped (about 3 1/2 cups)
• 1-1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 ginormous jalapeno, halved, seeded and chopped 
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 9 ounces frozen corn
• 1 3/4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 teaspoons masa harissa

Heat broiler. Arrange tomatillos on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Broil 6 inches from heat until lightly charred, turning occasionally. This should take about 8 minutes.

Squeeze the soy curls to remove some of the liquid and drop them into a Dutch oven over medium heat. Continue until you've added all of the soy curls. Stirring occasionally until they are light brown. Remove to a bowl.

To the same Dutch oven add onion, garlic, jalapeno, oregano and cumin. Add a splash of water if needed to keep things from sticking. Cook about 3 minutes then add tomatillos, corn, broth, 1/2 cup water and the soy curls. Bring to a boil then turn to a simmer. Cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in beans, cilantro and masa. Stir and simmer uncovered until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Serve with avocado, vegan sour cream and chopped onion if desired. Taste first, but I added a few splashes of Frank's hot sauce to my bowl.

This would be good with cornbread or even a warm tortilla.

Enjoy!!!

Enchilada Pasta (WFPBNO)

I'm sorry I didn't have a post for last Saturday. I had Covid and was really not up to cooking. I feel much better this week and have a delicious, quick  pasta dish to share. I used rigatoni for this but in hind site it's really too big. It was delicious but I think it would be easier to eat and more pleasant to look at with a slightly small pasta. Just use what you have in your pantry. The flavors are so much better as leftovers, the seasoning really have time to marry in the leftovers. This made 6-8 servings depending on how hungry you are. Leftovers are delicious and reheated on the stovetop nicely. 

• 1 pound pasta, use a shape that will grab and hold onto the sauce
• 1 sweet onion, cut in half and then sliced think
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into think strips
• 1 jalapeno pepper, sliced thin (remove seeds if you want mild)
• 1 heaping tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 15-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 cup prepared lentils, rinsed and drained
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 package reduced-sodium taco seasoning
• 6 cups vegetable broth

In a Dutch oven heat 2 tablespoons water. Once hot add garlic and onions and cook  until translucent.

Add bell pepper and jalapeno and saute.

Add black beans, lentils and tomatoes. Stir well.

Add broth. Stir well and bring to a boil.

Add pasta, stir and bring back to a boil.

Add taco seasonings. Stir well. Cover pot and reduce heat to a simmer with lid slightly ajar.

Stir frequently so the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan and cook covered for about 15 minutes.

Stir again and recover. Let sit for 5-8 minutes for pasta to soak up some broth and thicken.

Serve with a garnish of parsely or cilantro it you want. 

Since the broth is a little soupy I served this in a deep bowl. A slice of garlic bread would have been lovely with this.

Enjoy!!!

Smoky Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas & Collards (WFPBNO)

We are growing some beautiful collard greens right now. They are huge and have been so easy to grow. We also  have some mustard greens, but for this dish I only used collards. But, you can use whatever greens you have or love. I really should use my Instant Pot more often. This was so fast and was delicious. I served this over some rice however, you could serve over baked potatoes, sweet potatoes or even cornbread. If you don't have an Instant Pot you could soak your peas and then toss everything into a crock pot or on the stovetop. I've made this twice already and the other thing I love about this recipe is it serves about 4 so you don't have a ton of leftovers to deal with. I haven't tried it but I'm sure it would freeze well.

• a couple tablespoons broth or water to saute onions
• 1 medium sweet onion, diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 1/4 cup dry black-eyed peas (no need to soak)
• 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (this is where the smoky flavor comes from)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 cups chopped collards, or green of your choice: kale, mustard or turnip greens

Press "Sauté" on the Instant Pot. Add broth or water and sauté onions for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender. Add garlic and sauté another minute. Press "Cancel or Off".

Add all of the remaining ingredients, EXCEPT the greens. Stir to combine.

Be sure to add the broth and give it one final stir.

Top with collard green, but DON'T STIR. They will keep the peas submerged so they cook through.

Cover with lid, press "Pressure Cook" and cook for 17 minutes. It will take maybe 8 minutes for the pressure to come up and actually begin the cooking process. Let the IP naturally release pressure for 15 minutes,, then manually release any remaining pressure.

Remove the bay leaves before serving and give it a good stir. You may want to add a pinch of salt or some extra seasoning. I didn't think it needed anything except a shot of "Franks Hot Sauce" since I put that shit on everything!!

This is really a delicious and easy meal to prepare. Next time I'll be making some cornbread to go with it!!!

Enjoy and let me know if you make it!

 

Potato Chowder (WFPBNO)

Today's rain had the house on the chilly side so I decided to whip up this potato chowder to warm me up. This came together really quick and you probably have everything in your pantry to make this yummy, filling chowder. I grew turmeric year before last and have a gallon zip lock  bag full in the freezer. I used the micro plane to zest it directly into the pot. If you don't have fresh, dried will work fine. Don't wait get started on this and you will have dinner ready in about 30 minutes.

• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (I use the already minced stuff from the grocery, in a jar)
• 1 medium sweet onion, diced
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 1/2 cup carrots, sliced into bite-sized pieces
• 5 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced (4 cups)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 2 cups almond milk, unsweet (your favorite plant-based unsweet milk)
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast

In a large Dutch oven, sauté the garlic, onion, carrots and celery in a little broth or water until the onions are translucent.

Add the potatoes, cumin, turmeric and pepper. Stir well; then add the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.

While the soup is simmering combine the plant milk, flour and nutritional  yeast. Whisk well.

After 20 minutes your potatoes should be tender. 

Add the milk mixture to the pot. Stir well, the chowder will thicken.

Garnish with some red pepper flakes, just a few and/or fresh parsley.

Enjoy!!!