Sunday, June 29, 2014

Easy Vegan Fajitas

By now you have realized just how easy it is to make your favorite Tex-Mex weeknight meals vegan.  One more dish is needed to round out my coverage of Tex-Mex. Fajitas are just as easy and versatile as the other two, and lends itself well to a more vegetable centred meal. Typically when making fajitas you would saute up some peppers and onions along with either chicken or beef. As before, where there is meat, substitute beans. I like black beans or kidney beans in my fajitas.
Start by frying up your veggies, and dint be afraid to add other things in too - mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, whatever you like! Once your veggies are tender crisp, add a can of beans (drained and rinsed of course) and throw in a package of fajita seasoning mix and water.
Serve it in a flour tortilla (or corn tortilla if you are avoiding gluten) and top with salsa and lettuce, and enjoy!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Chili SIN Carne

Chili is a classic, satisfying comfort food that is very easily transformed into a vegan dish that would please even the most skeptical omnivores.  Well, unless those omnivores don't like beans, in which case they should stay clear of this blog altogether.  Chili is also a good make-ahead meal that can be frozen for last-minute weeknight dinners, and hearty packed lunches.

Vegan Chili

1 large or 2 small cooking onions, chopped
1 sweet pepper, chopped
additional veggies (optional - zucchini, celery, broccoli, whatever strikes your fancy)
2 cans beans (kidney beans, black beans, lentils... up to you!)
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn
1 package chili seasoning
hot peppers or hot sauce to taste (optional)
water (as needed to achieve desired consistency)

Saute onion and pepper in a large pot til onions soften.  Add remaining ingredients, simmer til veggies are cooked (15-20 minutes).  Mash the beans a bit with a potato masher, or give it a few quick zings with an immersion blender to help thicken up the liquid (but you still want most of the beans to be whole).

Pairs well with garlic bread, gloomy days, and flannel shirts.