It may be hard to find gluten- and grain-free doughnuts—why not make your own! These Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins will satisfy that craving without additives or unpronounceable ingredients.
Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins
It may be hard to find gluten- and grain-free doughnuts—why not make your own! These Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins will satisfy that craving without additives or unpronounceable ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray or lightly grease two mini muffin pans and set aside.
Mix together wet ingredients.
Slowly mix in Simple Mills Pumpkin Muffin & Bread Mix.
Pour batter into muffin tins.
Bake for 10 minutes, until the tops are domed and firm to the touch, and a tester comes out clean. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for five minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
While the muffins are cooling in the pan, whisk together the coconut sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
As soon as the muffins are cool enough to handle, place each one in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, firmly rolling it around so that the cinnamon-sugar sticks. Gently toss it around a couple of times until the whole muffin is covered. Once covered, place each muffin back on the wire rack to finish cooling.
Anchored in tradition but updated for health, these recipes for some of the greatest Oktoberfest foods will have you ready to celebrate!
Plant-based Schnitzel with Noodles
Schnitzel usually means tenderized meat coated in egg and bread crumbs and deep-fried. This version of schnitzel would have even Julie Andrews singing its praises, thanks to the tender tofu that skips the fryer.
Slice tofu twice horizontally to create 3 pieces about 1/2 in thick, then cut each piece in half vertically to make 6 pieces. Different brands are different thicknesses, so slice it however is best to make pieces slightly smaller than a deck of cards.
Line baking tray with clean kitchen towels and place tofu pieces on top in a single layer. Top with more towels, followed by another baking sheet. Weight the baking sheet (with books or cans of beans) and let moisture drain for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In shallow bowl, combine flour and water or beer. In second shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, paprika, garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
Sprinkle drained tofu with remaining 1/2 tsp salt, then dip each piece in flour mixture followed by spiced bread crumbs. Place on paper towel-lined plate and pat extra bread crumb mixture gently on top in any bare areas.
In large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add half the tofu and cook 2 minutes on each side, or until golden, pressing down with flat spatula on top to ensure crumbs brown evenly. Return tofu to paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Remove any loose bread crumbs from skillet, then add remaining 1/2 Tbsp oil and cook remaining tofu.
Meanwhile, cook pasta as per package instructions. Heat sauce, if using.
Serve drained pasta topped with schnitzel and sauce of choice. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Enjoy!
Gluten-Free Pretzels
Large pretzels are a staple of many Oktoberfest celebrations. The large pieces of golden, twisted pretzel dough come topped with coarse salt for a savory crunch with every bite.
2cupssweetened or unsweetened nondairy milkdivided
1tablespoondry active yeast
½teaspooncane sugar
½cuptapioca starch
½cup+ 2 tablespoons cornstarch
3cupsall-purpose gluten-free flour
2tablespoonspsyllium husk powder
1 ½teaspoonsalt
⅓cupvegan butter or coconut oilmelted
5cupswater
¼cupbaking soda
Coarse salt
Method
In small pot, heat 1/2 cup nondairy milk (or microwave) until warm to the touch but not scalding. In heat-proof bowl, add yeast and sugar, then pour milk overtop. Set aside for 15 minutes.
In stand mixer or large bowl, whisk tapioca starch, cornstarch, flour, psyllium, and salt. Add melted butter or oil, remaining 1 1/2 cups nondairy milk, and yeast mixture. Use dough hook or hand mixer on low speed to beat until just combined.
Shape dough into a ball. Transfer to lightly oiled bowl, cover with dish towel and set in a warm, draft-free place for 90 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 F.
In medium pot, bring 5 cups water to a simmer with baking soda. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On cutting board or clean countertop, divide dough into 10 pieces and roll into 15 in strands. Push edges away from you into a “U” shape and twist the ends over each other twice (there are plenty of videos online for this if you need help). Then bring the ends down to the bottom of the “U.”
Remove pot of water from heat. Using large, flat spatula, carefully pick up and slide a pretzel into water for 30 seconds. If water doesn’t cover the pretzel, rotate pot to submerge. Remove pretzel to parchment-lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining pretzels. You can do this all at once, but the pretzels are delicate.
Sprinkle pretzels with coarse salt and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Enjoy!
Dunkel Beer-Marinated Rotisserie-Style Chicken
This dark beer-marinated chicken uses the convection setting on your oven to create a crispy skinned bird. (If you don’t have a convection setting on your oven, you can simply bake the chicken for longer at the same temperatures as below, until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 F.)
1teaspoonGerman mustard or any grainy or stone-ground mustard
4garlic clovesminced
1 ½teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonpepper
2teaspoonsdried basil
Method
Zest and juice lemon. Stuff chicken cavity with leftover lemon pith and fresh thyme sprigs. In medium bowl, combine lemon zest and juice with remaining ingredients and pour over chicken in large bowl, pot, or leak-proof, sealable bag. Gently separate chicken skin from breast and legs without tearing, and scoop some of the marinade juices inside. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to 12 hours.
Heat oven to 400 F on convection roast setting.
Place chicken in roasting pan and pour remaining marinade overtop. It should be elevated above juices to allow chicken to crisp. A metal rack that fits inside the roasting pan can be used. Roast for 30 minutes. Lower heat to 375 F and roast for 50 minutes longer, basting chicken every 20 minutes, until internal temperature reads 165 F and juices run clear. Loosely tuck a large piece of parchment paper over chicken during the last 30 to 60 minutes if overly brown.
Remove chicken from oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. Carve chicken and serve with sieved juices, or thicken juices with beer and cornstarch to make gravy.
Lima beans are one of the most polarizing beans and more polarizing foods out there. We don’t get all the lima bean hate. Don’t turn up your nose at lima beans; they’re one of the mildest flavored beans. Sometimes called butter beans, these protein rich, creamy beans are mild and delicious. With just a bit of lime juice and toasted pumpkin seeds, lightly charred lima beans make a satisfying dish full of texture and flavor.
Don’t turn up your nose at lima beans! Sometimes called butter beans, these protein rich, creamy beans are mild and delicious. With just a bit of lime juice and toasted pumpkin seeds, lightly charred lima beans make a satisfying dish.
Toast pumpkin seeds in a 350∞F oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Place freshly toasted seeds in a food processor and process until finely ground.
Heat sesame and avocado oil in a medium sauté pan until hot, add lima beans and allow to sit and develop a sear, tossing occasionally until desired sear is achieved.
Take a caprese salad to the next level. Instead of a mild, sweet Italian basil, Thai basil has a more spicy, assertive flavor. It will stand up to the other ingredients here and pairs well with the melon and tomatoes. These juicy melons and ripe tomatoes are at their peak, so you don’t need much to make them shine. With prosciutto and melon, this caprese salad can serve as a lunch all on its own or pair nicely as a side dish for your next celebratory dinner.
Whisk dressing ingredients together until emulsified. Set aside.
Cut melon in half and remove seeds. Use a melon baller to scoop the fruit or peel and chop into bite-sized pieces.
To assemble, arrange melon, tomatoes, mozzarella, and prosciutto on a serving vessel. Drizzle dressing over salad and garnish with basil. Serve promptly.
Pupusas are a thick griddled corn cake from El Salvador and Honduras. They are filled with savory ingredients and typically served with a pickled vegetable slaw called curtido. You can get creative with the fillings! Beans, squash, peppers, and even shrimp find their way into pupusas. While you can get pupusas from a restaurant or even the freezer section, this is a really approachable recipe to try at home! If you can roll a ball of dough and cook pancakes, you’ll have no trouble with pupusas!
Keyword appetizer, chorizo, dinner, gluten free, lunch, pupusas, side
Servings 4
Ingredients
2cupsmasa harina
1 ½cupswater
1teaspoonsea salt
¾cupcooked chorizo sausagecrumbled
1 ¼cupshredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Prepare the pupusa dough by mixing the masa with the salt. Add water and stir until fully incorporated. The dough should be firm yet pliable, add more masa or water depending on how the dough turns out after stirring in the water described above.
Scoop dough into approximately ¼ cup amounts and roll into balls.
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. It is best to assemble and cook the pupusas as you go, one or more at a time depending on the size of the skillet.
Using wet hands, flatten a dough ball to a diameter of five inches and place three tablespoons of cheese and two tablespoons of chorizo into the center. Flatten another dough ball and place on top of the filling. Press and shape the pupusa into a round form with a quarter inch of thickness.
Place in an oil coated skillet and cook 3-5 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
Enjoy!
Notes
SUBSTITUTIONS: Replace chorizo with any other seasoned meat, plant-based alternatives, or refried beans. Cheese can be swapped out for a non-dairy cheese that has good melting properties.
Sweet, spicy, crisp, and refreshing. Forget your usual potluck sides and make this watermelon jicama salad instead! It’s both hydrating and delicious! We love the juicy melon mixed with a slightly spicy dressing. You can control the heat by using less serrano pepper or amp it up by using the seeds and ribs. It may get spicier over time as the peppers marinate in the dressing, so be careful if you’re prepping this ahead of time. Don’t have any jicama? Daikon radish, a green apple, or even a firm pear will work here.
Unexpected guests? Entertaining is easy with these Tasty Lentil Lettuce Wraps. Just a few fresh veggies and ready-to-eat madras lentils come together for a perfect bite.
We all know and love the classic crispy rice bar. Take it up a notch by adding natural peanut butter and fair-trade chocolate for these chocolate peanut butter crispy rice treats. The result? A portable treat that you can take to picnics by the water, camping under the stars, or your next backyard barbecue.
Melt butter in pan over low heat. Add agave to the pan and stir together until combined. Add peanut butter. Stir to combine.
Let this mixture cook on low for three to four minutes, stirring frequently. It should start to thicken slightly but still be a liquid when you take it off the heat. Take pan off heat. Add vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the rice crisp cereal. Stir to combine. Pour mixture into parchment-lined pan. Press mixture down firmly to be sure it all sticks together.
Let set in the fridge for one hour. Chop roasted and salted peanuts. Set aside.
Melt chocolate in microwave in 20 second increments. Stir well between each increment. Stop microwaving when there is still a bit of solid chocolate remaining.
Pour the chocolate over the top of the rice crispy treats. Spread out evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top while chocolate is liquid.
Let set in fridge. Once chocolate is firm cut into 12 squares and serve.
Lightly Salted Rice Cakes with Basil Chicken Salad
For a light lunch or satisfying snack, try topping Lightly Salted Rice Cakes with Basil Chicken Salad! Our recipe calls for fresh herbs and Greek yogurt to create a creamy texture and tangy flavor that’s perfectly balanced by organic brown rice. Plus, this pairing is packed with protein and plenty of whole grains to fill you up without weighing you down. Isn’t that delicious? 🌾😋
Season chicken breasts with sea salt and sauté in neutral oil on medium-high, turning occasionally. Cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest for 10 minutes, dice, and refrigerate in a large bowl until cooled.
Add grapes, apples, red onion, and almonds to chilled chicken. Stir to fully incorporate. Add greek yogurt, mayo, basil, honey, dill, sea salt, and black pepper. Fold to fully incorporate.
Spread on Lundberg Organic Lightly Salted Rice Cakes. Top with basil, parsley, and black pepper.
Thanks to Christine Waltermyer & The Natural Kitchen Cooking School!
Christine Waltermyer is a local and renowned Wellness Chef, private chef to celebrities, published cookbook author and founder of the Natural Kitchen Cooking School, which offers an online Plant-Based Cooking Program. She also loves shopping at Basil Bandwagon! Visit naturalkitchenschool.com to subscribe to her email newsletter for new recipes, tips, and FREE access to the Power of Veggies mini-course!
Not only does inflammation cause discomfort and pain, but it could lead to other health conditions ranging from Arthritis to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Certain foods from our diet contribute to inflammation in our bodies – however, not everyone will experience the same flare-ups. One way to help control them is to eat a diet that’s rich in anti-inflammatory foods – like salads! You can mix and match your favorite toppings to make a powerhouse meal that’s delicious, nutritious and full of added health benefits. Check out Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School’s favorite anti-inflammatory salad recipe below – Mesclun Salad with Walnuts & Blueberries!
Place in a large salad bowl: mesclun salad mix, walnuts, blueberries, oranges and fennel.
In a small glass jar with a lid, place all of the dressing ingredients. Shake well.
Pour the dressing over the salad, toss and serve.
Enjoy!
Notes
If not serving the salad right away, store the dressing and covered salad separately until ready to serve.
Thank you to Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School for working with us to help promote healthy, nutritious meals and products that are affordable, full of nutrients, and simple to make at home!