Vegan Adventure

When I started to get curious about Korean food. The first recipe I got interested to is Bulgogi. It is one of the popular dishes in Korea. Bul means (fire ) and Gogi ( cooked meat ) or grilled. But of course I made my vegan version of this recipe. And I find it very easy to prepare and was amazed with the result. I really love its taste. And of course always this kind of recipe is best partner with rice 🙂 . I will now share my preparation for this vegan version of Korean Bulgogi.

Ingredients:

• 150 grms firm tofu (cut cubes )
• 1 eggplant (cut small cubes )
• cut portabello mushroom
• frying oil
• 2tbsp soy sauce
• 1tsp vinegar
• 1tsp sugar
• 1tbsp chilipaste or sriracha sauce
• pinch of salt
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• small amount of crushed ginger
• spring onion
• sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Turn on stove and put frying pan on it. When heated put the frying oil and fry the cut tofu .
2. Fry tofu both sides.. Take them out after frying and set them aside for later use.
3. After frying the tofu, put the cut eggplant and start frying them. Theres no need to add more oil. The oil from frying tofu is enough for frying the eggplant. When the eggplant gets brown in all its sides, add the cut mushrooms and keep mixing until the mushroom gets bit brown, add the crushed garlic and ginger. Mix well.
4. While frying the eggplant and mushroom , in a bowl mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, chilipaste, sesame seeds, salt and sugar. And add this to the mushroom and eggplant.
5. Stir it for short, cover and let it simmer for 5minutes. And then add the fried tofu . Give it a mix until the sauce is well distributed.
6. And its done! Ready to serve, and always best with rice .

Bon Appetit 🙂 …

Craving for something very asian taste? Go for Teriyaki , it is a Japanese cuisine broiled or grilled glazed with a tasty sauce made from mirin, soy sauce, and sugar. I made my version of teriyaki from Seitan, instead of any meat that they originally use for this recipe. But one can also use firm Tofu if one does not like Seitan. The mushrooms adds tastes and textures that make you feel like nothing is missing. So this is completely vegan.

Ingredients:

• 150 grms Seitan or firm Tofu
• frying oil
• 1 onion (sliced)
• mirin or 1/2 lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon soysauce
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon vegetable stock
• cut portabello mushrooms
• pinch of salt
• black pepper
• spring onions ( optional )
• sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut Seitan into thin slices. If it is tofu, cut them in cubes.
2. Put frying pan in a stove with medium heat.
3. Put some oil. Wait until the oil gets very hot and starts frying the Seitan or Tofu. This does not need so much oil like others frying floating in an oil. Just enough oil to fry. Take them off after the Seitan becomes brownish. Set them aside.
4. After taking out the Seitan or Tofu, fry next the cut onions. No need to put more oil if theres still some oil left from frying the Seitan or Tofu. Give it some stirring and wait until it gets brownish or caramelized effect.
5. When the onions gets brown or caramelized already. Get ready the mirin or lemon juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and the vegetable stock and mix them altogether in a bowl. Pour this to the frying pan with the onions. Keep stirring until the sauce gets a little bit thick.
6. Add the cut portabello mushrooms. Add small pinch of salt and pepper. And keep stirring again until cooked.
7. When mushrooms are cooked add the fried Seitan or Tofu.
8. Serve it with rice . And sprinkle the cut spring onions and some sesame seeds.

Mung Beans is very famous in some countries in Asia.Mostly they do sprouting from these kinds. A healthful sources of protein, fiber, vitamins , minerals and more healthy benefits. I really like how fast this recipe can be made.And at the same time it gives you the feeling of satisfaction when you get it right. It is very tasty, and mainly you eat with rice.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mung beans
• olive oil or any frying oil
• chopped ginger ( amount that can full a teaspoon )
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 1 small onion chopped
• salt
• black pepper
• spring onions (toppings optional)
• vegetable buillion

Methods:

1. Wash the mung beans with water 2 times. After washing put it in a pot and add 2 cups of water. Soak it first for 1-2 hours.
2. After soaking it, turn on stove and boil the mung beans in high heat. After boiling it for 30 minutes, add 1 more cup of water because it gets dry while boiling the mung beans. Let it boil for 10 minutes.
3. While boiling the mung beans, fry the chopped onions, garlic and ginger with some oil in a separate frying pan. Keep stirring until it gets brownish, pour them to the boiling mung beans.
4. Mix them altogether, add another 1 more cup water. Add salt, black pepper and the vegetable buillion. Turn the heat to low and leave it boilinh for another 15 minutes.
5. All done! Sprinkle some spring onion when serve.

Preparation:

Soak a cup of beans overnight or a canned beans in a can will also work. The difference is that overnight soaked beans will give a thicker result of the sauce than in a canned beans. After soaking the beans overnight , bring it to boil until it get soft. Drain it after cooked. Cooking with fresh ingredients always gives best result

Ingredients

• 100grms beans (soaked and boiled) or in can
• 1 piece peeled and cut in cubes carrots
• cut bell pepper (red , orange or green )
• 1/2 onions chopped
• chopped garlic
• 2 big fresh tomatoes (chopped)
• chopped parsley
• olive oil
• salt
• black pepper
• powder smoked paprika
• cup tomato sauce
• cup of water
• mais in can ( drain the mais to have it ready for cooking )

Methods:

1. Place your pan on a hot stove, pour in some olive oil when the pan is heated. Fry the chopped onions and garlic. Add next the chopped tomatoes, mix and let it fry for 3 minutes.
2. Add the beans, cut carrots and bell pepper and mix well. Let the pan covered for another 5 minutes.
3. After 5 minutes, add the drain mais and give it a mix. Pour tomato sauce, and add some powder smoked paprika. Add a cup of water, and stir it. Cover and let it boil in a medium heat for 20 minutes.
4. After 20 minutes, stir and cover again. Put your heat to low and leave it boiling for another 20 minutes.
5. It is done! Sprinkle chopped parsley when serve .

Bon Appetit !

Pasta are one of the most favored dishes for most people, specially children. They are simple, easy and fast to cook. When I make Pasta, one thing I always make sure is that, I want it nutritionally flavorful. To make it more interesting in its own recipe. Not just its normal Pasta sauce. In this recipe, the mixture of Tahini and Soya Cream with addition of enough parmesan gives the result of creamy white sauce. One can use Coconut milk instead Soya Cream because it cannot be found everywhere. I already tried it couple of times and still very good. Find not a big difference in its taste. And from the steamed broccoli in its own juice added awesome taste and texture in the recipe. I use full grain Penne Pasta to make it a bit different too. To have a little bit less of carbs.

Ingredients :

• 110grams Penne Pasta
• 1 small broccoli ( cut florets and stalks )
• 6 pieces mushrooms ( sliced )
• 2 cloves garlic ( chopped )
• 1/2 onions ( chopped )
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ground black pepper
• olive oil
• 80ml Soya Cream or Coconut milk
• 2 tbspoon Tahini
• 3/4 cup of vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp parmesan
• spring onions ( this is optional, just for garnishing

Methods

Step 1 : Bring a pot with salted water in a high heat and bring to boil. Add the Penne Pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes.

Step 2 : Meanwhile wash the broccoli florets and put them to a steamer basket. Five minutes before the Pasta is done ,take off the pot cover and put the steamer basket to let the broccoli cook by steaming from the boiling Pasta. One can also just throw the broccoli to the boiling Pasta right before its going to be taken out.

Step 3 : Heat the olive oil into a large frying pan. Add the chopped garlic and onions, fry for 1 minute until brown. Add the sliced mushrooms and the cut stalks of broccoli. While the mushrooms frying, mix the Tahini and vegetable broth together. Stir well until the Tahini dissolves in that vegetable broth. And pour them to the frying pan, do some stirring until it starts boiling.

Step 4 : Add the Soya Cream or Coconut milk. Add the salt and pepper. Stir and give 2 more minutes cooking. Add the parmesan and do more stirring. Add some spring onions.

Step 5 : Turn off the heat and the sauce is ready to sprinkle over the boiled Pasta and broccoli. Ready to serve.

Preparation time : 30 minutes Cooking time : 20- 30 minutes Serves : 2 Person

We all know that most people love pizza, for many years and until now . And Pizza is mainly simple ,fast and easy recipe that one can make at home. The good about making Pizza by yourself at home is that you know exactly what is in there, or how you would like it , and what you would like to put as toppings. I am trying to make here , a pizza dough that is not just the normal flour that people normally use. I made a dough from mix wheat flour, buckwheat flour and corn flour with ground pumpkin seeds together.

INGREDIENTS for the dough

• 1/2 cup of wheat flour ( 68 grms. )
• 1/2 cup of corn flour
• 1/2 cup of buckwheat flour
• 8 grms. ground pumpkin seeds
• half teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon fast rise yeast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup of lukewarm water

Step 1. In a large bowl, put together all the dry ingredients and mix together. Make a whole in the middle and add the water and olive oil. Start mixing, and knead it for 5 minutes. After kneading put it back to the mixing bowl, cover the lid and let it rise for 30-45minutes.

INGREDIENTS for TOPPINGS

• 3 tablespoon tomato puree
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic ( mince )
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ground black pepper

Step 2. While waiting for the dough, mix all these ingredients in a small bowl or small cup for the pizza sauce . And let it stay until the dough is ready to be roll. Mixing these ingredients and letting it stay for even a short time, it helps develop more flavor.

Vegetables TOPPINGS

thinly cut bell pepper ( any color ) mushroom ( thinly cut ) green or black olives artichokes ( in can ) 1 small cup fresh spinach 150 grms. mozarella 1/2 onion

Step 4. Spread over the prepared pizza sauce to the formed pizza crust. Mix the vegetables ingredients and spread evenly to the crust. Place the cut or shredded mozarella on top. Sprinkle a small amount of ground black pepper.

Step 5. Preheat oven 375 F ( 190 degree C ) Bake Pizza for 20-25minutes. Take out the pizza from the oven. And enjoy the homemade vegan pizza. Drizzle a soaked minced garlic in olive oil. Smells very good.

Any fresh juice in the morning can already solve your breakfast daily plan or routine.A very healthy and good habit to start your day. It only needs short time of preparation. As most people tend to skip breakfast due to a busiest hour of the day. This is something fast and easy to make. And most wonderful is that, it has quite some benefits. It does not only supplements nutritions to your body, but also detoxify it. Juicing fresh vegetables is also a better way or easy way to take in to your body, specially to those people who does not consider much about just eat them. It is just liquid, but it does not mean it will not fill your stomach. It actually has that effect of filling your stomach for a long time of your day. It has vitamins and minerals that gives you energy everyday.

Carrots contains lots of vitamin A which which helps prevent vision loss. Also particularly good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium and antioxidants which helps to prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease and other conditions.

Cucumbers are made up of about 90% of water but high in many important vitamins and minerals. They are low of calories. And has quite some benefits such as : promotes Hydration, may aid in Weight Loss, may lower Blood sugar. It contains ascorbic acid ( vitamin C ) and caffeic acid, which both helps soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling.

Tomatoes are very nutritious, it provides antioxidant protection against cancer, strengthening the heart, and prevent constipations. They are also abundant in antioxidants, that are dietary substances found in beta carotene, vitamins C and vitamins E and sellenium.

Lemons are powerful source of antioxidants and vitamins C, it has even more benefits such as : may lower the risk of stroke for some people, fight free radicals, prevent asthma, and increase iron absorption and more.

Ingredients : 3 carrots , 1/4 cucumber, 1 tomato , 1/2 lemon , 1/2 Cinnamon

Directions : 1. Wash each of the veggies carefully and peel the vegetables that has need to be peeled. Cut them except the lemon. Put the cut vegetables gradually to the juicer machine while it is working on juicing.

2. After juicing , pour the juice to your favorite glass juice. Squeeze the lemon and mix the lemon juice to your fresh juice. Add 1/2 teaspoon of Cinammon, and stir well.

INGREDIENTS :

4 peeled Potatoes 3 cloves garlic ( chopped ) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon red pepper powder salt black pepper powder 2 tablespoon Parmesan Asparagus stalks ( amount depends on how many one wants )

Step 1. Turn the burner on high heat and bring steamer pot with water to boiling. Put the peeled potatoes and reduce heat to medium. Cover the lid, and let it steam or boil for 8 minutes.

Step 2. Preheat oven to 450 degree F ( 250 degree C ) .Turn off the burner heat and take out potatoes after 8 minutes steaming. Let the steamed potatoes cool a bit. After cooling, cut each potatoes into four pieces. Put them to a roasting pan or a spacious baking form and mix the spices ( olive oil, salt, red pepper powder, and black pepper ) together with the cut potatoes to flavor. Mix well, for a good flavor distribution. And then put it in the oven for 6 minutes.

Step 3. Put the peeled Asparagus in a bowl and mix it together with the rest of the ingredients ( Parmesan and chopped garlic ) and mix well. After 6 minutes, take out the potatoes from the oven, move them a little bit side to give some space and place the Asparagus in that space. Sprinkle the left over mixture of Parmesan and chopped garlic to the potatoes for more flavor. Put them back to the oven and let roast for another 7 minutes. And then it will be ready to serve.

Was thinking of recipe that you will find European and Asian together. So, it brought me to this invention of something EurAsia taste. It is the different fried vegetables with small amount of soy sauce makes it Asian taste, and the garlic, olives, olive oil and parmesan cheese makes it the Italian taste from their ” Aglio Olio ” recipe. And it really have that sumptuous taste.

Ingredients :

• cut zucchini ( round cut )
• 1 peeled and cut carrot
• half of a bell pepper ( any color )
• spinach ( fresh or frozen )
• 2 cloves of garlic ( chopped )
• pinch of ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• salt
• olive oil
• grated Parmesan ( depends on your desire amount of usage )
• 100 grms. linguine noodles

Methods

Step 1.

Boil a liter of water with salt, soy sauce and olive oil in a pot. When the water starts boiling, put the 100 grms. of linguine noodles, and let it boil for 8-10 minutes for an al dente results. Drain.

Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 4.

Step 5.

On the first few months of my Vegan journey , my husband brought me to different Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Vienna, Austria. And I was quite amazed by their creations, their recipes of Vegan and Vegetarian foods. Since then, it encouraged me to do something like similar in my own version . It brought me to think about what I can do with something like meat substitute. And that I discovered Seitan.

Seitan is mainly Gluten. It is abundant in protein. Many Vegan use Seitan as their meat substitute. It doesn’t have that real taste of meat though. But it is as good as meat. I started to love it, and most of the time I put Seitan in every dishes I am cooking everyday.

How to make Seitan

Ingredients :

• 1 cup Gluten flour ( or Seitan flour )
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon nutritional yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 onion powder
• 1 tbspoon soy sauce
• 3/4 cup of warm water
• 1 tbspoon of olive oil ( or vegetable oil )

Put altogether the gluten flour, pepper, nutritional yeast, salt, garlic powder, onion powder in a bowl and mix until you feel that the mixtures are being mixed well. Make a whole in the mixture and pour the warm water and oil in that whole. Mix them well. Cover and let it in the bowl for 15-20minutes.

Now for the boiling of the Seitan , put 1/2 Liter of vegetable stock in a pot. Add another 1 tbspoon salt, 1 clove garlic and corn pepper. Cover the pot, put it in the stove, and bring it to boil. When it starts boiling , get the Seitan dough and make 3-4 round forms. One can make any forms from the Seitan dough. Form perfection is not so important here , so dont worry if you do it right or wrong. Throw them all in the boiling vegetable stock, and let it boil in a medium heat for 30 minutes.

And now ready to take them all out from the boiling water. Put all in a bowl and let it cool . One can eat them just like after boiling it or fry them. Frying is best in Seitan. I always fry them first and then mix it to my recipe of the day. My son loves it fry too. In the pictures I posted here looks like I made 6 or more balls of Seitan. Yes, I made more of them because I always refrigerate the rest and that I can use them in the next days. One can make more of course, just double the measurement of the ingredients.

I hope you enjoy making the Seitan recipe, and best of luck for the delicious result of your Seitan 🙂 …