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1 eggplant, medium size
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic
28 ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 450°

Peel (or not peel) and cut eggplant crosswise into 1/2 inch thick slices. Arrange them on a rimmed baking sheet fitted with parchment paper. Use 1 tablespoon of the oil to brush the tops of the eggplant slices. Sprinkle tops with 1/4 teaspoon salt and some black pepper.
Roast the slices until bottoms and sides are slightly browned, approximately 10 minutes. Flip the slices over, brush with rest of the tablespoon of oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until crisp and golden, another 5 minutes.
When finished roasting, remove pan from oven.

Reduce oven temperature to 400°.

While eggplant slices are roasting, prepare the tomato sauce. Place 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the onion, sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens, approximately 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Cover bottom of a 11 x 7 inch baking dish with about 1/2 inch of the tomato sauce. Place a layer of eggplant slices on top of the sauce and top with some of the basil. Cover with a thin layer of tomato sauce and repeat until all of the eggplant slices are used up; reserve some of the basil for serving. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, the remaining salt, lots of black pepper, and drizzle with the remaining oil.
Bake until breadcrumbs are golden and the sauce has thickened, approximately 15 minutes. Let dish rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. Garnish with the remaining basil.

Serves 2-3

Note: You will not even miss the Parmesan. It is that good!

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1 head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch thick slices, approximately 4 steaks
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
Pepper
½ cup barbecue sauce, your choice

Brush both sides of each slice of cauliflower with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Place cauliflower slices on heated grill and cook for about 5 minutes per side.

Coat each side with barbecue sauce and place back on grill for about 3 to 5 more minutes per side.
Or you can roast the cauliflower “steaks” at 400˚ on a baking sheet fitted with parchment paper for about 30 minutes, flipping them over about halfway through.
Then coat steaks with barbecue sauce and roast for 5 more minutes.

Makes 4 steaks; 1 steak per person

Note:  Do not discard the cauliflower pieces.  If grilling, season pieces with salt and pepper, brush with olive oil.  Wrap first in parchment paper,  then with heavy duty tin foil and place on grill.  If roasting, just add the seasoned pieces to the baking sheet.

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1 1/2 cups sliced carrots (thickness of a quarter)
1 1/2 cups sliced onions
1 1/2 cups green pepper strips
1 1/2 cups celery, sliced and peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
15 ounce can stewed tomatoes
15 ounce can tomato puree
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 cup tomato juice
Juice of 1 lemon
2 – 15 ounce cans kidney beans, drained
15 ounce can chick peas (garbanzo beans), drained
2 large or 4 small garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Preparation

Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat and saute chopped vegetables
until just barely tender. Transfer to large pot and add
the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Simmer for about 20 minutes
or until hot.
Season with more salt and/or chili powder to taste.

Serves 4
Do not overcook or vegetables will be mushy.

Yield: approximately 3 quarts

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1 package ready-made pizza dough
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
8 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick pieces (about 1 3/4 cups)
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
1 8-ounce block non-dairy cheese, your choice; shredded
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°

Position 1 rack in top third of oven and 1 rack in bottom third of oven.
Spray or brush olive oil on heavy large baking sheet or large pizza pan.
Press or stretch pizza dough to fit either pan.
Brush dough with 1 tablespoon oil.
Toss tomatoes, bell pepper, zucchini, and onion with remaining 3 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Arrange vegetables on large rimmed baking sheet fitted with parchment paper.
Place pizza crust on top rack in oven and vegetables on bottom rack.
Bake until pizza crust is golden brown and vegetables are softened and brown in spots, about 13 minutes.
Remove from oven.
Sprinkle crust with cheese and top with vegetables.
Top with basil and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 3 minutes.
Cut into slices.

Serves 2 – 4

Note: Inspired by a recipe on epicurious.com

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4 flour tortillas (10 inches)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large onion, diced
1 jalapeno chile, minced (remove seeds and ribs for less heat)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
12 ounces beer, or 1 1/2 cups water
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn
4 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
8 ounces non-dairy cheddar cheese, shredded (2 1/2 cups)

Preheat oven to 400°

With a paring knife, trim tortillas to fit a 9-inch springform pan.
Use the bottom of the pan as a guide. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add onion, jalapeño, garlic, and cumin; season with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add beans and beer, and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium; simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes.
Stir in corn and scallions, and remove from heat. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
Fit a trimmed tortilla in bottom of springform pan; layer with 1/4 of the beans and 1/2 cup of cheese.
Repeat three times, using 1 cup cheese on top layer.
Bake until cheese melts, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove side of pan; sprinkle pie with scallions.
To serve, slice into wedges.

Serves 6

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1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (peeled and cut in 1-inch cubes)
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
1/2 sweet onion, peeled and finely diced
1 cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups rolled oats, not steel cut
1/2 cup cashews, finely chopped

Serving suggestions

toasted potato buns
avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
vegan mayonnaise
pickled red onions
green lettuce leaves
Dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

In a large bowl, toss sweet potatoes and garlic with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Place on baking sheet, fitted with parchment paper and roast for 35-45 minutes or until tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse to combine sweet potato, Worcestershire sauce, onion, and chickpeas.
Remove mixture to a large bowl and add the rolled oats and cashews and mix to combine.
Form into five patties using an ice cream scoop.
In a heated, large sauté pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat over medium-high heat.
Add patties and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes, flip and cook another 4 minutes. Remove and keep warm.
Makes 5-8 burgers, depending on size

Note: use a plastic lid and plastic wrap to help form the burger patties into perfect rounds.
Recipe inspired by the television program, The Chew.

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1 large eggplant (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed and sliced lengthwise into four 1/2-inch thick planks
1/2 cup BBQ sauce, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 red onion, halved and sliced into thin wedges
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 slices non-dairy provolone or mozzarella cheese (1/8-inch thick slices)
4 ciabatta or hoagie rolls, split and toasted
1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
2 pepperoncini peppers, from a jar, thinly sliced

Position oven rack six inches from the heat source and preheat broiler on high.
Line broiler pan or rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Brush eggplant slices on both sides with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Arrange slices on foil-lined pan.
Broil eggplant until browned and soft, about 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss mushrooms and red onion with oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and reserve.
Remove broiler pan from oven, flip eggplant slices, and brush with 2 more tablespoons BBQ sauce.
Scatter mushroom mixture around the eggplant on the pan and broil until browned and soft, about 3 minutes more.
Add 1 slice of cheese to each eggplant plank and continue to broil until cheese is melted and browned, about 2 minutes more.
To assemble the sandwiches, brush the top toasted half of each roll with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and each bottom half with 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce.
Layer an eggplant slice, some mushroom mixture, and a few slices of pepperoncini on the bottom of each roll.
Close the sandwiches and serve immediately.

Note:  Makes 4 sandwiches

 

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1 small sweet potato
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1 portobello mushroom cap
1/2 small zucchini
1 small shallot, finely diced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup cooked quinoa
3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 sandwich rolls, split, toasted
Guacamole, sliced tomatoes, and sprouts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°

Prick sweet potato all over with a fork, rub with 1 tablespoon oil, then season with salt and pepper.
Roast directly on oven rack until tender, 30-45 minutes. Cool.
Remove and discard skin , mash flesh with a fork. Set aside.
Remove stem from mushroom, discard.
Pulse cap in food processor until finely chopped.
Coarsely grate zucchini on large holes of a box grater.
Place in a kitchen towel, squeeze out excess liquid.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat.
Cook shallot and red pepper flakes, stirring often, until shallot is soft, about 2 minutes.
Add mushroom and zucchini, cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to release their juice, approximately 2 – 4 minutes.
Transfer to a large bowl.
Mix in quinoa. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
Add breadcrumbs, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup reserved mashed sweet potato to quinoa mixture. Mix well.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
If mixture is too loose, add more mashed sweet potato to bind.
Divide mixture into 4 portions and form into patties, pressing firmly together with your hands.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Cook 2 patties until golden brown, approximately 2 – 4 minutes per side.
Season with salt and pepper.
Repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 2 patties.
Place patties on toasted sandwich rolls.
Add guacamole, sliced tomatoes and sprouts (optional)

Serves 4

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Portobello mushroom caps, sliced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Organic No-Salt seasoning blend
Lime or lemon to squeeze over mushrooms while grilling
Salt
Salsa (store bought or See Note)
Flour tortillas
Radishes, thinly sliced,
Leftover grilled vegetables (if desired)

Fire up the grill.
Toss mushroom slices in oil and seasoning blend.
Place mushroom slices on grill pan.
Grill 3 minutes.
Squeeze lime or lemon over slices.
Sprinkle with salt.
Turn slices over.
Grill another 1 to 2 minutes.
Squeeze more lime or lemon juice over slices.
Sprinkle with salt.
Heat tortillas on grill while mushrooms are finishing grilling, until warm.
Remove tortillas from grill.
Place some mushroom slices, leftover grilled vegetables (if desired) on tortilla.
Top with salsa and sliced radishes.
Serve immediately.

Serves 2 generously

Note: Spicy Tomato Salsa

 

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1 medium spaghetti squash (see Note for preparation)
2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 1/2 cups Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Salt and pepper

Prepare spaghetti squash (See Note).
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
Add onion and sauté until tender, approximately 5 minutes.
Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Stir in tomatoes and cook for approximately 1 minute, just until tomatoes are warm.
Use a large fork to shred the “spaghetti” from the squash and place in a large bowl.
Add sautéed vegetables, olives and basil.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve warm.

Serves 4

Note: Spaghetti Squash The Microwave Way