Bulgur Wheat Pilau with Spicy Mushrooms

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Inspired by East African flavours, this Bulgur Wheat Pilau with Spicy Mushrooms is full of warming spices, and the pilau, if cooled and stored properly, will make for a great packed lunch. Serves 4-6.

For the Mushrooms:

Ingredients:
250g Portabello mushrooms, sliced
200ml apple juice
50 ml soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 tsp rice vinegar
1/2 inch ginger, grated
Pinch ground cardamom
Pinch ground fenugreek
2 pinches chilli flakes
Pinch ground cloves

Directions:
1. Place the mushrooms in a large saucepan. Mix the rest of the ingredients together and pour over the mushrooms.
2. Simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is reduced, 30 mins or so. Remove the mushrooms from the cooking sauce with a tongs or spider ladle and serve with the pilaf.

For the Pilaf:
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp chilli powder
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 onion, finely chopped
300ml vegetable broth
2 carrots, peeled and in very small dice
100g sweetcorn
200g frozen peas
250g bulgur wheat
Vegetable broth, according to package directions

Directions:
1. Mix the spices and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan over a medium-low heat, sauté the onions until lightly caramelised. Add the carrots, sweetcorn, and peas, and pour over the broth. Simmer the vegetables for 4 minutes, just to soften.
3. Cook the bulgur wheat according to package directions, adding the spice mix at the beginning of the process. Stir in the vegetables to warm through, and serve.

Sweetcorn and Chickpea Fritters

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The best thing about these easy fritters is that you you can change the flavour profile easily by adding different combinations of spices. The recipe calls for a food processor, but you can easily make these with a masher instead. This recipe makes 8 fritters.

Ingredients:
285g (drained weight) sweetcorn
240g (drained weight) cooked chickpeas
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
2 tbsp water
6 tbsp gram flour
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt (or more to taste)
1/4 tsp white pepper

Directions:
1. Pulse (or mash) the sweetcorn and chickpeas until most are mashed but there are still some chunky bits.
2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (the mix may be wetter than you imagine; trust me!).
3. Heat a frying pan over a medium-low heat and lightly brush with oil or spritz with spray oil.
4. Take 1/4 cup of the mixture and place it in the pan, pressing down to flatten. Repeat until you have four fritters in the pan. Cook 3 minutes, flip, and cook 3 minutes more.
5. Keep warm while you cook the rest of the fritters.
6. Serve with a sauce of your choice if desired.

Gur Cake

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Gur Cake is a traditional Dublin cake, popular in working class communities. The cake was made from bakery leftovers, so it was always the cheapest item in the shop. It’s a thick slab of spiced, fruity bread pudding sandwiched between two thin layers of shortcrust pastry.
Ingredients

For the pastry:

250g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cornflour (corn starch)
1 heaped tbsp suitable-for-vegans icing sugar
pinch salt
60g suitable-for-vegans baking margarine
Cold water

For the filling:
8 slices stale bread, crusts cut off (I used wholegrain)
Very strong tea, cold
35g melted suitable-for-vegans baking margarine
3 tbsp plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
Rind 1 orange
150g mixed dried fruit
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tbsp mixed spice
1 tbsp molasses
90g suitable-for-vegans brown sugar
3 tbsp apple sauce

Directions:
1. Make the pastry by mixing all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the vegan baking margarine and rub in between your fingers and thumbs until the mixture is like fine breadcrumbs. Add 2-3 tbsp cold water (more if necessary) until the mixture comes together in a firm dough. Don’t overwork. Wrap in film and place in the fridge to rest while you make the filling.
2. Steep the bread and fruit in in a single layer in just enough tea to cover (you could use a large roasting tin). Leave for an hour or so.
3. Meanwhile, mix the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Preheat the oven to 190C. When the bread and fruit are soaked, strain off the tea and give the bread a quick squeeze just to remove the excess liquid so that it is no longer dripping wet. Add to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients and stir. The mixture should be the consistency of a thick cake batter. If it’s too dry, add a squeeze of orange juice; if it’s too wet, add a little more flour.
5. Remove the pastry from the fridge and divide in two. Line a 9 inch square baking dish with parchment. Roll the first half of the pastry thin and place it at the bottom of the baking dish (don’t line the sides of the tin; just the bottom). Flash bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and place the filling on top. Roll out the rest of the pastry and place it on top of the filling. Prick the pastry in several places with a fork.
6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Allow to cool in the tin: the filling will set only when cold. Then remove from the tin and cut into squares.
7. Dust the squares with sifted icing sugar, or go for a more rustic feel and just sprinkle it on by hand.

Slow-Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes

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Intensely sweet, these flavourful tomatoes are easy to prepare, and they make a wonderful addition to salads, sandwiches, or can be eaten on their own as a tasty snack.

Preheat an oven to 120C, line a baking tray with a silicone sheet, and halve as many tomatoes as you wish to roast–we used cherry and plum tomatoes here. Toss the tomatoes in a bowl with a tsp balsamic vinegar, and a generous helping of freshly ground black pepper, salt, and crumbled dried oregano. Place onto the tray in a single layer, cut-side up, and roast for 2-3 hours (depending on size and thickness of tomatoes; the cherry tomatoes took 2 hours).

Lemony Cauliflower Soup

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Creamy and chunky, creating wonderful textural contrasts, and with subtle undertones of lemon balanced out by the herbs and pepper, this soup is a real winner and would be perfect for entertaining. This recipe serves 4-6 depending on whether it’s being eaten as a starter or a main.

Ingredients:
2 white onions, finely chopped
650g white mushrooms, quartered
1.5 litres vegetable broth
1 large potato, peeled and in bite-size dice
1 tsp dried thyme*
1 tsp dried basil*
1 head cauliflower, in small florets
1 lemon, rind and zest
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Red chilli flakes and parsley (optional)

*Crumbling dried herbs between your fingers before adding them to a dish will help to release more of their aromatic oils.

Directions:
1. Preheat a large soup pot over a medium low heat. Add the onion and mushroom, and sauté until the mushrooms release their liquid.
2. Add the vegetable broth, potato, and herbs. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the cauliflower, cover the soup once again, and simmer for 7 minutes more.
4. Stir through the lemon zest and juice.
5. Transfer half of the soup to a blender and blend until smooth (optional). Return to the pot to reheat, and season to taste.
6. Serve garnished with red chilli flakes and parsley, and a little extra lemon zest, if desired.

Peanut-Butter Chocolate Energy Balls

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These sweets are just as delicious and moreish as chocolate truffles but far less processed and very quick to make. They make a fantastic pick-me-up after a workout, or are delicious with a cuppa as a sweet treat.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dates
1/4 cup pecans
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch salt
1 tbsp maple syrup
Coconut flakes, ground almonds, or crushed pecans for dusting, if desired

Directions:
1. Process all the dates and pecans in food processor until very fine.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, and process further to combine.
3. Roll into small balls, roll in the coconut/ground almonds/crushed pecans, and refrigerate for 30 minutes for best results (although you should probably eat one while you wait for “research” purposes).

Two-Tone Pepper Soup

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This fun talking-point for guests is simple to make, and great fun to eat. It serves 4, and you can choose whatever colour peppers you like. We’ve chosen green and yellow for the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 large onion, roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced
4 green bell peppers, roughly chopped
4 yellow bell peppers, roughly chopped
1.2-1.6l vegetable broth

Directions:
1. Preheat two saucepans over medium-low heat. Divide the onions and celery between the two and sauté until the onion starts to become translucent. Add the garlic, and sauté for 15 seconds.
2. Add the green peppers to one saucepan and the yellow peppers to the other. Add enough broth to cover, and bring to boil. Simmer 15 minutes.
3. Transfer the ingredients of the saucepan containing the yellow peppers to a blender. Blend until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a jug. Repeat with the saucepan containing the green peppers, and transfer to a separate jug.
4. Pour from both jugs into a bowl at the same time and at the same speed to keep the colours of the soup separate. Season to taste, and enjoy.

Tofu Katsu Curry

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A warming, spicy, flavoursome dish, this is surprisingly easy to put together. Serve with sushi rice and shredded carrots and cabbage for a filling and nourishing meal. The tofu is cooked in an air fryer, but you can bake or pan fry if you prefer.

Ingredients:

For the tofu:
400g extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
Liquid from 1 can chickpeas
1/4 cup flour
2 cups suitable-for-vegans panko crumbs

For the sauce:
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 inch piece ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic
500ml vegetable broth
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp tomato purée
2 tsp rice vinegar
1-2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce, to taste
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp white or yellow miso
1 heaped tbsp cornflour

Directions:


1. Slice the tofu into 1/4 inch slices. Dip in flour and shake off excess. Add to the chickpea liquid and then coat in breadcrumbs. Fry in a preheated air fryer at 200C for 15 minutes, turning once.
2. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Lightly sauté the onions over a medium-low heat, add the garlic and ginger and stir briefly. Mix in the broth, curry powder, turmeric, tomato purée, vinegar, tamari, maple syrup and miso. Bring to a simmer. Mix the cornflour with a little water to a smooth paste. Add to the sauce and cook until thickened.
3. Serve the tofu and sauce with cooked sushi rice, shredded carrots, and cabbage.

Fast Food Meal Plan

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Don’t be put off by the title; this isn’t a week full of expensive, processed meals. Instead, we’ve given you 21 meal ideas that you can make without recipes and very little fuss. Serve vegetables of your choice on the side if and as desired. Don’t forget to season to taste!

*Please ensure that any ready-made products (bread, preserves, frozen products, sauces, cereal, etc.) are suitable-for-vegans

DAY ONE
Breakfast: Mashed avocado on toast (optional: baby spinach, tomatoes, red onion)
Lunch: Quick pizza (pita bread or tortilla, spread with tomato sauce and veggies, and baked 10 mins at 200C)
Dinner: Bean chilli: 1 can kidney beans, 1 can chickpeas, 1 can tomatoes, 1 can water with garlic powder and chilli powder, simmered 5 minutes.

DAY TWO
Breakfast: Banana, peanut butter, and preserves on bread or toast
Lunch: Vegetable soup (sauté an onion, add some minced garlic, top with vegetables and cover with suitable-for-vegans broth. Simmer until vegetables are cooked. Blend or serve chunky)
Dinner: Grains, beans, sweetcorn, avocado, and salsa

DAY THREE
Breakfast: Cereal with fruit and all-plant milk (add seeds and nuts if desired)
Lunch: Baked potatoes with hummus and salad vegetables
Dinner: Pasta with tomato sauce, olives, spinach, and pine nuts

DAY FOUR
Breakfast: Frozen hash browns or potato waffles with mustard and ketchup
Lunch: Pita bread stuffed with salad veggies and hummus
Dinner: Stir-fry vegetables with noodles

DAY FIVE
Breakfast: Oatmeal made with water or all-plant milk, dried fruit, and cinnamon
Lunch: Tortilla with mashed sweet potatoes, black beans, and salsa
Dinner: Chunky stew with lentils and sweet potatoes (sauté an onion, add garlic; stir in lentils, diced sweet potatoes, a can of tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Simmer until cooked)

DAY SIX
Breakfast: Smoothie (blend fruit, all-plant milk or juice, and a handful of oats)
Lunch: Suitable-for-vegans baked beans on toast with fried tomatoes and mushrooms
Dinner: Chickpeas simmered in tomato sauce with Italian herbs and garlic powder. Serve with rice or a baked potato.

DAY SEVEN
Breakfast: Overnight oats (soak 1 part oats to 2 parts water or all-plant milk) with fruit, nut butter, and maple syrup
Lunch: Large salad with hummus; serve with nuts, seeds, or croutons
Dinner: Baked sweet potato with mashed white beans, chopped bell pepper, red onion, and sriracha

Twice-Baked Tempeh Potatoes with Red Pepper Sesame Sauce

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These potatoes are a fusion of textures from the creamy potato filling to the crispy skins. This recipe serves 2 hungry people as a main, or 4-8 as a side.

Ingredients:
4 large baking potatoes
2 tbsp suitable-for-vegans hummus
3 tbsp soy milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
150g ready-to-eat (steamed and marinated) tempeh, finely diced
2 green onions, finely diced
2 tbsp fresh, minced parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Red Pepper Sauce:
1 red pepper, roughy chopped
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 heaped tsp suitable-for-vegans Dijon mustard
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 190C. Prick the potatoes all over with a fork, and bake for 60 minutes or until tender.
2. Meanwhile, make the sauce by blending all ingredients.
3. Allow to cool, halve, and scoop out the filling. Mash with the hummus, soy milk, garlic powder, nutritional yeast. Stir through the green onions, tempeh, and parsley. Season, and return the filling to the shells. Spoon about a tsp sauce over each potato half, and bake in the oven for 15 more minutes.