Categories
Favourites Lunch & Dinner

Vegan Sushi

Want to learn how to make sushi? Don’t worry, you are in the right place, it’s easy! Get your sushi mat out and let’s get started!

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to the blog!!

In this post, I will show you how to make vegan sushi and I hope you are as excited as me to try this out, if this will be your first – or if you want to find out for some new fillings.

To start off you will need:
– 2 cups of sushi rice (short grain rice)
– 5-6 Nori seaweed sheets (also called SushiNori)
– 130 ml of sushi dressing (or make a mixture of rice vinegar, salt, and sugar)

Put the rice into a bowl and wash it gently in cold water 2-3 times (you will see the water becoming much clearer), then drain the water and put the rice into a pot/pan and top it up with only 2 cups of water.
Start off with cooking it on high fire and once it starts boiling, lower down the heat (very low) and put a lid on top and cook for another 10 min.
Once done, spread the rice into a large shallow dish so it can cool down.
In the meantime, use half of the sushi dressing and gently mix it with a spatula (cut and fold technique).
Let it sit for about 5 min and then do the same with the rest of the dressing – once done, cover it with a kitchen towel again and now we are ready to get the fillings ready!

We will make 3 fillings:
1. Carrots, spring onion, and sweet paprika & wasabi
2. Spicy tofu, cabbage & sesame seeds (Californian roll)
3. Tempura mushrooms & avocado

DON’T forget your sushi mat – I usually wrap it in cling film so it doesn’t get too messy!
The easiest way to see how to roll the sushi is to check out the video below!

1. Carrots, spring onion, and sweet paprika & wasabi + how to roll the sushi
For the first one to get also warmed up, it’s really easy, just cut all the vegetable julienne cut.
Take your sushi mat and lay down a sushi nori sheet (shiny side down) and take about a cup worth of rice (maybe a bit more) and lay it on the sheet (wet your hands for every time you need to handle the rice, as it is very sticky). Spread it onto the sheet but leave about 1-1,5 inches of seaweed not covered with rice (the side that you are furthest away from). Now you are ready to put the filling (don’t put too much!). Take the mat side that is facing you and start rolling!
Once done, cut the sushi first in half and then 3 pieces out of every half.
1st one done, 2 more to go!

2. Spicy tofu, cabbage & sesame seeds (Californian roll)
First, you will need a small bit of firm tofu (press it to take out as much water as possible – cut into small cubes.
Use the following ingredients to marinate:
– 1 tbsp of sunflower oil
– 1 tbsp of sesame oil
– 1 tsp of salt
– 1 tsp of pepper
– 1 tsp of chili flakes
– a bit of lemon juice
– 1,5 tsp of maple syrup
– 1 tbsp of tomato paste

Once marinated, bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 180°C(360F) on the FAN option – turn them over halfway.
You will only need some Jullien cut cabbage and some sesame seeds (Californian roll is made with the seaweed from the inside.

The only difference is to do the following while making the sushi roll is once the rice is evenly spread out on the mat, you can sprinkle some sesame seed on top of it, and then you will turn it over (don’t worry, the rice will stick) and just put the filling after that!
One more to go!

3. Tempura mushrooms & avocado
I have to say that I don’t make tempura very often, but I do LOVE it!
The ingredients for the mushroom tempura:
– 1 cup of very cold water (cool it down with ice and if there is some left, just take it out
– 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour
– 1/4 cup of corn starch
– a bit of salt
– a few mushrooms nicely sliced (thicker)

Mix up the cold water and the rest of the ingredients (leave out the mushrooms for now 🙂 and mix it well. Prepare a saucepan with sunflower oil (in this case with just a 1,5 inch of oil as the mushrooms aren’t that big). Once your tempura and oil are ready, put the mushroom into the tempura and fry it.
This sushi will be rolled with the seaweed outside – don’t forget the julienne cut cabbage!

Thanks & Enjoy!

Cheers,

Vito

For a video tutorial, chceck the link below:

Categories
Favourites Lunch & Dinner

Arancini

Have some leftover risotto, or just want to find out how to make arancini?? You are at the right spot, an easy to follow recipe!!!

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to the blog!!

In this post we are going to make leak & mushroom arancini filled with the pestos we made in our last post. For a more detailed video tutorial, click on the LINK for my YouTube channel.

INGREDIENTS:
– 1,5 cup of arborio rice (risotto rice)
– 100ml of vegan white wine
– 2 medium-sized onions
– 2 vegetable stock cubes
– 250g of mushrooms
– 1 leak
– 2-3 cloves of garlic
– bunch of parsley
– 1 tbsp of vegan butter
– 1,5-2 tbsp of olive oil
– 1,5 tsp of salt
– 2 tsp of pepper

For a more detailed video tutorial on how to make risotto, click on the LINK for my YouTube channel.

PREPARATION:
You can start off by choppin’ the onion (fine chop), leak (just rings), mushrooms, garlic, and parsley.
Once done, boil some water and pour 1 liter into a pot and add the 2 stock cubes to it (just keep it warm on the stove – simmering).
Preheat the pan (on high heat) and saute the onions, after that, you can add rice, stir it and heat it all up for 1-2 minutes and then you can add the white wine to it – stir and let it evaporate.
Now you can lower the heat to medium and slowly start adding stock to the risotto (stir often). It should take you about 10-13 minutes until you can add the mushrooms to the story (don’t add any more stock – you should be left with about 200ml of it still in the pot). Cook the mushrooms 2 – 3 minutes and turn off the stove – now add the rest of the ingredients (you want to keep a nice fresh kick to it): leak, garlic, parsley, olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper – one last stir and you are done!!

Enjoy a plate or two, while you let the rest cool off 😉

Once cooled down have another 3 bowls ready: 1. filled with cold water, 2. with 1/3 cup of corn starch (flour) and 1 cup of water (mix well together), 3. with bread crumbs.

1.Take a spoonful in your palm and spread it out.
2. Take the tomato pesto and put it in the middle and then fold the sides over the pesto, add some more risotto if needed and shape a ball out of it.
3. Dip the ball into the corn starch (whisk before use as it falls to the bottom)
4. Roll it into bread crumbs
5. Repeat dipping into corn starch
6. ROll into bread crumbs

Do the next one with basil pesto and vegan cheese or vegan cream cheese that works great as well.

Once done, fill a frying pan with 1,5-2 inch of sunflower oil and once up to heat fry them (try to keep it on a medium+ heat 🙂
The rest that you don’t want to use, freeze, and use for another day!

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Vito

For a video tutorial, check the link below:

Categories
Favourites Snacks & Sides

Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Pesto

Looking for an easy way to make delicious pesto – tomato or basil? You are in the right place, follow along, and make it yourself!

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to my blog!!

Today I am going to make a couple of delicious pestos: sun-dried tomato & basil pesto.

You can use these for various things as: pasta, spreads, dips, salads; and it keeps for about 5 days if properly stored (airtight container – refrigerated).

SUNDRIED TOMATO PESTO recipe

INGREDIENTS:
– 150g of sundried tomatoes (drained from oil)
– 50g of quinoa (cooked)
– 50ml of olive oil
– 50ml of water
– 1 tbsp of maple syrup
– 1 tbsp of lemon juice
– 1,5 tsp of salt
– 2 tsp of pepper
– a pinch of chili flakes
– a bunch of chives
– 5-6 garlic cloves (roasted)
– 25g of walnuts

PREPARATION:
Cook the quinoa in cold water, once up to boil, lower the heat, and cook for 15 minutes.
Roast the garlic cloves (skin on) in the oven for 18-22 minutes on 180°C (360°F) FAN option.
Drain the tomatoes from their oil – you can keep the oil for cooking or salads (great umami taste!).
Once the garlic is roasted, clean it and also drain, and then wash the quinoa in cold water.

Now, it’s time to blend it together, add all the ingredients except for the quinoa, and give it a good blend. Stop halfway to scrape the sides of the blender using a spatula.
At the very end, go ahead and add the cooked quinoa to the pesto, and give it just a quick blend!

One pesto down, one more to go 😉

BASIL PESTO recipe

INGREDIENTS:
– 4 cups of fresh basil
– 1-1,5 tsp of salt
– 1,5 tsp of pepper
– 3 tbsp of nutritional yeast
– 1/3 cup of olive oil
– 1 tbsp of lemon juice
– 50g of roasted pine nuts
– 2 cleaned garlic cloves

PREPARATION:
First, roast the pine nuts in a pan with NO oil!
Your next step is only to put all the ingredients into a blender and to nicely blend it all together!

Enjoy and don’t forget to check out the upcoming video this weekend, where we will be using these pestos to make a filling for homemade arancini.

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Vito

For a video tutorial, check the link below:

Categories
Lunch & Dinner

Noodles

Need to make lunch but have very little time?!? You are at the right place, check out our SUPER SIMPLE stir fry noodles recipe!!!

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to my blog!

In this post I am keeping it very simple – stir fry noodles – for those busy days! It will take you no more than 20 minutes to prepare this yummy recipe filled with crispy vegetables.

INGREDIENTS:
– 200g of noodles (I used Ramen)
– 3 scallions
– 1 carrot
– 1/2 sweet pepper
– a handful of mange tout
– g of broccolini
– a few baby corns
– 1/3 of a pointed cabbage
– 2 tbsp of sesame oil
– 2 tbsp of soy sauce
– 2 tsp of salt

PREPARATION:
Go ahead and cut all the vegetables into strips/slices and cook the noodles. Now, preheat a stir fry pan on max and add 100ml of cooking oil and all the vegetables except the cabbage to it, add the salt, and saute for 2 minutes.
Add the noodles and cook for another minute – turn off the hob and add the cabbage to it, mix it and you are ready to serve it!

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Vito

For a video tutorial, check the link below:

Categories
Lunch & Dinner

Mixed Lentil Pie

Are you looking for a new Sunday lunch recipe for the whole family?? Bingo! Check out our new recipe that is packed with protein!!

Hi Everyone,

In this post, I am showing you how to make a mixed lentil pie, that everyone at your Sunday lunch table will love and is also packed with protein!

INGREDIENTS:
To start off, you will need the following vegetables:
– 2 medium-sized onions
– 3 medium-sized carrots
– 2 celery stick
– 1 sweet pepper
– 1 eggplant
– 8 medium-sized potatoes

The lentils that are used in the recipe (but you can do any lentils – approx. 300g):
– 70g of black beluga lentils
– 70g of lentils verts
– 70g of red lentils
– 70g of green lentils

The rest of the ingredients:
– 1 can of red kidney beans
– 1 can of chopped tomatoes
– 2,5 tsp of salt
– 2 tsp of pepper
– 2 tsp of chili flakes
– 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast
– 6 tbsp of milled chia seeds
– 1 tbsp of maple syrup

PREPARATION:
Go ahead and start cooking your lentils in cold water on low heat (once it starts boiling cook for another 15-20 minutes). Then, chop all the vegetables into smaller pieces, except the potatoes that have to be cut into thin slices.
Now you can heat up some oil in a pan (high heat) and add all the vegetables (not the potatoes) and saute them for 5-7 minutes and then add the rest of the ingredients (including lentils), stir it well, and cook on low heat for another 5 minutes.
Once the mixture is taken off the hob, spray some oil on the bottom of the baking tray and then put a layer of potatoes in – put some salt and oil on top and make your second layer, including a layer on the sides of the baking tray. Now it’s time to put the mixture in and then finish it off with the rest of the potatoes.
Preheat your oven to 180°C (360°F) on the fan option and bake it for 45-50 minutes.

You are ready to serve it, enjoy!

Vito

For a video tutorial, check the link below:

Categories
Lunch & Dinner

Vegetable Soup With Semolina Dumplings

Looking for a simple and delicious veg soup recipe?? You are at the right place! Check out our new recipe and make it for yourself!

Hi Everyone,

In this post I will show you how to make a super easy and healthy vegetable soup, that will be served with semolina dumplings.

INGREDIENTS:
– 2 medium-sized onions
– 3 medium-sized carrots
– 3 medium-sized parsnips
– 4 celery sticks
– 4 small potatoes
– 1 eggplant
– 2 vegetable stock cubes

PREPARATION:
To start off, chop all your vegetables: fine chop onion carrots, and the rest in cubes. Saute the onions and carrots for a few minutes on high heat and then add the rest of the vegetables to the pot – mix them up and top up with cold water.
Cook the soup on low heat for an hour and a half – add the vegetable stock cubes a few minutes prior to taking it off the hob.

In the meantime let’s prepare the semolina dumplings, the ingredients that you will need are:
– 100g of wheat semolina
– 1,5 tsp of egg replacer
– 1,5 tsp of salt
– 1,5 tsp of pepper
– 1,5 tbsp of nutritional yeast
– 1 tbsp of olive oil

Wisk the egg replacer in a bowl with 3,5 tbsp of water, and after that add the rest of the ingredients and make a dough out of it. Once done, make little dumplings and then cook them in water for 45 minutes.

When your soup is cooked, separate in another pot 1/3 of it and add into the 1/3 of soup the following ingredients:
– 1,5 tsp of salt
– 1,5 tsp of pepper
– 1,5 tbsp of olive oil
– 1,5 tbsp of vegan butter

Now go ahead and blend it – serve it with the dumplings and some fresh parsley & soy cream (this serves 3).

I usually freeze the rest of the soup for another day 🙂

Enjoy!

Vito

For a video tutorial, check the link below: