feel food club

Uncategorized

The Easy Version of Sushi: Vegan Zalmon & Peanut Sushi Salad

by Kommentar verfassen

Sushi pretty much never disappoints. There just is something about the combination of rice, veggies, soy sauce, seaweed and fish that makes this simple meal so delicious and addictive! However, making it at home is really tough and a lot of work… and I mean, when you are hungry, you don‘t want to spend an eternity in the kitchen, right? So this recipe is a simplified, messier version of sushi for all those who prefer a quicker and still as delicious version of the Japanese classic!

What is special about this dish?

Well, first of all it is neither traditional sushi, nor is it a regular salad. It is a crossover of these two foods and the result? Heaven! In addition to that, we also are not making this pescatarian but we are not using fish at all. How can it still be this tasty? With a vegan version of fish!

In addition, this recipe is super versatile! Really, you can add to it whatever you like and whatever you have at home! The ingredients in the recipe here are an inspiration or an example if what you can add! Fruits like mango, pineapple, papaya or even strawberry would taste great! Also any kind of veggie – from cucumber over asparagus to edamame beans – can be added to this salad/ bowl!

Vegan Fish?

Yes! If you have read the November Top 6 or my recent recipes, you have already heard of Vegan Zeastar! If you haven’t, let me tell you about it! Vegan Zeastar is a brand that opts to replace regular seafood with a vegan, environmentally friendly alternative. Their products are made out of plant-starch and you can find the in the frozen section in supermarkets (in Austria you can find them at SPAR).

Previously I have made one recipe with their vegan shrimpz, which you can find here and it was simply amazing!! The shrimpz in my opinion are a great alternative to ‚regular‘ shrimpz because they, in my opinion, taste extremely similar. The tuna or salmon do not taste that similar I believe, however I still want to share them because they are a great alternative for vegans wanting a fish substitute. If you do eat fish though, do not expect it to taste exactly the same. Still, I love using this vegan ‚fish‘ as a plant based and environmentally friendly alternative to regular fish! If I were you, I would just give it a try!

Is this dish healthy?

Yesso! It at least definitely is not unhealthy. Since we are adding so many fruits and vegetables to this meal, it contains a hole bunch of vitamins and minerals. Depending on which ones you use, obviously the nutritional value varies. Anyway it probably contains a bunch of fibre & vitamins that‘ll keep your digestion going and your body functions strong and healthy!

In addition, the rice is a great source of carbohydrates, making sure we have got enough energy, and it also works as a protein source! The peanut butter in the dressing also add some healthy, unsaturated fats and protein to the dish, making it perfectly balanced!

How to make this dish?

Contrary to regular sushi, this is super simpel to make, you don’t make a mess and it‘s quick! All it really comes down to is cooking the rice, chopping the fruits and veggies and mixing the sauce! Preparing sushi rice is a little different from regular rice but still super easy! You should not use regular rice but rather a sushi rice. You can find this at pretty much any supermarket and the taste is just different. For an authentic salad, use sushi rice (for a healthier version, you could use brown rice too!) First, you need to bring it to a boil with twice the amount of water, then reduce to a simmer and let simmer until all water is absorbed. Now let it sit for 4-5 minutes until it is soft and fluffy. So far, same as with regular rice. But now comes the difference: we mix some rice vinegar with a little sugar and salt and mix it into the rice. This really adds the sushi flavour! Now you can already mix the ingredients for the dressing and peel and chop the veggies and fruits. Plus, cut the vegan zalmon sashimi into bite-sized pieces and mix it all through! Serve with some fresh herbs and fresh fruits! Enjoyyy!!

Print

The Easy Version of Sushi: Vegan Zalmon & Peanut Sushi Salad

An easy version of sushi that is at least as delicious: sushi turned into a salad! Delicious, comforting, healthy goodness!

Course bowl, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine Japanese
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 15 Minuten
Total Time 25 Minuten
Servings 2 servings

What you will need

  • 1 package Vegan Zeastar Zalmon Sashimi thawed at room temperature
  • 120 g sushi rice
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp (rice) vinegar
  • 1/2 cucumber
  • 1/2 mango
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 4 handful salad
  • 2 nori sheets
  • sriracha or chili sauce to serve
  • peanuts to serve

For the peanut dressing:

  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey/ maple
  • 1/2 lime (juiced)

How to

  1. Start by adding the sushi rice to a pot along with twice the amount of water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and let simmer until the water has absorbed (for about 8-10 minutes). Then turn down the heat to very low and let sit for another 3-4 minutes. Mix the vinegar with sugar and salt and mix into the rice. let cool for about 5-10 minutes.

  2. Cut the Zalmon Sashimi into about 1cm sized cubes. Peel the mango and avocado and cut into bite-sized pieces. Also chop the cucumber and wash the salad.

  3. Mix all the ingredients for the dressing and cut the nori sheets into thin strips (this works best with a scissor)

  4. Once everything is ready, mix it in a large bowl with the dressing! Serve with fresh lime, cilantro, peanuts and chili sauce and enjoy!

I genuinely hope that you will enjoy this recipe and it‘ll bring you some summery, happy flavours throughout those grey and cloudy days! I would love to know how you like it, so feel free to leave me a comment or text me on Instagram!

Have fun cooking,
Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

Easy to make Sweet and Salty Maple Pumpkin Pancakes

by Kommentar verfassen

This is not just something that is eaten in Netflix Series, nops, it is an actual dish. To be honest, an incredibly delicious brunch!! The mix of salty and sweet, unexpectedly,just works in such great harmony. If you have never tried this cross of sweet and salty, then it is high time – and this recipe is perfect to do so!

What is special about this dish?

Well, first of all that there is pumpkin in pancakes. Usually pumpkin would not be the first ingredient I would add to pumpkins but this time we are doing things differently. And really, it is not so odd if you think about it: you would also add apple sauce to pancakes – and after all, pumpkin also is sweet, so why not adding it?

And then, secondly what is not quite usual is the mix of savory and sweet. I get it if you are slightly skeptical towards a fried egg along with maple syrup, but trust me – it unexpectedly is really good! While pumpkin, egg and maple syrup may not be too common, a cross of sweet and salty is. Just think about chocolate with sea salt or fruits in salads or even about fried chicken and waffles.

how healthy is this dish?

Contrary to regular pancakes, these are very much packed with nutrients! Where should we start? Let‘s start at the very base: the pancake batter! It is made out of eggs (high in protein), pumpkin (packed with vitamins, carbs and fibre), wholewheat flour (more carbs and fibre), maple syrup or honey (yep, still a lot of sugar but with a few nutrients), cinnamon, salt & baking powder as well as (plant based) yoghurt (contains probiotics and protein!). It definitely can be said that despite the sugar, the pancakes still are quite nutritious and definitely better for you than regular pancakes!

What else? The toppings! Here it really is up to you what you are adding on top, you can choose to go for savory to have a fun and different experience (which tastes amazing, really!) or you can also go for sweet if you want something more classic. Depending on what you choose, the nutrients will vary. If you, as in this recipe, go for goat’s cheese, avocado and fried egg, you‘ll have a great combo of protein, healthy fats and vitamins. Those will also contribute to satisfying you and making you feel full. And of course we cannot skip that maple on top of pancakes 🙂 and that is good for your soul!

Are they prepared differently from regular pancakes?

No, they are not different. What it really comes down to is mixing eggs with honey, (plant based) yoghurt, pumpkin purée, cinnamon and salt until combined. Now we mix in the flour and baking powder with a whisk until a batter forms where there are no lumps left. This batter will now sit for 5 minutes while we prepare the toppings (slice avocado, prep cheese and prepare the egg). Now the batter has to be fried in hot butter, margarine or oil. It is best to measure out the amount with an ice cream scoop and add it into the pan on medium heat. They will now cook and once you see bubbles forming in the batter, it is time to flip them and cook them on the other side for about 3 minutes until golden brown.

To make the cooked ones stay warm while the rest is cooking, it is best to place them in the oven with a cover at like 60°C. Since they are covered, they will not dry out and they‘ll also stay warm. Well now just fry the remaining ones, fry the egg, stack them onto a plate, top with the avo, cheese, egg and a gooood drizzle of maple syrup! That‘s it!

What about the pumpkin purée? Where do I get it?

So the first option is to make it yourself. That really is super easy – I even have an instruction video for this on my Instagram (find it here). All that needs to be done is steaming the pumpkin and mashing it into purée with either a mixer, a blender or a hand blender.

The other option would be to buy it at the store. Depending on where you live, this may be easier or more difficult. I know in Austria you can find it at the baby-food section and sometimes even next to the canned goods in the super market. However, making it yourself is really no big deal!

Freeze them for a 5-minute breakfast!

The great thing about making pancakes is the fact that you can batch make and store them. Whenever I make pancakes, it is a challenge to eat them all at once. So what I do is freezing them (first on a tray/ plate (so they do not stick together as they would if you’d place them in a bag right away) and then in a bag). Whenever I crave one for breakfast, I just heat it up in the toaster or the microwave and have a ready to go breakfast! You can perfectly do so with these pancakes!

All in all it can be said that this really is a brunch dish worth trying. In my family they are much loved! Yep, even my grandma loved them and asked for more!! So, grab a pumpkin and get into the kitchen to make your perfect Sunday brunch!

Print

Sweet and Salty Maple Pumpkin Pancakes with Goat‘s Cheese and Fried Egg

sweet and savory pumpkin pancakes? whaaat?! just saying – yes!! this crossover of fluffy sweet pancakes with savory toppings and maple syrup is an explosion of flavors in your mouth. one you do not want to miss out on! Step away from your regular pancakes and start making those!

Course Breakfast, brunch, lunch
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 10 Minuten
Total Time 20 Minuten
Servings 8 pancakes

What you will need

  • 150 g pumpkin purée
  • 100 g honey or maple syrup
  • 100 g (plant based) yoghurt
  • 50 ml plant based milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 150 g whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 2 eggs
  • more honey or maple syrup to top

How to

  1. Mix the egg, yoghurt, honey, plant based milk, cinnamon and salt until well combined. Mix the flour with the baking powder, then mix into the liquid batter with a whisk until there are no lumps left. Let sit for 5 minutes.

  2. In the meantime slice the avocado and crack the eggs into a bowl.

  3. In a large pan heat up some margarine or butter on medium-high heat. Turk down to medium heat and add about 2-3tbsp of the batter at a time into the pan (it is easiest to do so with an ice cream scoop). Fry them for about 3 minutes until bubbles start to form in the batter. Then flip them and cook for another 3-4 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Take them aside and keep them warm in the oven (see notes). Repeat with the rest.

  4. Heat up more oil in another pan and fry the eggs on medium high heat.

    Once everything is cooked, stack the pancakes on a plate, top with the goat‘s cream cheese, avocado slices, fried eggs, a sprinkle of salt and maple syrup! Enjoy!!!

Have fun cooking,
Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

Better Than Your Regular Oriental Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos

by Kommentar verfassen

Loaded Nachos with cheese sauce are not what we‘re making any longer…. From now on we‘re leveling up our party snack and are making Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos. Not only healthier but also more delicious and more nutritious. If you haven’t so far given them a shot, it is high time!

We all know that nachos are pretty delicious. However, it is no surprise that they are not very good for us. High in fats, highly processed, loaded with cheese, very few vitamins, and, and, and, … but they are so handy, aren’t they? Yet, it is possible to have some with more nutritional value !

What is special about this dish?

As the name already suggests: these are no regular nachos but instead these are sweet potato nachos. What? Sliced, spiced and baked sweet potato that you can eat with your hands. To make them more fun and more filling, they are topped with various different things – hummus, veggies, salsa, tahini, jalapeños, … ! Personally, I think these toppings work great in combination with the nachos. However, if you prefer different toppings – such as chickpeas, meat, cheese, feta, or whatever comes to your mind – you can totally add these on top! This makes this dish super versatile!

A nutrition-bomb

Contrary to regular nachos, these are packed with nutrients! To start with, the sweet potatoes are incredibly high in fibre, carbs and several vitamins. They will make sure you have a lot of energy for a long time, stay full for long and make sure you stay healthy. Such an amazing, easy-to prepare carb!

the perfect hummus

The sweet potato is not the only source of nutrients though, there are many other! The hummus for example: it is nit only packed with deliciousness but also with several good-for-you‘s! Fibre, plant based protein and healthy, unsaturated fats from the olive oil! You can either make it yourself or buy it! When you gl to the store, just be aware that there is good and not so good hummus (and that makes a huge difference in the meal)! The one I can not only recommend but genuinely LOVE is the one from NENI am Tisch!! In here actually, I am using the new one – the Hummus with Za‘atar, which is even more flavorful than regular hummus and SOO delicious!! In general NENI hummuses are the best in my opinion: they are creamy, rich, authentic and just SO delicious!

what else?

We still are not done with our healthy ingredients. Let‘s move on to the toppings: here you can totally go for whatever you love! Personally I believe the ones in this recipe work great with the oriental flavors – if you though have other preferences, go for it! So, here we have cucumber, tomatoes (both amazing for hydration, vitamins & fibre), jalapeños, parsley (more vitamins), the salsa (healthy, unsaturated fats from the olive oil) & Tahin (more unsaturated, healthy fats). All in all, it is fair to say that these nachos not only are loaded with delicious toppings but also loaded with nutrients!

How to make those nachos?

Since there is no need for deep-frying them, they are super easy to make! All that needs to be done is to slice the sweet potatoes into thin slices, spice them with olive oil and Zata‘ar and bake them. Zata‘ar is an oriental spice mix that works great in this meal – however, if you do not have this at home and cannot find it at the store, you can also spice the sweet potatoes differently, with salz, pepper, chili, paprika & sesame for example! Those now go into the oven and we can focus on making the toppings!

That means, for the hummus we need to just give it a mix, so that the spices are well mixed in. Next, we make the salsa! That means finely chopping the green chilis, parsley & mint and combining it with olive oil and salt! Also, we chop up the tomatoes, cucumber and fresh herbs so they are bite-sized! As soon as the sweet potatoes are done baking, they can already be topped and ultimately enjoyed! That‘s it!

Perfect Party snack!

This recipe definitely is amazing for parties! Why? You can really prepare everything beforehand, just pop the sweet potatoes in the oven right before the guests are here and then serve them while they are warm. Also, you could meal prep them and have them as a cold lunch for school or work – that works great too!! They not only are the perfect party snack but also amazing for meal prep!

If you want to level things up,

then you can totally do so by going crazy with the toppings! Options really are endless! You could for example go ahead and add minced meat or meat substitute on top or roasted chickpeas and feta cheese! If you feel like roasted tofu, add it! Or are you craving chicken strips? Why not add them on top? Same goes for veggies!! Why not adding some corn or avocado on top? This part really is up to you and adds a personal twist to this recipe!

Really, I have to say that I really LOVE this recipe! Not only for parties but also for those Netflix and chill kind of evenings 😉 I hope that you will also love it and have a fun time cooking!

Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

Print

better than your regular oriental loaded sweet potato nachos

regular nachos is nothing we are doing any longer – from now on, we are making loaded sweet potato nachos! imagine those soft sweet potatoes with the tangy hummus, fresh cucumber & tomato and that satisfying tahini drizzle = heaven!

Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine oriental
Prep Time 15 Minuten
Cook Time 35 Minuten
Total Time 50 Minuten
Servings 1 tray (for about 2-4 people)

What you will need

  • 2 (medium sized) sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp za‘atar

for the toppings*:

  • 1 package NENI am Tisch Hummus with Za‘atar
  • 1/2 cucumber
  • 1 handful tomatoes
  • 1/2 red onion
  • green chili
  • tahini to drizzle

for the green chili salsa (optional but very good):

  • 100 g green chili or green peppers
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 2 tbsp chopped mint
  • 100 ml olive oil
  • salt & pepper

How to

  1. start by preheating the oven to 200°C. wash the sweet potatoes and chop them into about 1cm thick slices. mix the za‘atar with the oil and toss the sweet potatoes in the mix. lay out on a baking tray and bake for about 25-35 minutes until soft on the inside and crispy and golden on the outside.

  2. in the meantime prepare the toppings. wash and dice the cucumber into bite-sized pieces, half the cherry tomatoes, peel and cut the onion into thin half-rings.

  3. for the salsa, remove the seeds of the green peppers and super finely mince them. also mince the mint and parsley and mix it all together along with the olive oil and salt.

  4. once the sweet potatoes are done baking, top them with the hummus, the different veggies and fruit, the salsa and drizzle some tahin. to finish it off, sprinkle fresh herbs and enjoy!

Notes

*you can really use anything you like and have on hand as a topping – personally I love the combination with these fruits, veggies & hummus, but feel free to add what you love! it can be chickpeas, minced meat, corn, tofu, beans, avocado, whatever you love!

Easy Peasy Summer Panzanella (perfect for leftovers!)

by Kommentar verfassen

These days I feel like an ice cream in the sun – just melting away in very little time. And let‘s be honest, who wants to cook and eat something warm when it‘s this hot? I at least, definitely do not want to. And salads are great, yeah, but after a few days I feel like a rabbit when I only eat salads, so we need to switch things up a little. That‘s where Panzanella needs to be introduced. A salad made out of bread, tomatoes and bell pepper, just without salad. And holy moly, when you make this, your salad level will be elevated to the next level.

This is really insanely easy to make, and ideal if you want to use up any leftover (maybe already stale) bread. It only takes a few minutes to make and a few to chill and that‘s it. Plus, (big plus) your kitchen is no mess after making this because it takes very few ingredients to end up with this deliciousness!

What even is panzanella?

Panzanella is an italian bread salad, that traditionally is made from stale bread, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, bell pepper and olive oil. It is like a greek salad, just with bread instead of feta cheese. Although adding feta cheese would probably also be a genius idea! 

What is special about this dish? 

It is like a regular panzanella, just with a little twist. We here are also adding in some chanterelle mushrooms to add a nice twist. And they taste soso tasty in combination with the remaining ingredients. Besides, this dish is really easy to make. It really takes only 15 minutes to make it and therefore is perfect for those hot summer days. And, it is packed with many, many veggies and can be enjoyed cold. All in all, really, really good.

Is this healthy?

We need to be honest and say that it definitely is not as nutritious as regular salad it. Nevertheless, depending on how you prepare it, it can be very nutritious. 

It already starts with the base. Traditionally you would use some white bread or focaccia, which also is what we are using here. In my opinion focaccia works best. If you though want to make it a bit healthier, you could substitute this for some wholegrain or at least partially-wholegrain bread. This will provide even more fibre and will be better for you blood sugar levels. Still, I need to say that it does taste better with white bread.

Then we have all the veggies, which are a pack of nutrients. The cucumber is full of water and fibre, the bell pepper with vitamin C and the tomatoes with antioxidants and different Vitamins. The chanterelle mushrooms help your cells and your immune system in order for you to stay fit and healthy. So, you can really never go wrong with veggies. In the dressing are some more healthy fats from the olive oil to round it up perfectly.

How to make this dish?

As mentioned before, this comes together really quickly!! First we need to cube the bread. The cubes should be about 2 cm on each side, making them a perfect bite-sized pieces. These are now fried in some oil or margarine to make them a bit crispy and golden brown on each side. Once they are crispy, we are taking them out and adding them to a bowl. Now we can add in the chanterelle mushrooms to the same pan (to save dishes ;)) and fry those for about 5 minutes until they are soft and cooked through. 

In the meantime we just need to chop the veggies: the flesh from the cucumber needs to be removed and then everything needs to be sliced up. Now everything just needs to be tossed with a mix of olive oil, lemon juice, mustard and honey and that is it for the work.

I would though still recommend to let it sit for at least 15 minutes. This lets the bread soak up all the flavors and get a bit soft. Just like the traditional panzanella salad. The longer you let it sit the softer and more intense it gets. As a maximum I would take 45 minutes – 1 hour.

Serving suggestions:

This really tastes super tasty as is, anyhow you can still upgrade it. For example some fresh mozzarella or burrata would be amazing. Or also, some fresh feta cheese would take it next level. If you want a slight fruity twist, you could even add some berries. As for more veggies, I could recommend some corn or avocado (both not traditional but very good).

All in all, it is super easy to make and tastes super duper fresh and yummy. Honestly, one of my favorite summer dishes and a must make! 

Print

Easy Peasy Summer Panzanella (perfect for leftovers!)

Salads are great yeah, but bread salads… oh damn – these are another level of great! Filling, healthy and SO damn much flavour – just super super good! And this recipe also is SO easy to make, simply a must make!

Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 10 Minuten
Optional: resting time 20 Minuten
Total Time 20 Minuten
Servings 2 servings

What you will need

  • 300 g bread something fluffier like foccacia, (whole wheat) baguette, or similar – it does not have to be fresh
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cucumber
  • 250 g cherry tomatoes
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 250 g chanterelle mushrooms (optional)

For the dressing:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp mediterranean herbs
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • fresh salt & black pepper
  • 1 tsp honey

How to

  1. Start by chopping the bread into about 2cm sized pieces. Mix with the olive oil and some salt. Add to a hot pan, and fry for about 3 minutes on each side ontil golden brown and toasted.

  2. In the meantime peel the cucumber, cut in half lengthwise, remove the flesh and cut into 0.5cm thin slices. Half the cherry tomatoes and dice the bell pepper.

  3. Clean the mushrooms, if they are large also half them, and fry them in some olive oil.

  4. Add everything to a bowl, combine the ingredients for the dressing and toss everything together.

  5. Divide onto bowls and serve with some fresh basil. Serve and enjoy!

I really hope you‘ll enjoy this recipe and will make it on repeat! 

Enjoy,
Love,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière