Vegan/Vegetarian Thread (discussion, recipes, laughs)

[nycfem]

Tonight I tried making nachos with daiya "cheese" and really was not fond in the least. I do enjoy daiya on pizza. I used whole grain rye crisps and green salsa, two items I always love, but the daiya just did not work flavor wise with them. It almost tasted kind of bitter instead of light and sweet, or something like that. Any suggestions for making tasty vegan nachos? Cuz I'm all about nachos.

[Kätzchen]

Here's an vegan Nacho "Cheese" recipe (it's dairy free) from Karissa's Vegan Kitchen (LINK)

Ingredients

• 1.5 cup potatoes peeled and cubed
• 2/3 cup carrots peeled and cubed
• 1/3 cup vegetable stock
• 3/4 cup plant based milk soy or almond work best
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1.5 tsp arrowroot flour or corn starch
• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:
1) Add potatoes and carrots to a pot of water. Bring to a boil, and let boil for 10 minutes. Strain and add to a blender.

2) Blend together the potatoes and carrots. They don't have to be perfectly blended - just break them down a little.


3) Add in remaining ingredients for the nacho cheese and blend until smooth and creamy!

4) Drizzle over tortilla chips, in a bean burrito, or whatever your heart desires.

[Chancie]

Originally Posted by nycfem is brave

Tonight I tried making nachos with daiya "cheese" and really was not fond in the least. I do enjoy daiya on pizza. I used whole grain rye crisps and green salsa, two items I always love, but the daiya just did not work flavor wise with them. It almost tasted kind of bitter instead of light and sweet, or something like that. Any suggestions for making tasty vegan nachos? Cuz I'm all about nachos.

Our vegan for more than 30 years friend swears by daiya for shredded cheese, but Pete isn’t crazy about it. She likes chao original for sandwiches. When we make it’s a work night pizza, she puts chao on her pizza.

We are serving vegan Mexican food for guests tonight, and Pete bought vegan sour cream.

[nycfem]

I like vegan sour cream a lot, though I rarely get it because it doesn't feel like a necessity. It sure would be fun at a party. What are you serving for your Mexican vegan party? I would love to hear about any use of beans especially.

Originally Posted by Chancie

Our vegan for more than 30 years friend swears by daiya for shredded cheese, but Pete isn’t crazy about it. She likes chao original for sandwiches. When we make it’s a work night pizza, she puts chao on her pizza.

We are serving vegan Mexican food for guests tonight, and Pete bought vegan sour cream.

[nycfem]

Speaking of simple, I watched a youtube called "the low class vegan" that I liked a lot. It was vegan "recipes" you might be embarrassed to serve as a meal but which are actually quite good but involve minimal prep and two or three ingredients. I guess I trend in that direction...

[MsTinkerbelly]

You all probably know about “Bitchin’” sauce, but I bought some for the first time this weekend from Costco.

It is vegan and made from Almonds, grape seed oil and almond milk, aminos, as well as super tasty seasonings. Original, curry and spicey hot flavors...good for dipping chips and veggies, add some to chickpea pasta, spread on a sammie, yumbolicious!

They were selling 3 tubs for around $9 in the refrigerated section.

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by nycfem

Speaking of simple, I watched a youtube called "the low class vegan" that I liked a lot. It was vegan "recipes" you might be embarrassed to serve as a meal but which are actually quite good but involve minimal prep and two or three ingredients. I guess I trend in that direction...

this fried rice is quite good and hits the spot!

Shiitake Fried Rice
prep 5 mins- cook 15 mins- total 20 mins


yield 2 1/2 cups

Delicious vegan shiitake fried rice recipe.

Ingredients
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1/2 inch ginger, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 onion, chopped + 1/2 c chopped green onion-save 1 Tbsp green onion for garnish]
1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms (fresh or dried)
1 tablespoon lite soy sauce + 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar + 1 tsp vegan oyster sauce
Salt + pepper + paprika, to taste
1 tsp. sesame oil (for finishing)
1/4 cup vegetable broth, optional (if you don't like a dry fried rice)
2 1/2 cups leftover cooked rice
Freshly chopped parsley or cilantro
Toasted sesame seeds
Sriracha or Tabasco
Instructions
For dried mushrooms, add the shrooms to a bowl and add 2 cups water. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Drain and slice into pieces. Set aside.
For fresh mushrooms, simply rinse and slice into pieces. Set aside.
Heat a pan over low-medium heat. Add canola oil.
Once it's hot, add ginger + garlic + onion. Stir and saute until the onions are translucent.
Add the sliced mushrooms. Stir and cook for 4-5 minutes over the same low-medium heat.
Add soy sauce, vinegar, vegan oyster sauce, salt, pepper, paprika, and vegetable broth (if using). Stir and cook for 2 minutes (4-5 minutes if you're using veggie broth).
Next, add the cooked rice and mix well.
Transfer to a serving bowl, dash of Tabasco, dash sesame oil, garnish with freshly chopped parsley/cilantro/green onion + toasted sesame seeds and serve.
Notes
*Addtional options for added flavor
Add 1/4 cup veggie broth(if you prefer) more moisture. You can use cooled cooked rice or leftover rice . Takes less then 20 minutes to prep & throw in pan. Serve with a tropical fruit compote. Nice, hot or cold. Serves 2

[adapted from One Green Planet]

[Chancie]

So the beans were extremely easy and delicious. I soaked about a pound of dried pinto beans overnight, rinsed them in the morning, and covered them with 7.5 cups of water in the crockpot. I have a very basic crockpot so I put them on low, but they weren’t getting soft enough, so I put them on high. I never add salt when I make beans because it’s supposed to make them tough. I did add cumin and chili powder.

I seriously think I’ve never cooked them enough before.

I’m sure there are thousands of recipes online, but this is something I just did, and it legit was super easy. I cook a lot and I’m not especially stingy with myself but if I have to buy too many special ingredients that I can’t imagine using again any time soon, I just don’t bother.

For breakfast I had rice, nice soft pinto beans, eggs, a small avocado, and corn salsa.

ETA The beans took all day to cook but you don’t have to do anything to them while they cook.

[kittygrrl]

its a brunch kinda thing-
Pancakes
1 1/2 cups buckwheat flour
1 cup brown rice flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg (freshly ground)
Mix toget in bowL
***
1 1/2 cups plant milk (You may need a little less or a more depending on how you like your pancake batter)
1/2 c pumpkin puree
*2 Tbsp. agave syrup (*optional)
Juice of one lemon
1/2 cup applesauce
2 flax eggs (2 tbsp flaxmeal, 5 tbsp water)
Mix together til combined.

Pour wet ingredients into flour mixture. Mix til just combined. Do not overmix! Let batter sit for 10 minutes while you heat griddle. Put a bit of coconut oil into pan. Cook pancakes til bubbles appear all over pancake. Flip. Keep warm in oven til all done. Serve with coconut yogurt/vegan butter. Top with maple syrup and pumpkin seeds. If any left freeze between wax paper. Toast or warm in oven. Amazing.

[adapted from So you're dating a vegan]

[nycfem]

Thanks for the feedback, folks. I am thinking I can also try to think outside the box a bit. Basically for nachos, I would like something kind of soft and pleasantly flavorful but light since green salsa is strong- so maybe I need to consider replacements to even vegan cheese as well. Mashed avocado might be nice, although avocados are sometimes hard to find at just the right consistency. I know me, and I know I don't do complicated recipes, not that they are not helpful to read because sometimes I can think of a way to simplify. I need super simple.

Originally Posted by nycfem

Tonight I tried making nachos with daiya "cheese" and really was not fond in the least. I do enjoy daiya on pizza. I used whole grain rye crisps and green salsa, two items I always love, but the daiya just did not work flavor wise with them. It almost tasted kind of bitter instead of light and sweet, or something like that. Any suggestions for making tasty vegan nachos? Cuz I'm all about nachos.