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3 Ingredient Vegan Gnocchi

October 29, 2014 15 Comments

Gnocchi-Pasta-Vegan The first time I ever tried gnocchi was 2 years ago. I was browsing Pinterest (’cause duh, what else would I be doing with my time?) and came across this mysterious dish called “gnocchi”. Pasta made out of potatoes and flours.

Pu-lease. I am too sophisticated for that.

But I checked out the recipe anyway. I’m inquisitive like that. It looked easy (ha!) and the photos were mouth-watering so I thought I’d give it a try for dinner the next night when my best friend was coming over. Best friends forgive you when you mess up new recipes.

Vegan-Gnocchi But wouldn’t you know it – my friend, who is Italian (!!!), actually helped me make the gnocchi that night because her grandmother had taught her. We had her granny on speed-dial during the whole process, and every time we got stuck on something (this recipe was supposed to be EASY, you guys!), we’d give her a ring, she’d sigh at our lack of gnocchi knowledge, and proceed to tell us what to do next.

After 3 hours (OMG 3 HOURS MAKING “EASY” GNOCCHI), we were done. Starving, exhausted, but so proud of ourselves! It was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.

Gnocchi-Vegan And then I had to go and become vegan. And so I can’t make Italian granny’s recipe anymore because “the eggs are important”. I think she’d lose her mind if I asked her “would flax eggs work”. And I can’t have a little old Italian lady hating me, so let’s avoid asking her that, mmkay?

But then recently I really, really wanted gnocchi. It came out of nowhere. You know when you’re in the store and you see the most beautiful dragonfruit ever and even though you’ve never had dragonfruit before, you just want to dig right in, right there in the middle of the grocery store.

THAT. That right there.

Homemade-Vegan-Gnocchi Imagine that feeling times infinity and that’s how I felt about gnocchi last week. For two days straight, it was all I could think about. Could I use flax eggs? (Shut up, brain!) Could I just eliminate the eggs altogether? What was I going to do? How could I make vegan gnocchi that actually tasted good (and didn’t take 3 hours to make – ’cause no, thanks – not gonna happen again)?

Homemade-Gnocchi-Vegan

Eventually, I got so desperate that I just started throwing ingredients into a bowl. Flour all over my shirt, in my hair, and mashed potatoes stuck to every surface in my kitchen. But did I care? Nuh-uh. I was making gnocchi!

With a bit of trial and error, I managed to make the most delicious, perfect little gnocchi friends I’ve ever tasted. I even pat myself on the back, I was so proud. And then I ate my way through that pile of gnocchi in no time flat. OMGOSHHHHHH I MISS YOU, GNOCCHI!

Vegan-Gnocchi-Pasta

Not only is this gnocchi easy to make, it also uses just 3 ingredients. What?! Yes. 3. As in 1, 2, 3. Why do Italian grandmother’s have to make gnocchi so complicated? The quicker I can get gnocchi in my face the better, and this 2-ingredient recipe is my new go-to when I’m craving pasta pillows for dinner.

Homemade Vegan Gnocchi
 
Print
Prep time
5 mins
Cook time
2 hours 35 mins
Total time
2 hours 40 mins
 
Author: Vegan Insanity
Recipe type: Entree
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 6 medium Russet potatoes
  • 3 cups kamut flour (or all-purpose)
  • 1 tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375F. Poke your potatoes with a fork and place on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 1 hour, or until a knife can be inserted into the middle of the potato easily.
  2. Slice the potatoes down the middle lengthwise and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
  3. With a clean kitchen towel, grab hold of one of the potatoes and scoop the flesh out. Repeat with remaining potatoes.
  4. Pass your potato flesh through a potato ricer and place it all on a clean surface in your kitchen (the counter, the table, etc.).
  5. Gently spread out the potatoes on your surface and start sprinkling the flour on top, about a cup at a time. Cut the flour into the potatoes with a large spatula. Once the flour is absorbed, add another cup of flour, repeat and add ½ cup of flour and cut it in, as well. If you need the final ½ cup flour, add it, and cut it in. If you don't need it, just leave it out. You should be able to form the dough into a large disk.
  6. Dust with flour and then wrap your disk in plastic wrap and allow to sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes.
  7. Cut a chunk of the dough off of the disk and roll it until it is about ½ inch thick. Cut the roll into 1-inch pieces. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  8. Heat a large pot of water over high heat. Once the water is boiling, add 1 tsp salt, then add a bunch of the gnocchi (do this in batches - don't over-crowd them or they won't cook properly). They should sink to the bottom and then float to the top when they are done (about 2-3 minutes).
  9. Serve with marinara, vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil or parsley.
3.4.3177

 

Filed Under: Entrees, Recipes Tagged With: dinner, nut free option, oil free, potatoes, soy free

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

September 11, 2014 9 Comments

Vegan-Sweet-Potato-Shepherds-Pie

Fall is in the air. Can you smell it?

Though it’s not technically fall yet, I have already started making fall foods, because fall foods are the BEST EVER EVER.

Like this sweet potato shepherd’s pie. Gluten-free and loaded with good stuff like lentils, peas, carrots and corn. Perfect for fall.

Shepherds-Pie

You can really add any veggies you’d like to this dish, but I’ve always loved corn, peas and carrots. Along with celery, onions and garlic for some flavour, of course. I also swapped the traditional potato topping and used sweet potato instead.

Sweet potato:

Is a good source of magnesium (which helps with relaxation)
Is a source of vitamin D, which is hard to get in a vegan diet
Is naturally sweet-tasting
Contains almost twice as much fiber than other types of potatoes
Is good for your heart

So go ahead – stuff your face with sweet potatoes!

Shepherds-Pie-Vegan

I love the hint of sweetness that the sweet potato brings to this dish. It really balances nicely with the vegetables and seasonings.

I always add a sprinkle of paprika on top of my shepherd’s pie, both for flavour and because it looks pretty. And good looking food just tastes better. It’s a fact. Look it up.

So let’s eat up, my friend! This sweet potato shepherd’s pie is not gonna last long around me – get it while you can!

Sweet-Potato-Shepherds-Pie

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
60 mins
Total time
1 hour 10 mins
 
Author: Vegan Insanity
Recipe type: Dinner
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled & chopped into small pieces
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup diced celery
  • ½ cup diced onions
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • ½ cup diced carrots
  • 4½ cups cooked lentils
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp non-dairy milk (I used almond)
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • paprika & fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Steam your sweet potatoes and set aside.
  3. While the sweet potatoes are heat a large pan over medium heat. Once warmed, add a tbsp or so of oil, then add in the diced celery, onion, garlic, tomatoes and carrots. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until softened.
  4. Add the cooked lentils and soy sauce to the veggies, and heat until warmed through.
  5. Once your sweet potatoes are finished steaming, mash with the non-dairy milk some salt & pepper.
  6. Scoop the lentil & veggie mix to the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish, then spread the mashed sweet potatoes over top and spread in an even layer.
  7. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the top has browned lightly. Sprinkle with a bit of paprika and fresh parsley, if desired. Serve warm.
3.2.2807

Vegan-Shepherds-Pie

Filed Under: Entrees, Recipes Tagged With: beans and legumes, dinner, gluten free, nut-free, potatoes, soy free

Loaded Skillet Potato Nachos

June 5, 2014 8 Comments

Skillet-Potato-Nachos-Vegan

Just look at this skillet full of yumminess. Delish, right?

Well, it was, let me tell you that. It was so. damn. good. Just like all nachos. I’ve never met a plate of nachos I didn’t like.

I usually make nachos with tortilla chips – but recently tried them with potatoes, since I was out of chips.

And guess what. Potato nachos? Even better!

Skillet-Potato-Nachos

The velvety smooth nacho cheese sauce really makes these nachos, so don’t skip it. Please don’t skip it. Your nachos just won’t be the same.

The cheese sauce makes a lot, so you will have some leftover that will last at least 5 days in the refrigerator. Simply heat it up and dip some tortilla chips in it (see – that‘s what you can do with the tortilla chips – dipping in nacho cheese!).

Potato-Nachos-Vegan

I wanted some really sexy nachos, so I went a bit crazy with the toppings. Feel free to cut some things out if they don’t suit your fancy or you’re a bit strapped for time (just not the nacho cheese – it’s a must!).

Your toppings can be just about anything you desire, too. I added olives, tomatoes and green onions, but feel free to add whatever you have on hand and enjoy.

Vegan-Potato-Nachos

 

One thing I must mention is that these vegan potato nachos don’t re-heat well. They will be soggy. Eat them as soon as they’re ready (I think  you’ll find it pretty hard to end up with leftovers anyway – they are too good to leave alone!).

Even my almost 5-year old and 2 year-old ate these – and they are some of the pickiest eaters on the planet!

Now who’s ready for a plate full of potato nachos? Come and get ’em!

Vegan-Skillet-Potato-Nachos

Loaded Skillet Potato Nachos
 
Print
Prep time
30 mins
Cook time
25 mins
Total time
55 mins
 
Author: Vegan Insanity
Recipe type: Appetizer, Snack
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Potatoes
  • 2 medium russet potatoes, sliced thin (I used my mandolin for even slices)
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
Taco Meat
  • 1 cup walnuts, soaked for at least 2 hours
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked for at least 2 hours
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
Nacho Cheese Sauce
  • 1¼ cup water
  • 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • heaping ¼ tsp paprika
  • heaping ½ tsp onion powder
  • heaping ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 large roasted red pepper
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
Cashew Cream
  • ½ cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours
  • ¼ cup water (or more depending on how thin you want the cream to be)
Guacamole
  • 3 large avocados, peeled & pitted
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • ½ small tomato, sliced & seeded
  • 1 medium garlic clove
  • ¼ cup red onion, chopped small
  • ¼ cup parsley
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Toppings
  • Olives
  • Tomatoes
  • Green Onions
Instructions
Potatoes
  1. Preheat your oven to 425F and spray your cast iron skillet with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Once you've sliced your potatoes, dump them into a bowl fulled with ice water. Let them soak for about 5 minutes, then remove to a clean kitchen towel and pat dry.
  3. Layer your potatoes around the skillet, filling it up completely. It's okay to let them overlap a little but, but not too much, otherwise your potatoes won't crisp up as well.
  4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender and have browned nicely. Remove from the oven.
  5. At this point, you can take the potatoes out to individual plates and then add your toppings, or you can leave them in the skillet, add the toppings, and scoop some out for each person. It's messy, but it's fun! Top with nacho cheese, taco meat, your toppings of choice (I used tomatoes, olives and green onions), a drizzle of cashew cream and some guacamole.
Taco Meat
  1. Add drained walnuts, drained sun-dried tomatoes, garlic powder, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper to a food processor and process until combined, but still a bit chunky.
Nacho Cheese Sauce
  1. Add all ingredients to a food processor or high-powdered blender and process/blend until smooth.
  2. Pout mixture into a medium pot over medium heat and warm it up for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
Cashew Cream
  1. Add drained cashews and a bit of water to a food processor or high-powdered blender and process/blend until smooth. Add more water if you need it, to get it to your desired consistency.
Guacamole
  1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth or a bit chunky (whatever you prefer).
3.2.2704

 

Filed Under: Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers Tagged With: dinner, lunch, potatoes, soy free

Warm Potato & Lentil Salad

May 27, 2014 6 Comments

Vegan-Lentil-Potato-Salad

It seems as though there are people that love lentils and people that hate lentils – but no one in between. You don’t hear people say “lentils are okay” or “lentils are good, but not great”.

No – you hear “lentils are awesome!” or “lentils are gross!”.

Which one are you? I hope you’re the “lentils are awesome!” person, because if not, I’m afraid you won’t be too eager to try this recipe (but you should, because it’s SO SO good).

Vegan-Lentil-and-Potato-Salad

I found this recipe on Smitten Kitchen back in February, and put it on my to-make list, then promptly forgot about it.

Until last week when I was cleaning up the files and bookmarks on my computer and I found it again. I emailed myself the link so I wouldn’t lose the recipe for a second time, and then made it the next day for lunch.

The only thing I did differently, was that I omitted the shallots from Deb’s recipe, partly because I didn’t have any, and partly because my husband despises them. I also used less red wine vinegar and less chopped parsley. I also added a bit of onion powder to make up for the missing shallots (kind of). Otherwise, I stuck to this recipe quite close.

Warm-Potato-and-Lentil-Salad

 

And I’m not gonna lie – I was skeptical. This salad has a lot going on.

But – as soon as I took my first bite, I was in love. The creaminess of the potatoes, the tangy-ness (is that a word?) of the dressing and the meatiness of the lentils – it all works so well together and makes for a very tasty and satisfying dish.

 

Warm Potato & Lentil Salad
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
30 mins
Total time
45 mins
 
Author: Vegan Insanity
Recipe type: Entree, Lunch
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Lentils
  • 1 cup green lentils, uncooked
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 small bay leaf
  • Pinch of salt
Potatoes
  • 1 pound small potatoes (I used russet and chopped them up, but fingerling would be nice, so would baby red or yellow potatoes)
Dressing
  • 1 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons capers, roughly chopped (if they're salted, rinse them off)
  • 2 tablespoons dill pickles, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley
Instructions
Lentils
  1. Rinse well, then place your lentils in a medium pot with the thyme, bay leaf, a pinch of salt and 4 cups of water.
  2. Simmer lentils over medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes, until firm-tender. Drain (discarding the bay leaf) and keep them warm.
Potatoes
  1. While you are cooking the lentils, cover potatoes with 1-2 inches of water in a large pot. Cook for 10-20 minutes (depending on the size of your potatoes/potato chunks), or until they can be pierced with a knife. Do not overcook.
  2. Drain and keep them warm.
Dessing
  1. While the potatoes and lentils are cooking, you can prepare your dressing. This is where the magic happens! Add red wine vinegar, minced garlic, onion powder, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and salt & pepper to taste, to a small bowl. Whisk together well, then add the in capers and pickle. Mix everything together until combined.
Putting it all together
  1. If using fingerling or baby potatoes, cut them into bite size pieces. Put all potatoes in a large bowl, add lentils and dressing, and mix well (but be gentle with the potatoes).
  2. Add more salt & pepper, if necessary.
  3. Serve in individual bowls, with a sprinkling of chopped parsley on top.
Notes
Adapted slightly from Smitten Kitchen.
3.2.2704

 

link

Filed Under: Entrees, Recipes Tagged With: beans and legumes, dinner, lunch, nut-free, potatoes, soy free

I'm Cassie - vegan food lover and animal rights activist. I live in Vaughan, Ontario, right near Toronto, with my husband, our 2 kids, 3 cats, and a dog that thinks he's a cat, too. I love to cook and share delicious vegan food with everyone I know. MORE →


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