Vegetarian

Simple 13 Bean and Kale Soup

This makes a delicious, easily customizable soup that’s full of plant-based protein and fiber! It uses our Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Soup Mix which is available at the store.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp Olive Oil (15 mL)

1 cup Chopped Onion (150 g)

2 cups 13 Bean Soup Mix (440 g)

28 oz can Diced Tomatoes (794 g)

4-5 cloves Garlic, minced

5 medium Carrots, sliced about ¼ inch thick (400 g)

5 medium Potatoes, medium diced (750 g)

1 Tbsp Paprika

1 Tbsp Onion Powder

Freshly Cracked Black Pepper, to taste

2-3 Bay Leaves

2 qt Water (2 L)

1 Tbsp Salt (or less according to your preference)

4 cups chopped Kale (200 g)

 

Carolyn’s soup notes:

I add celery to this too. If you use thin-skinned potatoes like red potatoes or Yukon Golds you don’t need to peel the potatoes (because who has time to peel potatoes).  I’d also suggest using broth instead of water, or using a generous spoonful of Better Than Boullion to the soup as it cooks for a better flavor.  Also, feel free to add whatever additional spices sound good, I like adding some sage and rosemary to this soup too. I also feel like the onion powder is unnecessary, though I usually add two onions to a soup like this. It makes a great, hearty soup, just make sure you simmer the beans long enough!

 

See the entire recipe and directions at Bob’s Red Mill.

Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili (Vegan and GF)

I like cooking with crock pots or slow cookers since you can make things ahead of time and then have a meal ready later. Red lentils are a favorite of mine since they have a great flavor and almost dissolve when cooking, turning into a rich, thick stew. This chili recipe can be easily customized to your tastes and can be served by itself or over rice for a complete, hearty meal (and you’re basically just throwing everything into the crockpot rather than standing over a hot stove, which is preferable during summer)!

 

1 medium white or yellow onion, diced (approx. 2 cups or 300 g)

2 bell peppers, any colour, seeds removed and diced

1 carrot, peeled and diced (about 1 cup chopped, 150 g)

1 jalapeño, de-seeded and minced 

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tsp regular or smoked paprika

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes with the juices 

2 tablespoons (30 g) tomato paste

3–4 cups (750 mL) vegetable broth 

2 cups (370 g) dry red lentils

Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

 

See the entire recipe and directions at Running on Real Food.


Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed Peppers are delicious- especially when made with fresh peppers and tomatoes from the Farmer’s Market! This is a healthy spin on the traditional recipe!

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INGREDIENTS:

4-5 bell peppers

For the filling:

1 cup rice (or buckwheat, millet, quinoa)

1 cup red-lentils (or beans, chickpea, tempeh)

2 tbs. olive oil

1 onion

14.5 oz. tomatoes canned or fresh

1 handful parsley

½ tsp. salt

4 cups water

2 tbs. vegetable stock powder

Topping suggestions (you can use other toppings of your choice):

1 cup  vegan ricotta homemade

½ cup soy yogurt unsweetened


See the entire recipe and directions at The Plant Based School.

Gluten Free Pasta Salad

I love pasta salad because it’s endlessly adaptable. Feel free to switch out any of the veggies for any fresh vegetables you see at the Farmer’s Market (the Palos Heights Farmer’s Market is on Wednesdays from 8-1). Also, we have a great gluten free fusilli pasta at the store by Cadia that’s perfect for this recipe!

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Ingredients:

12 oz Gluten-Free Tri-Color Rotini*

2 Cups Chopped English Cucumber (1 large cucumber)

2 Cups Chopped Red Bell Pepper (1 medium pepper)

2 Cups Chopped Orange Bell Pepper (1 medium pepper)

2 Cups Chopped Yellow Bell Pepper (1 medium pepper)

2 Cups Halved Grape Tomatoes (1 pint)

1 Cup Chopped Red Onion (about ½ medium onion)

1 Cup Sliced Black Olives (1 3.8 oz can)


Italian Dressing:

½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

½ Cup Red Wine Vinegar

1 TB Dried Parsley

1 TB Dried Oregano

2 Tsp Dried Basil

½ Tsp Black Pepper


See the entire recipe and directions at Strength and Sunshine.

Roasted Veggies!

This is barely a recipe, but I’m posting it because roasted vegetables are so easy to make, and are a wonderful and delicious way to add more fresh vegetables to your diet. They’re a perfect side dish, and are fantastic added to pasta or rice or even eaten on their own! You can easily customize it to your personal tastes (my favorites are cauliflower, red peppers, and mushrooms).

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Any vegetables you like:

  • Cauliflower

  • Broccoli

  • Peppers

  • Mushrooms

  • Green Beans

  • Zucchini

 

You’ll also need:

  • Olive Oil

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Garlic Powder

  • Italian Seasoning

 

DIRECTIONS:

Chop vegetables into roughly similarly sized pieces (it doesn’t hugely matter, it’s just so they cook more uniformly). Also, keep in mind that they’ll shrink after roasting.

Toss chopped vegetables in a bowl with a generous pour of olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. 

Bake on an unlined cookie sheet at 425 degrees for 15-25 minutes (you may want to cook them longer or shorter depending on how soft you like your vegetables).

Enjoy immediately or refrigerate to add to upcoming meals.

After roasting, a bit of fresh lemon juice or parmesan cheese is delicious too!

Lentil Salad with Tomato and Dill

My cousin found this recipe and said it made a delicious, light summer meal. She also added a bit feta cheese to make it a little more substantial for dinner.

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INGREDIENTS:

1 cup dried lentils (preferably small French lentils)

1 large garlic clove, chopped

1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

3/4 lb tomatoes, diced (2 cups)

4 large scallions, thinly sliced (3/4 cup)

1/4 cup chopped fresh dill

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar, or to taste

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

See the entire recipe and directions at Epicurious.

Red Lentil Soup with Lemon

I love this easy soup recipe, and lentils are protein-packed and delicious and are a great vegetarian source of protein. A bowl of this makes an amazing, comforting lunch or light dinner.

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Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil, more for drizzling

1 large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Pinch of ground chile powder or cayenne, more to taste

1 quart chicken or vegetable broth

2 cups water

1 cup red lentils

1 large carrot, peeled and diced

Juice of 1/2 lemon, more to taste

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

See the entire recipe and directions at the New York Times Cooking Blog.

Quick Nori Rolls with Cucumber and Avocado

Nori wraps are what are used in sushi making, but they can also be used to make delicious rolls with a variety of fillings and ingredients. Rolling nori takes a bit of practice, but it has a wonderful end product. My third grade brownie troop made nori rolls at a girl scout meeting, so it’s certainly do-able!

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Ingredients:

4 sheets nori seaweed (available at the health food store)

1 lb. cucumbers, thinly sliced with a mandolin slicer

toasted sesame seeds

ground chili powder (optional)

1 ripe avocado, sliced into thin wedges

3 1/2 ounces tofu, cooked chicken, or fish (raw and super fresh, or cooked), cut into strips

long-stem sprouts or sprouted seeds

soy sauce, for serving


Optional additions:

simple tahini sauce

raw cashew cheese or other spread

pink radishes, thinly sliced with a mandolin slicer

large handful of small salad leaves, such as baby spinach or baby kale

fresh herbs, especially shiso or cilantro

1/2 ripe mango, sliced into strips

1/2 small jicama, peeled and cut into strips

See the entire recipe and directions at the Chocolate & Zucchini recipe blog.

Vanilla Pumpkin Seed Bites (Only 4 Ingredients!)

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of healthy fats as well as iron, magnesium, and zinc. They’re delicious to eat right out of the bag, but this simple recipe is extra delicious, and makes pumpkin seeds into a wonderful, slightly sweet snack! This recipe is vegan, Paleo, and grain free!

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Ingredients:

115 g 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp maple syrup

2 tsp coconut sugar

Water, boiled


See the entire recipe and directions at the Wallflower Kitchen!

Marinated Lentil Salad

I am a bean lover, and lentils are one of my very favorites. They’re quick cooking when compared to other legumes and are low in calories but high in plant protein, iron, folate, and fiber! This delicious salad is a great way to serve them, and it’s especially nice since it stores well.

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Ingredients:

LEMON GARLIC DRESSING

  • 1 lemon

  • 1/4 cup olive oil 

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced 

  • 1/2 Tbsp dried oregano 

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • Freshly Cracked Pepper

SALAD

  • 1 cup dry brown lentils 

  • 1/2 bunch parsley 

  • 1 pint grape tomatoes 

  • 1/4 small red onion 

  • 2 oz feta, crumbled (if you’re dairy free like me, it’s still delish without the feta)

See the entire recipe and directions at Budget Bytes.

Vegan Thai Soup

This comforting soup is comforting and absolutely delicious, plus it’s vegan and keto friendly!

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  • 1/2 julienned red onion

  • 1/2 julienned red bell pepper

  • 3 sliced mushrooms

  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

  • 1/2-inch piece of ginger root (about 1 cm), peeled and finely chopped

  • 1/2 Thai chili, finely chopped*

  • 2 cups vegetable broth or water (500 ml)

  • 1 14-ounce can coconut milk (400 ml)

  • 1 tbsp coconut, cane or brown sugar

  • 10 oz tofu, cubed (275 g)

  • 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce

  • The juice of half a lime

  • A handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

See the entire recipe and directions at the Simple Vegan Blog.

Hummus and Cucumber Appetizer Bites with Black Sesame Seeds

This appetizer recipe is light and delicious and also fits in with just about any special diets your guests may have: gluten free, paleo, low carb, vegan, dairy free… you name it. Plus they’re easy to put together and look rather gourmet on a platter. It’s a win win!

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Ingredients:

cucumbers, as many as desired (One large cucumber will make 10-14 appetizer bites)

hummus (use purchased hummus, or see links to hummus recipes in the recipe links below)

black or white sesame seeds


See the entire recipe and directions at Kalyn’s Kitchen.

Sticky Sesame Vegan Cauliflower Wings (GF)

This is an amazing appetizer that most people won’t believe uses cauliflower! It’s absolutely delicious!

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1 small head cauliflower

1/2 cup all purpose gluten free flour*

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (1/2 if you want it very spicy, leave out if you don't like spice)

1 cup crispy gluten free panko bread crumbs (seasoned with salt and pepper) OR toast your breadcrumbs slightly before using

Sauce

4 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons liquid aminos

1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

chopped scallions & sesame seeds, for garnish

NOTE: If you aren’t gluten free, feel free to substitute for regular breadcrumbs and flour.

See the entire recipe and directions at Jessica in the Kitchen.

Vegetarian Chili

This fantastic vegetarian chili makes super flavorful and healthy meatless meal! Serve it with cornbread for an extra treat!

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INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 large carrot, finely diced
1 large stalk celery, finely diced
1 jalapeño, diced (remove seeds if you don't like spice)
2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped (optional)
2½ tbsp chili powder
½ tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt + black pepper, to taste
1-28oz can diced tomatoes, with juices
¼ cup tomato paste
1-15oz can pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
1-15oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

See the entire recipe and directions at Hummusapian.

Confetti Quinoa and Chickpea Lettuce Wraps (Vegan)

This makes an absolutely gorgeous, healthy lunch! Replacing tortillas with lettuce leaves reduces your carb load and adds an extra boost of health!

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Ingredients:

2 cups cooked quinoa
1½ cups cooked chickpeas
1 cup diced bell pepper
1 cup shredded kale
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
2 tbsp chopped chives
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp hemp oil (olive, avocado, flax, or sacha inchi oils are also fine)
1 tsp dijon mustard
Sea salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
16 romaine lettuce leaves

Read the entire recipe and directions at The Full Helping.

Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup

The cauliflower in this soup helps to make this a nice, substantial soup while still being low in calories. Plus the recipe is both Paleo and vegan!

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INGREDIENTS:

5-6 cups of cauliflower florets (about 3-4 cups when "riced'). See notes.
2- 3 tbsp curry powder or curry seasoning (turmeric should is usually included in the curry seasoning/powder)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp sea salt
2-3 tbsp olive oil for roasting
3/4 cup red onion chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp olive oil or avocado oil
8 kale leaves with stems removed and chopped
2 cups (5oz) chopped carrots
4 cups broth (vegetable or chicken if not vegan)
1 cup almond milk or coconut milk (the drinking kind works best and is smoother).
1/2 tsp red pepper or chili flakes (use less if you don't want as spicy)
1/2 tsp black pepper
salt to taste after cooking

See the entire recipe and directions at Cotter Crunch.

Low Carb Zucchini Lasagna (dairy free)

Zucchini is such a versatile ingredient, and it makes a fantastic substitute for lasagna noodles in this recipe for a delicious, grain free meal!

Ingredients:

3 medium zucchini
2 1/2 cups tomato pasta sauce
14 oz firm tofu
1 tsp salt, plus extra for the zucchini
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/3 cup nutritional yeast or parmesan, optional
1 cup shredded mozzarella (Daiya vegan shreds are a fantastic dairy free option)

To make this recipe even easier, you can substitute Tofutti's "Better Than Ricotta" that we have available in our store's refrigerated section.  

See the entire recipe and directions at Chocolate Covered Katie.

 

Corn and Summer Vegetable Sauté

This is a perfect summer dish that uses veggies fresh from the farmer's market!  

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup chopped green onions (about 4)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup sliced fresh okra (about 4 ounces)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper (about 1)
1 finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

See the entire recipe and directions at My Recipes.

Simple German Cucumber Salad

This salad is light and tasty and is a snap to put together!  It's a welcome addition to any summer meal!

  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large cucumbers, peeled, very thinly sliced
  • 1/2 sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill weed, chopped (or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried)

See the entire recipe and directions at Fearless Fresh.

Zucchini Burrito Boats

These are low carb and delicious, and are easily made dairy free!

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 large zucchini
  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1 cup salsa (use your preferred level of spiciness)
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored and diced
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup corn kernels
  • 1 jalapeno (or poblano pepper), cored and diced
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • salt to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar/monterey jack cheese or Daiya shreds for a dairy free option

Read the entire recipe and directions at Make Thyme for Health.