Matzo Ball Soup With Veggies And Shiitake Mushrooms Vegan And Vegetarian Options

Vegan or vegetarian matzo ball soup for Passover.
Less than 200 calories per serving!

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This Italian Girl LOVES Matzo Ball Soup
For some reason Jews and Italians seem to live in the same neighborhoods in Brooklyn. At least that was the case in Borough Park and Ocean Parkway, two of the neighborhoods I lived in as a child. I was introduced to matzo balls at an early age and have always loved them. I usually don't think about them until Passover comes around and the shelves in the local supermarkets are stocked with matzo meal which immediately triggers a pavlovian response. 

This was the case this week when I bought a big container of matzo meal. I wanted to create a vegan matzo ball for those of you who avoid all animal products. For my readers who enjoy eggs (so many of you raise happy and well cared for chickens), I'll also include a recipe that uses real eggs instead of flax eggs.

Nutritionally, the vegan matzo balls have slightly fewer calories, zero cholesterol, 16 times the omega-3 fatty acid, and more the fiber. The vegetarian matzo balls have more protein. With either one, a serving of soup with 3 matzo balls has less than 200 calories.

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Matzo Ball Soup with Veggies and Shiitake Mushrooms
Vegan or Vegetarian Options
[makes 6 servings]
Requires a 5-quart Dutch oven or large soup pot with cover

For the soup
8 cups veggie broth*
2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced
1 cup chopped onion
6 shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, thinly sliced
1 small turnip, peeled and diced
2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon fresh)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
* Instead of veggie broth, you can use 8 cups of water and 1 whole Rapunzel Vegan Bouillon Cube with Herbs.

For the vegan matzo balls
3 tablespoons ground golden flax seeds
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon water (divided)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup matzo meal (do NOT use matzo meal mix)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

For vegetarian matzo balls
3 fresh eggs from happy chickens
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup matzo meal (do NOT use matzo meal mix)
1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

To make the soup, fill a 5-quart Dutch oven or large soup pot with all of the soup ingredients. Set aside.

Soup ingredients

To make the vegan matzo balls, make flax eggs in a medium bowl by mixing the ground flax seeds with 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon of room temperature water. Beat until gooey, about a minute.

Flax egg

After the "eggs" are nice and gooey, stir in 1/2 cup of water and olive oil. 

(If you are making the vegetarian matzo balls, you would use 3 fresh eggs instead of making the flax eggs. First beat the eggs, then add 1/2 cup of water and olive oil.)

Add the matzo meal, baking powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley.

(If you are making the vegetarian matzo balls, notice that the amount of baking powder is reduced from 1 1/2 teaspoons to 1/2 teaspoon.)

Mix until completely combined and let rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring the soup and veggies to a boil.

Let rest for 10 minutes while soup is coming to a boil.

Divide the matzo mixture into 18 pieces and roll them into small matzo balls. If they get sticky and hard to handle, wet your hands. 

Drop the matzo balls into the boiling soup. Lower to a simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes. Do not stir or disturb during the soup during this time, other than occasionally peeking in.

Serve while hot and enjoy!

Per serving of soup with 3 vegan matzo balls: 171 calories, 7 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 840 mg omega-3 and 694 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 4 g protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 4 g dietary fiber, and 782 mg sodium*.

Per serving of soup (using a bouillon cube) with 3 vegetarian matzo balls: 184 calories, 8 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 93 mg cholesterol, 58 mg omega-3 and 739 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 6 g protein, 25 g carbohydrates, 3 g dietary fiber, and 732 mg sodium*.

* Using a Rapunzel bouillon cube instead of low-sodium veggie broth.

Per serving of vegan matzo balls (3 balls): 133 calories, 6 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 833 mg omega-3 and 648 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 3 g protein, 17.5 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, and 218 mg sodium. 

Per serving of vegetarian matzo balls (3 balls): 146 calories, 7 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 93 mg cholesterol, 51 mg omega-3 and 694 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 5 g protein, 16.5 g carbohydrates, 1 g dietary fiber, and 168 mg sodium. 

Kale Bowl With Quinoa, Millet, Or Rice Perfect For Breakfast, Lunch, Or Dinner!Vegan, Gluten Free And Low In Calories

This low-calorie kale bowl is perfect for weight loss!

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One of my Favorite Meals
This simple kale bowl makes a great meal. Lately I've been enjoying it for breakfast but it is also wonderful for lunch or dinner. You can use any of your favorite grains as the base. For a gluten-free meal, use quinoa, millet, or rice. If gluten is not an issue, you can also make the dish with barley, farro, or couscous. Or, if you'd like, replace the kale with chard or beet greens.

For breakfast I serve it with a small fruit salad and for lunch or dinner I serve it with a tossed green salad or cup of soup.

Perfect for Weight Loss
Whatever grain or greens you select, it's a delicious low calorie recipe, with less than 300 calories per serving. When made with kale and protein-rich quinoa, the dish provides 11 grams of complete protein, providing all of the essential amino acids. It also delivers a substantial dose of omega-3 fatty acids. The avocado provides a healthy monounsaturated fat that keeps you full longer. 

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Kale Bowl with Quinoa, Avocado, and Hemp Seeds
Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 4 servings]

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon salt plus some for sprinkling
4 packed cups raw kale, stems removed and washed
1 avocado
2 tablespoons raw hemp seeds
1/2 lemon

Prepare quinoa. If quinoa is not pre-rinsed, place in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water for several minutes.

Place quinoa in a 2-quart sauce pan with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until all the water is absorbed, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let rest for another 10 minutes.

While the quinoa is cooking, steam the kale until tender, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, thinly slice the avocado and set aside.

To prepare the kale bowl, place one quarter of the cooked quinoa in each of four bowls.

I used multi-colored quinoa as the base of this kale bowl.

Place one quarter of the steamed kale over the quinoa.

Place one quarter of the avocado slices over the kale.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice over each bowl and sprinkle each with one quarter of the hemp seeds and a little salt. Serve immediately.

Per serving: 277 calories, 10.5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 789 mg omega-3 and 3,182 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg of cholesterol, 11 g protein, 38 g carbohydrates, 7 g dietary fiber, and 179 mg sodium (not counting the final pinch of salt).

Looking for additional delicious recipes to help you lose weight, get healthy, and feel great? Check out my eBook, Health Begins in the Kitchen available on Amazon and iTunes.

Vegan And Gluten-Free Low-Sugar Cranberry Sauce With Pomegranate And Pear A Great Dish For The Holidays!

We added fresh pears and pomegranate arils to
our popular low-sugar cranberry sauce.

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Get Them While You Can
I can't get enough of fresh cranberries and pomegranates. Just knowing they will soon be gone makes me appreciate them even more. 

Here's a variation of our popular low-sugar cranberry sauce recipe with the addition of pears and cranberries. It was a big hit at Thanksgiving and it could be a great addition to your Christmas menu too! 

Serve it with roasted root vegetables, stuffed acorn squash, rice casserole, on top of a baked sweet potato, with vegan stuffing, or just eat it with a spoon. It keeps well so you can make it early in the day or even the night before.

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Low-Sugar Cranberry Sauce with Pomegranate and Pear
Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 10 to 12 servings]

1 large pomegranate
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
Juice from one large organic orange
Water
1/3 cup organic cane sugar
12 ounce bag fresh cranberries, stems removed
1 pear, peeled and diced
8 drops stevia, or to taste (optional)

To remove the arils, see my post on how to neatly clean a pomegranate and set aside the pomegranate arils.

After grating what you need from the orange peel, cut the orange in half. Squeeze the juice from both of the orange halves into a 1-cup measuring cup. Fill the rest of the measuring cup up with water. Place in a small saucepan with the orange peel and sugar.
Heat on medium heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.

Add the cranberries and bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries pop and the sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. 

Add the pear and cook for another minute or two, stirring frequently.

Remove from the heat and add a few drops of stevia at a time until the sauce reaches the desired sweetness. Be careful because too much stevia will actually make it bitter.

Stir in the pomegranate arils. Place in a serving bowl, cool to room temperature and serve. 

Store in the refrigerator.

Per serving (10) 81 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 9 mg omega-3 and 42 g omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates, 3 g dietary fiber, and 2 mg sodium.

Per serving (12) 67 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 7 mg omega-3 and 35 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates, 3 g dietary fiber, and 2 mg sodium.

Fat Free Vegan Lentil And Barley Soup Easy To Make - One Step, One Pot Great For "Between Holiday" Weight Loss!

Lentil and barley soup is rich in protein and fiber
and has less than 160 calories per serving!

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Watching your Weight Between Holidays
If you are trying to lose a few Thanksgiving pounds before your diet is once again challenged at Christmas and New Years, this fat-free vegan lentil and barley soup can help you out. It's rich is protein and fiber which really satisfies your appetite for only 157 calories per serving. If you're too busy Christmas shopping to cook, don't worry. This one step, one pot meal is easy to prepare. Make it on the weekend and heat it up for lunch or dinner during the week.

Transitioning to a Plant-Rich Diet
A hearty soup with lots of fiber and protein can be very satisfying for people transitioning to a more plant-rich diet. Protein from plant sources is just as beneficial as protein from meat and dairy and doesn't contain the cholesterol and saturated fat. And meat doesn't contain any fiber, one of the most critical components of any diet. 

Barley: High in fiber, selenium, and manganese.
(not gluten free)

Lentils: Hi in protein, iron, phosphorus, copper,
as well as fiber, folate and manganese.

  
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Fat Free Lentil and Barley Soup
Vegan
[makes 6 servings]

4 cups vegetable broth*
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, no salt added
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
1/2 cup dried green lentils
1/3 cup pearl barley
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 bay leaf

* or 4 cups water with bouillon cube

Place all of the ingredients in a 5 quart Dutch oven or soup pot. Bring to a boil on high heat. Lower the heat and simmer, tightly covered, and stirring occasionally, until the lentils and barley are cooked, about 45 minutes. 

Add all ingredients at once.
No need to sauté veggies in oil.

Always remember to remove the bay leaf.

Remove the bay leaf and serve.

Each serving is only 157 calories and has
7 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber!

Per serving: 157 calories, <1 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 28 mg omega-3 and 216 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 g cholesterol, 7 g protein, 29 g carbohydrates, 9 g dietary fiber, and 228 mg sodium.

Everything Orange Soup - Vegan And Gluten Free, Perfect For Thanksgiving!

Butternut squash, carrots, oranges, and turmeric
 blend up into  this healthy autumn soup.

Perfect for Thanksgiving or even Halloween!

instinct - (definition)
noun
1. an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli.

In this case, the stimuli is fall, the leaves turning color, and the cooler weather. 
The fixed pattern of behavior, at least for me, is to make soup! 

This instinctive behavior was part of the driving force behind my Seasonally Raw Food Plan that I write about in my book, Health Begins in the Kitchen. Despite my love of raw food and my belief of its critical role in a healthy diet, I believe that certain seasons and climates dictate the percentage and balance of raw and cooked foods in our diet.

Phytochemical Stew
I almost named this dish Phytochemical Stew but I realized that, besides me, not many people would find that appetizing. But when I look at the beautiful orange color of squash, carrots, fresh oranges, and turmeric, I see phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids and more. And although the original purpose of these plant chemicals is to protect the plants themselves, research demonstrates that these substances can also help protect humans from all kinds of diseases. 

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Everything Orange Soup
Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 6 servings]

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon minced or grated fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 cups sliced carrots
4 cups diced butternut squash or pumpkin
2 cups chopped tomatoes, or 15 oz can diced
4 cups veggie broth*
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste, plus some for garnish
2 medium oranges, peeled and seeded
pinch of fresh thyme for garnish

* or 4 cups water and a large Rapunzel vegetable bouillon cube

Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onions and celery and cook over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes. 

Add the garlic, ginger, and turmeric and cook until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the carrots, squash (or pumpkin), tomatoes, broth, salt and pepper and cook, covered, until the vegetables soften, about 20 minutes.

Place the soup in a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix, together with the fresh oranges, and blend until smooth. You may have to do this in batches. 

Return to the pot, heat, and serve. Garnish with fresh thyme and additional freshly ground black pepper.

Per serving: 142 calories, 3 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 51 mg omega-3 and 376 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 6 g dietary fiber, and 589 mg sodium.

Download Health Begins in the Kitchen for lots more vegan and gluten-free Thanksgiving favorites, as well as recipes for a Raw Vegan Thanksgiving Banquet!

Artichokes With Creamy Garlic Lemon-Pepper Dill Sauce - Low Calorie, High Fiber, Vegan and Gluten Free

Dip steamed artichokes in this delicious, creamy dill sauce.
Serve as an appetizer or in place of the salad course.

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Artichokes
I treasure the artichoke. Had I not grown up eating them, I probably would have no idea what to do with this thorny vegetable. But thankfully, artichokes have been a part of my life since I had enough teeth in my mouth to bite the delicious meat off of each succulent leaf. 

They are not only delicious but they are a very healthy food. One medium artichoke is only 64 calories yet has a whopping 10 grams of fiber! Artichokes have been shown to reduce cholesterol and stimulate the production of bile which helps in the digestion of fats. This wonderful vegetable also contains the flavonoid silymarin which protects the liver (and is also great for hangovers). Artichoke leaves also contain the phynutrients rutin, quercetin and gallic acid which all have powerful antioxidant properties.

Dill Weed
Fresh dill pairs perfectly with garlic, lemon and black pepper in this flavorful dip. By using a silken or soft tofu as a base, this creamy dill sauce is dairy and gluten free.

Fresh dill weed

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Artichokes with Garlic Lemon-Pepper Dill Sauce

Vegan, Gluten Free

[makes 4 servings]

4 medium artichokes

14 oz package silken or soft organic tofu

2 teaspoons chopped garlic, (2 small cloves)

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped, fresh, dill weed

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

Prepare the artichokes. Pull off any small leaves near the base of the artichoke. 

With a sharp knife, cut off the tops (about an inch or so). 

With a pair of scissors, cut off the thorny tips of the leaves. 

Trim thorny tips of leaves.

If the artichokes are really big, (they seem to be growing them larger and larger lately) you can cut them in half, vertically. Most artichokes can be left whole.

Trim the bottom of the stem or remove it, peel it, and cook it with the artichokes.

Clean the artichokes by rinsing them under cold water.

Place artichokes in a large pot with about 2 to 3 inches of water and a steamer basket.  Bring to a boil, cover and cook until the outer leaves are tender and easy to remove. Add more hot water to the pot as needed as the cooking time could be as long as 45 minutes to an hour.  Start testing outer leaves after 30 minutes.

While the artichokes are cooking, prepare the dipping sauce.

Place the remaining ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

This also makes a great salad dressing if you add a touch of extra virgin olive oil or cold pressed hempseed oil or, for a low fat dressing, use as is.

Divide the sauce into 4 ramekins. Place each ramekin on a plate with one cooked artichoke and serve.

For another presentation idea, remove all the cooked leaves and place them in a circle. Clean the artichoke bottom and place in the bottom of the ramekin. Place the ramekin in the center of the plate.

Place the sauce over the artichoke bottom in the ramekin. When you are finished dipping the leaves, eat the bottom (which I consider the BEST part of the artichoke).

A presentation idea

Per serving: 128 calories, 4 g total fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 288 mg omega-3 and 1,930 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 10 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates, 11 g fiber and 371 mg sodium.

Low Calorie Vegan And Gluten Free Zucchini And Turnip Soup With Fresh Ginger - Perfect For Weight Loss!

Zucchini turnip soup has less than 50 calories per cup!

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Turnips
Have you ever eaten a turnip? They're a delicious root vegetable which when peeled looks a lot like a potato but with fewer calories and carbohydrates. Turnips have a slightly bitter taste and add a wonderful and interesting flavor to soups. You can also mash them up like potatoes or roast them with a little olive oil and salt. 

Turnips are a great source of fiber, vitamin C and manganese and are also a good source of vitamin B6, folate, calcium, potassium and copper.

Peeled turnips look like potatoes.
Potatoes have 116 calories per cup and 28 g of carbohydrates.
Turnips have only 36 calories and 8 g of carbohydrates!

Great Soup for Weight Loss!
This soup uses up lots of  that garden zucchini. It's quick and easy to make with a few simple ingredients  and blends up into a delicious, low calorie, low fat soup. Eating a 45 calorie cup of this soup before a meal will definitely curb your appetite. Or make a whole meal of it with a 2-cup serving and a mixed green salad.

Zucchini and Turnip Soup 
Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 8 cups]

8 cups diced zucchini
4 cups peeled and diced turnips
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
2 cups water
1 large Rapunzel vegan vegetable bouillon cube
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste if needed
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Place the zucchini, turnips, garlic, ginger, water, bouillon cube and bay leaf in a large pot. Bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook, partially covered, until the vegetables are soft. 

After vegetables soften, remove bay leaf and blend.

Remove the bay leaf and place the soup in a blender and blend until smooth. If you don't have a high-speed blender, make sure you mince the ginger very small.

Place in a blender.

Blend until smooth.

Adjust for salt (remember many bouillon cubes already contain a lot of salt) and add freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Serve with additional freshly ground black pepper if desired.

Per cup: 45 calories, 0.5 g fat, 0.4 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 2.6 g protein, 8.6 g carbohydrates, 2.1 g dietary fiber and 309 mg sodium.

Garden Tomatoes Stuffed With Quinoa And Sweet Corn - Vegan And Gluten Free !

Baked tomatoes stuffed with quinoa and corn.

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And Here Come the Tomatoes
Although many parts of the country have already been enjoying garden tomatoes, here in Northern California they are just beginning to ripen. But it was worth the wait! 
Besides making salads, sauces, tomato sandwiches and canning for winter, I am always looking for something to do with these beautiful fresh tomatoes. This year I'm growing some rather large varieties that lend themselves to stuffing so today I'm going to fill some with a lovely combination of quinoa and fresh corn and bake them. Corn is at its peak of freshness right now too!

Tomatoes are rich in the carotenoid, lycopene.
The antioxidant nutrients in tomatoes are associated with heart health and cancer prevention.

Stuffed Tomatoes with Quinoa and Sweet Corn
Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 4 servings]


1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water
4 large tomatoes
1 tablespoon Earth Balance or other vegan buttery spread
1/2 cup finely diced red or yellow onions
Kernels from 1 medium ear of corn
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 inch by 8 inch baking dish.


Prepare the quinoa. Rinse the quinoa in a strainer under cold water for several minutes. Place in a small saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes or until all of the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside.


Prepare the tomatoes.
Slice the top off of each tomato.
With a sharp knife, remove the pulp, dice it and set aside.
Scoop out the rest of the pulp and seeds with a spoon.
Set the hollow tomatoes in the baking dish.

Cut at an angle and remove a large piece of pulp.

Chop this pulp and set aside. It should yield about a cup.

Scoop out the seeds and enlarge the cavity with a spoon.

Place the hollow tomatoes in the prepared baking dish.

Prepare the filling.
Heat the Earth Balance in a frying pan. Add the onions, corn, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes or until the onions soften.
Add the tomato pulp and cook another 3 minutes.
Stir in the cooked quinoa. 
Stuff the tomatoes and bake for 20 minutes.
Gently remove the stuffed tomatoes from the baking dish and serve.

Cook the red onions and corn in Earth Balance.

Add the chopped pulp.

Stir in the cooked quinoa.

Stuff the tomatoes and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

Per serving: 164.5 calories, 4.3 g fat, 0.9 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 6 g protein, 27 g carbohydrates, 4.5 g dietary fiber and 330 mg sodium.