Dairy Free Reuben Pizza with Vegan Corn'd Beef and Saurkraut

Okay, people. I've finally done it! I have been thinking about making this pizza from the very first day that I tried the plant based Corn'd Beef from the Unreal Deli and maybe everyday since! This, my friends, is my Reuben Pizza and yes, it's as remarkable as it sounds!

Bonus: Scroll down for my Vegan Thousand Island Dressing Recipe!

I started with a sauce that was a homemade, vegan, "Thousand Island" kind of dressing, next was the corn'd beef, topped with sauerkraut from my friends at Cleveland Kitchen, and a sprinkle of vegan cheese.

Dairy Free Reuben Pizza with Vegan Corn'd Beef and Saurkraut

Author: Sarah | June 16 , 2022
Servings: 2

• prep time: 10 minutes + 1 hour (for dough)

• cook time: 10 minutes at 500°

• total time: 20 minutes + 1 hour (for dough)

Ingredients: What You need to buy!

Pizza Crust or Dough. I bought fresh dough from the local grocery store but feel free to make your own or use a pre-made crust.

1 tbsp Olive Oil

Plant Based Corn'd Beef slices from the Unreal Deli

1/2 cup Sauerkraut, drained very well

1/4 cup Baby Spinach and Baby Arugula, or your favorite greens.

1/4 cup Dairy Free Cheese Shreds

2-4 tbsp of Thousand Island Dressing (see below)

Ingredients: To make the dressing/sauce

1/2 c vegan mayo

1/2 c vegan sour cream

2 tbsp ketchup

2 tbsp diced pickles, or relish

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp paprika

Pinch of salt

Instructions: What You need to do!

1. If you are using fresh dough like I did you are going to need to remove the dough from the fridge and let it rise for 60 minutes. For the recipe, I only used 1/2 of the dough to make a "medium" pizza. (about 12"-14" in diameter)

2. Drizzle the dough with olive oil and let sit, covered with a kitchen towel until risen.

3. Preheat your oven to 500° or higher, if you can! The trick to really great pizza crust at home is a ripping hot oven.

4. Stretch your dough to desired size/thickness

5. Top with the Thousand Island Dressing as a replacement for traditional pizza sauce! (Note: I know that most reubens use Russian dressing and not Thousand Island but I love the pickles in Thousand Island...use whatever you love!)

6. Add your pieces of Corn'd Beef. I like to shred it a bit and kind of mound it up so the tops get nice and crispy in the oven.

7. Add your sauerkraut. It's really important that your sauerkraut will well drained so that you don't end up with a soggy pizza.

8. Sprinkle with vegan cheese

9. Bake at 500° for 10 minutes, turning the baking sheet 180° halfway through baking.

10. Remove from oven and check crust. If your pizza crust need a bit more time, gently lay a piece on tin foil over the top of the pizza so the topping do not burn and continue to bake, checking every minute, until done.

11. Remove from oven and add greens. Let sit on hot sheet for 2-3 minutes before slicing. (Note: I choose to add the greens after the pie comes out of the oven so they don't burn up! The heat from the pizza will wilt the greens slightly as it sets)

12. Slice into 6 pieces and serve!

If you like Reuben Sandwiches, trust me...you're going to love this pizza! The best part? This entire pizza clocks in at just over 800 calories...depending on your ingredients! It’s also a great recipe to serve a crowd! Simply double the recipe for a “large” pizza! The packages of Corn’d Beef from the Unreal Deli actually contain enough servings to make 3 medium pizzas when you shred the meat up before topping!

I’d love to know if you give this recipe a try! Remember to tag me in your fabulous food posts online so I can see! - @plantbasedgingr

…and, as always, Love, Light, and Lentils, my friends!
Sarah

"Big Moc" Handpies with Vegan Special Sauce!

These "Big Moc" hand pies stuffed with roasted potatoes, sauteed onions, cheese, and Impossible ground mixed with my “Big Moc” Special Sauce turned out even better than I expected! Served with a little more sauce for dipping plus a couple pickles and chips! Not a particularly sophisticated dinner but tasted pretty great and trust me, your kiddos will love them!

Some of you all will remember a few weeks back when my Pops requested a batch of my "Big Moc" sauce...well, there was just a bit of that batch left in the fridge when I was at their place over the weekend and I happened to have some Impossible Burgers in the freezer, but no burger buns and I was too lazy on a Saturday nignt to go run to the store to grab any so…these little babies were born!

What you are going to need to buy:

1 Frozen Pie Crust, thawed - (If you want your hand pies to be vegan you’re likely going to need to make your own crust, although Wholly Wholesome does make a vegan pie crust option!)

1 Plant Based Ground Beef - (I used an Impossible Burger)

1 cup of diced Potatoes

1/2 cup of diced Onions

1 teaspoon Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

2 Dairy Free Cheese (Slices are easier for this)

Liquid Smoke, just a splash

Salt & Pepper, to taste

1/4 cup of “Big Moc” Special Sauce! (CLICK HERE FOR THAT RECIPE!) + more for dipping

What you are going to need to do:

Start by preheating your oven to 350

Filling will depend on how many pies you want to make. This recipe made two pies.

Dice your potatoes an onions into 1/2 inch pieces and saute on the stove-top until soft and golden, adding the minced garlic towards the end of cooking so it doesn’t burn, and salt and pepper, to taste.

In the same skillet, brown your plant-based ground beef with a little splash of Liquid Smoke. Set aside and let cool for a couple minutes.

Add your special sauce to the meat so the meat is well coated but not runny. The pies will dry out a bit in the oven so you can add a little more sauce than you think you’ll need as long as the meat isn’t going to run or drip out of the pie shell when you’re trying to close it.

Roll out your pie crust and cut four rectangles that are each roughly 3.5 x 6

Note: You can really use any shape that you like…even a circle is fine but I found that I have less waste by using rectangles.

Place both of the fillings into the center of the bottom crust making sure to leave a border around the edge so that you can seal the pies. Don’t be afraid to pile the filling pretty high because it will shrink down in cooking.

Top your fillings with a slice of your favorite dairy free vegan cheese. I found that a cheese slice worked best for this.

Run a wet finger around the border of the bottom crust to help with sealing the pie.

Gently place the top pie crust. If you have piled your filling pretty high it’s going to seem like it won’t fit, but you can gently pull on the crust and using the tines of a fork, crimp all edges to seal the entire pie.

Dock the top of each handpie with a fork several times to create some steam holes for cooking.

To make sure that the top crust browns nicely you can lightly mist the top of the pies with a cooking spray.

Loosely tent the pies, with tin foil, for the first 15 minutes of cooking so that the edges don’t get too dark before the rest of the crust as time to bake.

After 15 minutes, remove the foil and bake another 15 minutes uncovered.

At this point, it’s just a matter of watching your pies to see when the top has baked through and browned up nicely. Mine ended up baking for 18-19 minutes uncovered instead of the 15. Just keep your eye on them.

Let rest for about 2 minutes before serving. I like to serve mine with some extra special sauce on the side for dipping!

Enjoy!

Cashew Free VEGAN Cheese Sauce!

Let’s be real…what’s the best part of nachos if it isn’t the cheese sauce? The main comment I hear from folks who are just transitioning into a plant-based lifestyle or who are simply trying to eat less dairy is, “…but, I just love cheese so much!” Me, too, my friends! Me, too! The dairy free cheese sauce that I used on this dish also makes a great sauce to top Mac ‘n Cheese or to make your own at home hamburger-helper casserole. And this cashew free version is even safe for our friends with allergies!

The world of plant based cheese has come a long way in the past 20 years since I stopped eating meat…A LONG way but so many of the cheese sauces at restaurants and available in stores contain cashews but this recipe, made with some of my favorite ingredients from brand like Violife, Earth Balance, Tofutti, and Rise Brewing is safe for our friends with nut allergies and is still 100% plant based!

What you are going to need to buy:

Non-Dairy Butter - ( We used Earth Balance)

Flour

Organic Oat Milk from RISE BREWING - (Can you use something else…um, yeah, but why?)

Non-Dairy Cheese Shreds - (We used THESE CHEDDAR SHREADS from VioLife!)

Non-Dairy Sour Cream - (in our opinion Tofutti is the OG…and also the best!)

Yellow Mustard - (yes, just trust us!)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Garlic and Onion Powder, to taste

What you are going to need to do:

Okay, let’s tackle this cheese sauce first: This recipe is probably going to make way more sauce than you’ll need unless you’re making nachos for a party BUT trust me, you’ll find all kind of other uses for it and it keeps in the fridge just fine!

In a medium pot, on low heat, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter and gently allow butter to brown, but not burn, because we’re going to make a roux.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flower on top of the melted butter and whisk to combine. Cook mixture for about 30 seconds and then slowly add 1.5 - 2 cups of oat milk, whisking the entire time so that no lumps form. Bring to a boil and let boil about 30 seconds.

Stir in 1/3 cup of sour cream.

Add 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard…don’t be afraid, just do it! (You can use brown mustard, if you like it!)

Reduce heat and add the cheddar shreds (yes, the whole bag), stirring to melt.

Continue to stir, on low/medium heat, until everything is melted.

Add salt and pepper, and garlic/onion powder to taste. It will take more salt than you think…a full teaspoon isn’t too much!

…And, boom! vegan cheese sauce! If it seems thin, increase the heat and let simmer for 1-2 minutes, but remember it will tighten up as it cools.

A note about ingredients and brands: I’ve been plant-based for 20 years and believe me, I’ve seen quite the evolution of dairy-free products, particularly, when it comes to milks and cheeses! The products and brands that I recommend for this recipe are not sponsors and I don’t get paid to promote them…they are, simply, in my opinion, the best options, for this dish! Can you use something different? Sure. Can you substitute one brand for another? Of course…but this is legit the best cheese sauce that I’ve had, plus…it’s quick, easy, and also cashew free, so if you want to make THIS delicious version, in your home kitchen, I’d say, stick with these brands!

…And do NOT worry about making too much because you can keep this cheese sauce in the fridge for up to two weeks and simply reheat it when you need it! It will thicken back up when it’s cool, but not to worry…portion out what you want to use and pop it into the microwave in 20 second bursts, stirring in-between, and it will melt right back down! It’s perfect for mac n’ cheese, casseroles, to top burgers, or just to eat with chip!

Homemade Gyros with Vegan Tzatziki Sauce!

This Homemade Vegan Tzatziki Sauce is one of my very favorite things to make at home. It’s good on so many things from the traditional gyro to fresh veggies and pita, even avocado toast and sandwiches! Plus, with just 7 ingredients it comes together in less than 5 minutes.

This vegan tzatziki sauce is so good you’re going to want to eat it on everything! Seriously…I used it on my avocado toast the morning after I made these gyros! Made with ingredients that you probably already have at home, is it authentic…eh, not quite! Is it dairy free, easy, and delicious? You bet!

What you are going to need to buy:

Vegan Mayo

Vegan Sour Cream - (On this page we are big fans of Tofutti Sour Cream!)

Minced Garlic - (We like these jarred options from Spice World!)  

Cucumber (1/2 diced and 1/2 shredded)

Fresh Dill

Salt & Pepper

Lemon Juice

What you are going to need to do:

Like I teased in the intro…this sauce is not particularly authentic but the flavor is so good you’ll never know!
In a medium bowl mix together the following:

1/2 cup of your Tofutti Vegan Sour Cream

1/2 cup of Vegan Mayo

1/2 cup of finely shredded cucumber, only lightly drained.

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/4 cup of fresh, minced dill

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Salt and Pepper, to taste

You can always thin the mixture out with a splash of water if necessary! See! I told you it was super simple! Store in the fridge for up to a week.

I serve my gyros with sauteed mushrooms cooked with a little liquid smoke and garlic.

It’s one of my favorite recipes to serve to a crowd because everyone can make their own and add or subtract the toppings they like! As you can see...I like mine fully loaded!

Spicy Buffalo Tofu Chick'n Sub

Can we say football food? Buffalo Chick'n Sub with feta, pickles, and spicy mayo! Made with crispy fried tofu, it's literally the best of a Publix Sub and a Popeyes Sandwich all rolled into one! Seriously these subs are so good that even your non plant-based friends with gobble them right up!

In all the years that I have been plant-based, I only recently started preparing tofu, using this method, to use as a chicken substitute, in dishes. This recipe turned out so good and flavorful and it’s honestly way easier than you may think!! The trick to these subs is the buffalo sauce and, of course slathering them in spicy mayo!

What you are going to need to buy:

Extra Firm Tofu

Vegan Butter - (This recipe used Earth Balance)

Flour

Corn Starch

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt and Pepper

Paprika

Buffalo Sauce, or make your own! (See below)

Dairy Free Mayo

Hot Sauce

Sub Rolls or Hot Dog Buns

Dill Pickles

Butter Lettuce

Dairy Free Feta Cheese

What you are going to need to do:

To start, crumble your extra firm tofu into 2” inch bite-sized pieces, or larger, if you like

In a bowl, mix together equal parts corn starch and flour, along with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper (The quantities will vary based on the amount you’re making but the following should be enough for 4 portions.

1/3 cup of flower

1/3 cup of corn starch

1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper

Dredge the tofu pieces into the dry mixture and coat well. The better you coat the pieces, the better, and more crisp they will be.

In a skillet, melt 3-4 tablespoons of vegan butter, on low heat and once the skillet is good and hot, pan fry the tofu, until a nice crust is formed.

Remove from heat and gently pour over your buffalo sauce: Be careful not to tear up your tofu while saucing

Buffalo Sauce is simply your favorite hot sauce, butter, a splash of white vinegar, and garlic! But, to be honest…I really like the Frank’s Brand Buffalo Sauce

In a small bowl, mix vegan mayo and your favorite hot sauce and paprika, to taste and slather your buns with the spicy mayo!

Top your buns with lettuce, pickles, tofu chick’n, and dairy free feta cheese and serve!

Orange Tofu Chick'n with Homemade Glaze

There’s a lot of buzz about the new partnership with Beyond Meat and Panda Express’ Orange Chicken but down here in Central Florida we don’t have it yet…and my mouth has been watering for Orange Chicken for weeks now, so I broke down and worked out an at-home version!

In all the years that I have been plant-based, I only recently started preparing tofu, using this method, to use as a chicken substitute, in dishes. This recipe turned out so good and flavorful and it’s honestly way easier than you may think!! The orange sauce is so much better than anything from a packet! It's remarkable how much better fresh, from scratch, flavors are!

What you are going to need to buy:

Extra Firm Tofu

Vegan Butter - (This recipe used Earth Balance)

Flour

Corn Starch

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt and Pepper

Orange Juice

Red Bell Pepper, julienned

Maple Syrup

Soy Sauce

Cauliflower Rice

Fresh Kale

Minced Garlic

Paprika

Ginger Powder

Vinegar

Cayenne Pepper, optional

What you are going to need to do:

To start, crumble your extra firm tofu into 1.5” inch bite-sized pieces

In a bowl, mix together equal parts corn starch and flour, along with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper (The quantities will vary based on the amount you’re making but the following should be enough for 4 portions.

1/3 cup of flower

1/3 cup of corn starch

1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper

Dredge the tofu pieces into the dry mixture and coat well. The better you coat the pieces, the better, and more crisp they will be.

In a skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of vegan butter, on low heat and once the skillet is good and hot, pan fry the tofu, until a nice crust is formed. Remove from heat and set aside.

Wipe out your skillet and using another tablespoon of vegan butter, saute the red pepper and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic until the pepper begins to soften.

To the pepper and garlic, add orange juice, maple syrup, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Again, depending on how much you are making these quantities can vary.

1 cup orange juice

1/3 cup of maple syrup

2-3 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons of vinegar

1/2 teaspoon each of ginger powder and paprika

For a spicy glaze add cayenne pepper, to taste.

Stir to combine and increase heat to reduce the sauce. Allow to boil until the sauce is thick and sticky enough to coat the back of a spoon and able to cling to the tofu pieces. If you’d like to speed up this process you can make a slurry with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 2-3 tablespoons of water and add that to the sauce.

Once the glaze has thickened, add the crispy tofu pieces back into the orange glaze and turn heat down to warm.

I like to serve over butter cauliflower rice with some wilted kale!

Vegan Hamburger Helper with Homemade Cashew Free Cheese

If you’re an 80’s kid, like me, and you grew up in the States, you most definitely experienced Hamburger Helper as a part of your childhood. My mother went back to nursing school the same year that I went to kindergarten and when my brother was just out of diapers so needless to say, she was juggling a lot. I guess it goes without saying that we had a lot of “boxed” meals growing up. This recipe is all the nostalgia of those family dinners without any of the meat or dairy!

If I’m honest, I was a little hesitant to post this as a recipe because it wasn’t one that I carefully sat down and planned out. Truth is, I was under the weather last week and wanted comfort food. This was thrown together with a lot of odds and ends but when I posted it on IG last week everyone went a little crazy, so here we are! Hope that you all enjoy.

What you are going to need to buy:

Pasta, I used orecchiette because I had it on hand but an small noodle will work. I do like this shape because they are like little noodle bowls for the sauce!

Your favorite plant-based ground meat - (I used the ground from Impossible Foods)

Small Sweet Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (like this jarred options from Spice World!)

1/2 cup Vegetable Stock - Or half a cup of water and a veggie cube

Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

Salt & Pepper

Liquid Smoke

Homemade Vegan Cheese Sauce! (Find that recipe HERE!)

What you are going to need to do:

To start, let’s make the sauce!

I make this cheese sauce every month or so and have it in the fridge to throw into all kinds of things, which is just exactly what happened with this recipe! Hope on over and make it! Will you have some left over? Yep. Is that a bad thing? Nope!

GO TO THE CHEESE SAUCE RECIPE HERE

Welcome back!

The rest is pretty easy.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, begin to cook down your plant-based meat, along with the diced onion. Once you put them in the pan try not to stir or move them around too much because you want to get some good color/char on the meat.

After about 1-2 minutes stir the mixture and add a tablespoon of dairy free butter, a tablespoon (or more if that’s your thing…) of minced garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper, 8-10 dashes of liquid smoke and continue to cook until the meat is done and the onions are nice and soft.

While the meat and onions cook, bring a pot of salted water to boil on the stove and when it’s ready, drop 4 servings of your pasta (follow the box directions for portions and cook time.)

Next, add your veggie stock to the meat and onions and using a wooden spoon, scrape up any of the little bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan! This is where all the flavor is hiding!

Add in 1 cup of your cheese sauce and stir to combine.

A note about the cheese sauce: If you make the cheese sauce ahead of time, and I hope that you do because it stays good in the fridge for weeks…it will solidify a bit. It’s much easier to “melt” it back into your Hamburger helper if it’s runny so you can just scoop out what you need and toss it into the microwave for 10-20 seconds, stir, and that should do the trick!

Drain pasta, but save 1 cup of pasta water.

Add the pasta to the cheesy/meat mixture and stir to combine. If the dish is too dry and not all that “creamy” slowly add the pasta water to thin the mixture and help the sauce emulsify. You may not use all the water and that’s okay because if you get it too runny then you’ll need to cook it longer and let some of that liquid evaporate.

Taste for seasoning. Add salt, pepper, if necessary.

I like to top mine with fresh herbs to serve. Either thyme or rosemary work really well!

Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Shells Stuffed with Sage Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta

Looking for a fall twist on an old comfort classic? While we’ve still got a couple more weeks until Autumn officially arrives…over here I was craving some fall flavors...and these Butternut Squash Shells stuffed with Sage Sausage, Spinach and Ricotta totally hit the spot!

The best part of this recipe is that, while the flavor profile is different, the assembly is basically the same, so if you’ve ever successfully made stuffed shells in the past, these will be a snap. The entire dish does take a bit of time to make because you’ve got to roast the butternut squash and make the sauce so I would recommend that you plan to make a couple of recipes with squash so you can do some prep for several meals at once! Once the sauce is made, (which can be done ahead of time) the rest of the dish comes together in less than an hour!

What you are going to need to buy:

Medium Butternut Squash

Jumbo Shells

Medium Sweet Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (like this jarred options from Spice World!)

1 cup Plant-Based Milk

1.5 cups Vegetable Stock

Dairy-Free Ricotta

Dairy-Free Mozerella

1/2 lb Plant-Based Sausage

Fresh Spinach

Just Egg, egg alternative

Olive Oil

Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

Salt & Pepper

Fresh Sage

Warming Spices (Allspice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger)

What you are going to need to do:

To start, let’s make the sauce!

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Chop your squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Liberally salt and pepper the cut side. Roast on a baking sheet for one hour, flipping halfway through, until the squash is fork-tender.

In a high-walled saucepan or medium pot, saute in butter, the diced onion and a tablespoon of garlic until soft and translucent. Reduce heat and set aside.

Scoop out the roasted squash from the skin and into the saucepan with the onion and garlic. Add the plant-milk and the vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a simmer and add a teaspoon of each of the warming spices.

At this point, if you have a stick blender, it’s helpful to blend the mixture for a smoother texture but it’s not 100% necessary.

Let the sauce reduce until it’s the consistency of pasta sauce. Taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Now, onto the filling!

In a small saucepan, gently wilt one bag of spinach over medium heat.

In a large mixing bowl combine the following:

sausage (does not need to be cooked)

the wilted spinach

the equivalent of one egg

1.5 cups of ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

2-3 tablespoons of minced, fresh, sage

salt and pepper, to taste

The Shells:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Follow your package directions and cook your jumbo shells in boiling water.

After the shells are boiled and tender, remove and drain.

In a large skillet or baking dish fill the bottom of the dish with the butternut squash sauce.

Stuff each shell with the ricotta mixture and place into the baking dish.

Depending on the size of your dish you should be able to fit 15-20 shells. Do not overcrowd the dish. You want the sauce mixture to be able to rise up around the shells on either side.

Sprinkle mozzarella onto the top of the shells and cover with tin foil.

Bake for 15-20 minutes covered. Remove the tin foil and bake another 15 minutes until the sauce and cheese are hot and bubbly.

Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

While the shells are resting, fry up some sage leaves in Olive Oil until crispy and crumble the leaves onto the top of the shells for garnish.

Serve the extra sauce on the side.

Enjoy!

Copy Cat Vegan Big Mac Special Sauce!

Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce cheese, pickles, onions…all on a sesame seed bun! Who else remembers that little McD’s jingle from the late 80’s? Although it’s been two decades since I’ve had a Big Mac I can still remember the first one that I ate…on a Saturday morning, with my dad and my brother circa 1990…but let’s be real, all we really wanted to do was play on the playground!

One thing about my Pops is how much he loves burgers...specifically Big Macs, so I knew if I was going to convince him to try a plant-based burger it would be my "Big Moc" that would do the trick. Let's just say it was a huge success...so much so that he requested I make him a bulk batch of my "Moc Sauce" to keep in the fridge. #plantbasedwin

What you are going to need to buy:

Vegan Mayo - (We like THIS ONE from Hellman’s…who knew?)

Ketchup

Mustard

Relish, chopped fine

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)  

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Vinegar (Optional)

White Sugar (Optional)

Onion Powder

What you are going to need to do:

You guys, this is so easy! In a bowl combine the following ingredients!

1/3 cup of Mayo
3 tablespoons of Ketchup
1 tablespoon of Mustard
2 tablespoons of relish
1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic plus a splash of the oil/juice that the garlic is packed in
Onion Powder, salt and pepper, to taste.

Note: Depending on how you like your sauce you can also add a splash of vinegar and some white sugar. I preferred to add a bit more relish if I wanted it more sweet or a bit more mustard if I wanted it more tangy!

Store in the fridge, in an airtight jar or container, for up to 3 weeks…but trust me, it won’t last that long!
Enjoy!

Greek Inspired Impossible Kebabs with Tabouli and Tzatziki Sauce!

Need a dish that cooks up quickly, tastes amazing, and looks super impressive on the plate? You’ve got to try these Greek-inspired Impossible Kebabs served on a bed of Tabouli and topped with my homemade Tzatziki Sauce! And, no...you don’t need a grill to make a great kabob! These cooked up, quick and easy, in about 20 minutes...the whole meal is on the table in just 30 minutes!

Now, full disclosure, the tabouli in this recipe isn’t traditional. Typically tabouli would include diced tomatoes. For these kabobs, I knew that I wanted to use tomatoes on the actual kabobs so I decided to use olives in the tabouli instead. That’s honestly one of the most fun parts about cooking…don’t let yourself get too stressed about of ingredients and swapping out certain flavors for something else that you might prefer.

What you are going to need to buy:

Impossible Ground - (or whatever brand of plant-based meat you love)

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

Liquid Smoke

Tomatoes

Onions

Flat Leaf Parsley

Fresh Mint

Black Kalamata Olives

Balsamic Vinegar (a white balsamic will be better for this recipe)

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Salt & Pepper, to taste

These ingredients are for the Kabobs and the Tabouli - you can find the recipe for my homemade Tzatziki sauce HERE!

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

If you are using wood kabob sticks, make sure to soak them in water…you can do this while you make the pesto.

To start, in a medium bowl mix together your plant-based ground, minced garlic, to taste, a tablespoon, or so and a tablespoon of liquid smoke. Mix well.

For these kabobs, I formed my plant-based ground into little ‘bricks about 1 inch by 2 inches.

In a skillet, on medium heat, with a little olive oil, sear the little bricks on all sizes to get a nice color and some good char.

After all of the ground has been seared, you can begin to assemble your kabobs, alternating the meat and the tomatoes (or your choice of veg.

Place the kabobs onto a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, turning halfway through.

In the meantime…let’s make some Tabouli

It’s pretty straightforward and mainly just involves some chopping. You could even use a food processor if you’re not comfortable with all the dicing.

The trick to good tabouli, in my opinion, is making sure that everything is chopped/diced very fine.

Chop your parsley and mint into a very fine mixture. To the herbs add your finely diced tomatoes, some minced garlic. and finely chopped olives. Note: using olives in tabouli isn’t traditional. Typically you would use diced tomatoes. For these kabobs, I knew that I wanted to use tomatoes on the actual kabobs so I decided to use olives in the tabouli.

To your herbs and diced veg add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a splash of lemon juice.

Now, CLICK HERE for the instructions to make the Vegan Tzatziki Sauce to top these kabobs.

Serving!

Serve these kabobs on a bed of fresh tabouli and topped with your vegan tzatziki sauce.
Enjoy!

Homemade Vegan Tzatziki Sauce with Only 7 Ingredients!

This Homemade Vegan Tzatziki Sauce is one of my very favorite things to make at home. It’s good on so many things from the traditional gyro to fresh veggies and pita, even avocado toast and sandwiches! Plus, with just 7 ingredients it comes together in less than 5 minutes.

This vegan tzatziki sauce is so good you’re going to want to eat it on everything! Seriously…I used it on my avocado toast the morning after I made these gyros! Made with ingredients that you probably already have at home, is it authentic…eh, not quite! Is it dairy free, easy, and delicious? You bet!

What you are going to need to buy:

Vegan Mayo

Vegan Sour Cream - (On this page we are big fans of Tofutti Sour Cream!)

Minced Garlic - (We like these jarred options from Spice World!)  

Cucumber (1/2 diced and 1/2 shredded)

Fresh Dill

Salt & Pepper

Lemon Juice

What you are going to need to do:

Like I teased in the intro…this sauce is not particularly authentic but the flavor is so good you’ll never know!
In a medium bowl mix together the following:

1/2 cup of your Tofutti Vegan Sour Cream

1/2 cup of Vegan Mayo

1/2 cup of finely shredded cucumber, only lightly drained.

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/4 cup of fresh, minced dill

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Salt and Pepper, to taste

You can always thin the mixture out with a splash of water if necessary! See! I told you it was super simple! Store in the fridge for up to a week.

Thai Inspired Spicy Lime Peanut Sauce (Only SIX Ingredients!)

Perfect for everything from stir-fry and noodles to veggie wraps, or even as a dressing for a Asian inspired summer salad, this sauce is something you’ll want to have in your refrigerator this summer. I love this recipe because it looks and tastes fancy but it comes together with simple pantry ingredients in just about 10 minutes.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I have a hard time spending the money on sauces and dressings at the grocery store that I know I can make at home and this Thai Inspired Spicy Lime Peanut Sauce is no exception! And…bonus, it only takes SIX ingredients to whip up! This recipe makes about 4 - 5 servings, depending on what you are using it for and how thin you make it.

What you are going to need to buy:

Peanut Butter - (creamy is best)

Sesame Oil - (You can use another neutral oil, but the flavor will differ a bit)

Chili Oil - (If you don’t have Chili oil, you can use dried chili powder)

Soy Sauce

Maple Syrup

Lime Juice

Water, for thinning

What you are going to need to do:

This can be done on a bowl with the aid of the microwave, or on the stove-top in a small sauce pot.

Mix together the following

8 tablespoons of peanut butter

2 tablespoon of sesame oil

2 tablespoon of Soy Sauce

1 teaspoon of chili oil

Heat these ingredients until the peanut butter becomes soft enough to incorporate easily into the oils and whisk to combine. After well combined add:

2 tablespoon of maple syrup

2 tablespoon of lime juice

Salt and pepper, to taste

At this point, taste your sauce…want a bit more tang, add another splash of lime juice. Like things a but more spicy…more chili oil. Once you get the flavor you like use 2-3 tablespoons of water to thin sauce to desired consistency. I like mine about the thickness of a ranch dressing, thin enough to drizzle, but thick enough to stick to vegetables, noodles, or as a dressing for wraps.

To Serve/Store:
Drizzle peanut sauce on top of anything and everything. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. (It won’t last that long, I promise!) Let sauce come to room temperature or warm slightly to re-serve. You can always add a bit more water if necessary after it’s been in the fridge a few days

Enjoy!

Noodles with Garlic Mushrooms and Peppers topped with Thai Inspired Spicy Lime Peanut Sauce

Sometimes you plan, shop for, and execute extravagant meals that look and taste like they should be served at the fanciest of restaurants and sometimes you haven’t been to the grocery store in a week and you’re trying to find way to level up ramen! This recipe is perfect because it looks and tastes fancy but it comes together with simple pantry ingredients and a small amount of produce, in less than 20 minutes!

Raise your hand if you buy mushrooms, when they are on sale, and then spend the next week watching them turn to goo in your fridge because you’re uninspired as to what to do with them!? I’ve got you covered! The Thai inspired spicy lime peanut sauce is all you need to turn ramen and mushrooms into an amazing dinner! Make a little extra, because you’re going to want to put it on everything!

What you are going to need to buy:

Ramen - (the stuff you ate in college is fine, especially if you have some in the house BUT a trip to your local Asian market for a more authentic option is really going to make this dish!)

Vegan Butter - (This recipe used Earth Balance)

Mushrooms, sliced - (This recipe used a couple kinds because it’s what I had in the bottom on the crisper drawer, but use what you’ve got!)

Red Peppers, julienned (cut into strips)

Yellow Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Peanut Butter - (creamy is best)

Sesame Oil - (You can use another neutral oil, but the flavor will differ a bit)

Chili Oil - (If you don’t have Chili oil, you can use dried chili powder)

Soy Sauce

Maple Syrup

Lime Juice

Water, for thinning

What you are going to need to do:

In a medium skillet, saute your mushrooms, onions, peppers and garlic in a little olive oil until soft.

Note: add the garlic about 1/2 way through cooking, once the onions have given up a little moisture into the pan, so that it doesn’t burn

Prepare your ramen, per the package directions BUT if your ramen comes with a flavor packet, do not use it. Once noodles are soft, drain well and stir in one teaspoon of butter, while the noodles are hot.

To Make the Spicy Lime Peanut Sauce: (This makes enough for two servings)
This can be done on a bowl with the aid of the microwave, or on the stove-top in a small sauce pot.

Mix together the following

4 tablespoons of peanut butter

1 tablespoon of sesame oil

1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce

1/2 teaspoon of chili oil

Heat these ingredients until the peanut butter becomes soft enough to incorporate easily into the oils and whisk to combine. After well combined add:

1 tablespoon of maple syrup

1 tablespoon of lime juice

Salt and pepper, to taste

At this point, taste your sauce…want a bit more tang, add another splash of lime juice. Like things a but more spicy…more chili oil. Once you get the flavor you like use 2-3 tablespoons of water to thin sauce to desired consistency. I like mine about the thickness of a ranch dressing, thin enough to drizzle, but thick enough to stick to the mushrooms and noodles.

To Serve:
Plate the noodles and top with the cooked mushrooms, peppers and onions.

Drizzle peanut sauce on top.

Garnish with chopped peanuts, if desired.

Enjoy!