VEGAN FOOD!
My name is Rowena, I’m 22 and I live in Dublin, Ireland. This is what I make for dinner!! Let me know if you tried out any of the food. I don’t like following recipes or non essential measurements, so apart from the baking, you should adjust these recipes to suit your own taste and food supply! Cooking is quicker, easier, yummier and more fun that way.Archive for Herbs
CHILI SIN CARNE
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup TVP [reconstituted with water]
250g of cooked mixed beans [whatever kind you like, I had kidney beans, black eyed peas, garbanzo beans and soy beans handy]
2 small onions [chopped]
1 large bell pepper [chopped]
2 or 3 cloves of garlic [minced]
Chilli peppers! [Use type and amount according to what heat you like, I used green jalapeno and dunked an orange habenaro in at the end]
800g canned tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp cumin powder
1tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt plus seasoning [optional but brings out the tomato flavour more]
Palmful of fresh coriander
Oil for frying
Fry off the onions and peppers, followed by the garlic and chilli peppers. Add the cumin seeds, cumin powder and smoked paprika and fry until fragrant. Pour in the canned tomatoes and add salt, sugar, and oregeno. Mix in the TVP and beans. Bring to the boil gently and immediately turn down to a low heat. Let the pot simmer gently, at least an hour for yumminess [and to let the liquid reduce]. In theory you could eat it after 15 mins or so, but don’t, find something else to do in the meantime and your taste buds will thank you later! Serve with rice, tacos, corn bread, guacamole, salad, margaritas, and tequila 
CARAMELISED ONION & ROSEMARY FOCCACIA BREAD
INGREDIENTS:
450g flour
7g dried yeast
300ml hot water
1 tsp unrefined sugar
2 tsp coarsely ground rock salt
3 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
450g red and white onions
4 cloves garlic
Place yeast, sugar and 100ml of the water in a bowl and leave to ferment in a warm place for about 15 minutes. Mis the flour and salt in a bowl and add the yeast mixture, half the rosemary and the remaining water. Mix until a dough is formed and knead for about five minutes. Form into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about half an hour. Chop the onions into rings and thinly slice the garlic. Fry until softened and then leave on a low heat in a covered pan until lightly caramelised. Knead the dough again and roll out to fit a large baking tray. Spread the onions on top and sprinkle with the rest of the rosemary. Bake in a pre heated oven at 200c for about half an hour or until golden. Allow to cool and cut into squares.
FALAFEL BALLS WITH LEMON & THYME COUSCOUS
makes about 12 balls, serves 2 or 4.
INGREDIENTS:
1 can [225g] cooked chickpeas
1 small onion
5 cloves garlic
handful finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tsp ground coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp smoked paprika powder
1 tsp dried crushed chillies
1 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp flour
100g wholegrain couscous
handful of fresh thyme
juice and zest of 1 small lemon
Combine the chickpeas, garlic and onion in a food processor and blend to a thick paste. Scoop out into a bowl and mix in the parsley, cumin, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, smoked paprika powder and the crushed chillies. Add the baking powder and flour and combine well. Form the mixture into small balls, and preferably chill in the fridge for at least one hour. Heat some oil in a large saucepan or wok and shallow fry the falafel balls until brown and crispy. You can also bake them in the oven for a healthier recipe. To make the couscous, add an equal volume of hot water to the couscous and cover for 15 minutes until steamed. Separate the grains with a fork and add the fresh thyme, lemon juice and zest. Serve the falafel with salad and tahini dipping sauce.
CHILI AND GARLIC POTATO CAKES
makes 6 cakes
INGREDIENTS:
3 large potatoes
1 bunch of scallions [chopped]
4 cloves garlic [crushed]
2 green chillies [chopped]
handful of fresh flat leaf parsley [chopped]
egg replacer for equivalent of 1 egg
flour for coating
salt and pepper
Boil, peel and mash the potatoes, and allow to cool. Combine with the scallions, garlic, chillies and parsley in a large bowl. Mix well, season and add the egg replacer to bind. To make the cakes, take a handful of the mixture and sprinkle flour over your hand. Roll into a ball and flatten to a cake shape. Chill in the fridge for one hour and then shallow fry the cakes until golden and crispy on both sides.
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CHICKPEAS
serves 2, or 3 if you’re not greedy like me!
INGREDIENTS:
1 butternut squash
4 scallions
1 red chili
1 can [225g] cooked chickpeas
1 tbsp cumin seeds
100ml water/vegetable stock
2 tbsp olive oil [and extra to roast squash]
Fresh coriander leaf
Preheat oven to 170c. Peel and dice the butternut squash into bitesize pieces. Toss in olive oil and place in a roasting dish in the oven for about 25 minutes or until tender. Pour the olive oil and stock into a pan and simmer on a low heat. Add the chickpeas, chopped chilli, chopped scallions and the cumin seeds. Simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the contents of the pan over the butternut squash and roast for a further 5 minutes. Serve with brown rice, bulgar wheat, wholegrain cous cous etc.
From the Cafe Paradiso cookbook.
SESAME & HERB BREADSTICKS WITH CURRIED HUMMOUS, GUACAMOLE AND KIDNEY BEAN DIPS
SESAME, BLACK PEPPER & MIXED HERB BREAD STICKS
INGREDIENTS:
225g plain wholemeal flour
15g toasted sesame seeds
100g water
25g olive oil
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried parsley
Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Combine the flour, sesame seeds, pepper and herbs. Gradually add the water and oil. Knead the mixture on a floured surface until a dough has formed. Break off small balls of the dough and roll into small sausage shapes or longer sticks. Place on a greased baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until golden.
CURRIED HUMMUS:
INGREDIENTS
1 can [225g] cooked chickpeas
3 cloves of garlic
4 tbsp olive oil
1 large tbsp light tahini
Juice of half a small lemon
A few sprigs of fresh coriander leaf
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
Drain and rinse the chickpeas well. Blend with the garlic in a food processor, then add the tahini, lemon juice, turmeric, cumin, and chopped coriander leaf. Add the olive oil and blend to the desired consistency.
GUACAMOLE:
INGREDIENTS
1 ripe avocado
Juice of 1 small lime
1 medium tomato [diced]
2 small cloves of garlic [minced]
1 small red onion [chopped] Handful of chopped fresh coriander leaves
Fresh chili or dried crushed chillies [ammount to taste]
1 or 2 drops of Tabasco sauce [optional]
Scoop out the flesh of the avocado and mash well with the lime juice. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine well.
KIDNEY BEAN DIP
INGREDIENTS
1 can [225g] cooked red kidney beans
1 small red onion
1/2 small carrot [grated]
1 clove of garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
Drain and rinse the kidney beans well. Chop the onions and combine with the kidney beans, carrot and garlic in a food processor. Add the mixed herbs and olive oil, blend to the desired consistency.
