Fall crockpot

Since it finally feels like fall, I felt like making this. The rich, savoury flavours are both delicious and comforting. And if you are not familiar with seitan, it's a toothsome, chewy, dense food made primarily from the protein in wheat. So obviously, not for those with gluten intolerance or wheat allergy! This crockpot is great without it, so that part is totally optional. I added some chickpea flour to my seitan this time because I am totally a chickpea flour fan. A last minute addition of oven crisped chickpea flour tofu when the crockpot is finished would also be good, or chunks of tofu for extra heartiness when you fire up the crockpot. We ate this with oven roasted potato wedges one day, and with brown basmati another. Versatile, hearty, and perfect for fall.

equipment needed:
crockpot
 (or cook in a large pot on the stove, no prob)
measure cups
measuring spoons
cutting board
knife
mixing bowl
mixing spoon


ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
2 cups green cabbage, finely diced

2 cups uncooked green lentils, rinsed

2 cups chopped celery hearts
2 cups diced carrot

4 dried shiitake mushrooms


4 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp herbe de provence
1 tsp cumin

8 cups water


directions:

1. layer all ingredients in order listed -- that's my crockpot secret for you.



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for seitan:

1 cup gluten flour
1/2 cup chickpea flour
1 tsp vegetable bouillon powder (or sea salt, herbs, and seasonings to your taste e.g. 1/2 tsp sea salt, some marjoram, basil or oregano, some chili powder or garlic powder etc -- I was in a hurry hence the bouillon powder)
1 1/2 cup water


directions:
1. combine chickpea flour, gluten flour and seasonings, and mix well
2. add water and mix well
3. knead
4. roll flat, and place on top of other ingredients in crockpot.

--------------------------

finally:
1. cook the concoction on high in crock pot for 5 hours
2. remove the seitan and cut into cubes
3. remove the mushrooms and cut into pieces
4. return the mushrooms and seitan to the crockpot, stir, and let cook for 1 final hour


This is a dish that tastes great the next day. It's really good as soon as it's made, but don't worry about making it ahead if that's more convenient.

Also would be great with some crusty bread for soaking up any residual (and delicious) broth.

Crockpot -- delicious vegetable soup

For me, having a crockpot is an amazing time saving way to make meals. And because of what we cook in the crockpot, it's incredibly economical. We purchase the vegetables that are readily available, and use dried split chickpeas and lentils. Delicious with freshly baked bread, it's the perfect meal for a winter evening.

equipment needed:

crockpot
knife
cutting board
kettle


ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 1/2 cups diced onion

1 cup green cabbage, finely chopped


2 cups split chickpeas, dried
1 cup green lentils, dried


2 cups diced celery hearts
2 cups diced carrots

4 dried shiitake mushrooms

2 cups sliced sweet potato

5 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp herbe de provence




12 cups boiling water


directions:

1. turn on the crockpot and set it for 5 hours on high
2. add the coconut oil
3. layer in the onion and green cabbage
4. layer in the split chickpeas and green lentils, rinsing them first.
5. layer in the celery hearts and diced carrots
6. toss in some dried shiitake mushrooms
7. throw a couple cups of thickly sliced sweet potato on top
8. sprinkle the whole thing with sea salt and herbe de provence
9. pour on the boiling water
10. cook for 5 hours or until the chickpeas and lentils are tender
11. taste
12. add seasoning if needed

** Lentil Vegetable Crockpot -- vegan, whole food, delicious

The smell of this dish while cooking is out of this world. I'm such a sucker for the combination of cumin and paprika. I adore lentils. This is wonderful with brown basmati, or by itself. Huge hit with everyone. Simple, comforting, unpretentious food that cooks itself while you do something else.

equipment needed:

6 quart crockpot
knife
cutting board
sieve for rinsing lentils
measuring cups
measuring spoons



ingredients:

1 onion, chopped ( 1  cup)
2 cups chopped green cabbage
3 cups rinsed green lentils, not cooked

1/2 cup sliced dried mushrooms

2 cups chopped celery (I use the hearts for this)
2 cups diced carrot
2 cups diced asian sweet potato

4 tsp sea salt
black pepper
2 tbsp marjoram
2 tsp paprika (sweet)
2 tsp ground cumin)

1/2 cup dried apricots -- sliced

8 cups boiling water


set crockpot for 5 hours on high

Broccoli and Chickpea Crockpot

This green and white concoction is savoury, thick, and utterly comforting. The peeps in my house adore both broccoli and chickpeas, so it's really easy to love this simple dish. The cauliflower and sweet potato aren't really very noticeable, although they do provide body, flavour, and nutrition. The theme of the concoction is definitely broccoli and chickpea. Once again, I mixed a little chickpea flour into the water I added to the crockpot, which thickened up wonderfully over the cook time. Simple, satisfying, and universally enjoyed.

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
3 cups of chopped up cauliflower florets

3 cups cooked chickpeas
3 cup frozen green peas

1/2 cup diced celery

4 cups diced white sweet potato


3 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp marjoram

3 cups boiling water
1 cup water + 1/2 cup chickpea flour

500 g broccoli florets


directions:

1. melt the coconut oil in the bottom of the crockpot as it's heating, and then go about chopping.
2. add the onions
3. add the cauliflower florets
4. add the cooked chickpeas
5. add the green peas
6. add the diced celery, followed by the white sweet potato
7. on top of all this sprinkled the seasonings
8. add the 1 cup water and 1/2 cup chickpea flour mixture
9. pour on the rest of the water
10. cook on high for 4-6 hours depending on how well your crockpot does.
11. when it's all done cooking, add in your dismembered broccoli florets, and stir in. I used frozen ones that then didn't really need to be cooked ... if yours are fresh and raw, you might give them a little cook time in the crockpot after mixing in.
12. taste, and adjust salt and pepper if needed.

Chickpea Vegetable Soup

Well, Papa is coming over for dinner, and we're going to have a houseful for his birthday. So, in addition to eatables such as lasagna and chickpea flour flat bread, we'll rock this vegan crockpot.  Simple and delicious. Old fashioned diced veggies and chickpeas. Super delicious. And since it feels like fall, perfect really. We all enjoyed it.

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
1 cup green cabbage, very finely chopped

4 cups soaked chickpeas -- not cooked

1 tsp sea salt

2 cup diced carrots
2 cups diced celery
1 diced kohlrabi

1 tsp sea salt

4 cups diced white sweet potato

1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp marjoram
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chill powder

9 cups water

1 tsp sea salt


directions:

1. turn crockpot on to high, and set for 6 hours
2. layer ingredients in the order listed
3. let cook for 6 hours. I used dry chickpeas that had been fully soaked but not cooked. If you use canned or cooked chickpeas, you can reduce the cooking time
4. stir and taste, add seasoning if needed.

A chickpea and vegetable 'pot' dish

'Pot' as in cooking vessel, not as in marijuana. I recently read Michael Pollan's cooked. I am a Michael Pollan fan, and in his description of learning to cook in his book, I was inspired to make a dish that used very finely chopped vegetables as a base, and to let those vegetables sort of cook down into nothingness. Nothing, that is, except for flavour. As is my wont, I used a crockpot instead of a stove top pot. I layered finely diced vegetables, with the onions and garlic right in the oil at the bottom of the pot where they would get the most heat, then proceeding with the cabbage, then carrots and celery. The layers of chickpeas and sweet potato went last, and then enough water to come up to the chickpeas.  The chickpeas and sweet potato, being largest as well as farthest from the heat  will breakdown the least. Which is just what we want!! Even with very very little seasoning (only a bit of salt), this is a very richly flavoured dish. Perfect with socca-ish ...

ingredients:


2 tbsp coconut oil

1 1/2 cup very finely chopped onion
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic

1 cups finely chopped celery
2 cups finely chopped carrot

4 cups finely chopped cabbage

4 cups soaked chickpeas

3 cups diced sweet potato -- if possible use a firm dry variety (I love bonita. others are kyushu and murasaki, also called 'asian sweet potatoes' or 'oriental sweet potatoes') Chop 'em so they are about the same size as the chickpeas


3 tsp sea salt

2 to 4 cups water


directions:

1. turn on the crockpot to high, and add the coconut oil
2. chop the veggies. In the interest of time (I had very little) I used the food processor and did a fine chop.
2. once the oil has melted and the crock is hot, spread the onion and garlic over the bottom, and the cabbage right on top.
3. spread the carrots and celery bits on top of this
4. evenly spread the soaked chickpeas over this
5. sprinkle a couple of tsp of sea salt over the chickpeas
6. spread the diced sweet potatoes over the chickpea layer
7. sprinkle one more tsp of sea salt over the sweet potato

Warming Winter Vegetable and Lentil Crockpot

I was going to be at work all day, and Papa and Nana were coming to play. So, knowing that Papa is a huge lentil fan, I loaded up my crockpot with a bunch of goodies. The resulting concoction is so flavourful and sweet and sour and savoury and spicy. The flavour is not overwhelming, but rather symbiotic. Everything about it is comforting and delicious. Try it. You'll like. The sweetness of sweet potato with the brightness of lime and sundried tomato, and the warmth of ginger. I kinda, you know, love it already. My husband made garlic toast out of our almond flour/coconut flour bread to go with this and it was fab beyond all reckoning.

ingredients:

1 cup finely chopped shallots
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cups very finely chopped green cabbage
1/4 cup finely chopped sundried tomatoes

2 cups massoor lentils

2 cups frozen green peas

1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup coconut butter

1 cup diced celery hearts
2 cups diced carrots


4 cups diced sweet potatoes


4 tsp sea salt
2 tbps oregano
black pepper
1 tsp chile powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground ginger

9 cups water (I add boiling)

2 tbsp lime juice


directions:

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed. I combine the almond butter, coconut butter, lime juice, and seasonings with 1 cup of boiling water and pour it on, then pour on the rest of the water.
2. cook (I did it on High for 6 hours)
3. turn off and after stirring thoroughly, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and add water if needed
4. serve or let the flavour mature and serve the next day
5. Today we are serving this with garlic toasts made from our 'almond flour and coconut flour bread'.

Vegetable soup with 4 kinds of sweet potatoes

Yummy. I love a wonderful clear broth soup so full of flavour and goodness. Good for what ails you.

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
2 medium onion, finely diced
4 cups green cabbage, finely chopped
2 cups dry lentils -- (I used black caviar lentils, but any whole lentils will be fine. Dupuy, masoor etc. Don't used split or they will reduce to complete disintegration)
2 cup frozen green peas

1  cups celery, stalks and leaves, finely diced
2 cups carrots, diced

3 cups sweet potatoes, diced -- I used 4 kinds -- 3 different asian (murasaki, kyushu, and some white ones), and also the iconic orange beauregard variety

3 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp ginger
8 cups water


directions:

1. layer up the crockpot with the ingredients in the order listed -- do not stir
2. cook for 6 hours on high
3. enjoy with green noodles, or alone

Split Chickpeas and Sweet potato -- vegan, delicious, and comforting

Well, it feels like autumn today. And this hit the spot.  Slooooooooow food. My reliable workhorse of a crockpot rides again. So to speak. This is one of the most flavourful veggie stews ever, and it definitely is one I'll make again soon. My five year old waxed enthusiastic about the veggies in it, and devoured it in record time. Usually, if it ain't pasta or pizza, it lingers a little longer. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes is comforting with the depth of flavour and richness encouraged by the dried mushrooms and coconut butter. A vegan triumph of culinary satisfaction, my friends.

ingredients:

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 medium onion finely diced
1/4 cup dried mushrooms, finely crumbled
2 cups green cabbage, finely diced
4 cups split chickpeas, soaked but not cooked (or sub in 4 cups whole chickpeas cooked or canned and well rinsed)
1/2 cup coconut butter

2 cups carrot, finely diced

4 cups sweet potato, finely diced

1 tbsp sea salt
1 tbsp marjoram

4 cups water


ingredients:

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed in your crockpot, then sprinkle the seasonings and pour on the water so the seasonings get distributed. Sprinkle a little salt on top after everything else for good measure
2. cook for about 6 hours, or until the chickpeas are melt in your mouth, and everything tastes fabulous
3. serve with an awesome salad or whatever else pleases you.

Flavourful Vegetable Soup

Weary travellers arriving need simple and delicious fare that won't keep them up. This definitely fit the bill with a fresh loaf of spelt bread fresh from the oven.

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil

1 onion finely diced
1 cup  purple cabbage finely chopped
1/4 cup dried mushrooms, finely crumbled

3 cups split chickpeas, soaked but not cooked
3 cups green peas

1/4 cup amaranth
1/4 cup buckwheat groats
1/4 cup milllet

1 kohlrabi, peeled and diced (approx 2 cups)

1 large carrot finely diced (approx 1 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup celery finely  diced

2 cups zucchini diced
4 cups sweet potato diced

4 tsp sea salt
8 cups boiling water


directions:

1. layer all the ingredients in the crockpot and let it cook. Pour the water on after you've added the sea salt btw.
2. stir, and season to taste

Delicious served with fresh baked bread ...

Split Chickpeas

I live just down the street from Little India, and enjoy going into my local tiny supermarket. This week I  found both split moong dal (split mung beans) and split channa dal (split chickpeas). Always  fun to try new things. I cooked a pot of split moong dal seasoned with just avocado oil, dehydrated vegetables, and sea salt. It produced a thick creamy dish. Today I'm playing with the split chickpeas. I did a quick soak on them this morning, and will now see what fun I can have.

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 finely diced onion
4 cups finely chopped cabbage

3 cups split chickpeas -- soaked but not cooked

1/4 cup crumbled dried mushrooms

1 1/2  cup diced celery

3 cups diced sweet potato

4 cups diced zucchini

1 cup water

3 cups chopped broccoli florets -- lightly steamed, stirred in when the crockpot is finished cooking.

Crockpot July 2013

Moong dal is great because it completely breaks down and makes the stew nice and thick. Yummy!

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
1 1/2 cup moong dal
2 tbsp millet
2 tbsp buckwheat groats
2 tbsp amaranth
3 cups frozen green peas
1/4 cup crumbled dried mushrooms
2 cup finely diced carrot
2 cups diced zucchini
2 cups diced sweet potato

4 tsp sea salt
3 cups water

1 cup finely diced celery



3 cups chopped broccoli florets, slightly cooked


directions:
1. layer the ingredients in the order listed (except the broccoli) and cook on high in your crockpot for 5 hours
2. stir well then add the broccoli
3. stir well, adjust seasoning if needed
4. let sit for 1 hour
5. serve

Lentil and Veggie Crockpot -- Papa's coming to dinner!

So, Papa and Nana came for the afternoon, and with a little arm-twisting, they joined us for dinner. After a long walk on the beach and much playing! Super yummy!!

ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 1/2 cup finely chopped onion

2 cups  black lentils
2 cups finely chopped green cabbage
3 cups frozen green peas

2 cups diced carrots
4 cups diced sweet potatoes

4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp marjoram

4 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup coconut butter
6 cups water

3 cups chopped steamed broccoli



directions:

1. as usual, layer the ingredients into the crockpot in the order stated
2. cook on high for 6 hours
3. add the broccoli and turn off
4. adjust salt and pepper to taste

Lentil Crockpot

yummy.

Anyway, Papa was going to be coming over so we made this because he's a huge fan of lentils. Turns out he had to reschedule, but we still got to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. 

Delicious crockpot!!!

ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 1/2 cup finely chopped onion

2 cups lentils
2 cups finely chopped green cabbage
3 cups frozen green peas

2 cups diced carrots
4 cups diced sweet potatoes

1 tbsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp oregano

4 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup coconut butter
6 cups water

3 cups chopped steamed broccoli



directions:

1. as usual, layer the ingredients into the crockpot in the order stated
2. cook on high for 6 hours
3. add the broccoli and turn off
4. adjust salt and pepper to taste

Split pea, green pea, and green cabbage crockpot

I've had some later evenings lately, and it's very convenient to do the crockpot thing. If you make a large batch, you can always freeze it in serving portions for next time. This was entirely constructed out of what I had lying about the house ...

ingredients:

3 tbsp coconut oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 cups finely chopped green cabbage
2 cups split green peas
3 cups frozen green peas

1 1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups finely diced sweet potato

3 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp marjoram
black pepper

1/2 cup almond butter
7 cups water


3 cups chopped broccoli
2 tbsp lime juice

salt and pepper to taste


directions:

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed, and cook on high for 4 hours
2. add the lime juice, salt and pepper to taste, and add the broccoli
3. turn off the heat
4. serve

crockpot with friends -- vegan and delicious

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
1 onion -- 1 1/2 cups chopped
2 cups finely chopped green cabbage

2 cups moong dal


500 grams green peas -- 3 cups

1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrot
2 cups diced sweet potato -- small pieces


2 cups hot water
1 cup almond butter
1/2 cup coconut butter
1 cup tomato sauce

3 tsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder

3 cups hot water

A Great Moong Dal Crockpot -- veggies and deliciousness in one great dish

I put my crockpot to work again today while I did other things. Green cabbage, green peas, purple carrots, and moong dal conspired with broccoli to make a fabulous stew. Fantastic.

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 tbsp finely  minced garlic
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cups finely chopped green cabbage
2 cups moong dal (split mung beans)



3 cups frozen green peas
2 cups finely diced carrots
1/2 cup finely diced celery



4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
black pepper
3 tsp raw cacao powder
3 tsp carob powder



combine the following:

4 cups water
1/2 cup coconut butter
1/4 cup almond butter

4 cups water

2 tbsp lime juice

3 cups (steamed) chopped broccoli -- to be added after cooking is complete



1. layer the ingredients in the order listed
2. sprinkle the seasonings on, then pour on the liquid mixture of water, coconut butter, and almond butter, pour on the rest of the water (8 cups total), reserving the lime juice until cooking is finished
3. cook for 6 hours in the crockpot, then add the lime juice
4. when done, add the broccoli, stir, and let sit for  a little while.
5. serve!

Moong Dal Crockpot

One of the things I really liked about this dish was the way in which the moong dal completely break down in the cooking process, making a thick dal with firm chunks of veggies in it. Delicious.

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
2 tbsp finely  minced garlic
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cups moong dal (split mung beans)


3 cups frozen green peas
2 cups finely diced carrots
2 cups finely diced asian sweet potato



4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp rosemary
1 tsp cumin
black pepper
3 tsp raw cacao



combine the following:

4 cups tomato sauce
4 cups water
1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup almond butter


3 cups (steamed) chopped broccoli -- to be added after cooking is complete



1. layer the ingredients in the order listed
2. sprinkle the seasonings on, then pour on the liquid mixture of tomato sauce, water, coconut butter, and almond butter
3. cook for 6 hours in the crockpot
4. when done, add the broccoli, stir, and let sit for  a little while.
5. serve!

The moong dal will completely break down, but all the veggies will be more or less intact. This makes for a thick and rich stew, and it's pretty fantastic.

Crockpot Stew -- giant lima beans in the pink

You are probably sick of me going on about the goings on in my crockpot. But let me tell you that this one is too good to miss. Imagine the satisfying toothsome texture of giant limas simmered in a stew of veggies, tomato sauce, and coconut milk. The coconut milk mellows the bite of the tomato sauce, and the veggies all add sweetness and texture. Truly a delicious combination. Yo, vegans!!

ingredients:

3 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

3 cloves of garlic, very finely minced

1 large onion, very finely chopped

500 g frozen green peas

4 cups giant lima beans soaked but not cooked (bring to a boil in plenty of water for 2 minutes then turn off heat and soak for 1 hour. Rinse well)


2 cups diced celery
1 cup diced carrot
3 cups diced sweet potato

3 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp herbe de provence

4 cups tomato sauce (either make it using tomatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, or take some out of your freezer)

400 ml coconut milk


1. layer the ingredients in the order listed
2. cook for 4-6 hours on high in your crockpot

Green Soup -- peas and broccoli do the tango in my crockpot

My crockpot beckoned and I answered. Hello crockpot, here is some green soup for you to make. Split peas, green peas, broccoli. One of those hearty concoctions that make you glad you're hungry. My husband practically rhapsodized as he ate it, and he's not a guy who gets excited about food. Apparently it full on hit some pleasure center of his brain. I think it was the complex layering of flavours that did it for him -- nothing brash, everything subtle, but fully delicious.

ingredients:

3 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
3 tbsp finely minced garlic
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion

2 cups green split peas, dry

1/4 cup finely crumbled dried mushrooms

2 cups diced sweet potato

3 cups frozen organic green peas

3 cups diced celery
2 cups diced carrots


4 tsp sea salt
black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp herbe de provence

8 cups hot water

after:

2 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to adjust  if needed

500 grams chopped broccoli florets

1 cup hot water


directions:

turn on your crockpot and let it start to warm up!

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed, reserving the ones listed under 'after' for the end of cooking
2. cook until the green split peas have dissolved
3. stir in the lemon juice and adjust the salt and pepper if needed
4. add the chopped broccoli florets and 1 more cup water and let cook until done