Seitan (Fake meat)

Ingredients:

• Gluten wheat (found in bulk at international markets) and found prepackaged at major grocery stores
• Water
• Vegetable (or beef, chicken, seafood) Bouillon

Preparation:

Place Gluten wheat flour in deep container.

Add water until consistent rubbery consistency is achieved.

Knead dough for 5-10 minutes (as needed) until dough is malleable.

Cut raw dough into smaller pieces.

In a deep pot (with lid) boil water (enough to cover raw dough). Add flavored bouillon. Boil for an hour (or until dough is cooked) at medium-high heat.

The seitan will expand drastically and absorb a lot of water.

Once cooked, take out seitan, drain water and squish until most water is gone.Cut into smaller pieces. Seitan freezes very well. You can make a batch and save the rest for other dishes.

Seitan is a great vegetarian alternative to tofu. You can stir fry it and add any flavors you like. This is an example of Seitan with Asian Citrus sauce.

Chicken with Asian Citrus sauce

Ingredients:

• Trader Joes Gyoza sauce
• Pepper
• Orange juice (fresh or carton)
• Fresh lime juice 
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame seeds
• Chicken breasts 
• Vegetable stir fry
• Steamed Rice

Preparation:

Mix Trader Joe's Gyoza sauce, rice vinegar, fresh lime juice and orange juice.

 

Rinse and cut chicken breasts into small pieces.

Boil for 5 minutes (until soft, but not fully cooked).

Brown in a pan using olive oil.

Add Citrus sauce.

Let it simmer for a few minutes until chicken is fully cooked.

Garnish with sesame seeds.

Enjoy with vegetable stir fry and steamed rice, or vegetable barley.

Vegetable Barley

Ingredients:

• Onion
• Bell peppers
• Mushrooms
• Salt
• Pepper
• Vegetable bouillon 
• Olive oil
• Barley (grain)

Preparation:

Chop vegetables (onion, mushroom, peppers).

Stir fry with olive oil until brown and soft.

Add vegetable bouillon and water to the vegetables.

Rinse barley using a colander.

Add barley to vegetables.

Cook for 30-40 minutes using medium heat, or until soft.

Enjoy as a side dish or stuffing. This dish goes very well with chicken, seitan, or seafood. Or, can be used to stuff peppers, potatoes or squash.

Spaghetti and Homemade Sauce

Ingredients:

• Green bell peppers
• Onions
• Mushrooms
• Capers
• Chopped tomatoes (canned or fresh)
• Salt/pepper
• Sugar
• Spices: Dried Basil, oregano, Parsley 
• Olive oil
• Pasta (Spaghetti)

Preparation:

Chop vegetables individually. Do not mix. 

Individually toast green peppers, onions, and mushrooms without olive oil. Place each toasted vegetable on a  container; to be added to the sauce at the end. 

Two cans of tomatoes is enough sauce for one spaghetti package.

Place can tomatoes in deep pot.

Add spices: olive oil, salt/pepper, sugar, basil, oregano and parsley.

Let it boil/simmer for 10 minutes. Cook pasta while making sauce. So pasta and sauce can be ready at the same time.

Blend pasta. Using a manual blender works well as you can blend in the same pot. Otherwise, use blender.

Add roasted vegetables and let them simmer for another 10 minutes. Turn off stove and cover to use once pasta is cooked.

Add capers as garnish.

Use deep pot to cook pasta.
Add enough water that will cover pasta. Approx 3/4 of the way. Add oil, cover it with lid and let the water boil for 5 minutes before adding pasta.

Once water is boiling, add pasta.

Cook for approximately 15-20 minutes at medium-high heat; until pasta is tender.

Use a colander to drain water. Rinse with cold water.

Combine sauce with pasta. Enjoy with garlic bread (bolillo garlic bread)!