It has been about a week since the Thug Kitchen 21 Day Challenge and I thought it was appropriate to wrap it up with a recap of all the recipes and my top four recipes to make if doing a challenge of your own. In total, I made 24 recipes in three weeks. What a whirlwind! I was happy with the vast majority of the recipes and am excited to make them again now I know what to expect.
I would highly recommend Thug Kitchen to anyone I come across (and I’m not just saying that!). Their recipes are clear cut, ingredients easy to find and make vegan food look and taste enjoyable. I love how they focus on the vegetables as mains, from carrot dogs, to cauliflower tacos. I also like the language – may not be for everyone. But if you have a dry and slightly dark sense of humor, like me, you will get a kick out of it. Their cookbooks are also packed with valuable information. I thank them for teaching me how to wash and cook leeks, once and for all!
What are some things I didn’t really like about this challenge? Well, each one of my challenges I have done so far have had their issues. I think with this challenge, the main issue was not knowing how long each recipe would take. All the other challenges I have done (Oh She Glows, Minimalist Baker, My New Roots and Deliciously Ella) have listed how long it would take to make. Besides that, I can’t really think of any other issues! I found that they were not shy to try out new sources of plant-based protein, which I greatly appreciate. Deliciously Ella, for instance, does not cook at all with tofu. I missed it!
So, you must be wondering what my top four recipes are? After each recipe I have made, I rated them on a coveted Whole Foodie Challenge scale to see where it stands. I judge based on ingredients, time it takes to make, directions, taste and texture, satiety and longevity. If you want to take a recap at my reviews, here they are below:
And here was a recap on my Thug Kitchen Barbecue Contest! (due to the way the food was devoured – as it was a dinner party. I did not review them with the criteria. So, these won’t be included in this wrap up).
For the nerds in all of you, I made a chart to see where all the recipes stood up. So what is the conclusion?
First Choice
I was not surprised that the Quinoa Oatmeal came in first place with 91% overall ratings. Since the challenge, I have made it twice. It won based on it’s versatility, longevity and fairly simple directions. I have eaten it both hot and cold and find it works great. So if you were to start with any recipe, I would start here. I topped mine with cocoa nibs, and chia seed jam (lots of recipes on how to make – this recipe is my favorite).
Second Choice
In a very close second with 90% is the Smokey Bean and Spinach Sliders. These patties can be cooked and then frozen. This means that they are ready to be used on any given notice. I think those win high points alone for that! Secondly, the ingredients were easy to find, had high protein content and the directions easy to follow. Lastly, these were rated high because I find veggie burgers often fall apart. I was so impressed with their ability to stay together, both when freshly made and then when frozen and defrosted. A great recipe all around.
Third and Fourth Choice
The next two recipes were in a tie for third and fourth place: the Cauliflower Tacos and the Grilled Pineapple Sweet and Sour Tempeh Kabobs. I would make both of these in a heart beat again. This is why I rated them 89%. They both had a great amount of flavor. The cauliflower tacos especially were a crowd stopper. Marinating the cauliflower in beer and spices really did something, as these were just spectacular. Super filling too! The Tempeh Kabobs were also full of flavor.
The sweetness of the pineapple combined with the savoury pepper and onion pieces was something I especially liked. These are super easy to put together. They keep well in the fridge after they are cooked. These recipes are both great for a barbecue or dinner party as well.
Well there you have it! It was a tight race, as you can see. Many recipes scored high on my ratings. You can see the links to get a more thorough review on a specific recipe. Be sure to check out the PDF’s each week if you haven’t yet either. Each is jam packed them with information on the recipes. In it are meal plans, nutritional content and a grocery list for each week of recipes.
I hope you enjoyed the challenge. Thanks again for following along. I am hard at work on my next challenge, I can’t wait to share what it is with you soon!!
