Beet Hummus Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms [Vegan, Oil-Free]

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Roasted portobello mushroom caps make a deliciously healthy alternative to the classic hummus and avocado on toast. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having hummus on some sliced whole grain bread, but it's a good idea to change things up every so often. Since I make a batch of hummus almost every week, after a few days of having it on toast, I find myself looking for other ways to enjoy it. This time I decided to try stuffing it in a roasted portobello mushroom and it was so tasty! 

My favorite hummus lately has been this vibrant pink beet hummus. The key to making the beets have sweet flavor rather than an earthy bitter flavor is to make sure to use well-cooked beets. Any way you choose to cook them is fine, as long as they are very soft and cooked all the way through. This hummus is so fluffy and easy to blend because we use some of the liquid from the can of chickpeas (aka aquafaba) which becomes really airy when blended making the hummus have a softer whipped texture. I also use a bit more tahini to balance out the flavor of the beets and make the hummus extra savory. 

This recipe takes only slightly more effort then having hummus on toast. The portobello mushrooms are wiped clean, coated in a simple marinade, and then roasted for 10 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the oven and stuff with hummus, then roast for another 10 minutes, remove from the oven and garnish with whichever toppings you like. 

I hope you enjoy the recipe! 

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I used boiled beets so the color of the hummus before it was baked was a light pink color which darkened to hot pink in the oven. If you use roasted beets, the color will be even more vibrant, and will turn dark red when roasted. 

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Beet Hummus Stuffed Roasted Portobellos

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Mashed Potato & Sauerkraut Casserole [Vegan, Oil-Free]

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This mashed potato & sauerkraut casserole is one of my favorite vegan comfort food recipes. With a juicy layer of quality sauerkraut on the bottom, a layer of fluffy vegan-cheezy garlic mashed potatoes in the middle, and crispy herbed breadcrumbs on top, this sauerkraut packs in all of the best flavors and textures into one package. 

When I think of casseroles, I expect something that's going to require a lot of preparation, but this casserole is so simple! Especially if you don't enjoy chopping lots of different ingredients, because all you have to chop in this recipe is potatoes- and that's it! Mashed potatoes are actually really easy to make from scratch. I recommend russet potatoes because they are the best for mashing, once they're peeled, chopped and steamed, I mash them with a creamy garlic sauce that I whip up in the blender while the potatoes are boiling. Then I place a layer of sauerkraut in the bottom of a baking dish, top it with the mashed potatoes and sprinkle herbed breadcrumbs over the top. 

I've had this idea for a potato and sauerkraut casserole for a few months now, ever since I made a potato and sauerkraut soup recipe and became completely obsessed with the combination. In the process of creating this recipe I've learned a lot about the nature of potatoes. My original version was a scalloped potato casserole, creamy au gratin style, with layers of tangy sauerkraut interlaced between thinly sliced potatoes. When I took it out of the oven, it looked beautiful, but unfortunately when I tried it the potatoes were rock hard and uncooked. I put it back in the oven and cooked it a while longer... and then even longer... but the potatoes refused to cook. I ended up looking online for why this might be happening and as it turns out, potatoes won't cook in acidic substances, such as the tangy sauerkraut that I love so much.

I felt a little defeated and decided to let the idea sit on the backburner for awhile. Eventually, while eating my favorite cheesy potato quesadilla recipe, inspiration struck again and I realized I can use a similar creamy mashed potato filling so that it's already cooked so it can't be disturbed by a layer of sauerkraut. So I tried it out with mashed potatoes and this time it actually worked! The recipe that I had been dreaming about for months was finally a hit and I've been making it over and over again ever since. 

Be sure to use a high quality sauerkraut such as my all time favorite brand, Bubbies. You can find the best sauerkrauts in the refrigerated section at your grocery store. Generally, the sauerkrauts that don't need to be refrigerated aren't as good as the ones that do require refrigeration.

This is a great recipe to make ahead of time or even in a larger portion because it keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days, though mine always tends to disappear very quickly. I hope you enjoy this recipe and that it becomes one of your favorites as well! 

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I ended up using three medium-sized russet potatoes for this recipe, which made about 4 cups, but since potatoes sizes vary I'd recommend measuring out 4 cups of cubed peeled potatoes.

Place the potatoes in a pot and cover them with cold water until they're just submerged under the water. Place the pot over medium-high heat to bring to a boil. As soon as the potatoes start to come to a rolling boil, set a timer for 7 minutes and turn the heat down to medium. After the time has passed check to make sure the potato chunks are fork tender and then drain the water out of the pot and then return the potatoes to the same pot. 

Make the creamy garlic sauce in the blender either while the potatoes are boiling or right after by combining all of the sauce ingredients in the blender until smooth. 

Add the creamy garlic sauce to your steamed potatoes in the pot along with some chopped chives and then mash until well combined. 

Assemble the casserole in your dish by starting with an even layer of sauerkraut, followed by a layer of mashed potatoes, and then quickly mix together your breadcrumbs and herbs and sprinkle them over the top. I've never had any issues with the sauerkraut sticking to the bottom of the baking pan, so I don't bother greasing the pan first. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove from oven, cool for 10 minutes, and then serve. 

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Mashed Potato & Sauerkraut Casserole

Pumpkin Hot Cocoa [Sugar-Free, Low-Fat, Vegan]

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There's nothing better on a cold day than a thick and creamy cup of hot chocolate. As a kid, I specifically remember having two different types. There was the powdered one that came in a pouch with tiny dehydrated mini marshmallows that always came out watery and lumpy no matter how much you stirred, and then there was the traditional kind of hot chocolate that was so heavy and thick that I could hardly ever finish a whole cup. I set out to replicate the more traditional thicker one, but in a way that makes it healthy enough to drink every day.

For me, this means no sugar and no heavy coconut cream. To make this beverage sweet without sugar, I used soft dates which add the perfect amount of sweet caramel flavor in an unrefined whole food package.

The magical thickening ingredient in this recipe is canned pumpkin puree. Not only does pumpkin make this beverage extra creamy, but it also has loads of fiber and nutrients. This makes for a wonderfully creamy and smooth texture without having to use as many heavy, high-fat ingredients. 

To make this hot chocolate extra rich I sometimes add just a teaspoon of nut butter. It isn't really necessary at all, though I do find it helps to cover up the earthy flavor of the ashwagandha root powder which I've been adding in lately, but you totally can skip that ingredient if you don't have it/don't want it. 

I've never been one to buy into the hype around "superfoods" or ayurvedic herbs and supplements, but I decided to try ashwagandha when I heard about its ability to balance hormones. There's just not enough research to say for sure that it actually does anything, but as someone who has been on and off hormonal contraceptives many times throughout my early 20s, I decided to give it a try and see for myself if I notice any differences. I'll report back if I do! 

This hot chocolate becomes so frothy from the blending process that it almost reminds me of a latte, but with much less effort than actually frothing and steaming the milk. It's as easy as throwing everything in a blender and pressing a button. I usually heat it up in a mug in the microwave to save dishes, but if you prefer to use the stovetop to heat it up that's definitely another good option. 

For an extra-decadent dessert version, I like to top it off with some vegan whipped cream (the kind I use is made from rice milk) and an extra pinch of cinnamon. Even without the whip, it's still such a delicious cozy drink on its own. It's a deliciously healthy and nutrient-rich way to warm up and relax on a cold wintery day. 

Recipe video & written recipe below!

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Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

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Chocolate Cherry Pudding Pie Tarts

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Chocolate and cherries have been one of my favorite pairings lately. These mini pie tarts are so full of chocolatey fruity goodness, all while keeping things healthy with whole plant food ingredients. These are oil-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. The magic fluffy binding ingredient at work here is actually baked sweet potato. You won't even know it's in there, but it's the backbone of this recipe providing structure and texture to the pie filling. 

I first heard about the idea of chocolate sweet potato pudding from this recipe by The Vegan 8 and I was so amazed by how the sweet potato made a pudding consistency when blended. I kept experimenting with this idea, adding various flavors with fruits and firming up the texture with starch to make a pie filling.  The result was these decadent, yet still super healthy mini chocolate cherry pie tarts. 

Although cherries aren't in season at the moment, frozen cherries work just fine in this recipe. Just make sure to thaw and then drain them first. Cherries make the tarts extra sweet, which makes it possible to add less sugar form of maple syrup, and the best part is that they're a whole food which actually provides dietary fiber.

Thanks to this fiber, even though we are adding more sugar in the form of fruit, we are actually blunting the insulin response. If you were to eat the same meal without berries, it would cause a greater insulin spike than if you included berries in your meal. Another benefit of adding fruit, is that the polyphenols and phytonutrients can actually block some of the uptake of sugar by the cells that line our intestines. So there's some more reasons to eat lots of fruit if you needed some!

This recipe makes enough for two 4-inch diameter mini tart baking cups, but if you increase the recipe portion size and cooking time, this could make a full-sized pie.

The crust is just about as simple as it gets- made from almond flour, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Stir until it becomes clumpy and holds together when pressed, then press into a silicone or otherwise non-stick pie tart pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and then bake the crust on it's own for about 10 minutes. Then allow to cool slightly, add the pie filling and bake for 15 more minutes, or longer if making a full-sized pie. 

You could make a bunch of mini pies or even one big pie to share at holiday parties or to gift to friends, everyone will be amazed that these are actually healthy and made with sweet potato. It's the best feeling to eat delicious pie and feel still good during and after eating!

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Chocolate Cherry Pudding Pie Tarts

Sweet Potato Leek & Kale Hash

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This nutritious breakfast hash is a perfectly wholesome way to start your day and get in those dark leafy greens. For a while I thought that blending greens into smoothies was the only way they'd ever make their way into my breakfast, but on those days when I'm craving a warm hearty breakfast that's not oatmeal, veggie hash has been my go-to meal. 

This savory breakfast is probably not for everyone. I'll admit, it's a little hardcore- the kind of breakfast that maybe you'd imagine your dreadlocked, buckwheat-sprouting, kundalini yoga teacher might be into. It's probably not the right dish to serve to hungry brunch guests who are skeptical about what vegan food is. But I promise, it's still really delicious, and so full of all of the important nutrients that your body needs to make you feel super healthy and strong. 

If it helps, think of this like a scramble or stir fry, except instead of eggs we're using sweet potato, and instead of oil, we're lightening things up using just a bit of water and lemon juice. Okay, maybe it's nothing like scrambled eggs, but it's going to make you feel fantastic! This is the kind of meal you'll want to make when you need all the nutrition you can get in one easy to assemble package. 

This week I've been having a little bit too much fun in the kitchen. I love cooking gourmet, fancy meals with complicated ingredients and that require a whole days work of rolling dough and folding things into fun shapes. Unfortunately, these recipes always have lots of flour, salt, and sugar, and tend to lack the fiber and nutrition you'd get from a much simpler meal. After a day or two of gourmet experimentation, I was more than ready for a big simple bowl of veggies. So I chopped up a whole head of kale and the biggest sweet potato I could find and this hash recipe was born. 

This dish gets most of the flavor from the herbs, leek, garlic, and lemon juice, so there's not a lot of complexity going on here, but these simple ingredients allow subtle sweet flavors of the veggies to shine. If you don't have a leek, you could definitely substitute a small onion instead, but the flavor will be a little bit stronger. 

I hope you enjoy this super healthy recipe!

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Sweet Potato & Kale Hash

Rainbow Hummus Wrap [Vegan, Oil-Free]

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This rainbow hummus wrap is super healthy and so easy to make! I've been working on including more raw veggies in my meals lately and this has been one of my favorite ways to get them in.

You could definitely make this with a store bought hummus to save time, but they tend to contain a lot of oil so I like to make my own. I personally try to avoid oil in my own at home cooking. Plus, it's just not necessary in hummus. This homemade hummus is creamy and delicious enough on it's own. 

I had the idea to try and make a lightly spicy almost cheese-like pimento hummus. I usually make hummus with roasted red pepper, but this didn't seem too far off, and it turned out to be a wonderful (and slightly faster) alternative to roasting red peppers.

Pimentos are those little red things they stuff into green olives. As a kid I used to love green olives, but I hated pimentos so I would always pick them out, but as an adult I can fully appreciate the tangy taste they add to spreads and sauces. You can find pimentos at almost any grocery store in little glass jars near where the jarred olives and peppers are. 

I hope you enjoy the recipe! If you do, leave a comment down below and let me know how it turned out. 

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Rainbow Hummus Wrap

Lemon & Pomegranate Chia Seed Pudding

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Chia seed pudding is one of my favorite make-ahead breakfast recipes. I can't believe it's taken me this long to get a chia pudding recipe on my blog because it's something I've been making for years in various ways with all sorts of flavors from chocolate to matcha green tea, but the best chia pudding flavor in my opinion is lemon. I love tart fruits in sweet recipes, and fortunately it's pomegranate season here! I found the most beautiful pomegranate at the grocery store this weekend and knew right away that this week I'd be combining it with some creamy lemon pudding. 

Chia seeds are full of healthy omega 3 fats which are vital to our long term health. I try to make sure to eat at least a tablespoon of flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, or walnuts everyday as all of them are amazing sources of these important ALA fatty acid chains. A lot of people think they need to eat fish to get the long-chain EPA-DHA, and while fish will provide that, they also bioaccumulate heavy metals and carcinogens which accumulate in our bodies overtime and cause disease. Fish are also inflammatory and high in cholesterol which causes damage to our arteries.

Our own bodies are actually able to convert short-chain ALA, like that in chia seeds, into long chain EPA-DHA. While the conversion rate is small, it is enough and will still provide all of the protective benefits. Another fish-free option for getting those long chain fatty acids directly is by getting it from where the fish get it; via micro algae. There are vegan algae-based supplements, which you could take as a precaution, but I haven't had any issues getting in enough healthy seeds so the only supplement I take currently is a B12, which I think everyone should take, vegan or not. 

Chia seeds are best when they've had enough time to soak, over 8 hours is recommended, so I like to prepare it in the evening before I go to bed. Even if you just combine the chia seeds and plant milk and leave the rest of the ingredients for the morning, that's all you need to do. Then when you wake up you'll find the chia seeds have soaked up all the milk and become jelly-like. Add in the pomegranate seeds, vegan yogurt, maple syrup, lemon juice and zest and you have breakfast ready to go. I love making these in 16 oz mason jars as they keep well in the fridge for a couple days and are perfect for taking on the go. This recipe makes enough for two 16 oz jars.  

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think of it by leaving a comment down below!

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Lemon & Pomegranate Chia Seed Pudding

Sweet Potato & Cabbage Salad with Miso Tahini Dressing

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Cabbage and sweet potatoes have been the focus of nearly all of my recent recipes, but this salad has taken my enthusiasm for both of them to the next level. Crunchy raw cabbage, carrots, and bell pepper tossed with a creamy miso tahini dressing is the perfect combination. Add in some roasted sweet potatoes and you have a filling meal that almost couldn't get any healthier. 

I've never been that into salads- mainly because of lettuce. It's watery, low in nutrients, and in order to fill up on it I feel like I'd have to eat tons. So I tend to stick to vegetable soups, but raw vegetables have amazing nutritional benefits that I'd be missing out on if I didn't include them in my meal rotations.

Purple cabbage is one of the most nutritionally dense foods you can eat, as are sweet potatoes, so these two foods in the same meal make for an amazingly healthy combination. They are high in antioxidants, fiber, calcium, and many other important vitamins and minerals. 

This miso dressing is completely oil-free, but still so creamy and savory, and it totally changes the cabbage flavor for the better. The raw veggies lose that bitter taste and simply lend their fantastic crunchy texture to the savory flavors of the sauce. 

This recipe is perfect for lunch or as a side salad to be served with dinner. It will serve 2 people for lunch or 4 people as a side dish, and the best part- it's ready in under 30 minutes! 

Recipe below!

Sweet Potato & Cabbage Salad With Miso Tahini Dressing

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One-Pot Lentil and Sweet Potato Curry [Vegan, Oil-Free, Quick & Easy!]

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It's starting to feel like fall here in Washington and I find myself craving sweet potatoes now more than ever before. I especially love sweet potato in curries with warming spices like turmeric, garam masala, and cayenne pepper. All you need is one pot and roughly 30 minutes later you have a cozy bowl of delicious food to snuggle up with. 

I've been experimenting a lot lately with adding nut butters into savory stews and curries, which if you haven't tried it before it may sound a little weird, but I promise it works! It gives savory dishes the best creamy texture with no oil or coconut milk needed. If you love the taste of peanut butter go ahead and use that for this recipe, but if you're skeptical or not a nut-butter person, try using raw cashew butter, which has a very mild flavor but will still give this dish a wonderful creamy texture. 

This curry is super healthy and packed with fiber and micronutrients from whole plant foods. Lentils and sweet potatoes are two of the healthiest foods in the world, aside from dark green leafy veggies- which you can totally add in there too! Fiber is what keeps our digestive system working properly and keeps our gut bacteria friendly. Long term, high fiber consumption reduces bloating and removes toxins from our systems. Forget juice cleanses and clean up your insides with high-fiber plant foods! That's where the real healing can start.

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Lentil And Sweet Potato Curry

Cheezy Potato Quesadillas [Vegan, Oil-Free]

These potato quesadillas are exactly the healthy quesadilla replacement I've been searching for all these years since giving up the cow cheese. They are deceptively cheezy, and would make a great replacement for cheese lovers looking to make healthier food choices. The potatoes are boiled and then mashed with a rich hollandaise sauce made from cashews that is easily whipped up in the blender. 

This is another quick recipe that takes only 20 minutes! All you have to do is chop and boil potatoes, blend up a sauce, and mash the sauce into the potatoes and you have your quesadilla spread ready to go! Spread the mixture between two small tortillas (or a big tortilla folded in half) and bake for 10 minutes until lightly crispy. 

Potato quesadillas are the perfect addition to packed lunches as they store well tupperware containers and can be enjoyed warm or cold. 

I like to enjoy them with either vegan sour cream or hot sauce, but these would also go really well with salsa or other tomato based sauces. 

If you make these I'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment down below if you try it out!

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Vegan Potato Quesadillas

Pumpkin Leek Risotto + Leftover Risotto Balls!

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Is it pumpkin season yet? I may have jumped the gun on this one, but I've been obsessed with this pumpkin leek risotto lately. It has a delicate creamy flavor with a light herb seasoning and just the right amount of pumpkin flavor. 

You could spend an hour roasting a whole pumpkin or squash, and that would definitely be delicious, but for the sake of time I usually make this with canned pumpkin. That helps keeps the time on this recipe under 30 minutes, which makes it a viable option for a weeknight dinner or quick lunch. 

Since I tend to make risotto in large batches, I've started turning the leftovers into little crunchy risotto balls. Simply cool the risotto in the fridge for a few hours or overnight to firm up the mixture, then scoop out spoonfuls and hand shape into spheres. Roll the spheres in a bowl of breadcrumbs, bake in the oven, and serve with marinara sauce. 

These risotto balls make a wonderful appetizer to bring to fall parties (Labor day already?!) or to introduce people to vegan food who may not have considered before just how tasty plant-based foods can be. 

Here's what you'll need:

Not shown: Vegetable broth, Salt

The first time I made risotto, I was very intimidated and worried about ending up with a mushy mess stuck to the bottom of the pan. The key to avoiding this is to keep the heat no higher than medium and to stir constantly. This dish cooks quickly, but needs your attention and stirring for most of the cooking time (~15 minutes)

We add the vegetable broth in one cup at a time. Once the leeks are cooked, the rice has been added, and the vinegar has been absorbed by the rice, it's time to add our first cup of broth.

When the rice has absorbed most of the broth, as shown in the photo below, then you can add another cup of broth and repeat until rice is cooked and fluffy. 

The rice has absorbed our first cup of broth so now we can add the second cup. 

When all of the broth has been added and absorbed, it will look like the photo below. The rice will have become more translucent and it will be creamy and soft. 

Now we'll lower the heat to a simmer and add our herbs, pumpkin puree, and cashew parmesan. 

Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Top with additional cooked leeks for garnish.

At this point, you could serve it as it is, or allow the dish to cool and then place in the fridge overnight. Once mixture has cooled, hand roll into balls, and then coat with a breadcrumb mixture. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat, and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. 

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Pumpkin Leek Risotto

Yellow Chickpea Curry with Summer Squash and Cauliflower

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This is the perfect summer curry- lightly spicy, creamy, and full of nutrition. This recipe takes only 30 minutes or less from start to finish and is made from simple easy-to-find ingredients. 

This curry is yellow from the turmeric, which is known for being a "superfood." Honestly, I think that every whole plant food should be considered a superfood, but turmeric does have some really neat benefits like it's ability to reduce inflammation.  

This recipe uses seasonal veggies like summer squash and cauliflower, but you can make this with whichever veggies are in season for you currently like bell pepper, broccoli, carrots, or zucchini. You can even replace the chickpeas with tofu or tempeh- so many possibilities! 

Check out the recipe video to see the whole process! 

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Yellow Cauliflower Summer Squash Chickpea Curry

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Lentil & Caramelized Onion Soup With Ethiopian Berbere Spices

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Lentil soup is a classic healthy recipe, but maybe not always the most exciting. So I experimented, starting with a french onion style soup base and adding some Ethiopian Berbere spiced black lentils. I was met with the most flavor-packed lentil soup I've ever had. Not only spicy, but savory from the caramelized onions and a little tangy from balsamic vinegar and lime juice. 

Adjust the spice level to suit your tastes. the first time I made this my partner seemed to think 2 tablespoons of berbere was perfect, but for me my face was melting off. If you're sensitive to spices like me, I'd suggest starting with 1/2 tablespoon and tasting it before adding more. 

I love to caramelize the onions slowly to really bring out the sweet flavors, but if you don't have time, just cook the onions until they are translucent and soft. With the time reduced on that step, this recipe can be prepared on a busy weeknight in just over 30 minutes. Make a large batch and keep in the fridge all week for an instant filling hearty meal.

I've been trying to include more legumes into my diet as I've been noticing lately the more I eat of them, the better I feel. Lentils are one of the most fiber and protein rich plant foods around. Fiber is incredibly important and 97 percent of americans are deficient in it. Soluble fiber in lentils can lower your cholesterol and help prevent heart disease and stroke. The insoluble fiber in lentils removes excess hormones, cholesterol, and other carcinogenic substances from our systems that can cause disease. Fiber can only be found in whole plant foods.

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Lentil & Caramelized Onion Soup With Ethiopian Berbere Spices

Potato Leek Soup [Vegan, Oil-Free]

This particular potato leek soup has become one of my all time favorite easy weeknight recipes. Nutritional yeast and lime juice give it a tangy cheesy flavor which make it taste like a classic creamy potato leek soup, without the dairy and cholesterol. 

This is a super simple and easy recipe with a big payoff in both flavor and nutrition. I usually leave the potato skins on for extra nutrients and toss in some broccolini if I have it. I've made versions of this with and without broccolini and enjoyed both, so feel free to add it in or not.

If you are looking for a way to make cleaning and chopping leeks a little easier, check out this method here. Lately I find them even more pleasant to work with than onions and I love the delicate flavor they add to soups. 

If you make this recipe I'd love to hear what you think of it! I hope you love it as much as I do and that it becomes one of your go-to weeknight meals. 

Potato Leek Soup

Tofu & Vegetable Pad Thai with Spicy Peanut Lime Sauce [Oil-Free, Vegan, Gluten-Free]

Pad thai is always one of my favorite meals to order out at vegan restaurants, but I for a while doubted my abilities to make an oil-free, lower-sodium, version that could taste just as amazing. After many attempts I've ended up with a recipe that's now only healthy and delicious, but also quick and easy to make. This dish comes together in under 30 minutes so it's ideal to add to your weeknight meal rotations. 

If you're not so into peanut butter, don't be afraid! My peanut butter disliking partner loved this meal. The peanut taste is balanced out with the zesty lime juice and spicy hot sauce, so it isn't too overpowering or thick. 

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First, you'll need to press and cube a block of tofu. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Marinate the tofu for about 10 minutes. Then place in the oven to bake for 15 minutes or until outside is lightly golden. 

While tofu is baking, chop about 3 cups of vegetables. Most vegetables you have should work, but my favorites to use in a pad thai are ribboned carrot, broccoli, red bell pepper, and zuchini. 

Make the peanut sauce by combining the ingredients listed and set aside. Then heat a pan to medium and fry the garlic in 2 tablespoons of coconut milk until golden brown, about 6-7 minutes, add the rest of the vegetables and allow to cook through for another 6 minutes. If the pan starts to dry out add a few small splashes of water or vegetable broth as needed throughout the cooking process. 

After another 6 minutes have passed, pour in the peanut sauce mixture and the remaining 2 tablespoons of coconut milk. Stir to coat the veggies, then add cooked rice noodles and the baked tofu. 

Serve with additional lime juice, sesame seeds, and/or cilantro. 

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Tofu & Vegetable Pad Thai With Spicy Peanut Lime Sauce

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The Fluffiest Vegan Pancakes + Strawberry Shortcake Topping [Oil-Free, Low-Fat, Refined Sugar-Free]

These are by far the best pancakes I've made yet. Light and extra fluffy thanks to the magical bean liquid that is chickpea brine, AKA: aquafaba. Aquafaba can be whipped to form meringues and other vegan treats that would normally need whipped egg whites to be so fluffy. In this recipe they make the texture of the pancakes much more traditional like the pancakes I remember eating growing up, minus the butter, oil, and refined sugar. 

To get aquafaba, the next time you open a can of low-sodium chickpeas, save the brine in a jar for later use.

The strawberry coconut yogurt sauce topping is so delicious and naturally sweet that I barely used any maple syrup in the recipe. While whole wheat flour is not an ideal healthy whole food (whole wheat in flour form is absorbed more quickly into the body than intact grains like cracked wheat or whole wheat farina), but this dish makes a great treat for breakfast on the weekends, and because it's low-fat and oil-free you'll still feel amazing after. 

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The Fluffiest Vegan Pancakes + Strawberry Shortcake Topping

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