You know, when people eat meat they usually go to meat when they feel lazy to cook. Anything easier than throwing a steak on a pan and cook it for a couple of minutes?

When people go vegan, they go for the easiest substitutes like veggie patties or seitan steaks. They are usually highly processed foods, so that’s a no-no for me.

When people go plant-based and want to follow a healthy lifestyle, they go for tofu or tempeh, as well as seitan.

What’s the matter with all of the previous choices? Absolutely nothing (except for the meat. We could argue about the environment, animal rights and health for hours).

The problem with the types of food I eat is that none of the commonly known diets apply. My digestive system is quite a special one, so I can’t really eat as much beans as I’d love to and don’t tell me about soy. I love soy. I used to drink soy milk as people drinks coca-cola. Tofu? Even when I ate meat, I’d rather go for the tofu version of the dish (if it was well cooked, of course) rather than the, probably, dry piece of flesh. And don’t get me started on seitan…and gluten in general.

Well, although I’m a very open-minded kind of gal and don’t restrict myself in any areas of my life, I try not to eat any of those foods, but still consume a mainly plant-based diet (and avoid fish and eggs as much as I can for ethical reasons) I’m in kind of a pickle when it comes to eat with other people. It’s not my fault actually, I eat almost everything. The problem is…people usually eat three or four things and those are just the ones that make me feel like shit.

So my go-to meals lately, when I’m feeling lazy, are broccoli based. I know many of you grew up hating broccoli. Lucky for me, it has always been my favourite vegetable. And the greatest thing is that it’s perfect in many senses. It’s packed with nutrients and it’s very versatile. I must say it’s become my new steak. Laugh all you want, but my theory is…maybe you don’t enjoy vegetables because nobody told you how to cook them properly. And how’s that? in a way you like them. There’s not right choice for everyone. No one-suits-all kind of recipe. Most people love in in tempura. But me, I love tempura, but guess what? Yeah, you guessed, it makes me feel sick, like anything deep-fried.

My favourite way of cooking broccoli lately is simply steam it (whole) and then cut half. I can eat it hot or cold, if I am extra lazy I just add some salt, pepper, nooch and olive oil.

The recipe that I bring you today has a more elaborated kind of sauce. You can make any sauce you like to top it with. As side dish I just mixed some fresh beans and chickpeas that I had in my fridge from the day before, they are packed with protein. I tend not to eat too much legumes, but I really love them so even if they don’t feel great after a couple of hours…it’s like sugar for most of you hehe I don’t care, I’ll eat them anyway! (I’m a bit weird, my drugs are beans and chickpeas 🤷🏼‍♀️)

Print

Broccoli with tahini and tangerine sauce

Course Main

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword Gluten Free, Healthy, Plant-based, Protein-rich, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings 2 people

Author silviafooding

Ingredients

• 1 broccoli (500gr aprox)

Sauce

• 2 tbsp tahini
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp nooch (nutritional yeast)
• 1 tsp poppy seeds
• 4 sundried tomatoes (soaked)
• 1/2 lemon (juice and zest)
• 1 tangerine (juice)
• 1 dash salt
• 1 dash black pepper

Side dish

• 4 tbsp fresh beans
• 3 tbsp chickpeas
• 1 dash salt
• 1 dash black pepper
• 1 dash sumac (optional)
• 1 dash nooch (optional)

Instructions

1. Steam the broccoli

Sauce

1. Chop the sundried tomatoes.

2. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce.

3. Add some water if needed.

Side

1. Mix the cooked beans and chickpeas and season. Add anything you'd like with them.

So, as always, if you make any of my recipes don’t forget I’m on instagram @silviafooding and I’d love to see your creations. Please share with me your pictures and ask any doubt or suggestion about the recipe. Have fun and keep fooding! 🥦