Vegan Tofu Sheet Pan Fajitas

Serves 4

I love a sheet pan meal. The simplicity of everything cooked together. This is a great meal if you are new to eating plant-based or incorporating tofu into your meals. Tofu is a blank slate - you need to add flavour. This meal uses tofu in a very familiar way - fajitas! Let me be transparent here. We aren’t claiming that this is an authentic Mexican meal. We’re using the familiar, and delicious, flavour inspiration to create an approachable, simple, tasty, vegan meal using tofu. Enjoy!

Sheet Pan Fajitas Ingredients

2 bell peppers (cut in strips)

1-2 jalapeno peppers (cut in circles)

Half a red onion (sliced)

8-10 cremini mushrooms (sliced)

1 block tofu (cut in small 1-inch cubes)

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon taco seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

12 corn tortillas (for serving)

Top with your favourites! Fresh salsa, guacamole, cilantro, or hot sauce (or sour cream for a non-vegan option)

Sheet Pan Fajitas Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and prepare a large baking sheet.

2. Add the vegetables and tofu to a large bowl and toss with olive oil, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper

3. Spread the vegetables out on the prepared baking sheet and bake for around 25 minutes (until tender and browned), stirring halfway.

4. Assemble the fajita filling into the tortillas and enjoy with toppings of your choice!

Low Sugar Hot Cocoa (Vegan Option)

Makes 1 mug 

I’ve been sharing this recipe with a lot of clients lately and they’ve found it the perfect warm, comforting solution. So, I wanted to share it with you. This recipe is so simple that it barely qualifies as a recipe. But I wanted to share it because it’s a great way to satisfy a sugar craving with barely any sugar. It makes a hot cocoa that my fellow dark chocolate lovers will enjoy.

Use this as a technique more than a recipe. Adjust it to suit your tastes. For example, make it vegan by using a plant-based milk alternative and maple syrup. Want a stronger chocolatey flavour? Use more cocoa powder (or do the opposite if you want it weaker). Like orange chocolate? Try adding a drop or two of orange blossom water. Want to get the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric that made golden milk so popular a number of years back? Add some, along with the black pepper to activate the anti-inflammatory compounds. For the photos, we jazzed it up with some whipped cream and some chocolate shavings.  

Low Sugar Hot Cocoa Ingredients

1 mug milk of your choice (dairy, oat, soy, etc)

Scant 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

½ teaspoon sugar (or sweetener of your choice)

Options:

2 drops orange blossom water

1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder and a small pinch of black pepper

Top with whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping 

Low Sugar Hot Cocoa Directions

1. In a small saucepan on medium heat, add the milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and other optional ingredients.

2. Warm, stirring frequently, until steam rises from the saucepan.

3. Enjoy!

Looking for something cold and chocolatey and low added sugar? Check out this super simple recipe for chocolate banana popsicles

Photo credit: Olivia Dodsworth

Vegan Chili

In my opinion, everyone should have a great chili recipe in their repertoire. As my Grandmother would say, It’s the perfect cold day “stick to your ribs” food. Chili is also a filling and delicious way to incorporate more plant-based foods and beans/lentils into your eating habits.

This chili, that fantastic dietetic student Olivia has created, takes a twist with coconut milk. Thank you Olivia!

Vegan Chili Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1 white onion (chopped)

3 garlic cloves (minced)

2 stalks celery (chopped)

1 bell pepper (chopped)

½  jalapeno pepper

19 oz can chickpeas

14oz can kidney beans

14 oz can lentils

14oz canned tomatoes

¾ cup coconut milk

1 cup veggie broth

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp paprika

cilantro (optional)

avocado (optional)

toast for dipping (optional)

Vegan Chili Directions

1. Chop the onion, garlic, celery, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan on medium heat.

3. Add the garlic and onion. Sautee for 5 minutes.

4. Add the celery, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper. Sautee for another 5 minutes.

5. Add the beans, lentils, tomatoes, vegetable broth, and spices. Simmer for at least 30 minutes.

6. Add the coconut milk and stir.

7. Optional: Top with cilantro and avocado.

8. Optional: Serve with a slice of sourdough toast.

9. Enjoy!

Recipe and photo credit: Olivia Dodsworth.

Vegan "Butter Chicken" (Without the Butter or the Chicken)

This is a warm, comforting dish - perfect for dark, cold nights. Don’t be confused by the recipe’s name. It’s vegan - i.e. there’s no butter, chicken, or cream. In this recipe, we’re using tofu instead of the chicken, olive oil instead of the butter, and cashews instead of the cream. But, butter chicken’s flavour profile is the inspiration for this dish so we wanted to keep the name so you would know what to expect.

FODMAP rating: High FODMAP

Vegan Butter Chicken Ingredients

 ½ cup raw cashews

½ cup vegetable broth

½ cup water

¼ cup tomato paste

1 tbsp olive oil

1-inch fresh ginger

3 garlic cloves

1 medium white onion

1 tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garam masala

1 tbsp chili flakes (optional)

1 tbsp maple syrup

Salt and pepper to taste

 1 cup raw brown rice

2 cups water

¼ cup cilantro for garnish

 1 block of extra firm tofu (this is crucial to get that chicken texture)

Half head of cauliflower

Vegan Butter Chicken Directions

1. Soak cashews in warm water for one hour to soften. Blend to form a cashew cream.

2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

3. Press the tofu with a paper towel to release the water.

4. Cut the tofu into bite-size pieces. Toss it in a large bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the tofu on a baking sheet.

5. Wash and cut the cauliflower into bite-size pieces. Toss in a large bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on the baking sheet with the tofu and bake for 20-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.

6. In a small pot, combine 1 cup of brown rice with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low until all the water evaporates.

7. Finely chop the garlic, onion, and ginger.

8. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Sautee the onion, garlic, and ginger (about 5 minutes). Add the seasonings.

9. Add the tomato paste, cashew cream, and vegetable broth while stirring constantly to prevent sticking to the bottom of the saucepan (and burning).

10. Add the roasted tofu and cauliflower. Simmer for 10 minutes then taste, adding more salt and pepper if needed.

11. Serve over brown rice and garnish with cilantro.

 Enjoy!

Looking for more plant-based recipes? Check out Zucchini and Sundried Tomato Tempeh Pasta.

Recipe and photo credit: Olivia Dodsworth. Thank you Olivia!

Harvest Quinoa Salad

Harvest Quinoa Salad Ingredients

1 large sweet potato, diced (peel on)

½ tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup raw quinoa

1 cup water

2 cups chopped kale (stem removed)

1 large apple or pear, diced (peel on)

¼ cup thinly sliced red onion 

¼ cup dried cranberries

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

1/3 cup feta cheese or goat cheese (or vegan cheese)

 

Harvest Quinoa Salad Dressing Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil

2 ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 ½ tsp Dijon mustard

¾ tsp honey (use maple syrup for a vegan option)

1 garlic clove

Salt and pepper to taste

Harvest Quinoa Salad Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Combine 1/2 cup quinoa and 1 cup of water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Once boiled, reduce heat and cover until all the water is evaporated. Approximately 15 minutes. Allow to cool.

3. Meanwhile, dice the sweet potato and place in a medium bowl.

4. Toss the sweet potato with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast on a baking sheet for 30 minutes, flipping halfway. Allow to cool.

5. Wash and chop the kale, apple/pear, and onion. Add to a large bowl with the cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and cheese. Once the sweet potato and quinoa are cooled, add them in as well.

6. For the dressing, blend all ingredients until smooth and pour over the salad.

Enjoy!

Recipe and photo by Olivia Dodsworth. Thank you Olivia! 

Click here for another delicious salad that includes kale and yams/ sweet potato.