That Was Vegan?

Recipes so delicious you'll never think twice!

Vegan Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Vegan Loaded Baked Potato Dip

OMFG. This Vegan Loaded Baked Potato Dip will make your eyes roll back in your head. It’ll make you run around outside in the snow without your shoes on screaming about how good it is. More than anything, it’ll remind you that you gave up nothing in the food-flavor department by going vegan. Nada. Zilch. Zero.

It’s so good.

Let me put it to you this way: After seeing how popular the original is on Pinterest and deciding to veganize it, I figured it would be good. Really good, even.

But. I was blown away by how delicious it actually turned out to be. It’s creamy, bacony, and when combined with a hearty potato chip it tastes just like a loaded baked potato- vegan style.

Loaded Baked Potato Dip

And let me just tell you that I needed some decadent yumminess in my life right now. We sold the house (again… the first buyers fell through) and we closed on it at the beginning of January. After having those first buyers flake on us though, I was understandably skittish about the whole process. When you think about it, sellers take a lot of risk by entering into another contract or lease in order to be out of the house before closing. I knew the next house would be a rental for now, but I was terrified of signing a lease on the new place, paying movers to take all the furniture there, moving the pets, etc… then having the buyers back out the morning of closing. The thought of being stuck with both a mortgage and a lease freaked me out. Worrying about this unlikely situation was literally keeping me up at night.

So we did what many people do when faced with a problem: we threw money at it. We negotiated with the buyers to rent the house back from them for a month after closing. It was expensive but it also meant I didn’t have to sign a lease or hire movers until after the whole thing was a done deal. Money well spent, in my opinion. But it also had an unintended consequence: without an actual “move date” it has allowed me to become the world’s worst procrastinator. We’ve already moved, and the majority of our stuff is either with us or in storage, but there are still about a million things left at the house. Things I definitely don’t need, probably don’t want, and certainly don’t know what to do with. And guess what? It’s stressing me out! And the end of the month is rapidly approaching. And even after we get all the stuff out, we still have to clean. But I can’t clean until after I get rid of the stuff… and I can’t seem to rally myself to deal with the stuff… so I can’t clean. Do you see my dilemma?

You know what? I’m just not going to think about it right now. I’m just going to eat my loaded baked potato dip and pretend everything is alright. I think that’s an okay plan for now.


Vegan Loaded Baked Potato Dip (makes about 2 cups)

Adapted from non-vegan/vegetarian recipe. Note: The original recipe states this dip will last up to a week if refrigerated in an airtight container. Mine only lasted a day, so I can’t attest to that :)

Ingredients:

  • 8 slices tempeh bacon (I used smoked maple by tofurky)
  • a couple pinches of smoked applewood sea salt
  • 8 ounces vegan sour cream
  • 1 cup Daiya shreds (I mixed cheddar and pepper jack)
  • scant 1/4 cup sliced scallions
  • Potato chips for serving (I used Ruffles- they’re accidentally vegan and very hearty!)

Directions:

  1. Fry tempeh bacon in a pan according to package instructions, adding a pinch or two of the smoked sea salt for extra bacony flavor. When it’s done, slice into slivers.
  2. While that’s cooking, mix the cheese, sour cream and scallions. Add the bacon and another pinch of the smoked sea salt, then cover and refrigerate for an hour. Serve with chips of your choice!

Enjoy!

 

Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Spinach Artichoke Pasta

What has spinach and artichoke in it, is really creamy, and super delicious? Spinach Artichoke Dip, right? Yes, but if you want to eat that dip for dinner (and not feel like a weirdo) you have to add PASTA to it, and boom: Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pasta!

Dinner is served.

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta

This stuff is crazy good! Creamy, just like any good spinach artichoke dip would be, but also spicy and a little crunchy from the panko crumbs sprinkled on top.  The original version was spotted on Pinterest (of course), just begging to be veganized. Literally, it was begging. The Pioneer Woman is obviously very popular, and her photography is beautiful, but WTF!? Is she trying to kill of her fans and readers with those unhealthy recipes? Yikes. If you’d like to hear more rant, head on over to The V Word, you’ll laugh your pants off :)

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Bottom line: If you’re craving dip for dinner but want to maintain the image of a responsible adult, just make this. Look at me, looking out for you guys!


Spinach Artichoke Pasta (Serves 4-5)

Adapted from non-vegan/vegetarian recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag baby spinach
  • 1.5 teaspoons dried minced garlic
  • 1 can artichoke hearts, drained and sliced in half
  • 1 Tablespoon Earth Balance
  • 1.5 Tablespoons flour
  • 1.5 cups So Delicious coconut milk
  • 1/4 heaped teaspoon chili powder (more to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (more to taste)
  • 1/2 bag Daiya Mozzarella shreds
  • 6 oz Campanelle pasta, cooked per package instructions
  • 1/4 heaped cup panko crumbs
  • 1 Tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (more to taste)
  • S&P to taste

Directions:

Water saute the baby spinach with the garlic and artichoke hearts over medium heat until it’s wilted, 1-2 minutes. Set aside.

Add vegan butter to pan and allow to melt, then stir in the flour. Stir until it’s combined and very thick (this is your roux). Pour in the milk and stir until mostly smooth and heated through, then add in the cheese, salt, onion and chili powder. If it gets too thick, add water.

Fold in the cooked pasta, artichokes, spinach and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring gently. When ready to serve, add the panko crumbs to individual servings, along with more pepper flakes if you want it SPICY!

Enjoy!

 

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Vegan Queso

vegan queso

Wes Welker Dip (AKA Vegan Queso)

I already shared my Tom Brady Dip with you, and here’s the next in my series of what I’m going to call Hot Athlete Dips (I totally just made that up- I promise there’s no such series!). Silliness aside, this queso is fantastic.  And delicious.  And almost as nice to look at as its namesake Wes Welker!

Wes Welker (the man, not the dip)

Wes Welker says "Do you like my soy milk mustache?"

It’s creamy and spicy and it really satisfied this vegan’s craving for some hot cheese. Daiya provides the base, so you know it’s good! I used a mixture of salsas, you should use your favorite. And of course you have to keep in mind that I’m a total baby when it comes to heat levels, so if you have a taste for the spice, kick it up a few notches! And did I mention it has Tofurky Italian sausage in it? And crunchy red onions to add delicious texture?

I hesitate to share this detail, but this queso (along with a big bowl of chips and a bottle of wine) was my entire dinner the other night. Jason was out of town, and when I’m cooking for myself I rarely make a proper meal… although I’m usually a little healthier than this, I promise! (Seriously, Mom, if you’re reading this, please don’t call and lecture me about the perils of a wine and Daiya induced coma… I promise to do better!)

I’ll be making it again on Sunday for the Super Bowl- and I’m going to spare you my musings on what Wes Welker looks like in those tight little pants of his. Consider it my gift to you :)   Although really, my gift to you is THIS RECIPE! I’ve even doubled it for you, because who wants portion control while they’re eating queso?!??


Wes Welker Dip Spicy Vegan Queso (makes 4 reasonable-sized servings)

These measurements are all kind of approximate, other than the Daiya.  Just keep dipping that spoon in the pan… you’ll know when you’ve gotten it right! If you’re making it for a party, it would keep warm quite nicely in a slow-cooker on a low setting.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag Cheddar-style Daiya shreds (you could also use Pepper Jack)
  • 3/4 to 1 cup So Delicious coconut milk
  • 1 heaping t chili powder
  • 1/2 t garlic powder
  • 1/2 t sea salt
  • 1 cup chunky salsa of choice (I used a “medium” heat)
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 2 Tofurky Italian Sausage links, diced pretty finely
  • a few tablespoons of the same or hotter salsa (I used Sadies “HOT”)
  • Chives, for sprinkling if desired

Directions:

  1. Mix the Daiya and 3/4 cup milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Reserve the rest of the milk to adjust consistency later on.
  2. Once the cheese is melted, add the seasonings, the salsa, the onions (leaving out some for sprinkling) and the Tofurky. Keep stirring until everything is heated through. If you need to loosen it up, now’s the time to add the rest of that milk (and then make sure it’s all reheated!)
  3. Stir! Stir! Stir!
  4. Ladle into serving bowl(s) and top with a drizzle of the hotter salsa, the rest of the onions and the chives. Beautiful and yummy… what more can you ask for? Serve with chips or raw veggies (if you’re feeling virtuous)!

Enjoy!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...