Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

I recently was invited to participate in another fun #Blogger Recipe contest, this time held by Big Mountain Foods… they sent me a few of their tasty #vegan products to play with and use to create a new #recipe. I absolutely LOVE spicy Asian food and noodle dishes and had a craving for it, so I decided to create these Vegan Kung Pao Noodles for the contest and oh my GOODNESS. They are super delish you guys!

Vegan Kung Pao NoodlesHey, it’s a New Year, so why not try to lighten up a little with some healthier recipes that are meat-free and dairy-free but still have tons of flavor? There’s so many good things in this dish that you won’t even miss the meat, I promise.

Lion's Mane Mushroom Crumbles

 

Big Mountain Foods is an all women-owned company based out of Vancouver, BC. They offer a superb lineup of fresh, vegan, #plant-based products that are flavorful, #gluten-free and #non-GMO/#organic. I used their Lion’s Mane Mushroom Crumbles in this recipe which has a blend of organic lion’s mane, portobello and shiitake mushrooms along with a mixture of other healthy ingredients like carrots, pea protein, yellow split peas, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds and coconut oil. They are absolutely delicious and a perfect substitution for ground beef, or ground chicken, with a great umami flavor and nice texture.

Prep ingredients

This recipe for Vegan Kung Pao Noodles is a fun twist on a traditional Asian favorite, Kung Pao. I made it with buckwheat soba noodles, sautéed Lion’s Mane mushroom crumbles, fresh ginger, shallots, red peppers, and water chestnuts tossed in a sweet and spicy Kung Pao sauce (soy sauce, sesame oil, apple cider vinegar and coconut palm sugar and Asian chile garlic sauce) topped with sesame seeds, crunchy peanuts and crispy fried garlic. Oh, the flavors!!!

Stir Fry veggies

First, heat oil in a wok or large pan and sauté the shallots, ginger, water chestnuts and red bell peppers for a few minutes until soft.

Add Mushroom Crumbles

Add the Lion’s Mane Mushroom Crumbles to the pan and cook a few minutes more until heated through.

Add Kung Pao Sauce

Stir in the Kung Pao sauce and let it simmer on low heat for a few more minutes to infuse all the delicious flavors together. Add a little corn starch slurry to thicken the sauce even more.

Stir Noodles and Veggies with Sauce

Toss in the cooked soba noodles and stir to coat. Add in the sesame seeds, peanuts and crispy garlic; mix together into a big pot of sweet and spicy, crunchy goodness.

Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

Serve immediately and enjoy with a glass of white wine (like a Sauvignon Blanc).

Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

Feel free to substitute other pasta for the soba noodles: rice noodles, spaghetti or linguine noodles work great. You can also add an extra teaspoon of chili garlic sauce or drizzle Sriracha sauce on top to kick the heat up a notch…(I absolutely did!!)

Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

If you want to experiment with some other veggies, try adding broccoli, carrots, snow peas, or sliced green onions to the stir fried noodles.

Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

If you add more veggies, you may need to make a little extra sauce depending on how much you add, so the noodles don’t get too dry. Just play with it and get it to the consistency and flavor you like.

Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 6

This is a fun twist on a traditional Asian favorite, Kung Pao, with buckwheat soba noodles tossed with sautéed Lion's Mane mushroom crumbles, fresh ginger, shallots, red peppers, and water chestnuts in a spicy savory sauce topped with sesame seeds, peanuts and crispy fried garlic.

Ingredients

  • 1 package buckwheat soba noodles (12 oz)
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
  • 1 package Big Mountain Foods Lion's Mane Mushroom Crumbles
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, julienned
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 (5 oz) can water chestnuts, diced
  • 1 small red pepper, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons coconut palm sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Asian chili garlic sauce
  • 1/3 cup cold water
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons crispy fried garlic

Instructions

  1. Cook soba noodles in boiling water for approximately 5 minutes, until soft. Drain and toss with 1 teaspoon sesame oil; set aside.
  2. Heat additional teaspoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of peanut oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat.
  3. Add ginger, shallot, water chestnuts and red pepper; sauté for about 2-3 minutes until soft. Stir in the Lion's Mane Mushroom Crumbles and cook for another 2-3 minutes, then lower heat to medium-low.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce (or tamari), sesame oil, apple cider (or rice) vinegar, coconut palm sugar, chili garlic sauce and pour into the skillet with the Mushroom veggie mixture, stir and toss to coat.
  5. Whisk the corn starch and water together and pour into the wok/skillet and mix together well. Let mixture cook for an additional minute or so until the sauce thickens.
  6. Toss in the peanuts, sesame seeds and fried garlic, stir together.
  7. Serve hot immediately, top with additional peanuts and crispy garlic if desired, for garnish.

Notes

Feel free to substitute other pasta for the soba noodles: rice noodles, spaghetti or linguine noodles work great. Add extra tablespoon of chili paste to kick the heat up a notch. You can also add extra vegetables to the stir fried noodles but you may need to make extra sauce so the noodles don't get too dry if adding them.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2022/01/vegan-kung-pao-noodles/

Vegan Kung Pao Noodles

Any way you make these Kung Pao noodles they are absolutely delish and a #healthy vegan dish to kick off the New Year with!

You can find all of Big Mountain’s products online and also in the fresh section of the grocery store, as well as specialty food stores (Sprouts, Whole Foods, etc.) And check out @bigmountainfoods social media pages and website for more info, a store locator and more great recipes!

Website: https://bigmountainfoods.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigmountainfoods/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigmountainfoods/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigmountainfood

#BigMountainFoodsRecipeChallenge #BigMountainFoods #Veganrecipes

——–

Other recipes you may enjoy:

Spicy Pork Udon Noodle Soup

Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles

Sweet + Spicy Shrimp Noodle Salad

 

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I was recently invited to participate in another great blogger recipe challenge– this time for Lucky Foods, a family-owned business and premiere Asian food brand. For the contest, I decided to make some Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps made with two of their popular sauces – Gochujang chili paste and Kimchi Mayo.

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These delicious spicy chicken lettuce wraps are full of flavor, light on carbs and the perfect mixture of sweet and spicy, crunchy and creamy all in one bite! The gochujang chili paste gives it a nice kick of heat and the kimchi mayo rounds out the flavor with some creamy tangy goodness to top it all off.

Lucky Foods Gochujang

Gochujang is a Korean chili pepper paste made from fermented red chili peppers and it has a nice spicy bite with a subtle sweetness and umami flavor from the fermented soybeans.. It’s great on noodles, in fried rice, as a marinade, or drizzling on soups, stews and salad bowls.

Lucky Foods Kimchi Mayo

Their Kimchi mayo is also a delicious condiment made with spicy fermented kimchi (cabbage) and vegan mayonnaise.

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

First I sautéed some fresh garlic, sliced scallions and ginger over medium heat until softened, about 2 minutes. Then I increased the heat to medium high and added the diced chicken and zucchini and sprinkled with sesame seeds and some salt and pepper, sautéing for about 4 minutes until browned.

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

To make the spicy sauce, I whisked together the Gochujang chili paste, hot honey, soy sauce and rice vinegar, then added it into the pan with the chicken and zucchini. Then I tossed in the cooked cauliflower rice, honey roasted peanuts and sliced carrots and let the mixture cook for another 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickened and liquid was reduced.

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

To serve, I spooned the spicy chicken mixture inside the lettuce leaves, then garnished the wraps with more grated carrots, cilantro, sesame seeds,  and a drizzle of spicy Kimchi Mayo with extra on the side.

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

You guys – this is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted! The balance of spicy / sweet / umami flavors along with the crunchy and creamy textures is absolutely DIVINE.  And these sauces will go great with any protein you choose – try it with tofu or shrimp or beef. And it’s low carb, paleo and keto-friendly too!

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: Serves 8.

Serving Size: 2-3 lettuce wraps

These delicious spicy chicken lettuce wraps are full of flavor, light on the carbs and the perfect mixture of sweet and spicy, crunchy and creamy all in one bite! The gochujang chili paste gives it a nice kick of heat and the kimchi mayo rounds out the flavor with some creamy tangy goodness to top it all off.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moon wedges
  • 1 pound chicken thighs, fat trimmed, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, plus additional for garnish
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 teaspoons Lucky Foods Gochujang chili paste
  • 2 tablespoons hot honey
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 package frozen cauliflower rice, cooked
  • 1 cup honey roasted or spicy peanuts
  • 6 baby carrots, sliced
  • Butter lettuce leaves, for serving
  • Grated carrots, for garnish
  • Cilantro leaves, for garnish
  • Lucky Foods Kimchi Mayo, for drizzling/dipping

Instructions

  1. Heat vegetable and sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the fresh garlic, sliced scallions and ginger and cook over medium heat until softened, about 2 minutes.
  2. Increase the heat to medium high and add the chicken thighs and zucchini, sprinkle with sesame seeds and some salt and pepper, to taste, sautéing for about 5-6 minutes until chicken is browned and cooked through. 
  3. Whisk together the Gochujang chili paste, hot honey, soy sauce and rice vinegar to make a spicy sauce, then add it into the pan with the chicken and zucchini. Stir to coat with the sauce.
  4. Add in the cooked cauliflower rice, peanuts and sliced carrots and stir; let mixture cook for another 5 minutes until the sauce thickened and liquid mostly evaporated. 
  5. To serve, scoop the spicy chicken mixture inside the lettuce leaves, then garnish the wraps with more grated carrots, cilantro, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of spicy Kimchi Mayo with extra on the side for dipping.

Notes

Feel free to substitute tofu, shrimp or beef for the chicken or use chicken breasts instead of thighs.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2021/08/spicy-korean-chicken-lettuce-wraps/

Spicy Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

To get more info on Lucky Foods products, check out their website. Their product line ranges from traditional and gluten-free spring rolls to Asian fusion sauces and BBQ sauces, kimchi and Korean pancakes. All of their products are free from MSG, GMOs, and added colors and preservatives. Their products only feature wholesome produce and fresh, aromatic spices, which is something I absolutely love!

They have more great recipe ideas on their Instagram & Facebook pages, and you can buy their products online or find them locally at Whole Foods, Giant, Acme and Food Lion.

#luckyfoodsrecipechallenge #eatluckyfoods

Note: I received complimentary products to use and try out for this Blogger recipe challenge. All opinions, writing, recipes and photos are my own.

 

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings with Asian Dipping Sauce

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings

Hey all! Happy Friday! And Happy Chinese New Year 2021year of the Ox! To celebrate, I wanted to share my Beef and Mushroom Dumplings with Asian Dipping Sauce recipe that I created for my client (Steakhouse Elite) recently. They are super easy and fun to make, and the perfect way to celebrate the occasion!

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings

They’re filled with a savory mixture of juicy grass-fed ground beef, baby bella mushrooms, water chestnuts, scallions, cilantro, ginger, white and red pepper, and soy sauce. I chopped all the fresh ingredients and seasonings together in a mini-food processor to make it easier and get a fine mince, then mixed it in with the ground beef and an egg to make the filling.

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings

Then I started filling the dumpling wrappers (about a tablespoon in the center of each) and then brushed some water around the edges and pressed and sealed them in a dumpling maker. First I pan-fried them in a little bit of oil for about a minute to brown them, then added about an inch of water into the hot pan and covered it to steam them for a couple of minutes to give a crispy, soft and juicy finish on the dumplings.

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings

They are served with a delicious Asian dipping sauce I made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, a little bit of brown sugar, and sriracha garnished with chives and sesame seeds for extra flavor and texture. It’s tangy and salty and sweet and just the right amount of umami to complement the beef and mushroom dumplings. So good!! I could seriously eat a whole plate of these myself, you guys 😉

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings

And be sure to check out my other recipes below that would also be great to celebrate the Chinese New Year with – some of my absolute favorites and a couple of them are award-winning! (The Kung Pao Beef and Black Pepper Caramel Chicken)

Beef and Mushroom Dumplings

Enjoy and Happy New Year 🙂

Beef + Mushroom Dumplings with Asian Dipping Sauce

Yield: 30-40 dumplings

These Beef and Mushroom Dumplings with Asian Dipping Sauce are super easy and fun to make and perfect way to celebrate the Chinese New Year! Filled with grass-fed ground beef, baby bella mushrooms, water chestnuts, scallions, cilantro, ginger, white and red pepper, and soy sauce and first pan-fried then steamed for a crispy and juicy finish on the dumplings. They are served with a delicious Asian Soy Dipping sauce and garnished with chopped chives and sesame seeds for extra flavor and texture.

Ingredients

  • Dumplings:
  • 3/4 pound Steakhouse Elite Grassfed Ground Beef
  • 3/4 cup sliced baby Bella mushrooms
  • 3/4 cup water chestnuts
  • 4 green onions
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro leaves
  • 1/8 cup soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 package pot sticker or gyoza wrappers (30-40)
  • Canola oil, for frying
  • Asian dipping sauce:
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha or hot garlic chile sauce
  • 1 teaspoon minced chives (fresh or dried)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Place mushrooms, water chestnuts, green onions, and cilantro in a food processor and blitz until finely minced.
  2. Cook the ground beef in a large sauté pan over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and let cool for 5 minutes.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, mushrooms, scallions, cilantro, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, white pepper, red pepper flakes and egg. Mix well with a large spoon or hands.
  4. Set up a work area with the dumpling wrappers and a small bowl of water; lay out the dumpling wrappers on a large cutting board or baking sheet. Place a 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of each wrapper.
  5. Moisten wrapper edges with water with your finger or pastry brush, and fold the wrapper over filling to make a half circle. Seal edges, pleating the front side several times to form a pleated pouch. (You can also use a dumpling maker to seal the dumplings to make it easier and faster to assemble.)
  6. Heat a skillet over high heat until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon oil and coat the sides. Place dumplings in a single layer to line the pan, pan fry for about 30 seconds, then carefully and slowly pour in 1/2 cup of water so the dumplings are covered by 1/2-inch. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook dumplings until all the water is absorbed. Remove the cooked dumplings with a spatula and set aside on a plate. (You can also carefully flip the pan over on to a plate with a hot pad, and scrape the dumplings off the pan). Repeat cooking the remaining dumplings.
  7. To make the dipping sauce, whisk all ingredients in a small bowl. Serve the sauce with hot dumplings, garnish with additional sliced scallions.

Notes

You could also substitute ground chicken or pork or even shrimp using the same ingredients and these dumplings will turn out absolutely delicious!

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2021/02/beef-and-mushroom-dumplings-with-asian-dipping-sauce/

More Asian recipes you may enjoy: 

Kung Pao Beef

Kung Pao Beef with Cauliflower Rice

Chicken Peanut Noodles

Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles

Spicy Pork Udon Noodles

Spicy Pork + Kale Udon Noodle Soup

Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon

Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon Noodles

Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry

Sweet + Spicy Meyer Lemon Shrimp Stir Fry

Things I Love {April 2020}

Things I Love :: April 2020

Welcome to my April #2020 edition of Things I Love – these are a few of my current objects of #obsession…#food, #wine, #cocktails, #recipes, #cooking gadgets, #restaurants, fav products and ingredients, #props, food styling and #photography inspiration, fun and engaging #videos, movies + TV shows, podcasts, lighting and #camera equipment and tips, #beauty products, #celebs and #influencers to follow, great #books to read, etc…All just simply people, places and things I love that I think are notable and worth a big shout out for their wonderful-ness! And stay tuned for next month on my journey to find new and fun things to share with you all. Enjoy! 

Fav Beauty Products

My fav beauty products 

These are a few of my favorite things for a quick 10-minute beauty routine. Cause who’s got time to spend on all of this, especially when all the salons are closed and you need a quick pick-me-up and beauty fix. 

  1. Beekham 1802 Apricot + Honey Tea hand lotion
  2. Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Spray
  3. Batiste Brilliant Blonde Dry Shampoo
  4. Laura Geller Bronze + Brighten and Balance and Glow Illuminating Foundation
  5. Doll 10 Hydralux lip liner and Hydrabalm Solid Serum lipstick
  6. Aurora Liquid Eye Liner – Espresso
  7. Laura Geller Gel Brow Pencil 
  8. Mally Lift + Curl Mascara
  9. Tetris Block Party Eyeshadow

Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon

Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon

I recently was awarded 2nd place in the JSL Foods Blogger Recipe Challenge..and won a $500 cash prize for my Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon recipe – yay! This recipe features their Chicken Udon Noodles which are organic, pre-cooked and delicious, and sweet and spicy glazed Vietnamese Chicken I made topped with everything bagel seasoning, jalapeños and fresh cilantro. Check out my award-winning recipe here

Spring Veggie Garden Bread

Spring Veggie Garden Bread

I saw these adorable Spring Veggie Garden breads on Facebook a couple weeks ago – I’m not sure who even made them but they are so bright and colorful and pretty! The bread dough has pressed veggies and herbs shaped into flower shapes and then it’s brushed with olive oil before baking to make these gorgeous designs!I found a  recipe like this online from Taste of Home if you want to give your artistic baking skills a whirl – https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/bread-art/

Easy Queso Dip

Easy Queso Dip

This is a super easy queso dip from Bon Appetit – creamy cheesy goodness made with onions, garlic, jalapeños and lots of American ad Monterey Jack cheese – and ready to go in about 15-20 minutes on the stove! Perfect for tacos, nachos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and of course to dip tortilla chips in with salsa and margaritas for Cinco de Mayo! get the recipe here

My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend

This is a gorgeous mini-series on HBO that I just started watching and fell in love with instantly. Set in Naples Italy post-World War II, is a story about two best friends (Lila Ferrulo and Elena Greco) along with their struggles and friendship as they go through life together (and apart) trying to survive and get out of a poor neighborhood in the projects of Naples. It has a complex cast of characters that make up all of the Italian families that surround them and are intertwined in their lives. The story is endearing and heartwarming, yet sad and troubling all at the same time. It’s absolutely beautifully written – lovely, haunting and addicting. The books are part of a 4-part series called Neapolitan Novels written by Elena Ferrante which the HBO TV series is based upon.  Must see and read!

Watch the series 
Buy the books

Click here for more hidden gems to watch on Netflix

Whipped Coffee White Russian

Whipped Coffee White Russian

Everyone seems to be making that trendy frothy whipped Dalgona Coffee lately..but have you seen this one by Half Baked Harvest? It’s a fun twist on the original White Russian cocktail topped with whipped coffee, a touch of sugar and hint of vanilla. Delish!

Get the recipe here

Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies

Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies

A favorite recipe by Alison Roman of Bon Appetit – these cookies are a cross between shortbread, chocolate chip and brown sugar cookies. Perfect for a sweet tooth attack in the middle of a pandemic! Described in her words:

“Less chocolate chip cookie, more brown sugar shortbread with chocolate chunks—they just might be the cookie you’ve been looking for.”

Get the recipe here

Girl Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis

Fav Books, E-Books and Cookbooks, Apps

  1. Girl Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis
  2. Keto For Carb Lovers Cookbook, Delish
  3. Quick and Easy Recipes from The NY Times, Mark Bittman
  4. The Sugar Brain Fix, Mike Dow
  5. Shine App – Calm Anxiety and Stress
  6. Quibi

Chrissy Teigen YouTube

Fav Podcasts + Video/YouTube Shows

  1. Inspiring Life by Lewis Howes 
    RISE Podcast by Rachel Hollis
  2. Unlocking Us by Brene Brown
  3. Jay Shetty Podcast
  4. Think Media TV YouTube
  5. Chrissy Teigen YouTube 
  6. The FeedFeed IGTV
  7. The Bite Shot YouTube
  8. NYTimes Cooking YouTube

Motivational Articles and Links

  1. This Pandemic is Our Teacher, by Michael Pietzrak
  2. 16 Ways to Read More Books, by Jamie Friedlander
  3. How to Fight Boredom with Curiosity, Goop.com

A few More Goodies

These are just a few more things I take and use on a daily basis for good health and wellbeing. It’s all about taking care of yourself especially during a stressful time like this. The CBD Hemp Oil, Organic Greens Superfood Drink, Turmeric with Ginger and Black Pepper I take every day..!  I got all of those on Amazon except for the Neutrogena HydroBoost mask (which I LOVE!!) – you can get at any drug store like Walgreens or CVS. Here’s a link to the Stash Tea website – I love this new flavor with apple cider and maple..soooo good and comforting! These FBOMB Nut Butters are amazing too – for a quick dose of tasty and healthy fat these macadamia nut butters come in different flavors like salted chocolate, coconut, sea salt, hazelnut and more. Also, they have a great Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal going on with free shipping – just use code FREEJAR during checkout.

Thai Chicken Salad w/ Peanut Dressing

Chopped Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing

Recipe by Pinch of Yum

Taco Bar

A few Cinco de Mayo recipes and ideas 

White Bean Stew

And lastly, here are 44 Spring Recipes from Bon Appetit – yay! Spring is finally here. 

 

Beyond Sushi NYC: An Artful Approach to Vegan Sushi

Chef Guy Vaknin
Chef Guy Vaknin

On a recent visit to BeyondSushi,  a Japanese Vegan Sushi restaurant in the East Village in NYC, I had the opportunity to meet the Founder and Chef (and Hell’s Kitchen Finalist!) Guy Vaknin, to discuss his innovative and artful approach to traditional Sushi. Chef Guy came up with the idea for his vegan Sushi concept while he was the Executive Chef of Esprit Events, a Catering company in New York. Focusing on Kosher, healthy vegan and vegetarian food, they opened a Vegan Sushi station, and the idea grew from there when Chef Guy saw the potential and demand for healthy vegan food in the New York market. Two years later, BeyondSushi (The Green Roll) was born.

Sushi Artwork
Sushi Artwork

The Sushi is not only artfully crafted and colorful, but super healthy, fresh and totally vegan, while keeping the Asian flavors true to traditional Sushi by using natural ingredients such as sliced nori, red, black and six-grain rice, toasted sesame, chili flakes, and gourmet imported sea salts to punch up and balance the flavors and textures of their Sushi.

Rice Bed Salad
Rice Bed Salad

They have a variety of delicious and creative sushi rolls, sushi pieces, as well as Vegan wraps and salads, and they make all of their own custom sauces such as Carrot Ginger, Sweet Soy Mirin, Shiitake Teriyaki, White Miso, and more, using grapeseed oil and all natural, dairy free ingredients.

Chefs at Work
Chefs at Work

They take a variety of colorful, seasonal ingredients and combine them into gorgeous works of art – and the best part is, they really do taste like traditional sushi, but are pure Vegan. Crunch ‘n Munch, Pickle Me, La Fiesta, Green Machine and Mighty Mushroom are just a few of their catchy roll names – all made with tasty, healthy vegetables, rice and seasonings. They also do a custom roll of the month, which Chef Guy creates based on whatever he feels like dreaming up that day, using  local produce from vendors at the Union Square Farmers Market.

Vegan Baked Goods
Vegan Baked Goods

Their Pastry Chef, Tiffany Louie, has created a new line of Vegan pastries and baked goods available in the store – Parsnip Cakes with Orange Almond Creme, Seed and Dried Fruit Almond Bars, and Carrot Bars are a few of their sweet healthy treats. Their juices are squeezed fresh each day and made in house.

Nutty Buddy Vegan Wrap
Nutty Buddy Vegan Wrap

I sampled the Nutty Buddy wrap, made with Buckwheat noodles, crushed peanuts, cilantro, jalapeno, peanut butter, avocado, sesame oil, carrots, baked tofu and romaine – a delicious combination and explosion of Asian flavors!

Vegan Sushi Rolls
Vegan Sushi Rolls

For a sushi sampling, I devoured the Spicy Mang Roll, made with Black Rice, Avocado, Mango, Cucumber and spicy veggies with a delicious Toasted Cayenne sauce. I also had the Pickle Me, made with Six Grain rice, Gobo, Carrot, Pickled Daikon and Avocado with a Carrot Ginger Sauce. YUM!

Dining Area
Dining Area

Their space is casual, cozy and inviting, and in a great location on 14th Street near Union Square. Their prices are reasonable too, ranging from $5.00 to $8.50 for Rice Paper Wraps and Salads to $6.50 for an 8-piece roll, or $7.50 to $13 for a combination plate of rolls. They also do custom catering for private events, weddings and parties with a variety of sushi rolls, salads and wrap platters.

Beyond Sushi Sign
Beyond Sushi Sign

They’ve been written up by Oprah and the NY Times and have plans to open up a second location in the near future, so stay tuned for more. There definitely isn’t any other restaurant around like it, so kudos to Chef Guy for pioneering this healthy, delicious concept. With Vegan Sushi this good – who needs the fish?!

BeyondSushi
229 E 14th St
New York NY 10003
646.861.2889
www.BeyondSushiNYC.com

Check out their online video and Facebook Page for more info

Check out their menu online

Beyond Sushi NYC
Beyond Sushi NYC