Recipe: Veggie Stew with Pearl Barley

I bought this cook book "Vegan for Lazies" when I was on vacation this fall, so I wanted to show you the first recipe I tried out:

Winter is just around the corner, so I opted for an easy veggie stew with pearl barley and smoked tofu.

 You need:

• 650 ml water (about 2 3/4 cups)
• 2 garlic cloves
• salt 
• balsamic vinegar
• 80 g pearl barley (1/2 to 1/3 cup)
• 1 leek
• 100 g smoked tofu (or any kind you like)
• 300 g frozen vegetables (I chose a broccoli- cauliflower-carrot mix)
• 1 teaspoon hot mustard
• 3 tablespoons chives
• any seasonings and herbs you like

Cook the water.
Press one of the garlic cloves and add to water.
Season with salt and balsamic vinegar (I added a little vegetable stock powder, because I thought there isn't enough flavor to it).
Add pearl barley, cover and let it simmer for about 15 minutes on low temperature.
Clean and cut leek into thin rings and dice tofu.
Add to pearl barley along with frozen veggies.
Bring to a boil again, cover, and let it simmer for another 10 minutes.
In between, add the other pressed garlic clove.
Add mustard, chives, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, and any other seasonings to your taste.

 And there it is! I gotta admit, it isn't the best looking meal I've ever cooked (that's why I added this sparkling effect thingy to the picture), but it was really tasty and I'm definitely gonna make this again during the colder months.
What's your favorite winter meal?

xx Nina

Product Review: Soy Bolognese

There it is - the result of my Soy Bolognese experiment! As you may remember, I received this product in my "Vegan Box" of September, so I gave it a try...

First, it was just a dry mixture of soy protein, tomato powder, natural aroma, sea salt, vegetables components, spices, and herbs. All you have to do is to add water and let it cook 20 minutes. Then, you can add whatever you think belongs to a perfect bolognese.

I went for a classical Italian style bolognese sauce and added a carrot and a red pepper to it. At the end, I sprinkled a bit of the Jeezano vegan parmesan on top. Btw, I used gluten free spaghetti which are made out of rice and corn flour. 

DE: So, nochmal etwas detaillierter auf deutsch, denn ich glaube kaum, dass die "Farmitra Soja Bolognese" in Amerika bzw. in vielen anderen Ländern erhältlich ist. Nun, während ich das trockene Halbfertigprodukt für 20 Minuten gekocht habe (bis sich die Sojastückchen mit Wasser vollgesogen haben), habe ich ein bisschen geschnippelt: Eine Zwiebel, eine Paprika, eine Möhre, drei Knoblauchzehen. Diese Zutaten werden in etwas Pflanzenöl angebraten und nach ein paar Minuten eine Dose geschälte Tomaten hinzugegeben (als Alternative gehen auch passierte Tomaten oder Ketchup). Dies einige Minuten köcheln lassen und würzen (Ich benutze da immer von allem etwas: Salz, Pfeffer, Paprika, Basilikum, Oregano - und Sambal Oelek für etwas mehr Schärfe). Wenn das Soja-"Gehackte" fertig ist, dieses auch mit in die Pfanne geben und verrühren. Wer mag, kann auch noch ein paar Röstzwiebeln hinzufügen, ich habe das gemacht, weil mir die Zwiebeln ausgegangen sind und mir eine Zwiebel zu wenig war, aber habe Röstzwiebeln in der Sauce für gut befunden. Nochmals abschmecken und fertig ist das Festmahl! Die Packung reicht für 4-5 Portionen (wenn man die Bolognese also eintuppert und in den Kühlschrank stellt, hat man die nächsten Tage auch noch was davon).

plate IKEA / apron who the hell wants to know this?! 

To end this post, here's a beautiful, hungry, model-like, "I'm-so-fancy-I-don't-eat-spaghetti-with-a-fork-and-a-spoon-but-with-a-fork-and-a-knife" picture. See you next time!

xx Nina

Series: Vegan through Cologne - Well Being

I decided to do a little series over a unspecific period of time in which I visit different vegan restaurants/restaurants with vegan options in and near Cologne, and review them. Last month, I've been to the Vietnamese vegan restaurant "Well Being". 100% fresh made, 100% vegan, 100%
without flavor enhancers.

The inside looks very neat and cozy. There are tables for 2-8 people, as well as a bar. There is not a lot space though and because the "Well Being" is quite well-patronized, you should order a table in advance.

The food, oh the food! So delish! I've been there with a really good friend of mine, Mira-Belle, and we shared four appetizers, so that we could try a bit of everything.
We had (from top to bottom):
Kim Chi 
usually fermented, seasoned cabbage, spicy!
Summer Rolls 
with peanut-sauce
Miso Soup
with tofu, seaweed, and spring onion (my personal fave)
Bò Bía Rolls
with HoiSin-peanut sauce (pretty similar to summer rolls)

And of course, we ate it all!
The prices are really affordable too, all together it was only 14.80€ (drinks and tip excluded)!
The main dishes cost about 8.50€ each, and you can even make your own spring rolls if you want. Everyone should find something they like:  raw, gluten free, cold, warm, spicy, sweet, rice, noodles, rice noodles, veggies, tofu, soups, and so on and so forth.

That's us, full, happy, and not able to take a halfway normal photo.

Address Brabanter Str. 9, 50674 Cologne (near Rudolfsplatz)
Website Click here

I hope you liked this little review-kind-of-thing, and might try this place - or got inspired to look for some vegan restaurant near you. See you next time!

xx Nina

Recipe: Vietnamese Coconut Curry Rice with Vegetables and Tofu

I just love Asian Food...

You need (4 servings):

300 g Natural Rice/Brown Rice, cooked
125 g Smoked Tofu
1 can (400 ml) Coconut Milk
1 Eggplant
1 Zucchini
3 Carrots
1 (Red) Onion
Curry, Salt & Pepper

1. Cut the carrots, the zucchini, and the eggplant in stripes. Mince the onion.

2. Take a wok or a large pan, and add onion as well as your cut vegetables. Sauté until the onion gets translucent and the veggie stripes crisp.

3. Add the coconut milk and season with salt, pepper, and curry powder. Cook on low heat.

4. Roast the smoked tofu until it is gold-brown.

5. Add the cooked rice, stir, and turn off the heat.

There it is:

Enjoy!

I hope you liked the recipe. More to come!

xx Nina