comfort food

Vegan BBQ Sandwich


For Vegan MOFO I decided I needed to branch out and try some new vegan foods I haven’t tried before. You’ve all ready seen Butler Soy Curls in action in my Not Beef Stew, but I wanted to see how they’d perform as the star of the show. For those of you who are afraid of soy curls, check out the photo below, the soybeans are grown pesticide free and this is the ingredient label: Soy Curls are made from delicately textured select, non GMO, whole soybeans. Compare that to other faux 20 something ingredient vegan meat substitutes! Did I mention they are gluten free and suitable for celiacs? Take that seitan!

Vegan BBQ Sandwich

  • 1/2 package Butler Soy Curls: prepared according to package directions and drained on paper towels, press the water out
  • 1 red onion, sliced into thin slivers
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 8 oz diced portobello mushrooms.

Method: In a non-stick skillet, water saute all the veggies until the onion is slightly soft. Add the soy curls and 1 recipe sriracha BBQ sauce:

Sriracha BBQ Sauce:

combine:

  • 1/2 C. organic ketchup
  • 2 T. molasses
  •  2 T. Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
  • 1 T. apple cider vinegar 
  • 1 t. agave
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 t. liquid smoke
  • 1 to 2 t. Sriracha Hot Sauce (to taste)
  •  few grinds of black pepper.

Continue cooking until most of the sauce is absorbed and soy curls start to get a bit browned. Serve on a whole grain pretzel bun with Susan Voisin’s tofu cashew mayonnaise, lettuce, pickles and whatever other fixins’ float your boat.

Verdict, my family literally asked if we’d gone off our vegan diet. I’m not sure if that’s gross or not, but no-one left a crumb on their plate.

Advertisement

Not Beef Stew

Sometimes you just need some Heavy Duty Comfort Food

The kind that sticks to your ribs and makes you pleasantly stuffed.

Not Beef Stew

Seasoned Soy Curls:

  • 1/2 package Butler Soy Curls (I’m trying out some new vegan products for MOFO) prepared according to package directions and drained, these are GMO free, organic and use the whole soy bean. If you can’t source these or if you prefer, you can use 16 oz of cubed baby portobellos instead.
  • 1/4 C. white whole wheat flour
  • 1 t. garlic powder
  • 1 t. dried oregano
  • 1 t. dried thyme
  • 1/2 t. ground pepper
  • 1 t. sea salt

Using a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium heat, combine all ingredients above and brown the soy curls on all sides until nicely golden and crispy. You may need to use a bit of pan spray. Remove soy curls from dutch oven and set aside.

Add to dutch oven with a bit of water to saute the veggies in:

The Stew Veggies:

  • 1 diced onion
  • 4 minced garlic cloves
  • 2 diced carrots
  • 3 russet potatoes or big red potatoes diced with skins on
  • 1/2 t. ground pepper
  • 1 t. sea salt
  • 1 t. dried oregano
  • 1 t. dried thyme
  • 1 t. ground black pepper
  • couple dashes of hot sauce.

Cook over medium heat until onions are slightly soft, and water has evaporated. Add 2 T. white whole wheat flour and cook and stir til everything is really nice and browned, stirring and scraping up browned bits on bottom as you go.

Quickly add:

The Good Stuff:

  • 6 C. quality vegetable stock
  • 1/3 C. tomato paste
  • 4 T. soy sauce
  • 4 T. vegan worcestershire
  • 2 T. pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 c. dry sherry
  • 2 T. cocoa powder (for color)
  • cooked and seasoned soy curls (from above)

Simmer with the lid on over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until veggies are fork tender

Add:

  • 1 C. cashew cream (from 1/2 C. soaked cashews and 1 C. filtered water blended until thick)
  • 1 C. frozen baby peas.


Serve in mutant bread bowls

Healthied up Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I make these bars two different ways depending on the company I’m serving. I make the first version for my family, it’s oil free and uses less sweetener so it tastes a bit healthier and results in a more cake-like cookie but is still delicious!

The second version is good for convincing company that being vegan doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor! It has a small amount of oil and more (unrefined) sweetness and tastes and crunches more like traditional cookie bars, but is still relatively healthy compared to regular vegan cookies. Try both recipes to see which one is your favorite! Enjoy!

Healthied Up Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Oil-Free & Less Sweet Version:

  • 2 C. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (for Gluten Free option substitute Cara’s all purpose GF mix)
  • 1/2 C. Rolled Oats (use certified Gluten Free for GF version)
  • 1/2 C.  raw agave
  • 1/2 C. unsweetened Apple Sauce
  • 1 T. Ground Flax Seed
  • 1/2 C. Almond Milk
  • 2 t. Vanilla
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1/2 t. sea salt
  • 1/2 C. Vegan Chocolate Chips

Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, ground flax, baking powder and salt in a large bowl with a wire whisk. Add agave, apple sauce, almond milk, vanilla and chocolate chips. Stir til just combined. Pour into an 8×8 pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Do not over bake, that’s the secret to the awesomeness of these babies. Let cool for 10-15 minutes then cut into 16 squares.

Tiny Bit Naughty Version:

  • 2 C. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (for Gluten Free option substitute Cara’s all purpose GF mix)
  • 1 C. Rolled Oats (use certified Gluten Free for GF version)
  • 1/2 C.  raw agave or pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 C. raw sugar
  • 1/4 C. Coconut Oil
  • 1/4 C. Almond Butter
  • 1 T. Ground Flax Seed
  • 1/2 C. Almond Milk
  • 2 t. Vanilla
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1/2 t. sea salt
  • 1/2 to 1 full C. Vegan Chocolate Chips (depending on your chocolate meter)

Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, raw sugar, ground flax, baking powder and salt in a large bowl with a wire whisk. Cut the coconut oil and almond butter into the flour mixture. Add agave, almond milk, vanilla and chocolate chips. Stir til just combined. Press into an 8×8 pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Let cool for 10-15 minutes then cut into 16 squares. 

Try to eat just one.