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Herbed Tomato and Bread Salad

Heirloom tomatoes are wonderful for this simple yet flavoursome Herbed Tomato and Bread salad, but any tomatoes will do. The measurements are merely approximations; you don’t have to be exact. This serves 4 as a side or 2 as a main.

Ingredients
8 large heirloom tomatoes, cut into eighths 
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
7g fresh Greek basil, roughly chopped
3g fresh mint, finely chopped
4g fresh oregano, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
120g crusty suitable-for-vegan bread, cubed

Directions
1. Mix the tomatoes and herbs in a large bowl. 
2. In a small bowl, mix the garlic, oil (if using), salt and pepper. 
3. When ready to serve, add the bread to the tomatoes, pour over the garlic mixture, and toss. Season to taste.

Slow-Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes

Intensely sweet, these flavourful tomatoes are easy to prepare, and they make a wonderful addition to salads, sandwiches, or can be eaten on their own as a tasty snack.

Preheat an oven to 120C, line a baking tray with a silicone sheet, and halve as many tomatoes as you wish to roast–we used cherry and plum tomatoes here. Toss the tomatoes in a bowl with a tsp balsamic vinegar, and a generous helping of freshly ground black pepper, salt, and crumbled dried oregano. Place onto the tray in a single layer, cut-side up, and roast for 2-3 hours (depending on size and thickness of tomatoes; the cherry tomatoes took 2 hours).

“But I Can’t Cook” Lentil Bolognese

About 10 minutes to put together. Cheap as chips. If you can open cans and jars and set a kitchen timer, you can make this. Serves 2.

Ingredients

150g dried spaghetti
1 x 400g can green or brown lentils
1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp salt (1 tsp for the spaghetti water; 1 tsp for the sauce)
1 tsp maple syrup
A few handfuls of baby spinach

Directions

1. Boil a kettle full of water. Transfer it to a large saucepan over a medium-high heat and sprinkle in one of the tsp of salt. Add the spaghetti, and set the kitchen timer to the time advised on the packet.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients to a smaller saucepan. Simmer on low until the spaghetti is cooked.
3. When the spaghetti is cooked, drain.
4. Add the sauce to the spaghetti. Taste, and promise never to tell yourself that you can’t cook again.

Shredded cabbage with red pepper, tomatoes and dill

Ingredients
3T of cooking oil (reserve 1-2t for the peppers)
1/2t of coarse sea salt (divided in equal parts)
2 large tomatoes (about 1/4 to 1/2 pound)
1 large red pepper
2 scallions, minced
1T of garlic
1T of fresh dill, minced
2 cups of cabbage, shredded (I use coleslaw mix)
2T of nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat the oven to 450F.
Lightly oil the peppers and then oven grill until lightly charred (or use the traditional stove top method if you have a gas stove).
Let stand to cool about 15 minutes, peel, cored, seed, and chop.
Core and seed the tomatoes.
Puree the tomatoes with the red pepper with 1/4t of the sea salt in a high speed blender until smooth.
Set aside.
Bring the oil and remaining sea salt to heat on medium high.
Add the scallions and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add the garlic and the dill, and saute for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the cabbage and saute for another 10-12 minutes or until the cabbage has wilted lightly and pan starts to brown.
Add the pureed tomatoes and red pepper to deglaze.
Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce is somewhat thick (about 10-15 minutes).
Remove from heat and add the nutritional yeast, stirring to combine.
Let stand to cool 10 minutes, season to taste and serve.