french dip

 

Overview

Time: 20 minutes
Dishes: medium pot 

Hello, hello Dear Readers!

I offer you another meatless, vegetarian and vegan family favorite - and very fast to prepare, too! The only catch is that you need to have the seitan ready. I highly recommend making the Easy Simple Seitan since it is very simple to make and fast. A loaf can be done in 45 to 60 minutes and costs a fraction of commercially available setian.

Good news on the seitan, besides that it is easy and fast, is that it freezes very well, so make it and freeze it for later use. 

The au jus here is just perfect for this sandwich. I recommend making your own Worcestershire sauce because it is easy, fast and much cheaper. It also tastes better, which dominoes into making the dip taste better, too. However, use bottled if you don't have the time or desire.

NOTE: It is important to the toast the roll well, otherwise the dip will become too soggy.

Enjoy!

Speedy Cooking Tips:

• Put the broth on to bring to boil first. Reduce to simmer.
• Add the seasoning as you get them ready; no need to wait to bring to boil first.
• Slice the seitan as thin as you can while the broth simmers. 
• Toast the bread while the seitan simmers in the au jus. 

French Dip Sandwich

Makes 4 servings 

easy

 

1. Au Jus: Combine the broth, thyme, oregano and vegan butter in a medium or large pot. Bring to boil and reduce to simmer. Cook for 5 minutes.

3 cups vegetable broth (or 3 cups water and 1 Tablespoon mix)

3 tablespoons vegan worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons vegan butter

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 teaspoon oregano

2. Seitan: Add the seitan to the Au Jus, return to simmer and cook for 5 minutes:

1 (16-ounce) loaf Easy Simple Seitan, sliced as thin as possible 

3. Serve: Split 4 rolls, toast and fill with equal portions of Seitan from the Au Jus. Serve with the Au Jus on the side: 

4 hard rolls or Aquafaba rolls

Sliced Seitan 

Au jus

© 2020 Copyright Zsu Dever. All rights reserved.

pin it!

fuji apple salad

Overview

Time: 20 minutes
Dishes: skillet, measuring cup, salad spinner

Heads Up! dried apples and apple butter

Hello, hello Dear Readers!

This one was on my table in 15 minutes, I kid you not, which is amazing for a salad!  

Every time I make this meatless, vegetarian and vegan salad I wonder why I forget how delicious apple butter is! Heads up on this meatless, vegetarian, and vegan recipe - it needs apple butter and dried apples. This is like the Panera salad that I would never have because of the actual chicken involved (so, I think it's like it!), but since it is really tasty and easy to make, there is nothing missing for anyone.

I use plain yogurt for the dressing, but you can do the mayo if you want. You can also use Gardein or chickpeas with equal success. If you can't find dried apples, use a fresh apple, sliced, and add some croutons for added crunch. In addition, those pecans are glazed by the time the dish is ready, so it brings some nice texture there, as well.

My hubs added Follow Your Heart Blue Cheese Dressing, but, for me, the apple butter dressing is just perfect. But he does have a point; apple butter and blue cheese pair well. Your call! 

Enjoy!

Speedy Cooking Tips:

• Follow the recipe; it is easy and flows appropriately. 
• You can use frozen Gardein strips or scallopini. Use a lid for the Scallopini if still frozen. The strips do not need a lid. 

 

Fuji Apple Salad

Makes 3-4 servings 

easy//moderate (ingredients list kicks it to moderate)

1. Glaze: Whisk the ingredients in a measuring cup and add to a medium or large skillet:

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon lemon-pepper or Mrs. Dash

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt to taste

 

2. Protein: Heat the Glaze over medium heat. Add and cook until golden brown and the Glaze is absorbed, about 10 to 13 minutes, stirring as needed:  

4 Gardein scallopini, sliced or 1 (15-oz) chickpeas, drained

1 cup pecans

 

3. Dressing: Whisk the ingredients in the same measuring cup:

1/4 cup vegan mayo or plain yogurt

3 tablespoons apple butter

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

 

4. Salad: Combine in a large bowl and divide as desired:

8 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped

3 cups kale or spinach, chopped

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

2 cups dried apple slices

1 cup shredded vegan cheese (optional)

     

5. Serve: Serve the Salad with the Protein and the Dressing.

© 2020 Copyright Zsu Dever. All rights reserved.

pf chang's-style lettuce wrap

Hello, hello, Dear Raders!

There is so much information out in the web-osphere and I am sure each blog holds a special place in your heart, whether it is for the recipes, the photos, the personal annecdotes or the gabbiness of the site, but I wonder what attracts you to this blog? I would love to focus on the content you care about instead of trying to mind read over the internet. If you wouldn't mind slapping a comment to the bottom with your preference, I will try my best to make you happy.

Introduction

To get back into blogging, I am sharing an easy meatless, vegetarian, vegan recipe and I want to start ranking the difficulty and time it should take to cook a recipe. With that in mind, I have come up with this visual, which breaks it down by time, ingredients and dishes needed to prepare and cook ...

Of course, I reserve the right (and probably the need) to update or make changes to this chart as the concept evolves, but these are the expectations I look forward to achieving. 

Overview

Time: 20 minutes
Dishes: skillet, bowl, measuring cup
Side Recommendations: Cooked rice and steamed vegetables

So, dear readers, here is the first recipe. It is a throw-back to the times when eating out was a thing (pre-pandemic era). Here is my version of PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps, but if you serve it with rice it can become a meal. Heat the wok (or cast iron skillet, as in my case) and get to cooking. 

I list this as an easy recipe, without the optional dipping sauce, cuz let's face it, sauces take forever and a day to make. Skip it, use hot mustard or chili oil instead (or Sriracha) and you're still in good shape.

Speedy Cooking Tips

• Pull out all ingredients and dishes before you start.
• Heat the cast iron skillet or wok while you chop the protein.
• Mince the other ingredients while the protein cooks.
• Prepare the sauces while the dish cooks.
• Clean the lettuce while the dish cooks.

Lettuce Wraps

Makes 4 servings 

1. Dipping Sauce (optional): mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Set aside. 

Dipping Sauce (optional):

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 cup water

1/2 tablespoon tamari

1/2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/2 tablespoon ketchup

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon toasted sesame seed oil

2. Stir Fry Sauce: mix all the ingredients and set aside.

Stir Fry Sauce:

3 tablespoon tamari

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

3. Stir Fry: Heat the oil in a large skillet or work over medium-high heat. Add the protein and cook until golden, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the water chestnuts, mushrooms and onions. Cook until the chestnuts are golden, another 5 minutes.

Stir Fry:

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 seitan cutlets, 1 package firm tofu or 4 Gardein scallopini, chopped

1 (8-oz) can water chestnuts, minced

1 cup mushrooms, minced (optional)

1/4 small onion, minced

 

5. Add the Stir Fry Sauce, mix and cook until it evaporates about 1 minute.

6. Serve the Stir Fry with the lettuce leaves and optional Dipping Sauce or chili oil or hot mustard and optional rice. 

For Serving:

Lettuce leaves

Fried rice noodles (optional)

Cooked rice (optional)

© 2020 Copyright Zsu Dever. All rights reserved.