I remember trekking down a muddy mountain with my cousin after a long summer hike.
We were starving, and naturally, we were chatting about where we should go for lunch after our descent. I mentioned a few local places (I totally wanted a beer and a burger with ALL the toppings), but quickly caught myself asking her: “Can you even eat anything at restaurants these days?”
My cousin is newly vegan. When eating at non-vegan restaurants, it’s been difficult for her to find something on the menu that’s not just a bunch of leaves and mealy tomatoes on a plate. To my question she replied: “There’s always French Fries.”
Of course! French Fries. Who doesn’t love thin, salty, crispy French Fries?
But seriously? For your main meal?
One of the greatest pleasures in life is enjoying a fabulous meal out, and to think that French Fries could be your only option is such a buzzkill. I’m not a vegan myself, but this conundrum got me thinking about the real issue at hand: is it that hard to offer something substantial (and creative!) for those looking to follow a plant-based lifestyle?
Of course it’s not; it’s all about awareness.
And that’s why I’m excited to share Gena’s new book with you today.
Full disclosure: Power Plates is the first vegan cookbook I’ve ever owned.
I never thought plant-based eating applied to me because I’m not a self-proclaimed vegan. Which is silly. You know why? After a few weeks of tracking my meals in a little notebook on my desk, I realized that a substantial chunk was naturally vegan. I just wasn’t aware of it.
My meals would include: oatmeal with almond milk; grain salads with chickpeas, roasted veggies and a mustardy balsamic dressing; risottos of all kinds; sourdough wraps with creamy hummus and black olives. Even cauliflower bolognese.
How many of you have found yourself in the same “unconsciously vegan” boat too?
Power Plates features over 100 nutritionally balanced, one-dish vegan meals. Whether you’re a conscious vegan or not, everything looks so vibrant and inspiring I promise you, the selections will not disappoint.
From Apple Ginger Museli, to Harvest Bowls with Spelt Berries, and Creamy Curried Lentils and Quinoa, each recipe is carefully balanced with some plant-based protein, some fat, and some complex carbs. You won’t have to worry about going hungry, that’s for sure!
There’s even a helpful meal planning section so you can make the most of your time, especially during busy weeknights. You know I’m all about that! I’ve chosen this share this easy, Italian-style spinach and gnocchi with white beans which is ready in under 30 minutes.
To begin, bring a pot of water to a boil. While that’s going, slice up some shallots and garlic. Then saute in olive oil with juicy sundried tomatoes and white beans until everything is tender. I love using the little Northern white beans for this dish.
Once the veggies are tender, add some baby spinach leaves to the skillet. Continue to saute until the leaves are just wilted. At this point the water should be boiling, so now’s the time to drop your gnocchi into the pot.
I’m using the vegan potato gnocchi from Trader Joe’s which you can find in their pasta aisle. And! They only take 3 minutes to cook.
Okay, so when the gnocchi are done, just add them to the skillet with the spinach. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar (yum!), and season nicely with salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir and voilà! Dinner is served!
You’ll love the straightforward flavors of the balsamic and sun-dried tomatoes, and the soft pillowy texture from the gnocchi. This would be really good with some black olives, too (the cured wrinkly black ones- I love those!).
PS: one of the things you’ll notice while making this dish is that the gnocchi are nice and starchy. When you stir them around in the skillet, their natural starches thicken any pan juices, like the balsamic and the residual liquid from the spinach, which creates a really nice sauce.
Whether you’re a true vegan, or someone just looking to change up a few of their weeknight dinners, my hope is that this post will continue to spread the awareness of healthy, plant-based eating.
Just look at this gnocchi dish- all you need are a few panty items and it’s ready in no time. Perhaps a few non-vegan restaurants will take a cue from Gena and offer a few creative power plates of their own!
Don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY at the bottom of this post! Enjoy friends!
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more as needed
- 2 large shallots, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (I used 1 fat clove)
- 12 sun-dried tomato halves (oil-packed or dry-packed), coarsely chopped
- 5 ounces (140 g) baby spinach
- 11⁄2 cups (270 g) cooked cannellini or Great Northern beans, or 1 (15-oz, or 425-g) can, drained and rinsed
- 1 pound (450 g) vegan gnocchi (I used Trader Joe's)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Stir in the spinach; you may need to do this in batches. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the spinach is wilted. Add the beans and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 minutes, until heated through.
- When the water is boiling, stir in the gnocchi. Adjust the heat to maintain a low boil and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, until the gnocchi are floating on the surface of the water and are tender. Drain, reserving 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) of the cooking water, then stir the gnocchi into the spinach mixture, along with 1 tablespoon of the balsamic vinegar.
- If the mixture is dry, add some of the reserved gnocchi cooking water. Season with salt and pepper, then taste and adjust the seasonings if desired. You may wish to add as much as 1 tablespoon more balsamic vinegar.
- Serve right away, with any desired toppings.
Giveaway
**One lucky winner will receive a copy of Gena Hamshaw’s Power Plates!**
To Enter: Comment below describing your favorite plant-based dish!
Rules: Contest open to US residents only. Timeframe will run for two weeks
And… here’s a bonus recipe!
Another winner from Power Plates is this delicious Spring Pea Panzanella. It’s made with mixed greens, marinated artichoke hearts, peas, asparagus, and a lemony-dill vinaigrette. Oh! And sourdough baguette croutons. I’ve served this alongside the gnocchi and they were a big hit. You can find the full recipe in her book.
“Veganism has opened my eyes to how diverse and satisfying salads can be. My favorite salad recipes aren’t dainty piles of greens that live on appetizer plates; they’re big, bold, abundant dishes, hearty enough to fill a pasta bowl”. -Gena Hamshaw
Kathie Kerler says
Favorite vegan dish is Soupe au Pistou that I learned in France: leeks, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, pesto, delish!
Ann says
Favorite lately is a lentil soup with tomatoes, turmeric, coconut milk. Yum!
Kerry says
I love making the “Oh She Glows” chana masala. Yum!
Karin says
I love, love, love white beans and kale sautéed with a ton of olive oil, a ton of garlic, and a ton of rosemary. Got it from The Splendid Table and just took out the Parmesan. Fingers crossed for this cookbook!
Marilyn says
Hummus is great with lots of garlic!
Jola says
The recipe sounds great. I will try it this week. I also like borscht soup.
Autumn says
whoa!!! this meal looks incredible!!! and all I’d have to go buy is some gnocchi! YUMMMM! I don’t follow any certain “diet” but I am definitely mostly plant based and pescatarian!
Penny McKinnon says
My favorite plant-based dish comes from whatever is ready in my garden. I love to walk out and pick what is ready to harvest, and then decide what to make with it. We eat a lot of salads, and roasted vegetables !!!
Katherine says
I love anything based around sweet potatoes! When they’re sprinkled with salt or cinnamon or smoked paprika…mmmm…
Jeni says
My fave plant based dish changes all the time but lately it’s the roasted brocooli/chickpea pesto rice dish (forgot the name!) from Love and Lemons cookbook. That whole book is actually amazing.
rebecca | DisplacedHousewife says
Salads with beans and grains and some beautiful bread! What a gorgeous looking bowl up there!! xo
Maureen M says
Roasted veggies and brown rice are my go to easy plant-based meal!
Adri says
What a wonderful post. The dish sounds divine, and your pix are better than ever! Congratulazioni. As for mt fave plant based dish, I’ll cast a vote for Caponata.
Caroline G C says
Roasted cauliflower & lentil tacos. They are amazing. I make them for everyone. So far, all love them even my nephew who ‘wasn’t sure’ about it at first. They’re that yummy.
Allison says
My favorite plant-based dish is a big grain bowl with quinoa, greens, roasted veggies, and hummus. So good!
Mary Ann says
I love a big salad with feta, beans and plenty of fresh veggies.
Kate Peirce says
my favorite plant-based dish is delicata squash tacos with black beans. Super simple and so delicious!
Gena says
Dear Emilie, I can’t thank you enough for this generous and thoughtful post! I’m so happy that the nourishing, hearty emphasis shone through for you, and that the book evoked your own sense of eating plant-based without really having to think about it. That’s definitely one of my intentions.
And of course, thank you for making the recipe look so vivid and beautiful! It’s a joy to see it come to life in your hands. So grateful for your support. <3
Melanie C. says
Gena, If I don’t win the book, I’m buyin’ it!!!
Vickie says
As foodies and home chefs..many come to mind.
One Sunday dinner..plant based.
Portobello Pot Roast.
Dessert black bean brownies.
Delicious, hearty and satisfing
Jessica says
My favorite plant based meal is BBQ jackfruit with vegan coleslaw.
Rachel R. says
I can never choose a favorite meal, but I just bought your sourdough book (after Gena posted about it!) and I can’t wait to use one of your loaves to make grilled hummus sandwiches!! It’s basically grilled cheese on sourdough but with hummus instead of the cheese. I often sprinkle some za’atar in there too, and add mushrooms or spinach! So good!!
Margaret Fenton says
Lentil soup. But anything without mushrooms, really.
Celesta says
Hello, Right now I’m loving the seitan piccata recipe from Candle 79 — so lemony, loaded with capers — with rice and a green vegetable (broccoli goes deliciously with the piccata sauce). Thanks for the chance to win Gena’s book! Cheers,celesta
Melanie C. says
Oh gosh, my mouth is watering! What a beautiful recipe.
I love making sauteed tofu and pineapple slices with sauteed greens.
You saute them in olive oil with tamari and brown rice syrup.
I saw Christina Pirello make it on TV.
Nicki says
My favorite recipe is the baked risotto from VegAngela!
Jacky says
I have so many favorites from Gena’s blog! Her savory steel cut oatmeal is on regular rotation for sure. In general though I would say a nice bowl is my favorite meal – a grain, a legume, lots of veggies, and a killer sauce! I learned from Gena :)
Shaila says
My favorite plant based dish is daal! Daal is one of the most popular dishes in the Indian subcontinent. This can be made with any type of lentils, even chickpeas. It is prepared curry style, topped with fried onions. Delicious with Naan or basmati rice.
Meg says
Favourite vegan snack is thinly sliced beetroot filled with almond thyme pate (ravilo!). It’s from my very favourite cookbook The Rawsome vegan….
We are summer here in Australia, so am using my white beans to make falafel to put in those great sourdough pita pockets from your book….
Lisa says
I love to make a heart vegan Irish stew with beans and sriram paired w a big slice of beer bread!
Bernadette says
This winter my favorite plant-based meal has been to saute onions and shallots, then add a mix of spinach/kale/collards til they’re wilted, add S & P, a splash of cider vinegar and a little broth. I serve this along side or on top of a baked sweet potato.
Andrea says
Lentil stew!
Julie says
I love anything with beans and potatoes! This is an elegant one dish bean and potato dish.
Kelly says
Lately it has been a vegetarian chili. thanks!
ali says
i LOVE white beans and greens and sweet potatoes…. although this gnocchi dish looks pretty awesome too!
Jackie says
I also love things that are surprisingly plant-based. I think my favorite would be a green smoothie- delicious, filling, healthy, and easy to make.
CB says
My fave plant-based dish is a hearty ratatouille, amped up with the umami boost of powdered porcini mushrooms and some nutritional yeast. I love your recipe. I would reduce the effort and cleanup by cooking the gnocchi in the same skillet. Packaged gnocchi do not need to be boiled. So called “skillet gnocchi are very popular where I come from. They can be sauteed in butter/EVOO for a few minutes and then plumped with the addition of bit of veggie or other stock.
In your great recipe, I would simply add the packaged gnocchi to the skillet at the same time as the garlic is added and go from there. Save water, save a pot and the cleanup, too.
Cathy bloom says
I love baked eggplant slices with dukkah and lemongrass.
Samantha says
Lately I have been addicted to roasted cauliflower…sprinkled with a little salt and pepper….I feel like I hit the jackpot when I get a charred piece.
Mimi Chau says
My favorite plant based dish is a Greek salad with cucumbers, red onion, and baby tomatoes tossed in some good olive oil and balsamic! Fresh, easy, and so satisfying! When I want to give it some more substance I add in some chickpeas.
Kaitlin says
I love curried red lentil soup!
Carol says
I love grilled baby artichoke hearts with a lemon Dijon dill vinaigrette for dipping.
Diana says
I look forward to a giant green (vegan) smoothie every (single) morning!
Lane says
I love butternut squash mac and “cheese”
Becca F says
I’ve been digging lentil soup lately!
Sj Dc says
i love having simple roasted vegetables with balsamic vinegar, herb & chilli flakes..i vary the ve, herbs & seasonings and have a big bowl at every meal
Jennifer Gensch says
I make very good salsa. I’m writing my own cookbook on all different sorts. I also love falafel and hummus…And now I’m drooling
Lisa Lyon says
At this time of year I enjoy big pots of soup with some type of dried bean, grain and greens!
Shoshana Rose says
I recently made a pumpkin chickpea curry that my husband declared one of his favorites!
Susie says
Roasted Vegetble in a brown rice bowl with avocado dressing
Christine says
This recipe looks great. I am not vegan, but have been cooking a lot more vegetarian dishes lately. I love anything with beans and lentils.
Yessenia says
I enjoy eating a great vegetarian stir fry.
Nancy Steinbach says
Love your sight, I would love to win the cookbook ! Thanks for the opportunity.
Ronnie K says
Enjoying your website and blog- The recipe above sounds amazing, I’m going to make this today. I recently changed to plant base eating, I like Chana Masala by Deliciously Ella. I visited her restaurant while in London 2017, she just wrote a cookbook called Natural Feasts. Power Plates sounds delicious too!!! Hope I’m lucky
De says
My favorite vegan dish is a cold greek orzo salad with a lemon vinaigrette. It’s my take on a restaurant’s orzo tabouli green salad, but I mix most of the salad toppings into the pasta mix for ease, and then serve it over greens, or as a side, or alone for a snack.
Cassie says
This looks incredible! Anything with beans and pasta is a huge favorite!
While there are many plant based favorites, the favorite right now is a vegan split pea soup with sweet potatoes and LOTS of smoked paprika!
julianne says
i love love love white beans, spinach and kale sautéed with coconut oil, tooooons of garlic and rosemary!
Mo says
My favorite plant-based meal at the moment is a butternut squash, sweet potato, and bean chili I threw together and ate with homemade bread (by the method in your book!). So warming and bright in these cold, dreary final days of winter.
Marijke says
Hey Emilie! I’ve been following Gina’s insta. Or awhile, which is actually how I was introduced to you! I’ve tried and been inspired by so many of Gina’s ideas, but my favorite has been a peanut-tofu rice bowl with charred veggies and a spicy peanut sauce. Yummmmm
Anne says
Chickpea, sweet potato, and spinach curry, made with toasted coconut-almond milk!
Ashley G says
Chickpea spinach stew with home-canned tomatoes. Rich and satisfying on a cold wonter’s night!
Ashley Mauceri says
I love power bowls that mix and match different veggies, proteins and sauces. So many options! Thank you for the chance to win.
Laney says
Love this recipe Emilie! Anything with cannellini beans and I’m in!
Victoria says
Emilie – I just made the Spinach and Gnochhi with White Beans for dinner tonight. It was so easy to come together and quite delicious. Very hearty for a cold winter day and very filling. Who needs meat!
Sonia says
My favorite is a quinoa and sweet potato burrito in a collard green wrap. Yum!
Laura C. says
Tofu scramble with every vegetable I have in the fridge!
Julia says
I am not a vegan, but I love integrating vegan meals into my diet. A vegan meal I enjoy regularly is black bean and sweet potato tacos!
marisa says
I love chipotle black bean chili and a fresh brussels sprout caesar salad!
Mollj says
I love vegan Ethiopian food, and one of my favorite dishes is a red lentil stew, miser wot. You slow cook onions, garlic, spices, and red lentils and serve with injera – delish!
Carmen says
Beans! Kale! Yum!
Samantha says
This was really tasty, thank you! I didn’t have spinach so just used kale and beet greens.
I don’t mean to have a vegan, mostly vegetarian diet, but often do. This is a great one to have on hand and my husband loved it too. Like I said, I’m not vegan or vegetarian, so may add bacon next time.
Thanks again!
Carla says
My favorite plant based dish changes frequently. I love just about anything by Isa Chandra and Minimalist Baker. This book looks amazing. I love one dish meals and bowls.
Amy says
This looks delicious! I’ve been loving anything with sweet potatoes. Recently made some delicious rosemary sweet potato oven fries and a sweet potato and bean chili. MMMmmm.
Chely C says
I love chickpea flour omelets.
Jenice says
Farrow and kale salad!
C says
My face vegan dish lately is refried beans, baked turmeric brown rice and avocado.
Karen D says
A noodle bowl with assorted chopped and grated vegetables.
Jeffrey says
I love a pizza topped with fresh vegetables picked from my garden. A tomato base topped with garlic and roasted zucchini, eggplant, onions, broccoli and mushrooms!
Sarah says
Hard to pick just one favorite—lately it’s been brown rice bowls with black beans, caramelized plantains, and jackfruit mole, garnished with fresh tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, and a cultured sour cream sauce.
Brianna says
This past summer I fell in love with an eggplant, red pepper, and onion bake using tomato paste and herbs. I cannot wait to make it again this summer with delicious fresh vegetables!
Jill Johnson says
We love anything with lentils or beans. Soups are especially delicious in the winter!
Nicole Jenkins says
My favorite veggie dish lately has been making a big batch of sautéed zucchini, green bell peppers, green onion, and frozen peas and then mixing it with leftover rice which i fry in ghee so the rice gets crunchy! I’m definitely going to be putting this gnocchi dish on my menu this week thought, it looks amazing!
Kim Melander says
Hi, I’m trying to sign up for your blog and don’t see anywhere to do that. Thanks!
jolyn says
veg w/mushrooms; hearts of palm & artichoke hearts; sugar snaps; hominy & roasted grn chiles