Vegan Oven Roasted Pumpkin Wedges With Cranberry Pecan And Chile Pesto Recipes

VEGAN OVEN ROASTED PUMPKIN WEDGES WITH CRANBERRY, PECAN AND CHILE PESTO

Steps:

• To make the pesto: Combine cranberries, orange juice and 1/2 cup grapeseed oil in a bowl to soak while you prepare the other components. In a medium skillet, dry roast the pecans over a medium flame until fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove to a tray and allow to cool. Gently toast the red chile flakes about 1 minute in the same skillet and remove to a small plate or bowl. Blitz the cranberries and orange juice in a small food processor. Add chile flakes, thyme and three-fourths of the pecans and process until smooth. Add the remaining pecans and pulse one or two times for a chunky consistency. Season with kosher salt to taste, and more red chile flakes if desired. Set the pesto aside or refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice open the pumpkin and remove seeds and fibers. Slice pumpkin into 1¼-inch-thick wedges. Brush all over with 1/2 cup grapeseed oil. Sprinkle with sea salt. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and cover with foil.
• Roast covered for 90 minutes. Remove foil and increase heat to 375 degrees and cook another 20 to 30 minutes, until the edges begin to caramelize. Allow to cool slightly before serving wedges with the pesto.

VEGAN PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• To prepare the pumpkin: Cut the pumpkin in half through the center and scoop out the seeds and strings. Reserve the seeds. Carefully cut away the hard peel with a paring knife - or, better, a vegetable peeler - and chop the flesh. You should have about 6 cups of pumpkin flesh.
• In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the olive oil with the sesame oil. Add the shallots and sauté them, stirring occasionally, until they are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the stock, pumpkin, potato and carrot, raise the heat to high, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender, purée the soup until very smooth, or (carefully!) purée in batches in a blender with a towel placed over the lid. Stir in the brown sugar, molasses, orange zest and curry powder. Over low heat, stir in the soy milk, dark rum and Tabasco sauce. Taste carefully. Season with salt and pepper and add the nutmeg.
• Toast the pumpkin seeds. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a roomy bowl, stir the seeds with peanut oil or canola oil - about a half cup of oil for every four cups of seeds. Add a nominal amount of kosher salt. Try adding a bit of thyme, oregano, cumin, coriander, cardamom and/or cayenne pepper, if you like.
• Line baking sheet(s) with parchment paper. Spread the seeds in one layer on the sheets. Toast slowly for about an hour, checking them every 10 to 15 minutes and stirring if they are browning unevenly. Store the toasted seeds in tightly sealed containers lined with paper towels.
• Serve soup in warmed bowls, and pass the toasted pumpkin seeds and vegan cheddar cheese for sprinkling.

VEGAN QUICK BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add margarine and cut it roughly into flour using a pastry cutter, until mixture is the texture of coarse meal with a few larger margarine lumps. Work quickly so the margarine does not melt. Add nondairy milk and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. Do not overwork.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and pat into an oblong shape, about 1 inch thick. Using a 2-inch floured cookie or biscuit cutter, cut the biscuits out and place them on a baking sheet. Brush the tops lightly with melted margarine and bake for about 12 to 15 minutes, or until they begin to turn golden. Remove biscuits from oven immediately and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Make the maple "butter": In a mixing bowl, using a whisk or electric mixer, whip margarine with maple syrup until light and fluffy. Refrigerate until serving.

VEGAN PUMPKIN TIRAMISU

Steps:

• To make the Pumpkin Crème: In a small bowl, thoroughly mix cornstarch and water with a whisk or fork and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, whisk together coconut milk, pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice and salt, and heat over medium heat until it just begins to boil, about 5 minutes. Slowly drizzle cornstarch mixture into the saucepan, whisking continuously. Cook until the mixture becomes very thick, about 5 minutes, whisking frequently. Pour the crème into a bowl and let cool about 15 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap so that the plastic wrap is touching the top of the crème. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
• To make the Vanilla Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease three 8- or 9-inch round cake pans or one 9-by-13-inch pan and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together nondairy milk, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Fill each prepared cake pan evenly with batter. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs clinging to it. Rotate the cakes halfway through the baking time. Cool the cakes completely before assembly.
• To make the Espresso Soak: In a small bowl, whisk amaretto, water and espresso until espresso dissolves.
• To assemble: In a large bowl or trifle dish, place one layer of cake (trim to fit) at the bottom and drizzle it with the Espresso Soak. Spread a layer of Pumpkin Crème on top and generously sprinkle with ground chocolate. Repeat this process for 2 more layers until all components are used up. You could also cut the cake into mini rounds for individual servings in mini trifle dishes or ramekins.