Showing posts with label veganize this. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veganize this. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Tofu Scramble: The Remix

I've had my fair share of tofu scrambles, and though they typically all have a unique taste, the concept is the same. Crumble a block of tofu into a skillet with veggies, saute until heated through, season, eat.

But like most of Jenn "Shaggy" Shagrin's recipes in Veganize This!, her Vegan Scrambled Eggs are totally off the beaten path:

These actually have more of a scrambled eggy texture than plain ole crumbled tofu. Rather than crumble firm tofu directly into a pan, Jenn's recipe calls for processing firm tofu with silk tofu and some spices much like if you were making a vegan omelet. Black salt and Jenn's homemade egg mix (a mixture of finely ground nuts, nutritional yeast, and toasted sesame seeds) give the scramble an authentic flavor.

The processed tofu mixture is poured into a pan with veggies or other add-ins (I used carrots, spinach, and onion), and then you just wait for it to firm up and brown on one side like a tofu omelet. But instead of flipping, you mix the stuff all up to achieve a scrambled texture. So different and so tasty. I enjoyed my "eggs" this morning with a slice of whole grain toast spread with Megan's homemade blueberry preserves (from a care package she sent me last year).

Don't forget to enter my Speed Vegan cookbook giveaway!!

What's in your ideal tofu scramble?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Vegan Alfredo for the Vegan Munchies

I've made plenty of vegan fettucine alfredo recipes over the past few years, and I've been impressed by all of them. Lindsay's low-fat tofu-based alfredo sauce from Happy Herbivore is fantabulous, and the vegan parm-heavy version in Skinny Bitch has long been a favorite. But when I saw Jenn "Shaggy" Shagrin's Roasted White Eggplant Fettucine Alfredo with Fresh Fennel and Spinach from Veganize This!, I knew I had to give it a go:

Rather than rely on tofu or faux vegan parm, Jenn's recipe uses pureed, roasted eggplant and MimicCreme to create a creamy, rich sauce that packs a nutritional punch. I love the idea of hiding veggies in my sauce! Also, this was my second time using fennel (notice the fancy-ass fennel frond for garnish), and I really do like it. Last time, I ate it raw in a red quinoa salad, but in this recipe, the fennel is sauteed with onion in olive oil with herbs and white wine. I'm pretty sure I like fennel best when cooked.

This is the first recipe I've made from Jenn's book, but at a glance, the book seems as awesome as the Shaggy lady herself. If you've never been to Jenn's blog, Veganize It ... Don't Criticize It, you're totally missing out. Jenn uses her blog to share her gourmet vegan recipes and hilarious stories. She's definitely the funniest food blogger I've ever had the pleasure of following.

As for the book, the recipes are generally pretty fancy (think coconut vinegar-cured tofu scallops or lemon-thyme-agave-braised vegan short ribs), but in true Shaggy style, the recipes are filed under chapter headings like "Recipes Guaranteed to Get You Laid" or "Satisfying the Vegan Munchies." And also in Shaggy style, the gourmet recipes are interspersed with veganized versions of junk food fit for a vegan stoner (think homemade vegan Doritos and vegan Twinkies!). Yes, I said "vegan Twinkies." You need this book.