Tuscan Gnocchi Bake

I love gnocchi.. this is not a secret to anyone who knows me. I also love olives  (especially kalamata olives!), spinach, sun dried tomatoes, zucchini, onions, and vegan cheese sauce that's extra garlicky.  This is my perfect dish. Creamy, salty, loaded with veggies and soft gnocchi.

This us my dream dish for you.. and it's EASY to make. 

Looking for more great vegan recipes? Try my Kale & Almond Pesto Pasta, Vegan Fajita Soup , Mushroom Egg Rolls , Mediterranean Hummus Pizza, Basic Marinara Sauce, and Chocolate Covered Cherry Cupcakes 

Recipe :

2 (17.5 oz) packagesof gnocchi 

1 bunch of fresh spinach 

1 large zucchini, chopped 

1 onion, chopped 

Italian seasoning 

3 Tbsp. Vegan butter 

3 Tbsp. Flour 

3 cups unsweetened plant milk

5 cloves of garlic, crushed 

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

1 (3 oz.) package of sun dried tomatoes*

1/2 cup kalamata olives, chopped 

1 (8 oz.) Daiya mozzarella shreds**

1 cup panko breadcrumbs  (optional)

1/2 cup of vegan Parmesan  (optional)

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400°

2. Sautée onions and zucchini over medium heat with Italian seasoning until tender. Set aside. 

3. In a large skillet over medium heat,  melt butter and flour together to form a roux. Stir with whisk to prevent lumps. 

4. Once you have a blonde colored roux, add plant milk, crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to form your sauce. 

5. Whisk well as the sauce comes to a boil. This will prevent lumps.

6. Add your Cheese and allow to melt and become thickened.. about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. 

7. Pour your packages of gnocchi into an 11×13 casserole dish. 

8. Add fresh spinach, zucchini and onions, sun dried tomatoes, olives and your cheese sauce. Toss well.

9. Bake gnocchi for 20 minutes. If using breadcrumbs (see below), add to your gnocchi when there is 10 minutes left to cook. 

optional topping: 

1. In a small dish, mix panko breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese. 

2. Pour breadcrumbs over gnocchi. 

Makes 4-6 servings.

* if you don't have sun dried tomatoes in your grocery store.. substitute 1 (15 oz) can of  petite diced tomatoes, drained well. 

** You can use any vegan mozzarella you enjoy. If you don't like processed vegan cheese, you can use 1/2 to 1 cup of nutritional yeast in its place.. adjust to your tastes. 

Vegan Fajita Soup

Who doesn't love all the flavors of fajitas? I know we do! This is a easy recipe to pull all those flavors into an simple, one pot meal. Just serve with some colorful tortilla strips and a few chunks of avocado and you have a new "go to" soup for those lazy nights. 

This soup can be easily modified to fit your tastes and time schedule. If you prefer to use a vegan protein like Seitan or chick'n in this dish, it will still work perfectly. Just cut your vegan protein into bite sized pieces and cook as you would the mushrooms. I just used mushrooms because that's what we had on hand & they are easy to find in all parts of the world. You can substitute the vegan cream cheese for silken tofu and my vegan cheese sauce for any vegan cheese you can find at your local store, nutritional yeast, or just leave it out if you're not a fan. To make it easier, a bag of frozen bell peppers and onions can be used in place of fresh, chopped peppers & onions. 

All my recipes are open to your own personal interpretation. Just use the recipes as a guide as you learn to cook vegan meals. As you get used to the substitutions, please, make it your own! I love it when readers leave comments on their adaptations they have tried & enjoyed so others can try their creations too... that's how we learn 💜

Looking for more great vegan recipes? Try my Cheesy Cuban Black Bean and Plantain Bowl, BBQ Tempeh over Southwestern Cauliflower Rice, Spicy Ramen with Tofu and Asian Veggies, Vegan Fried Chick'n and Gravy, Vegan Comfort Soup, & Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

Recipe:

1 (8 oz) package of mushrooms, chopped 

1 (15 oz) can of corn, drained 

1 pobalno pepper, seeded & chopped 

1 purple onion, chopped 

2 bell peppers, seeded & chopped 

1 (1 oz) package of taco seasoning

1 (15 oz) can of black beans, drained and rinsed well

1 (15 oz) can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed well

2 (32 oz) vegetable broth 

1 (10 oz) can of diced tomatoes with green chilies 

1 (8 oz) container of vegan cream cheese 

1 cup of my Easy 5 minute vegan cheese sauce  

1 bunch of fresh spinach, chopped 

**Optional add ins & toppings**

1/2 tsp of liquid smoke  

1 fresh jalapeño, chopped 

Vegan sour cream 

Crispy tortilla strips 

Chopped avocado

Lime wedges 

Fresh chopped Cilantro 

Method: 

1. In a deep, soup pot over medium heat, cook your mushrooms, poblano pepper, bell peppers, onions and corn until tender. 

2. Add black beans, pinto beans, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes with green chilies, vegan cheese sauce, vegetable broth, vegan cream cheese, liquid smoke (optional), spinach, salt and pepper to your soup pot. 

3. Reduce heat to medium low and cook an additional 15 minutes, until warm and bubbly.

4. Top with chopped jalapeños, tortilla strips, vegan sour cream, lime juice, Cilantro, and avocado (or other desired toppings) before serving. 

Makes 6 servings 

Buffalo Chic Pea Quesadilla

I made this teice today because I loved it so much & it's so EASY!! I think this is my new "I need something quick" meal. 

This recipe is so easy, even a kid could make it (with supervision, of course). 

Looking for more great vegan Mexican style recipes? Try my Black Beans over Crispy Polenta, Vegan Taco Tuesday, Baked & Loaded Burritos, Baked Enchiladas, White Bean "Queso" Dip, Buffalo Jackfruit Quesadillias, Caribbean Burrito, Cheezy Stuffed Jalepenos, Enchilada Pasta, Jalapeno Popper Dip, Protein Power Burrito & Mexican Lasagna

Recipe:

2 (15 oz.) Cans of chic peas, drained  **(keep that liquid! You can freeze aquafaba  (chic pea brine) to use as a vegan egg replacer later. 3 Tbsp = 1 egg)**

Buffalo sauce 

Vegan butter

Flour Tortillas 

Vegan cheddar style shreds 

Vegan ranch

Method:

1. Smash your chic peas in a bowl and add buffalo sauce. Mix well.

2. Butter one side of your flour tortilla. 

3. On the opposite side of the butter, cover 1/2 your flour tortilla with your smashed chic peas. 

4. Top chic peas with vegan cheddar style shreddedcheese and a drizzle of vegan ranch. 

5. Fold tortilla in half.

6. Place your quesadilla in a skillet over medium heat.

7. Cover skillet while your quesadilla is cooking to make sure your cheese throughly melts & your chic pea filling is warmed completely. 

8. Brown quesadilla on both sides

9. Remove from skillet and use a pizza cutter to quarter your quesadilla. 

10. Serve with additional vegan ranch for dipping. 

Makes 4 quesadillas. 

Vegan Fried Green Tomatoes

Living in NC, I have grown up around the most amazing soul food cooks in the world. Trust me when I say you don't know soul food until a southern grandma cooks for you!! This is a southern classic. One of my friends, Traci Carr, taught me 15+ years ago & something every Southern lady must know how to cook. Tonight I was inspired by my husband to create an amazing fried green tomatoes recipe worthy of a true southern kitchen & I impressed myself in the process!!! 

None of this would have been possible without the discovery of  aquafaba... The liquid in a can of chic peas! Anyone interested in learning more about cooking and baking with this vegan magic, check out the Facebook page - Vegan Aquafaba & Meringues

Looking for More Southern Style Vegan Food?  Try Smothered Chick'n over garlic mashed potatoes , Banana Pudding Pie, Vegan Sunday Dinner , Buffalo Tempeh over Cheeze Grits

Vegan Fried Green Tomatoes:

2 green tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup unsweetened plant milk
3 Tbsp aquafaba
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup corn meal
1/4 - 1/2 tsp chili powder (optional )
Salt & pepper
Oil to fry

Heat oil in deep frying pan over medium heat.

Combine milk, aquafaba, flour, corn meal, chili powder, salt & pepper in a bowl. Stir to make a wet mixture similar to a pancake batter.

Test oil to make sure its ready to fry by dropping a few drops of water into the pan, if it sizzles, it's ready.

Pat your tomato slices dry with a clean dish towel.

Dip green tomatoes into batter to coat.

Place in warm oil to fry.

Fry until golden brown on each side and allow to cool on a paper towel.

Sprinkle with salt while fresh out the oil if desired.

Serve hot with a spicy vegan ranch or top with hot sauce and layer between bread for a delicious vegan sandwich.

Makes 4 servings.