Wednesday, 25 March 2015

TAKING THE PEA (PRODUCT REVIEW)

Taking the Pea is brand new to the snack food market and I had the honour of trying out three of their vegan-friendly crunchy pea snack flavours - Smoked Ham, Wacky Wasabi and Sweet Chilli Salsa. *The last flavour in the range, Cheesy Peasy and Onion, is not vegan so that's been left out.

As you can probably tell, the main ingredient is the humble pea! Packed full of wonderful protein and fibre, the crunchy marrowfat peas are coated with bold flavours that really pack a punch.


I started with the smoked ham flavour (all vegan, don't worry!) because I was curious about the taste. It is absolutely delicious and reminds me of bbq flavoured crisps. Then I moved on to the sweet chilli salsa which was addictive but not as spicy as I thought it would be. Nothing could prepare me for the wacky wasabi flavour - talk about heat! Hands down my favourite of the bunch. It probably isn't for everyone and the first time you try it, you'll probably think your ears are about to blow off hot steam - looney tunes style - but it passes quickly and if you're anything like me, you'll want the next hit straight away.

Speaking of looney tunes, I really like the bright packaging and the fact that each flavour comes with its own pea cartoon character. It adds a touch of fun to the brand (as if the punny brand name wasn't already a give away) and I hear each character even has its own hilarious twitter page! 

Each 40g pack contains between 140-145 calories and has less fat than peanuts and more fibre than traditional potato crisps... a healthy alternative to most other greasy snacks out there and nifty enough so you can have it on-the-go. Can't ask for more than that.

If you'd like to try these yummy peas (and see if you can handle the wasabi heat!) then you can purchase them on their official website here.

You can also follow Taking the Pea on Twitter and like their page on Facebook.


Thursday, 12 March 2015

CAULIFLOWER RICE

I've been away for a few days, experiencing what California has to offer in the way of vegan food and dining. Before I share that experience, here's a recipe that's been long overdue to appear on the blog...

Cauliflower rice has been on my to-do list for the longest time so I'm incredibly excited to share this easy, delicious, no-fuss recipe. If you're after a lighter alternative to regular brown, white or basmati rice, then this is a must-try for you. Spice it up on its own, or serve it with a tasty veggie stew - the choice is yours. I had mine with a red pepper stew made with bite-size chunks of jerusalem artichokes. 


Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower
- 1 tsp olive oil
- fresh thyme

                                
Method
Cut the cauliflower into small florets, discard the outer leaves.



Place the florets in a food processor.


Pulse until you are left with a grainy rice-like consistency. Be careful not to blend it excessively. Take out any large lumps that escaped the blade.


Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a large pan and add the cauliflower rice. Stir and cover. Leave to cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes until the cauliflower is slightly more tender and warmed all the way through. Alternatively, you can skip this step and have it raw. I wanted mine slightly warm and soft.


Serve with a generous sprinkling of fresh thyme. Eat on its own or with your favourite vegetable stew/sauce.







Wednesday, 25 February 2015

SORREL OGI (GUEST POST)

How's this for adding a touch of excitement to food? In this guest post, the creative Nigerian food blogger Tatashey shares a vibrant sorrel (hibiscus flower) flavoured ogi recipe. I'd never have thought of adding fresh fruit to my ogi and the addition of pineapple here has got me thinking of all the fruity possibilities :p This could easily pass for a dessert as well, if served chilled. How luxurious and silky does this ogi look though! Sigh...

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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sorrel (also known as hibiscus flowers)
- water
- 2 tablespoons ogi/pap paste (white)
- fruits (such as pineapple, apple or mixed berries)

Directions
Put sorrel leaves and 1 cup water in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes then strain leaves from liquid and set aside in a bowl.


In the same pot, add 2 tablespoons ogi/pap paste and mix with 2 tablespoons of water.


Add the hot sorrel liquid to the ogi and stir continuously till it thickens. Once it starts to bubble, take off heat immediately.


Serve hot with choice fruits (like pineapple, apple, banana or berries).


Saturday, 21 February 2015

SAUCED TOFU AND PLANTAIN (GUEST POST)

If you missed the last guest post (Efo and Poundo) then click here to check it out.

Now, today's guest post features the culinary genius that is 9jafoodie. Her Nigerian recipes are all rooted in tradition but there's no denying the modern touch she brings to every dish. When I asked her to create a vegan meal, she completely exceeded my expectations and I can't wait for you guys to try it out. Go check out the 9jafoodie website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Enough from me, here's the post...
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The inspiration for this meal came from gizdodo, a combination of plantain and gizzard that is simmered in tomato sauce. Instead of Gizzard, I made use of extra firm tofu. Tofu is a great source of protein and one of my favourite things to eat. I started eating tofu as a kid; it was widely sold in Kwara state where I went to high school. Tofu is extremely versatile; it can be used in sauces, stir fries and stews. On its own, tofu tastes bland, but it will easily absorb the flavour of whatever you put in it. On the nutrition scale, tofu is a good source of Protein, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Copper and Selenium, and a very good source of Calcium and Manganese.






















Ingredients
1 block extra firm tofu (cubed)
1 large ripe plantain (cubed)
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon chili pepper
Salt – To taste
Deep frying oil
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 small onion - chopped
1/4 red pepper - chopped
1 cooking spoon tomato sauce














Directions

1. Combine the first 6 ingredients. Set aside.
















2. Heat up the deep-frying oil. Fry spiced Tofu/plantain until both start to brown. Remove from oil and set on paper towel to rest.















3. Place a pan on medium heat; add in the two tablespoons of oil, other left over ingredients and fried Tofu/Plantain. 















4. Stir to combine. Add a touch of water. Stir. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes. 















Serve and Enjoy!



Thursday, 19 February 2015

HELLOFOOD (NIGERIA)

So many food options, so little time. And when you throw in the possibility of getting stuck in traffic during rush hour as you go in search of a takeaway, it’s clear to see why a service such as the one provided by hellofood is so invaluable. 
hellofood is a brand new delivery service website that launched in Nigeria recently, with the aim of making food ordering quick and easy. With over 250 restaurants linked to their website, variety (and the chance to try something new!) is only a click away. The website is extremely user-friendly, reliable and professionally designed. All you need to do is enter your city/location, search for cuisine type or enter a particular type of restaurant you have in mind, and you will be presented with a range of online menus to choose from. You then select what you want to order, enter your details and pay on delivery. Simple as that. 
It all sounds wonderful, but of course I had to take a look at it from a vegan perspective too. I had a browse through the menus of a handful of restaurants listed on the site to see the vegan options available and came across a few gems. At Petit Paris in Lagos, for example, you can get a wide range of fresh smoothies and juices, with side orders of garnished fried plantain or herb French fries, steamed rice and so on. At Nono’s Delight in Ebute Metta, you can order jollof rice, indomie with vegetables, moi moi, boiled plantain, spaghetti jollof and side salads – a ton of variety without the need to touch meat and dairy. Most of the Asian-themed restaurants such as China Town Express in Victoria Island also provide veggie options and alternatives such as stir-fries and vegetable curries. 
The best offering of vegan food, however, comes from the ground-breaking restaurant, Veggie Victory, located on Lagos Island. Every single item on the menu is vegan. How exciting is that! And their full menu is available to you online. From tofu suya to veggie burgers to egusi soup, jollof rice and yam porridge, to fresh smoothies, juices and shakes. You can order with the knowledge that your food has been prepared in a 100% meat-free environment! 
To give this service a try, visit the hellofood website or download their app for extra convenience. Let me know how you get on and I’d especially love to hear your feedback if you order from Veggie Victory!

Sunday, 15 February 2015

TWO YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY (AND MY LATEST VEGAN DISCOVERIES)

Today marks the two year anniversary since I started this blog. I can still remember the exact moment I decided to start it. I was at home on vacation, sprawled on the sofa with my laptop in front of me, TV buzzing in the background, smiling to myself as the name 'The Vegan Nigerian' popped into my head and commenting to anyone who'd listen that it has-a-nice-ring-to-it-don't-you-think? I was still at the beginning of my vegan journey and everything about it was exciting. Two years on, 169 posts later, and I am just as excited about it today as I was back then. Gosh...'back then'...how time flies!

By taking that one, random decision to start the blog, I think it's fair to say that I've been led onto an incredible path. I continue to encounter inspiring people, places and opportunities. It has sharpened my focus on what I want out of life. Everything seems possible. It's allowed me to keep dreaming while also finding contentment in the things of the present; it's given me the chance to keep doing the things I love - unapologetically; it's shown me that life can be more than simply following the status quo; that life is too short to waste it on things you're not passionate about. I believe God allows everything to happen for a reason and the existence of this blog is no exception. If over the course of the last two years, the blog has caused someone to take a moment to reflect on the importance of their health and well-being (in terms of nutrition) and act on it, then it would have served some purpose.
All these life lessons though... Not bad for a blog that's simply about food and recipes, eh? 

Choosing to go vegan has honestly been one of the best decisions I've made, and having this platform to share this small part of my life and to showcase the diversity and ease of vegan cooking/eating is something I can't take for granted. So... a big, heart-felt thank you to every single person who reads and supports the blog. I'd probably still be updating if only one person bothered to read it, that's how much I enjoy it! :) Keep reading, keep sharing, let's keep the dialogue going.

In other news, I've been discovering a few fun things in the vegan world lately. Here are some snaps from places I've explored, foods I've tried, restaurants I've visited, in the last month or so. Many more foodie adventures to come, by God's grace...

1. Camden, London
When I asked for lemon & ginger tea at Inspiral Cafe, I didn't expect it to be so fresh with actual lemon and ginger pieces floating in my mug - loved it! Also, great view from where I was sitting!




And then I had to visit Cookies and Scream to try their vegan baked goods. A chocolate brownie this time around. My brother approved...



There were vegan options at the Camden Lock food court. Mostly falafel, but hey! The last time I was there, I spotted a West African food stand with jollof rice, plantain and all that good stuff...they seemed to be missing this time around :(



 2. Brighton
Brighton is vegan central, I still can't believe how vegan-friendly the city is! Café's, restaurants, grocery stores, you name it. Here's Infinity Foods, which is packed full of vegan products...


VBites, offering tons of meat-free alternatives. I used their vegan mince in my bolognese recipe...


And then there was Terre Ã  Terre. I'll let the food pics do the talking...








Dinner at Food For Friends, an award-winning vegetarian restaurant...




3. Food For Thought, Covent Garden, London
Kinda cramped in there but the portion sizes are generous...



4. The Gate, Hammersmith, London
Lovely, chilled atmosphere. Very fancy indeed. I hear Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney are fans of the place. I can understand why. My starter consisted of plantain fritters filled with vegetables, served with shaved fennel and pomegranate in a coriander and lime dressing with blueberry and chipotle coulis. Like I said, fancy...


Good ol' rice and curry...


And finally, the poshest looking crumble I've ever seen...