Vegan Kimchi – PNW Rainbow Harvest Edition

It’s fall so you know what that means.. fermenting season! This is my first time making kimchi. I used a recipe from the book Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz, which my Mom gave me for my birthday last year.

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We got a gigantic haul of fresh organic veggies in our harvest box this week from Chris at One Love Farm in Lillooet. The tastiest kohlrabi I’ve ever eaten, so crisp, juicy and sweet. Also small purple cabbage, colourful carrots, fresh juicy ginger, onions, garlic, green cabbage and colourful chard stems I had left over from the previous week.

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optional cabbage totem for blessing the harvest kimchi:IMG_5814

METHOD

Submerge the cabbage, carrot, kohlrabi, and chard in a brine of 4 cups of sterile water with 4 Tablespoons sea salt.  2 to 4  hours or overnight.IMG_5822

Drain the salty brine from the vegetables and reserve brine. Taste the veg, if it is too salty you can rinse them with a bit of sterile water which is what I did. Make the spice paste:

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Grate ginger with rasp grater. Cut onions and garlic fine, add 3 Tbsp Korean red chili powder or less depending on spice level taste. Roughly mash together in a mortar and pestle:IMG_5831IMG_5893

That was the only red pepper flakes available at T&T market, it was 13$ for 1kg, or 2.2 lbs which is a huge bag but that was all they had and I needed to make kimchi asap!

Blend the spice paste together with the pre soaked vegetables:

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Sterilize your jars and wights with boiling water:

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Add the vegetables to the mason jars and tamp them down, if needed add more brine until the vegetables are totally submerged. Put weights and lids on, suck air out and tighten, these lids allow CO2 to escape and keep oxygen out.

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This is only the second day so I haven’t checked the taste yet, although you can taste everyday I would rather just leave it for now. After a week you are supposed to put it in the fridge.

Really excited about my first kimchi making experience!

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Roasted Vegetable Salad with Creamy Almond Butter Balsamic Vinaigrette

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When you want to be decadent and healthy at the same time!

I have been trying to cut down on grains lately and follow the specific carbohydrate diet a little more. This salad is really filling due to the almond butter dressing sweetened with dates and delicious tartness of the balsamic. I actually have a mediocre balsamic currently and it still tasted amazing, but if you have a higher quality one, all the better!

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Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 3 Tbsp balsamic dressing
  • 1 tsp grainy mustard
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Juice of half a lime or lemon
  • 4 dates 
Blend in blender , adding water until happy with consistency

Roast squash and cauliflower in the oven at 400 degrees C for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Wash and dry a bunch of lettuce, I found it easier to add the dressing to the veggies separately and mix, then add to the lettuce and mix, then combine together and voila!
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Black and White Salad

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Enjoy this salad while watching a film by G. W. Pabst.

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I began pondering a recipe for a black and white salad after purchasing this beautiful black quinoa ↓

IMG_4344 (1)Black Quinoa Galaxy

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Black princess cherry tomatoes from Salt and Harrow farm.

Recipe:


Maple Balsamic Dressing:

Salad

  • 1 cup Cooked black quinoa
  • 2 cups Blanched cauliflower florets (small pieces)
  • 10 black princess cherry tomatoes cut in half

Add half the dressing to taste, adding more if desired, might not use it all.


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I was attempting to only use black and white vegetables but couldn’t help but add parsley in for health and extra flavour. I would love to hear if you have any ideas of other black and white vegetables / fruit to add to this salad, please mention in the comments.