For this cucumber salad, cool and crunchy cucumbers work in tandem with a garlic-infused chili oil to yield a refreshing summer appetizer. Tangy lemon juice and floral coriander balance out the spiciness. This marinade can be applied to other vegetables, but it works most amazingly with cucumbers due to their absorbent nature, as if you’re…
Jollof Rice, Vegan Style
Countless Jollof Rice recipes exist on YouTube from African cooks , and I wanted to get in on the action. However, I really didn’t want to add meat, so this vegan jollof rice is where I ended up. And for the Jollof Rice enthusiasts who are already in the know, this recipe follows more of…
Sriracha Skinny Coleslaw
If you’re in the mood for coleslaw but don’t want the mayonnaise and enjoy spicy food, then consider this vegan alternative featuring Sriracha sauce and grated ginger. You could call it a skinny coleslaw. I use the term “vinaigrette” loosely because lemon juice is the acidic stand-in for vinegar in this coleslaw recipe. And like…
Black-Eyed Pea Dip with Roasted Garlic
Next time you want to serve a bean dip, forget about hummus and make this faster-cooking Black-eyed Pea Dip. When making a bean dip, it’s preferable to use fresh beans instead of canned, but their preparation is normally time-consuming. However, dried black-eyed peas cook to completion in only 45 minutes. I was tired of the…
How to make Home Fries Two Ways
Crispy, well-seasoned, oven-made home fries are the healthier and less messy alternative to French fries. Whether you’re cooking breakfast, lunch, or dinner (or cooking for vegetarians or meat lovers), EVERYTHING goes well with some home fries. There are a few things you can do to make them turn out as close as possible to French…
Shoestring Fried Sweet Potatoes
Naturally sweet and crispy bits of fried sweet potatoes in the form of shoestrings are an exciting addition to any sandwich, wrap, or appetizer. Plus, after they’re fried, they can also be seasoned and turned into a stand-alone snack and enjoyed equally by vegans, vegetarians, or meat-lovers as a substitute for French fries. Be on…
Easy Jerk Chicken from the Jar
Jamaican jerk chicken has become my house standard chicken recipe since 2004-ish. When I decided to learn how to make it from scratch on my Instagram page, I was struck by how many home cooks try to add their own “other” ingredients. Many non-traditional items make their way into some recipes, such as parsley, nutmeg,…
Vegan Gumbo with Mashed Yams
Traditional gumbo achieves its thick texture by making a roux at the start of the recipe. However, for my interpretation of vegan gumbo, I achieve a similar consistency by mixing some mashed yams into your bowl at the very end. They’re a good thickener, and their sweetness balances out the spices nicely. This is also…
Sautéed Collard Greens
This recipe for collard greens is far from the classic method of cooking them low and slow in American Soul Food cuisine. Traditionally, collard greens simmer for hours with a ham hock or smoked turkey for a base flavor. But occasionally, I prefer this healthier plant-based option, which takes only 20 minutes of cooking while…
Smoky Sofrito Pulled Chicken Breast
When faced with the challenge of finding new ways to cook chicken breast so it doesn’t dry out, consider stewed chicken. It’s an easy method of slow cooking for 3 hours, allowing the meat to break down while a succulent sauce thickens up. Upon completion, the chicken gets delicately pulled apart with a fork. Use…