Easiest Gluten-Free Vegan Burgers / Tofu Patties with BBQ Sauce +MeatlessMonday

Guys, these are seriously the easiest and tastiest burgers I've ever made, and I have a thing for tasty, healthy burgers. So much so that I have not one, but three gluten free vegan burger recipes on the blog. This will be the fourth!

They're so simple to make and ingredients are minimal. They're great for a quick, healthy meal, particularly if you pair them with my Baked Root Vegetable Fries.

And smoked paprika lends the burgers a smoky BBQ flavour that is super addictive.

Gluten Free Gourmet Pear Pizza (vegan option)

This is my new guilty pleasure. At least, I think I should feel guilty because it's pizza. But since it's healthy, there's really not much to feel bad about, so it's the best of both worlds - I get the thrill of being bad, but I know I'm really being good.

I mean look at it!! It's absolutely smothered in fruit AND vegetables!

Pears AND kale!

It might sound crazy, but it's utterly delicious. Think about these combinations...

Sweet (pears) and salty (feta - optional)
Soft (pears, again) and crunchy (kale & crust).

Oh yeah baby. Pizza night has been revolutionized.

Also, if you happen to be allergic to raw pears - like me - the cooking time can help kill the allergen proteins, so some of you might find this safer to eat than raw pears :) 

Easy, Gourmet Gluten Free Microwave Macaroni & Cheese (Vegan Option)

Well, it's still hot here in Vancouver, and I very much dislike turning on my oven in this sort of weather.

Recently, I posted 15 Easy, Vegetarian and Gluten Free One-Pot Meals, almost all of which can be made on the stove top in under 30 minutes, and thereby cutting back on time spent slaving in a hot kitchen.

But when the thermometer outside hit 40C / 104F even that 20-30 minutes seemed too much. So I turned to Google and my microwave...

And ended up making this delicious, gourmet gluten free macaroni and cheese in a mug. It's waaay healthier than most packaged stuff, so easy, so delicious, easy clean up, and very flexible. There is a chance I may make pasta in the microwave forever more...

I'm sure somewhere in my neighbourhood there is an old Italian lady crying over her pot of putanesca at that statement, but it's true ;) 

Also, if you have kids that love pasta, but you don't want them turning on the stove just yet, or they can't be bothered to pull out pots and pans, this is a super easy recipe for them to make! 

Easy Gluten Free Ragout, Greek-Inspired with Vegan Option

Ragout is a very flexible dish - made with or without meat - generally cooked slowly, over low heat. It's another one of those meals that can be different every time, depending on what's in the fridge, once you get the basics.

You all know I like a quick, one pot meal, so of course I had to tweak this dish to make it fast and easy. This recipe is inspired by a ragout my husband had the last time we were in Greece, staying in the small town of Sparta, eating in one of the handful of restaurants there. The cheesy Greek music and dirty pink walls were less than appealing, but the food was excellent!

So to appease my husband, who appreciates only having to wash one pot after dinner, I made this gluten free version of Spartan ragout!

Vegan, Gluten Free Easy Homemade Barbeque Sauce Recipe

You know I never used to be a huge fan of barbeque sauce. I didn't think it was really all that useful. However, my husband loves it, so I thought I'd try making some gluten free BBQ sauce (since buying it can be really expensive!)

It's a darn good thing I gave it a shot, because it turns out I can put this BBQ sauce on just about anything and my husband will eat it! Furthermore, I have discovered a newfound appreciation for this tangy stuff. It's so good you could eat it straight off the spoon.

And I have. I've been looking for excuses to dip a spoon into the jar, and this little photo shoot was the perfect opporunity ;)

Now that we're heading into BBQ season, it seemed like an appropriate time to post this easy recipe!

Easy, One-Pot Gluten Free Jambalaya (vegan option +MeatlessMonday)

In keeping with my theme lately of easy, gluten free one-pot dinners for my Wednesday and Thursday night meals, this week I made a gluten free and vegan version of jambalaya (don't worry, there's a meat option for you carnivores). I chose to make jambalaya this week as my book club has just finished reading a series of books about New Orleans, culminating in a trip by many of them to Mardi Gras!!

Alas, although I desperately wanted to go, I didn't join them, given that I've already spent two months out of the past twelve traveling. Sometimes one must keep their feet on the ground and their monies in their pockets...

But back to this jambalaya - savoury, a little spicy, satisfying, and once again, so very very flexible and cheap. Jambalaya basically means mish mash, which is perfect for those of us who like to throw whatever is in the fridge into a pot.

Easy, One Pot Gluten Free Thai Noodle and Veggie Bowl (vegan option +MeatlessMonday)

I'm really loving these one-pot dinners! It's so easy to clean up just one pot vs multiple pots and bowls and bits of cutlery, and I can even clean while dinner is cooking.

This week's one-pot gluten free dinner is a Thai-style dish, with a blend of sweetness and sour lime. It only takes about a ridiculous 17 minutes from start to finish. I'm a huge fan of Thai food, and without fail, whenever I get a Thai-style dish started by frying a bit of ginger, garlic, and green onions my husband - from wherever he is in the apartment - will say, "That smells really good!"

For some, Thai food can be a bit confusing, with unfamiliar flavours like kaffir, galangal, and tamarind. However, while not exactly the same, these can be substituted with more readily found things like lime, ginger, and brown sugar. I'll show you how, just keep reading! 


This particular dish is, as are all my one-pot dishes, very flexible, so if you want to leave out the nuts you can. If you want to add some bits of leftover chicken, shrimp, or tofu, go for it! If you have kale, peas, bell peppers, or mung bean sprouts, toss 'em in!!

It's all good. Trust me.

Easy, One-Pot Gluten Free and Vegan Chili-Lime Rice and Beans Dinner (+MeatlessMonday)

There is nothing complicated about this complete, healthy meal of rice, black beans, and veggies. It's one pot, about 25 minutes from start to finish, and much of that time is spent waiting for the meal to cook. So you can do dishes, set the table, dance around the kitchen to '80's rock, pet the cat, or colour in your Secret Garden Coloring Book , like I've been doing!

Like the One-Pot Asian Rice and Veggie Bowl  I posted a couple of weeks back, this easy one-pot meal is super flexible depending on what you have in the fridge, and is a great way to use up bits and pieces of veggies.
Wednesdays are busy days for me. I have a virtual meeting with my writing group which, due to our time differences, means that our meetings are smack in the middle of dinner time. Furthermore, I've taken on some volunteer work that, lately, has occurred on Thursdays, also right around dinner time.

Which means that I don't really have time to cook.

Hence the beginning of what I like to call One-Pot Wednesdays, where I make up a large pot of something that's fast and easy, doesn't require a lot to clean up, and can be served the next day. So stay tuned, because for the next couple of weeks I'll be posting quick and easy one-pot meals!

Easy, One-Pot Gluten Free Asian Rice and Vegetables (+MeatlessMonday)

This gluten free steamed rice and vegetable dinner is so easy I almost feel guilty posting it. And I almost feel guilty telling you that I make this like once a week for dinner, and have the leftovers for lunch the next day. It's a go-to on a night when we're in a hurry to go out somewhere.

It feels lazy. But it's totally not. It's a healthy meal in itself, and it's just so darned easy!!

It takes only 20 minutes from start to finish, requires only one pot for cooking (and a small bowl for sauce), and is super flexible. I use up odds and ends from the fridge so it's a little different every time. You can add various proteins as you like (peanuts, cashews, tofu, eggs, or leftover chicken bits for a meat version, etc.) and different veggies (carrots, peas, asparagus, mushrooms, etc.) depending on what you have kicking around.

So the following is my basic formula and the sauce I use.

Vegan, Gluten Free Tuscan Noodle Soup (+Meatless Monday)

This is pretty much my husband's new favorite dinner. He's been so excited since I created it that he asks for it all the time now when I make my weekly meal plan.

He also really likes it because a) there's both protein, carbohydrates, AND veggies in it b) it only requires one pot to make = easy cleanup AND c) it is so quick and easy to make that I can have it all ready within 30 minutes from start to finish.

Easy Vegan and Gluten Free Spartan-Style White Beans and Greens (Fasolia me Horta + Meatless Monday)

Free of dairy, eggs, soy, gluten, nuts, corn

So here's a romantic notion: I like to think this dish infuses me with the discipline and power of the Ancient Spartans.

Not only that, it's delicious cheap fare (you'll see why in a minute). I served this last week when we had some people over for dinner and it was so well received I intend to serve it again this week for another dinner party. It takes all of 20 minutes to make and it's so simple.

Vegan, Gluten Free Herb Dumpling Soup (#MeatlessMonday)

Free of gluten, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, nuts

Cheap and easy, these savory herb dumplings are gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and free of all other common allergens.

This root vegetable soup with easy gluten free dumplings is so simple and quick I've made it twice this week now, with variations on the herbs. They were husband approved both times. And the best thing is that it's filling, so it makes for a very simple, healthy meal in itself.

Also, if you happen to be partaking in Lent, no matter what your restrictions these dumplings and soup should be safe since they're free of meat, eggs, dairy, butter, etc.

Vegan, Gluten Free Farinata / Socca (Cheap and Easy Chickpea Flour Bread)

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, nuts

Chickpea flour can usually be found fairly cheaply in the South Asian / Indian section of many larger supermarkets. Chickpeas of course have lots of protein and fibre and are super healthy, and some of you already know I use them a lot in recipes like Marinated Chickpea Salad, Chickpea and Sweet Potato Burgers, and Chickpea and Sweet Potato Soup.

So it makes sense that I would also like chickpea flour, no? And I do. It has a nice, nutty flavour and it sticks together better than most other GF flours.

I like to buy big ol' bags of chickpea / garbanzo flour and make it into the fried flatbread that I described in my book Living with Oral Allergy Syndrome. But sometimes I also like to make it into this baked, Italian style flatbread known as Socca, or Farinata. It's very simple to make, and the result is very tasty and filling.

Cheap, Gluten Free Fish Soup in 15 Minutes (soy free option +Meatless Monday) + Buying Ocean-Friendly Fish

Free of gluten, meat, nuts, eggs, dairy, with soy free option

So if you're like me, you probably end up with a little bit of leftover fish from time to time. You know, you bake up a nice big piece of cod or salmon or something like that, and there are a few little scraps that don't get eaten, and aren't enough to make another meal. 

Or perhaps you want to include more fish in your diet, but find that it can be expensive.Or maybe you're sea-conscious and don't want to eat too much in order to protect the environment. 

This fast, easy, fish soup is fantastic for using up leftover fish, or stretching a little piece of fish a long way. And it's super flexible. Every time we make it, it's just a little different, depending on what's in the fridge. 

Easy Gluten Free and Vegan Borscht with Sauerkraut (#MeatlessMonday)

Free of gluten, dairy, soy, & eggs

A while back I shared a post with 25 Ways to Use Beets. There was a borscht recipe in there, of course, but it wasn't mine. This is the very simple, easy recipe I use to make borscht.

And believe it or not, my husband, who doesn't like beets OR sauerkraut, actually likes this borscht recipe. This vegan borscht takes only a few minutes to chop and grate the ingredients, and about 20 minutes on the stove, and is just about the simplest soup I've ever made. And it makes enough to serve 2 people throughout the week.

Which is absolutely perfect as we head into the chilly winter months and crave warm, comforting soup for lunch and dinner. Borscht is a cheap, easy, naturally gluten free and healthy soup that can be served with a big chunk of my Gluten Free Multiseed Multigrain Bread for a complete and satisfying meal!

Vegan Mung Bean and Turmeric Curry (Anti-Inflammatory) & Meatless Monday

Free of gluten, dairy, shellfish, eggs, nuts, soy, and corn

Ever wonder what those little green beans in the Asian section at the supermarket are? Mung beans. Little green balls of anti-inflammatory, cooling goodness. Or so says traditional healing from the east.

This mung bean and turmeric curry is like an uber anti-inflammatory stew. And it's great on a few levels because it's healthy, super cheap, easy, made in one pot (easy clean up), and vegan, so it's perfect for Meatless Monday. Also, the curry flavour is super mild in this, so it's not hot or spicy, and is a great intro to curry for those who are hesitant to try it for the first time.

Gluten Free Main Dishes / Entrées

Gluten Free Beet Ravioli

In an effort to clean up and organize the Poor and Gluten Free recipe page, I've decided to put all my main recipes on one page.  Whether you're looking for something that lands in your stomach, like German Potato Dumplings, or something quick and light, like Easy, Versatile GF, Soy Free Stir Fry , there's a little something for everyone. All of the recipes here are wheat and gluten free.  Most are also vegetarian, free of eggs, soy, nuts, sugar and with dairy free alternatives. 

I have tried, whenever possible and to the best of my ability, to include information on Oral Allergy Syndrome related ingredients.  However, it's always a good idea to check with your doctor before trying something you might be allergic to.

Updated October 17, 2013