Recipes from Vegetarian Vegan Cooking Classes

Why Cook with Beets? Beets are not only vibrant and flavorful but also packed with essential nutrients that make them a powerhouse ingredient in plant-based cooking. Healthy Beet Nutrition AI-generated image Nutritional Benefits of Beets: Rich in fiber – Supports digestion and gut health. High in folate (Vitamin B9) – Essential for cell growth and heart health. Loaded with nitrates – May help lower blood pressure and improve athletic performance. Good source of manganese – Supports bone health and metabolism. Contains Vitamin C – Boosts immune function and collagen production. Antioxidant powerhouse – Helps fight inflammation and oxidative stress. Whether roasted, blended, or shredded, beets bring a natural sweetness and earthy flavor to many dishes. Here are three delicious, gluten-free, and vegan recipes to showcase their versatility! 1. Gluten-Free, Vegan Best Beet Burger The Best Beet Burger-- Vegan and Gluten-Free AI-generated by Adobe Firefly. Makes 4 - 6 patties Ingredients: Bee...

  Discover 100 vegan ways to thicken watery soups without flour, plus tips to adjust flavors, reduce liquid, and achieve perfect consistency! Perhaps you have followed a delicious-looking recipe for homemade soup and found, after the prescribed cooking time and more, that the soup is still very watery. While you were not necessarily in quest of a cream soup, did you want something more... substantial? Well, with a better ratio of chunkiness to liquids? And if you are against using wheat flour, whatever the reason might be, what can you do? If you have potatoes or carrots in your soup, you can separate them, cooked soft, and blend them up to return to the soup-- that will help thicken. Same with other starchy vegetables-- blend up at least a portion of the cooked soup and you will see the results you are looking for.  Cooking down the soup over a longer period of time-- say, an hour or so on simmer-- will also reduce the fluid levels. Keep an eye on the soup so that the pan doe...

  Rooibos ( my ear hears it spoken as roy '  bus ) tea is a uniquely South African beverage made from the oxidized leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant. This hardy shrub is indigenous to the Cederberg region, where it has been consumed for centuries. The distinct red-brown color and naturally sweet, slightly nutty flavor of rooibos results from extensive oxidation, similar to black tea. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, making it a popular relaxing choice. Rooibos is prized for its health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants linked to reduced cardiovascular disease risk, better blood sugar regulation, and anti-inflammatory effects. Rooibos also provides minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium. Its soothing nature makes it useful for digestive issues, immune support, and sleep promotion. With its unique heritage, exceptional flavor, and wellness profile, rooibos has become a beloved beverage worldwide. Whether enjoyed on its own or in recipes, this South African special...

  This main-dish bean stew, or ragout, is a delicious harvest veggie recipe, or a hearty winter entree. It is a satisfying mix of spicy flavours, that you can accommodate to your own palate, and topped with yummy home-made plant-based cheesy, gluten-free cornmeal dumplings. Cook this in either a Dutch oven over medium heat, or in your Instant Pot. It makes six good size servings.  INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 large onions, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2-3 tablespoons chili powder (again, your choice. I use a locally produced Taco spice by Clever Crow Farms ). 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 can 28 oz / 796mg  chopped whole tomatoes (not puree or diced and do NOT drain) 2 small zucchini cut into 1/2 inch pieces  2 red bell pepper, chopped 2 cans @14 ounces/  796ml beans-- pinto beans, or one can of pintos and one can of black beans, you choose (drain the beans and rinse the beans) 1 cup corn niblets, frozen or canned or fresh ...

Soy Tasty sour cream You  will find quite a few plant-based sour cream recipes online, and at least two or three here (see the bottom of this article) but this one is definitely our current favorite. Ingredents: 1 1/2 cup         Medium firm tofu, pressed  3 tablespoons  Oil (a mild Soy G oil like grapeseed or sunflower seed) 1/4 teaspoon    Citric acid crystals (food grade-- I bought mine at Walmart) 1/4 teaspoon    Salt 1/4 teaspoon    Sweetener Chop up the tofu after pressing and add all ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.  Yields 1 1/2 cup of sour cream. Keep in a bowl with a lid in the fridge.  Other Vegan Sour Cream Recipes: Almond Sour Cream Cashew Sour Cream Sourflower Sour Cream Soy Tasty Sour Cream is an adaptation of a recipe in the cookbook, Tastefully Vegan: Creative Vegetarian Cooking by Katherine McLane and John McLane. You can find it on Amazon . As an affiliate for Amazon I wi...

  Camp Stroganoff is a delicious alternative to the commercially-  prepared camp foods, and much less expensive. In the past my husband went on two trail hikes of several days. He prepared for them by purchasing several packets of dehydrated food-- it was light to carry in his pack but was mostly quite unpalatable and pretty expensive for what he got. This particular recipe is made easily at home with the use of a dehydrator (sometimes ovens are set up to do this), parchment paper, ziplock baggies and the following ingredients: 2 tablespoons vegan butter (we use Earth Balance brand) OR 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, minced 1-3 garlic cloves, minced 1 pound mushrooms, chopped small 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3/4 cup vegetable broth 2 tablespoons all purpose wheat flour 1/2 cup vegan sour cream (commercial or homemade such as this recipe ) 8 ounces angel hair pasta The above recipe is for 2 adult servings of camp stroganoff. Doubl...

  Delicious frozen carob-sweet potato treat! This yummy frozen treat is sweet, fudgey, and checks off all the boxes for satisfying those hot weather craves. Like the other carob desserts on Veggie School site, it really kicks chocolate to the curb-- no bitter taste or theobromides! Find the other carob recipes listed under this recipe. INGREDIENTS: *2 large sweet potatoes or 4 smaller ones (enough to make 2.5 cups of cooked sweet potato) *2 cups unsweetened plant milk (I used soy milk) *.5 cup carob powder (see Notes below) *2 tablespoons maple syrup) *1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) *8 medjool dates, seed removed  METHOD: Peel sweet potatoes and cook until soft Cool sweet potatoes completely  Blend all the above ingredients together until smooth and silky in a good food processer or a blender Spoon into popsicle or fudgesicle molds and put in the freezer for 4 hours (see Notes) Run warm water over the molds to remove the pops from the molds  NOTES  1. Feel free t...

Vegan Dill Pickle Feta Spread I tried a few recipes for vegan feta but none of them quite achieved the sharp, slightly acidic saltiness that I was looking for. I imagine I could have come close if I had used more salt (probably a lot more salt) and likely a juiced entire lemon. I think I may go for more lemon juice, but I definitely won't be 'upping' the salt level.  So. In an impulsive moment, prodded by the hungry adults in the other room, I jacked up the acidic code with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and another jolt of dried dill. When I next taste-tested it, I was reminded of dill pickles-- without actually having used such an ingredient. Dill pickles have become a luxury in this household (they are, i ndeed, also   a luxury item in the grocery store these days-- especially our preference, the dill pickles made by a more natural fermentation process.) Quite delicious, if I do say so myself. I hope you agree! INGREDIENTS: 1 cup well-cooked or canned, drained, and ...

  Mmmm hot carob!  Have you tried it?  If not, you might be surprised to know that it is a creamy, dreamy sweet drink-- like cocoa, but creamier and without the bitterness.  And without caffeine. And without theobromine. And, as I discovered, it helps to settle a wonky tummy (otherwise known as 'diarrhea'). Without creating the reverse 'issues' (i.e., constipation). Or, that is what it did in this household. I am not a medical practitioner, just someone looking for a possible help for a problem and finding many indications that a hot carob drink can 'do the trick'. See this article in Healthline , for example. Please check it out with your own health provider. I have baked with carob powder (muffins, cakes, cookies, bliss balls) and carob chips, but hadn't checked out the hot drink. I like it better than cocoa (hot chocolate). THE SIMPLE RECIPE FOR 1 CUP OF HOT CAROB DRINK: For one mug of hot carob: Slowly heat a cup of non-dairy milk on the stove until it ...

       Bumbleberry Corn Cake- Vegan  Wheat-free The bumbleberry harvest is on with a flourish in our backyard. The saskatoons, blueberries, and blackberries have all had some ripenings this week-- although the blackberries are just beginning and the saskatoons are wizening their way out of the scene. "A mixture of any berries you have on hand" is a great definition of the bumbleberry.  Diversity is delicious!  This is a soft corn cake, like a berry pudding crossed with a cake, more like. Eat it on a plate with a fork and a dollop of coconut yogurt, Mmmm. It has a sweet crunchy crust.  For brekky, lunch or tea! Make it in your toaster/counter oven in a square or round 8 x 8 cake pan. (Can also use a regular oven) INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup of grapeseed oil  2    cups of bumbleberries (a mix of your on-hand berries) 1/2 cup of cane sugar 1    lemon-- just the zest (the outer skin, not the white part, if possible-- shave it...

Mixed Berry Galette- Saskatoon-Blueberry-Strawberry Indulge in the exquisite simplicity of this delectable rustic galette – a tantalizing, topless pie adorned with a coconut oil-infused short crust. Crafting this culinary masterpiece is a breeze, offering a sumptuous blend of a rich, flaky crust and the vibrant flavors of seasonal berries. (Frozen berries work well too!) As the prospect of a bountiful berry harvest looms, I've taken inspiration to elevate this galette to new heights. While some chefs opt for precision with tidy ovals, my version embraces a charmingly shaggy and seemingly disproportionate allure – the epitome of rustic charm. Explore the genesis of this creation through glimpses of our thriving berry bushes nestled at the bottom of this recipe. Swift and efficient, this recipe leverages the prowess of a food processor for a quick dough preparation. A compact countertop oven, equipped with a repertoire of settings, plays its part with finesse – the "Pastry Sett...