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)