Cutting to the Chase...
The MamaSezz 2-Week Whole Food Plant-Based Challenge comes with everything you need to kickstart your healthy lifestyle: ready-made meals for 2 weeks, accompany meal plans, and online support for daily questions and inspiration. But if you’re an adventurous plant-based newbie, you may want to get a little more creative in the kitchen so we’ve put together some of our favorite ways to “gourmet it up” throughout your Challenge. From pickled red onions to our dairy-free Mama’s Mac Sauce, bored is the very last thing you’ll be.
Digging Deeper…
Change is scary! And changing the way you eat is no exception. Breath easy: the MamaSezz 2-Week Whole Food Plant-Based Challenge makes your transition to a healthy lifestyle easy. How easy are we talkin’ here? We prepare, cook, and deliver two weeks’ worth of ready-made and healthy food right to your door (and you get daily meal plans!). All you have to do: heat and enjoy. Pretty sweet, huh?
That said, if you’re looking to get a little more experimental in the kitchen during your Challenge, we’ve got our 10 favorite ways to “Gourmet It Up”.
(Pro tip: most of these ideas can be batch cooked, stored in the fridge for up to a week, and used with just about any of your MamaSezz ready-made dishes and in conjunction with your Challenge meal plans!)
10 Ways to Gourmet It Up during your MamaSezz 2-Week Challenge
AKA quick pickles! One of the best ways to add some zest to your meal.
To quickly pickle cucumbers:
- Slice a cucumber and soak in vinegar of choice (balsamic or apple cider are both awesome choices).
- Add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Store in a mason jar in the fridge.
Enjoy as a zippy snack or a crunchy topper to your Mama’s Burger!
2. Pickled Red Onion
Pickling isn’t just for cucumbers!
To pickle red onions:
- Slice up a red onion and toss in a wide-mouthed mason jar.
- Pour 1 ½ cups of vinegar of choice (apple cider works great here, too).
- Let these babies sit in the fridge for at least a day.
Garnish your Mama’s Burger, dress up your MamaSezz Quinoa Stack, beautify your salad, anything goes!
3. Sauteed Mushrooms
Add substance to any plant-based dish with “meaty” sauteed mushrooms. All varieties of mushrooms will do -- try out a few different types.
- Heat a pan over medium heat on your stovetop and add a few teaspoons of water or low sodium veggie broth.
- When the liquid’s heated up, add your mushrooms. (We also like to throw in a splash of Tamari for an umami flavor boost.)
- Stir consistently to prevent your mushrooms from sticking to the pan and cook them down until all liquid is absorbed. (Note: the mushrooms will release liquid as they start to cook, as well.)
We love sauteed mushrooms mixed in with our MamaSezz Black Bean Bowl or as a garnish to our MamaSezz Hungarian Mushroom Soup.
4. Refined Sugar-Free Asian Slaw
Add crunch to nearly any plant-based dish. And you don’t need processed sugar to make a delicious tangy sauce. Store the slaw veggies in the fridge un-dressed (it will keep longer and crisper this way!) then add sauce just before serving.
To make slaw:
- Julienne bok choy, cabbage, daikon, and carrots (time-saving tip: you can buy already julienned in stix).
- Mince cilantro and green onion.
- Combine and toss all ingredients.
- Store in the fridge.
To make dressing:
- Whisk together: ¼ cup fresh lime juice, 1 Tablespoon Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic, and 1 teaspoon minced fresh jalapenos.
- Store in fridge.
- Add to slaw just before serving.
Another finger-lickin’ good Mama’s Burger topper -- or just enjoy on its own as a side!
5. Mama’s Mac Sauce
Struggling to give up cheese? Our dairy-free “cheese” sauce is the answer to your woes. Made from creamy cashews and some plant-based chef magic, we’ve yet to find a savory dish it can’t enhance.
Add a dollop of Mama’s Mac Sauce to your MamaSezz Millie’s Chili, swirl over the MamaSezz Black Bean Bowl, or top your Mama’s Burger for a velvety finish.
6. MamaSezz Strong Heart Beets
A heart-healthy burger? MamaSezz heck yes! Top your Mama’s Burger with MamaSezz Strong Heart Beets for a superfood lunch combo. Beets aren’t just delicious (and fun to look at!), these red beauties have major health benefits. They can lower blood pressure within hours of eating! And good great for the active crowd: they’re packed with dietary nitrates which boost athletic performance. So hit the trails after lunch!
7. Grilled pineapple
Don’t you love it when healthy food satisfies cravings? Grilling pineapple is a quick and mouth-watering way to enhance any dish and satiate your sweet tooth.
To grill pineapple:
- Slice and core pineapple into rings.
- Heat up a grill pan and add pineapple rings.
- Grill on each side for 2-3 minutes, until you see some cool grill marks.
Add grilled pineapple to the MamaSezz Black Bean Bowl or as a topping to a toasted slice of MamaSezz Cornbread.
8. Roasted red pepper
You can purchase roasted red peppers from the store (look for oil-free canned varieties). Drain and rinse at home then chop and store in the fridge for a ready-to-go salad topper. Or make your own at home.
To roast red peppers:
- Chop washed red peppers into fourths (seeds removed).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Set the oven on broil (on high) and let heat up.
- Broil peppers in the oven for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Wrap in foil right after they’re finished broiling and let them steam for 10 more minutes.
- Unwrap from foil and peel the skin off!
- Store in the fridge for 5 days.
Add red peppers to your MamaSezz Turmeric Chickpea Scramble, drizzle with Mama’s Mac Sauce, toss with your side salad, or use as a garnish for your MamaSezz Corn Chowdah.
9. Artichoke hearts
Use up the canned artichokes in your pantry! Drain, rinse, and chop, then store in the fridge for later use. Give your MamaSezz Marinara Sauce over Pasta a Mediterranean twist, make dairy-free spinach artichoke dip when you combine with Mama’s Mac Sauce and cooked spinach or stir into MamaSezz Scalloped Potatoes.
10. Roasted sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a staple amongst some of the longest living populations on the planet, which makes sense since they’ve got health benefits in spades. They’re packed with fiber and nutrients like iron, calcium, and B vitamins. Oh, and they’re absolutely delicious.
We love to roast them and store in the fridge to add to dishes throughout the week.
To roast sweet potatoes:
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cube 1-3 sweet potatoes (peeled or unpeeled, whichever you prefer).
- Spread out your chopped sweet potatoes evenly.
- Squirt with lemon or lime juice and add your favorite no-salt seasoning.
- Bake for 40, flipping halfway through.
Sweeten up your MamaSezz Corn Chowdah, re-heat and enjoy as homefries with your MamaSezz Veggie Sausage, or add to MamaSezz Black Bean Bowl.
You’re now a gourmand!
The MamaSezz 2-Week Whole Food Plant-based Challenge makes your transition to plant-based eating seamless. But the adventurous newbie may want to venture outside of our easy meal plans with these Gourmet It Up tips:
- Pickled cucumbers and red onions
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Refined sugar-free Asian Slaw
- Mama’s Mac Sauce
- MamaSezz Strong Heart Beets
- Grilled pineapple
- Roasted red peppers and sweet potatoes
- Artichoke hearts
Have other favorite ways to Gourmet It Up? Tell us your go to's in the comments or share on social media with hashtag #MamaSezz!