Like me, you probably consider chocolate chip cookies to be a bit of an indulgence, meant only for those times when you deserve them. But some days you just need a cookie without the guilt or judgment. If today is one of those days, I’m here to offer you a solution: try these cookies! For this recipe I swapped out all the traditional ingredients (flour, butter, eggs, sugar) for good stuff like lentils and cashews and I’m thrilled by the results—they’re thin and crispy around the edges yet soft and chewy on the inside and studded with just the right number of chocolate chips.

This is the story of a girl who has become a little obsessed with flourless, legume-based baking. I’ve shared a few other recipes like this before:

• Flourless plant-powered protein brownies
• Chickpea cookie dough balls
• Dark chocolate, sweet potato and black bean brownies
• Flourless mocha bean cookies
• Adzuki pudding tarts

But this time, oh boy. The results were incredible. I literally danced around my kitchen in pure joy and praised the baking gods for gifting me with such a cookie. In fact, I was in such disbelief that I retested them too many times to count, you know, just to make sure.

Seriously, lentils can do that?

And, indeed, this recipe is going to change your life much like it did mine. Because I’m here to share my secrets with you.

First, let’s talk about how awesome lentils are. Not only are they an easy and cheap source of protein, but they are also fat free, high in fibre and rich in a number of essential nutrients like iron and folate. They are also super versatile: you can add them to salads, stir them into pasta sauce or cook up a mean Indian dhal. Unfortunately, it seems lentils have needlessly taken the back burner in many vegans’ kitchens ever since the aquafaba craze started not long ago, which is why I wanted to highlight them in this recipe. The best part is that dry red lentils cook up super quick (8 to 10 minutes) and then, when processed together with some cashews, they take on a lovely smooth texture. I’ve become infatuated with this discovery!

I added only a wee bit of coconut sugar to sweeten them up, a tablespoon of coconut oil to help give them a spreadable texture and crispy edges, and a good doze of vanilla (extract and powder) for flavour. The vanilla bean powder, in particular, gives these cookies that extra oomph in the flavour department. If you don’t have any vanilla bean powder on hand, fear not! You can just make them without it.

Even though this recipe is actually quite easy, I’ve learned a few tricks along the way, so here are some helpful notes:

• The consistency of your cooked lentils is important to getting smooth and consistent results. Be sure to cook the lentils until very soft. Run your spoon across the bottom of the pan to determine whether all the water is absorbed. The consistency should be thick and soft, kind of like mushy porridge, and might start to stick to the bottom of your pan when done.
• The dough should be much thinner than regular cookie dough, more like cake batter. When you scoop the dough onto the cookie sheet, it should spread out fairly easily. Whatever shape you make them will be the shape of the final cookie, so use your finger to shape and smooth them into thin, circular shapes.
• Processing the cashews and lentils might cause your dough to warm up, and consequently melt your chocolate chips once added. To avoid this, just sprinkle on the chocolate chips after you’ve scooped the batter onto your cookie sheet. I learned this after shooting these photos, so just imagine plump chocolate chips on top.
• I highly recommend eating one or two after they’ve baked and cooled for about half an hour. They are soooo good when eaten freshly made. Plus, someone needs to do the taste-testing, right?

Enjoy!

Flourless chocolate chip cookies

Yield: 8 to 10 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup dry red lentils
• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean powder (optional but recommended)
• pinch of sea salt
• 2 to 3 tablespoons dairy-free chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a saucepan, combine the water and red lentils and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and allow to cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the lentils are very soft and the water has absorbed. Watch carefully as the water can boil over easily. Once soft, remove from heat and drain through a fine mesh strainer. Rinse with cool water and use the back of a spoon or spatula to press out any excess water. The lentils might start turning mushy, but that's okay!
3. Using a food processor, process the cashews until they start to turn into a paste. Stop and scrape down the sides of the processor container as needed. Add the coconut oil and process again until smooth.
4. Measure out 3/4 cup of the cooked lentils (if you have some left over, save them for supper). Add them to the food processor along with the coconut sugar, vanilla extract, baking powder and vanilla powder. Process until smooth. It should be a fairly wet dough, more like cake batter than a typical cookie dough.
5. Scoop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, about 2 tablespoons each. The dough should spread out fairly easily. Use a clean finger to shape them into circles about 1/4 inch thick and smooth out the top. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool completely. They tend to soften slightly once stored. Recrisp them by baking at 300F for about five minutes.

My in-laws own a beautiful cottage that sits on a lake at the end of a very long, empty dirt road in northern Ontario.  It’s a good hike from Toronto and almost always involves sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic up Highway 400 through Barrie, but the drive is always worth it once we get there.

It’s the one place where we can leave behind the noisy, crowded, high-energy city that we live in, and soak in the calmness and fresh air of cottage country. I sometimes long for the days when we can go, because often just a quick weekend visit can put my busy mind at ease. There’s something about the place that allows me to leave computers, cell phones and iPads behind and crack open a good book.

Because of full-time jobs and ongoing weekend projects, however, we don’t get there often. But we always make a point of planning a weekend getaway each September because there’s no better time to see the leaves on the trees turning gorgeous shades of red and orange, sit on the dock without scorching your skin, and enjoy the warmth of the wood-burning fireplace in the evenings. Include wine and friends and a game or two of Cards Against Humanity and it ends up being a pretty epic weekend.

This annual tradition also comes with special fall-inspired meals. I tend to do all the cooking while we’re there with friends because, well, that’s just my thing, and luckily our guests have yet to complain about the lack of animal products. At my hubby’s request, I always make a big batch of spicy vegan chili for Saturday night’s meal, and serve it with crusty bread and a big, colourful salad. This hot and spicy chili recipe was inspired by the red bean and lager chili from the reFresh cookbook, a recipe I’ve made but adapted over the years.

There’s no beer in this chili but the addition of a hot banana pepper is what gives it some punch. I also love the cinnamon and cocoa powder for an amazing depth of flavour. This time, I was inspired to add a simple lentil-walnut meat (inspired by Angela’s recipe) for more substance and nutrients. If you’re looking at this and thinking, “I don’t like spicy food,” feel free to reduce the amount of hot banana pepper (try 1/4 or 1/2 of a pepper) to suite your tastes. Enjoy!

Hot & spicy vegan chili with lentil-walnut meat

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

For the chili:

• 2 medium onions, peeled and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 1 small hot banana pepper, seeds removed and minced
• 2 carrots, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 2-inch cinnamon stick
• 2 (28oz) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15oz) can red kidney beans
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 zucchini, sliced and quartered
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

For the lentil-walnut meat:

• 1 (15oz) can brown lentils, rinsed and drained
• ½ cup walnut pieces
• 1½ tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp sea salt

Directions:

For the chili:

1. In a large soup pot over medium heat, saute the onion, garlic, celery, banana pepper and carrots with a splash of water until soft. Add more water if needed so the veggies don't stick to the bottom of the pot.
2. Stir in the chili powder, cocoa powder, cumin and cinnamon stick and cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, bell peppers, zucchini and water. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. While it's cooking, you can make the lentil walnut meat.
4. Add the lentil walnut meat and continue to simmer until heated through.
5. Remove from heat. Stir in the cilantro and remove the cinnamon stick. Serve with vegan sour cream and extra cilantro, if desired.

For the lentil walnut meat:

1. Using a food processor, pulse all ingredients until chopped but be sure to leave some texture.

What a week. While trying to fall back into my regular routine after my whirlwind vacation in Vegas, I came down with a nasty cold. Work piled up on my desk, decisions about more home renovations needed to be made, and I wanted to come up with something to contribute to my father-in-law’s birthday dinner. I feel like I’ve taken quite a hit with this cold, and everyday tasks seem that much harder to accomplish.

Healthy, healing food has been my priority this week, so I created this nutritious kale and quinoa tabbouleh salad to take to my in-laws’ house for the big birthday bash this weekend. It was pretty simple to throw together. The only real time investment is cooking the quinoa and lentils, which can be done ahead of time if desired. To make the tabbouleh, I combined the quinoa and lentils along with parsley, celery, green onions, goji berries and tomatoes.

I imagined this served on a bed of shredded curly leaved kale. By “shredded,” I just mean that I finely chopped it on a cutting board, after removing the thick stem and spine of each leaf. Of course, any kale or other salad greens will do, but I like curly or red kale because it’s easiest to find. It’s also best to use it within a day or two after purchasing because it tastes bitter the longer it sits around.

For the dressing, I decided to go with something light. Lemon, rice vinegar, garlic, sunflower oil, a touch of maple syrup and salt and pepper resulted in a nice, simple blend with just enough tang. I’ve also recently been adding celery to my dressings because it adds a refreshing yet mild element to the mix. The celery stalks puree quite easily with the other dressing ingredients using a high-speed blender.

The salad went over well with the family, and it paired nicely with the delicious quinoa, veggie and tofu casserole my mother-in-law made for part of the main meal.

I have to say, I’m a pretty lucky girl. I’m the only vegan in the family, but everyone seems to eat healthier when I’m around, as vegan options are always incorporated at every meal. My sister-in-law also made the coconut lemon bundt cake from Veganomicon for dessert, along with vegan whipped cream and berries. I wish I had snapped a photo because it was plated so beautifully.

Fresh, spring salads are my favourite way to welcome spring, so I think I’ll be making another batch of this salad for weekday lunches and dinners. Enjoy!

Kale and quinoa tabbouleh salad

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

Tabbouleh:

• 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa (makes 2.5 cups cooked)
• 1/2 cup dry lentils (makes 1.5 cups cooked)
• 1/3 cup goji berries
• 1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley
• 2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tomato, chopped

Kale:

• 2 small bunches of kale
• 1/2 lemon

Dressing:

• 2 small garlic cloves
• 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 1 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup sunflower oil

Directions:

1. To cook the quinoa, first rinse it thoroughly under running water. Next, combine the dry quinoa with 1.5 cups of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered until all the water has been absorbed, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. To cook the lentils, first rinse under running water. Next, combine the lentils and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring the lentils to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes. Add water as needed to make sure the lentils are just barely covered. Lentils are done as soon as they are tender and no longer crunchy. Remove from heat and strain.
3. Place the goji berries in a small bowl and cover with water. Allow to soak for about 15 minutes, then drain and squeeze out any excess water.
4. Combine the cooked quinoa, lentils, goji berries and remaining tabbouleh ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Remove the stems and thick part of the spines from the kale and chop into small, thin pieces (shredded). Place in a large bowl. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon over the kale (take care not to drop the seeds in!) and massage into kale with your hands.
6. To make the dressing, blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
7. To assemble, you can mix the dressing with the tabbouleh and serve it on top of the kale (this is best if serving on individual plates). Alternatively, mix the tabbouleh, kale and dressing all together in one large bowl to serve at a buffet. Garnish with sprouts and hemp seeds, if desired.

Now, don’t be fooled by appearances. This stew may have a somewhat long list of ingredients but it is a whole lotta delicious. Sometimes combining a handful of seasonal elements together in a simple way allows each ingredient to shine without a lot of fuss—that is what I love about one-pot meals. This recipe is easy, uncomplicated and just the kind of food I eat every day.

The textures and flavours of this dish are quite varied and yet work together really well. The eggplant, with its slightly bitter taste and meaty texture, balances the surrounding flavours of the other, more pronounced ingredients like the sweet butternut squash and the vibrant tomatoes. Then you get a decisive smack from the fresh ginger that breaks through the familiar only to end in a sweet suggestion of Moroccan spices.

I should note that I roasted my eggplant and butternut squash beforehand, which brings out the flavours of these hearty vegetables. However, I don’t think it’s completely necessary if you’re pressed for time. You may just need to adjust the cooking time and simmer the stew until the vegetables and lentils are cooked through. I also used canned tomatoes here since “fresh” tomatoes at this time of year are transported in and, in my opinion, taste awful. But feel free to use whatever works for you.

Moroccan vegetable and lentil stew

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 eggplant, cubed
• 1 butternut squash, cubed
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2-inch piece ginger, grated
• 2 large carrots, sliced
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground tumeric
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 1 28-oz can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup dried lentils
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F and oil the bottom of two sheet pans.
2. Spread the eggplant onto one pan and the squash onto another. Bake until soft, about 30 minutes.
3. In a large pot, add a splash of water and cook the onion, garlic, ginger and carrots over medium heat until soft. Add water as needed so the ingredients don't stick to the bottom of the pot.
4. Add the spices and cook for another minute or two, stirring frequently.
5. Add the vegetable stock, tomatoes, lentils as well as the roasted eggplant and squash and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, or until lentils are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.