So, this one is "quick and easy," but it does require a good deal of "chill time," so you need to prep ahead of time if you're gonna make it.
I think it was worth it. At my core, I am a basic b*tch. What do I miss most about being an omnivore? Steak? Lamb chops? Nope. I miss tuna salad and chicken salad. I love cheap meat filled sandwiches. Finally, I have a recipe that fully tricks me into believing I'm eating real tuna.
Healthy Fact: Jackfruit is high in dietary fiber and improves digestion. Word of warning: It's also high in potassium which some folks with kidney disease should avoid.
Slightly Modified Tuna Melt Recipe by Cooking for Luv | Serves: 4 melts | Time: ~5 min + hours of chill time
Ingredients
Tuna
1 cup of shredded #jackfruit, seeds and cores removed
3 tbsp vegan mayo (This recipe by Minimalist Baker uses aquafaba, which is low in calories, carbs, and fat, but low on nutritional value. The recipe also uses oil, which can be even worse for you than regular mayo. I figured I'd still give it a shot this once.)
4 tbsp finely diced red onion
4 tbsp finely diced #celery
1 tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1/2 tbsp finely chopped mini gherkin #pickles
3 tbsp #wakame
1 tsp lemon juice
1/8 tsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1 pinch salt
Other Ingredients
4 slices of thick bread, toasted
1 tomato, sliced
4 slices of vegan swiss cheese (recipe below, didn't melt well, I'll have to work on that...)
Instructions
Rinse your jackfruit well, and wring until very dry in a kitchen towel. Remove and fluff.
Mix remaining tuna ingredients in a medium bowl. The tuna gets fishier and fishier as it sits as the wakame permeates the tuna with its flavor, so if you will be serving within a couple hours, use more wakame.
Spoon jackfruit tuna in equal portions on each slice of toast. Top with a tomato slice and add a slice of vegan swiss cheese
Place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted and you can see the tomato through it. Or throw in a toaster oven, which is what I did.
Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Healthy Fact: wakame is high in iodine which can help regulate thyroid function. In addition to having a bum kidney, I also have Hashimoto's syndrome, so this is great news for me. More great news regarding kidney health: wakame may also help you manage your blood pressure, reduce your bad cholesterol, and regulate your sugar levels.
Swiss Cheese by One Green Planet | Serves: 1 1/2 lb block | Time: ~20 min (+4 hrs of chilling time)
Ingredients
Cheese
1/4 cup raw Brazil #nuts, soaked, drained, and rinsed
1/4 cup water, filtered
4 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp tahini
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 tbsp onion powder
1/8 tsp ground coriander
Agar Gel
1/2 cup cold water, filtered
1 1/2 tablespoons agar powder
Instructions
Place all the cheese ingredients in a blender. Process until completely smooth. Leave the cheese mixture in the blender.
To make the agar gel, whisk the cold water and the agar together in a saucepan. Let it soak for 5 minutes then bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, whisking often, for 5 to 8 minutes, to activate the agar.
Once the agar mixture is ready, quickly transfer it to the cheese mixture in the blender and process until it is homogenous. Pour into a container, cover, and let the cheese set in the refrigerator, at least 2 to 4 hours.
Wrap the cheese in waxed paper. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Will keep, refrigerated, for 1 to 2 weeks.
Healthy Fact: like wakame, Brazil nuts can help thyroid function, and like most nuts, can help reduce overall and "bad" cholesterol levels.
What I ate and drank today
1 regular coke (weird, but cravings hit me sometimes)
88 oz of water
Vegetarian ramen with green tea noodles
1 iced coffee
1 apple
Jackfruit melt
1 beer
1 red wine
Exercise
~5.6 miles of walking