Ingredients

Mujadara

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced
• 1 cup jasmine rice, cooked
• 1 cup French (small brown) lentils, cooked
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, ground
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• A couple fresh sprigs of cilantro or parsley, chopped

Preparation

1. In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, cumin, cayenne, and cinnamon. Continue cooking until the onions caramelize and are slightly crisp, about 20 minutes.
2. Remove about half the onions and set aside for garnish. Add cooked rice and lentils to the remaining onions.  Saute, stirring frequently, until all the ingredients are incorporated and warm, about three minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Garnish with remaining caramelized onions, lemon juice, and chopped cilantro or parsley.

Having trouble thinking up plans to treat Mom for Mothers’ Day (it’s coming up very soon – May 12)?  How about preparing a nice picnic lunch at your local city or state park to enjoy the nice spring weather!  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Division has put up some resources for to help plan your picnic in Texas State Parks.  TPWD has even put together a page of picnic-friendly recipes, two of which from yours truly at Coseppi Kitchen!

Have a picnic in the park!

If  you’re not in Texas, check your local state parks agency to find information about utilizing your local resources to have a great time outdoors!

Austin Bakes is a citywide bake sale benefiting recovery efforts in West, Texas after the terrible fertilizer plant explosion that happened there on April 17.  Home and professional bakers from around Austin will provide treats for the bake sale, happening at 8 locations (see flyer attached to this post) around town from 10AM until 2PM this Saturday, May 4. To get involved, visit www.austinbakes.com. Donations are also being accepted at FirstGiving before and during the bake sale.

Austin Bakes for West

Portabella LT Sandwich

April is national BLT month. Field and Feast is celebrating with an interesting series of podcasts highlighting each ingredient, but we decided to go in a different direction and create three simple sandwiches that are just about as easy to make but are vegan friendly.

The BBQ Tempeh LT uses a quick spicy BBQ sauce to flavor tempeh, a traditional Indonesian sprouted soy bean cake. The Tofu LT spruces up sliced tofu with a gluten-free breading. The Portabella LT is probably the simplest – just saute some mushroom slices and it is delicious!

To make these delicious sandwiches we bought a fresh loaf of white bread made by Simon Perez of Baked in Austin. Mr. Perez currently bakes and sells at Salt and Time — making this a rare occasion when this blog will recommend that a vegan shop at a butcher’s!

17th Real Ale Anniversary Party!

James and I have not missed a Real Ale Anniversary Party since we moved to Austin. Every year we get a group of friends together to go out, prepare a picnic, and brave the heat to drink some great beers at one of Texas’ pioneering craft breweries.

This year we didn’t have to brave the heat, because instead of July, Real Ale decided to host the annual party in April! As soon as we got the announcement about the party we reserved a campsite at Blanco State Park. Blanco may have the tiniest park in Texas, but what it lacks in hiking it makes up for in location. The park is right downtown in Blanco and only a short two-mile walk to the brewery.

As much as we love drinking great beer with friends on a beautiful weekend, we also love cooking, especially cooking out. This weekend we resurrected a few good old recipes including black bean veggie sausages and massage kale salad. We also made a few good new ones including grilled beets, chickpea “tuna” salad, and chimichurri basted skewers.

Ingredients

• 1 pound cylindra beets, boiled, peeled, and sliced lengthwise in 1/4 inch thick slices
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Marinate beets in lemon juice and oil over night.  
2. Prepare a grill to medium heat.
3. Place beet slices on the grill and cook until tender, flipping every two minutes or so to avoid burning.
4. When fork tender, 10 to 15 minutes, sprinkle with salt on each side and serve.

Chickpea Tuna Salad with massaged kale

Ingredients

• 2 cups chickpeas, cooked or canned
• 1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise substitute
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Fresh ground pepper and salt to taste

Preparation

1. Pulse chickpeas in a food processor or mash with a pastry cutter until coarsely ground.
2. Stir in vegan mayonnaise substitute and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  

Texas VegFest started last year and was a really well attended and fun event. This year I helped on Planning Committee for the Event and James will be working the JBG booth. Come say hi to us, take in some music, watch a cooking demo, listen to some great speakers, visit with vegan-friendly vendors from all over the country, and enter a raffle for some great prizes!

When: Saturday April 6

Time: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Location: Fiesta Gardens

Cost: Free! ($5 donations appreciated)

James makes the finishing touches on our Easter Lasagna.

For my family the only food we associated with Easter was candy– cheap chocolaty pastel candy. Easter Sunday we would have nice meal, but, since my Mom had no stomach for lamb, there was nothing more special than a little ham on the table which I avoided with a near religious fervor.

Until earlier today I had assumed that James’ family had a similar non-tradition, and if there was a tradition it had gone the way of all the other once-adored meat dishes. However, today while he was talking with his Grandfather, Baba, asked if we were making lasagna. Turns out, for some Italian American families the lasagna can symbolize the abundance of the occasion and the season, and a lasagna with spring vegetables, fresh ham, and boiled eggs is the ideal Easter entree.

James made lasagna noodles in the same way we made the ravioli dough earlier this year. For the filings we used Swiss chard, which is available in abundance now, and a pesto using the year’s first sweet basil.

Ingredients

• Prepared or homemade lasagna noodles.  If you are using prepared noodles, follow boiling instructions on box.  If using fresh or homemade noodles, you do not have to preboil them.

Sauce

Easter lasagna

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 quart whole tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• a handful of fresh basil, chopped

Swiss Chard Filling

•  1 bunch Swiss chard, ribbed and coarsely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 pound firm tofu
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Pesto Filling

• Three cups packed basil
• 1/2 cup raw almonds (or other tree nut)
• 1 clove garlic
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• salt to taste

Preparation

1. In a large sauce pot heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute mushrooms until their liquid is expressed.
2. Add onions, garlic, and carrots and continue to saute until the onions are soft and just beginning to brown.  
3. Add oregano and heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and balsamic vinegar and bring to a simmer. Reduce to medium-low heat and continue simmering until thick, about 20 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add basil and set aside.
6. To make the Swiss chard filling, combine ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
7. To make the pesto filling, combine basil, almonds, and garlic in the food processor. Drizzle with olive oil until the pesto processes. Continue blending until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Set aside.
8. To assemble the lasagna, add half of the sauce to the bottom of the lasagna dish. Top with one layer of noodles, then add half the Swiss chard filling and smooth over the noodles. Add a second layer of noodles then smooth the pesto on top. Add a third layer of noodles and top with the remaining Swiss chard filling. Top with a final layer of noodles then the remaining sauce.
9. Cover the dish with foil, then bake the lasagna at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.  Remove the foil, add a healthy dusting of grated parmesan cheese, then place back in the oven, uncovered, for 10 minutes more.
10. Let the lasagna cool for about  10 minutes, then serve!

This post is part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance’s 2013 City Guide.  Each year AFBA members contribute articles about Austin food and drink to the City Guide as a resource for locals and visitors to Austin.

Austin is a great place to find unique food trucks that serve creative food prepared with fresh (and even local) ingredients. Austin is also a pretty good town for vegetarians and vegans. Many, if not most, food trucks in Austin have vegetarian (and often vegan) options. This list sticks to those food trucks that are primarily vegetarian or vegan, rather than trying to list nearly every food truck in town (for that, check out Austin Food Carts).  Food trucks tagged with V and GF have vegan and gluten-free options available. If we missed any trucks or you have anything to say about our list, please comment or email us!

Arlo’s VGF

Vegan Comfort Food – Burgers, Tacos, and More

Usual Location: 1104 East 6th Street (at Cheer Up Charlie’s)

Website: http://arlostruck.com/

Twitter: @arlosaustin

Menu: http://arlostruck.com/menu/

Suggested Dish: Bac’n Cheeze Burger

Arlo’s Food Truck serves up some of the best vegan comfort food in the city, from a food truck or otherwise. Arlo’s makes all of their vegan patties in-house, and they aim to use locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible.  A great place to have some yummy vegan food while enjoying a drink or draft kombucha and listening to live music at Cheer Up Charlie’s.

Arlo’s Food Truck at Cheer Up Charlie’s (1104 E 6th Street)

Bananarchy VGF

Revolutionary Frozen Banana Desserts

Usual Location: 603 West Live Oak Street

Website: http://bananarchy.net

Twitter: @bananarchyatx

Menu: http://bananarchy.net/blog/menu-2

Suggested Dish: The Afternoon Delight

Choose a size, dip, and toppings to build your own frozen banana or select one of their specialty frozen banana creations.  Either way, you’ll be sure to satisfy the need for a cool snack on a hot Austin day. There’s always frozen bananas in the banana stand!

Capital City Bakery V

Austin’s Best Vegan Sweets

Usual Location: 1901 Rio Grande Street

Website: http://www.capitalcitybakery.com

Twitter: @CAPCITYBAKERY

Menu: http://www.capitalcitybakery.com/menu/

Suggested Dish: Blackout Cupcake

Capital City Bakery is a 100% vegan bakery food truck that has made quite a splash since opening.  It has been featured on the Cooking Channel’s Unique Eats and won the Best Vegan Sweets award in the 2012 Austin Chronicle. Get there early because they often sell out of their excellent cupcakes.

Conscious Cravings VGF

Wraps, Salads, and Smoothies

Usual Location: 1901 Rio Grande Street

Website: http://consciouscravingsaustin.com/

Twitter: @Consciouscrvngs

Menu: http://consciouscravingsaustin.com/Menu.html

Suggested Dish: Chimichurri Seitan Wrap

Conscious Cravings prepares satisfying vegetarian wraps, salads, smoothies, and sides using local and organic ingredients as much as possible.  Their offerings are generally quite healthful, and they take pride in preparing their tasty sauces in-house.  Conscious Cravings is a great place to stop and refuel with a healthy lunch.

Conscious Cravings

CoolHaus VGF

Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches on Chewy Cookies

Usual Location: 1104 E 6th St (but highly mobile with several trucks)

Website: http://eatcoolhaus.com

Twitter: @COOLHAUSATX

Menu: http://eatcoolhaus.com/menu

Suggested Dish: Salted Caramel on Double Chocolate

This fleet of imported food trucks from LA sport an ever-changing menu of ice creams and cookies.  Choose a cookie and ice cream flavor to craft your own ice cream sandwich, or just go for a bowl of the cold stuff. Crazy flavors, such as Balsamic Fig & Mascarpone, Spicy Pineapple & Cilantro, and Olive Oil & Rosemary, are joined by crowd favorites like Tahitian Vanilla and Coffee Oreo.

Guac N Roll VGF

Fresh and Unique Guacamole Made to Order

Usual Location: 3rd and Guadalupe

Website: http://www.guacnrollaustin.com

Twitter: @Guac_N_Roll

Menu: http://www.guacnrollaustin.com/#!the_truck/c21kz

Suggested Dish: The Saba O’Riley

This mohawk-sporting food truck specializes in very unique preparations of everyone’s favorite dip – Guacamole.  All the guacamoles are made fresh to order and served with warmed tortilla chips and your choice of house-made salsa. Guac N Roll also has a few non-guacamole-based dishes, including the only vegetarian posole (Mexican hominy soup) we’ve seen in Austin.

Guac N Roll (photo courtesy www.guacnrollaustin.com)

Moses Falafel VGF

Traditional Vegan, Gluten-Free Falafel

Usual Location: 610 W. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

Website: http://www.moses-falafel-austin.com/

Menu: http://www.moses-falafel-austin.com/menu/

Suggested Dish: Full Pita Falafel with Tahini and Schug

Moses Falafel is an unassuming little food truck that has surprisingly good traditional Israeli falafel prepared by one of the friendliest food truck proprietors in town.  The falafel pita comes with cucumber & tomato salad, hummus, lettuce, pickles, tahini and/or schug (spicy sauce!).  Moses Falafel also has falafel tacos, eggplant pitas, fries, baklava, and a refreshing mint lemonade.

Moses Falafel

Nomad Dosa VGF

Build-Your-Own Indian Rice-Lentil Crepes

Usual Location: 1603 South Congress Avenue

Website: http://nomaddosa.com

Menu: http://nomaddosa.com/menu.php

Suggested Dish: Mumbai Mash-ala with Cilantro Chutney and Sambar

Don’t know what a dosa is?  It’s “a freshly made, rice-lentil batter fermented, savory filling stuffed, crispy sourdough tasting, all your senses engaging wrap/crepe/thin pancake of deliciousness, healthiness and nourishment!”  Sound awesome? It is! Head down to Nomad Dosa to get a build-your-own crispy or soft dosa with your choice of filling, toppings, and sides, and wash it down with a delicious mango lassi.

Schmaltz V

A Vegetarian Take on Jewish Deli Classics

Usual Location: 913 E Cesar Chavez Street (behind Farewell Books)

Website: http://www.facebook.com/SchmaltzAustin

Twitter: @schmaltzaustin

Menu: Check their chalkboard

Suggested Dish: “Harvey P” Seitan Pastrami Reuben and House-Made Pickles

Located in the small lot behind Farewell Books (previously Domy Books), Schmaltz makes excellent vegetarian (and often vegan) versions of classic Jewish deli sandwiches.  You really can’t go wrong with any of their offerings, but our favorites are the Seitan Pastrami and the Falafel Patty Melt.  Don’t forget to get a side of their vegan potato salad or their excellent house-made mixed vegetable pickles.

Schmaltz (photo courtesy Schmaltz on Facebook)

The Holy Cacao

Cake Balls, Hot Chocolate, and Other Desserts

Usual Location: 1311 South First Street

Website: http://www.theholycacao.com

Twitter: @HolyCacao

Menu: http://www.theholycacao.com/?attachment_id=2124

Suggested Dish: Rabbit Cake Ball and Mexican Drinking Chocolate

Sporting an interesting selection of cake balls and three types of real (non-powder-based) hot chocolate, the Holy Cacao is sure to satisfy your chocolate desires.

The Ice Cream Social V

Gourmet Ice Cream and Frozen Treats

Usual Location: 75 Rainey Street

Website: http://www.icecreamsocialbus.com/

Twitter: @icecreambusatx

Suggested Dish: Tres Leches Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone

Typically found amidst the trendy house bars of Rainey Street, The Ice Cream Social food bus is near full-service ice cream shop on wheels.  Choose from their gourmet ice cream flavors (like Peanut Butter Mole, Tres Leches, and Roasted Strawberry Cheesecake), add some toppings, and select your conveyance method (sugar cone, waffle cone, ice cream sandwich, or cup).  The Ice Cream Social also prepares some very nice popsicles with interesting flavors like sweet tea, Thai iced coffee, and white grape.

The Vegan Nom VGF

Rockin’ Vegan Tacos

Usual Location: 120 North Loop Boulevard

Website: http://www.facebook.com/TheVeganNom

Twitter: @thevegannom

Menu: The Vegan Nom Menu

Suggested Dish: Grilled Avocado Reale Taco and Bean Diablo Taco

One of my favorite taco spots in Austin, which, as an added benefit, is completely vegan!  The Vegan Nom whips up excellent vegan breakfast tacos, creative signature tacos, nachos, queso, and more.  Everything is made to order and comes with their great hand-made salsas.  Definitely worth a stop, especially if you’re in the North Loop area bar-hopping from Drink.Well. to the Workhorse.

The Vegan Yacht VGF

Ahoy, matey

Usual Location: 1110 East 12th Street

Website: http://theveganyacht.com/

Twitter: @theveganyacht

Menu: http://theveganyacht.com/menu

Suggested Dish: Freeto Burrito with Avocado

The Vegan Yacht prepares mostly organic, all-vegan fare for East Austin visitors and guests.  The Vegan Yacht makes most of their sauces and other non-vegetable ingredients by hand so they know where it came from.  Before visiting, be sure to check their Twitter or Facebook account as hours tend to be somewhat sporadic.

Other Austin Food Blogger Alliance City Guide articles about vegetarian food in Austin:

• Central, South, and Westlake from Jessica of ATX Gluten-Free
• Downtown from Nelly of aneelee
• East from Nelly of aneelee
• North from Lauren of Gourmet Veggie Mama

As a bonus tidbit of info, you can find other vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free restaurants around Austin (and in several other cities as well) with Locate Special Diet (and their Android and iPhone apps).