Korean BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

2–3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 inch ginger, grated 

1/3 c. gochujang

1/4 c. mirin

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 tbsp. sesame oil

1 tbsp. soy sauce

2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar

1 tbsp. fish sauce – optional but it really brings it together

1 tbsp. avocado oil

Directions

Over a low simmer, add the avocado oil, garlic and ginger and cook long enough to soften, no more than 2 minutes. Next, add the remaining ingredients and let simmer over low heat for 10 minutes to combine. Remove from heat until ready to use. 

Sheet Pan Cheeseburger Veggies with Garlic Mayo Dressing

Vegan Richa calls this "Cheeseburger" because the flavors mimic those of a fast food burger. 

Ingredients

For the Veggies:

2 c. cubed sweet potatoes or squash
7 oz. firm tofu, pressed and cubed into 3/4 inch cubes
1-15 oz. can chickpeas
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red onion, coarsely chopped
1/2 to 1 c. seasonal veggies of choice such as broccoli or cauliflower
3 to 4 tbsp. sunflower seeds

For the Cheeseburger Dressing:
1 tbsp. oil
2 tsp. soy sauce 
2 tsp. vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. oregano
3 tbsp. barbecue sauce
1 tsp. prepared mustard
2 tbsp. ketchup
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

For the Garlic Mayo Dressing
1/3 c. vegan mayo
1 tsp. vinegar
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. ground mustard
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions
Chop all of your veggies. Line or grease a large baking dish. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 

In a bowl, mix in all of the cheeseburger sauce ingredients until well combined. Reserve 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of this mixture to use later to drizzle on top. Add the chopped veggies, and toss well to coat with the cheeseburger sauce mixture, until evenly coated. You can do this a day or two in advance. I like to put my veggies and the sauce into a Ziploc and toss occasionally. 

Drop this mixture into the prepared baking dish, and spread it out into a single layer. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender to preference, and everything else is starting to get gold and crisp. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top in the last 5 to 10 mins of baking. 

To make your garlic mayo dressing, blend all the ingredients until well combined, taste and adjust flavor by adding more vinegar or salt.

Serve individual portions of the veggie tofu bean mixture, and drizzle the mayo on top. Thin out the reserved cheeseburger sauce with a tsp or two of water, and drizzle that as well. Top with some red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs of choice, and serve. You can also serve the tofu veggie mix over a bed of fresh lettuce!

Serves 4.

1 serving = 490 calories

Okonomiyaki with BBQ Sauce & Sesame Asparagus

Ingredients
3 scallions
2 garlic cloves
1 oz. fresh ginger
1 carrot
6 oz. asparagus (or other green vegetable)
¾ cup + 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
8 oz. shredded green cabbage
1 tbsp. tuxedo sesame seeds
2 tbsp. vegan mayo
2 tbsp. Asian-style BBQ Sauce
1 tbsp. Sriracha
vegetable oil
Salt and pepper

Directions
Thinly slice the scallions, keeping the whites and greens separate. Peel and mince the garlic and ginger. Shred the carrot on the largest side of a box grater. Trim about an inch off the ends of the asparagus.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, ¾ cup water, and a pinch of salt, and whisk until smooth. Add the sliced scallion whites, minced garlic, shredded carrot, and green cabbage. Stir with a spoon to combine. (The batter will be very thick.)

Heat a large nonstick skillet with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add half of the batter. Spread evenly into a ½ inch thick pancake and lower heat to medium-low. Cook until the bottom is browned, 4 to 6 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Return the skillet to medium-high heat with 1 tsp vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, add the minced ginger and asparagus. Cook, tossing occasionally, until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Divide okonomiyaki between large plates and drizzle with vegan mayo and BBQ sauce. Top with as much Sriracha as you’d like. Sprinkle with sliced scallion greens and serve with sesame asparagus.

1 serving = 490 calories

1 pancake = 220 calories

BBQ Chickpea Chopped Salad

Ingredients
15 oz. can chickpeas
2/3 c. BBQ sauce
1 large head romaine
1 c. corn (thawed, if frozen)
1-1/2 c. cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered or halved
1 c. shredded carrots
2-3 scallions, chopped

For the dressing: 1 avocado
1 c. milk, half-and-half, or other creamy drink
3 tbsp. lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
2 tsp. white wine vinegar
1-2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. dried dill
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. onion powder
Fresh chives

Salt to taste

DirectionsTo make the dressing, combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.

Rinse and drain chickpeas. In a saucepan over med-low heat, simmer chickpeas in the BBQ sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, chop the romaine, tomatoes, and scallions. Place in a bowl with corn and carrots. Toss to combine. When ready to assemble, distribute the salad into bowls, toss with desired amount of dressing, and top with BBQ chickpeas.

Makes 2 to 3 large salads.

Barbecue Buttermilk Onion Rings

Ingredients

2 tbsp. barbecue sauce

1 tbsp. hot sauce

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1 large sweet yellow onion

2 c. buttermilk

2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1 qt. vegetable, canola or peanut oil for frying

NOTE: Consider using leftover buttermilk mixture for biscuits the next day!

Dipping Sauce

1/2 c. sour cream

3 tbsp. buttermilk

2 tbsp. barbecue sauce

1 tsp. hot sauce

two pinches salt

2 tbsp. fresh chives, slices tiny

Directions

Cut of the bottom and top end of the onion. Remove the skin and slice onion into rings as thick as you like. Separate the rings and place in a large bowl. Save the small onion insides for a salad or something.

Mix onions, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper until the onion rings are well coated. Top with buttermilk and submerge all of the rings. Allow to rest for 15 minutes while you assemble the flour and dipping sauce.

In a different large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, paprika and ground pepper.

In a medium sized, heavy bottom pan fit with a fry thermometer, begin to heat the oil to 360 degrees over medium heat.

Assemble the dipping sauce by whisking together sour cream, buttermilk, barbecue sauce, hot sauce and salt. Sprinkle in a big teaspoon of fresh chives and place in the fridge while you fry the onion rings.

Preheat oven to 150 degrees F and prepare a baking sheet with paper towels to soak up the excess oil.

Fry the onions in four batches. Using tongs, remove several rings from the buttermilk and dredge completely in the flour mixture. Carefully place in the fry oil once it reaches 360 degrees. Allow the onion to cook for a minute and a half before flipping. Each batch will take about three minutes. Once golden brown, remove from the oil and place on the paper towels. Let rest in the warm oven while you fry the rest of the batches. Note! Be sure to let the fry oil return to 360 degrees F before frying the second, third and fourth batches.

Enjoy immediately sprinkled with fresh chives with dipping sauce.

Buffalo Sloppy Joes

So, many of you detest our perky 30-minute meal genius, Rachael Ray. Nonetheless, Sherry K. recommended this recipe and it's fantastic! I love recipes that update vintage favorites with chic and edgy alterations.

Ingredients
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. ground chicken or turkey*
1 carrot, peeled and chopped or grated
2 stalks celery
1 Spanish onion, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
salt & freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 to 1/3 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1 cup chunky tomato sauce
1 cup chicken stock
8 high-quality burger rolls, split and toasted
1 cup blue cheese, crumbled
2 large dill pickles, chopped

Directions
Heat a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the meat and break it up with a wooden spoon, then cook for five to six minutes. Add the carrots, celery, onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper, then cook for 7 to 8 more minutes.

In a bowl, combine the vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, tomato sauce and stock. Pour into the pan and stir to combine. Simmer until the sauce thickens, about 30 minutes. Pile the sloppy joe filling onto the buns and top with blue cheese and chopped pickles.

*I have used ground beef, but you'll want to drain liquid before adding carrots, celery, etc. I also recommend using less salt overall, including low-sodium beef stock.

Savory Chocolate Barbeque Sauce

Some of you may have heard the rumor that I participated in a chocolate cookoff with Sky's family... this dark, intensely flavorful sauce won 1st place in three categories! While I served it over pork tenderloin, I'm anxiously anticipating some very special chicken wings to follow!

Ingredients
1 tbsp. butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ Spanish onion, diced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced small
1 ½ oz. dark brown sugar
3 tsp. chili powder
4 oz. apple cider vinegar
8 oz. of basic BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray’s)
14 oz. vegetable stock
¼ tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
2 oz. very dark chocolate (I used 1/3 of a bar of Lindt’s 70% cocoa)
2 tbsp. fresh, chopped cilantro
¾ tsp. salt
½ tsp. fresh, ground pepper

Directions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, and sauté until golden brown (or if you get impatient, translucent and starting to brown). Add tomatoes, stir, and sauté an additional five minutes. Add sugar and chili powder, mix well, and cook for five minutes. Add vinegar and reduce (on medium-high) for five minutes. By this point, the mixture should have a thicker, pasty consistency. Add BBQ sauce, stock, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, salt and pepper. Mix well. Bring to a boil and reduce to a slow simmer for 30 minutes. Add chocolate and cilantro and then allow to simmer for an additional five minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes to cool. At this point, you may choose to puree the sauce, but I like it better with the chunks of tomato and onion, etc.

Transfer to a clean container and cool. For best results, allow to refrigerate 12 hours before using.