4 Vegan recipes to help sloths

Deforestation to make way for cattle farming is a problem growing as exponentially as the human population. Cows make a lot of methane as part of their digestion process, and so instead of forests full of trees making breathable oxygen, you get feedlots full of cattle making greenhouse gasses.

• Read More: Can the sloths’ diet save the planet?

So what is Veganuary? Veganuary is a challenge that encourages meat-eaters to adopt a plant-based lifestyle throughout the month of January.  

We challenge you to try out some of these delicious vegan recipes. By now most of us are aware of the positive environmental impacts of reducing our meat consumption on the planet which in turn helps sloths!

• Read More: Sloth-Inspired Salad! 

1. Rice n´Beans

First up we have picked a traditional meal eaten daily in the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. It is hearty, warm, coconutty, and filling! Rice n’ Beans. Let us know what you think! 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of cooked red beans
• 2 cups of white rice 
• 1 finely chopped white onion
• 1 Panamanian Chile (optional)
• 1/2 finely chopped red pepper 
• 4 blended or very finely cut garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon of ginger (fresh grated or ground)
• 3 sticks of fresh thyme
• 2 cups of coconut milk
• 1 cup of vegetable stock
• 2 spoons of coconut oil
• Salt and pepper to taste 
• *Lizano sauce to taste (optional, gives authentic Costa Rican flavor)

Method:

1. Cool off the onion, chili, red pepper, garlic, and ginger with coconut oil.
2. Add in coconut milk, vegetable stock, thyme, season with salt, pepper, and Salsa Lizano to taste.
3. Add rice and beans and mix.
4. Cook until liquid has evaporated and rice is cooked.

2. Banana Cake

Our second recipe is one of everyone’s favorite desserts that is also inspired by Costa Rica, a banana cake! Make sure to use responsibly sourced bananas! 

Ingredients:

• 3 large black bananas
• 225g plain or integral flour 
• 75ml vegetable oil or sunflower oil
• 100g brown sugar (can be halved depending on sweet tooth)
• 3 heaped tsp baking powder
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• A handful of choc chips or nuts (optional)

Method

1.  Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mash 3 large black peeled bananas with a fork, then mix with oil and brown sugar.
2.  Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and dark chocolate chips or nuts.
3.  Bake in well-greased (with vegan butter or veg oil), or lined loaf tin for 20 minutes. Check and cover with foil if the cake is browning.
4.  Bake for another 20 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.

Enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee, for a snack or breakfast. Not only can converting to a plant-based diet be better for the planet but also better for you too!

• Read More: The real cost of a cheap pineapple from Costa Rica

3. No-Meat-Balls

Now we have a heartier meal for you, to fill you up and keep you warm and full this winter!  This next recipe is for Vegan No-Meat-Balls. Sometimes people miss the ‘meaty’ texture when trying out plant-based meals, these healthy meatball alternatives may help fill that void! This is also a great protein alternative with 4g of protein per ball! 

Ingredients

• 1 finely chopped onion
• 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 x 400g can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 50g rolled oats
• 50g finely chopped mushroom
• 50g fresh breadcrumbs

Method:

1. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan, add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic, mushrooms, and paprika and cook further until needed, add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Blitz the black beans and oats in a food processor/blender until you have a chunky, textured mixture. Tip the bean/oat mix, onions, and breadcrumbs into a bowl and mix. 
3. Roll into balls and chill in the fridge for at least an hour. (This helps to bind)
4. Heat the oven to 180°c fan. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and add the balls and fry until evenly brown. Transfer to a baking tray and put in the oven to cook through for 10 mins. 
5. Serve with homemade chili and garlic tomato sauce and pasta. Or for a pasta-free/gluten-free alternative use courgetti! (This is very easy to make at home with courgette in thin strips!) 

*NOTE these no meatballs may crumble more than a normal meatball, however they are just as delicious! 

4. Banana choc chip nice-cream

Now for the last recipe, we have brought you a delicious dessert! A plant-based ice cream alternative that is one of the easiest things to make at home!

This Banana choc chip nice-cream is a go-to recipe when you are craving a night in with some ice cream, it also happens to be a healthier alternative!  This recipe is very adaptable as long as you keep the frozen banana and plant milk base! Our favorite version is Choc chip so we will share that version below!

 Ingredients:

• 2-3 frozen bananas *TIP* Freese without skin and broken in 2-3 pieces.
• ½ cup of any plant-based milk! (Oat or Cashew are our favorites for added creaminess)
• 1 tbs of cacao powder
• Dark choc chips.

Blend Frozen bananas, cacao powder, and plant milk in a high-speed blender until thick and ice cream texture. Add Choc chips and serve! 

If you don’t like chocolate then you can add any flavor you like to the banana and plant milk mix to make your desired nice-cream flavor.

It can be very overwhelming when converting to a vegan diet, our biggest advice to you is don’t overcomplicate it or put too much pressure on yourself. Start with one or two meals a week, start simple, lots of veggies, in salads or roasted in the oven. Then you could try to ‘Veganise’ some of your favorite meals, using lentils, pulses, and tofu! It is all about little steps to a greener future! 

-Ashley Raine

Pura Wildlife

SloCo Collaborator