Vegan Vegan - Costa Rican Refried Beans and Rice (Gallo Pinto)

Again, another recipe I know I made years ago and just haven't made since for no apparent reason.

The recipe states to use either pink, black or red beans - I used black as I already had some cooked up in my freezer (I assume the pink beans would be pinto and the red beans would be kidney?).  It also calls for some of the bean cooking water as the liquid but I didn't have any as my beans were already cooked so I just used some broth - but I think it would have been much better with the bean cooking water to give it the proper consistency.

If I had already had some cooked rice, then this would have been a fairly quick recipe to make, but unfortunately I didn't so it was quite time consuming, cooking the rice and allowing it to cool.

I remember being absolutely wowed by this when I made it before, but this time it was just meh - maybe a bit bland?  The only change from the recipe I made was to omit the liquid smoke, as I had run out - but I'm not really sure that would have made a huge difference.  I'll maybe try again with the smoke, but if that doesn't make a vast difference I probably won't make again.

Final verdict: ok, but kinda bland
Final score: 3 out of 5

Viva Vegan - Pickled Red Onions

Whilst perusing my copy of Viva Vegan the other week, this recipe popped out at me....which is strange as I've never even noticed it before!

So after going out and buying some red onions (the only ingredient I didn't have on hand), I made this one evening.  As per the recommendation in the book, I made it the night before I actually wanted to have it for dinner - the book states it needs to be left to pickle for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Well, it was super easy to make and the end result.....I wasn't exactly sure what to make of it!  Trying it on it's own, I wasn't a fan - but loaded up on a quesadilla, I quite enjoyed it.  The recipe keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge and so I had it the following week on soft tacos, and enjoyed it pretty fine that way too.  It added a nice crunch and a bit of tartness.

However, I wasn't blown away by it, and Niall really wasn't a fan, so I'm not sure I would make it again - and this time I don't mean that as in I won't make it again, rather I really am not sure!  I still can't decide whether I really enjoyed it, or didn't really like it.

Final verdict: I'm really not sure! Easy to make though.
Final score: 2.5 out of 5, as I really don't know what to make of it.

Viva Vegan - Shredded Seitan and Mushroom Empanadas with Raisins and Olives

Ok, so I'm not really reviewing this recipe as is because I just used the empanada filling for soft tacos.

I didn't use the specified seitan recipe from the book as Niall doesn't tend to like homeade seitan and so instead used some canned mock duck.  I initially started grating it but that was just too difficult / fiddly so I ended up just chopping it up finely - and TBH that was absolutely fine.

I didn't really make any other changes and thought that, with using the premade seitan, it cam together really quickly and was a nice and simple recipe.

I wasn't sure how Niall would like this recipe as it contained black olives, which I don't normally use, and raisins, which he's not usually too keen on - but he loved the combo!! And even commented on how he liked the olives!  I personally liked the raisins in it to give it a touch of sweetness.

We both really enjoyed this recipe and I found it more flavouful than I expected from the limited ingredients.  In fact we both enjoyed it so much that we had it again a few nights later!!  I must, must, must remember to make again.

Final verdict: quick and easy to make, and really tasty!
Final score: 5 out of 5 - WOW!

Viva Vegan - Peruvian Seitan & Potato Skewers

Ok ok, so I didn't really make this recipe, but kinda did!  I wanted a filling for soft tacos and remembered that I had made this a few years ago, so decided to base my filling on this for a change from our usual fillings.

I really only used the marinade for this recipe, as I made so many changes.....I didn't make them as skewers, didn't use the seitan recipe called for (Niall doesn't like homemade stuff and loves the stuff you can get in cans), didn't use potatoes and added some mushrooms instead.

I used the whole recipe for the marinade, but roughly half the amount of seitan (didn't really measure so not sure) and no potatoes - I wanted it quite saucy rather than a dry marinade, and if I remember I would do this again.

Having made all those changes, we loved the final result - Niall even commented how good it was.  He had been concerned that it would be vinegary as it had smelled quite strongly of vinegar as it was marinating but it wasn't.

My only real gripe was that it was quite oily but I guess that was because I cooked it all up in a pan rather than on skewers, maybe?

I have made this in the past as a pan fry thing with potatoes and that does work really we too, just wasn't what we were after this time.

Final verdict: great flavours, and with shop bought seitan a nice easy recipe
Final rating: 4.5 out of 5 (losing half a point for the oiliness)