My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

Recipes

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

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I love eating dips. LOVE them I tell you. Since transitioning to a plant-based diet, oil-free hummus is in my weekly meal plan rotation. This Roasted Red Pepper Dip is oil-free and one of my favorites!

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When I want something with a little more flavor than my classic hummus, I’ll make this Roasted Red Pepper hummus. It’s like magic because I can eat way more veggies when I have hummus than I eat without it. 

Since this hummus is made without oil or tahini, there is very little fat! 

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

What do you eat with hummus?

There are so many foods that pair well with hummus. Raw veggies, pita bread, and crackers are perfect for hummus. I also enjoy hummus on wraps, sandwiches, in salads, and mixed into pasta! Adding roasted red pepper hummus to my Mediterranean Bowl brings it to a whole new level.

Substituting Chickpeas

Hummus doesn’t have to be made with chickpeas. If you can’t eat chickpeas because of an allergy or intolerance, you can substitute another type of bean. I recommend great northern beans or any other white bean. 

I routinely make dips like my Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus, Spinach Artichoke Dip and Green Chili White Bean Dip with white beans. There isn’t a big difference in flavor or texture, especially if it would take another trip to the store, just use what you have.

Do you need tahini in hummus? 

I don’t think you need tahini in hummus. Sure it adds some flavor and creaminess but it’s not necessary in my opinion. I’m not a big tahini fan.

I just leave tahini out of all the hummus recipes I make. 

Kids love dip

I don’t really need an occasion to make humus and I find that my kids love it too. They easily eat twice as many veggies (if not more) when I have a delicious dip to enjoy them with. I’ll often cut up veggies and leave hummus next to them on the counter while I’m cooking. As they smell dinner, they come in to snack while I cook. Without a doubt, they eat way more veggies that they would at dinner.

This dip is really easy to make and is delicious with veggies, crackers, chips or in a wrap.

This dip is allergy-friendly by avoiding nuts, sesame and dairy. It’s also vegan and gluten-free, which is pretty typical around here.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce can of chickpeas, drained
  • 1/4 cup water (more or less)
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup roasted red pepper

Do

Puree beans, water, spices and red pepper in a Food Processor or high-powered blender and blend until smooth. I use my Blendtec and push the “dip” button for super simple and quick option.

Serve

This is the perfect condiment for your veggie wraps and great with raw veggies. 

Yield: 6

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is an oil-free, low fat hummus that is perfect for people on a whole food plant-based diet.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce can of chickpeas, drained
  • 1/4 cup water (more or less)
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup roasted red pepper

Instructions

  1. Puree beans, water, spices and red pepper in a Food Processor or high-powered blender and blend until smooth.
  2. If needed, you can add more liquid to get a smoother consistency.

Notes

Store leftover dip in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Recommended Products

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© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Sauces, Dips, and Salad Dressings

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

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Are you looking for an all around great tasting dip that is perfect for friendly get together’s, holiday parties or comfort food. Let me introduce you to my guilt-free, low-fat Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Unlike your typical spinach artichoke dip, this healthy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip is dairy-free, gluten-free, oil-free and nut-free!

Many people use cashews to make cheesy plant-based dips, but that adds fat and allergens. Since I consider this perfect party food, I want it to be suitable for people with nut allergies.

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Plant-Based Pantry Staples

I like to keep a jar of artichoke hearts in my pantry just in case I want to make this dip! I usually have all the other ingredients on hand so this is an easy dip to make.

  • White Beans
  • Spices + Nutritional Yeast
  • Spinach
  • Artichokes
  • Lemon Juice
Easy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Quick and Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip

Nothing has to be prepared ahead of time and I don’t have to buy any special ingredients. This dip comes together quickly in my Blendtec Blender but a food processor would work too.

Plant-Based Party Food

This Plant-Based Spinach Artichoke Dip is perfect for holiday’s like Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties! It’s a game day must have! It also travels really well so it’s easy to take with you.

You don’t have to save it for parties or football season. It’s perfectly suited for movie nights, pre-dinner (or post-dinner) snacks, on a sandwich or wrap, or to make when you are all by yourself and don’t want to share.

vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Easy, vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip uses whole foods to create a delicious plant-based dip. See F.A.Q.’s for substitutions.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup warm white beans (I use Great Northern)
  • ½ cup water (more or less)
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • ½ cup artichoke hearts (I use jarred, without oil)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup raw spinach

Do

  1. Puree beans, water and spices in a food processor or high-powered blender, I use my Blendtec.
  2. Add artichoke hearts and lemon juice and pulse slightly until it reaches desired texture.
  3. Pour dip into heat safe container (I use an oven safe casserole dish). Rip spinach into smaller pieces and mix into dip.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes at 350° or until warm.

Serve

This dip is great with crackers or chips but also really good on bread or in a wrap. This is oil-free and diary-free but tastes sinfully good.

Yield: 8 servings

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip is perfect for parties or football season. This easy recipe is dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, oil-free and delicious.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce can of white beans, drained and warmed (I use Great Northern)
  • ½ cup water (more or less)
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • ½ cup artichoke hearts (I use jarred, without oil)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup raw spinach

Instructions

  1. Drain your beans then warm them slightly. Puree beans, water and spices in a food processor or high-powered blender, I use my Blendtec.
  2. Add artichoke hearts and lemon juice and pulse slightly until it reaches desired texture.
  3. Pour dip into heat safe container (I use an oven safe 9x9 casserole dish). Rip spinach into smaller pieces and mix into dip.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes at 350° or until warm.

Notes

This dip is great with crackers or chips but also really good on bread or in a wrap. I love it with fresh, raw veggies.

Store covered in the fridge for a few days.

See F.A.Q.'s in the post for more information.

Recommended Products

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Did you make this recipe?

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© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Sauces, Dips, and Salad Dressings

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you use white beans?

White beans give the dip a creamy base that is low in fat. It’s also more allergy-friendly than dips with a nut base. White beans are full of fiber so you’ll feel more satisfied.

Does Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip taste cheesy?

This dip is dairy-free and doesn’t contain cheese so it isn’t real cheesy. It does contain nutritional yeast which gives it some cheesy flavor.

Can I use frozen chopped spinach instead of fresh?

Yes you can. I recommend allowing the spinach to thaw a bit and squeeze out extra moisture.

Can I use fresh garlic?

Yes, fresh garlic, and even roasted garlic is delicious in this. I originally used garlic powder for ease but fresh is a great option.

For more football food ideas visit my Party Food Pinterest Board! It’s full of delicious dips and finger foods.

Need More Dip Ideas

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Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash from the Forks Over Knives Plan

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Yesterday I shared a review of the new book The Forks Over Knives Plan by Alonda Pulde, MD and Matthew Lederman, MD. Today I’m going to share a recipe from the book! This recipe is shared with permission.

It’s perfect timing too because fall is on the way and soon we will be looking for comforting recipes just like this one.

Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash from the Forks Over Knives Plan

Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash

Winter squashes, such as acorn and butternut, can be tricky to work with because their tough skin is hard to peel. Preparing squash this way — stuffed with a savory filling and roasted — puts that sturdy shell to good use. The rice should be quite moist after it cooks in step 3; it provides good contrast to the squash and helps the stuffing mixture stay together without becoming chewy or dry during baking. — Darshana Thacker

Makes 4 stuffed squash halves

  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • ½ cup wild rice medley
  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth, plus more as needed
  • ½ medium red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1½ teaspoons dried rosemary
  • ½ cup finely chopped carrot
  • ½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
  • ½ cup small broccoli florets
  • ½ cup small cauliflower florets
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons pine nuts

1. Cut each acorn squash in half through the stem. Trim the stem and remove and discard the seeds (keep the skin on).

2. Bring a large saucepan or pot of water to a boil. Add the squash halves and cook until the squash is slightly soft when pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the water and drain well. Set aside until cool enough to handle.

3. Meanwhile, bring 1½ cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the wild rice medley and cook, covered, over medium heat for 25 minutes. (Alternatively, follow the cooking instructions on the rice package, using a bit more water than called for so that the rice is moist after steaming.) Remove from the heat and set aside.

4. Use a spoon to scoop out the inner edges of each cooled squash half to create a wider and deeper hollow for the stuffing; leave about half of the squash flesh attached to the peel. Reserve the scooped-out squash flesh for the stuffing. Set the squash shells aside.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

6. In a skillet with a lid, combine the vegetable broth, onion, garlic powder, ginger, and rosemary. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, covered, until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7. Add the carrot, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, black pepper, and salt to taste, cover, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes more.

8. Add the reserved squash flesh and wild rice. Use a wooden spoon to mix the stuffing together; it should be a bit creamy. If all the liquid has dried up, add about ¼ cup broth or as much as is needed to make it slightly creamy. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove from the heat.

9. Arrange the acorn squash shells on a baking sheet and divide the stuffing evenly among them. Sprinkle the pine nuts on top.

10. Bake until the pine nuts are browned and the stuffing is heated through, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for a few minutes before serving. Serve hot.

The above is an excerpt from the book The Forks Over Knives Plan: How to Transition to the Life-Saving, Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet by Alona Pulde, MD, and Matthew Lederman, MD. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy and references.

Giveaway

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win you very own copy of the Forks Over Knives Plan and read my full review.

Have you entered the giveaway yet?

Oven Roasted Salsa

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Let me be up front about this. This is not one of my quick recipes, BUT it is incredibly easy AND delicious. This Roasted Salsa taste better than my favorite Mexican restaurant.

If you have an abundance of tomatoes from your garden or if you just can’t resist the low prices at the store and farmers markets then I have a recipe you really need to try. I’m addicted to it.

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Roasted Salsa

Ingredients

  • 8 Roma Tomatoes (more or less)
  • 2 Jalapeno Peppers
  • 1 head garlic
  • 1/4 of an onion
  • salt to taste (optional)

Do

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Wash your produce. Put tomatoes and garlic in one oven safe pan and put your jalapenos in a separate pan. You do not need oil! I didn’t roast the onion because I didn’t have much left but you could. Watch it so that it doesn’t burn.
  3. Roast veggies (1 hour for jalapenos, 2 hours for tomatoes and garlic).
  4. Remove from oven and allow everything to cool so that it can be handled.
  5. Once everything is cool put the tomatoes, jalapenos, half of the garlic and the onion in a high-powered blender. I used my Blendtec and pushed the “Dip” button. I also removed the skins from my tomatoes and the seeds from the jalapenos and tomatoes before blending them. You don’t have to do this, it’s just an extra step. (If you don’t have a Blendtec I recommend putting it on your Christmas List. You can even get a Reconditioned Blendtec for a great deal.)
  6. Blend until there are no large chunks, add a little salt if needed.

Serve

This is heaven with tortilla chips but I’ve also eaten it on Black Bean Tostadas and Tacos. Today I’ll have it on my Baked Potato.

You can mix things up and use roasted onion, roasted corn, whatever you have in abundance. This made about 2 cups for me but it will depend on the size of your tomatoes.

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Cookie Bars (Vegan, Gluten-Free and Nut-Free)

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I first made this recipe when I was trying to make cookies. It tasted good but the consistency was off. I tweaked it to develop the Sunbutter Cookie Recipe (also GF and Vegan) that I shared last week. This recipe is easier and works really well as Cookie Bars. They are very sturdy and perfect for lunch box packing. My kindergartener ate them daily after school.

Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan Cookie bars

I make this recipe with Sunbutter because my youngest son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. You could try this with peanut or almond butter if you are not allergic. Also, if you do not have brown rice flour and sorghum flour you could use a gluten-free baking mix. If you make it with any adaptations I’d love to hear how they go. I’m considering making them with oat flour next. I imagine they would work fine with wheat flour also but I haven’t tried it.

Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan Cookie bars

Cookie Bars

Ingredients

Do

  1. Cream Sunbutter and Sugar together.
  2. Dump the rest of the ingredients together, except chocolate chips.
  3. Mix well, adding extra rice milk if needed.
  4. If using chocolate chips mix them in or just sprinkle them on top.
  5. Pour into a 9×9 pan that is lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
  7. Allow to cool before removing from pan and cutting into bars. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for about 5 days.

Serve

This is perfect for an after school snack or in the lunch box.

The odd thing is that my super picky kid loved these and the one who eats everything didn’t like them. He doesn’t always want to try new things because of his food allergies so I don’t force it.

Do you need to work around various food allergies or restrictions? I try to make them as accommodating as possible. What restrictions do you deal with?

This recipe is part of the Virtual Vegan Linky Potluck!

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Allergy-Friendly SunButter Cookies

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It’s been a really long time since I’ve shared a dessert with you. I don’t make dessert often. With my little guys food allergies I have to use specialty ingredients. Thankfully they are becoming more mainstream and I can find SunButter at most grocery stores.

I first made these allergy-friendly SunButter Cookies last year. It’s taken me a long time to share them but I hope the wait is worth it.

SunButter Cookies that are Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, nut-free

I still prefer to buy most of my “special” items on Amazon. I have an Amazon Prime membership so they are delivered to my door so I don’t have to take the kids in the store. Win-Win. I’ll share links to the products I buy if you are curious. I buy them in bulk but you can purchase smaller amounts.

SunButter Cookies that are Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, nut-free

Sunbutter Cookies

Ingredients

Do

  1. Preheat oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat.
  2. “Cream” first four ingredients together in a medium bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl (I use my measuring cup) mix warm water and chia seeds together. Allow them to sit for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  4. In a large bowl mix the remaining dry ingredients together.
  5. Dump all of the wet ingredients into the large bowl with the dry ingredients and mix well.
  6. Use your hands to scoop out ping-pong sized cookies and roll them into balls. Roll them in sugar. Use wet hands to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
  7. Flatten them onto the prepared cookie sheet.
  8. Bake for 12 minutes. Allow to cool before eating.

Serve

This recipe makes about 12 cookies. They will be soft in the middle but firm on the edges, the best of both worlds. They are great for lunch boxes too!

For a little change try adding a 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

SunButter Cookies that are Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, nut-free

Substitutions:

I haven’t made this with peanut butter or other nut butters but if you do please let me know how they turn out. You could use a Gluten and Wheat Free Baking Mix instead of using the flours mentioned above. Be sure to read the labels to check for allergens.

If you like these allergy-friendly SunButter Cookies you should try my Brownies!

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