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Lemongrass + Chervil Vegan Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo & Crispy Broccoli Rabe

It's raining in Los Angeles, which means most of the people in town are acting like the Apocalypse has unleashed tyranny upon our fair city. People drive like a sheet of ice covers the roads, call in sick from work and generally panic about their hair and make-up like as if they may actually melt. 

I personally love when it rain. I love waking up to the sound of it hitting the roof, I love puddle jumping, and I most certainly still know how to drive like a maniac even though the roads are slightly slick. As a bonus, rain cleanses the smoke-like air quality of filthy LA. Calm down, people. It's just fucking rain.

Enough about the weather. I want to thank you all for responding to my hopefully blossoming "open a restaurant" scheme. I've never had so many comments on one post before in my entire blog-life. This week, I'm putting another request out there: 

I want your suggestions for the Most-Impossible-To-Veganize Dishes. My end goal is to convert them for our consumption. I ask one favor, though: Do NOT ask me to veganize fois gras. I just simple won't go there, home-slice. It can be anything else. Go ahead and smack me with the tough stuff. I can take it, and I'll like it. 

Now, on to this week's recipe. 

One of my favorite childhood indulgences was Alfredo sauce. As anyone who's been reading here for a while knows, I'm typically a red sauce fanatic. I've also centered many posts entirely around my love of tomatoes. The lovely blend of ingredients that composes a great Alfredo really gets me going. 

This recipe came about when a friend hyped my culinary skills to a vegan friend, then I'm suddenly inviting them both over for dinner. I asked my friend to find out, "what she misses eating, and would love to have." Friend asked, and "Fettuccini Alfredo with Vegan Chicken" was what's for dinner. I had to retort, "Fine...but I'm making it fancy." Duh. 

Anyway, I'm rambling like an idiot today. Drive safe, Angelenos. And for fuck's sake: jump in a damn puddle.

 
Lemongrass + Chervil Vegan Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo & Crispy Broccoli Rabe
  • 1 large bunch of Broccoli Rabe (about 1 lb)
  • 1/8 cup Olive Oil
  • 3 cloves Garlic, chopped
  • 1 lb Fettucini Noodles
  • 1 batch of Vegan Chicken Breast, sliced
  • Olive Oil, enough for grilling "Chicken"
  • 5 TBSP Vegan Butter
  • 1 1/2 cups Dr Cows Aged Cashew Cheese, grated (or any hard Soy Parmesan)
  • 1 1/2 cup Vegan Heavy Cream
  • 1/4 cup Plain Soy Creamer
  • 1 stalk Lemongrass, tough outer leaves removed, pounded and thinly sliced
  • 2 TBSP Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Chervil, minced
  • Salt and Fresh Cracked Black Pepper, to taste
Prepare a large bowl of ice cold water (an ice bath), then set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the Broccoli Rabe for 1 minute until tender. Drain quickly then transfer the Broccoli Rabe to the ice bath. Drain well, then set aside. 

Heat the 1/8 cup of Olive Oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped garlic cloves and saute for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the Broccoli Rabe plus a touch of salt and pepper, then toss well to coat in the oil. Cook until the Broccoli Rabe is tender and crispy, about 4-5 minutes, then set aside. 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook fettucini noodles until just al Dente. Drain well, toss with a touch of Olive Oil, then set aside. 

Carefully heat the Olive Oil on a grill pan or in a large skillet, then grill/sauté the slices of vegan chicken until golden brown and crisping slightly. Set aside. 

Melt the vegan butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the grated Dr Cow cheese, soy cream and Vegan Heavy Cream, lemongrass and lemon juice, then bring to a boil while stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to low, add in the Chervil, and simmer for two minutes, stirring constantly, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Salt and Pepper, to taste. Toss the noodles with the Alfredo sauce, the serve topped with grilled "Chicken" and Broccoli Rabe.

Comments

This sounds completely amazing! I keep meaning to get some of the MimicCreme...now I will have to! Fettuccine Alfredo used to be one of my favorite meals pre-vegan. As far as something to recreate for your restaurant, how about ribs? Or fried shrimp? I've had faux shrimp in Thai places, but it never really impressed me. Anyway, have a great weekend!

Amanda
Rose said…
That is one good lookin' plate of food!

I love the rain too...Angelinos sound just like Madrilenians...I lived in Madrid for 6 years...and they would act like the world was coming to an end on the few occasions during the year that it would rain...I, on the other hand, was jumping with glee.

As for veganizing challenges: what about braciole...this was a Sunday standard meal in our house growing up...I think a vegan version could be mighty tasty.

Thanks for the great recipe.
Fried Eggs! Tofu scramble bores the S*** out of me! Also, did you make that chicken from scratch? it looks suuuhhhh good.
I'd love for you to open a restaurant, but I'd like it to be a gourmet one featuring all the mouth-watering recipes on this blog!

The answer to your question is angel food cake. You've already veganized pain au chocolat, which I will indeed be requesting in the near future, and you're working on Brie, so now it's time to move on to the only birthday cake I ever requested: angel food cake. I know that's not very fancy, but I loved it plain and in its tube cake form. :)

Oh, and I don't like the rain unless I am curled up with someone worthy of curling up with...and you know that hasn't happened in forever (other than my beloved Bo)! You're lucky to have Jane to cuddle. :)
Cortney said…
I came to L.A. two days after a big rain, and the friend I was staying with was going on and on about how everyone freaks out and there are wrecks everywhere and no one knows how to act- being from Texas, where it thunderstorms and rains torrents for, oh, sometimes three months straight I missed the rain while I was living there :)

Also, random question- any suggestions for a good blue cheese substitute? I'm about 75% vegan now, but specialty cheeses like blue cheese, goat cheese, etc. get me every time in a moment of weakness : /
Rose said…
Good to know about the braciole, I bet your recipe is fantastic. I'm looking forward to your cookbook!
the twins said…
this, like all your recipes, looks amazing! you should try to veganize pork buns...i love them and there's not really a vegetarian alternative.
Jes said…
I'm a bit starving now after reading the recipe. Mmm what I'd give for a source for mimicreme.

I just miss really good bbq sandwiches. Maybe like a pulled pork type consistency. Something to chew on, but something super BBQy at the same time.

And I love that LA can't handle the rain--I can't imagine mayhem created by rain!
Chrissy said…
I think you should try to recreate fried chicken. Man... As a lover of deepfried foods, i really miss KFC!

Also, do you have a recipe to make vegan chicken breasts, or do you suggest to use pre-made ones??
Ratsofritz said…
That looks so delish! I sincerely hope that you do open a restaurant - it's your clearly your calling. I've been kicking around the idea of a vegan food truck, (I know everyone's doing the food truck thing), that could be run kind of like a co-op. LA vegan bakers and food makers could band together on mobile mission of vegan mercy. So much of the expense of running a restaurant is in the overhead, and with a truck you could have a constantly evolving menu that you take to the people.
Seriously, the rain in LA meant less people on the road & the days after were gorgeous!
I'm still so excited about thinking of your restaurant! I really would be your best customer, you know. That is, if we weren't about a billion miles apart on the other side of the world. Why don't you open a branch in Saudi?

Hahhaha, I definitely know what you mean about people not knowing how to drive in rain. The second it starts to rain here everyone keeps driving like they normally do (Saudi has the highest rate of road deaths in the world) but they put on their hazard lights. Yes, on top of the insanity they add flashing lights that reflect crazily in the water that is puddling everywhere. SCARY.

Okay, this chicken alfredo looks magnificent, I want a bowl please!

As for something to veganize....how about....angel food cake? that is something I've never managed to do successfully and I'd love to see how you do it. Because I know you can! Ra Ra GO YOU!
Chrissy said…
ill have to try that chicken recipe, it sounds so good!

but since you already made fried chicken, have you tried a cheesesteak yet? im from the philly area, and i defintely miss those!!!
Unknown said…
yes, please please try Angel Food Cake...and for a slightly new suggestion (Angel food cake was my first) Meringue
vegandietguy said…
I really want to try this, but we can't purchase vegan chicken or vegan cheese in Japan. Can you suggest the best recipe to make those from scratch?