SUPER creamy fries + plant based ingredients = NO guilt!
Hello, lovelies! Happy Humpday, and day-after-the-snowstorm madness! I can't speak for everyone, but I had a hard time getting to works yesterday AND today, slipping around the side walk and down the subway stairs. I LOVE the snow, but not when I'm out in it, heading to work when no one else is on the street! My streets weren't plowed, and the sidewalks weren't shoveled. It was nuts! BUT, I had a bunch to cook when I got in last night and so much to look forward to, so it got me through the day. :)
Snow days, crumby weather, and of course these frigid cold days CALL for nothing more than comfort food. What else is needed in your belly, when you get in from the snow after a long trek home, sitting for too long on stalled trains? And to top it off, you are haaaangry?! THESE FRIES. As I'm sure most of you agree, COMFORT FOOD IS THE BEST FOOD. When you're hungry/hangry, and neeeeed something filling but darn tasty to pull your from your irritable mood, this is what I want. When I think comfort, I think a big platter of tacos, nachos, my vegan mac & cheese, and duuuh- French Fries! And you know what I've noticed, after going dairy free/basically vegan? Not a lot of restaurants in the city make vegan friendly comfort food, the way I craaaave it. Like for example- I have yet to go to a restaurant in NYC (vegan or not), and find a LARGE plate of vegan nachos! And I mean just-like-the-real-deal Nachos. It makes me so sad, because it's one my favorite comfort foods, ever. Aside from Nacho Fries, of course :)
What do I do when I'm wanting something, but can't seem to find it out? OR even better- find it, taste it, LOVE it? I challenge myself & [attempt to] make it at home. And what's the best part of Nachos- vegan or not? The creeeeamy cheese or sauce slathered all over every inch! I wanted something spicy, but not too hot, and it had to be creamy & rich with flavor. I also didn't want to feel too full from the sauce alone, and I also did not want to resort to a fake vegan cheese. Bleh.
SO I did some recipe testing, took some things out- added some things in. AND BAM! Created my new, go-to Chipotle Crema. And it's not called "cream" because "crema" just sounds so much cooler. Thanks for reading, guys! Enjoy this plate & ALL THE PLANT BASED CREMA your little heart desires. xx Sam
| Vegan • Gluten Free |
I N G R E D I E N T S:
- FRIES!! (you can buy them frozen, or make try my version here)
- 1 Small tomato, diced
- Jalapeno slices, diced
- Small bunch of cilantro
- 1 15oz. can of black beans, drained & rinsed
- Lime juice, to top!
VEGAN CHIPOTLE CREMA - 1 cup of raw cashews (soaked in boiling water for 20 minutes or overnight)
- 1 leek, diced
- Juice from one small lime (about 2 Tbs)
- 1 Tbs of chipolte sauce (the adobo sauce found in a can of chipolte peppers)
- 1/2 cup of almond milk -or water
- 1/2 tsp of apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp of sea salt
- 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp of white pepper
SUPER CREAMY VEGAN SAUCE: Start by soaking your cashews (duh), and drain/rinse once soaked up & soft. Dice up your leek, and saute in just a splash of olive oil + pinch of salt, over medium heat. Cook em for until translucent and beginning to brown. Remove from heat. Now, toss all crema ingredients in the blender & puree until smooooth. It'll take about 8-10 minutes, depending on how powerful your blender is! But you want to make sure it's suuuuper silky & has the consistency of a thick sour cream. Enjoy hot or cold, and store it in a sealed container in the fridge. :)
ASSEMBLE: Once your fries have cooked, lay em out on a large plate. Top with your tomatoes, jalapenos, cilantro, beans, and of couuuuurse A TON of your chipotle sauce. Squeeze some lime to top + dive riiiight in. It'll be finished in seconds. Seriously.
*Notes: SO basically this sauce is heavenly, and so flavorful. You can basically put it on anything you desire, because it's so darn good. AND it makes a lot so you'll have enough to store for later (or just another batch of these loaded fries. No judgment!) ANDDD if you want it a bit spicier, taste as you go along & add in more spices or chipotle sauce. Anythang you liiike!