Baked Feta Pasta

Yield: 4 servings

2 pints cherry tomatoes

3-6 cloves garlic

1/4 cup olive oil

salt and pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

8-ounce block feta cheese

8 ounces dried pasta of choice

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line an oven-safe baking dish with parchment paper.

2. Place cherry tomatoes and garlic cloves in baking dish. Pour the olive oil on top, and season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined.

3. Place the feta block in the middle of the baking dish surrounded by the cherry tomatoes, and flip a couple times to coat it with the olive oil and seasoning.

4. Bake for 35 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes burst and the feta cheese melts.

5. While the tomatoes and feta are baking, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2-cup of the cooking liquid.

6. Add cooked pasta and basil leaves to the tomatoes and feta, and toss everything to combine. Garnish with more fresh basil and serve warm.

https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/baked-feta-pasta/

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Yield: 4 servings

2 tbsp olive oil, divided

2 eggs, beaten

salt and pepper

1/2 onion, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1-inch knob ginger, minced

1 head cauliflower, grated into rice

1/4 cup tamari

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp maple syrup

1 cup frozen peas and carrots

1 tsp rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

3-4 green onions, chopped

1/4 cup cashews or peanuts, chopped

1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the eggs and salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the eggs are cooked. Remove from pan and set aside. Wipe the pan clean.

2. Place the skillet back on medium heat and add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring often, until softened but not browned, 3 to 4 minutes.

3. Add the riced cauliflower, tamari, red pepper flakes, and maple syrup. Cook, stirring often, for about 3 minutes.

4. Add the peas and carrots and continue cooking until the cauliflower is tender-crisp and the vegetables are warmed through.

5. Stir in the rice vinegar, sesame oil, green onion, nuts, and eggs. Serve hot.

https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/cauliflower-fried-rice.html

Green Bean Casserole

Yield: 3-4 servings

1 cup cashews, plus 1 tbsp for topping

1 cup water

1 lb green beans

8 oz crimini mushrooms

2 or 3 shallots

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

3 cloves garlic

1/2 lemon

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

1. Soak cashews. Place cashews in a small bowl and cover with water. Ideally, the cashews should soak for 2 to 4 hours in cool water, but 30 minutes in warm water will work.

2. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper.

3. Prep green beans. Cut the stems off of your green beans, then cut them into uniform bite-size pieces (about 1.5 inches in length).

4. Cook green beans. Bring a large pot of water and a generous pinch of salt to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes. Immediately strain and add green beans to an ice bath to stop cooking.

5. Prep the other ingredients. Slice mushrooms. Chop shallots. Smash and remove the skins of your garlic. Cut your lemon in half and juice half.

6. Prepare the cashew cream. Drain and rinse the cashews. Add cashews, water, garlic, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

7. Cook. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 4 minutes. Add shallot and red pepper flakes, and cook for another 3 minutes. Add apple cider vinegar to deglaze the pan. Cook for 1 minute then remove the pan from heat.

8. Add in the cashew cream and green beans and stir to combine evenly. Pour into prepared baking dish.

9. Roughly chop the remaining cashews and mix with nutritional yeast. Sprinkle mixture over casserole and bake for 15 minutes.

https://blog.cleanprogram.com/vegan-green-bean-casserole/

Keema Madras (Lentil and Potato Curry)

Yield: 4 servings

1/3 cup red lentils

3/4 cup potatoes, cubed

salt and pepper

1/2 tsp cinnamon (or 1-inch cinnamon stick)

1 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp poppy seeds

1 tsp rice flour

1/2 tsp sage

1 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

6 curry leaves

2 medium tomatoes, diced

2 tbsp shredded coconut

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

1/3 cup shredded carrots

garnish: cilantro, pepper flakes, lime juice

1. In a saucepan, add red lentils, potatoes, 2 cups water, and a good pinch of salt. Cook uncovered over medium heat until potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Do not drain.

2. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Toast spices for 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add onion, garlic, and curry leaves, and cook until translucent, stirring occasionally.

4. Meanwhile, blend the tomatoes with coconut and a few spoonfuls of water until smooth.

5. Add the blended tomato coconut mixture to the skillet and cook over medium until it thickens and oil starts to leave the mixture, 5 to 7 minutes.

6. Add the carrots and walnuts and cook for 2 minutes.

7. Add the cooked lentils and potatoes with the cooking liquid (should be about a half cup or so). Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 5 to 7 minutes.

8. Garnish with cilantro, pepper flakes, and lime juice. Serve with rice, flatbread or dosas.

https://gamechangersmovie.com/recipes/keema-madras/

Yellow Chickpea Pumpkin Curry

Yield: 4 servings

1/2 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped or julienned

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp ginger, grated

2 cups pumpkin or butternut squash, cubed

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

1 tbsp yellow curry paste

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste

1 can coconut milk

1 cup broth or water

2 tbsp creamy peanut butter

1 tbsp tamari or coconut aminos

salt and pepper, to taste

1 red bell pepper, julienned

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup frozen peas

to garnish: cilantro, green onion, and chopped peanuts

1. Place a large pot over medium high heat. Add coconut oil, onion, carrot, garlic, and ginger and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Add cauliflower florets and cubed pumpkin. Saute for about 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften a bit.

3. Add curry paste, turmeric, and cayenne, and cook for 30 seconds.

4. Add coconut milk, broth, peanut butter, tamari, and salt and pepper. Stir well to combine and cook for 5 minutes.

5. Add bell pepper and chickpeas. Simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.

6. Just before serving, stir in frozen peas and simmer an additional minute.

7. Garnish with cilantro, green onion, and chopped peanuts.

https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/nourishing-yellow-chickpea-pumpkin-curry/