Easy Vegan Moussaka

This vegan moussaka recipe was a work in progress for weeks until we got the perfected method just right! Layers of roasted eggplant meld perfectly with a hearty tomato lentil filling, which is topped with a show-stopping roasted garlic cashew bechamel…

Easy Vegan Moussaka

This vegan moussaka recipe was a work in progress for weeks until we got the perfected method just right! Layers of roasted eggplant meld perfectly with a hearty tomato lentil filling, which is topped with a show-stopping roasted garlic cashew bechamel.

Flavor is abundant here despite the 10 simple ingredients required. Let us show you how it’s done!

Origins of Moussaka

Moussaka is a popular dish in Greece and beyond.

Easy Vegan Moussaka from Minimalist Baker →

Vegan Taco Soup in 20 mins!

This is the meatiest vegan taco soup you have ever tasted. Ready in just 20 minutes, this soup is the perfect way to satisfy your taco cravings without sacrificing flavor. Top it off with some crunchy tortilla chips, creamy avocado slices, and tangy so…

This is the meatiest vegan taco soup you have ever tasted. Ready in just 20 minutes, this soup is the perfect way to satisfy your taco cravings without sacrificing flavor. Top it off with some crunchy tortilla chips, creamy avocado slices, and tangy sour cream for a truly unforgettable meal. Do you also love Tex-Mex...

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The post Vegan Taco Soup in 20 mins! appeared first on My Pure Plants.

Healthy Banana Bread

When I make this healthy banana bread recipe, I lose all control. Just knowing that a loaf is sitting in the kitchen keeps me coming back for just one more slice all day long. I slather it with peanut butter and enjoy it for breakfast, pair it with a c…


When I make this healthy banana bread recipe, I lose all control. Just knowing that a loaf is sitting in the kitchen keeps me coming back for just one more slice all day long. I slather it with peanut butter and enjoy it for breakfast, pair it with a cup of coffee for an afternoon snack, and snag another piece (or two) for dessert. It’s moist, lightly sweet, and filled with rich banana flavor. As an added bonus, it makes the house smell like vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg while it bakes. I mean, seriously. What’s not to love? If you […]

Chocolate Covered Bananas

Frozen chocolate covered bananas are the perfect easy and healthy dessert! Store them in the freezer for whenever you crave a sweet bite. Here’s our new favorite treat that’s simple, healthy, and ultra delicious: Chocolate Covered Bananas! We know, this concept it not new or revolutionary. But man, is it perfect for a sweet treat craving! The crunch of a crisp dark chocolate coating around an icy banana makes magic. Here’s the new thing for us: making small chocolate covered banana bites! It gives you a healthy treat in the freezer anytime a chocolate craving hits. Surprisingly, this tiny bite satisfies like a legit chocolate dessert. How to make chocolate covered bananas Recently, my sister told us she’d been loading up on frozen chocolate covered banana bites from the store. Try them, then make your own recipe for it! she urged us. We grabbed a box and agreed: these are perfection! Dark chocolate plus icy banana is the ultimate treat, and a perfect healthy snack for kids too. The bite format of these is much more satisfying than a large frozen banana on a stick. Here are the basic steps for making homemade chocolate covered bananas: Slice the bananas into […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Frozen chocolate covered bananas are the perfect easy and healthy dessert! Store them in the freezer for whenever you crave a sweet bite.

Chocolate Covered Bananas

Here’s our new favorite treat that’s simple, healthy, and ultra delicious: Chocolate Covered Bananas! We know, this concept it not new or revolutionary. But man, is it perfect for a sweet treat craving! The crunch of a crisp dark chocolate coating around an icy banana makes magic. Here’s the new thing for us: making small chocolate covered banana bites! It gives you a healthy treat in the freezer anytime a chocolate craving hits. Surprisingly, this tiny bite satisfies like a legit chocolate dessert.

How to make chocolate covered bananas

Recently, my sister told us she’d been loading up on frozen chocolate covered banana bites from the store. Try them, then make your own recipe for it! she urged us. We grabbed a box and agreed: these are perfection! Dark chocolate plus icy banana is the ultimate treat, and a perfect healthy snack for kids too. The bite format of these is much more satisfying than a large frozen banana on a stick. Here are the basic steps for making homemade chocolate covered bananas:

  • Slice the bananas into 1/4-inch rounds and freeze. Freezing for 45 minutes turns them into a sort of banana ice cream.
  • Melt chocolate. We like using a double-boiler method (more on that below), or you can use your microwave.
  • Dip and top. Use a jar or measuring cup for easiest dipping. It helps to have 2 people for this part: one to dip and one to top, since the chocolate hardens right away.
  • Freeze again! 30 more minutes in the freezer has them perfectly frozen! Then you can store them in container up to 1 month.
Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas

Tips on melting the chocolate

Melting chocolate for frozen chocolate covered bananas might sound easy. But working with chocolate is easy to mess up! The chocolate can seize up if it gets any liquid in it, or if you overheat it. Here are a few things to know about melted chocolate:

  • Use the “double boiler” method. Our preferred method is simmering water, then placing a heat proof bowl or jar into the simmering water and stirring. Just make sure to use hot pads and don’t splash any of the water! Using this method, you can leave the bowl of chocolate in the warm water so it stays warm during the entire dipping process.
  • Or, use the microwave. This also works! Sometimes we accidentally overheat the chocolate this way, so we tend to avoid it. Melt it in a liquid measuring cup, heating for about 30 second intervals and then stirring several times until the chocolate melts.
  • For dipping, use a tall jar or measuring cup. It’s easiest to have a tall bath of chocolate to dip the bites into. So a tall jar is better than a shallow bowl.
Chocolate covered banana bites

Frozen chocolate covered banana toppings

Melting the chocolate is the only tricky part of chocolate covered bananas. Otherwise, it’s pretty simple: dip the banana on a fork, shake off extra chocolate, and slide it back on the parchment. Then add toppings right away, since the chocolate hardens quickly! Toppings are optional, of course. But they add an extra festive layer! Here’s what we used, and a few more ideas:

  • Crushed peanuts: crush them very finely so they’re the texture of confetti
  • Crushed pistachios: we love the festive green color
  • Other crushed nuts or seeds: like pecans, hazelnuts, or pepitas
  • All natural sprinkles: if you can, find a brand that’s colored naturally like these sprinkles: they’re dyed with vegetable dyes like beet and spirulina
  • Shredded coconut
  • Chocolate shavings or chunks
  • Freeze dried strawberries or raspberries
How to make chocolate covered bananas

Storage info

Once your chocolate covered bananas are fully frozen, you can place them in a freezer safe container. Here’s the best part: simply store them in the freezer for anytime a chocolate craving strikes! Homemade chocolate banana bites should be stable frozen for about 1 month. Of course, they’ll probably never last that long!

Let us know what you think about this treat! It’s a great healthy dessert for kids, and they can help with the topping process too. Our 3 year old son loved it! And we rarely feel bad letting him have another banana bite.

Chocolate covered bananas

More chocolate recipes

Are you a chocoholic? (Guilty, as charged). Here are a few more healthy and decadent ways to get your chocolate fix:

This frozen chocolate covered bananas recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free (with dairy free dark chocolate chips).

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Chocolate Covered Bananas

Chocolate Covered Bananas (Frozen Bites!)


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: About 30 to 35 bites
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Frozen chocolate covered bananas are the perfect easy and healthy dessert! Store them in the freezer for whenever you crave a sweet bite.


Ingredients

  • 2 ripe medium bananas
  • 1 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips* (5 ounces)
  • 1 tablespoon refined coconut oil
  • 1 pinch salt
  • Toppings (optional): 2 tablespoons each crushed peanuts, crushed pistachios, and all natural sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Freeze the bananas (45 minutes): Slice bananas into 1/4-inch rounds. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 45 minutes. 
  2. Melt the chocolate: Start a pot of simmering water. Place the chocolate in a glass measuring cup or large wide mouth jar, and place it into the simmering water. Very carefully, stir the chocolate until it melts, using a hot pad or gloves to hold the glass. Do not let any of the water splash, or it will split the chocolate. (You can also melt the chocolate in the microwave in a liquid measuring cup, heating for about 30 second intervals and then stirring several times until the chocolate melts.)
  3. Dip and top the bananas: Make sure your toppings are ready, if using. Leave the jar in the double boiler to keep the chocolate warm. Use a fork to dip each banana slice into the jar, then shake off excess chocolate.  Transfer the slice to the parchment lined baking sheet, using your finger to gently slide off the banana. Add toppings immediately (the chocolate freezes quickly) — this process is easiest with 2 people, 1 person to dip and 1 person to top. This recipe uses only 1 cup of chocolate for the bananas, but it’s nice to have extra chocolate to make the dipping process easier. You can dip pretzels or cereal into the remaining chocolate, or discard it. 
  4. Freeze: Return the bananas to the freezer and freeze for 30 minutes. Then transfer the banana bites to a freezer safe container.  Store up to 1 month.

Notes

*Only about 1 cup is used in the recipe, but you’ll need the extra to make the dipping process easier. Find extra items to dip into the remaining chocolate if you like (like pretzels, cereal, etc). 

  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Frozen
  • Cuisine: Dessert

Keywords: Chocolate covered bananas, Frozen chocolate covered bananas, How to make chocolate covered bananas, Chocolate covered banana bites

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Vegan Bechamel Sauce

This recipe came to be while perfecting our vegan moussaka (recipe coming soon!). The need for a thick layer of creamy, rich bechamel led to much experimentation. We tried classic rouxs, soaked cashews, and even mashed potatoes as a base.
But the clea…

Vegan Bechamel Sauce

This recipe came to be while perfecting our vegan moussaka (recipe coming soon!). The need for a thick layer of creamy, rich bechamel led to much experimentation. We tried classic rouxs, soaked cashews, and even mashed potatoes as a base.

But the clear winner emerged when we blended soaked cashews with the magic of roasted garlic — one whole head! The combination of roasted garlic with creamy cashews marries perfectly with nutritional yeast and salt for a seriously dreamy bechamel sauce.

Vegan Bechamel Sauce from Minimalist Baker →

Lemony Vegan White Bean Soup

Looking for a refreshing and zesty vegan soup? Try our vegan white bean soup, made with a creamy roux base and packed with veggies. With a lemony taste and freshly chopped parsley, this soup is the perfect comfort food. Trust us; this is not your avera…

Looking for a refreshing and zesty vegan soup? Try our vegan white bean soup, made with a creamy roux base and packed with veggies. With a lemony taste and freshly chopped parsley, this soup is the perfect comfort food. Trust us; this is not your average bean soup recipe! Are you in love with soups?...

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The post Lemony Vegan White Bean Soup appeared first on My Pure Plants.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

I don’t think recipes can get more fun than this cauliflower mac and cheese. It’s delicious, comforting, and completely ironic. You won’t find any “mac” here, and you won’t find any “cheese.” What you wil…


I don’t think recipes can get more fun than this cauliflower mac and cheese. It’s delicious, comforting, and completely ironic. You won’t find any “mac” here, and you won’t find any “cheese.” What you will find is a whole bunch of cauliflower coated in a gooey, oozy vegan cheese sauce and baked with crispy panko breadcrumbs on top. If you’re skeptical, don’t be. This cauliflower mac and cheese is surprisingly addictive. The first time I made it, I served myself a small scoop. A few minutes later, I went back for another…and another…and another. Of course, it’s not exactly like classic […]

Brussels Sprout Salad

This Brussels sprout salad recipe has the best fresh flavor and zingy dressing! Pair with apple, almonds and cherries for a simple side dish. Brussels sprouts in a salad? Turns out, the mighty sprout is one of the best ways to make delicious, feathery salad greens. Sure, Brussels sprouts are transcendental crispy roasted with maple glaze. But shaved raw in a salad is the next best way to eat them! The raw greens aren’t bitter at all: they’re sweet and feathery, with irresistibly tasty flavor. Combine them with a sweet and tangy Djion mustard dressing, apples, and dried cherries, and they’re pretty darn perfect. Ready to get shredding? Ingredients for Brussels sprout salad There are so many ways to make a killer Brussels sprout salad recipe: here’s our favorite — and we’ll offer some variations and options below. Here’s what we put in our salad: Shaved Brussels sprouts: see below for how to do it, or buy them pre-shaved Crunchy leafy green: we used escarole, but it’s optional Apple: Apple and Brussels are a classic combination Dried cherries: Use tart cherries with no added sugar if you can find them Almonds: Marcona almonds have great flavor, or use whatever you […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This Brussels sprout salad recipe has the best fresh flavor and zingy dressing! Pair with apple, almonds and cherries for a simple side dish.

Brussels sprout salad

Brussels sprouts in a salad? Turns out, the mighty sprout is one of the best ways to make delicious, feathery salad greens. Sure, Brussels sprouts are transcendental crispy roasted with maple glaze. But shaved raw in a salad is the next best way to eat them! The raw greens aren’t bitter at all: they’re sweet and feathery, with irresistibly tasty flavor. Combine them with a sweet and tangy Djion mustard dressing, apples, and dried cherries, and they’re pretty darn perfect. Ready to get shredding?

Ingredients for Brussels sprout salad

There are so many ways to make a killer Brussels sprout salad recipe: here’s our favorite — and we’ll offer some variations and options below. Here’s what we put in our salad:

  • Shaved Brussels sprouts: see below for how to do it, or buy them pre-shaved
  • Crunchy leafy green: we used escarole, but it’s optional
  • Apple: Apple and Brussels are a classic combination
  • Dried cherries: Use tart cherries with no added sugar if you can find them
  • Almonds: Marcona almonds have great flavor, or use whatever you can find
  • Feta crumbles, optional: Feta is tasty, but this salad is just as good without
  • Dijon dressing: Top with our favorite Dijon mustard dressing for all the goodness
Brussels sprout salad

How to shred Brussels sprouts

The most time consuming part of Brussels sprout salad is…shaving the Brussels sprouts! There are a few ways to do it: and all you need is a Chef’s knife. However, if you have fancy equipment, it makes the process much faster. Here’s what to know:

  • Knife: Remove any tough outer layers with your fingers. Cut the Brussels sprout in half lengthwise. Place the cut side down and thinly slide cross-wise to create shreds. Separate the shreds with your fingers. Discard the root end.
  • Food processor: Use the slicing disc of a food processor. Place the Brussels sprout in top down one at a time, which creates long thin ribbons.
  • Mandoline: Put on the protective gloves that came with the mandoline. Shave each sprout from the tip to the end, using the mandoline attachment.
How to shred Brussels sprouts

Variations: other salad mix-ins!

Shaved Brussels sprouts aren’t bitter as you’d expect. They have a sweet flavor and a beautifully feathery texture. You can add just about anything to your Brussels sprout salad and it will taste good! Here are a few more ideas for mix-ins:

  • Pomegranate seeds add a beautiful crunch (here’s how to seed one)
  • Dried fruit like cranberries or raisins can stand in for the cherries
  • Pear can stand in for apple
  • Walnuts, pecans or pistachios work instead of almonds
  • Pumpkin seeds add additional crunch
  • Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese adds a savory note instead of feta

Salad dressing variations

You can also vary the dressing in this salad! We love it with our Dijon mustard dressing. But there are a few other dressing that work based on the ingredients you have on hand. Here are a few other options:

Another idea? Try tossing this salad with a sticky reduction sauce after the dressing, like Balsamic Reduction or Pomegranate Molasses.

Brussels sprout salad recipe

More Brussels sprouts recipes

The humble Brussels sprout has grown into one of our favorite foods. In the last several years, it’s grown massively in popularity on restaurant menus. We’re so glad it’s enjoying the spotlight it deserves! Here are a few more great Brussels sprout recipes:

This Brussels sprout salad recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, diary-free and gluten-free.

Print
Brussels sprout salad

Easy Brussels Sprout Salad


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This Brussels sprout salad has the best fresh flavors and zingy dressing! Pair it with apples, almonds and dried cherries for a tasty side.


Ingredients

For the salad

  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts, enough for 4 cups shredded (or 8 ounces shredded) 
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped escarole or other crunchy leafy green, optional
  • 1 large crisp tart red apple (like Honeycrisp)
  • 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
  • 1/2 cup almonds (Marcona almonds, if possible)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 recipe Dijon Mustard Dressing
  • Feta cheese crumbles, optional (omit for vegan)

Instructions

  1. Shred the Brussels sprouts: go to How to Shred Brussels Sprouts. Or, use a food processor slicing blade or mandoline to slice each sprout from top to end. 
  2. Prep the vegetables: Chop the escarole or other leafy green. Dice the apple. 
  3. Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, maple syrup, and salt. Then whisk in the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time until a creamy dressing forms. 
  4. Assemble the salad: Mix together all salad ingredients. Mix with 1/2 cup of the dressing (add more to taste, if desired). Top with feta crumbles, if using, and serve. 
  • Category: Side
  • Method: Raw
  • Cuisine: Salad

Keywords: Brussels sprout salad

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Easy Baked Beans on Toast (British-Inspired)

Beans for breakfast? It’s a thing and it’s delicious! This British-inspired meal is plant-based and easy to make, without sacrificing on flavor. 
And unlike store-bought baked beans that tend to be heavily sweetened and fairly bland, this homemade…

Easy Baked Beans on Toast (British-Inspired)

Beans for breakfast? It’s a thing and it’s delicious! This British-inspired meal is plant-based and easy to make, without sacrificing on flavor. 

And unlike store-bought baked beans that tend to be heavily sweetened and fairly bland, this homemade version is lightly (and naturally) sweetened yet full of flavor! Just 1 pot and 30 minutes required. Let us show you how it’s done!

Easy Baked Beans on Toast (British-Inspired) from Minimalist Baker →

Vegan Breakfast Casserole

This vegan breakfast casserole is an incredibly customizable and savory breakfast that is also perfect to make ahead! It is also known as a vegan egg casserole and features seven different veggies, including bell peppers, green peas, hash browns, tomat…

This vegan breakfast casserole is an incredibly customizable and savory breakfast that is also perfect to make ahead! It is also known as a vegan egg casserole and features seven different veggies, including bell peppers, green peas, hash browns, tomatoes, and mushrooms! Prepare it a day in advance and serve it hot in the morning....

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The post Vegan Breakfast Casserole appeared first on My Pure Plants.