EssentialVegan.co.uk

Essential Vegan is on a website format now. All the yummy recipes you’re used with and much more can now be found at essentialvegan.co.uk

Visit us today and see the new recipes we prepared especially for you.

Shimeji Gyoza

Ok I know this recipe sounds a bit complicate but it’s actually not, just time consuming. The dumplings are soooooo tasty that it totally worth the time you’ll spend in the kitchen. The dough is light and easy to prepare and the sesame oil makes the whole difference. So give it a go, you’ll thank me later!
 

 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 150g shimeji
• 1/2 onions chopped
• 3 sticks spring onions chopped
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp soya sauce
• 4 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp parsley and lemon seasoning
• Salt
• Black pepper

METHOD

1. Mix the water and the flour into a dough.
2. Put a wet towel over the dough, and let it stand for several minutes.
3. Divide the dough into 18 pieces of 1 x 1.5cm.
4. Fry the onions until tender, add the rest of the ingredients and only 1/2 tbsp of sesame oil. Stir for about 10 minutes.
5. Using a rolling pin open the dough pieces as round as possible.
6. Divide the shimeji mixture into the pastry circles placing about 1 tbsp of the mixture in the middle of each circle.
7. Fold wrappers in half over filling and pinch it in the center.
8. Holding the wrapper in that middle spot that you just pinched with your left hand, make a pleat in the top part of the wrapper, pinching it against the flat edge of the wrapper at the back.
9. Holding the filled half-circle in the left hand, pleat the top of the wrapper from the middle out, pressing it to the flat edge of the wrapper at the back. Proceed to make two or three more pleats to the right of the first pleat.
10. Steam cook the pillows until they all reach the surface of the water. It’s like cooking regular pasta
11. Using the rest of the sesame oil fry the dumplings, 2 minutes each side or until golden brown and serve it with soya sauce.

Enjoy!!

Albinas’ Calzone

Albina is my lovely grandmother who is an amazing cook. This family recipe was passed from my grandmother to my mother and now it’s my turn, expect that mine is a vegan version of it. You’ll be glad to know that I’ve done good and kept the family tradition (rs). Joke aside this calzone is perfect, you can have it as main, starter or slice it into a snack. Give it a go, I guarantee you’ll love it.
 

 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tbsp grounded flaxseed
• 3 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 30g biological yeast
• 2 tbsp spread
• 6 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 cups flour
• 66g baby leaf spinach
• 110g green olives
• 10g pine nuts
• 10 cherry tomatoes cut in half
• 1 tbsp nutritional yest
• Salt
• Black pepper

METHOD

1. Mix the water and flaxseed and let it rest for 15 minutes or until it gets gooey.
2. Mix the sugar and the biological yeast, stir for a few minutes until it gets liquid.
3. In a large bowl mix the flaxssed mixture and biological yeast liquid the to the rest of the ingredients and bring into a dough.
4. Cover the bowl and let it rest for 1:30 hours.
5. In a small pan fry the onion until tender.
6. Add the spinach, olives, pine nuts, tomatoes, nutritional yeast, seasoning and stir for 10 minutes
7. On a floured surface open the dough, you can make one big calzone or two medium size ones.
8. Spread the mixture in the middle of the dough and close it.
9. Brush the calzone with olive oil and bake it for 25 minutes at 200c.

Enjoy!!

Baked Potato with Cream

This recipe is lovely, the ultimate comfort food!! The combination potato plus cream is perfect. Try it with rice and salad, you'll love it.

Ingredients:
700g potatoes sliced
1 red onions chopped
500ml vegan single cream
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
4 sticks spring onions chopped
1 cube vegetable stock
20g vegan cheese grated (optional)
Salt
Black pepper

Method:
1 - Cook the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes.
2 - Fry the onions in vegetable oil until tender.
3 - Add the spring onions, vegetable cube, nutritional yeast, vegan cheese and black pepper and stir for 5 minutes.
4 - Pour the vegan single cream and stir for 2 minutes.
5 - Transfer the potatoes to a baking tray and pour the cream on top of it.
6 - Bake it for 30 minutes on a pre-heated oven at 180c.

Enjoy!!

Brazilian "Cheese" Bread

These Brazilian "cheese" breads are heavenly and exactly like the real ones. Pao-de-queijo as we called them in Portuguese is very popular in Brazil and one thing I thought I was never going to eat again but luckely for me and you, we now have the perfect vegan recipe.
You can keep the dough in the fridge for 2 days or freeze dough balls before baking for up to 3 months.

Ingredients:
455g potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/3 cups water plus water to boil the potatoes
2 cups tapioca flour
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup Vegusto No-Moo Piquant (you can use any vegan cheese you like)
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Method:
1 - In a small saucepan boil the water and cook the potatoes until tender, drain and mash.
2 - Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
3 - In a small bowl mix the tapioca flour, nutritional yeast, salt and baking powder.
4 - In a large bowl mix the cheese, 1/3 cup water and oil. Add mashed potatoes, mix together.
5 - Combine wet and dry ingredients to make a soft, smooth dough.
6 - Make small balls using your hands and transfer to the baking sheet. Bake the balls for 20 minutes or until puffed up and lightly golden.

Serve while hot! Enjoy!!


Source - Veg News

Aubergines Balls

Aubergines are very low in calories and fats but rich in soluble fiber content. It contains good amounts of many essential B-complex groups of vitamins and is an also good source of minerals like manganese, copper, iron and potassium and lets not forget to say that is delicious. These balls are perfect with rice, beans and salad and also with pasta. Give it a try!

Ingredients:
2 aubergines
1 onions chopped
5g chives chopped
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt
Black pepper


Method:
1 - Slice the aubergines and boil in salted water it for 15 minutes.
2 - Pre-heat the oven at 180C.
3 - Drain the aubergines and mix it with the rest of the ingredients. Use a fork to smash things together.
4 - Cover a baking tray with baking sheet.
5 - Make small ball from the aubergines mixture and bake it for 30 minutes at 180C.


Enjoy!!!

Chocolate and Hazelnuts Bonbons

How can I describe this recipe? Sweet but not too sweet, nutty, chocolaty and fruity, a real treat. Indulge yourself and impress your friends!! :)

Ingredients for the dough

2 cups hazelnuts

1 cup pitted dates

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup golden syrup

Ingredients for the filling

1 medium avocado

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup golden syrup

1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

Sliced almonds for garnish

Method:
1 - Soak the hazelnuts for 1 hour before start preparing the bonbons.
2 - Dry the soaked hazelnuts and pulse it in a food processor until finely ground into a flour.
3 - Add in the rest of the dough ingredients and process until it forms into a thick dough that sticks together.

4 - Lay the dough out between two sheets of baking sheet and roll to about 3/4-inch thickness.

5 - With a sharp knife, cut the dough into small squares, about 30. If there’s excess dough you can form it into a ball, roll it out, and cut again.

6 - Make the filling by blending together the ingredients until it’s uniform in colour and texture. Taste it and adjust the sweetness if need be.

7 – Roll the squares until small balls and using your fingers make a cavity in the middle of it. Spread about 1 tsp of the filling into the cavity and garnish with the sliced almonds.



Enjoy!!


Inspired by Veganana