Oat-Fig Balls

Makes 10
Cashews (raw - 50g)
Figs (dried - 6)
Cocoa (powder - 1 tsp)
Maca (powder - 1 tsp)
Oats (1 tbsp)
 
1) Soak the cashews at least 2 hours.
2) In a food processor, blend the cashews. Toss in the figs, cocoa, oats and maca and let them whirl for a minute or two. The dough is ready when you can easily pinch it together with your fingers.
3) Roll the misture into balls. It helps if you wet your fingers a bit.
Chill in the fridge for at least an hour or enjoy right away.
4) Store in the fridge.

Sauteed Kale

Serves 4:
Kale (400g)
Garlic (3 cloves - minced)
Olive oil (2 tsp)
Salt and pepper

1) Roughly slice the kale.
2) Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the garlic.
3) Add the cabbage and sauté for 5 minutes.
4) Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Walnut Muffins

Fragant and delicious...

Makes 6 (small - 65 mm): 
Whole wheat flour (75g)
Apple puree (60g) Dark-brown sugar (2 tbsp)
Walnuts (ground - 25g)
Olive oil (1 tbsp) Cinnamon (ground - 1 tsp)
Baking powder (1 tsp)
Water (1 tbsp)
Lemon juice (1 tbsp)
1) Preheat oven to 180C. 
2) Line muffin cups with paper or foil liners. Set aside. 
3) In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients until combined. 
4) Divide batter evenly among cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Spring time

It’s been more than a month since I last posted any­thing, mostly because I’ve been very busy studying for the Cambridge English Proficiency Exam... but now I've done it, don't know the results yet but it's done. 

 Meanwhile the spring began and this is the view from my kitchen window.

Vegan Pizza

This is my first attempt, but definitely not my last, at making a vegan pizza. There’s plenty of room for improvement, but for my first shot – not bad. I didn't want to use a store bought "vegan cheese" so I used a home made crumble with tofu, spices and nutritional yeast, it as ok but not perfect. Next time I will try a home made vegan "melty-cheese".

Serves 4:
For the dough
Strong white flour (500g)
Salt (1 tsp)
Dry yeast (1 tsp)
Water (275 ml)
Olive oil (1 tbsp)
Oregano (1 tsp)
Pepper

For the topping
Tomato sauce (2 tbsp)
Black olives (20 - sliced)
Onions (2 - finely sliced)
Tofu (100g)
Nutritional yeast (1 tsp)
Curry (1 tsp - powder)
Soy sauce (1 tsp)
Oregano

1) In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt, oregano, pepper and dried yeast. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture. Pour most of the water into the well along with the olive oil and bring the dough together with your hands. As the flour is incorporated the dough will start to take shape. Add the remaining water if the dough feels tight or hard.
2) Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
3) Divide the dough into two equal portions, shape each portion and place on a baking tray. Allow to rest for about 15 minutes.
4) Preheat the oven to 220C.
5) Crumble the tofu, mix in the curry, soy sauce and nutritional yeast and reserve.
6) Cover the surface with the tomato sauce, onion, olives and oregano.
7) Top with the tofu mixture.
6) Cook until the base is golden-brown, around 30 minutes.

Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa is a deliciously warm and comforting drink. This vegan fortified version it's even better :)

Serves 2:
Rice Drink (450 ml)
Cocoa (4 tbsp - powder, organic)
Maca (1 tbsp - powder)
Dark Muscovado Sugar (1 tbsp)

1) Pour the rice milk into a large pan, and bring almost to the boil over a medium heat.
2) Spoon the cocoa, sugar and maca into the hot rice milk, give it a good whisk and serve.

Raw Strawberry Mousse

On a cold and rainy day, after a wet race, a raw dessert delicious and very easy to make...

Serves 2:
Cashews (50g - soaked, at least, 2 hours)
Chia seeds (2 tsp mixed with 1 tbsp water)
Strawberries (100g - frozen, organic)
Banana (50g - frozen, organic)
Agave nectar (2 tbsp)
Coconut oil (1 tbsp - melted)

1) In a blender, blend cashews and chia.
2) Add the fruits until it forms a very smooth paste.
3) Mix agave nectar and coconut oil until combined.
4) Spoon into two small serving dish and let mousse set up for at least 30 minutes.

Vegan Retreat

Welcome to the vegan retreat in Tived, Sweden. Rödjorna Retreat Center open the doors to a three-day cooking immersion.

Each hands-on cooking module goes over several techniques and includes easy and full of flavour recipes.
One of our goals is to have you think about food in a different way. You will learn about different ethnic ingredients and discover the vast array of delicious vegan food. More info: http://humangoveggie.webs.com/vegan-retreat-sweden

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

 I hope you all had a great start into the new year! It's been a while since my last post and one of the reasons for my absense it's the vegan retreat that I'm preparing... I'll post more details in the next days. Meanwhile enjoy this vegan treat!

Makes 1 pie:
Vegan pie crust (250g)
Pumpkin (2 cups - pureed)
Coconut milk (1 cup)
Dark muscovado sugar (1 cup)
Cornstarch (3 tbsp)
Cinnamon (1 tsp)
Ginger (1 tsp - ground)
Nutmeg (1/4 tsp - ground)

1) Preheat oven to 180ºC.
2) Combine pumpkin, coconut milk, sugar, cornstarch and spices in a large bowl, and mix very well.
3) Pour into unbaked pastry shell, and bake for about 60 minutes.
4) The pie will firm up as it cools.
5) Cool completely and refrigerate before serving.

Tofu and red onion pastry

Makes 4:
Ready rolled puff-pastry (4 squares)
Olive oil (1 tbsp)
Red onion (1 large, finely sliced)
Tofu (200g - crumbled)
Soy sauce (1 tbsp)
Curry powder (1 tsp)

1) Preheat the oven to 200C/390F/Gas 6.
2) Cook the onion in olive oil, over a low heat, until soft.
3) Add the tofu, soy sauce and curry powder and cook for a couple of minutes.
4) Spoon the onion and tofu mixture into the centre of each pastry, leaving the edges clear. Wrap them.
5) Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.

Vegan Cake

For the last couple of months I've been trying to bake the perfect vegan cake, fluffy, light and moist... and here it is :)

Makes 1 cake:
All-purpose flour (1 1/2 cup)
Baking powder (2 tsp)
Extra virgin olive oil (1/2 cup)
Maple syrup (1/2 cup)
Water (1/2 cup)
Lemon (juice of 1)

1) Preheat the oven to 180° C (350° F).
2) Line a small cake pan.
3) Mix together all ingredients, except the lemon juice, in a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
4) Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

Strawberry-chia-coconut smoothie

And the first Provamel experience: a refreshing dairy-free smoothie filled with strawberries, chia seeds and a great coconut taste!

Serves 2:
Strawberries (100g - frozen)

Chia seeds (1 tsp)
Rice and coconut drink (400 ml - Provamel)

1) Blend strawberries, chia and coconut rice milk until smooth.

Provamel reviews

I was recently asked to review Provamel rice and coconut-rice non-dairy milks. I tested out both products and on the next two days I will post two recipes with the results.

Both milks are suitable for vegans and they are low in saturated fat, dairy-free and 100% organic...