It was really lovely to find a suitable vegan and coeliac friendly takeaway available during lockdown in Edo Sushi in Sheffield.
I’ve eaten at Edo Sushi at the Cutlery Works and their full store in Sheffield city centre has the same menu. I’ve tucked into vegan sushi with some lovely Roku gin and tonic.
An absolute staple of my diet as a vegan, coeliac are tofu and noodles which I add to a number of stir fry dishes.
The meal above was a recipe from a friend whose family run Chinese restaurants as he thought I would love it. I do. The tofu steaks are coated in cornflour before frying in sesame oil. The veggies are stir fried in a sauce made from sesame oil, ginger, garlic, tamari, vegan honey (I used carob syrup), cornflour and water. I added toasted sesame seeds to serve.
A simple stir fry with smoked Tofoo tofu, beansprouts and mange tout. Served with smoke humous and tonnes of veggies.
Sweetheart cabbage is fantastic in a stir fry. Served with vermicelli noodles and toasted sesame seeds.
Pad Thai rice noodles served with Cashew nuts, courgette and mange tout.
During an extended period at home I’ve been really getting stuck into baking. I’ve been following other recipes so will just share photos of my lockdown bakes, all gluten free and vegan.
An old classic, rice pudding is great for coeliacs as rice is naturally gluten free. I’ve updated this recipe using almond milk and it pairs beautifully with my homemade cherry jam.
Start by adding pudding rice to a large pan and covering with almond milk and an additional 200ml water. I’ve used unsweetened almond milk but added carob syrup for a natural sweetness with a gentler sugarey feel.
Stir through thoroughly and then turn the hob on but keep the heat low. I used setting 3 / 9. The rice pudding takes nearly an hour to cook and will need occasional stirring and monitoring to see if additional liquid is required.
When the rice is fully cooked it will be soft and fluffy without much liquid. Taste to check the rice is fully cooked.
I’ve stirred through a little Alpro single cream and then topped with my homemade cherry jam as I always find almond and cherries a strong mix.
I’m not going to suggest that this is true cooking but my put together vegan and gluten-free sausage and mash is a real favourite of mine. I had this meal yesterday afternoon as it makes a perfect Sunday lunch.
This meal uses Linda McCartney sausages, you can use any that suit you but I find the red onion the best as they are also gluten free.
To accompany these sausages I’ve made homemade mash potato with baby potatoes, pure soya butter and fresh rosemary from my garden.
I’ve also steamed some sweetheart cabbage and made some gravy using the Bisto gluten free vegetable gravy powder which is also vegan.
An easy, hearty and tasty sausage and mash made friendly for vegans and coeliacs and very accessible.
This is my first attempt at fudge and I’m really pleased with the results (but will be buying a sugar thermometer for next time!)
I’ve used a recipe I found online but adapted to suit my tastes (and the ingredients in my pantry).
Start with a large saucepan with a thick base and add the ingredients. I’ve used 450g Demerara sugar, 250ml Alpro cream, 150g Alpro coconut milk, 50g Pure Olive spread and 1 tbsp of golden syrup. (For the rum and raisin flavour – pictured above – I also added 100ml Bacardi at this point.
Bring to heat on a medium high and stir whilst cooking until the sugar has all dissolved and you have a consistent syrup which will be light brown and will smell amazing! (Reminded me of a very sugarey Bailey’s)
When all the sugar has dissolved and you have a consistent syrup bring the pan to the boil. It needs to reach a really high temperature of 112° – 116° and needs to be stirred regularly to prevent the sugars in syrup from burning to the base of the pan. The syrup will foam but keep boiling and keep stirring until it reaches this temperature.
As I didn’t have a thermometer when I made this fudge I used an alternative to measuring the temperature by “soft ball” ing the fudge. To do this have a pot of cool water close by and as the mixture boils take a small spoonful out of the pan and drop into into the water. If the syrup forms a soft ball you can mould and lift then it has reached the right temperature and is ready to remove from the heat. If it is still a liquid when poured into the cold water then it will need to boil for longer to reach temperature. An important learning curve here is to make sure the syrup has long enough to cool in the water before you try to mould it! Hot fudge syrup burns – safety first!
Once you have ensured the syrup has reached that temperature remove it from the heat entirely. At this point you can add extra flavouring – I’ve used dessicated coconut in the coconut fudge and added raisins for the rum and raisin. Then stir rigourously as the mixture cools down. You will notice the mixture become thicker and less glossy as you stir it. Keep stirring until the mixture of fairly cool and no longer too hot to touch and is pretty thick and creamy then pour into a line baking tray or dish to set.
I’ve learnt from the two batches I made that it is best to leave the fudge to set fully at room temperature. The coconut I made I popped into the fridge to cool and it created a split in the top and bottom with the bottom of the fudge being more like a toffee.
When fully set remove from the dish, peel off the baking paper and chop into bite sized pieces ready for a tasty treat!
I used to love Chow Mein noodles when I was child and pre coeliac diagnosis and vegan diet. I’d love to find somewhere I could eat them or takeaway knowing the allergens and diet were safe but for now I’ve taken some of the bits from an online recipe and attempted my own.
I’ve started with finely chopped strips of onion and added it to a wok with a tablespoon of sesame oil, chopped ginger and garlic. Stir fry until a little soft and at this point I’ve added finely chopped strips of courgette and yellow pepper (although these wouldn’t always feature in traditional chow mein – I like veggies though. Add beansprouts and continue to cook.
Cook noodles separately. I’m using vermicelli rice noodles (as hey are gluten free and lovely) so I just soak them in booked water to soften.
Add the noodles to the cooked vegetables and add soya sauce. I’m using Meridian gluten free soya sauce. Be really generous with the soya sauce as it’s the main flavour. Usually a chow mein would add oyster sauce but we will avoid the fish for obvious reasons. Continue to study fry until the beansprouts are fully soft and cooked and the noodles are a little crispy.
I’ve served these noodles with curry tofu (recipe in a previous blog post) and steamed sweetheart cabbage with soya sauce and toasted sesame seeds.
Hope you love this as much as I do!
Risotto is a staple in my coeliac and vegan diet. This flavour combination is a lovely fresh and tasty spring meal.
As with the other risotto recipes I’ve posted (and there are many) start by chopping and frying white onion in a pan with olive oil. Once the onion is soft add risotto rice and cook in the oil and onion until the rice becomes translucent.
In this recipe I’m actually not using wine so I pour over a little hot stock. Sometimes I make stock if I have left over vegetable stalks but often I use Kallo Vegetable stock cubes as they are coeliac and vegan. Allow the first stock addition to sizzle off really swiftly before turning the heat down to medium, adding extra stock and adding shelled peas. Squeeze lemon juice into the pan and add chopped fresh mint for flavour.
Continue to cook stirring frequently for approximately 20 minutes adding stock when necessary and when the liquid has bubbled off. Keep cooking and adding the stock until the rice is fluffy and juicy.
I’ve served this risotto with steamed tenderstem broccoli. It’s a perfect mix of spring flavours like mint, but without the meat you often see around Easter!
This is a super simple, slow cook curry which is perfect for a tasty tea.
Start with a large pan and add chopped onion and carrot, chopped garlic, red chilli, ginger, cumin, garam masala, chickpeas and tomato puree, fry in a little oil of your choosing (I’ve used coconut oil) and when sauted and softened it’s time to add liquid and cook for longer. If using the same pot then continue as usual but if you are using a slow cooker transfer into the pot.
Pour over almond milk and add a spoonful of turmeric powder then cover and leave to cook on a low heat for a couple of hours. About 30 minutes before serving lift the lid and stir through chopped fresh spinach.
I’ve tucked into this curry with a side of poppadoms. Yum!
I’m a little late sharing this post but due to lockdown I’m reviewing some of my previous baking and realised I hadn’t shared these tasty little treats.
These are so simple to make and I’ve made chocolate and marshmallow Easter nest buns.
For the chocolate Easter nests start by melting dark cooking chocolate and Golden syrup in a large bowl in the microwave or above a pan of boiling water. I’ve used Green and Black’s dark cooking chocolate as not only is it vegan but it is also Fairtrade. Once fully melted stir through to mix and then add cereal. I’m using gluten free own brand rice crispies. Spoon into paper cake cases and pop into the fridge to set. Once fully set I’ve decorated with Freedom Confectionery mini marshmallows as they are gluten free and vegan and added rainbow chicks and hand coloured paper eggs (as I couldn’t get vegan mini eggs).
The marshmallow nests are just as easy to make. This time mix golden syrup and marshmallows in a large bowl and melt either in the microwave or above a pan of boiling water again. Stir through thoroughly before mixing in the rice crispies or cornflakes and setting again. I’ve topped these with Mark’s and Spencer Easter sweets – Percy Pig spin off rabbits which are also vegan and gluten free. I’m sure to make these at other times of the year too and hope you can enjoy them as well.
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