The Ordinary Vegan - Sainsbury's Free From - Gluten Free Roasted Pepper Arrabbiata

Sorry for the long blogging break. The Vegan Grindhouse has taken over most of my waking hours of late and we have just returned from a lovely holiday in sunny Devon. However, I am back and blogging. This week TOV is a new frozen product from Sainsbury's. It is a Roasted Pepper Arrabbiata pasta dish which is vegan and wheat/gluten free. The pasta comes in a separate sachet from the arrabbiata sauce and you can oven cook or microwave. The meal was nice, not too spicy with a good texture and flavour, but would have been easy to make from scratch or just as quick to use a jar of sauce and some gluten free pasta. This ready-meal is pricey at £2.50, however for a quick frozen meal which is gluten and wheat free as well as vegan, it provides another option.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

Vegan Recipe of the Week - Super Quick Pitta Pizzas

Super Quick Pitta Pizzas are easy to make, taste great and are a quick meal when you've had a long day at work. They are fun to make with children too and taste lovely.

Makes 2 pizzas:

You will need:

1/2 jar of sundried tomato pesto

1/4 packet of veganic pizza cheese

1/4 red bell pepper, sliced

4 cherry tomatoes, quartered

2 wholemeal pittas

2 portobello mushrooms, sliced

1/4 red onion, diced

a few strips of smoked tofu

1 tsp olive oil

Fry the onions and mushrooms in the olive oil over a medium heat whilst the pittas are in the toaster.

Once the pittas are lightly toasted, spread with the tomato pesto.

Next add all of the chopped veggies, the fried veggies, the tofu and the cheese.

Place under a pre heated grill for 3 minutes to melt the cheese.

Eat and Enjoy!

VVx

The Ordinary Vegan - Birds Eye Rice Fusions

Birds Eye Rice Fusions come is a variety of flavours, many of which are vegan. They are microwave pouches of rice, vegetables and seasoning which can be steamed in a few minutes and eaten as a snack or as a side dish with a meal. They are available in most supermarkets for around £1.75 but are often on offer for £1 or 2 for £2, in the freezer department. They contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and are great for a quick meal when you don't have time to cook.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

Vegan recipe of the Week - Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

This is a hearty sandwich - famous in the US - made vegan by Vegan Vox!

Serves 2.

You will need:

2 Ciabatta Rolls

2 Seitan Steaks

6 Onion Rings - I buy vegan ones from a local Chinese supermarket

6 Jalapenos

Veganic Pizza Cheese

Spicy BBQ Sauce

Vegan Mayo (optional)

Salad (to serve)

Method:

Slice open your rolls and warm in the oven for a few minutes until soft.

Add the cheese and BBQ sauce to the rolls.

Cook the onion rings and seitan steaks in a griddle pan and slice the steaks into strips.

Add the onion rings and steak strips to the top and bottom of your rolls. Add the jalapenos and mayo (if using).

Place the sandwich into a panini press and grill for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.

Meanwhile, prepare your salad.

Serve your sandwiches with the side salad.

Eat and Enjoy!

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

If you enjoyed this recipe, click here to see my other recipes.

The Ordinary Vegan - Morrisons Bacon Rashers Crisps

Today's TOV is from Morrisons, delicious bacon flavoured "Frazzle" style crisps in a large sharing bag for £1 - currently on offer for 70p! Yummy and salty, perfect for sharing during a film and all vegan!

What are your favourite supermarket crisps? Share in the comments below.

Big Vegan Love,

VVX

Vegan Recipe of the Week - Summer Sandwiches - The Italian SLT & Homemade Chutney

Vegusto Hot Salami with Tomato and Red Onion Chutney and Rocket on a wholemeal Ciabatta Roll. 

Chutney Recipe

Ingredients:

250g red onions, sliced

500g tomatoes, chopped

1 red chilli, deseeded and sliced

150g soft brown sugar

70ml red wine vinegar

Method:

Place all of the ingredients into a large pan and stir well. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 40 minutes until a jam-like consistency. Pour into a large sterilised jar and leave to cool completely. Keeps in the fridge for around 6 weeks.

The Sandwich

Ingredients:

A Ciabatta Roll

4 slices of Vegusto Hotsami

2 slices of beef tomato

A handful of rocket

A heaped tablespoon of chutney

Method:

Slice the Ciabatta roll lengthways in half.

Put the vegan salami slices on the bottom layer.

Add the tomato, then the rocket.

Finish with a generous layer of tomato and red onion chutney and put the top of the roll on.

Serve with mixed olives.

Eat and Enjoy!

VVx

Vegan Vox Travels...to Berlin

Berlin is a wonderful city for many reasons, the history, the architecture and the people, but as a vegan, it is a paradise – full of vegan choices at every turn.

Here are some of the highlights:

All over the city there are kebab shops, but unlike the UK versions, all of these serve delicious falafel in pitta with salad. A great vegan-friendly option if you need something fast!

There are a few chains of organic shops and health food stores, such as Viv Stores and LPG, which have a wide variety of vegan products and an entirely vegan chain of food shops called Veganz – these are filled with mock meats, cheeses, store cupboard essentials, sweets and drinks including the American brands such as Tofurky, Gardein and Daiya. There is also a coffee shop attached to Veganz – Goodies which sells amazing cakes, paninis, brownies and more. Nearby there are other vegan boutiques selling shoes and clothes such as Avesu and DearGoods. Nearly every shop sells vegan-friendly Fritz Cola if you fancy a soft drink and we found almond and soy options as well as at least one vegan cake at most coffee shops.

Dr. Pogo is an independent vegan shop selling a wide range of chocolates, sweets, mock meats, cheeses, ready meals, drinks, whole foods, skincare and cleaning products.

You have to try the following restaurants/eateries too:

Sfizy Pizza – An all-vegan pizzeria with over a hundred different pizza options on the menu!

Voner – An all-vegan doner kebab shop!

Asia Gourmet – Choose your noodles, veg, tofu and sauce. Eat in or take away.

Vego Cafe – An all-vegan fast food cafe – think hot dogs, burgers, chips, bratwurst etc.

Delores – A Mexican burrito place with two vegan options.

Cupcake Cafe – Lots of vegan cupcakes, cakes and cookies.

Mio Matto – A gourmet veggie/vegan restaurant.

Goura Pakora – An all-vegetarian eatery with many vegan options.

There are so many more all over Berlin, you would need a month to try them all!

Go and visit because Berlin is a perfect weekend break destination for vegans. Have you been to Berlin? Is there somewhere else we should try or have missed out of this brief guide? Let me know in the comments below.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

A version of this article has already been published in the TeenVGN MiniMag Summer Edition.