Tag: vegan

Thai-Inspired Green Bean and Mango Salad

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With easy ingredients that takes seconds to prepare, this salad takes the four dominant Thai senses—sour, sweet, salty, bitter—into a simple, but flavorful, side dish.

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Thai Green Bean and Mango Salad

1 pound (454g) green beans, ends trims
1 unripe green mango, thinly sliced
1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons (45mL) finely chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons (30mL) unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon (15mL) dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon (5mL) toasted sesame oil (get the really good stuff. Trust me.)
1/8 teaspoon (1mL) garlic powder
Salt to taste
Red chili flakes
Toasted black sesame seeds, for garnish

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Have a bowl of ice water ready. Add the green beans to the boiling water. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes, under tender crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beans, putting them into the ice water. Drain and set aside.

Put the mango, red pepper, red onion, and cilantro in a large bowl. Add the green beans and toss to combine. Put the vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic powder, a few shakes of salt, and a sprinkle of chili flakes in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Toss with the green bean mixture, coating well. Let sit at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with sesame seeds, adjusting seasoning to taste before serving.

The Best Chocolate Buttercream. Ever

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So here’s the deal.

I have a really, really good chocolate buttercream recipe in my book The Allergy-Free Cook Bakes Cakes and Cookies. For a long time, it held the position of my favourite chocolate buttercream. Not necessarily my favourite chocolate frosting (hello? Have you tried the Chocolate Macadamia Frosting in the book? That’s my favourite…), but definitely the best chocolate buttercream. I mean, that’s why it is in the book after all.

And then I made this.

the best chocolate buttercream ever - gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, dairy-free

The Best Chocolate Butter Cream. Ever.

  • Servings: To generously frost a 2-layer 9-inch round cake
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4 ounces (112 grams) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 cups icing sugar, sifted
1/2 cup vegan buttery spread
3 tablespoons unsweetened nondairy coconut beverage (almond should work fine), plus more as needed (about 1/3 cup more)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine sea or Himalayan salt
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

Melt the chocolate over a double boiler. Let cool to room temperature (or, if you’re like me, be impatient and put the bowl in front of the fan in your makeshift Cooling Station).

Put the icing sugar, vegan buttery spread, 3 tablespoons of the nondairy beverage, vanilla extract, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, beat until fluffy and well-combined, scraping down the sides as needed, for about 3 minutes.

Turn the mixer to low speed and stream in the chocolate. Scrape down the sides again, then beat for two minutes. Add the cocoa powder and a few splashes of nondairy beverage. Beat again, adding more nondairy beverage as needed, until light, fluffy, and luscious.

Sample it a few times, then spread it on the cooled cake, licking the utensils, bowl, mixer (unplugged), as needed.

Salted Maple Caramel Corn with Crunchy Lentils, Dried Cherries, and Cashews

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Caramel corn is loaded with nostalgia for me; when I was young, it was a tradition to make it when we would sleep over at my grandma and grandpa’s house. I’m pretty sure that grandma didn’t load hers with lentils, but she’s definitely the first person I think to tell when I have a hankering for this salty sweet deliciousness. Sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy… This maple-kissed caramel corn has all your favorite tastes and textures rolled into one. Of course, if you have a hot-air popper (which I don’t have), you can nix the step for making the popcorn on the stovetop, and use the appliance, instead.

Along with the Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Pie, this was made for the Lentil Recipe Revelations Challenge.

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Salted Caramel Corn with Crunchy Lentils, Dried Cherries, and Cashews

1/2 cup dried red lentils
Fine sea salt
1 tablespoon coconut oil, plus more for the pans
2/3 cup popcorn kernels
1 1/2 cups dried sweet cherries
1 heaping cup salted cashews, toasted
1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
2/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup vegan buttery spread, such as Earth Balance
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Soak the red lentils in about 3 cups water for 4 hours. Drain, rinse well, and drain again. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the lentils in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Bake on the centre rack for about 30 minutes, until the lentils are crisp. Cool completely.

Once the lentils are cool, preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Lightly oil two baking sheets.

Melt the coconut oil in a large pot or dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels and cover. Let cook until the kernels begin to pop, then reduce to the heat to medium-low. Continue to cook, shaking the pan frequently, until the popping has slowed down. Remove from heat. When the popping has stopped, pour the popcorn into a large bowl. Add the crunchy lentils, dried cherries, and cashews.

Put the brown sugar, maple syrup, and vegan buttery spread in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, and cook for 4 minutes, stirring once. Remove from heat, and stir in the vanilla extract, salt, and baking soda. Mix well, then working quickly, pour the mixture over the popcorn mixer. Mix well (a metal spoon is easiest here) to coat.

Spread the mixture on the two baking sheets in a single layer. Bake on the centre rack for 35 minutes, stirring once halfway. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

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