Portobello-Sandwich

 Lately I was taking a visit in the main city of switzerland - Bern. Years ago I used to go there for school (Job-reason) and every once a time for shopping. Just love this city. 

Knowing that there have opend some vegan stores and small "restaurants", I haven't discovered yet - I traveled up there - a little out of the citycenter. Just curious what to find there. 

I was really surprise - and I spend too much money. Back in the citycenter, I was hungry so I had a look out where I could get some vegan-food. After asking aroung I found a Cafeteria. 

Enjoying a great Sandwich - made with Portobello - Just had to ask how the sandwich have been made. 

Of couse they didn't told me really recipe - but they gave me hint how to prepare. I wrote everything down, as fast as I could on my palm - left. 

Back at home, after a few tries I could prepare a similar sandwich - tasting great as had.  

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Portobello-Sandwich

Portobello mushrooms are the steaks of the vegetarian world. Here, they’re marinated, roasted and sliced for a meaty sandwich filling. 

Serves 4 

30 minutes or fewer 

2 large portobello mushrooms, stemmed
2 Tbs. prepared balsamic vinaigrette
8 tsp. melted vegan margarine or olive oil
2 Tbs. finely chopped parsley
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
8 slices whole-grain bread
vegan-cheddar, sliced, use any you like
1 cup arugula

Preheat oven to 250°C. 
Clean mushrooms and brush with vinaigrette and place on a baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes, turning once. Slice into 1 cm thick strips. 

In a Bowl stir together margarine, parsley, and garlic. Brush 4 bread slices with half of margarine mixture, and set margarine side down on the baking sheet. 

Sprinkle cheese shreds among bread slices on the baking sheet. Top with the brushed mushroom strips, then with arugula. Cover with remaining 4 bread slices. Brush sandwich tops with the remaining margarine mixture. 

Heat large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Cook sandwiches in skillet for 4 minutes, or until browned and crisp. Flip, and cook 3 minutes more, or until second side is browned. 

Take out, serve and enjoy!

Vegan Smoked Paprika Cheese - Soy and Nutfree

Last weekend I defenetly went crazy. I don't  know which monkeys road myself that I made Three different cheeses. Well I eat cheese but that big amount at once. Anyway - most is in my fridge for other occasions - always good to have something on hand when needed. 

I haven't liked the real un-vegan cheese - and so do I with the vegan one - don't know what exactly disturbs me about it, but I like my own made cheese and that all that matters.

On the weekend I've probabelly the best one!

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Vegan Smoked Paprika Cheese - Soy and Nutfree

Ingredients:
Chees ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup oats
1 cup sweet Potato, steamed until soft
1 whole roasted red Pepper
0.5 cup Nutritional Yeast
1 tbsp. smoked Paprika
2,5 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
2 tbsp. Lemon juice
1 cup extra Water for over the top of the mixture in your blender

Agar Agar thickener:
1,3 cups water
2,5 tbsp. Agar Agar powder

Preparation:
You will need a good high powerful blender or food processor for the main ingredients.

Add all the cheese ingredients - beginning with the water, powders (light first), and top with the heavy ingredients and finish with about 1/2-1 Cup water. This will help the mixture start to process. 

Blend until you have nice smooth creamy mixture. Quick taste and set aside.

Now prepare the Agar Agar. In a medium saucepan add water and Agar Agar, bring the mixture to a boil while constantly stirring, then turn down the heat to low and keep stirring until the mixture gets into thick creamy consistency. 
When ready quickly transfer it to the cheese mixture in the blender and blend well trough till all the Agar Agar is dissolved and mixture homogenous.

Pour the mixture in clean favorite moulds or plastic container or what ever you like. Flatten the top surface to get a flat bottom when you turn it over. 

Give the moulds, container in the fridge for at least 1 hour till ready to take out and turn over to serve. (Mine was fast ready).

When serving - loosen the sides of the moulds, container with a fork, put a platter on top and turn over - tadada

Finish, now all you have to do is eating and enjoying. 

NOTE: The cheese can be very well shredded or grated!

Chickpea-Tofu

When I got vegan all I knew was the tofu - well this is quite a time ago. 

Times passed and I tasted different meat-replacers and the tofu amount went back. Every once a while I still bought it as more different tastes came up and the tofu went back into my kitchen. Still not the big amount.

I often thought about making my own tofu and the first few times I completely failed. Either the taste or the consistence. 

Anyway. And suddenly there happened that I had the chance to taste Chickpea-Tofu and though the taste is different I liked it. I asked a little bit about it was made and now I made my own Chickpea-Tofu.

Great I have to say. And when you fry it the taste is even better!

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Chickpea-Tofu

8 Servings

Ingredients:
3 Cups Besan (chickpeaflour)
8 cups water
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil or unsalted butter
1 tsp. tumeric powder
1/3 Tbsp. salt
1/3 Tbsp. ginger powder

Preparation:
In a medium pot bring 5 cups of water with 2 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. vegetable oil to a boil.

Meanwhile whisk Besan flour, 3 cups water, turmeric, ginger and salt in a mixing bowl.

Take a 32x22x5 cm baking dish and rub with 1 tsp. of oil. 

When the water is boiling pour in the Besan mixture and quickly whisk for 5 to 7 min. while it's cooking (maybe season if necessary). 

Turn off the heat and pour into the prepared baking dish. Tap the dish even, as well as some bubbles. Cover with plastic and make sure that the plastic touches the surface, this will ensure that the tofu will not form a skin. 
Place in the refrigerator for 4 hours (or more if needed) to chill. 

When ready to eat, peel of the plastic wrap - lay a flat plate on top and turn over to release the tofu from the baking dish. 

Vegetable Prussiens

As a child I only knew the sweet prussiens (french) cookies. Its made from pastry dough and in some part of switzerland they are known as "pig-ears".

Filled with chopped vegetables or whatever you like you will get a spiced or even herbed versions. The first I had the change to try was about 2 years ago. So simple and till then I didn't even think of it preparing them herbed or spiced..... 

This snack or appetizer is so great and so simple. 

Go ahead and try different fillings. 

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Vegetable Prussiens

Spicy Version

Baking paper for the sheet
1 rectangular rolled out butter puff pastry, about 340 g

Ingredients:
Filling:
250 g fine chopped mixed vegetables, such as Pumpkin, leek, celery and Chinese cabbage
1 clove garlic, crushed
Oil
Salt and pepper
1 tsp. vegan sauce thickener (instead of the egg)
1-2 Tbsp. nutrional yeast  (instead of the grated cheese, of course you can use vegan cheese, I just had non)

OR FOR A SPICIER VERSION:
1 red and 1 yellow pepper,chopped
2 onions, chopped
150 g Tomatopaste
some dash off Tabasco
cayenne pepper

Direction:
For the filling, steam the chopped vegetables and garlic in oil, cover, maybe add some water, until soften. Turn off the heat and let the vegetable cool down.

Lay the dough flat. Mix the vegetable with the sauce thickener and nutrional yeast. Spread the filling on the dough. Roll up dough from the longer two sides towards the center, moisten with some oil or soymilk to gently stick together.
Cut dough roll carefully with a wet knive into 6-8 mm wide Prussiens, place them on the baking paper sheet .

Bake the Prussiens in the middle rack of the 220 C  preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. 

Serve the Prussiens hot, warm or cold. Eiter just as a snack or for your next running party....

For the spicier version:
Mix the chopped vegetables with the Tomatopaste and season with Tabasco and cayenne pepper (as desired, how spicy you want them). Tip:
The Prussiens can be served as a appetizer, add for salads, soups or as a snack.

Filled beetroot-cucumbercups

On the third day of christmas I had my parents over for dinner. And I wanted to serve them something special and decorative. 

For the entree I wanted to make something decorative and good tasting - something not daily eaten. And so it came. 

Beside they look so great the taste do it same. The original recipe called for cream cheese, but I changed that, cause I had no natural cream cheese at home and buying one just for that I didn't wanted. As horseraddish compares very well with Beetroots and give them an additional taste, I've done so. 

My parents loved them and my mother said, that she will serve them on New Year's Day. Glad to give her an Idea.

If your still thinking what you could serve for an appetizer or snack on your New Years Day - how about these??

Enjoy them!

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Beetroot-Cucumbercups

3-4 Persons

Ingredients:
1 saladcucumber
1 small precooked beetroot
1 Tbsp. or more horseraddish
2-3 tsp. vegan soyjoghurt
agave nectar
salt, pepper

some cress for decoration

Preparation:
Wash and peel the cucumber, then cut into about 3 cm thick rolls. Hollow out the center for getting cups. 

Preheat salted water and cook the cucumbercups for 30 seconds. Then give immediately into iced waters.

For the beetrootfilling. Cut Beetroot very small and mix with horseraddish, give the soyjoghurt in and taste with agave nectar and season with salt and pepper.

Take the cucumbercubs and fill with the beetroot mixture and decorate with cress and serve on a bed of cress and  with whatever you wish so. 

NOTE: I served them along with a salad for a entree, but they goe very well for Party snack.

Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad Sandwich

The time before Christmas is always fully loaded with "to do's". Neither does I. On the free time I run from one place to another. 

So was the yesterdays afternoon. As I knew that I would have rarely time for a big lunchtime I made a sandwich fully packed with vitamins and power. Just right what I needed and some greens aside always goes fast. 

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Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad Sandwich

Ingredients:

1 can chickpeas or garbanzo beans
1 large ripe avocado
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
Juice from 1 lime
Salt and pepper, to taste
Bread of your choice
Fresh spinach leaves or other sandwich toppings: lettuce, tomato slices, sprouts, etc.

Preparation:
Rinse and drain the chickpeas well. Place on a paper towel and by rubbing remove the outer skins. You can leave them on, but I like them removed. It's kind of work, but better - I found. 

Give in a medium bowl and by using a fork or potato masher smash the chickpeas and avocado together. Add the copped cilantro, green onion, and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Spread salad on your piece of bread and top with your favorite green sandwich toppings.

Note: This salad also makes a great dip. Serve with cut up veggies, crackers, or pita chips. Also, this salad is best eaten the day it is made because it will turn brown due to the avocado.

Damn good crunchy Edamameflutes

Finaly I got time to post. Too much going on. 

Prehead I have to say, that I really do love Edamame as a snack sprinkled with the asian togarashi salt as I eat the most of the time. 

Knowing that they can be eaten warm as well, I made a little bit of thinking how to prepare them. (In fact since a long time lays a frozen 1 kg pack Edamame in the frigde and I want to clean the fridge - eating it up) and so this Dish happend. 

A great dish I have to say, unpossible to not like it. Perfect as a side with a salad, or as a appetizer as well as a main dish served with Thai Rice. 

You can use fresh or frozen Edamame, but if you use frozen ones I would recommed to unfroze them over night. But If you don't want to wait you can use the unfrozen ones as well of course. The result - I guess will be the same. 

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Damn good crunchy Edamameflutes/ rolls

Appetizer for 4 Persons 

makes 12 rolls

Ingredients:

about 800 g frozen Edamame (pulled about 400g)

Almond-nutrional yeast-glaze instead of cheese   (recipe below) 

salt and pepper (additional spicy if wanted)

1 pack (120 g) filopastry (can't find any translated word in the web for "strudel"). 

3 Tbsp. Oil

1 Tbsp. sesam seeds

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Almond-Nutritionalyeast-sauce (cold stirred)

6 Tbsp. Almondmus

200 ml Soymilk

3 tsp. vegetable broth powder

6 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

pinches of sweet pepperpowder, curcuma and pepper

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients to a thick sauce

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Dipping-Sauce:

1 Lime

4 Tbsp. Soysauce, Tamari etc.

1 Tbsp. Mirin

Agavenectar for end-tasting (I added about 1 Tbsp.)

Preparation:

Defroze Edamame over night (you can use frozen ones as well, if you don't wanna way)

and cock for about 5-6 min in boiling water. Drain and drain with cold water. Pull (press) out the beans. Coarsely chop either shortly with your blender or by hand. Stir under Almondmus and season with spices. 

Preheat oven up to 220°C, Unfold the filo and oil between the two lays, cut each part of filohalfs into six rectangels. 

On the smaller side down give about 2 Tbsp. of edamamemus and carefully roll up. Lay on baking sheet, brush with remaining oil, sprinkle with sesamseeds and bake in the middle of the oven for about 15 min. 

Meanwhile prepare the sauce for dipping:

Finely rub limepeel and Squeeze lime juice and mix with soy sauce, mirin. Season with agavenectar.

Back at home and in the kitchen

Back from vacation down in Croatia. 

I spend one great week on a vegan Cruisetrip in Croatia. In fact it was my first and defenetly not my last one, as I was never on holidays like this. And all I can say - when ever you'll see or find something comparing - Take part!!!

The Ship was about 30 meters long and 8 meters wide. 

We were about 29 guests and a crew of 8 persons. The people on the boat were all so friendly and we had good time together. 

The food they served was very good - some food I never had or tried before, but I knew I would try it out later at home. 

The vegan cook (a women) sold two vegan cookbooks and in there I found some recipes she served us - I immediately bought them. 
Unfortunatly - as every holidays - the week was too fast over.

When I came home on Saturday morning, first I felt like a stranger in my apartment. But this past after a while. 

After I unpacked my backpack and before unpacking my luggage I went for groceries and back at home I put myself into kitchen - trying food from the cookbook I've eaten on the boat.

For first I looked trough the book what else I could prepare. To begin with I started with a cheese I ate on the boat (breakfast). SO GOOD!

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Vegan Pimentocheese 

Ingredients:
100 g red pepper, deseeded
375 ml water
2 tsp. Agar-Agar

90 Cashews
2 Tbsp. sesamseeds
1 1/2 tsp. seasalt or normal salt
2 tsp. onionpowder
1/3 tsp. carlicpowder
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
2 tsp. lemonjuice

Preparation:
Clean red pepper and cut into cubes. Pour water in a small pan and add pepper and Agar-Agar and let it cook for 5 minutes. (beware from overcooking). 

Meanwhile blend the rest of ingredients in your blender, add the cooked pepper, including the water and blend again till smooth. 

Oil a form and pour the liquid into the form and place in the refrigerator. 

After cooled down, the cheese can be overthrown and sliced.

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Bread Salad with Beens, Peach and Onions 

4 Persons

Ingredients:

400 g green Beens

salt

200 g old bread

0.5 dl vegetable broth

3 Tbsp. vinegar

1 bay leaf

2 peaches

1 red onion

4 Tbsp. Oil

pepper

100 g green salad of your favorite

black olives

Preparation:

First cook beans in salted water till soft. When done drain well and pour cold water over them. Cut into 2 cm wide pieces. 

Cut bread into large cubes. 

In a frying pan without fat lightly fry the bread.

In a saucepan bring vegetable broth, vinegar and bay leaf to a boil and turn off the heat. 

Cut the peaches in half, remove the stone and cut into slices. Peel and quarter the onion and with some little oil sauté for 2 minutes, add sliced peach and sauté briefly.

Mix with the bread and the beans, pour over cooked vinegar and the left oil, mix everything well and season with salt and pepper. 

Let the salad stand for 15 min before serving (to soak up the spices). Then serve on green salad, serve with black olives. 

Enjoy!

Vegan Mini Pepper Nachos with Corn, Beans and Avocado

Yesterday -  sunday - I was invited to a friends house for grilling. I made a lot of things, such as the Mango-Dip, a spicy Vegan BBQ Sauce, a vegan Aioli, a Gazpacho Salad AND those Mini Pepper Nachos. I made them the first time and they where very good - just tricki to fill as they where so small. Luckely they widend in the oven during grilling. 

It was the first time I saw mini peppers at the market and I brought them before nowing I was invited. And first I thought about letting them just topped and deseeded and then filled, but when the Invitation came I changed my mind. 

Everybody really liked them - a kind of different and much more healthy snack. 

Luckely the weather staid good - cause we had a week passed with rain nearly every day and the temperature lowered pretty much. 

But on Sunday the temperature rised just right up to be comfortable being outside with just one time a little rain. 

We had a really great evening - though my friend can't eat spicy and some of my prepared food was a little to spicy for her and she didn't tried. I was so sorry, I haven't really knowed it..........

Anyway the Nachos she really loved ;)

Note: Some recipe from my other prepared food - I will post some not as I haven't made pictures. Sorry

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Mini Pepper Nachos with Corn, Beans and Avocado

20 min
4 Servings

Sweet mini peppers nachos filled with lots goods such as pico de gallo, avocado, beans and vegan shredded cheese.

Ingredients: Pico de Gallo
2 cups tomatoes (seeded and chopped)      
1/4 cup onion (chopped) 
1 jalapenos (seeded and chopped) 
1 clove garlic (chopped) 
1 lime (juice) 
1 heaped handful cilantro (chopped) 
salt and pepper to taste 



Preparation:
Mix everything. 

Ingredients filled peppers:
1 small (200g) can of corns
1 small can (200g) of black beans, drained (or just a can of peas)
about 200-230 g Pico de gallo 
1 medium avocado, diced
salt and pepper 
500 g mini peppers, halved and de-seeded
1 cup vegan shredded cheese (or use a nacho sauce)
1 springonion chopped or cilantro for garnish. 

Preparation:
Preheat the oven up to 180 °C. 

Mix the drained beans, corn and pico de gallo and the diced avocado and springonion, season with salt and pepper (to get it spicier use some Cayennepepper or chilipowder). 

Arrange the prepared peppers on a baking sheet, fill them with the filling and then sprinkle over the vegan shredded cheese (or your nacho-sauce) and grill for about 20 min. The peppers should be soft and the cheese melted. 

Serve with a sauce such as a vegan sour cream or eat them plain as they are. 

Sprouts-Avocado-Wraps

A few days ago, late at ten in the night, I bought a Falafel "dürüm"-wrap at a Fast-Food-Corner. 
I already haddinner at a further education with my boss. But somehow I felt like a little hungry on my way back home. I stood there a while hesitating of taking the falafel wrap - probably not completly vegan, then I gave myself a nudge and bought one (guess the sauce is not vegan). And as I asked for not too much sauce, I did not felt ashamed eating unvegan. It was astonishing good - well too big and too much at this time, but it stilled my hunger. Defently going to be eaten again - even in the city AND at home. 

And so it came, but with another ingredients (for this time). 

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It's always fun to eat with your hands - especially when it's summer and hot outside -  right? Today's such a day - sometimes you only sweat by doing nothing special, just sitting on the balcony - in the shadow of course.

But, still my stomach called for something and sandwich or alike would do it right away.

Well, only one thing missed in my cupboard - sandwichbread.. But sandwichbread I eat often enought, so switched to wraps - bigger but not so "bready".

Well, it was As I hadn't plant this wrap I used what I had on hand - and sprouts and fresh herbs, salad I always got on hand, I also got a avocado which I bought originally for filling and roasting, but would be perfect for this wrap.

If I would have had some fresh tomatoes leftover, I would have cut them into pieces and wrap in it as well, but I already used them for precooking dinner. 

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Sprouts-Avocado-Wraps

4 Persons
30 min

Ingredients:
1 chilli pepper
½ lemon
½ bunch of coriander
2 soft avocados
Salt and pepper
100 g Lettuce
1 red onion
400 g of flour
6 dl mineral water
2 tablespoons oil
100 g vegan creme fraîche
50 g of alfalfa sprouts
4 tablespoons sprouts Power-Mix

Preparation
Cut chili lengthwise in half, remove seeds and chop. Squeez a lemon. Chop the coriander. Cut Avocados in half, remove the stone. Solve flesh from the shell. Mix well into a cream with lemon juice, chilli and coriander. Season with salt and pepper. 

Cut the Lettuce into thin strips, the onion into rings.

For the tortillas give flour in a bowl. Pour in mineral water, stir everything with a whisk to a smooth batter. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 

In a hot nonsticking pan add the oil. With a little ladle give in some dough. Swirl the pan to leak the dought thin in the whole pan. Bake Tortilla until golden brown on both sides over medium heat. 

This way bake 8 tortillas. 
Take one tortilla, spread some cream and avocado cream on the bottom. Layer with the lettuce, onion and sprinkle with sprouts. 

Roll the tortilla tidily together - closing the lower end (to beware from dripping out filling).

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Yummy Tofuballs

Pentecost and we're having hot weather like we never had at pentacost since about 1950. Most times it rains. 

Great, but sweating! That doesn't stop myself from the kitchen- sweating......

Today's produce are if hot or cold, as snack, for a party or for kids. Maybe even to pasta, you see very vesitable using 
(but for pasta I would recommend to use 3 Tbsp. breadcrumbs in the "dought", otherwise they will fall apart!!!)

Crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside - great! (Though I don't really like breaded stuff, but those...)

Everyone I let try found it great! Even Omnivores and that will mean something. AND again I could give a giveaway for the owner of the Bakery-Snack-shop at my working village, trying and see if they will offer for lunch (how ever he will serve with).

It's been the third times I got the change, though a time ago, he almost stop myself from bringing by new vegan to try. I was overwellming him.

A few days ago he asked what I got new on hand, I a proposed the balls and all he said "sounds good - will try"

NOW it's up to you to decide how you like them ;)

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Yummy Tofuballs

Ingredients:

Tofu balls:
1 clove of garlic 
200 grams tofu nature | corresponding to the small standard pack  see NOTE
2 tbsp chickpea flour 
1.5 tbsp nutritional yeast 
1 heaped tablespoons of breadcrumbs 
1 heaped tsp spicy mustard 
2 heaped tbsp. of tomato paste 
1 tsp sweet paprika 
1 tsp carob powder 
1-2 tbsp water 
Dried marjoram, finely chopped
Some fresh, chopped parsley 

Salt and mixed pepper from the mill

Preparation:
Peel and finely chop the garlic.

Open the tofu and in a bowl and crush it with fork. Add garlic, parsely and the left ingredients and crush all well together into a smooth paste. Season pretty well with salt and pepper from the mill. Mash well.

Pour 3-4 Tbsp. breadcrumbs in bowl, from the tofu form little balls and turn it in the breadcrumbs till all is well covered with a crust. 

In a frying pan with oil, roast the tofuballs at medium to low heat golden and crunchy. (If you roast them at high heat they will turn too fast brown and the inside won't be enough cooked). 

Note: The balls goes also good with Gingertofu (as my first made ones, softer).

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Pepper-Ketchup

Ingredients:
2 red peppers 
1 onion 
1 clove of garlic 
Thyme, salt, pepper 
some chili (if you like) 
1 tablespoon sugar (if you like) 

1 tablespoon tomato paste

Preparation:
Wash, half and deseed peppers. Place on a bakingtray and roast in the preheated oven till the skins turn black. Take out and let cool, then peel off the skins. 

Chop the peppers and onion.

Heat oil in a frying pan and fry peppers with onion in the pan until the onion is translucent. Now press the garlic and add to it and pour everything with a little water (or vegetable stock) - but only that much that the vegetables are just covered with water. Add a pinch of thyme (about 1 tsp). 

Simmer all until all the water has evaporated. The best time to try whether the peppers are already nice and soft, if not let simmer with a little bit of water or broth a few more minutes. 

Decant everything into a tall mug and puree with an immersion blender. Wisk 1 Tbsp. tomato paste with 1 - 2 Tbsp. of water, add to the peppers and puree under, stir everything well and season with salt and pepper. 


Fill in small bottles and serve the next barbecue party ... or like I with the tofuballs ;)