egg free

Balsamic Roasted Vegetables + a Giveaway

balsamic roasted vegetables

I remember when I first fell upon Meghan’s website.  It was right after I’d fully stepped into trying to be healthier with my food choices. Making smoothies almost daily, adding more plants to my plate and the like. I had decided on a whim that I was going to do a raw (read: cold) food challenge. For one month. During February (read: coldest month of the year here in Canada). It wasn’t one of my wiser decisions, but I worked it out. :)

 

About 2 weeks in, I read somewhere that Demi Moore ate only 75% raw and I was like, ‘ohmygosh, I have options.' So needless to say, the last few weeks of my month-long raw food challenge during the coldest month of the year, in Canada, turned into making sure there was at least one serving of raw something with every meal. 

 

Anyhow, as I searched for recipes and inspiration for said self-induced challenge, I fell upon Meghan’s site. I read a bit of her story and it resonated with me. Her falling seriously ill in Africa was me in Paris. Her dealing with countless doctors (and no solid answers), causing her to take a key role in managing her autoimmune disease, was mine too. Her working in a field that didn’t speak to her was also me. And, and, and…..the rest is history. I ended up taking a culinary nutrition program at her nutrition school and later became one of her program coaches.

 

Fast forward to today. Meghan was kind enough to send me two copies of her latest book, The Undiet Cookbook. This book is for you if you wanna add more plants onto your plate without compromising on flavour. It’s a plant-based, gluten-free book with 130 recipes displayed with loads of vibrant photos. All hoping to inspire you in the kitchen.

 

What I enjoy about Meghan’s recipes are they’re simple to prepare with often a short list of easy to find ingredients. It’s a beautifully designed book with everything you need to get you through your day - breakfast, drinks, condiments, mains, sides, and of course, dessert. 

 

I’m keeping one book for myself, but I’m giving away the second one. Right here. Today.

balsamic roasted vegetables

I’m also sharing one recipe from this gorgeous book here with you - Balsamic Roasted Vegetables. Such a great way to use up the heartier winter vegetables. Because when it’s cold outside sometimes you want something warmer than a salad on your plate (case in point - my story above). ;)

 

The Giveaway

*TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY* of Meghan Telpner’s The Undiet Cookbook, please leave a comment below (be sure to include your email addy in the comment form) telling me about your favourite plant-based meal or dish. Contest closes 6pm EST Friday, November 20, 2015. One winner will be selected at random. (Contest is open to those with a Canadian mailing address only.) xx

balsamic roasted vegetables
balsamic roasted vegetables

 

Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 40-45 minutes

Serves 4–6 as a side

 

Ingredients

  • 4 beets, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 4-5 loose cups Brussels sprouts, ends cut off, outer peel removed, and cut in halves or quarters
  • 3 cups shredded cabbage
  • 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, avocado oil, or organic ghee
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)

 

Make It Like So

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Place all the veggies, including the onion and garlic, in a large mixing bowl and toss with the oil and salt. Transfer to a glass roasting pan or a parchment-lined cookie sheet and roast for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and mix in the balsamic vinegar, and stir vegetables around. Sprinkle the walnuts over top and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the veggies are tender.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

Excerpted from The UnDiet Cookbook: 130 Gluten-Free Recipes for a Healthy and Awesome Life by Meghan Telpner. Copyright © 2015 Meghan Telpner. Published by Appetite by Random House, a division of Random House of Canada Ltd., a Penguin Random House Company. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

 

My cooking notes on this dish:

If you can tolerate walnuts, add them in. For me, they made the dish. They give a good crunch against the softness of the vegetables.

Ghee was the winner for me in terms of fat. The rich flavour of ghee can’t be beat in my opinion. I used avocado oil one time as well. Also good. I didn't have the chance to use coconut oil but I’m sure it works well here too.

 

A Word on Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is one that I love. I’ve become a bit of a purist with it, or rather a purist with a budget. I like the consistency to be slightly thick, with a taste slightly more sweet than it is vinegary.

 

To get this type of balsamic vinegar, look for a really short ingredient list. One with only two items - grape must and wine vinegar. (Ideally in that order too.) If grape must is the first ingredient, it’ll taste slightly more sweet and be a touch more viscous than if grape vinegar is the first ingredient. 

 

Cheaper balsamic vinegar varieties will include other ingredients. Ingredients like gums, flavours and colouring. These are added to create the must-like consistency and colour. If gluten-free is your goal, make sure whatever balsamic vinegar you choose is without caramel colouring.  This colouring is often made from a barley malt, making it not gluten-free. 

Socca - The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Alternative

socca - my favourite pizza alternative

It’s quick, it’s easy and incredibly versatile. 

 

This is one of my staple recipes. It works year-round and makes putting together a meal or snack feel effortless. 

 

If you've not heard of socca, allow me to introduce you.

 

Socca is a flatbread from the south of France. It’s France’s version of take away or street food. It’s a chickpea flour based pancake that’s traditionally baked in a wood-fired oven at outdoor markets. It’s often served on its own with a drizzle of olive oil. 

 

I originally fell upon this recipe by David Liebovitz a few years ago.  And I’m so thankful because socca is a recipe I turn to often. I love it for a few reasons. Initially, I was won over by the few simple ingredients it takes to pull this together. And, it’s such an easy recipe. Just a little bit of whisking, some time left to let sit, a few minutes at the stove, and voilà, a meal or snack is ready in under 10 minutes.

 

It’s the perfect solution to end an afternoon of errands. I often make the batter before I step out for an afternoon. By the time I'm back home, it’s ready to go. I’ve even left the batter overnight, because let’s be honest, sometimes life happens. And it’s still great the next day. If you do leave the batter overnight, cover it tightly and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. 

 

My version uses socca as a pizza base of sorts. The recipe below produces a slightly more chewy and less crispy pizza base. I load this base up with toppings, so it feels more like a meal or hearty snack. Add a side salad and you have dinner. The combination of toppings are limited only by your imagination. Some of my favourites are:

  • thinly sliced avocado
  • microgreens
  • sauteed onions 
  • sauteed mushrooms
  • kale or spinach
  • goat’s cheese
  • thinly sliced tomatoes
  • fresh basil
  • pesto. This pesto recipe or that pesto recipe work really well

 

Pictured, I used microgreens, kale, sauteed onions + chanterelle mushrooms, with a fresh grinding of pepper. In a word - delish. 

socca - the best gluten-free pizza alternative

 

I’ve experimented with this recipe over the years and tried many spices + herbs, from cumin to minced garlic to smoked paprika. Chives was the winner for me and that's what I’m sharing with you today. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

 

I’ve also played with cooking methods + times. I always go back to the softer, slightly chewier version over the more traditional crispy texture. This softer, chewier version also lends itself to being used as a wrap, which I quite like. 

socca - the best gluten-free pizza alternative


When making this, the batter will be very liquid. It will firm up quickly into a pancake within minutes on the stove. 


Socca

inspired by David Lebovitz

makes three 9” socca pizza bases or four 6” socca pizza bases

1 cup chickpea flour

1 cup water

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided

1 1/4 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped

3/4 tsp Himalayan salt


How to:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together chickpea flour, water, 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, chives and salt
  • Set batter aside to rest, lightly covered for at least 2 hours
  • In a cast-iron skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat
  • For larger socca, pour enough batter into skillet to cover the base. For smaller socca, pour about 1/3 cup of batter into hot skillet
  • After about 3 minutes, when bubbles surface on batter and the edges start to become crispy, flip the socca over using a spatula. After about 1 minute, remove from skillet
  • Repeat with the remaining batter, adding the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet as needed
  • Keep cooked soccas in a warm oven while cooking the remaining batter
  • Serve hot with desired toppings

Note: If using cheese as a topping, place loaded socca on a baking sheet in a 425F preheated oven for about 5 minutes until cheese has melted. 

Has this recipe inspired you? I'd love to know what combinations you’ve come up with in comments below.