soup Archives | Stephanie Dreyer

soup Archives | Stephanie Dreyer

April 3, 2019
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Homemade vegan ramen is a labor of love so I’m super excited about this Easy Vegan Miso Ramen that is ready in 5 minutes. Five minutes!!! Thanks to Trader Joe’s, you can put together this soup with just 5 ingredients. And if you have instant hot water like I do, all you need is 5 minutes to make this meal. Oh and it’s delicious…so so so good! It’s also very healthy and low calorie. Miso soup for everyone!

It all starts with the Vegan Instant Miso Ramen from Trader Joe’s. Yep, that’s right – instant soup! I use pre-cooked and pre-shelled edamame so it will take a little longer if you buy frozen. To make this recipe, you’ll chop your vegetables while the water boils or the soup steeps. Then, it all gets stirred together and this Easy Vegan Miso Ramen is served!

This is supposed to make 1 serving (which I eat all by myself every time), but realistically, this could easily serve 2 (or more if you’re serving it as a first course and not a meal). 

Vegan-Miso-Rame

Easy Vegan Miso Ramen

Ingredients

  • 1 container Trader Joe's Miso Ramen
  • 1 stalk baby bok choy chopped
  • 2 green onions sliced on the diagonal
  • 4 shiitake mushrooms sliced
  • 1/3 cup edamame beans shelled and cooked
  • Dash Trader Joe's Umami seasoning (optional)

Instructions

  1. Add boiling hot water to the contents of the Ramen cup along with the seasonings. (I toss the oil packet).

  2. While the soup steeps, prep the vegetables.

  3. After 5 minutes, stir in the vegetables, edamame and Umami seasoning, if using.

  4. Add more boiling water if desired. (I like to add a little more because the broth is so delicious.)

Vegan-Miso-Ramen


March 27, 2019
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I’m fairly new to the world of pressure cooking. I’ve become a fast fan of my Breville Fast Slow Pro! As a working mama with three meals to get on the table every day, this handy dandy appliance takes prep and cook times down to under 15  minutes. It’s my secret weapon on busy evenings or on nights when I’m working late. This Tofu Salsa Verde can be on the table in minutes!

I love the tangy goodness of tomatillos so salsa verde is one of my favorites. The super firm tofu from Trader Joe’s is perfect for this recipe. If you want things a little soupier, add another 1/2 cup of salsa or don’t drain your beans. 

I like to serve this with tortilla chips to scoop everything out of the bowl. Enjoy!

Tofu Salsa Verde

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 16-oz super firm tofu (such as Trader Joe's)
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 1/2 cups salsa verde
  • 1 can black beans drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 lime juiced and zested
  • 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice

To serve:

  • avocado sliced
  • lime wedges
  • cilantro chopped

Instructions

  1. Cube the tofu into bite-sized pieces.

  2. Add olive oil, onion, garlic, spices, broth, salsa, beans, corn, rice, lime juice and zest to the pressure cooker.

  3. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, then do a quick release of the pressure. It will take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure, then 5 minutes to cook.

  4. Remove lid and let rest for 5 minutes.

  5. Divide among bowls and top with cilantro, avocado and lime wedges.

Tofu-Salsa-Verde


March 19, 2019
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We all have our favorites and Beyond Meat and Kite Hill are two of my go-to plant-based brands. Beyond Meat is taking the plant-based meat world by storm and with good reason. I’ve used their Beefy Crumble to make tacos and chili, and their Beyond Meat burger to craft my grandmother’s Italian meatballs. Equally, Kite Hill is my cream cheese of choice – not only for schmearing on bagels but also for my homemade spreads and dips (especially this Caramelized Onion household fave).

In this Vegan Sausage, Kale and Ravioli Stew, Beyond Meat, and Kite Hill are a perfect pair. This isn’t the first time I’ve paired this dynamic duo. My Stuffed Ricotta Burger insists on Kite Hill’s ricotta for the filling and the Beyond Meat Burger for the surrounding patty.

In this recipe, Beyond Meat’s tasty sausage is the perfect complement to Kite Hills pasta pillows. I combined the two to make a hearty meal for when you want a bowl of comfort – and this Vegan Sausage, Kale, and Ravioli Stew is just that. Easy to make, but full of flavor, you’ll enjoy every last spoonful of this robust soup.

Sausage-Kale-Ravioli-Stew

Vegan Sausage, Kale and Ravioli Stew

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 package Beyond Meat Italian Sausage
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 8 cups kale chopped
  • 10 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 packages Kite Hill Spinach Ravioli
  • 1 can Great Northern Beans drained and rinsed
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook 3-5 minutes until translucent.

  2. Crumble in sausage and cook 5 minutes until "browned." 

  3. Stir in the broth, kale and Italian seasoning. Cook 10 minutes.

  4. Add in the ravioli and beans. Cook covered 4 minutes.

  5. Season with salt to taste.

Sausage-Kale-and-Ravioli-Stew

 


February 9, 2019
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Experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen is one of my favorite things to do! I didn’t intend to create a recipe when I was making this Rainbow Minestrone Soup. I was just “playing” at my stove, craving something warm and cozy. I threw a bunch of veggies together that sounded good and voila! This recipe for Rainbow Minestrone Soup was born.

I’m calling it Rainbow Minestrone Soup because it has all the colors of ROYGBIV: RED tomatoes, ORANGE + YELLOW carrots, GREEN spinach, and beans, and PURPLE cabbage (well, almost..BLUE stumped me!)

Vegan-Minestrone

When it comes to soup, I always start with onions and garlic. That’s actually the first step in most of my recipes! Quality ingredients are key so I insist on Imagine No-Chicken Chicken Broth and San Marzano tomatoes. These two ingredients really do make a difference in the taste of the recipe (in my opinion!).

I serve this Rainbow Minestrone Soup with freshly grated Violife Parmesan cheese and it’s heaven. A chunk of crusty Italian better would take this meal to nirvana! I hope you enjoy it. Tag me (#veegmama) if you do try it. I love seeing your versions of my recipes.

Vegan Sausage, Kale and Ravioli Stew

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 package Beyond Meat Italian Sausage
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 8 cups kale chopped
  • 10 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 packages Kite Hill Spinach Ravioli
  • 1 can Great Northern Beans drained and rinsed
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook 3-5 minutes until translucent.

  2. Crumble in sausage and cook 5 minutes until "browned." 

  3. Stir in the broth, kale and Italian seasoning. Cook 10 minutes.

  4. Add in the ravioli and beans. Cook covered 4 minutes.

  5. Season with salt to taste.

Minestrone-Soup

 


February 7, 2018
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This Jackfruit Noodle Soup recipe is the product of a lot of testing! I have been experimenting with jackfruit for about a year, ever since it started popping up in vegan recipes. Back then, I had to order it online. Today, you can find it at Trader Joe’s! Jackfruit is a fast-growing tropical Asian tree related to the breadfruit. It’s found mostly in India and has a texture that is similar to hearts of palm or artichoke hearts. It doesn’t smell fantastic or taste like much straight from the can, but once you rinse and flavor it, jackfruit is a fabulous substitute for shredded chicken, pork, or beef. You can find lots of recipes for it in vegan pulled pork, sloppy joe, and faux fish dishes. I have used it in enchiladas with great results, but have been hankering to try it as a chicken sub in the classic Chicken Noodle Soup.

The seasoned jackfruit is delicious on its own. I might make a batch in the future and use some of it in burritos or spooned over rice. I use two forks to shred it apart, which reminds me of what my mom used to do when she'd make shredded chicken for enchiladas. Yep, definitely going to have to try an enchilada recipe with the jackfruit!

My first attempt at this Jackfruit Noodle Soup was in a slow cooker with mediocre results. The jackfruit got too mushy and the seasonings weren’t right. I kept working at it, and found the best results came when I seasoned the jackfruit separately and added it at the end, right before serving. My Dutch oven also turned out to be the best way to make the soup instead of using a slow cooker.

The seasoned jackfruit is delicious on its own. I might make a batch in the future and use some of it in burritos or spooned over rice. I use two forks to shred it apart, which reminds me of what my mom used to do when she'd make shredded chicken for enchiladas. Yep, definitely going to have to try an enchilada recipe with the jackfruit!

The seasoned jackfruit is delicious on its own. I might make a batch in the future and use some of it in burritos or spooned over rice. I use two forks to shred it apart, which reminds me of what my mom used to do when she’d make shredded chicken for enchiladas. Yep, definitely going to have to try an enchilada recipe with this jackfruit!

The seasoned jackfruit is delicious on its own. I might make a batch in the future and use some of it in burritos or spooned over rice. I use two forks to shred it apart, which reminds me of what my mom used to do when she'd make shredded chicken for enchiladas. Yep, definitely going to have to try an enchilada recipe with the jackfruit!

I am finally pleased to share the fruits of my Jackfruit Noodle Soup labor with you! I shared it with my family and my kids  gave it a thumbs in the middle, while my husband gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up. I hope you’ll try it and let me know what you think. I want to give a special shout out to Denise B. for the encouragement with this recipe – you inspired me to keep at it. I hope you enjoy it!

Jackfruit Noodle Soup

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients

For the jackfruit:

  • 1 20- ounce can of green jackfruit in brine or water
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 ½ teaspoons oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup of water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the soup:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 large carrots diced
  • 2 stalks of celery diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 12 cups vegetable broth preferably Imagine No-Chicken Vegetarian Broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cups of rotini or other curly noodle
  • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and saute for 2-3 minutes until softened and slightly golden. Add in the garlic, thyme, oregano, and salt.
  2. Stir in the jackfruit, lemon juice and water. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat. Using a fork, smash and shred the jackfruit.
  4. While the jackfruit is cooking, heat the oil in a Dutch oven or medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The vegetables should be lightly browned and tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for one more minute, until fragrant.
  5. Add the broth, thyme, bay leaves, and salt. Bring to a boil and add the noodles. Cook about 12-14 minutes, until the noodles are al dente.
  6. Turn off the heat and remove the bay leaves. Stir in the jackfruit and parsley.

The seasoned jackfruit is delicious on its own. I might make a batch in the future and use some of it in burritos or spooned over rice. I use two forks to shred it apart, which reminds me of what my mom used to do when she'd make shredded chicken for enchiladas. Yep, definitely going to have to try an enchilada recipe with the jackfruit!

 

 

 


September 19, 2017
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This bean soup is one of my favorites and it pairs nicely with a light salad.  It is hearty, healthy, and packed full of protein with its wonderful medley of beans.  I use cannellini, kidney, black-eyed peas, black, garbanzo, lentils, and pinto in my mix. I like to top mine with a few fresh baby spinach leaves. They wilt deliciously into the hot soup. Enjoy!

Bean Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of dried beans, any mix you like (soaked overnight and rinsed)
  • 64 oz vegetable broth
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 cup carrot, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 can chopped canned tomatoes (drained)
  • Handful fresh spinach, optional
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a stock pot and saute onion, celery, carrot, basil and garlic until soft.
  2. Pour vegetable broth into pot, followed by the beans.
  3. Combine mixture and add remaining ingredients.
  4. Simmer covered for about 1 hour to desired tenderness. Add broth if liquid dissipates. Remove bay leaf.
  5. Salt and pepper to desired taste. Ladle into bowls and top with spinach leaves.

Easy Bean Soup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


September 19, 2017
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I love my slow cooker.  It makes cooking so easy – just pour all the ingredients into the pot in the morning and have a home cooked meal in the evening without any work or fuss.  I like to break out my crock pot on those days when I have back-to-back commitments all day, and am running my kids to and from activities.  This chili is a favorite in my slow cooker. Almost all of the ingredients are from my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe’s, and spiced spiced up with some of my favorites Penzey’s Spices seasonings.

 

Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

Ingredients

  • 1 can kidney beans , drained and rinsed
  • 1 can black beans , drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup quinoa , rinsed
  • 1 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes with green chiles (Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 jar , roasted garlic Chipotle salsa (Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 15 oz package fire roasted frozen corn
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons Adobo seasoning (Penzey’s Spices)
  • 1 teaspoon Chili 9000 seasoning (Penzey’s Spices)

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 8 hours.
  2. Top with vegan sour cream, cream cheese (I love Go Veggie!) or cheese shreds. Serve over polenta slices (optional).

Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


September 19, 2017
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Although our winter has been fleeting here in sunny Southern California, we have had a few cooler days here recently.  I always crave a warm cup of soup during those times and was inspired to reinvent an old non-vegan favorite. This Lentil Tomato soup is loaded with sweet tomatoes. The cumin and thyme flavors give it something a little extra special. Surprisingly, my husband who is not typically a tomato fan, loves this soup.  I always make an extra batch and freeze for later whenever I make it.

Lentil Tomato Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 cup brown lentils
  • 2 yellow onions , chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 celery stalks , diced
  • 3 carrots , diced
  • 1 1/2 quarts vegetable stock
  • 2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes , 1 drained
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons red wine
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.
  2. In a large stockpot, heat the oil and saute the onions and garlic. Stir in the salt, pepper, thyme and cumin.
  3. Add the carrots and celery and saute 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender.
  4. Add the vegetable stock, tomatoes, and juice from 1 can, along with the tomato paste and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes until the lentils are cooked through.
  5. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, topped with avocado (optional).