The simplest vegan pudding you’ll ever make. 

I have a chia seed obsession. I have been known to put them in smoothies, and mixed with water and a little lemon juice, it’s they make for a great wake up drink. But using them in a dessert? Even better.

Chia seeds are sort of like magic; put them in any liquid and they turn into a gel-like substance. This is perfect if you’re trying to create a vegan pudding. The consistency of this pudding, which is literally a “mix and stir” recipe, is a little like tapioca; the longer you let it sit the more it will firm up.

You would never guess that this recipe takes a ridiculously short amount of time, is vegan and low on sugar. Make it once and it might just turn into your new evening (or afternoon) obsession.

You can make it on its own, but I find it’s best topped with a berry compote, in this case, some summer raspberries that I had in the freezer.

Coconut Chia Pudding with Raspberries and Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• Chopped dark chocolate for topping

Directions:

Mix chia seeds, coconut milk, almond flavoring and sugar in a bowl. Pour immediately into small serving containers and let sit for about 5 minutes.

Cook down raspberries along with a dash of sugar in a saucepan on medium heat. Pour on top of pudding. Sprinkle with chopped dark chocolate. Serve immediately.

Want more food inspiration? Check out the rest of our Sunday Recipe series. 

The post Sunday Recipe: Coconut Chia Pudding with Raspberries and Dark Chocolate appeared first on EcoSalon.

Instead of being flavored with pork fat, let your modern day creamed corn sing the praises of coconut milk.

Back in 1951, Del Monte had a lot to say about its Creamy Style Golden Corn. It promised “plump” and “thin-skinned” kernels “crammed” into each can, and if that weren’t seducing enough, the ad’s complementary recipe involved the addition of pork chops, eggs, bread crumbs, and evaporated milk. Swoon!

The sliced pepper arrangement and strange presentation aside, the flavors in this recipe have really got it going on. Pork fat and creamy corn? Nothing you necessarily want to say no to, but if there were one health-conscious cell in our body, it would be meeting its demise right about now.

Come 2012, and we no longer just eat with our gut in mind, but rather with a more discerning eye towards nutrition. Luckily, a lighter, more modern version of this dish is actually much easier to prepare. The decadence remains intact, but the result is an entirely plant-based meal that puts flavor and health on the same pedestal. Enjoy!

Coconut Cream Corn

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 1 can (15 ounces) coconut milk
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon chopped scallions
• Handful of parsley, chopped

Directions:

In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the corn, which does not need to be thawed, and the coconut milk to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the coconut milk has largely evaporated. This will take about 15 minutes.

Once the mixture has reached desired consistency, mix in the parsley, red pepper flakes, and scallions.

Enjoy as a side-dish or snack. It can be eaten hot or cold.

Bon Appetit!

There is nothing quite like flipping through the pages of grandmother’s faded cookbooks in all their imperfect glory – the worn edges, the rampant sauce stains and the cluttered pencil marks. With their casseroles, ham dishes and affinity for elaborate presentation, the Betty Crocker and the Joy of Cooking cookbooks provide a glimpse of food before it all became so much more complicated.  At EcoSalon, we love good vintage inspiration, even when it comes to food. Welcome to Vintage Revamp, where we take old and classic recipes and refresh them with a modern-day twist.

Photo Credit: Hey, My Mom Used to Make That, Aylin Erman

Aylin Erman currently resides in Istanbul and is creator of plant-based recipe website GlowKitchen.

The post Vintage Recipe Revamp: Creamed Corn appeared first on EcoSalon.

A colorful and gluten free rendition of an American classic.

Full disclosure: standard American pancakes have never been my thing. Except for a backcountry version made with M&M’s, they have never been one of my breakfast standards. On the too sweet, too fluffy and too thick side, classic pancakes are optimal if you’re looking for a sugar high with an immediate crash. Not quite my style.

However, once in awhile you come across a version of a recipe that changes your perspective. A good friend named Lisa, who has an ongoing oatmeal vs. pancake breakfast debate in her household, came up with this one. As she says, when someone says “bowl of oatmeal or stack of pancakes?” oatmeal is regularly the winner, so she found a way to combine the two. The result is convincing even for those of us that aren’t usually wooed by the traditional breakfast.

This version ups the ante, bringing in flaxseeds, blueberries and a dash of cardamom; they’re even good as an afternoon snack if you manage to set a few aside.

Oatmeal and Flaxseed Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/8 cup coconut milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup gluten free rolled oats
• 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 cup blueberries
• Coconut oil for frying

Strawberry and Nectarine Medley

Ingredients:

• 3-4 large organic strawberries, sliced
• 1 organic nectarine, sliced and cubed
• zest of one lime
• 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar (place a vanilla bean in a jar of sugar and store in your pantry for easy use)
• 2 tablespoons shredded coconut

Directions

Prepare Strawberry and Nectarine Medley by combining all ingredients in a bowl and setting aside.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs together with coconut milk and olive oil.

In a separate bowl. mix together dry ingredients. Add to egg and coconut milk mixture. Stir in blueberries.

Drop about a quarter of a cup into a hot frying pan, greased with coconut oil. Flip the pancakes when the top is bubbly and the edges are slightly dry.

Top with fruit and a dash of powdered sugar if you’re really looking to impress.

Want more food inspiration? Check out the rest of our Sunday Recipe series.

The post Sunday Recipe: Oatmeal and Flaxseed Blueberry Pancakes with Strawberry and Nectarine Medley appeared first on EcoSalon.