Tag: meal prep

Image of frozen peas, carrots, and corn.

How to Use Up Vegetables in Soup Mix Freezer Bags

We’ve all been there… We’ve all had the best intentions of meal prepping or eating healthier and then either never started or only used half the veggies we bought. The rest sat in the refrigerator until they were either going bad or were beyond the point of saving, and we had to throw them out. Well, I have the perfect solution for how to use up veggies that will not only save time later but will help you eat healthier too!

Soup Mix Bags

When my celery is starting to wilt and my mushrooms have been sitting in the refrigerator way too long, I gather all of the vegetables in my refrigerator, take out my food processor, and get to work making soup mix bags! It only takes a few minutes, and then I have bags of vegetables ready to pull out of the freezer any time I’m hungry for soup. If you don’t have a food processor, you can cut your vegetables by hand. It will just take a little longer.

What Vegetables Work?

The great news is that these soup mix bags are customizable to what you like to eat in your soup and what you happen to have in your refrigerator! My favorite combination just contains the staples I use in almost every soup I make–carrots, celery, bell peppers, onion, garlic, and mushrooms. If you want the recipe for my “chicken” noodle soup, check out this post! It uses tofu for a vegetarian/vegan option.

Below is a comprehensive list of vegetables that freeze well and that you could include in your soup mix bags:

  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Bell peppers
  • Onions
  • Mushrooms
  • Corn
  • Broccoli
  • Zucchini
  • Green beans

Vegetables With Special Preparation

Mushrooms will need to be fully cooked before freezing, while zucchini and green beans will all need to be blanched.

Instructions

  1. Wash all vegetables and peel the vegetables that need peeled.
  2. If any vegetables require special preparation, like pre-cooking or blanching, complete that preparation and set the vegetables aside to cool.
  3. Using a food processor with the slicing plate attached, slice the remaining vegetables you would like to use in your soup mix bags.
  4. Evenly divide the vegetables into reusable sandwich bags.
  5. Store in freezer for 4-6 months.
  6. When you’re ready to cook, simply take bag out of freezer and dump vegetables into hot pan.
  7. Allow to thaw and then cook to desired doneness.
  8. Continue with soup recipe.

Sweet Potato Green Curry – Autoimmune Protocol Friendly, Vegan

This sweet potato green curry is hearty, vegan, and AIP-approved! The curry paste takes a little extra effort since it is made from scratch, but the rest of the recipe is a breeze!

I wouldn’t classify this as “Thai” curry. As a person with Okinawan roots, I’m not super familiar with Thai food, but I am aware that Thai green curry is spicier than this curry. But, if you’re on AIP, then you know peppers aren’t elimination-phase approved, so I went with a sweeter curry instead!

I think this would be really delicious served over sweet potato noodles, which are AIP-friendly as well! These are my favorite and can be found on Amazon. If you aren’t vegan, you can add your protein of choice, and, if you aren’t AIP, you can add tofu!

Where can I get special ingredients?

Certain ingredients, like lime leaves and Thai basil, may not be available in your typical grocery store. Even where I’m located in the south (i.e., not surrounded by a very diverse population), I was able to find all of these ingredients at our local Asian food store.

What can I do with lime leaves?

Aside from this curry, you can use lime leaves to flavor dishes you would typically have limes with, like guacamole! In the meantime, you can easily store lime leaves in the freezer to keep them fresh until you’re ready to use them.

Recipe

[recipe title="Sweet Potato Green Curry" servings="6" preptime="20 minutes" cooktime="25 minutes" ]

[recipe-ingredients]

* 1 stalk lemongrass

* 1 handful cilantro

* 1 handful Thai basil

* 3-4 lime leaves

* 2 Tbsp ginger, minced

* 1/2 onion, chopped

* 4-6 cloves garlic, minced

* 1 tsp coconut oil

* 3 sweet potatoes, cubed

* 1/2 onion, diced

* 6-8 leaves swiss chard, stems removed and saved

* 6-8 swiss chard stems, sliced

* 2-3 carrots, sliced

* 1 1/2 cups mushrooms, sliced

* 1 can coconut milk

* 1 can coconut cream

* Coconut aminos to taste

[/recipe-ingredients]
[recipe-directions]

1. To make the curry paste, process lemongrass, cilantro, Thai basil, lime leaves, ginger, onion, and garlic in a food processor until smooth.

2. Set your Instant Pot to sauté and add coconut oil.
2. Once hot, add onion, chard stems, and carrot. Cook until just softened, then add in curry paste. Cook until fragrant.

3. Add in mushrooms and cook until they begin to cook down.

4. Add potatoes to Instant Pot and add water until all vegetables are just covered.

5. Turn Instant Pot valve to sealing and pressure cook for 3 minutes.

6. When Instant Pot has finished pressure cooking, turn valve to venting.

7. Remove lid and add coconut cream, coconut milk, swiss chard, and coconut aminos to taste.

8. Serve while hot!

[/recipe-directions]
[recipe-nutrition]
Nutritional information will vary depending on the vegetables used.
[/recipe-nutrition]
[/recipe]

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The BEST No-Mato Sauce – Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Friendly

I absolutely love tomatoes. I use some variation of tomato in nearly everything I cook. I eat them by themselves. I just really love them. When I started the Autoimmune Protocol, I was not happy to see tomatoes weren’t on the list of approved foods. Upon searching for no-mato sauces, I just knew there was no way the conglomeration of vegetables people were blending together would taste like tomatoes. So I did a lot of research and came up with my own recipe!

Let. Me. Tell. You. It fooled me and my fiancé! It is really that good! Even though there are a million no-mato sauce recipes out there, I just have to share mine because it has the acidity, the sweetness, and all of the tomato-y goodness…without the tomatoes, sugar, or non-AIP-approved foods!

What Makes Your Recipe Different?

There were two important factors to me when making this recipe. First, it had to have the unmistakable acidity of a real tomato sauce. And, second, it had to look like tomato sauce. Visuals and aesthetics are important to me, especially when it comes to food, and I just couldn’t eat something that looked like…well…not appetizing. I think my recipe satisfies both requirements. I hope you’ll try it and see for yourself!

Quick Note

I batch-prep this recipe because it is so delicious and freeze whatever portion I don’t plan to use within 3-4 days. If you want to just test the recipe out, I would suggest at least halving it because it does make quite a few servings.

Recipe

[recipe title="The BEST No-Mato Sauce" servings="20" preptime="15 minutes" cooktime="15 minutes" ]

[recipe-ingredients]

* 1 1/2 yellow onion, chopped

* 9 carrots, sliced

* 9 celery stalks, sliced

* 1 beet, cubed

* 1 cup cranberries, frozen or canned

* 3/4 cup cherries without the pit, frozen or canned

* 6 cloves garlic

* 1 can pumpkin purée

* 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

* 1-2 tsp sea salt

* 4-6 cups bone or veggie broth, enough to cover fruit and vegetables

[/recipe-ingredients]
[recipe-directions]

1. Cut all vegetables.

2. Set Instant Pot to sauté and add onion. I use water or veggie broth to prevent sticking, but feel free to use oil if you prefer.

3. When onions begin to turn translucent, add carrots and celery. Cook until they begin to soften.

4. Add all other ingredients to Instant Pot.

5. Put the lid on Instant Pot, turn valve to sealing, and set Instant Pot to pressure cook for 15 minutes.

6. When the Instant Pot is finished pressure cooking, turn valve to venting and release steam. Remove lid.

7. If you don’t want your sauce super runny, dump off some of the broth. I left about 3 cups of broth in the Instant Pot.

8. Then, using an immersion blender, blend the vegetables until the dish becomes a marinara-like texture. You can use a blender if you’d like.

9. Season to taste. Use within 4 days or freeze.

[/recipe-directions]

Easy Red Lentil and Bulgur Wheat Soup

This red lentil soup has a secret ingredient that becomes the star of the show: bulgur wheat! Bulgur comes from cracked whole-grain kernels of wheat that get parboiled and dried before packaging!

This recipe is not gluten-free because of the bulgur, so, if you are gluten-free, I bet red lentil soup on its own would taste delicious!

Recipe Video

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChIlRK6AE8t/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
[recipe title="Red Lentil and Bulgur Wheat Soup" servings="6" preptime="10 minutes" cooktime="30 minutes" ]
[recipe-notes]
Inspired by my local Mediterranean and Moroccan restaurant!
[/recipe-notes]
[recipe-ingredients]

* 3 carrots, shredded

* 5 celery stalks, shredded

* 1 yellow onion, shredded

* 2 cups red lentils

* 1 cup bulgar wheat

* 8 cups vegetable broth/water with vegetable bouillon

* 1/2 cup hot sauce

* 2 Tbsp tomato paste

* 1 Tbsp chili powder

* 2 tsp paprika

* 2 tsp cumin

* 1 tsp Trader Joe’s Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend (optional)

[/recipe-ingredients]
[recipe-directions]

1. First, shred carrots, celery stalks, and onion. I used a food processor.

2. Add to large pot and cook until onions are translucent.

3. Rinse red lentils and bulgar wheat, then add to pot. Cook for 2-4 minutes.

4. Add vegetable broth, hot sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings.

5. Bring to a boil and boil for 30 minutes. Add more broth/water if needed.

6. Season to taste and enjoy!

[/recipe-directions]
[recipe-nutrition]
Per Serving: 259 calories; 1.5 g fat; 45.6 g carbohydrates; 18.9 g protein.
[/recipe-nutrition]
[/recipe]

Work Week Lunch – Easy “Egg” Salad

This easy “egg” salad is perfect for a work week lunch! I make a huge batch on Sundays, take it into work on Monday, and I don’t have dishes to bring home until Friday. The star ingredient is one of the most versatile foods (in my humble opinion): tofu.

Tofu takes on the flavor of whatever is used to season it, and, for this dish, you have to purchase black salt. Okay, you don’t have to, but I highly recommend it because it’s what gives the dish an egg-y flavor!

This is delicious and high in protein too! If you liked egg salad prior to following a plant-based diet, you’ll love this recipe!

Where Can I Purchase Black Salt?

You can purchase black salt on Amazon here! This is the only brand I’ve tried and I can confirm that it is delicious and fresh!

What Bagels Do You Recommend?

I have been loving Western Bagels Perfect 10 lately! One bagel has only 140 calories and 19 grams of protein! You can purchase them here!

[recipe title="Tofu "Egg" Salad" servings="3" preptime="20 minutes" cooktime="0 minutes" ]

[recipe-ingredients]

* 1 block firm tofu, pressed

* 6 Tbsp vegan mayo

* 3 tsp yellow mustard

* 4 tsp dill pickle juice

* 2 tsp dill pickle relish

* 1/4 tsp paprika

* 3 tsp black salt, can use table salt, but I highly recommend using black salt

* 1 tsp back pepper

[/recipe-ingredients]
[recipe-directions]

1. Mix all ingredients, except tofu, in mixing bowl until well combined.

2. Add pressed tofu.

3. Use potato masher to mash tofu until crumbly.

4. Use a spoon to ensure the mixture is well combined.

5. Refrigerate overnight.

6. Serve on toast, a bagel, or crackers!

[/recipe-directions]
[recipe-nutrition]
Per Serving: 352 calories; 26.7 g fat; 10.8 g carbohydrates;
23.4 g protein.
*Macros will vary depending on tofu and vegan mayo brands.
[/recipe-nutrition]
[/recipe]

Vegetarian-Charcuterie

Why Go Vegan? Made for Newbs, by a Newb!

Gains and Gyoza contains recipes, tips, and tricks to transition to a vegan diet while still ensuring you get plenty of protein in! I’ll teach you easy ways to meal prep so you wake up with healthy, plant-based meals without spending a fortune.

While I’m new to being vegan, my meal prep career began over ten years ago! When I decided to go plant-based, I didn’t know where to start. So I am documenting my journey so we can learn together!

I have been following a plant-based diet since September 2021. My partner and I decided to go vegan with a family member who was diagnosed with a health condition. We technically went “plant-based,” which means we decided to eliminate animal products from our diet for health reasons. However, I spent many years of my childhood as a vegetarian. I advocate for the humane treatment of animals, whether consuming them, raising them, or loving them as your fur babies.

Why go vegan?

So why go vegan? For the animals, for the planet, for health reasons, because you don’t like the texture of meat, because you’re allergic to diary… There are numerous reasons you may want to try a plant-based diet! Whatever your reason, Gains and Gyoza welcomes anyone who is looking for plant-based recipe ideas. Any step towards eating less animal products is a step in the right direction. Whether you’re pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, or just want to eat less animal products, Gains and Gyoza is a judgment-free zone!

I can’t wait to learn with you and grow together to make the world a better place for us and for the animals! I promise to be transparent, even if I mess up! Make sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest so you don’t miss a single post!

Vegetarian Charcuterie Board

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