Israeli Couscous with Kale and Mushrooms

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Print Recipe

Israeli Couscous with Kale and Mushrooms

Pearl pasta with lots of sautéed mushrooms and healthy greens. A main-course dish.
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vegetable broth divided
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup Israeli couscous
  • 5 cups sliced mushrooms button or cremini
  • 6 cups chopped kale
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbs tamari
  • 1 Tbs nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp white miso
  • 1 Tbs lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts toasted
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • In a medium pot, add 1½ cups vegetable stock, bay leaf, and couscous. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 10-15 minutes, or until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
  • While couscous is cooking, in a large saucepan, heat ¼ cup of vegetable stock over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add kale, garlic, tamari, nutritional yeast, and remaining ¼ cup of vegetable stock. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium and cook an additional 3-4 minutes, or until kale is wilted and tender.
  • Add cooked couscous to mushroom and kale mixture. Add in miso, lemon juice, toasted walnuts, and black pepper; stir until combined. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Broccoli Salad with Cashew-Aquafaba Mayonnaise

Broccoli Salad with Cashew-Aquafaba Mayonnaise

This one’s a classic, perfect for a holiday meal with with its colors of red and green.

The flavors are so fine: zing of onion, sweet tang of cranberries, crunch of nuts, healthy broccoli.

The instructions call for for a 1/2 cup of vegan mayo. Bottled vegan mayo usually has a lot of oil, so I prefer cashew-aquafaba mayo (recipe below). It adds creaminess without saturated fat.

Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Print Recipe

Creamy broccoli salad

Lots of flavor and texture from cranberries, chopped nuts, red onions, broccoli.
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Vegan
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chopped broccoli
  • 1/2 cup red onion chopped fine
  • 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

  • Add all the salad ingredients to a bowl and stir in a half-cup of vegan mayo.
  • Taste, add salt & pepper if you like.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Total Time8 minutes
Print Recipe

Cashew-Aquafaba Mayonnaise

A creamy no-oil spread that's perfect for sandwiches and salads.
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: aquafaba, cashew
Servings: 8

Equipment

  • blender

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup cashews
  • 1/2 cup chickpea aquafaba
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • juice of half a lemon
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

  • I soak the cashews in hot water about an hour, then drain them. This is optional if you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec.
  • Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend for about 3 minutes. It takes that long to get the aquafaba incorporated, foamy, and creamy.

Orzo with Tomatoes, Basil, Peas and Pine Nuts

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Print Recipe

Orzo with Tomatoes, Basil, Peas, and Pine Nuts

Everyone loves this tiny-pasta salad, especially when fresh basil is available.
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces orzo white or whole wheat
  • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes sliced in half
  • 1 cup green peas
  • ½ cup basil minced
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 Tbs pine nuts toasted
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tsp. Dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Cook orzo according to directions on the box. Rinse with cold water and drain.
  • Thaw frozen peas.
  • Toast pine nuts in sauté pan over low heat until slightly brown. (Caution—they burn easily so watch them!)
  • For the balsamic dressing, whisk together the vinegar and Dijon mustard.
  • Mix all ingredients with the orzo and serve.