For this cucumber salad, cool and crunchy cucumbers work in tandem with a garlic-infused chili oil to yield a refreshing summer appetizer. A slight tangy is introduced from fresh lemon juice accented with ground coriander. This marinade can be applied to other vegetables, but it works most amazingly with cucumbers due to their absorbent nature…
Jollof Rice, Vegan Style
Countless Jollof Rice recipes exist on YouTube from African cooks , and I wanted to get in on the action. However I really didn’t want to add meat, so this vegan jollof rice is where I ended up. And for the Jollof Rice enthusiasts who are already in the know, this recipe follows more of…
Sriracha Skinny Coleslaw
If you’re in the mood for coleslaw but not crazy about mayonnaise and enjoy spicy food, then consider this vegan alternative featuring Sriracha sauce and grated ginger. You could call it a skinny coleslaw. I use the term “vinaigrette” loosely because lemon juice is the acidic stand-in for vinegar in this coleslaw recipe. And like…
Black-Eyed Pea Dip with Roasted Garlic
Next time you want to serve a bean dip, put down the hummus and make this faster-cooking Black-eyed Pea Dip. When making a bean dip, using fresh beans instead of canned yields superior results and cooking dried chickpeas for hummus is exhausting. The soaking, simmering, and removing the chickpea skins makes hummus lose its appeal…
Home Fries Two Ways
Crispy, well-seasoned, oven-made home fries can enhance any meal if you just follow just a few simple concepts. No matter if you’re making breakfast, lunch, or dinner (or cooking for vegetarians or meat lovers), EVERYTHING goes well with some home fries. There are a few things you can do to make them turn out as…
Shoestring Fried Sweet Potatoes
Naturally sweet and oh-so-crispy bits of fried sweet potatoes in the form of shoestrings are an exciting addition to any sandwich, wrap, or appetizer. Plus, after they’re fried, they can also be seasoned and turned into a stand-alone snack and enjoyed equally by vegans, vegetarians, or meat-lovers as a substitute for french fries. Be on…
Easy Jerk Chicken from the Jar
While researching recipes for jerk chicken, I was struck by how many home cooks try to add their own “other” ingredients. Many non-traditional items make their way into some recipes including parsley, nutmeg, Chinese 5-spice powder, or even soy sauce. By no means am I Jamaican with a life-long childhood experience to share, but when…
Vegan Gumbo with Mashed Yams
Traditional gumbo achieves its thick texture from making a roux at the start of the recipe. But for my interpretation of vegan gumbo, I achieve a similar consistency from mixing some mashed yams into your bowl at the very end. Keep in mind that this is a very loose interpretation of the classic definition of…
Sautéed Collard Greens
This recipe for collard greens is far from the classic method of low and slow cooking in popular American Soul Food. Traditionally, collard greens undergo hours of simmering with a ham hock or smoked turkey wing for a base flavor. But occasionally, I prefer this healthier plant-based option which comes together in only 20 minutes…
Smoky Sofrito Pulled Chicken Breast
When faced with the challenge of finding new ways to cook chicken breast so it doesn’t dry out, consider stewed chicken. It’s an easy method of slow cooking for 3 hours, allowing the meat to break down while a succulent sauce thickens up. Upon completion, the chicken gets delicately pulled apart with a fork. Use…