Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Tiger Skin Chilies


Ingredients: (for 2 servings)
6-8 Anaheim chilies
1 red bell pepper
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp. dark rice vinegar
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
a pinch of salt

Step 1.
Halve the Anaheim chilies lengthwise and remove the seeds. Chop the red bell pepper to bite size.

Step 2.
Heat some oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. 
Arrange the chili halves skin side down on the pan and let it brown for about 8 mins.

Step 3. 
Add in chopped garlic and red bell pepper. Stir and cook for another 2 mins.

Step 4.
Add in the seasonings and turn off the heat.
1 tbsp. dark rice vinegar
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
a pinch of salt to taste


It is a classic way of cooking chilies in China. The Chinese name for this type of dish is 虎皮尖椒 (Hu Pi Jian Jiao) which can be translated as tiger skin chilies. The tiger skin refers to the brown and crispy skin of the chilies. I like to serve it over steam rice since the dish has some flavorful sauce. For a more spicy taste we can use jalapenos instead of Anaheim chilies.




Friday, January 11, 2013

Spicy Veggie Noodles


Ingredients: (2 servings)


2 handful of fresh spinach
1 large heirloom tomato - chopped
1/2 red bell pepper - sliced
1 carrot - thinly sliced
1/2 cup green peas
1 clove garlic - minced
2 servings of spaghetti brown rice pasta (or any other noodle)
salt
red chili flakes (oil infused)
nutritional yeast



Prepare the noodles.

Heat oil in a pan. Saute chopped tomatoes until very smooth. 5 mins.

Add in carrot slices and minced garlic. Saute until they are softened. 5 mins.

Add in red bell pepper slices, green peas and spinach. Season with salt and nutritional yeast. 5 mins.

Stir in fully cooked noodles.

Season with additional salt and red chili flakes to taste.



Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Avocado Chocolate Pudding


In a food processor:
(3-4 servings)

3 tbsp. hemp seeds. ( I used shelled hemp seeds, also called hemp hearts)
2 large hass avocados (or 4 small ones)
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla powder
1 tsp. salt
Some sweetener to taste
(eg. 1/2 cup agave nectar
or 1 tbsp. stevia, 
or 2 tbsp cane sugar.)
2 tbsp. nondairy milk (Optional. depending on the consistency)
Top with chopped almonds for extra crunch.

Chill  30 mins before serving.


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Sundried Tomato Olive Bread




Step 1. Whip together ( in a food processor):

3 tbsp. ground flaxseed
1/2 cup water

Step 2. Combine in bowl 1:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Step 3. Combine in bowl 2:

Whipped flaxseed mixture (from step 1)
1 cup nondairy milk ( I used sweetened almond milk)
1/4 cup olive oil

Step 4. Add the wet ingredients (bowl 2) to the dry ingredients (bowl 1)
Add 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
Add 1/2 cup chopped pitted olives ( I used black olives and red olives)
Add 1/3 cup chopped sundried tomatoes
Mix well

The batter should be stiff and sticky.


Step 5. Bake
Lightly grease the loaf pan or other container that you are using to bake the bread. Add the batter to the loaf pan. Bake under 350 F for 40 mins.

Serve warm with your favorite dipping oil.


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Crispy Radish Balls




Ingredients:
1 daikon radish
2/3 cup garbanzo bean flour
cilantro
green onion
ginger
five spice powder
salt

Step 1
Grate the radish as fine as possible.
Thinly chop some cilantro and green onions while waiting for the radish to drain excess water.
Grab a handful of grated radish and squeeze out any excess water into a bowl. 
*Save the radish liquid for later use.* 

Transfer the ingredients to a larger bowl to make the radish balls:
grated radish w/o water
chopped cilantro and green onions
2/3 cup garbanzo bean flour
grated ginger
1 tsp five spice powder
a pinch of salt

Mix all the ingredients together. If the radish mixture appears to be dry, start with adding 1 tbs radish liquid back into the mixture. (I added 3 tbs)


Step 2

Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls between your palms. Set aside.

Step 3

Heat some oil in a pan. Make sure the amount of oil in the pan should be enough to have the balls mostly emerged.  (I used a small pan. So I can use less oil.)

Gently put the radish balls in the oil. Fry them over medium high heat until evenly browned. (Turn the balls often to brown evenly)




Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pineapple Spinach Smoothie


Servings: 3 cups

1 fresh pineapple
2 handful fresh baby spinach
A hint of grated ginger
1 cup of water
1 tablespoon of sweetener (optional. eg. honey)


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Vegan Seafood Soup




Ingredients: (3-4 Servings)
1 large daikon radish
8-10 shiitake mushrooms
A hand full of kelp
A hand full of green peas
1 inch ginger
vegan crab cake (optional)
sea salt
olive oil

1. Thinly slice radish, mushrooms and ginger.

2. Put a large stock pot or a large skillet over high heat.
Sautee ginger, radish and mushroom slices for 5 mins.

3. Add water until the food is covered.
Bring to a boil.

4. Add a hand full of green peas and kelp.
Bring to a boil.
Lower the heat and cover with lid.
Let it cook for 10 mins.

5. (Optional)
Add vegan crab cake for some extra seafood flavor.
Let it cook for 5 mins.

6. Season with salt.