Danielle S. LeBlanc is Poor and Gluten Free (with Oral Allergy Syndrome): Meatless Monday

Showing posts with label Meatless Monday. Show all posts

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.

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.

Whoa Nelly! Hold the phones, stop the music... whatever you need to do so that I have your full attention here! This vegan and gluten free French toast is so easy, and so flexible. You could pop this in the crock-pot on Sunday afternoon and eat French toast for breakfast on Monday. I used several slices of my Gluten Free Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Bread, and then jazzed it up with apples and coconut flakes and cashews. But you could use any vegan and gluten free bread you like and add other things like bananas, sweet potatoes, dates, cranberries, etc.

I ate this every morning for four days straight, and didn't tire of it, it's that good! I also added some of the chunks into a chocolate chili I made, and it was fantastic (also, stay tuned for that recipe for Chocolate Chili ;p )

For those of you without crockpots - I have yet to try and make this as a French toast casserole in the oven, but I'm pretty sure you could bake it in a casserole dish for 45min - 1 hr instead if you don't have a slow cooker.

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!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with a dairy free / vegan option for #Meatless Monday

Free of gluten, eggs, nuts, soy, corn, with dairy free / vegan options

The season of pumpkin is upon us. I had half a large can of pumpkin puree leftover from making my Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie for Canadian Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago. So I modified my old recipe for Gluten Free Herb Rolls to use up leftover pumpkin puree, and added some cinnamon spice mix. (I have also made a similar version in the past using sweet potato puree instead of pumpkin, so you could use sweet potato instead if you like)

These rolls are simple, tasty, pretty healthy, and versatile. I've had them for breakfast, served them with dinner to guests, and drizzled them with a bit of icing sugar mixed with milk as cinnamon rolls for dessert.

They also freeze well, so make up a batch and sock them away for later!

Vegan, Gluten Free Tofu Meatballs with Crabapple Sauce - Cheaper than Meat! + Meatless Monday

Free of dairy, eggs, gluten, nuts, corn

Crabapple or Crab Apple? I'm never really sure. Either way, this crabapple sauce and these vegan, GF meatballs are surprisingly amaze-balls. (The only thing cheesy here is that sentence).

These vegan, gluten free tofu meatballs in Crab Apple Sauce were really born out of desperation. Since we moved back home to BC, we've been entertaining people in our new apartment a couple of times a week. It's been great to finally invite family and friends to our place after 3 years of living elsewhere.

But entertaining can be expensive. Tofu, on the other hand, is relatively cheap.

I was facing several challenges, vegetarians, food allergies, my unwillingness to make yet another trip to the grocery store... Necessity is the mother of invention, and man did this invention turn out surprisingly AWESOME! So awesome that I made it three times in two weeks for three different sets of dinner guests.

Easy Vegan, Gluten Free Red Lentil Burgers (Meatless Monday)

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

When we were packing up our apartment to move last month I was trying to avoid grocery shopping, and to use up any leftover scraps of food kicking around in the cupboards. One of our last days there I pulled out a jar with a handful of red lentils, and another with quinoa. Luckily, I had some spices and a few tablespoons of GF flour and a couple of slices of onion. And so, this simple vegan burger patty was born.

And it was so good I've already made it again. And they're husband approved. He ate them for dinner the other night, then lunch again the next day. They also freeze well (info below), for quick meals.

These gluten free and vegan patties are very simple, low ingredient, and fairly cheap. They're also crazy healthy and packed with protein. You can serve them as burgers, or as patties with veggies on the side, or over lettuce with salad dressing. Their golden colour is rather fetching on a bed of greens...

Best Vegan and Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Olive Tapenade (a quick & easy Meatless Monday dinner)

Free of gluten, soy, nuts, dairy, eggs

I almost feel guilty about how easy this pizza crust is to make. When I first started the blog I posted a recipe for an awesome pizza crust. I still love that crust. However, this one is just about as good and takes half the time (and half the bowls, meaning less dishes to clean!)

So if I'm going to feel guilty, I might as well enjoy it. Therefore, I smother the crust in easy homemade olive tapenade and some steamed veggies - both of which I can do while the crust is rising and baking.

The best part? I get two pizza crusts out of this recipe and I can freeze one for an even simpler dinner another night :)

Yesterday at the farmers market I picked up a jar of organic sorghum syrup and a big bunch of baby beets with stems and greens attached.

If you've ever wondered if you can eat beet greens and what to do with them, or what to do with sorghum syrup, you might enjoy this Sorghum and Citrus Dressing. I like it so much that tomorrow I'll be tossing it on a plain salad along with some of those fresh hop flowers I got yesterday!

Vegan, Gluten Free Applesauce Sweet & Sour Lentils #MeatlessMonday

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

Who doesn't love sweet and sour sauce? But unfortunately, it's usually made with a whole lot of sugar and ketchup.

But not this one. No ketchup here. The sweetness comes mostly from unsweetened applesauce, and just a tiny little bit of organic sugar. However, you could also use stevia or maple syrup instead (or, for a non-vegan dish, honey).

This dish is also almost obscenely cheap, healthy, tasty, and easy to make. And I love that it's naturally gluten free, doesn't require any expensive specialty items, and makes a great freezer meal.

Best Gluten Free Multiseed Multigrain Sandwich Bread (GF Breadmaker Bread)

Free of gluten, nuts, soy

My mom used to always make bread by hand. As a kid there was nothing better than waking up in the morning to the smell of fresh baked brown molasses bread, and slicing up a piece of still-warm bread and slathering it with homemade jam. Like me, mom tends to be a bit of an insomniac and while I get up and write in the middle of the night, my mom usually bakes!

Although I learned to knead bread at a young age, when I had to go gluten free I thought I would have to give up the lovely thick slabs of bread I had gotten used to. 5 years ago a lot of GF breads were small, flat, gummy, or cardboard like.

Then my mom kindly bought me a breadmaker! Personally I find that the best gluten free loaves of bread are those made in a breadmaker. Nowadays I don't often pull my breadmaker off the shelf. The reason for that is when I do, I end up gobbling up a whole bunch of this bread at once! It's definitely the very best GF bread I've ever made.

Vegan, Gluten-Free Sprouted Chickpea and Sweet Potato Burger Patties / Falafel for Meatless Monday

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, with corn-free option

A while back I accidentally sprouted a big batch of chickpeas. I had soaked a big bunch of garbanzo beans / chickpeas overnight with the intention of cooking them and freezing them. Well you know what they say about the best laid plans o'mice and men. Those peas sat on my counter for a couple of days.

Some of them ended up in my GF, Vegan Sprouted Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry Soup, and some of them (along with some surplice sweet potatoes) ended up as an allergy-free vegan falafel / salad / burger patties. It was a happy meeting that I intend to repeat over and over.

Gluten Free and Vegan Sprouted Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry Soup (#Meatless Monday)

Vegan and free of gluten, nuts, and soy

What happens when you end up with an accidental overload of sprouted chickpeas, a bunch of sweet potatoes from the farmers market, and a few pinches of warming spices like turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and curry?

A cheap, easy, comforting, fibre-packed, pot of soup! And one that happens to be naturally gluten free and vegan!

Cheap and Easy Gluten Free, Vegan Lentil and Vegetable Dinner (for #Meatless Monday)

Schlapped lentils and vegetable dinner
Free of gluten, wheat, eggs, soy, nuts, dairy, and soy

Cooked lentils are not particularly photogenic. Nor do they look gourmet when there is a big, brownish lump of them shlapped down on a plate. No, that's not a typo. "Shlap" is the type of noise that a thick mass of brown lentils makes when it if forcibly shlapped off a wooden spoon onto a plate.

But these lumpy little things are crazy cheap, pack a healthy punch and are quite versatile. They've been used around the world for millenia as a super cheap source of protein (30% of their calories come from protein), as well as iron, dietary fibre, vitamin B1 and folate. As a patriotic Canadian, I also find it really cool that Canada, by far, is the world's largest producer and exporter of lentils. [1] Go Saskatchewan!

Despite their appearance, lentils can also be remarkably tasty. My husband, who can be kind of picky, really likes this lentils and veggie dinner (and not just because it only requires one dish to clean up in the end). Not only that, but this simple cooked lentil and veggie dish costs less than $2 to make 4-6 servings of, and with a $2 bag of lentils you can get 2-3 batches of it.

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.

Today I want to talk about something I haven't really explained or discussed much here on the blog. Meat. Or the lack thereof.

I want to talk about it because I know a lot of my readers are advocates of diets/lifestyles like Real Food, Paleo, and GAPS, or even Atkins. All of these ways of eating are pretty meat-heavy. Recently, I asked my readers on Facebook and Google+ if they would consider being a part-time Vegan, or cutting out meat. There was a lot of debate and a bit of confusion. I hope to clear some of that up a bit here.

So why am I talking about meat today? Well I've decided it's time for Poor and Gluten Free to join the Meatless Monday movement. Now don't worry, not much is going to change here, except that some of my posts will now be tagged as Meatless Monday. And in today's post I'm going to explain why.

Pages