Monday, May 28, 2012

Hungarian Cabbage Rolls-Vegan Style

What an amazing trip to Hungary!  We were privileged to serve with Christian leaders from all across Europe and some from the U.S. that have dedicated their lives to bringing the Good News of Jesus to Europe.  We also experienced delicious Hungarian cuisine but since eating pork and lard is not a sustainable diet for us, I am experimenting with a vegan version of Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls. 

Here's some great pictures of some of our experiences...

Don and I at the top of Eger Castle


Me and my new friend Rosie also in Eger at the castle


Our group from Scottsdale Bible Church in Eger at the castle

Evening Plenary Session at Hotel Eger-Park

Parliament Building as we took an evening cruise on the Danube


Buda Castle at night



Open market in Budapest...Just look at the fresh produce!












Yum!  Too bad we can't eat the sour cream!




My vegan version of stuffed cabbage!


Ingredients:
10-12 cabbage leaves
6 oz. can tomato paste
1/2 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves finely minced garlic
1 cup soy crumbles
1 tbsp. grape seed oil
2 tbsps. chopped sun-dried tomatoes
2 cups cooked and drained brown rice
4 tbsps. paprika
2 tsps. fresh thyme
2 tbsps. fresh chopped Italian parsley
1 tsp. Italian red pepper flakes, optional
2 cubes vegetable bouillon
1 1/2 to 2 cups cabbage water
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Cook rice, set aside. Core cabbage head.  Carefully remove cabbage leaves from the head.  I found a pretty easy way to do this without tearing the leaves:  Run hot water into the cabbage head which loosens the leaves making it easier to peel the leaves off of the head.  Boil the leaves in water for 5 minutes, remove from pot, set the leaves aside but save the cabbage water. Saute' the soy crumbles, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, thyme, 2 tbsps. paprika, and 1 tbsp. of the parsley in grape seed oil.  Season with salt and red pepper flakes then mix in rice. I'm very generous with the paprika, you may want to adjust to your taste.


Assemble the rolls by spooning a dollop of the soy/rice mixture onto the thickest edge of the cabbage leaf and roll up, tucking in the outside of the leaves as you roll.  Skewer each roll with a toothpick or tie up with string.

In a large fry pan, add tomato paste, 1 and 1/2 cups of cabbage water, 2 tbsps. paprika, bouillon, remaining parsley, and paprika- stir to mix thoroughly.  Carefully place cabbage rolls in the pan, cover and simmer on low for 45 minutes. Remind everyone to remove the toothpicks!  (  :  You will have some of the soy/rice mixture left over so freeze it for next time!

This is a very versatile recipe!  If you must have meat, use ground turkey breast instead of soy crumbles.  Many herbs and spices and other ingredients can be added to the cabbage rolls.  I had some left over zucchini, carrots, and eggplant in the freezer so I chopped them up and added them to the soy/rice mixture. 


Monday, May 7, 2012

Vegan Penne Pasta with Pesto and Veggies


Ingredients:
1 pkg. whole-wheat penne pasta
½ to 1 cup vegan pesto- recipe follows.
1 diced medium onion
3 cloves finely diced garlic
2 thinly sliced Tofurky  sausages (found at most health food markets)
½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes.  (I prefer dehydrated to those in oil)
1 to 2 cups chopped fresh veggies of your choice
1 cup Kalamata olives – I cut them in half just in case there are pits. 

Instructions:
Boil pasta and drain according to package instructions.  Add pesto sauce.  Stir and set aside in large pasta bowl.  Sauté onion, garlic, and sliced Tofurky sausages in oil for 3 minutes.  Add veggies except for olives and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes.  Add to pasta and pesto. Stir in olives.   Serves 8.
 
 





Vegan Pesto:
3 cups fresh basil leaves
3 cloves garlic
1 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup pine nuts or walnut (for those with nut allergies, substitute 1 cup chick peas)
Salt/pepper to taste

Puree ingredients in food processor until thoroughly blended.

Vegan Black Bean and Spinach Enchiladas- with blue corn tortillas!

I have no picture of these yet because we ate them before I could nag Don to take the picture!  I found a free site for food pix so this isn’t mine but it kind of looks like them.




Great Tip!!  I found a new soy cheese  company that I really love called Daiya!  Here’s their website:
What I love about this cheese is the way it melts! 



Ingredients:
1 can red Colorado Chili Sauce by Las Palmas or follow instructions for 2 pkgs. Simple Organic Sauce Mix pictured below.  For this product 16 oz. of tomato sauce is also needed.






½ medium onion
2 tbsp grape seed oil
3 cups vegan cheese
10 oz. pkg organic frozen chopped spinach
18-24 blue corn tortillas  (I find them at Trader Joe’s but if not available yellow or white corn tortillas are fine)
13 oz. can organic black beans, drained


Instructions:
Sauté onion, spinach, black beans in oil until moisture is mostly absorbed.  Add 1 cup vegan cheese and ½ cup enchilada sauce to spinach/black bean mixture.  Set aside. Heat tortillas until the texture is soft and rubbery in microwave oven- about 2-3 minutes.  Assemble enchiladas in a medium casserole dish by spooning one tablespoon of spinach/black bean mixture at one end of each tortilla and rolling into a cylinder.   After 1st layer is completed, pour a cup of enchilada sauce and 1 cup of vegan cheese over 1st layer.  Repeat with 2nd layer of enchiladas.  Cover and cook at 350 for 45 minutes.

TRADER JOE’S ROCKS!
Been looking for these for years!