Coco-Almond Quinoa Risotto with Saffron Mushroom Gravy

Just reading the name of this recipe makes my mouth water with how good it was!!!! To me this was perfect date/impress/romantic/thank goodness for leftovers food.

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Coco-Almond Quinoa Risotto with Saffron Coconut Mushroom Gravy
recipe from kblog.lunchboxbunch.com
makes 8-9 cups (lots of leftovers – half recipe to serve just a few, but if you are like me make the whole thing!)
Risotto:
4 ounces coconut milk
8 ounces almonds, sliced
2 cups scallions, sliced (1 bunch)
16 ounces quinoa, dry (about 2 1/2 cups) – rinsed
5 1/2 cups water
1-2 Tbsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 cup white mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 tsp herbed sea salt

Gravy:
8 ounces coconut milk
2 Tbsp maple syrup
2-3 Tbsp nutritional yeast, pinch salt
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 1/2 cups sliced white mushrooms
a spoonful of cooked quinoa risotto
1/2 tsp saffron (optional)
add a splash of water if you’d like a thinner gravy

1. Using a large pot – bring your water and a pinch of salt to a strong boil. Add the rinsed quinoa. Cover with a small vent and allow to boil for 10-12 minutes on med-high heat.

2. When the ten minutes is up, remove the lid completely from the large quinoa pot. Not all the liquid will be absorbed. Add in: all your almond, scallions and a splash of coconut milk. Also grind in some fresh pepper.

3. Stir with a wooden spoon and turn the heat down a bit. The ingredients will begin to absorb more of the liquid and a thick risotto will begin to form.

4. Next add in the nutritional yeast, maple syrup (just a splash), garlic powder and risotto mushrooms. Continue folding the quinoa until a moist thick consistency forms. Like a very thick oatmeal. Turn heat off and begin spooning the quinoa out of the pot and into a serving/storage bowl. You can also begin plating your quinoa.

5. In the same pot, you will make the gravy. It’s OK if some of the quinoa ( a few spoonfuls) remains in the pot. This will help to thicken your gravy.

6. For gravy: add all the gravy ingredients and stir on medium until sauce thickens. Allow saffron to bloom. Remove from heat and spoon gravy over top plated quinoa – or transfer to a gravy serving bowl.

7. Plate your risotto and then add the gravy. Garnish with fresh pepper and plenty of mushrooms from the gravy. ENJOY!!

Plated Risotto

Plated Risotto

Risotto

Risotto

Gravy

Gravy

Super Simple and Fast Chia Pudding

I always love Chia and the kiddos adore it! Such a great breakfast or snack! I normally get a little fancier with the recipes (here are a few of them that I have made Chia Seed Pudding, Sweet Double Coconut Chia Pudding, Holiday Chia Pudding, and Banana Date Chia Pudding.) but this one is still super good and really fast and easy to make :) Love that too!

Super Simple and Fast Chia Pudding
1 cup chia seeds
3 cups nut milk, coconut milk, or hemp milk
3 to 5 tablespoons agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 /4 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt

Place the chia seeds, vegan milk, agave, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a bowl and stir well with a fork, so there are no clumps and all the chia seeds are coated in milk. Let this sit at room temperature for 10 and stir again. Then cover and refrigerate. This pudding will keep well in the refrigerator for days.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites

I have always loved to entertain but haven’t had the space in so long, especially the last year with 4 of us in a 1-bedroom apartment! But now that we have moved and have a bit more space, we are able to have more people over. And that means fun food for me :) We are still new here but expect to see a bunch of party appetizers/HD’s/1-biters in the near future!

These were super good and went fast! They are a bit gooey to work with so next time I might add more thickener but no one was complaining :) My mom tried them out and brought them right away to a party that weekend. See below for her changes as well.

With Chocolate - to us this really wasn't optional :)

With Chocolate – to us this really wasn’t optional :)

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites
recipe from namelymarly.com

1 cup Rice Chex
1 cup potato flakes
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened Vegan Butter (aka, Earth Balance margarine)
1 cup powdered sugar (less if you used sweetened peanut butter)
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
1 – 2 cups dark chocolate chips, plus more for melting and dipping

Pulse Rice Chex and instant mashed potatoes in a food processor until fairly pulverized. It doesn’t have to be flour-like, but in the neighborhood.
Add the peanut butter and softened Vegan Butter. Pulse for a few more seconds until everything is blended.
Add the powdered sugar and ground flax seed and pulse a few more times to mix it together.
Transfer the dough into a medium lidded bowl. Add the chocolate chips and stir so they’re evenly incorporated.
Put the lid on the bowl and place it in the fridge for a minimum of an hour so the dough firms up a bit. (makes it so much easier to work with!) Take tablespoon size pieces and roll into balls.

Optional – Double Boil chocolate and dip. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Naked Balls

Naked Balls

My mom’s changes:

She used some almond butter also, instead of all peanut butter, added about 1/4 cup extra potato flakes to make a thicker batter,  used ground sunflower seeds and fiber one instead of chex. She didn’t dip into chocolate- just put a dollop of melted chocolate on each and swirled a little with back of my spoon.
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Vegan Creamy Polenta with Sausage and Peppers

Sausage and Peppers (vegan style of course) has always been the ultimate comfort food meal for me. But I think I totally stepped it up by adding super creamy and deelish polenta. The perfect combo! I would say make more of this one as it will go super fast!

Another Vegan Sausage and Peppers recipe :)

Vegan Creamy Polenta with Sausage and Peppers

  • 2 packages vegan sausage, sliced 1/2″ rounds (My favorites are Field Roast and Tofurkey)
  • 1 sweet onion, sliced thin
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bell pepper, sliced (I don’t like green peppers so I always use red, yellow or orange – but your preference)
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • 1/4 teaspoon fennel
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • Creamy Polenta, recipe below
  1. Saute sausage over medium heat until well browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
  2. Over medium-high heat, saute the onion in olive oil about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and saute a minute more.
  3. Add the wine to deglaze the pan, Simmer until the wine has reduced by half. Add the peppers, fennel, salt and pepper, cooking about 3 minutes more until the peppers are tender but still brightly colored. Add the sausage back in and mix.
  4. Serve with creamy polenta.

Creamy Polenta

  • 4 2/3 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup vegan cream cheese
  1. Add the water and salt to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  2. Add the cornmeal, whisking to break up any lumps.
  3. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring periodically.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in the vegan cream cheese. Serve & Enjoy!

Pecan Miso Soba

This makes a big bowl of noodles, so you could always half the recipe if you don’t want so much. But this is such a deelish recipe it might be good to have leftovers or just more people to feed! Such a simple sauce to whip up but with such a complex flavor. I am sure this sauce would be amazing sauteed up with some veggies or just drizzled over steamed veggies. Yum!

Pecan Miso Soba Recipe
Serves 4-6

12 ounces soba noodles
1 small bunch of asparagus, sliced thinly, 1/4-inch thick
1 1/2 cup pecans, toasted
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 medium clove garlic, peeled
6 tablespoons mellow white miso paste
6 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3 teaspoon agave
2 big pinches salt (or to taste)

  1. Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook the soba as directed.
  2. 30 seconds before the pasta is done, add the asparagus to the pot and then drain the noodles and asparagus together.
  3. Toss with about 1/2-whole recipe of the sauce – adding more to taste. I ended up using most of the dressing.

Pecan Miso Sauce

  1. Puree the pecans, olive oil, garlic, miso paste, vinegar, and agave together until smooth. Adding salt to taste.

Tofu and Veggie Stir-fry with Peanut Sauce

Stir-frys are the ultimate quick one-pot vegan meals. Typically it is a super balanced meal with proteins, veggies and a grain. Perfection! Quick, easy, Deelish!

Check out these other stir-frys for a quick meal. You can always get super creative and change it up easily for variations. Thai Vegan Tofu, Quick Seitan Stir-Fry, Super Fast Veggie Stir-frySpinach and Tofu with Peanut Sauce and Rice Noodle and Vegetable Stir-Fry.

Peanut Sauce is my typical go to sauce as we all love it! Check out these other variations on this super deelish sauce. Amazing Raw “Peanut” Sauce and Zucchini Noodles, Cold Sesame Noodles, Mixed Veggies with Peanut Sauce (slow cooker style), Raw Zucchini Noodles and ‘Peanut’ Sauce II, Lettuce Wraps with Almond Butter Sauce and Kelp Noodles & Veggies in Peanut Sauce.

Tofu and Veggie Stir-fry with Peanut Sauce


sauce
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup tamari
3 tablespoons agave
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

veggie stir-fry
3 teaspoons peanut oil or sesame oil
2 blocks extra firm tofu, drained, pressed & cubed
6 cloves garlic, minced
8 scallions, chopped, white and green parts separated
2 jalapenos, minced
2 red pepper, chopped
1 can water chestnuts, sliced
Dash of lime juice or lime wedges
Roasted Peanuts

Cooked Brown Rice

  1. Combine vinegar, tamari, agave and peanut butter and whisk until smooth.
  2. In a skillet or wok, add the oil and saute tofu, garlic, white part of scallions, jalapeno, and red pepper for 2-3 minutes. Add water chestnuts.
  3. Add the sauce and turn heat to low, stirring until combined.
  4. Serve over brown rice, garnished with green part of scallions, peanuts and either lime wedge or drizzled with lime juice.

Eggplant Caponata over Pasta

I always love a bright and vibrant caponata as part of a anti-pasto platter. I figured why not cook one up and use it as a sweet sauce for pasta instead of just a dip. It came out super lovely! I also added garbanzo beans to make it a more substantial and complete meal.

You could also just serve this as a dip with pita wedges or chips.

Eggplant Caponata over Pasta

1 lb angel hair pasta, cooked
1/4 cup golden raisins
1-2 large eggplant, stem removed, and chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of canola oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2-3 tomatoes, diced and seeded
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons capers
1/3 cup parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

  1. Place the raisins in a bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside.
  2. Pour the canola oil into a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the eggplant cubes and cook for 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  3. Turn heat down to medium and pour the remaining tablespoon of oil into the skillet. Add shallots and cook until soft, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for 45 seconds. Then add the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the eggplant back to the skillet and the garbanzo beans. Add the vinegar, raisins, and capers, stir cooking for 2 minutes to cook down the vinegar. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir in the parsley. Let it cool slightly before serving over pasta.

Before adding the garbanzo beans

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