Monday, July 9, 2012

Yummy Vegan Crepes!

By Pam Hadder


My kids and I love going to Kawaii Crepe, and the best part is the vegan versions they have available at all times - that and the bubble tea... oh, and in my case,  the organic coffee... yummmm!


But how to make tasty crepes without eggs... this is a newly acquired skill for me, and one that I was eager to learn, as crepes are a very versatile item.  Sweet or savoury, they are simply delightful - although my preference is definitely skewed toward the savoury ones.... in this case, filled with spinach and mushroomy goodness  :)  


So, here is the best vegan crepe recipe I have found - the flavour is great and there are no hard-to-find ingredients - just simple, straightforward stuff that most of us have at home.  Hope you will try them and let me know about your favourite fillin's and toppings too xo xo xo


Yummy Vegan Crepes

Ingredients - Batter:
I cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup plain, unsweetened soy milk (or almond milk!)
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. water
3 Tbsp. full fat coconut milk
1-3 Tbsp. brown sugar (adjust to your desired sweetness)


Ingredients - Filling:
4 cups fresh spinach leaves
1-1/2 cups sliced mushrooms - any variety, but shitake are especially nice
1 small onion, finely chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 Tbsp. Fresh oregano, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup grated smoked Gouda flavour vegan cheese


Method:
In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and sugar.  Then combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl.  Gradually add the wet to the dry ingredients, stirring to form a smooth batter. Lightly grease a medium griddle - I like the buttery flavour of vegan margarine in this instance.  Heat the pan to medium temperature, and bear in mind that these crepes cook a bit more quickly than other crepes!  



Use 1/4 cup of batter per crepe, making one at a time.  Try and swirl the batter to distribute it as evenly as possible in the pan.  Cook for about one minute or until small bubbles begin to appear on the surface - then carefully turn the crepe with a spatula, cooking the second side until light golden in colour.  Repeat until all batter is used, setting the finished crepes on a plate.


To make the filling, heat the oil in a large fry pan over high heat, and add in the onions, mushrooms, salt and pepper, stirring constantly.  When the onions are soft and clear, add in the oregano and spinach leaves.  Once the spinach is wilted, reduce the heat and fold in the grate cheese - remove from the heat.  Spoon into the prepared crepes and roll - I like to drizzle these with some vegan pesto and a half and half mixture of ketchup and vegan mayo.  The basil flavour and tangy ketchup-mayo sauce really make these crepes extra special.


A simple side salad of fresh greens dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette and a lemon wedge is a nice accompaniment. Enjoy!

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