Recipe: Japanese Curry with Fried Eggplant

Hello everyone,

If you’re like me the word “curry” triggers thoughts of rich, creamy coconut milk- based goodness or a nice Indian meal. If so, you’re missing out!

For years, I too, was ignorant that there is yet another type of curry that should not be missed. It’s Japanese Curry! This style of curry is thick, indulgent and delicious! Simply put — it’s a must try. The base of the dish is more of a gravy than sauce so it’s certainly a splurge meal, but it’s worth it.

The basic components include white or brown rice, the sauce, and a slew of steamed or sautéed vegetables. My partner was feeling particularly ambitious, so we added breaded eggplant to our dish. The result was an amazing meal meant to be enjoyed with friends.

Give this recipe for vegan Japanese Curry with Fried Eggplant a try, and let me know what you think!

Cheers & happy eating!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

Continue reading “Recipe: Japanese Curry with Fried Eggplant” →

How to Make Fattoush Salad

Hello everyone,

I love Middle Eastern cuisine. Baba ghanoush, falafel, tabouli, you name it— it’s some of my favorite food. I was craving a feel good meal this weekend, so I decided to try my hand at a classic, fattoush salad.

Fattoush (فتوش) is a levantine bread salad which originated in Lebanon, but is also common in Syria and other Middle Eastern counties. Fattoush includes toasted or fried pieces of pita bread mixed with greens and fresh vegetables. It generally also includes cucumber, tomato, and other ingredients depending on season, location, taste, etc.

The dressing is slightly sour and acidic, using a healthy serving of lemon juice and sumac. Since I didn’t have sumac, I used zatar seasoning to give the salad a full flavor. I also used store bought pita chips to save time, but I’m sure this recipe would be even better if you used homemade pita bread for the crunch. This is a deceptively easy salad to make considering the robust flavor combinations. Why not give it a try?

What’s your favorite Middle Eastern recipe?

Cheers,

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own! Continue reading “How to Make Fattoush Salad” →

Recipe: Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad

Hello friends!

Have you been looking for the perfect salad to bring to your next potluck? My Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad will do the trick.

It’s deceptively simple, and will please even the pickiest of palates. The mix of bright, fresh peppers and green onion goes perfect with the tangy sesame vinaigrette. The powerful dressing is a mix of citrus juice, Sriracha, and ginger powder which pairs well with black or toasted sesame seeds. This is a wonderful dish to bring to a potluck or to make if you’re hosting events. It lasts about one week so you can even use it for last minute lunches.

The best part? This recipe takes under 30 minutes, then you place the salad in the refrigerator for an hour, and voila! You’re appetizer is ready to serve. It’s almost too good to be true. Go ahead and give it a try!

Cheers & happy eating,

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own! Continue reading “Recipe: Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad” →

Recipe: Homestyle Green Bean Casserole

Hello everyone,

It’s 6:30pm on a weeknight. You got stuck at work, and then in traffic. You’re tired, you’re hungry, but not to worry—dinner is already done! Casserole is a perfect goto meal for busy weeknights. You can make it in advance and simply reheat and serve on the spot.

Growing up, I know that green bean casserole was a popular staple at family get together and holiday events. However, I just couldn’t get excited about the dish. It’s soggy. I don’t like mushrooms. The list goes on.

I finally decided to give traditional green bean casserole a vegan twist, using vegetable broth and nutritional yeast instead of cream of mushroom soup! Check out the step by step pictures below.

What’s your favorite weeknight recipe?

Cheers!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

Continue reading “Recipe: Homestyle Green Bean Casserole” →

Recipe: Potato Gnocchi

Hello everyone!

I’ve always loved Italian food. The smell of sauce cooking, the warm, filling qualities of the meals. ahhh… Pasta! Plus, I’m Italian, and I grew up eating pasta in all its forms. Since the fall, I’ve been trying to make various pastas from scratch, but one I was avoiding was gnocchi.

Why avoid gnocchi? Well, it’s hand down my favorite pasta and always has been. And I simply did not want to mess it up, or let myself down. Luckily, gnocchi is—dare I say—easy to make! And easy to make vegan!

Making gnocchi for the first time took me less than two hours, and it was absolutely scrumptious. It was probably the best gnocchi I’ve ever had. It was that good! The dough was pillowy, yet still dense enough to be chewy. The fork ‘rolling’ technique did the trick, and the pasta sauce stuck on the gnocchi in the best way.

I know spending a few hours making pasta isn’t feasible most nights of the week, but for that special occasion or on the weekend it’s well worth the effort! Give this simple three ingredient gnocchi recipe a try!

Mangia! Mangia!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

Continue reading “Recipe: Potato Gnocchi” →