Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Potato Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

When my CSA vegetable box overflows with potatoes and Brussels sprouts during the winter, a version of this recipe is what ends up being for dinner. I love making it a full meal by tossing smoked tofu with the veggies before roasting, or keep it soy-free and add some chickpeas.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Potato Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

The words “salad” and “winter” don’t always jive when you’re trying to ward off the cold weather, but the roasted vegetables keep me feeling toasty. And when it’s paired with a creamy tahini dressing, I’m definitely not going to turn it down. This recipe highlights both, along with So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk Beverage—a staple in my kitchen for adding creaminess to just about anything.

My friends at So Delicious Dairy-Free are compiling their favourite creamy salads and creamy salad dressings, and they asked me to contribute to the mix. My arm doesn’t need to be twisted, especially for something I’d be making for dinner anyway! If you need some more inspiration for that winter salad bowl, I encourage you to head on over to their collection and start bookmarking your favourites.

But before you do, I say, get started on this one—I think you’ll find it… ahem… so delicious.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Potato Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

  • Servings: about 6 servings
  • Print

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon brown mustard
Sea or Himalayan salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 pounds small red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed (see Note)
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, shredded
1/4 cup So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Coconut Beverage
3 tablespoons roasted tahini paste
1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 teaspoons capers, drained and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
Baby spinach, for serving

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the olive oil, mustard, a dash of salt, and some ground pepper in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Put the potatoes in a large bowl. Add about three-quarters of the oil mixture. Mix until coated. Spread the potatoes on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 25 minutes.

While the potatoes are in the oven, put the Brussels sprouts and onions in the large bowl. Add the remaining oil mixture, mixing until coated. Once the 25 minutes have passed, stir the potatoes, then add the Brussels sprouts mixture to the pan (if you don’t have room, you can use two pans, side-by-side, in the oven). Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender, and the sprouts and onions are cooked through and starting to brown. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the carrots.

In a large glass measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the nondairy milk, tahini, cider vinegar, lemon juice, capers, and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Depending on the consistency of the tahini, you may need to add additional nondairy milk, however, the final mixture should be thick. Pour the mixture into the potato mixture. Stir to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature over baby spinach.

Note: My Brussels sprouts come from my CSA share, and their fresh-picked local goodness makes them much more tender than the imported stuff from the store. I kept them whole for this recipe, but if you have large or very dense sprouts, you’ll want to slice them in half first.

(Disclosure statement: I received monetary compensation and free product coupons from So Delicious Dairy-Free for taking part in this campaign. I only, however, promote and partner with companies I love and use regularly in my own kitchen. As always, all opinions and recommendations expressed are completely my own.)

Basic Buckwheat Granola

This granola recipe is a standard go-to recipe with countless variations. It has only a hint of maple syrup for sweetness and uses applesauce for added moisture without relying on additional sugar or oil. I love using a fruity, medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil or virgin coconut oil as a main flavor agent,  along with a dark maple syrup, rather than having these ingredients in the background. The spices, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit you use can be totally up to you. 

Basic Buckwheat Granola

You’ll want it to sprinkle it on everything, eat it on its own, and will soon become a staple.

Basic Buckwheat Granola

  • Servings: about 12 servings
  • Print
  

2 1/2 cups buckwheat groats (not kasha)
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried large-flaked unsweetened coconut (see Notes)
6 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (see Notes)
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (see Notes)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine sea or Himalayan salt

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Put the buckwheat groats, pecans, walnuts, and coconut in a large bowl. Put the applesauce, olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt in a medium glass measuring cup. Mix to combine. Pour the mixture over the buckwheat mixture. Stir until well mixed.

Spread the mixture in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes, then stir the mixture. Bake for another 15 to 25 minutes, until the mixture is dry to the touch. The granola will firm as it cools. Let cool completely, and store in an airtight container.

Basic Buckwheat Granola 2

Triple Chocolate Yule Log

A gluten-free, top-8 allergy-free, and vegan yule log? Yes, please. This one features a rich chocolate truffle mousse inside chocolate sponge cake topped with a creamy buttercream. A typical yule log recipe includes a lot of eggs and little fat, lending itself to the texture typical of a jelly roll sponge. Using the right combination of flours, baking powder, a bit of xanthan gum, and just enough oil to make up for the amount in the eggs helps deliver the same result.

For a variation, add grated orange zest to the filling, or spread a thin layer of raspberry jam on top of the filling before rolling. I originally developed this recipe for Allergic Living‘s 2014 holiday newsletter.

Festive Holiday Yule Log1

Triple Chocolate Yule Log

   

For the cake:
1/2 cup icing sugar, for dusting the towel and for decoration
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup arrowroot flour
2 tablespoons quinoa flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I like Hershey’s Dark)
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened nondairy milk
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon coconut oil, plus more for oiling the pan
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cider vinegar

For the filling:
1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
8 oz (226 grams) nondairy semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the frosting:
1/2 cup nondairy buttery spread, such as Earth Balance
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 to 5 tablespoons unsweetened nondairy milk
2 1/3 to 2 2/3 cups icing sugar, sifted

To make the cake, preheat the oven to 375º F. Lightly oil a 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly-roll pan (a baking sheet with sides). Line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease the paper with coconut oil. Dust a clean dishtowel with icing sugar, laying it out flat (you will invert the hot cake onto the dishtowel immediately after baking, so you want to have this ready.

Put the sorghum flour, quinoa flour, arrowroot flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk well to combine.

Put the nondairy milk, ground flaxseed, and oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once the mixture starts to steam and the oil is melted, whisk well to combine. Pour the mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer.

Add the sugar and vanilla to the nondairy milk mixture. Beat on high for about 2 minutes, until well combined. Turn the speed of the mixer to low. Add the flour mixture, beating until just mixed, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Turn off the mixer and stir in the vinegar.

Spread the batter onto the prepared pan, leaving a border of about 1-inch from the sides. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes, until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.

Carefully invert the cake onto the dishtowel. Peel the parchment off of the top of the cake. Starting at one of the long sides, and using the towel as an aid, gently roll the cake jelly-roll style (you will be rolling the towel inside of it). Cool completely in the towel.

As the cake cools, make the filling. Put the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Place the chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl. Once the coconut milk is steaming (but not boiling), pour it immediately over the chocolate chips. Let stand 10 minutes, then stir until the chocolate chips are completely melted. Refrigerate for about 1 hour until cool (it should be like pudding). Transfer the mixture to the stand mixer and whip on high for about 1 minute until the texture of mousse. Put the mixture back into the refrigerator.

Once the cake is cool, remove the filling from the refrigerator and unroll the cake, removing the towel. Spread the filling evenly over the cake to about 1-inch from the edge. Reroll the cake to form a log. Place the cake, seam side down, on a serving platter. Refrigerate while making the frosting.

To make the frosting, put the buttery spread in the stand mixer. Beat on medium-high for about 3 minutes, until fluffy and smooth. Turn the mixer to low speed. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of the non-dairy milk. Beat until well combined. Add 1 cup of the confectioners’ sugar. Beat until smooth. Alternately add the remaining confectioners’ sugar and non-dairy milk until the mixture is smooth. Turn to high speed and beat for 4 to 5 minutes, until creamy and fluffy.

Remove the cake from the refrigerator. To make a branch coming out of the side of the log, cut a 4-inch diagonal slice off one end of the cake, placing the cut side of the piece on the side of the remaining cake. Spread the frosting over the whole cake.

Use the tines of a fork to create a rustic “bark” effect in the frosting. Dust with icing sugar for “snow”. Serve at room temperature.