Recipe: One Pot Bean Bowl

It's been over a year since I started doing Meatless Mondays and I've really enjoyed the challenge of cooking veggie meals that don't involve the Holy Trinity (Pizza, Pasta and Potatoes!) Sometimes I spend hours making homemade falafels and hummus, and some days I just need a quick, easy meal after a long day at work. This is one of those recipes. I literally chucked some tins and spice in a pot and called it dinner. 

One Pot Bean Bowl

Tomato & Bean Sauce:

• 1 tin chopped tomato 
• 1 tin black beans
•  5 sundried tomatoes, chopped
•  1 tsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
•  1 fresh chili, chopped
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp sugar 
• handful of fresh basil and coriander, chopped

Method:

• Put all the ingredients in a small pot and bring to the boil. 
• Once boiling, turn down the heat and simmer for 15mins, stirring occasionally. 
• That's it! Serve with brown rice, lettuce and avocado.
  

Recipe: Pumpkin Oat Pancakes

These pancakes are light and fluffy, healthy, and gluten-free. I topped mine with cashew cream, maple syrup, nuts and strawberries :)

Pumpkin Oat Pancakes with Cashew Cream

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup cooked pumpkin
• 1/4 cup applesauce*
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs

Method:

1. Put the oats in a blender and whizz until you get a powdery consistency
2. Add the rest of your ingredients and blend until combined
3. In a non-stick pan, cook your pancakes over medium heat
4. Once little bubbles start to form, flip and cook the other side

*You can buy pre-made applesauce but I think it's easy and cleaner to make your own. You simply peel an apple, cut into pieces and boil with a little water. Once the apple is soft, blitz in a blender. 

How to make Cashew Cream:

1. Soak 1 cup raw cashews in water for 3 - 8 hours (I just soaked mine overnight)
2. Drain the cashews and put in a blender
3. Add 1/3 cup to 3/4 cup water (depending on how thick you want your cream)
4. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides occasionally

You can add sweetener and vanilla to your cashew cream mixture, but I prefer to leave it plain so that I can use it sweet or savoury.