Pastelón is a dish traditionally found in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
However, just because the recipe is the same doesn’t mean the techniques are.
In a traditional Puerto Rican pastelón recipe, you’ll find that they don’t mash their plantains. Instead of boiling and mashing the plantains, they slice the plantains long ways and fry them.
I’ve actually tried that technique once before and though it was unique in texture and delicious, I prefer the Dominican technique. The plantain is smoother and it holds together a lot easier.
Pastelón is meant to be the Caribbean version of the Italian dish Lasagna. Plantains plays the role of the pasta, beef plays the role of the beef, and mozzarella plays the role of the parmesan and bechamel.
Pastelón
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What do I need to make pastelón?
Ripe plantains. Plantains are practically the straw of the show in this amazing lasagna remix. Make sure they’re nice and ripe!
Ground beef. Whether you choose turkey, beef, pork, or chicken it’s up to you! You could even make this vegan by substituting the beef with lentils, mushrooms, and literally so much more. Pretty much anything ground works.
Onion. Garlic. Green Peppers. Necessary for flavoring the ground beef and for adding a fresh touch.
Mozzarella. Creates the gooey top layer that we all love.
Seasonings. Caribbean flavors are a must in a pastelón!
Butter. Needed to yield smooth, buttery mashed plantains.
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How do I make pastelón?
Add plantains to a large pot of water over high heat. When soft, place plantains in a bowl with butter and mash until completely smooth. Set aside.
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Cook onions, garlic, and peppers in a pan over low to medium heat until soft. Add ground beef and seasonings to pan and cook. When almost fully cooked, mix in tomato paste. Set aside.
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Butter a baking dish. Add 1/2 plantain mixture into baking dish using a fork to flatten. Add beef mixture and flatten. Add the rest of the plantain mixture. Top with lots of mozzarella cheese.
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Bake for 20 minutes and 375°. Let cool and serve.
Can I make this with green plantains?
This recipe is intended to be made with ripe plantains for the flavor contrast of the sweetness in the plantains and the saltiness in the beef and mozzarella. So, you could definitely make it with green plantains, but I don’t know if you could still call it a traditional pastelón.
Can I make this with the Puerto Rican technique?
Of course you can, and if you’ve already tried my technique I strongly encourage you to try out the other one! Just make sure you add a scrambled egg to your pastelón to make sure the layers stick together. With that addition, you can use my recipe for that technique too!
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Pastelón Recipe
Pastelón is meant to be the Caribbean version of the Italian dish Lasagna. Plantains plays the role of the pasta, beef plays the role of the beef, and mozzarella plays the role of the parmesan and bechamel.
Peel plantains and cut in half. Add plantains to a pot of water over high heat until soft.
Remove from heat. Place plantains in a bowl with butter and mash until completely smooth. Set aside.
Add onions, garlic, and peppers to a pan over low to medium heat. Cook until soft.
Add beef and seasonings to the pan and cook.
When almost fully cooked, mix in tomato paste. Set aside.
Butter a baking dish and add ½ of the plantain mixture. Use a fork to flatten.
Add beef mixture to the dish and flatten.
Add the rest of the plantain and top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes at 375°.
Let cool and serve. Enjoy!
Video
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Thank you for reading my Pastelón recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Pesto is such a heavenly sauce. The sharp garlic mixed with fresh basil, rich Parmesan, and good quality olive oil creates a vibrant combination of flavors that is delicious when eaten with pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and so much more.
Pesto Gnocchi
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What makes it so great?
Well, it’s probably the only renowned pasta sauce that is not cooked. And since it doesn’t touch the stove once, it’s incredibly easy to make.
That being said, since it’s made up of just a handful of ingredients, it’s also easy to mess up the ratios and end up with a not so great pesto.
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What is pesto made of?
Basil. Pesto gets it’s color and aroma from the fresh basil leaves. Basil has the most beautiful smell, it’s almost like therapy. We should change the saying to “stop and smell the Basil” because it really is that fragrant.
Garlic. Make it fresh and you’re set for success.
Pine nuts. These can be pricey, but don’t skip this ingredient. If necessary, substitute with walnuts, cashews, or whatever nut you have on hand.
Olive oil. Make sure you use a good quality one. Since this sauce is not cooked, you really taste every ingredient tenfold.
Salt. This is a no brainer. Season your food y’all! Especially if you’re planning on using it as a pasta sauce. It’s kinda impossible to add salt to pasta sauce once it’s already mixed with the pasta. If you know you know.
Basil Pesto
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How can I spice up pesto?
Just like anything else, too much of anything is bad. So, if you’re looking to change up the flavor profiles in your pesto just get creative! Try an arugula walnut pesto or a spinach cashew pesto! Or try adding cream to this recipe for a creamy, irresistible pesto. The possibilities are endless.
Do I need to use a mortar and pestle?
The short answer is no. For a true, authentic pesto, you will want to get your hands on a mortar and pestle. Using this method for mashing the ingredients together creates a different harmony than throwing everything in a food processor or blended.
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Don’t get me wrong, you’ll get delicious pesto either way. But the flavors are so much stronger when you do it by hand because the fibers in the basil aren’t completely broken apart as they are when processed or blended.
So, you don’t need to use one, but you will get a way stronger pesto if you do. But watch out, if you have never had a pesto mashed by hand the flavors may be too strong for you to handle. No joke. I would say give it a try both ways then move forward with which ever worked better for you.
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Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe
Pesto is such a heavenly sauce. The sharp garlic mixed with fresh basil, rich Parmesan, and good quality olive oil creates a vibrant combination of flavors that is delicious when eaten with pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and so much more.
Combine all ingredients in mortar and pestle, food processor, or blender, and combine mash, process, or blend until smooth and fully combined.
Thank you for reading my Pita Bread recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Somewhere between tortillas and naan lies pita bread.
What is pita bread?
Pita bread is a notorious flatbread common in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and surrounding areas. It’s often enjoyed with hummus and chicken shawarma.
What’s the difference between pita bread, tortillas, and naan?
Well, for starters the ingredients. Naan is made with all the ingredients in this pita bread recipe, plus eggs, yogurt, and butter. Meanwhile, tortillas are made with flour, baking powder, and water. The flavors are different in each one of these breads and that’s why they are all individually unique.
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One thing all these breads have in common though, is that they’re best when eaten freshly made. And where can you really go to find fresh pita bread? Oh yeah, no where! So, the perfect solution is to make them yourself.
Now that may sound a bit overwhelming. But trust me, it’s not hard at all. It just takes a little arm work and some time. Oh yeah and like four ingredients.
Homemade Pita Bread
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What do I need to make pita bread?
Flour. I use all purpose in this recipe but feel free to use whole wheat flour, buckwheat flour, spelt flour, or whatever type of flour you have on hand. Go ahead and get creative if you’d like, but to achieve the traditional pita we all know and love, you’re going to want to stick to all-purpose or whole wheat flour.
Oil. I used olive oil, but avocado oil works too. Don’t substitute for any other type of oil, and make sure it’s high quality. This really matters in this recipe.
Salt. Pretty standard component in this recipe and absolutely necessary. Feel free to add more or less depending on how you prefer. What’s listed in the recipe is a standard amount for the quantity yield.
Yeast. Duh. How else are we going to form fluffy pita bread? We need our dough to rise, so yeast is an essential ingredient here. Seriously, you’re going to have to run to the store for a pack of yeast to make this recipe.
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Now let’s make something clear. There’s pita bread, which has a pocket in the middle, and then there’s pocket-less pita, Arabic bread, Syrian bread, Greek pita, and more. What I’m trying to emphasize is that there’s so many variations of this amazing flatbread, so try the different variations and find which one you like most.
Why make pita bread at home?
Well, I already explained how great fresh pita is. If that wasn’t enough convincing then let me just tell you about how much I love this recipe. It’s a simple dough to prepare and yes that I love.
But I enjoy the actual cooking process because if the dough is prepared correctly, then you’ll have inflated pitas on your stove top or in oven, depending on how you decide to cook you pitas. It’s a cool process to watch and definitely gives you that little extra satisfaction knowing that you can make a perfect, pocketed pita bread!
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How do I store extra pita bread?
If you plan on enjoying your pita within 2 days then store it in a air tight container or bag at room temperature. Otherwise, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until ready to enjoy.
How many pitas does this recipe make?
This recipe make approximately 8 pitas. Feel free to scale the recipe to whatever fits your needs.
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Easy Pita Bread Recipe
Somewhere between tortillas and naan lies pita bread. One thing all these breads have in common though, is that they’re best when eaten freshly made. And where can you really go to find fresh pita bread? Oh yeah, no where! So, the perfect solution is to make them yourself. Now that may sound a bit overwhelming. But trust me, it’s not hard at all. It just takes a little arm work and some time. Oh yeah and like four ingredients.
In a large bowl, combine yeast, water, and 1 cup flour. Mix until combined and set aside for 10 minutes
Add salt, 1 tbsp oil, and 1 cup flour. Mix until combined and add the remaining flour, if necessary, in small doses until the dough is not sticky nor dry.
Kneed dough for 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth.
Place in bowl with remaining oil and cover. Let sit in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
Remove dough from bowl and roll out into a log. Cut log into 8 pieces and let rest for 15 minutes.
Roll each piece into a circle and let rest for 5 minutes.
Using a rolling pin, roll each piece into round flatbread's about 1/2 thick.
Bake on stone or pan at 475 for 3 minutes, flipping once. Or, cook on skillet or pan on medium heat for 3 minutes, flipping once.
Notes
If you plan on enjoying your pita within 2 days then store it in a air tight container or bag at room temperature. Otherwise, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until ready to enjoy.
This recipe make approximately 8 pitas. Feel free to scale the recipe to whatever fits your needs.
Thank you for reading my Pita Bread recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Pico de gallo, also known as salsa fresca, is one of my favorite sides when enjoying a classic Mexican dish. The flavors are fresh and balanced, and it adds a spunk of flavor to tacos, quesadillas, and even tortilla chips.
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What is Pico De Gallo?
Pico de gallo translates to “beak of rooster” in Spanish. It was given this name because originally people would eat it by pinching the ingredients between their thumb and index finger. And this hand gesture looks similar to the beak of a rooster.
Nowadays, we eat salsa fresco with tortilla chips, but back in the day they had their own way of doing things.
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What’s the difference between pico de gallo and salsa?
Let me put it this way, pico de gallo is a type of salsa, but salsa is not pico de gallo. Pico de gallo is a fresh, uncooked mixture that is chunkier in consistency. You can visibly see each chopped up ingredient in it. Meanwhile, salsa is cooked and a thinner consistency. Salsa can be left chunky or pureed, but it has more liquid regardless.
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Another thing is, the ingredients for salsa are interchangeable. You’ll find a variety of recipes making salsa with all types of different chiles and vegetables. Meanwhile, the ingredients for a this recipe are fairly consistent.
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Pico De Gallo
So what makes this recipe different?
Well, remember earlier when I mentioned that this is a fully uncooked recipe? Well, there’s going to be a tiny bit of cooking in my recipe. Instead of chopping up raw tomatoes, with the guts and all that involved, we are going to be making tomato concasse.
What’s that you may ask? Well it’s French for “crushing” and refers to a cooking technique that involves scoring, boiling, and peeling. Once peeled, the seeds are removed to eliminate any bitter tastes, and then the tomato is diced. And what you’re left with is a perfect tomato that’s ready to be enjoyed raw.
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Then just add the classics…
You know, red onion, garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, etc… you get the idea. Salsa fresca is a true classic, so messing around with these ingredients isn’t recommended. However, this doesn’t mean we can’t add some extra ones…
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I like adding tomato juice to the mix because I prefer my salsa to have some liquid to it. And I don’t want to add an unreasonable amount of lime juice, so I add more tomato flavor to the dish! Adding tomato juice really changed the game for me, so definitely give this a try. I also add a bit of olive oil to balance the flavors.
Lastly, one ingredient I don’t want you to forget is cumin. It adds a layer of warmth to the salsa fresco. But be careful, it’s easy to go overboard with the cumin! And if you’re making this one ahead of time, the longer the flavors sit together, the stronger the cumin flavor will be. Be use to use it sparingly, but do not skip it!
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Pico De Gallo Salsa Fresca Recipe
Pico de gallo is one of my favorite sides when enjoying a classic Mexican dish. The flavors are fresh and balanced, and it adds a spunk of flavor to tacos, quesadillas, and even tortilla chips.
Score the tomatoes with a knife by cutting an X on the bottom side.
Place the tomato on slotted spoon, and place into boiling water for 30 seconds.
Remove tomato from water and place onto cutting board.
Use knife to pull back the skin from the X marked earlier.
Onced peeled, remove guts and seeds and then finely chop.
Add chopped tomatoes and the rest of the listed ingredients to bowl. Enjoy!
Notes
You don’t have to use all of the red onion or jalapeno listed. If you’re not a fan of onion, or don’t care for spicy foods, then use these ingredients minimally as adding the quantity listed in the recipe may not work for you. Add a little at a time and taste as you go.
Scoring the tomatoes before boiling them makes peeling them later way easier. Don’t skip this step.
Using the tomato concasse technique ensures that any bitter flavors in the tomato don’t make it to our pico de gallo. Don’t skip this step.
Cumin is completely optional but highly recommended. Taste as you go to avoid adding too much, but do remember that the flavors strengthen as they sit.
This classic Caribbean style rice and pigeon peas recipe is so simple and satisfying, it’ll easily become one of your favorite rice dishes.
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Rice and peas is usually made with red kidney beans, but they can be substituted with literally any bean. So, for this is the variation of the recipe I chose pigeon peas. This alternative is referred to as gungo rice and peas.
The rice is cooked in creamy coconut milk and the pigeon peas are soft and spiced from the allspice, thyme, and ginger. It’s really just a perfect combination.
Rice And Pigeon Peas Caribbean Style With Vegan Brown Stew Chicken, Steamed Cabbage, & Okra.
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Dried or canned beans?
Above all, I always try to use dry beans over canned beans. Here’s why:
“Bisphenols are used in aluminum can linings to reduce corrosion. One bisphenol, BPA, has all the molecular characteristics of an obesogen, a term coined in 2006 to describe chemicals that potentially make us fatter. It enlarges fat cells, disrupts a protein that protects the heart called adiponectin, and functions as a synthetic estrogen. The latter means it can have sex-specific effects on growth and narrow the coronary arteries, increasing risk for coronary artery disease. Studies have shown you can reduce BPA levels by as much as two-thirds by avoiding canned foods – in just a few days’ time,” The Guardian.
For that reason I choose to steer far far away from canned foods. But I’m human too and I understand that sometimes there just is no time. That is to say, everything in moderation.
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Rice And Peas
How do you cook dried beans?
Firstly, I put 1/4 cup of dried pigeon peas in a bowl and added water. Secondly, I let the beans soak for 8 hours. I returned to 1/2 cup of soaked pigeon peas and yellowish water.
At this point, I fill large pot with the beans and 2 cups of water. I cook the beans for about an hour, or until they’re soft. After that, I add the rice. If after you put your rice in the pot there is not enough liquid to just cover the rice, then add however much water is necessary.
Traditionally, this recipe calls for a scotch bonnet pepper but since I cannot find one where I am located I used a piece of a red chili pepper. I have also used a jalapeno before in this recipe and it works well too.
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Rice Ans Pigeon Peas With Vegan Brown Stew Chicken
What do I eat rice and pigeon peas with?
My favorite thing to pair it with is brown stew chicken, but it works very well with jerk chicken and curry chicken. To sum it up, it’s a Jamaican staple, so be sure to serve with a classic Caribbean meat dish.
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Jamaican Rice And Pigeon Peas Recipe
This classic Caribbean style rice and pigeon pea recipe is so simple and satisfying, it'll easily become one of your favorite rice dishes.
Add onions, garlic, and ginger and cook until translucent.
Add thyme, black pepper, and allspice and cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
Add pigeon peas, coconut milk, water, and salt and bring to a boil.
Cook on low heat while covered for about 30 minutes.
Add washed rice and stir. At this point you can taste for any further seasonings.
Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, and simmer for 25 minutes.
Allow rice to sit off the stove for another 15 minutes.
Once cooled, use a fork to fluff up the rice and serve.
Thank you for reading my recipe. If you decide to try making Jamaican rice and peas be sure to tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Crab cakes are one of my favorite seafood dishes. Especially when paired with a perfectly spicy remoulade sauce. Yum! But have you ever tried crabless cakes?
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Ok, hear me out. Though amazing, the thing about crab cakes is that they aren’t very cheap to make… For example, 1 pound of crab would run you about $20.
And the alternative?
Well, that would either be lower quality crab (which is still going to cost you about $10/lb) or imitation crab.
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Imitation crab is fairly cheap (about $6/lb), since it’s a highly processed food made by combining minced fish with starch, egg whites, sugar, salt and additives to mimic the flavor, color and texture of real crab meat.
Now, that’s definitely an option. But, I wanted to go in a different direction. In short, I wanted to make crabless crab cakes, or crabless cakes if you will.
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What else can I use?
I created a recipe using a key ingredient that’s cheaper than good quality crab, low quality crab, and even imitation crab. Drum roll please… Heart of palm.
Heart of palm costs about $2/lb and they’re the perfect plant-based alternative for crab because of their meaty texture.
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What is heart of palm?
Heart of palm is a vegetable harvested from the inner core and growing bud of certain palm trees like the coconut, juçara, açaí palm, and peach palm.
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But, the best part about heart of palms is how nutritious they are. For instance, they are cholesterol-free and contain nutrients like iron, Vitamin C, magnesium and folate.
However, heart of palm doesn’t play the crab role alone in this recipe.
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What else plays the crab?
Artichoke hearts! The combination of the two work impressively well as crab.
Now, heart of palm and artichoke hearts are going to be the star of the show, keep that in mind when dicing them. For example, if you like a chunkier crab cake then dice large chunks. Meanwhile, if you want a smoother crab cake then dice small chunks and then mash a few with fork.
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Crabless Cakes
Is this a healthier alternative?
Yes, it certainly is. The nutritional benefits come with a warning though. Since heart of palm and artichoke hearts are canned vegetables, they are extremely high in sodium.
It’s important to rinse them thoroughly once you remove them from the brine to reduce the sodium. Especially since you’ll probably be adding even more sodium of some kind when preparing the crab cakes.
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What else goes into the crab cakes?
Chickpea flour and crushed crackers work as the binding agents in this recipe. If you don’t have crackers, bread crumbs or panko work great too.
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Meanwhile, mayonnaise, mustard, worcestershire sauce, salt, old bay, and parsley are all the ingredients necessary for flavoring the crab cakes.
And the spicy remoudlade sauce?
The spicy remoulade sauce is made with mayonnaise, dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, hot sauce, capers, and garlic.
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If you don’t want your sauce to be spicy then just omit the hot sauce!
These plant based crab cakes are made with simple ingredients, and they’re so simple to make. Above all, each bite delivers a crispy, flaky break thru of flavor.
In conclusion, for more tips on making the perfect crabless cakes click here.
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Crabless Cakes With Spicy Remoulade Sauce
These plant based crab cakes are made with simple ingredients, and they're simply delicious. Each bite delivers a crispy, flaky break thru of flavor.
Combine artichoke hearts, heart of palm, chickpea flour, crushed crackers, mayonnaise, old bay, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, parsley, and salt in a bowl and mix until well combined.
Using your hands, shape the crab cakes into desired shape and size and place onto an aluminum lined pan.
Cover pan and place in freezer for 30 minutes. This way the crab cakes will hold their shape better when frying.
Fill a bowl with all-purpose flour.
Remove pan from freezer and dip each crab cake into flour.
Heat a frying pan to low to medium heat and add frying oil and butter.
Cook until the crab cakes become golden brown on each side, using tongs to flip.
Remove from pan and place onto a paper towel lined plate to soak up any excess oil.
Allow to cool and serve with remoulade sauce.
Spicy Remoulade Sauce
Combine all ingredients and mix until well combined.
Cover and chill.
Serve with crabless cakes.
Notes
For extra crispness, broil the crab cakes after frying for about 5 minutes.
If you want to keep this recipe strictly plant based, substitute the egg for a flax egg and use vegan mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and butter.
For the best flavor, fry with butter and oil.
If you have access to one, use a food processor to blend together your remoulade sauce.
For an authentic Maryland crabless cake, use crackers. If you can’t get your hands on crackers then breadcrumbs or panko work well too.
Thank you for reading my recipe. If you decide to try making crabless cakes at home be sure to tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen so I can see! Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Never add this ingredient to your shopping list again. It’s simply too easy to make! All you need is a bag of dried chickpeas to create a healthy alternatives for flour.
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Why chickpea flour?
Chickpea flour is a necessary ingredient in a plant based kitchen. It has so many different purposes and uses in cooking, but above all of it has incredible nutritional benefits. It’s a great source of protein, calorically dense, and can be used as a replacement for flour in so many recipes.
Raw, dried chickpeas
Why make it yourself?
I got around to making this myself because I needed it was the only ingredient I needed for a recipe. And with chickpea flour being rather expensive, I decided to give it a go at home. It was really a desperate time, but it worked exactly the same as store brought chickpea flour.
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And when you compare the nutritional value of store brought chickpea flour and what’s in the stuff you grind up at home, you’ll find they are oddly different. The stuff at the store also has additives and preservatives that homemade chickpea flour does not.
Should I use a food processor or blender?
A food processor is ideal for making chickpea flour at home because it grinds the chickpeas very fine in just about one minute.
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I used a blender for this recipe because at the time I didn’t own a food processor! But let me tell you, it worked perfectly fine. Just pause the blending a few times to scrape the sides to ensure that everything is grinded evenly. If I can do it, you can too.
Never add this ingredient to your shopping list again. It’s simply too easy to make!
Yield: 1cup
Materials
1cupdried chickpeas
1food processoror blender
1paper towel
1 sifter
1air tight container
Instructions
Rinse dried chickpeas. dry well with a paper towel.
Dry well with a paper towel.
Throw chickpeas in food processor or blender and mix until the mixture turns into a fine powder.
Sift the powder to remove any pieces of chickpea that did not get finely chopped.
Store in an air tight container for cooking.
Thank you for reading my article. If you decide to try making garbanzo bean flour at home be sure to tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen so I can see. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more articles like this!
Pancakes are the epitome of American breakfast comfort food. But were they just randomly invented in a diner or something?
Well, not really, they’re dated to around 30,000 years ago during the Stone Age… I mean, they’re obviously pretty good since the recipe has been carried on since the stone age.
What makes this recipe different?
If you’re here right now, I can only assume you’re surfing the web for the perfect pancake recipe. Spoiler alert, you’ve landed on it.
This pancake recipe is superior to the rest of the pancake recipes because it is egg-less and dairy-free. Now I know what you’re thinking, how could a pancake work with no eggs or milk? Well, that’s where our plant-based alternatives come in
Flax seeds, whole
Instead of throwing in an egg into the batter, we will be throwing in a flax egg. If you’re not familiar with flax eggs, it’s essentially flax seeds ground up into a powder mixed with warm water. After a few minutes, this mixture becomes coagulated similarly to an egg.
Fresh Oat Milk
And so what about dairy? You guessed it, we will be using a plant-based milk alternative. Oat milk, hemp milk, almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, coconut milk, rice milk, flax milk, pea milk… The list goes on. You have a variety of milks to choose from for this recipe, but I choose oat milk because that’s what I regularly drink in my house.
So, there you have it. This recipe is different because there’s no guilt in indulging in a tall stack of these fluffy pancakes.
Can’t I just use eggs and dairy milk?
Sure, if you don’t have flax eggs or plant-based milks on hand, or maybe you’re not a plant-based eater then there’s other options for you. Go ahead and replace the flax egg for 1 chicken egg and replace 1 cup of plant-based milk with 1 cup of dairy milk. Follow the recpe the exact same way.
Can’t I just buy syrup from the store?
Of course you could, just how you could buy pancake mix from the store. But where is the fun in that?
Besides that, you’ll know exactly what’s going into your foods as opposed to reading the long list of ingredients on the back of your favorite pancake syrup.
This brown sugar syrup recipe is a great replacement for the stuff sold at the supermarket since it is just 2 ingredients. And guess what they are? You got it! Water and sugar. Plain and simple, but very sweet!
Vegan Fluffy Pancakes With Brown Sugar Pancake Syrup.
What else can I top my pancakes with?
If syrup is just too sweet for you then try some other mildy sweet options like fresh fruit, honey, agave, whipped cream, or a fruit compote.
If you’re looking for something else to top your pancakes with other than old school syrup, then try nutella, ice cream, caramel, fruit flavored syrup, nut butter, or chocolate chips.
And if you’re looking for toppings that aren’t sweet at all, then try nuts, butter, bacon, fried eggs, sausage, salsa, or fried chicken.
Can I add my toppings into the batter?
Of course. Add things like blueberries, nuts, and chocolate chips right into the batter. To add nutella, caramel, or nut butter filling, pour half of the desired batter into the non-stick pan, pour your filling in the middle of the pancake, and pour the other half of the desired batter over the pancake. Flip as you normally would and serve.
How do I know when to flip the pancakes?
The pancakes are ready to be flipped when you can visibly see bubbles forming in the center and around the edges of the pancake. You will also be able to see the edges of the pancake discolor from the original batter color. The batter should not be runny when the pancake is flipped.
How many pancakes does this recipe make?
This pancake recipe yields 8 pancakes, so if you don’t plan on using all the batter at once, you can either cut the recipe in half, store the pancake mix in the fridge up to 2-4 days, or store the cooked pancakes in a zip lock bag to freeze for up to 2 months.
Meanwhile, the syrup recipe yields 1/2 cup of syrup which you can keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Fluffy Pancakes With Brown Sugar Syrup Recipe
Pancakes are the epitome of American breakfast comfort food. This recipe is egg-less and dairy-free, so there’s not guilt in indulging in a tall stack off these fluffy pancakes.
Using a spoon, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
Mix ground flax seeds and warm water in a bowl with a spoon and set aside for a couple minutes to coagulate.
In a separate bowl, add melted butter, sugar, flax mixture, milk, and vanilla extract and mix with spoon. Set aside.
Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until just combined. Set aside.
Over medium heat, pour ¼ of the pancake mixture to non-stick pan.
Cook until bubbles have formed on top of the pancake and the edges have discolored from the original batter color to flip.
Wait until the pancake has completely puffed down after the flip to transfer to a plate and assemble stacks.
Brown Sugar Syrup
Combine sugar and water to a small pot over low to medium heat.
Stir the mixture with a spoon until it starts to bubble.
Once the mixture is bubbling, about 20 minutes, remove from heat and cool.
Once cooled to room-temperature, pour over stacked pancakes. Enjoy!
Notes
This pancake recipe yields 8 pancakes, so if you don’t plan on using all the batter at once, you can either cut the recipe in half, store the pancake mix in the fridge up to 2-4 days, or store the cooked pancakes in a zip lock bag to freeze for up to 2 months.
Meanwhile, the syrup recipe yields 1/2 cup of syrup which you can keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
The pancakes are ready to be flipped when you can visibly see bubbles forming in the center and around the edges of the pancake. You will also be able to see the edges of the pancake discolor from the original batter color. The batter should not be runny when the pancake is flipped.
If you don’t have flax eggs or plant-based milks on hand, or maybe you’re not a plant-based eater then there’s other options for you. Go ahead and replace the flax egg for 1 chicken egg and replace 1 cup of plant-based milk with 1 cup of dairy milk. Follow the recpe the exact same way.
To make a dry pancake mix, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, and flax seed. When ready to use, combine that mixture with water, butter, vanilla extract, and milk.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Chunky avocado mixed with sour lime and crunchy fresh vegetables are the key ingredients to the infamous guacamole that we all know and love.
However, have you ever considered spicing things up a bit? Maybe by adding in some ripe mango?
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Why add mango?
Guacamole is something I personally can’t get enough of. I put it on everything.
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That being said, it is possible to get tired of a good thing. You know, when I made this recipe I had simply eaten too much regular guacamole. I (somehow) grew tired of it. Even good things get old after a while…
You know, kinda like when you eat that one type of cereal for a few months and before you know it, you just can’t take it ANYMORE. Everything in moderation, right?
So, to switch things up for my palette, I tried making guacamole with some different ingredients; like mangoes.
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Is this better than regular guac?
Traditional guacamole is pretty hard to beat, so I don’t want to put these two in an unfair competition. The guacamole we all know and love is one of a kind, and unmatchable.
Nonetheless, this is a heck of a good alternative for when you’re just tired of regular old guacamole.
This is a sweet twist on the traditional recipe.
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What can I eat guacamole with?
This guacamole makes a delicious topping for tacos and quesadillas, or even as dip for your favorite tortilla chips. Add it to your meals and enjoy as a delicious side, throw it on top of some toast for breakfast, use it for deviled eggs… The possibilities are endless. It fits perfectly into most Hispanic and Spanish meals, so be sure not to forget it when making rice and beans or paella.
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Sweet And Savory Mango Guacamole Recipe
Sweet and savory is the best way I can describe this guacamole. Chunky avocado mixed with the sour lime, the crunch from the fresh vegetables, and the ripe mango creates a sweet twist on traditional guacamole.
Finely chop onion, garlic, and jalapeno pepper and add to bowl.
Squeeze one half of lime juice into the bowl and mix.
Add avocado to bowl and use fork to mush avocado to preferred consistency. Add diced mango and mix.
Dice mango and add to bowl.
Squeeze other half of lime to bowl. Mix.
Chop one handful of cilantro and add to bowl. Mix.
Add cayenne pepper and season with salt to taste.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Calling all home bakers! Ladyfingers are simply a dessert you need to know how to make. These classic ladyfinger biscuits are quick and simple to make at home. And yes, of course you could go to that nice Italian store that sells the pricey imported cookies, but where’s the fun in that?
Now, keep in mind that homemade ladyfingers are not the same as store bought ones. The commercial savoiardi biscuit tends to be more crisp and firm than the homemade ladyfingers, which are more soft and pliable.
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What are Ladyfinger biscuits?
Ladyfingers are sweet, light, dry, egg-based, sponge biscuits. They are called ladyfingers because they are kinda shaped like fingers. They are notorious for being an essential ingredient in the dessert we all know and love: tiramisu. They’re also known as boudoir biscuits, sponge biscuits, sponge fingers, and savoiardis.
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I feel like everyone always assumes these biscuits originated in Italy because of their famous connotation to tiramisu. But really, Ladyfingers originated in the late 15th century in Savoy, which today is parts of France, Switzerland, and Italy. They were created to mark the occasion when the King of France came to visit. Later, they were given the name Savoiardi.
Today, the recipe remains very similar to traditional one.
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Want the secret ingredient for a perfect Ladyfinger?
Fold, don’t mix. The definition of folding is to carefully add a light, airy mixture (in this case egg whites) to a thicker, heavier mixture. This has to be done carefully so that the egg whites don’t deflate and lose all of the air that was beaten into them.
So essentially, the secret ingredient to a perfect homemade ladyfinger is air!
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The eggs
Since this is an egg-based recipe, you need to make sure your handling your eggs correctly. Separate the egg whites and yolks during the prep. Mix the egg white with half of the listed sugar with a electric hand mixer until it forms thick peaks. Mix the egg yolks with other half of the listed sugar with a hand whisk until it becomes light in color.
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Why the powdered sugar?
The powdered sugar melts into the surface of the ladyfinger and creates an ever so delicate, sweet crust.
Let them cool completely before working with them.
When they are fresh out of the oven, they are delicate on the inside and just a bit crisp on the outside. If you don’t wait for them to cool, you risk the ladyfingers falling apart. When you leave them to cool completely they will firm up and get crispier on the outside and spongy on the inside.
Please just let them cool completely, especially if you’re making tiramisu. The biscuit will be able to soak up the coffee and rum mixture so much better if it is stale.
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What other recipes can I use these cookies in other than Tiramisu?
Ladyfingers can be eaten as is, but they really shine in recipes where they are soaked in a syrup or other liquid. So, without a shadow of a doubt, this is the kind of cookie that goes great in tiramisus. However, they also work well in icebox cakes, eclairs, trifles, and so much more. Watch my video demonstrating this recipe below so you can make ladyfinger desserts like a professional!
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Making an egg-free version of this recipe is simple! Just substitute the eggs for butter and you’re good to go. Let me know if you’d be interested to see a full recipe on egg-less ladyfingers in the comments below!
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Ladyfinger Savoiardi Biscuits Recipe
Ladyfingers are sweet, light, dry, egg-based, sponge biscuits. They are called ladyfingers because they are kinda shaped like fingers and they are notorious for being an essential ingredient to the dessert we all know and love: tiramisu.
Add egg whites and half of sugar to a bowl and mix using an electric mixer until fluffy. Set aside.
Add egg yolks and other half of sugar to a bowl and mix using a whisk until combined. Pour into egg white mixture.
Sift all-purpose flour, corn flour, and baking powder into the egg white bowl and fold ingredients together to form dough.
Scoop dough into piping bag and set aside.
Generously butter baking pan.
Pipe cookies onto baking pan to 2 inches length.
Generously sift powdered sugar onto cookies before placing in oven.
Bake for 15 minutes and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Be sure to fold the mixture together in step 4. Folding ensures that you don’t undo all the whipping you did with the egg whites in step 1. This has to be done carefully so that the egg whites don’t deflate and lose all of the air that was beaten into them.
Sift all dry ingredients to avoid lumps.
Wait for them to cool before handling since when they are fresh out of the oven, they are delicate on the inside and just a bit crisp on the outside. If you don’t wait for them to cool, you risk the ladyfingers falling apart.
Egg benedict is truly a classic. And it appears way more difficult to make than it truly is. Let me show you my easy and simple recipe for this old fashioned breakfast dish.
Hollandaise sauce has this huge stigma to it. And you know what I get it, it’s very easy to mess up. But, besides taking a little extra care with your hollandaise and mastering the art of poaching an egg, this is a pretty simple recipe.
Now if you can’t get your hands on English muffins, you can also use a bagel or a roll. And if you can’t find Canadian bacon, you can use regular bacon or even ham. And an easy way to up the flavor in your hollandaise sauce is to add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little kick.
Some tips I have for you are to be very attentive of you hollandaise sauce. First off, make sure to use a double boiler. If you don’t know what that is, it’s simply a large bowl set on top of a pot half filled with water. You cook the hollandaise sauce on the bowl and you want to make sure to do so over low heat so you don’t risk scrambling the eggs. The hollandaise sauce should be just that, a sauce. It should thinly coat a spoon.
And as far as the poached egg, practice makes perfect! Use a large spoon to spin the water in one direction, creating a tornado like effect to the center of the pot. Pouring the egg into the center lets it spin around it self and create a beautiful poached egg. Once your egg is in the water, lower the heat and cook for 3 minutes before removing from water and letting dry on paper towel.
Don’t skip the paper towel step because placing the egg directly on the muffin creates an unpleasant soggy muffin. And who wants that!
If you don’t have any lemon juice, vinegar works as a good replacement in this recipe.
But whatever you do, make sure you have chives on hand to top the egg benedict. It’s a game changer.
Classic Egg Benedict Recipe
Egg benedict is truly a classic. And it appears way more difficult to make than it truly is. Let me show you my easy and simple recipe for this old fashioned breakfast dish.
Crack 3 eggs into three bowls, making sure not to break the yolk.
Using a wooden spoon, spin the boiling water and create a strong wave towards clockwise direction in the pot.
Pour eggs one at a time into the center of spinning water. Remove any excess egg that rises to the surface of the water.
Reduce to low heat and cook for 3 minutes. Remove eggs from water, sprinkle with salt, and set aside.
English Muffin
Use a fork to split English muffins in half.
Toast on pan until both sides are golden brown using spatula to flip. Set aside.
Canadian Bacon
Cook Canadian bacon on pan over medium heat until crispy on both sides using spatula to flip. Set aside.
Hollandaise
In a double boiler over low heat, whisk egg yolk until it slightly thickens.
Whisk in butter and lemon juice and mix until combined and thickens enough to coat a spoon
Remove from heat and add salt to taste and optional cayenne pepper. Serve immediately.
Assembly
Start with toasted English muffin, then cooked Canadian bacon, poached egg, and hollandaise sauce.
Top with fresh chives and enjoy!
Video
Notes
When removing the poached egg from water, place onto paper towel to soak up any excess water. Skipping this step and pacing the egg directly on the muffin creates an unpleasant soggy muffin. And who wants that!
Take your hollandaise on and off the heat if necessary. This will help avoid scrambling the egg, especially if you’re a beginning with hollandaise.
Serve hollandaise sauce immediately. It thickens up very quickly and becomes hard to work with.
If you can’t get your hands on English muffins, you can also use a bagel or a roll.
If you can’t find Canadian bacon, you can use regular bacon or even ham.
If you don’t have any lemon juice, vinegar works well as a good replacement.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Jose Tejas, also known as Border Cafe, is literally my favorite restaurant ever. I go there for my birthday every year, whenever my mom comes to visit, and whenever I’m craving Mexican food.
I’ve eaten a ton of things on their menu, but my favorite dish by far is Chicken Bandera. It’s simply an amazing dish. Wood fired mesquite grilled chicken, honey lime cilantro dipping sauce, and a grilled avocado filled with mango. It’s typically served with shoestring french fries, but I get it with either jambalaya or white rice and beans.
Now, I know they only have a handful of locations, but I also know that lots of people have stopped for a meal there at least once.
And listen, if you’ve never been able to visit one of the locations, that is an even better reason to make this recipe at home.
So, as a service to society, I have created a copy cat recipe for this delicious meal. Of course, the real thing is on a whole different level. But, it’s nice to be able to recreate the flavors of my favorite dish. So, that’s exactly what I did!
Some tips I would give you are that if you can’t assemble your own mesquite seasoning mix then grab a seasoning mix from the super market! Also, if you don’t own a grill like me, you can just pan sear it. But since I know that char is essential, I pulled out my George Foreman grill to give it that effect!
Mesquite Grilled Chicken With Honey Lime Cilantro Sauce Copy Cat Jose Tejas Chicken Bandera Recipe
So, as a service to society, I have created a copy cat recipe for this delicious meal. Of course, the real thing is on a whole different level. But, it's nice to be able to recreate the flavors of my favorite dish. So, that's exactly what I did!
Potato salad is a very basic recipe that some of love so much, and some of us hate with a burning passion. I agree, it is a hit or miss. If you aren’t a fan of mayo, then potato salad is probably not your thing.
But, there are alternatives to mayo for this recipe. Some of them are sour cream, oil, and lemon.
With that being said, if you want to make this kicking potato salad to real way you’re going to want to use mayo. Get vegan mayo, whatever you have to do, just get mayo!
Now, let me make it very clear that this is not the regular ole Russian potato salad. This is a Dominican potato salad. AKA the best damn potato salad there is.
This potato salad is found at almost all Dominican holidays and events. It’s a fairly simple recipe, but it’s reserved for special occasions. So, when I go to my family gatherings and I see that there is potato salad, I know we’re all about to have a great meal!
Check out the video above for the technique. Some tips I have for you are to make sure not to burn your onions while sauteing them, they should be translucent not brown in any way. Also, only cook you potatoes and carrots until they are soft, they should not be mushy or falling apart. Adding the tablespoon of vinegar helps with this.
Now, let me make it very clear that this is not the regular ole Russian potato salad. This is a Dominican potato salad. AKA the best damn potato salad there is.
Ingredients
2 potatoes
1 egg
2 carrots
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 tbsp white vinegar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
Fill a large pot with water and add 1 tbsp vinegar, potatoes, egg, and carrots. Boil over medium heat.
Once boiling, remove egg. Remove carrots and potatoes once they are tender and soft.
In a small pan over low heat, add 1 tbsp vinegar and chopped onion. Cook until onions are translucent.
Peel potatoes and egg and largely chop egg, carrots, and potatoes.
In a bowl, add potatoes, egg, carrots, onion, and mayonnaise.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
What the hell is a cotoletta? It’s the Italian word for cutlet. It’s essentially a slice of meat, with or without bone, dredged in egg, breaded, and fried with oil or butter. It’s often made with veal, but I grew up eating it with chicken. And let me tell you, my dad makes a mean cotoletta. It’s kinda one of those things you make when you need to cook up something quick, so I have eaten a lot of these in my day. And every single one has been delicious.
The secret to a juicy chicken cutlet is cooking it on low heat. This allows the chicken to cook and the batter to crisp up simultaneously, so you have juicy chicken on the outside and a perfectly browned crust on the outside.
Another secret tip for these cutlets is cooking them in oil AND butter. Usually people pick one or the other, but this recipe works best if you use both. The oil gets the job done way better but the butter adds a nice richness of flavor that you would be missing out on if you skipped it.
Cotoletta is Italian for cutlet. Here's how to make the best chicken cutlet you've ever tried.
Ingredients
1 large chicken breast
4 eggs
2 cups bread crumbs
2 cups frying oil
1 tbsp butter
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
With a sharp knife, slice chicken breast into thin cutlets.
Using a meat tenderizer, tenderize each cutlet until they are 1/4 inch thin.
In a bowl, whisk eggs, salt, and pepper. Add chicken to egg mixture and combine.
Cover bowl and place in fridge for at least 15 minutes.
Take chicken and egg mixture out of fridge. In a separate bowl, add bread crumbs.
Pick up one cutlet from the egg mixture bowl and allow any excess egg to drip off. Drop chicken in bread crumbs and coat using hands, turning the cutlet over to make sure all sides are coated. Repeat for each cutlet.
In a large pan over low heat, add frying oil and butter.
Once the oil is hot, place the chicken in the pan and cook on both sides until golden brown. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Tomato sauce is one of those things, like most things, that’s just so much better homemade.
Now, this is by no means an authentic recipe. But, it is simple, quick, and delicious, so you can enjoy a nice plate of pasta even on a busy day. 1 can of tomatoes, a couple cloves of garlic, some basil leaves, and some salt and you’re good to go for a fast, satisfying meal.
Try to use canned plum tomatoes, but if you can’t find them go ahead and use tomato puree and a couple fresh tomatoes. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time since it’ll take a little longer for the tomatoes to dissolve and the sauce to develop.
One of my favorite things to do to this recipe is add some red pepper flakes for some heat. And of course, I always top with parmesan or pecorino romano. It’s simply mandatory.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Sometimes I have tomatoes that I just don’t know what to do with, and that’s when this recipe comes in handy.
Tomatoes are often overlooked when it comes to actually cooking them. Instead, they’re mostly used in salads and sandwiches. But, don’t underestimate the deliciousness of an oven baked tomato. And an herb crusted on at that.
My dad made this recipe when I was younger so I ate these often growing up, and let me tell you; there’s just something about Italian tomatoes that is just unmatched. Even simply in the color. But that’s besides the point.
This recipe pairs great with a meaty protein or even a pasta dish. These tomatoes even make great appetizers! They’re so simple to make, and you can keep any left over filling in the fridge for the next time you want to make this unique side dish.
Tomatoes are often overlooked when it comes to actually cooking them. Instead, they're mostly used in salads and sandwiches. But, don't underestimate the deliciousness of an oven baked tomato. And an herb crusted on at that.
Ingredients
4 tomatoes
1 handful fresh parsely, chopped
1/2 handful fresh basil, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup panko bread crumb
1 tsp parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
salt, to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cut tomatoes in half and place in a baking tin with the flesh facing up. Salt the tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil. Set aside.
In a bowl, combine parsley, basil, garlic, panko, and parmesan. Mix well.
Using a spoon, or your hands, place the herb mixture on the tomatoes.
Place tomatoes in oven and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the herbs are golden brown and the tomatoes are wrinkling. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
French omelettes are superior to American omelettes in my opinion. They are actually very similar, but they are cooked and folded very differently. With American omelettes, you fold one time in half and cook over low medium heat. This produces a slightly crispy omelette. But a French omelette is a whole different thing; you almost more roll, rather than fold the omelette, and you cook over a gentle, low heat. This creates a soft, velvety omelette with a silky interior.
This is the classic recipe so it just just topped with chives, but you can also make omelette au fromage where you add cheese to the omelette right before folding. I don’t know what it is but something about French omelettes feels lighter than regular omelettes, and in the morning that’s exactly what I need.
For the exact technique, check out my video on this recipe below!
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
French omelettes are superior to American omelettes in my opinion; they are just irresistible a soft and velvety!.
Ingredients
3 large eggs
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
salt, to taste
Directions
In a bowl, crack the eggs, add salt, and whisk until mixture is a thin liquid.
In an 8 inch pan over low heat, add butter and melt. Spread around all edges of the pan to prevent the omelette from sticking later.
Once completely melted, add egg mixture and scramble until the eggs begin to thicken.
Once most of the egg liquid is scrambled, start spreading the mixture on the pan to create a round shape. Use spatula to flatten down edges
Once round, flat, and even, use a spatula to begin folding. Start from the side closest to you, and make a small fold. Then continue folding until you’ve reached the last fold.
Fold the last edge of the omelette into a plate. Top with chives and enjoy!
Empanadas are a staple for get togethers and barbecues. They’re most amazing when they’re hot, fresh, and flaky. But… sometimes there are not so great emapanadas at the cookout. Don’t be the person who orders a pan of soggy, skimpy empanadas from that one place. Do something different and try making your own.
This recipe is so simple and only takes a few ingredients to make. Everybody always thinks that empanadas are very difficult to make, the concept of an empanada is straight forward, you fill, fold, and press. The only part you want to make sure you’re not screwing up on is preparing the dough. Here’s a video on exactly how to execute this recipe.
It’s a very simple technique, so don’t go buy store brought dough (but you do you). I also always thought the from scratch process was going to be super time consuming, but honesylu the most tedious part of this recipe is the waiting 30 minutes for the empanada dough to rest!
Going the extra step goes a long way with certain recipes, and this is definitely the case when it comes to empanadas. Frozen dough is no competition for fresh, homemade dough. So, with that being said, I will now be the person bringing the empanadas to the cook out!
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Black beans are one of my favorite beans. I love making this recipe when I’m feeling tired of the classic Dominican beans. You know, put some spice in my life. One thing I kinda love about this recipe is the way all the flavors cooked together and created an almost sweet flavor profile, and I’m not one who likes salty things being sweet. So, take it from me, you have to try this recipe.
The hint of sweetness I was referring to earlier comes from the auyama, which also provides a hearty feature to these beans. I didn’t always use auyama in my beans. To be completely honest, I never even knew about it’s existence besides from my childhood memories when my grandma would make beans with it! When I started using it in my beans I never went back. It’s so cheap, lasts a long time, and adds an amazing sweet earthy flavor to my beans. You’ve definitely got to try this recipe out.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Deviled eggs are a classic for so many different cultures. Italians mix their filling with tuna, Greeks mix theirs with olives, and the south mixes theirs with relish! If you’re a relish person, you will love this version of deviled eggs, and if you’re not a relish person, I encourage you to give this a go anyways because the flavor combination of everything in these deviled eggs and the relish is phenomenal. Truly one of a kind.
Serving deviled eggs at picnics and cocktail parties is a very regular thing for Americans, but this classic finger food did not originate in the United States. Although they weren’t prepared the way we know and love today, the roots of modern-day deviled eggs are traced back to ancient Rome. These little delicacies are also sometimes called Russian eggs, using red caviar or anchovies.
Deviled Eggs
Long story short, there’s probably a bazillion variations for deviled eggs throughout the internet. BUT, this is the best relish deviled egg recipe you’re going to come across. Why may you ask? Well, I used a secret ingredient in these deviled eggs. And that is… drum roll please… BUTTER. And not melted butter, but softened, room temperature butter. It provides a creamy, velvety addition to the filling. Whatever you do, do not skip the butter in this recipe.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
There's probably a bazillion variations for deviled eggs throughout the internet. BUT, this is the best relish deviled egg recipe you're going to come across.
Ingredients
6 large eggs
3 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp relish
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp butter, softened
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
In a large pot over medium to high heat, fill half way with water and add eggs. Bring to a boil, then cover with lid, remove from heat, and let sit for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, drain the hot water from the pot and run cold water over the eggs. Peel eggs.
Cut eggs in half and scoop out the yolk into a bowl using a spoon. Using a fork, mash the yolks until you have an even consistency.
In the same bowl, add the rest of the ingredients and mix until everything is well incorporated.
Use a spoon to scoop the filling into eggs, or use a piping back with or without a fancy tip, and pipe the filling into the eggs. Serve!
I remember my mom would always buy those frozen taquitos from costco and I was always so obsessed with them. I’m talking like, I’d finish a box every weekend! And the were BIG boxes because you know, costco. They were so addicting, so I decided to make my own and share my recipe with you.
If you don’t know about taquitos, also known as rolled tacos, or flauta and tacos dorados in the streets of mexico, then let me brighten your day with this delicious Mexican dish. A taquito typically consists of a small rolled-up tortilla that contains filling, including beef, cheese or chicken. The filled tortilla is then crisp-fried or deep-fried and the dish is often topped with condiments like sour cream and guacamole. It’s similar to tacos and quesadillas, but it’s different which is great because those can get boring. Taquitos are a great way to spice up your Taco Tuesday menu!
So, next time you’re craving Mexican food and you have some corn tortillas on hand, try this recipe for taquitos. You can substitute the oil and pan in this recipe with either an air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or an oven at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Taquitos are a great way to spice up your Taco Tuesday menu!
Ingredients
15 corn tortillas
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp adobo
1/4 tsp cumin
2 cups frying oil
salt and pepper to taste
sour cream, optional
cojita cheese, optional
parsley, optional
Directions
In a deep pan, heat oil on low to medium heat.
One at a time, cook the tortillas in the oil for 3 second and then remove from oil and let cool. Set oil aside for later step.
In a small pan on low heat add onion, garlic, bell pepper, chicken adobo, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
Cook until the vegetables are soft then remove from heat.
To assemble the taquitos, place a tortilla on your cutting board and place a spoonful of you chicken mixture on the bottom half of the tortilla.
From the bottom side of the tortilla (the side closest to you), begin rolling (making sure the filling is tight by tucking) until you have a tight rolled taquito. Do the same for each tortilla.
In the deep pot with oil, cook the taquitos at low to medium heat until they’re golden brown.
Serve with sour cream, cojita cheese, and parsley.
I love Dominican food, and res guisada is one of my favorites. It’s hearty, comforting, and delicious, and it pairs perfectly with rice and beans to make La Bandera. La bandera, or the flag, is a the national dish of DR and it is matches the colors of the country’s flag and consists of rice, red beans, meat, and salad. I could eat la bandera every single day but that’s just me.
This recipe is simple to make and can be prepared in under an hour! You can let this simmer for longer than 20 minutes if you want a thicker stew, but don’t cook for longer than an hour to avoid overcooking.
La Bandera Dominicana
You can make this recipe using just about any cut of beef, just dice it into 1 inch pieces. And any color bell pepper works though I always pick the red ones :). Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
Spicy crab roll is the favorite sushi roll of my friend from work. We work next to a couple sushi restaurants so we always order out while on shift. I can’t even tell you how many rolls I’ve eaten at work! I’ve tried many rolls in my day, but she put me onto the spicy crab roll. If you’ve never had it and you like spicy tuna rolls, you’ll like this.
This recipe calls for imitation crab, which you can substitute with real crab if you got it like that, or with something like heart of palm to make it vegan. You can find imitation crab at your local supermarket in the fish section. Imitation crab is a product that uses fish meat to imitate shellfish meat since crab meat can be quite expensive, and it’s actually what most sushi restaurants use in their crab rolls!
For the sticky rice, make sure you make it with sushi rice. It is the only way it will stick to the wraps, and let me tell you that rice is sticky! Besides that, only other special ingredient needed is rice vinegar.
Spicy Crab Sushi Roll
Making sushi isn’t easy the first time, but just like everything else you get better with practice. Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
This stew is also known as menestra de lentejas. It’s a popular dish in Ecuador that uses lentils, though you can give it a go with any type of bean you have on hand. This recipe calls for minimal and basic ingredients that most of us always have on hand, so it’s known by many as a “poor man’s dish. But this dish is absolutely delicious!
I was not a huge fan of brown lentils before this recipe. I didn’t like the brown ones at all, though I love the black ones. So I had a bag full of brown lentils I had never used and now I know what to do with it. If you have some extra lentils on hand be sure to try this recipe out.
Ecuadorian Lentil Stew With Rice
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What the hell is a cotoletta? It’s the Italian word for cutlet. It’s essentially a slice of meat, with or without bone, passed in egg, breaded and fried with oil or butter. It’s often made with veal, but I grew up eating it with chicken. And let me tell you, my dad makes a mean cotoletta. It’s kinda one of those things you make when you need to cook up something quick, so I have eaten a lot of these in my day. And every single one has been delicious. It’s satisfying, simple, and delicious!
The secret to a juicy chicken cutlet is cooking it on low heat. This allows the chicken to cook and the batter to crisp up simultaneously, so you have juicy chicken on the outside and a perfectly browned crust on the outside.
Cotoletta Alla Milanese
Another secret tip for these cutlets is cooking them in oil AND butter. Usually people pick one or the other, but this recipe works best if you use both. The oil gets the job done way better but the butter adds a nice richness of flavor that you would be missing out on if you skipped it.
As for the salad, it is completely versatile the type of fruits and veggies you want to throw in there. However, I did discover that apples pair very well with balsamic vinegar, so if you have apples on hand make sure to throw them into your salad! And it’s apple picking season right now so I know we all have some apples laying around. Apples actually go so well with savory flavors, I recently made a brussel sprouts and apple saute. The flavors work great together and it’s still one of my favorite ways to eat brussels!
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Cotoletta is Italian for cutlet. Here's how to make the best chicken cutlet you've ever tried.
Cotoletta Alla Milanese
– 1 chicken breast
– 1 cup vegetable oil
– 1 tbsp butter
– 2 eggs
– 2 cups bread crumbs
– salt and pepper to taste
Apple Salad
– 2 cups spring mix
– 1 red apple, sliced
– 1 tomato, quartered
– 1/2 cucumber, sliced
– 1 tbsp olive oil
– 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
– salt and pepper to taste
Cotoletta Alla Milanese
1. Slice the chicken breast into thing cutlets.
2. Using a meat tenderizer, pound each cutlet until they are equally thin.
3. In a bowl, beat the eggs and add salt and pepper. Let the chicken marinate in the egg mixture for at least 5 minutes.
4. After 5 minutes, heat up oil and butter in a large pan at low heat.
5. One cutlet at a time, remove chicken from egg mixture and coat in bread crumbs and then transfer to heated oiled pan.
6. Cook until chicken is golden brown on both sides and then transfer chicken to a lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Serve.
Apple Salad
1. Combine spring mix, apple, tomato, and cucumber in bowl.
2. Combine oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper in a separate bowl.
3. Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Serve.
Patacon is the concept of using plantain as a substitute for bread. It’s a very satisfying way to switch things up once in a while. I have a recipe already where I show you how I make my Jibarito, which is very similar to this recipe. However, that recipe used salted green plantains while this recipe uses sweet ripe plantains.
Patacon De Platano Maduro
Making these are so easy, just make sure that you use plantains that are ripe but not too ripe to where it won’t hold together after you press it. Also, don’t press the plantain too thin because that will also cause the plantain to fall apart.
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Patacon is the concept of using plantain as a substitute for bread. It's a very satisfying way to switch things up once in a while.
Ingredients
1 ripe plantain
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded grilled chicken
1 kale leaf
1/2 jalapeno, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1/2 lime, juice and zest
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
In a medium pan, heat oil over low to medium heat.
Peel the plantain, cut it in half, and then cut the plantain perpendicular to the first cut so that you have 4 pieces.
Place the four plantain pieces into the pan and cook for a few minutes on both sides.
Remove each plantain quarter from the pan and onto a cutting board lined with parchment paper and use another cutting board to press the plantain pieces.
Put the pressed plantain pieces back to the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides.
Combine jalapeno, garlic, cilantro, lime, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
Assemble patacon starting with one plantain quarter, the shredded chicken, kale, mojo, and another plantain quarter.
Being half Dominicana, I LOVE rice and beans. Over the years I’ve perfected my rice by switching over to basmati rice, adjusting the water ratio, and tweaking the cook time. But I’ve never ever made habichuelas that I truly enjoyed. Before this recipe that is.
Now let me clear up that these beans are not made from SCRATCH since we are using canned beans, and that’s probably evident through the very short 45 minute cook time. Usually, you’d start with dry beans and that cook time is somewhere around 4 hours, and that’s not including soaking the beans overnight for 8-12 hours. This is the recipe for when you want beans but do not have the time.
Dominican Rice And Beans
You can use any bean for this recipe really, but for true Dominican beans use roman beans. Good alternatives would be pinto beans, black beans, cannellini beans, and red kidney beans.
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Quesadillas are one of my favorite things to make when I need to cook something quick and delicious! This recipe makes a pretty basic quesadilla that tastes so much better than any basic quesadilla.
Vegan Chorizo
What makes this quesadilla stand out is the homemade chorizo filling! It’s made out of seitan, mushrooms, and walnuts and so many other spices to bring the chorizo to life.
And like I say all the time, a homemade tortilla brings things to a whole nother level. I made flour tortillas because I was too lazy to buy a pack, and truthfully they’re so easy to make it bothers me to buy it😂 And homemade versions are so easy and taste soooo much better!
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Combine flour, baking powder, and salt and mix well. Add oil and water and mix until just well combined and let rest in bowl with damp towel for at least 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, slice your dough into four and use a rolling pin to roll each piece of dough out into a thin circle.
Heat each tortilla until golden brown on a pan at low to medium heat.
Once both sides are cooked, cover one half of the circle with cheese, then chorizo, and then more cheese. Fold.
Cook on both sides until crispy and the cheese is melted. Serve.
This recipe is a must try simply because of how flavorful the chorizo is! You practically forget you’re not eating the real thing lol.
No but seriously, the combination of seitan, mushrooms, and walnuts creates a very believable meat crumble. The addition of onion, garlic, and jalapeno creates a tone of freshness and the long list of spices brings the whole mixture to life. Apple cider vinegar creates a slight caramelization on the crumble.
Quesadilla With Vegan Chorizo
This chorizo can be made ahead of time for different types of meals such as quesadillas, tacos, tostadas, burritos, nachos, and so so so much more!
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Tostada is spanish for toasted, and in this recipe we are working with a corn tortilla that is fried, or toasted, to work as a plate for toppings.
Refried beans are one of my favorite ways to use black beans, though this refried beans is traditionally made with pinto beans. This recipe for refried beans is so quick and simple, and is tailored for dry beans instead of canned beans. Cooking with dry beans creates a richer flavor throughout the beans and the mixture itself, and you skip the canned bean flavor! Of course, you can make this recipe with canned beans, but in my opinion it all doesn’t come together the same way.
Vegan Tostada With Refried Beans & Chili Lime Seitan
Seitan is one of my favorite plant-based meat alternatives because it’s so versatile. The first time I had a tostada I was a few weeks ago when I was in Virginia. I went to this Mexican eatery called Lilly’s Little Mexico where I ordered tostadas de quinoa. It’s a fried homemade tortilla topped with refried beans, mexican quinoa, lettuce, queso fresco, and sour cream. It was sooooo good! It truly inspired me to make these tostadas at home!
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Vegan Tostadas With Refried Beans & Chili Lime Seitan
Homemade tostadas will top any tostada you've ever had.
“Refried
– 2 servings Easy Homemade Corn Tostadas
– 4 cups water
– 1/2 cup black beans, soaked
– 1/2 onion
– 2 cloves garlic
– 1/2 teaspoon cumin
– 1 sazon packet
– 1 cup cheese
– salt and pepper to taste
“Chili
– 2 seitan cutlets
– 1 lime, juiced
– 1 tbsp soy sauce
– 1/2 tsp chili powder
– 1 pinch sugar
– salt and pepper to taste
“Refried
1. Combine water, beans, onion, garlic, and sazon packet in a deep pot. Cook until beans are tender.
2. Using a large ladel or spoon, scoop bean mixture onto a pan at low to medium heat. Stir frequently.
3. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper and mash the mixture using a fork.
4. Once the mixture begins to thicken, add the cheese and continue cooking until desired consistency.
5. Combine tostada.
“Chili
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Put entire mixture onto oiled pan at low to medium heat and cook until seitan is crispy.
3. Combine tostada.
I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it again. Homemade tortillas hit different. And that goes for tostadas as well!
If you’ve never had a tostada let me put you on real quick. It’s essentially a raw corn tortilla fried in oil, making it crispy and kinda like a big, flat tortilla chip. You put toppings on it just like you would a taco and you enjoy! It’s absolutely delicious and the possibilities are endless with this one.
The first time I had a tostada I was a few weeks ago when I was in Virginia. I went to this Mexican eatery called Lilly’s Little Mexico where I ordered tostadas de quinoa. It’s a fried homemade tortilla topped with refried beans, mexican quinoa, lettuce, queso fresco, and sour cream. It was sooooo good! It truly inspired me to make these tostadas at home!
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Waffles are my favorite breakfast in the morning. They are so versatile and can be made in so many different ways. For this recipe I made strawberry waffles by pureeing one cup of strawberries and including them into the waffle mixture. By using this technique you can flavor your waffles with anything you want, and even make them healthier! Imagine pumpkin waffles, apple cider waffles, or banana waffles… the possibilities are endless.
The warm strawberry syrup adds extra goodness! My favorite way to cook these waffles is just long enough for the outside to be crispy but the inside be soft, and then pour the strawberry syrup while hot right before serving. If you love strawberries and waffles, then you should definitely try this recipe out.
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This better than take-out chilli chicken has a healthy twist! We are substituting the chicken for seitan. Seitan is made from wheat gluten. Wheat gluten is a food made from gluten, the main protein of wheat. It is made by washing wheat flour dough with water until all the starch granules have been removed, leaving the sticky insoluble gluten as an elastic mass, which is then cooked before being eaten. Or, you can buy vital wheat gluten flour and it works the same.
Seitan has a similar consistency as chicken when cooked properly, and if you get your flavors right you aren’t missing out on anything with this simple substitution. This recipe also works with tofu, tempeh, and pretty much anything that you can dredge.
Indo-chinese cuisine is is a distinct cuisine formed through the adaptation of Chinese seasoning and cooking techniques to Indian tastes. It’s a great combination of cultures, and I love experimenting with different cuisines. Skip take-out this week and try this chilli chicken recipe out!
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Brussel sprouts is one of those vegetables that a lot of people despise. I know this because I once was one of those people, until I gave brussels a true chance. In this recipe I show you a very different way to enjoy your brussel sprouts, with the unique addition of apples.
I know what you’re thinking, brussel sprouts and apples? No thanks. But this combo works surprisingly well together when glazed with sage and honey. I topped mine with parmesan because it adds a nice flavor profile and balances everything out.
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Ropa vieja is the national dish of Cuba, but is also enjoyed in Puerto Rico, Panama, Spain, and the Philippines. Many don’t know this, but ropa vieja originated in Spain. It literally translates to ‘old clothes’ and the story goes that a poor old man once shredded and cooked his own clothes because he could not afford food. He prayed over the bubbling concoction and a miracle turned the mixture into a tasty, rich meat stew.
While we don’t know how factual that story is, we do know that ropa vieja is over 500 years old and originated in the Iberian peninsula of Spain. The dish then traveled to the Americas with the Spanish people, where it became a staple dish across the Caribbean and Cuba.
The traditional recipe consists of shredded stewed beef with vegetables. I decided to try this traditional dish with a plant based meat alternative, in this case oyster mushrooms. The meat in this recipe is typically shredded or pulled, and you can achieve the same texture with an oyster mushroom.
To avoid squishy, soggy mushrooms, cook the mushrooms by themselves after they’ve been marinated for 15 minutes. While cooking, use a spatula to frequently press the mushrooms down on the pan. This helps the mushroom release excess water, resulting in a meatier mushroom.
I paired my ropa vieja with white rice, fried plantain, green beans, and sage honey glazed brussel sprouts and apples.
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This pasta salad will quickly become a favorite in your home. It’s refreshing, simple, and delicious!
You can really add as many veggies as you’d like to this pasta salad, but I just used what I had available. I’d love to give this recipe a try using carrots, pickled onions, artichoke, zucchini, mushrooms, and so so much more! Pasta salad is slightly underrated, since it does have so many possibilities.
You want to add your avocado last so that it doesn’t get too mashed up in your pasta salad. I love putting some everything bagel seasoning right over my avocado and salad. It adds another layer of taste and texture to the dish and is sodium free!
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This patacon was is so delicious and satisfying! It’s a creative and out-of-the-box way to use plantain!
I love eating plantains as a side but using plantains as the “buns” in this recipe was very different way to use this starchy vegetable I grew up eating throughout my childhood.
Plant based jibarito
A patacon, or a jibarito is a sandwich made with fried plantains as the buns and whatever you desire as the sandwich filling. Traditionally, with thin-sliced steak, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and cheese. Chicago restaurateur Juan “Peter” Figueroa introduced the jibarito at Borinquen Restaurant, a Puerto Rican restaurant in in 1996 after reading about a Puerto Rican sandwich created in Plátano Loco in 1991 substituting plantains for bread.
I filled mine up as a traditional jibarito but the variations are endless! I’m looking forward to doing many different recipes with this plantain-bun method.
Plantain
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Peel the plantain and cut once vertically and then once horizontally, so that you end up with 4 pieces.
Cook pieces in a deep pan with oil at low to medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or until slightly golden.
After 1-2 minutes, remove from pan and place on plate.
Place a plantain piece onto cutting board lined with parchment paper and use another cutting board lined with parchment paper to squish the plantain piece until flattened. Once flat set aside.
Repeat step 4 for each plantain piece.
Cook each plantain piece again until golden brown then remove from heat and allow any excess oil to drain.
Cook seitan slices in adobo and lemon juice until crispy. Taste for salt.
Assemble jibarito with 2 pieces fried plantian, ½ cup cooked seitan, letuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and avocado.
Gnocchi is a pasta made of potato. It’s kinda like a soft pasta dumpling. Take my word for it, it’s delicious. Truly one of a kind when it comes to noodle varieties.
This is my favorite kind of pasta because it’s so filling! But gnocchi weren’t always the delicate, fluffy pasta dumplings we know them as today. At first they existed with different ingredients like squash and breadcrumbs. But it didn’t become the potato dumplings we know today until the 16th century when potatoes were introduced to Europe.
Cooked Gnocchi in Pesto Sauce
This recipe for gnocchi is simpler than grain pasta recipes! You need to give it a try especially if you have never tried gnocchi before.
Making the gnocchi shape isn’t easy, so be sure to check out a video for a visual explanation of the technique. If making the shapes isn’t working for you, then you can just keep your gnocchi smooth!
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This recipe is inspired by Greek dish called Keftedes. “Kofta is a family of meatball or meatloaf dishes found in the Indian subcontinent, South Caucasian, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Central Asian cuisines. In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls of minced or ground meat—usually beef, chicken, lamb, or pork—mixed with spices or onions.”
I decided to make my own version of these Keftedes in plant based version, that’s still delicious and full of flavor like traditional Keftedes.
Greek Meatballs Keftedes
This plant based meatball recipe is great because it yields a meatball that develops a crispy outside layer, making the texture more similar to a traditional meatball.
These koftedes developed great flavors and I have to admit it is because of this spice seasoning I picked up at the store.
Greek All Purpose Seasoning
These meatballs would work well with just about any bean, I just used black eyed peas because I like the color and the texture it provides in a vegan meatball.
I noticed that these meatballs are best the next day! I swear.
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I love cucumbers because they’re so fresh and crispy. However, and I hate to admit it, cucumbers get boring. Luckily, I have put together this smashed cucumber salad recipe for us.
This cucumber salad is originally a Sichuan recipe. They smash the cucumbers until it naturally separate into 3-4 spears, which disrupts its internal structure in an unnatural way leaving some areas completely intact and crisp, while reducing other areas tender. While smashed, it absorbs flavors much faster, making it particularly tasty.
This salad is a refreshing and flavorful way to enjoy a cucumber! Though this recipe is traditionally a bit spicy, you can use the smashed cucumber method with an unlimited kinds of dressings.I paired my salad with fried rice and vegan sesame chicken!
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Sesame chicken is a dish you’d find in a Chinese restaurant, however it is not a very authentic Chinese dish. You won’t find battered chicken coated in sweet sauce and tossed in sesame seeds in China. Instead, you’ll find another dish with similar flavor profiles called La Zi Ji. It’s an authentic Sichuan dish that has fried chicken breasts with peppercorns, toasted sesame oil, and chiles.
With that being said, the chances of you finding vegan sesame chicken in China are even slimmer. Matter of fact, the chances of you finding vegan sesame chicken in the USA are pretty slim. That’s why I’ve made this recipe, for people like us.
I used seitan as my protein in this recipe, however this recipe could work with mushroom, jackfruit, tofu, tempeh, etc… The possibilities with this recipe are endless!
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Fried rice has always been my favorite takeout treat, so I decided to make a vegetable stir-fry my way. This one has a bunch of fresh veggies and a plant based scrambled egg!
I used julienned carrots, scallions, and green peas in my vegetable fried rice. You can use any and as many vegetables as you’d like, I just used what I had on hand.
Asian culture is more vegetable focused, with dishes developing from produce they had on hand to use up old ingredients. This was exactly the case when it came to the development of fried rice; it’s a dish made to incorporate leftovers. If you were to order fried rice in a restaurant now you’d be given the option of several proteins, whereas traditionally this dish was created to incorporate whatever leftovers were lying around.
I substituted the egg in a traditional fried rice with vegan mung bean egg. I have a recipe for it here. It works just as a scrambled egg mixture would.
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Better than takeout stir-fry with fresh vegetables & plant based scrambled egg.
Ingredients
½ carrot
½ cup cooked green beans
1 scallion
¼ cup vegan yellow split pea egg
2 cups cooked rice
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp water
½ tsp all purpose seasoning
½ tsp ginger powder or 1 inch fresh ginger
½ tsp garlic or 2 cloves fresh garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
In a large pan, cook vegan egg until it is a scrambled consistency.
Add vegetables and fresh aromatics and cook for a minute and then add rice.
Add the remaining ingredients all at once except the water and the soy sauce. You want to slowly add these two liquids as your frying and stirring your rice.
Check for salt and pepper at this point. Once liquid is absorbed take pan off the heat and serve.
Creamy, crunchy, classic vegan chicken caesar salad.
Lately, I’ve had a deep love for wraps. They are just so fresh and satisfying, and you can fill them up with whatever your heart desires. In this recipe I’m going to show my method for making vegan mushroom chicken, vegan caesar dressing, and homemade croutons.
The chicken in this caesar wrap is imitated with diced mushrooms coated in my buttermilk fried chicken dredging mixture, and then fried on low to medium heat.
Mushrooms do carry a distinct flavor to them, however when coated in a crispy flavored breading and combined with the flavors from the dressing, mushrooms work great in this recipe to substitute chicken.
*Update* This buttermilk fried mushroom chicken has been approved by non-vegans.
The dressing is made up mainly of cashews. If you are allergic to nuts, this could also work with the canned chickpeas, or any type of white bean. Vegan mayonnaise would also work well in this recipe.
You can replace the romaine lettuce for kale, spinach, or arugula for a more nutrient dense wrap. A great idea would be to make a spring mix of lettuce, kale, and spinach so you get a great combination of nutrients.
Homemade croutons are exceptionally better than anything you could buy at the store. Why? Besides the key level of freshness, these croutons have no preservatives or nasty weird chemicals.
But really, these are snack worthy. I took the liberty to add some fresh herbs from my garden, like basil and parsley, on top of the dried herbs required for the recipe. You can also replace the butter with olive oil if you prefer.
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Creamy, crunchy, classic vegan chicken caesar salad.
Vegan Chicken Ingredients
– 1 cup mushrooms
– ½ cup vegetable oil
– 1 cup wet dredging mixture from Vegan Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe
– 1 cup dry dredging mixture from Vegan Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe
Dressing Ingredients
– ¼ cup cashews
– 1 teaspoon capers
– 1 teaspoon mustard
– 3 tablespoons water
– ½ lemon juice
– ½ teaspoon nutritional yeast
– salt and pepper to taste
Crouton Ingredients
– 3 slices sandwich bread
– ¼ cup melted butter
– ½ teaspoon garlic powder
– ½ teaspoon onion powder
– ½ teaspoon parsley
– ½ teaspoon oregano
– ½ teaspoon basil
– salt and pepper to taste
Wrap Ingredients
– 4 tortilla wraps
– 1 head romaine lettuce
Vegan Chicken Directions
1. Dice mushrooms and set up both wet and dry dredging mixtures.
2. Coat mushrooms in dry mixture, then wet mixture, then back to dry mixture.
3. Fry mushrooms on pan filled with vegetable oil at low to medium heat until both sides are golden brown.
Dressing Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Croutons Directions
1. Mix all ingredients except bread.
2. Dice bread into desired size.
3. Place bread on baking tray and evenly spread mixture over bread and mix evenly.
4. Place in oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, mix, and then bake again for 5-7 minutes.
Wrap Directions
1. Combine lettuce, dressing, croutons, and fried mushrooms.
2. Place ¼ of the salad onto a wrap and fold.
3. Repeat step 2 for the 3 remaining wraps.
4. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Per Serving: 1198 calories; 98.5 g fat; 62.1 g carbohydrates; 19.9 g protein; 164 mg cholesterol; 875 mg sodium.
This recipe will work on anything that you can dredge, batter, and fry!
I chose Seitan because in my opinion it’s the closest to chicken texture, and I created vegan popcorn chicken. I could’ve kept my Seitan cutlet whole instead of dicing it to make a chicken sandwich or crispy chicken parmesan. I could’ve used chickpeas to make nuggets or vegan drum sticks and used this recipe for the batter. What I’m trying to say is, this recipe can help you make a variety of dishes.
The buttermilk in this recipe is made by mixing plant based milk with vinegar, in this case I chose apple cider vinegar but you can use white vinegar too. We’re using buttermilk in this recipe because it adheres best to our vegan protein, kinda in the similar manner egg does in the original dredging process, resulting in an evenly battered, crispy “chicken”.
I fry using vegetable oil, but feel free to use any oil you typically fry with. I have not tried this recipe baked but now that I’m thinking of it it sounds very interesting!🤔 Check back for an update…
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Mac and cheese was everyone’s childhood favorite. But the type I personally grew up eating was the kind with the powdered cheese… I wonder what exactly is in powdered cheese… Well I’m just glad those days are behind me now!
Alternatively, I would eat the mac and cheese made with 100% diary products like butter, milk, and cheese. And we all know that dairy products are the top source of saturated fats in an american diet, it’s not meant for our species to consume, and I mean have you seen the dairy industry? No thanks. Luckily, these dark days are also behind me.
Vegan Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese
Nowadays, I eat the type of mac and cheese made with vegetables. This mac and cheese is made with a roasted butternut squash and is so so creamy! It’s so simple to make; all you need is a butternut squash, some basic pantry items, some spices, and noodles!
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Freshness in every bite. These vegan carne asada tacos are so delicious and the homemade corn tortillas take this dish to another level.
I love eating Mexican food, it is my favorite cuisine! So you know I had to recreate the classic carne asada corn tortilla tacos using 100% plant based ingredients.
In place of the beef for my carne asada, I am using seitan. It is a high-protein vegetarian food made from cooked wheat gluten that coincidentally has a similar texture to meat (if you cook it the right way).
Vegan Carne Asada Corn Tortilla Tacos
I highly recommend making your corn tortillas at home rather than buying the store version because it really does make a difference.
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Soft corn tortillas, tender vegan carne asada, and fresh toppings is all you need for great tacos.
Vegan Carne Asada Ingredients
– 1 cup diced seitan
– 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
– 1 tablespoon soy sauce
– 2 limes
– 2 garlic cloves
– ¼ teaspoon cumin
– 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
– ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
– ¼ red onion for garnish optional
Corn Tortilla Ingredients
– 2/3 cup masa harina
-1/2 cup hot water
-½ teaspoon salt
Vegan Carne Asada Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and marinate for at least 1 hour
2. After an hour, throw everything in the bowl into a pan at medium heat.
3. Cook until all the liquid is evalorated and the seitan is to your desired crispiness.
4. Remove from heat and assemble corn tortilla tacos.
Corn Tortilla Directions
1. Combine masa harina, salt, and hot water with a fork at first and then proceed to use your hands to combine the ingredients.
2. Once you have a dough ball that resembles play dough texture, not to wet and not too dry, put it in a bowl and cover it with a damp paper towel to rest for 15 minutes.
3. After 15 minutes, rip apart a 1½ ball and place in between two pieces of parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough ball in one direction and then in the perpendicular direction, keeping your dough even. Once the dough is flat, use a circle bowl to cut out your tortilla.
4. Repeat step 3 for each tortilla.
5. Place the tortilla on a dry pan at medium to high heat. Cook the tortilla for 15 seconds, then flip and cook for 30 seconds.
6. Place tortillas covered in a kitchen towel for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Per Serving: calories; g fat; g carbohydrates; g protein; mg cholesterol; mg sodium.
I see so many french toast recipes using breads that nobody ever really has in their kitchen, at least not on a regular basis. So, I made it a mission to make the best french toast recipe that works on regular old sandwich bread (you know the kind that you always have and never really know what to do with).
Vegan French Toast
I’m using potato bread, but any type of bread works here. A good trick to avoid soggy french toast is to not allow the bread slice to fully be submerged in the mix. The dip should be a quick one, two, and you should allow any excess mix to drip off before placing the slice on the pan.
You also need to make sure that you have enough butter on your pan for each slice! That is the secret to perfectly golden french toast.
For extra crunchy french toast, cook the french toast until the edges are brown and allow to cool before serving.
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Hummus is truly one of a kind. Classic, healthy, and so delicious!
I always opt for dried chickpeas with my cooking, even though it is a bit more work than just going to the store and picking up a can of chickpeas. “Bisphenols are used in aluminum can linings to reduce corrosion. One bisphenol, BPA, has all the molecular characteristics of an obesogen, a term coined in 2006 to describe chemicals that potentially make us fatter. It enlarges fat cells, disrupts a protein that protects the heart called adiponectin, and functions as a synthetic estrogen. The latter means it can have sex-specific effects on growth and narrow the coronary arteries, increasing risk for coronary artery disease. Studies have shown you can reduce BPA levels by as much as two-thirds by avoiding canned foods – in just a few days’ time,” The Guardian. For this reason I choose to steer far far away from canned foods.
I soak my chickpeas overnight, and then I cook them on the stove for 1-2 hours. Like I said, it is a process. However, this way I’m not risking my life with an aluminum can and the finished product with dried chickpeas compared to canned chickpeas is 1000x better.
Once the chickpeas are cooked though, this recipe is super simple. 5 minutes and a handful of ingredients is all it takes to make a chickpea hummus that is significantly better than anything you’d ever buy at the store.
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When I first said I would stick to a plant based diet I thought about having to say goodbye to my favorite dishes… brown stew chicken.
Rice And Pigeon Peas With Vegan Brown Stew Seitan, Steamed Cabbage, And Okra.
But, I found a way to eat this dish without any of the guilt! Replace the chicken with a vegan option. In this case we’re using seitan, but you can use anything you want for your brown stew.
Thank you for reading my recipe, if you decide to try it out tag me on instagram @breakthrukitchen. Be sure to subscribe down below to get notified when I post more recipes like this!
