Category Archives: avocado

Vegan, Gluten-Free Sweet Potatoes With Avocado/Pea Puree and Spiced Chickpeas is an Amazing, Filling Meal

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Chef Leah

No vegetable is more synonymous with autumn than the sweet potato. We love these hardy, delicious vegetables with vegan butter and a bit of pepper, but they are so much more versatile than you might think. Our recipe looks and tastes exotic, but it’s incredibly easy to prepare. This dish is packed with protein and vitamins, and the ingredients are inexpensive. The combination of avocado, peas, chickpeas, and tahini creates a flavor explosion that will linger in your mouth after you’re done eating your meal. You just have to try our recipe, and you’ll know exactly what we mean.

BASE INGREDIENT

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes, baked until soft or steamed on a rack in the Instant Pot at high pressure, manual for 15 minutes.

AVOCADO/PEA PUREE INGREDIENTS

1 cup green peas (either fresh or frozen will do, but thaw frozen peas to room temperature first)
1 large avocado
1-2 chopped garlic cloves
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
Dash of sea salt
Dash of fresh ground pepper
Water for consistency

SPICED CHICKPEA INGREDIENTS

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder
Pinch of chili flakes
Dash of sea salt

MAPLE TAHINI DRESSING INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons tahini
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup (not pancake syrup!)
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 minced clove garlic
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
Dash of sea salt
Dash of fresh ground pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare spiced chickpeas by placing them in a saucepan with onions and spices. Saute on medium heat until chickpeas are thoroughly cooked (but not burned) and onions are translucent. Remove from heat and set aside. Place pea and avocado puree ingredients in blender or food processor and combine thoroughly, adding water for consistency if necessary. Finally, prepare your maple tahini dressing by combining all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Whisk until the mixture is creamy.

Slice sweet potatoes lengthwise and layer with avocado/pea puree. Ladle a generous helping of spiced chickpeas on top. Garnish with a liberal dollop of maple tahini dressing. Place your creation on a large plate and dig in. You won’t believe how good this meal tastes, with its amazing mélange of flavors!

This hearty dish serves 4 hungry people. It’s great all by itself, or with a side salad and/or a loaf of gluten-free bread. You are extremely unlikely to have leftovers, but if you do, place them in a secure container and refrigerate. You can reheat your meal tomorrow for a quick and satisfying lunch! Enjoy.

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It’s So Easy to Create Your Own Falafels From Scratch!

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Chef Leah

We’ve been eating falafels for years, both with pita bread, and without. These crispy disks are delicious served with a variety of vegetables. However, most of the falafels in restaurants are deep-fried, and the ones you make at home are usually products of a powdered mix. Creating this naturally vegan, gluten-free concoction from scratch is surprisingly easy and fun. Real, homemade falafels taste much better than the stuff that comes from a box! Try the recipe, you will be amazed.

INGREDIENTS
1 15-ounce can chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans)
1 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped and packed
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped and packed
1/2 cup diced red or yellow onion (red is especially zesty)
1/3 cup gluten-free flour (we used a combination of garbanzo flour and brown rice flour)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (aluminum-free, please)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt (not the iodized variety)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
5-6 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup water
olive oil for cooking
Vegetable garnishes, such as chopped tomatoes, sliced avocados, shredded carrots, chopped onion, additional sprigs of parsley and cilantro, lettuce, etc.
Gluten-free pita bread (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, chopped onion, flour, lemon juice, water, baking powder, garlic, and spices into blender or food processor. Combine thoroughly until mixture is thick and creamy, but not stiff. You can add more water if it’s too thick, or more flour if it’s too runny. Pour into large bowl and cover. Place bowl in refrigerator and chill for approximately 1 hour. It should achieve a nice thickness by then.

Remove falafel mix from refrigerator and heat olive oil on stovetop. Your burner setting should be medium high, but not so hot that it will smoke or burn. Scoop rounded tablespoons of falafel mix from bowl and drop into hot olive oil, one at a time. Fry them until they’re slightly crispy and brown around the edges, then flip and fry the other sides. Remove from heat and set on napkin so excess oil will drain away.

Serve with vegetables and toppings such as hummus, baba ghanoush, plain coconut yogurt, or tahini with lemon juice. Great either as a sandwich or a salad. Feel free to experiment! Serves 3-4 hungry people. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen for later. These falafels are great in lunchboxes! You’ll never want to make them from a box, ever again, and neither will any of the members of your family. Enjoy!

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Red Beans and Cauliflower “Rice”– Vegan, Gluten-Free, and So Easy to Make!

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Chef Leah

Sometimes, you want to whip up a delicious, filling vegan meal without a lot of fuss and expense. Maybe you have less than an hour to prepare a dish that your whole family — or table of friends — will love. Never fear! This stellar red bean-based dish utilizes cauliflower “rice.” In other words, the finely shredded cauliflower looks like rice, and its texture is quite similar. You and your guests will be amazed! The whole process is much easier than you might think. Here’s how:

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green, red, or yellow bell pepper
1 large head cauliflower, chopped
3 15-ounce cans of red beans, drained and rinsed
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional garnishes: chopped cilantro, avocado, sliced jalapenos, chopped arugula, chopped tomatoes, salsa, diced scallions, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and add chopped onions. Fry onions on medium heat for about five minutes until they become translucent. Add chopped pepper and celery and continue frying for 5-10 minutes until vegetables are cooked through. The aroma will be heavenly! Meanwhile, place cauliflower chunks in food processor and grind them until they attain a granulated, slightly powdery consistency. You won’t believe they aren’t actually rice! Add the cauliflower “rice” to vegetables, along with the red beans and spices. Fry for another 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. You can adjust the seasoning level according to your individual tastes. We like ours spicy, but you may feel differently. Experiment and enjoy!

This delightful dish pairs well with gluten-free corn tortillas and an almost endless variety of toppings. We garnished ours with sliced avocados, chopped cilantro, and thin slices of jalapenos and were delighted with the results. Other topping choices include chopped tomato, scallions, salsa (homemade is best) and chopped arugula. Use your imagination! You can also enjoy this dish with gluten-free, vegan beer or wine (check www.barnivore.com to see if your beverage is vegan).

Your simple, but scrumptious meal will serve 4-6 hungry people. You can store it in your refrigerator, reheat the leftovers, and enjoy them for a couple of days. They will taste just as delicious as before! The dish is amazingly filling and satisfying, and your guests will be delighted by its robust flavor. You’ll want to make it again and again! Be sure to save room for dessert.

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Vegan Gluten-Free Garbanzo Pancakes—Good for Any Time of Day!

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Chef Leah

INGREDIENTS
1 finely chopped green onion (both the white and green parts)
¼ cup finely chopped red pepper
½ cup garbanzo flour (try Bob’s Red Mill)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup water

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
½ sliced avocado
Fresh salsa
Non-dairy yogurt (try coconut-based for a flavor thrill!)
Hummus
Black beans

INSTRUCTIONS
Chop pepper and green onion and set aside. Combine flour, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and baking powder in medium-sized bowl. Stir thoroughly until combined. Add water and continue stirring until all lumps are gone. Your mixture should have a batter-like consistency, not too watery or think. Add red pepper and green onion and continue stirring until small bubbles appear in the batter.

Heat a frying pan (cast iron is best) on stove top and smear with olive oil. Pour batter directly into pan and fry at medium heat for about 6 minutes on each side. Don’t get impatient—this pancake will take much longer to cook than the conventional variety. You may have to add more olive oil to the pan, as the batter absorbs a lot of it. Be careful flipping the pancake, because the process is tricky! It may fall apart, at least a bit. If the pancake doesn’t look perfect when you’re done, don’t despair. It will still taste just as good!

You can top your pancake with an endless variety of garnishes. We used sliced avocado, fresh salsa, and plain coconut yogurt and were wowed by the results. You can also try hummus, black beans, baba ganoush, etc. Use your imagination! This recipe makes one pancake, but you can repeat the instructions indefinitely, depending on your number of guests.

Serve by itself (very filling) or with a side salad, coffee, some gluten-free beer or red wine. Check www.barnivore.com to make sure your alcoholic beverage is vegan. We hope you enjoy this delightful, light but filling meal! Thank goodness spring is just around the corner.

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Black Bean Tortilla Soup—Vegan, Gluten-Free and Filling

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Chef Leah

tortilla soup

We love making soups in the winter. They’re warm, hearty, and help us feel better on a cold evening, especially at the end of a long day. If you’re under the weather, a good soup can nourish you like nothing else on the planet. We recently discovered this black bean tortilla soup at a friend’s holiday party and were so wowed that we begged her for the recipe. She was delighted to share it, and so are we. The concoction only takes about 45 minutes to prepare, so it’s a great dish if you’re on the run.

SOUP INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups vegetable broth
1 28-ounce can, stewed tomatoes (check label, make sure no chemicals are added).
2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon sea salt (not iodized!)
2 cans black beans (or 3 cups boiled black beans, if you have time)
1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)

GARNISHES
3 small corn tortillas
1 avocado, sliced
1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime, cut into wedges

Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into a large pan and add chopped onions and garlic. Fry on medium heat until onions and garlic are slightly brown. Your kitchen will smell terrific, and you’re just getting started! Add vegetable broth, stewed tomatoes, both chili powders, salt, and cumin. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until tomatoes are cooked through.

Add black beans and corn and continue simmering for 10 minutes until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Meanwhile, cut tortillas into thin strips. Place strips in olive oil in a medium-sized frying pan (cast iron is great!) Fry strips on both sides until brown and crispy, then remove from pan. Place them on paper towel to absorb excess olive oil.

Serve soup in festive bowls with avocado slices, a squeeze or two of lime juice, a liberal dash of cilantro, and as many tortilla strips as your heart desires. We love tortilla strips and find that it’s hard to put too many into this soup. But eat fast, because they do get soggy.

Serves 4-6 hungry guests. This soup is especially good with vegan, gluten-free cornbread and/or beer. If you do end up with leftovers, you can freeze them, or devour them in the next couple of days. You will be utterly delighted by this simple, inexpensive, and satisfying meal. Stay warm and enjoy!

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Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowls

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Chef Leah

It’s both easy to make, and colorful! Just the zest we need for these chilly, late-autumn evenings.

INGREDIENTS FOR SLAW
1 cup purple cabbage, sliced into thin ribbons and then cut into 1-2-inch strips
½ can black beans, rinsed and drained
¼ cup chopped green onions
½ red bell pepper, diced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
½ teaspoon olive oil
Pinches of salt and pepper

SALSA VERDE INGREDIENTS
¾ cup fresh salsa (hot or mild to taste)
1 avocado, diced
1/3 cup fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1-2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

Slice medium-sized spaghetti squash in half (lengthwise) and coat inside with thin layer of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place squash halves upside down in medium-sized pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes at 400 degrees until pulp is soft. You should be able to insert a fork into it without difficulty.

Meanwhile, prepare the slaw in a large mixing bowl. You’ll be wowed by its beauty. After you have squeezed in the lime juice, set mixture aside to marinate.

Place avocado, salsa, garlic, cilantro and lime juice into blender or food processor and combine until your mixture is smooth and slightly frothy. Scoop the slaw into squash halves and fill to overflowing, then spoon a liberal dollop of salsa verde over the top. Finally, garnish your masterpiece with extra cilantro, salsa, toasted pepitas, or any other topping of your choice. Feel free to get creative!

This amazing creation serves 2-3 people, but feel free to double the recipe if you have more guests. Serve by itself (it’s filling!) or with wine, beer, cider and/or a side of gluten-free garlic bread. Of course, any leftovers will keep just fine in the refrigerator for several days. But they definitely won’t last that long.

Your friends will be begging you for the recipe, and you’ll want to make this meal again and again. With its vibrant, red and green hues, the dish is a great, festive lead-up to the holiday season.
Try it, we’re certain you’ll agree. Bon Appetit, and happy, stress-free holidays!

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Review of the Conscious Cleanse and Sherpa Spinach Dip Recipe

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Chef Jessica

We’ve been excited to get our hands on the Conscious Cleanse book ever since we heard about it. The Conscious Cleanse isn’t the kind you may be used to, where you feel deprived, and end up hungry and miserable. What it does do is take certain foods out of your diet that you may not even realize you are reacting to, so that you have a full picture as to how your body reacts to those foods.

Forbidden foods on the list may surprise you, such as oranges, strawberries and tomatoes. Many people react to foods like these without even realizing it. The good news is that there are a ton of options on the foods that are allowed.

Before you start thinking that this is going to be a book that just tells you what you can and can’t eat, worry not – it is so much more than that. The Conscious Cleanse gives you a rounded way to take care of yourself in every way, body and mind. It is a commitment to build up to slow change, and includes ways to slowly remove foods and beverages from your diet, rather than shock your system.

Full disclosure, we were a little daunted at the thought of giving up caffeine while on the cleanse, but we transitioned slowly off of it. We were surprised at the difference we saw just from reducing caffeine: *more* energy, more calm, less stress and less stress eating.

Here is a recipe that is the perfect example of the delicious dishes that fit within the cleanse.

Sherpa Spinach Dip

4 cups spinach
1 large avocado, halved and pitted
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 small clove minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon curry
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon fresh peeled and chopped ginger
A dash of cayenne
Sea salt to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Serve immediately with carrot sticks.

Get your own copy of the Conscious Cleanse, and let us know what you think!

conscious cleanse

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