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Easy Vegan Sushi with Avocado

Have a hankering for sushi but looking to keep it vegan for #Veganuary? We’ve got the recipe for you! This Easy Vegan Sushi with Avocado recipe from Rose Elliot’s Complete Vegan – quick and delicious, ideal midweek meal inspiration.

Taken from Rose Elliot’s Complete Vegan

 

Makes 16–20 pieces

Ingredients

225g (8oz/scant 1¼ cups) sushi rice or pudding rice
300ml (10½ fl oz/1¼ cups) water
2 tsp rice vinegar or wine vinegar
2 tsp caster (superfine) sugar
4–5 sheets of nori seaweed
1 red (bell) pepper, deseeded and cut into long strips
4–5 asparagus spears, cooked and drained
flesh of 1 avocado, cut into long strips
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
TO SERVE:
toasted sesame seeds, to garnish (optional)
soy sauce, for dipping
pickled ginger, to taste
wasabi paste, to taste

Method

1 Place the rice in a saucepan with the water and bring to the boil, uncovered. Cover, reduce the heat and cook for about 12 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice cooked. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then stir in the rice vinegar and sugar. You can use the rice to make the sushi as soon as it’s cool enough to handle.

2 To make the sushi rolls, place a piece of nori, shiny-side down, on a board and lightly cover it with the rice, leaving a 1-cm (½-in) gap at the end farthest from you. Place a row of red (bell) pepper strips on top of the rice, at the end closest to you, about 2.5cm (1in) from the edge. Lay some asparagus spears next to the red pepper and a line of avocado strips next to that. Fold over the edge of the nori closest to you, quite firmly, then continue to roll the nori up, like a Swiss roll. Continue to make sushi rolls in this way until all the ingredients have been used up, then refrigerate until required.

3 To serve, trim the two ends of each roll (these tend to be a little untidy), then cut the rolls into 4 or 5 pieces. Place them, filling-side up, on a serving plate and sprinkle with a few toasted sesame seeds, if you like. Serve with the soy sauce for dipping – it’s nice to give each person their own tiny bowl of sauce – and some wasabi paste and pickled ginger.

Remember to tag us @NourishBooks on Instagram and Twitter if you use our recipes!

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Decadent chocolate & raspberry cake

Recipes for #Veganuary2021 continue! This glorious chocolate cake recipe was taken from Virtually Vegan by Heather Whinney.

The best bit about this cake is that you can lick the spoon knowing there is no raw egg involved. Don’t expect the same rise you would get for a cake with eggs – but it will still look the part once sandwiched together and piled with chocolate frosting.

Taken from Virtually Vegan by Heather Whinney

Serves 8 | Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 30 mins

Ingredients

85g/3oz/scant ⅓ cup dairy-free spread
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
300g/10½ oz/2½ cups self-raising/self-rising flour
2 tbsp dairy-free cocoa/unsweetened chocolate powder, at least 70% cocoa, plus extra for dusting
100g/3½ oz/½ cup golden caster/superfine sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda/baking soda
½ vanilla pod, seeds only
300g/10½ oz fresh raspberries, roughly chopped, leave some whole for topping

FOR THE TOPPING:

200g/7oz dairy-free dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa
80g/3oz dairy-free spread
2 tbsp almond milk or dairy-free milk of your choice
6–8 tbsp icing/confectioners’ sugar, sifted plus a dusting for decoration if you wish

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and base-line two 20cm/8in cake pans with parchment paper.

2 Put the dairy-free spread in the bowl of a food mixer, add the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and 300ml/10½fl oz/1¼ cups of boiling water. Mix slowly until the spread has melted and everything is combined.

3 In another bowl, put the flour, cocoa, sugar, bicarbonate of soda/baking soda and the vanilla seeds and stir. Add this to the wet mixture and beat on slow until you have a smooth batter.

4 Divide the mixture between the pans, smooth the top and bake for about 20–30 minutes (check after 20 minutes), or until a skewer poked into the middle comes out clean.

5 Leave the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.

6  To make the frosting, put the chocolate and dairy- free spread in a heatproof bowl. Sit it over a pan of just simmering water and stir occasionally until melted. Remove from the heat and leave to cool a little, then stir in the milk and slowly add the icing/confectioners’ sugar, beating as you go, until it begins to thicken and become glossy. Put in the refrigerator to set.

7 To assemble the cake, remove the frosting from the refrigerator and beat until glossy. Spread generously over one of the sponges, top with most of the raspberries then top with the other sponge and cover with the remaining frosting, and use a knife to neaten. Top with the remaining raspberries and a dusting of icing/confectioners’ sugar or cocoa, if using.

We’re almost halfway through January, plus it’s Thursday, it’s time for a little chocolate flavoured indulgence. Don’t forget to tag us, @NourishBooks, if you give any of our recipes a try!

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Beer-battered tofu tacos with pea crema

Who knew #Veganuary and #TacoTuesdays were so meant to be! This recipe was taken from The Part-Time Vegetarian’s Year by Nicola Graimes.

Crisp, golden, batter-coated tofu, a summery pea crema and a zingy salsa with a corn tortilla – what’s not to like? If you’re using fresh peas, don’t forget to save the pea pods; they make a flavoursome light vegetable stock.

Taken from The Part-Time Vegetarian’s Year

 

Serves 4
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

165g/5¾oz/scant 1¼ cups plain/all-purpose flour
2 tsp cornflour/cornstarch
300ml/10½fl oz/1¼ cups light ale
4 tsp chipotle powder
4 tsp ground cumin
sunflower oil, for deep-frying
550g/1lb 4oz block of firm tofu, drained cut into 2cm/¾in wide x 1cm/½in thick fingers
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

PEA CREMA
1 large avocado, stone removed and flesh scooped out
55g/2oz/⅓ cup cooked peas
4 tbsp crème fraîche
1 large garlic clove, peeled
juice of 1 lime
1 green jalapeño chilli, deseeded and chopped

TOMATO AND CORIANDER SALSA
4 vine tomatoes, deseeded and diced
1 handful of fresh coriander/cilantro leaves, chopped
½ small red onion, diced
1 green jalapeño chilli, deseeded and chopped
juice of ½ lime

TO SERVE
8 corn tacos
2 Little Gem/Bibb lettuces, shredded
chilli sauce (optional)

Method

1 To make the batter, sift the flour and cornflour/cornstarch into a large mixing bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper. Make a well in the middle and gradually whisk in the ale to make a smooth, fairly thick batter. Set aside to rest. Mix together the chipotle powder and cumin on a plate.

2 Blend together all the ingredients for the pea crema in a blender or mini food processor (or mash with a fork if you like a chunky mix), then season. Taste and add more lime, if needed.

3 Mix together all the ingredients for the salsa in a bowl, then season.

4 Place the tacos on a baking sheet and warm in the oven preheated to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4.

5 To prepare the tofu, heat enough oil to half-fill a deep heavy saucepan to 176°C/350°F (or until a cube of bread turns golden and crisp in 40 seconds). Pat dry the tofu slices with paper towels, making sure you get rid of as  much moisture as possible, then dust in the chipotle mix until coated all over. Dunk the tofu, one slice at a time, into the batter until well coated, then lower it into the hot oil. Cook 3 slices of tofu at a time for 11/2–2 minutes until light golden and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels and keep warm in a low oven. Repeat until you have cooked all the tofu.

6 To assemble, place some lettuce in a taco shell, top with 2–3 slices of tofu and a good spoonful of the salsa, followed by the pea crema. Finish with a dash of chilli sauce, if you like, and serve with extra wedges of lime on the side.

#Veganuary2021 is going strong with this glorious recipe! Nicola does offer a part-time variation to mix things up – swap out the tofu for white fish fillets! Cut them into bite-sized chunks, coat in the spiced flour and batter, then deep fry until crispy and golden brown. Delicious!

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Rose Elliot’s Complete Vegan Brownies!

We’re keeping the #Veganuary train running with this truly necessary comfort food recipe – BROWNIES!

Quick, easy and delicious brownies from Rose Elliot’s Complete Vegan

 

From Rose: ‘These brownies are the result of my many attempts at making ‘the perfect vegan brownie’. For me, it’s perfect just as it is, but if you want it even more ‘fudgy’ you can simply double the amount of chocolate and bake the brownies for a few minutes longer. Either way, they are quite delicate when they first come out of the oven, but they soon firm up. In fact, they are even more delicious the next day and keep well… if they are allowed to. I hope you will enjoy them.’

Makes 15

Ingredients

100g (3½oz) plain (semisweet) vegan chocolate

100g (3½oz/scant ½ cup) vegan spread

125g (4½oz/scant ⅔ cup) soft brown sugar

4 tbsp soy or other plant-based milk

1 tsp cider vinegar or wine vinegar (red or white)

75g (2¾oz/generous ½ cup) self-raising (self-rising) flour

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp baking powder

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F/gas mark 4.

2 Line the base and sides of a 20cm (8in) square baking tin (pan) with 2 strips of good-quality non-stick baking paper (so that the bottom has a double layer of paper).

3 Break the vegan chocolate into pieces and put them into a saucepan along with the vegan butter and sugar. Heat gently until melted, then remove from the heat.

4 Meanwhile, mix the milk with the vinegar in a bowl and set aside to curdle.

5 Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) into the chocolate mixture and stir until well combined. Add the curdled milk and mix quickly with a wooden spoon until combined, then thump the pan on the work surface to get rid of any air bubbles. Tip the mixture into the prepared tin, spreading it to the edges, then thump the tin sharply on the surface once again.

6 Bake for about 20 minutes until firm.

7 Let cool, then cut into pieces in the tin. The brownies become firmer and fudgier as they cool. They keep well stored in a tin.

Happy #Veganuary baking everyone! These brownies hit the spot every time, forgoing meat shouldn’t mean you forgo your favourite foods – especially in a time when everyone deserves some comfort food ❤️ 

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Courgette, mushroom & truffle oil pizza

We are getting stuck right into #Veganuary2021 with this delicious, veggie-filled pizza from Virtually Vegan by Heather Whinney! We’ll be posting plant based meal inspo and dairy free dessert recipes – join us this month for a #Veganuary adventure!

‘Who needs dairy on a pizza? What you need is flavour, and this combo has lots of it. You can make the dough ahead and leave it to prove slowly in the refrigerator for a few days or wrap well and freeze for up to a month. For a change, try tossing a handful of fresh wild rocket/arugula on top to serve and give the pizza an extra drizzle of chilli oil.’

Courgette, mushroom & truffle oil pizza from Virtually Vegan

 

Makes 4
Prep: 20 mins, plus proving
Cook: 10 mins

Recipe

500g/1Ib 2oz/4 cups ‘00’ flour or strong white flour, sifted, plus extra for dusting
7g/¼oz/1 sachet of fast-action/instant active dried yeast
4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
sea salt

FOR THE TOPPING*:
8 tbsp passata/sieved tomatoes
300g/10½oz portobello mushrooms, finely sliced
4 courgettes/zucchini, sliced into ribbons
a pinch of chilli flakes
a generous drizzle of truffle oil
1 handful basil leaves, to garnish
a few oregano leaves, to garnish

*NON-VEGAN TOPPING:
Try any non-vegan topping you like with this base and tomato sauce. It works well with dairy-free cheese, too, but you could scatter over some torn mozzarella if you prefer.

Method

1 To make the pizza dough, put the flour, yeast and a pinch of salt in a food mixer. Make a well in the middle and slowly
pour in 360ml/12½fl oz/1½ cups of warm water. Using the dough beaters, beat until the mixture comes together, then add 4 tablespoons of olive oil and continue to mix until it forms a dough. It will begin to make a slapping noise as it mixes, which means it is ready. Transfer to a floured board and knead for about 10 minutes until it softens up and becomes spongy.

2 Put the dough in a bowl, cover with cling film/plastic wrap or a dish towel and leave in a warm place for 30–40 minutes until doubled in size.

3 Preheat the oven to its highest setting and put a baking/cookie sheet in the oven to heat up.

4 Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a couple of minutes to knock out the air, then divide the dough into four equal balls.

5 Have all your topping ingredients ready. Roll and stretch a dough ball until you get a round, about 25cm/10in in diameter. Making one at a time, lightly oil the hot baking/cookie sheet and put the dough round on it. Add 2 tablespoons of passata/sieved tomatoes to the top of the pizza and spread it out to cover. Top with mushrooms and courgettes/zucchini. It will seem like a lot of courgette/zucchini but pile them high as they will shrink when cooking. Sprinkle with chilli flakes and drizzle the truffle oil over the top. Bake for 10 minutes until golden. Remove and continue making the other pizzas. Garnish with fresh herbs, slice into triangles and serve.

 

We can never say no to pizza, so hopefully you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! Don’t forget to check back through Veganuary for oh so many new and delicious recipes.

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