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Homemade Calzones, Easy Queso Cheese Sauce and a Review of Field Roast Cheese Slices

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I’m pretty sure every vegetarian and vegan knows about Field Roast and if they don’t, they need to get acquainted with them right away! Field Roast makes grain meat and they do it exceedingly well.

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Field Roast was created in 1997 in Seattle when Chef David Lee combined the European tradition of sausage-making with the Asian tradition of crafting grain meat. He and his brother created the Field Roast Grain Meat Company. Over the years, Field Roast has created many products such as sausages, frankfurters, deli slices, meat loaves, burgers and roasts – all vegan and all delicious.

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Now Field Roast has entered the world of vegan cheese with their new product, Chao SlicesChao Slices are coconut cheeses seasoned with fermented soybean curd from Asia that the Vietnamese call Chao. Once again Field Roast has merged Asian and European heritages by partnering with a family in Taiwan who makes the Chao and a Greek cheese maker. It all comes together in Seattle to form Chao Slices.

Chao Slices are not trying to mimic traditional dairy cheese flavors like mozzarella or cheddar. Instead, they have created new flavors that are as unique as they are amazing. Chao Slices come in 3 flavors: Creamy Original with Chao Tofu, Coconut Herb with Black Pepper and Tomato Cayenne with Spicy Pepper. They are also non-dairy and non-GMO.

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Each flavor of Chao Slices is rich, creamy and decadent. It’s true that they don’t taste like the flavors of dairy cheese we may be familiar with. Each is unique and like nothing you ever tasted before.

When I got my Chao Slices, I had to think hard about how to use them. I also promised not to make grilled cheese and to find other innovative ways to use the slices. I did, however, taste them and they were so good, it was hard to keep my promise because I knew they would make incredible grilled cheeses.

One night I was making Philly cheesesteaks with Butler Soy Curls and I thought I could melt some of the Chao Slices on the sandwich but then I had a better idea. I whipped up a quick vegan Bechamel sauce with vegan butter, flour and So Delicious Cashew Milk. Then I cut up 4 or 5 slices of the Tomato Cayenne with Spicy Pepper.

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It made a beautiful, spicy Queso-type sauce that was quick, easy and delicious.

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That got poured onto my Philly cheesesteak which made it even more amazing. This quick Queso would be wonderful with nachos or as a sauce for a spicy mac and cheese.

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That was incredible and it wasn’t even planned. The next way I used Chao Slices was planned. I wanted to make homemade calzones and I thought the Chao Slices would be perfect since they are so creamy and melt very well. I made homemade pizza dough and for the filling, I made caramelized onions, sauteed spinach, Kalamata olives, and used the Creamy Original with Chao Tofu slices.

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As I expected, the cheese melted beautifully and the taste was smooth, rich and creamy. The calzones were so good, I used the 2nd half of the dough to have them again a few nights later. I served them with my homemade marinara sauce.

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Field Roast makes a lot of my favorite products. They have been on my table for several of my vegan holidays. Their products are so good because they are not trying to mimic anything. Field Roast makes real plant-based food that just tastes great. Now they also make Chao Slices vegan cheese and it’s amazing. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Field Roast.

Check out Field Roast’s web site for more information including their store locator, and recipes. Enjoy the recipes too!

Thank you, Field Roast, for the amazing Chao Slices. You continue to make being vegan easy, fun and delicious. 

Tomato Cayenne Queso Cheese Sauce

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GF

2 Tbs. vegan butter

2 Tbs. flour

3 cups non-dairy milk

Kosher salt and black pepper

A pinch of nutmeg

4-5 slices Chao Tomato Cayenne Cheese

In a small saucepan, melt the vegan butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and let cook for one minute. Slowly add room temperature or warm milk into the pan while whisking. Add salt and pepper to taste along with a pinch of nutmeg. Allow the milk to cook a bit until it thickens. Now you have a Béchamel sauce. Cut up 4 or 5 slices of tomato cayenne cheese and add them to the saucepan. Allow them to melt while whisking until smooth. Taste for any seasoning adjustments.

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Homemade Calzones with Caramelized Onions, Spinach, Olives and Chao Slices

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Makes 6 large calzones

For the pizza dough­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

1 packet (2 ¼ tsp.) active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar

1 cup warm water

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 Tbs. olive oil

 

For the filling­

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 large onions, thinly sliced

6 cups fresh, chopped spinach

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 Tbs. Kalamata olives, sliced

½ tsp. black pepper

A pinch of nutmeg

Kosher salt to taste

12 slices Chao Original cheese

Cooking oil spray

Marinara sauce, for dipping

 

To make the pizza dough: In a mug, mix the yeast and sugar with the warm water. Set aside and allow to foam. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, garlic powder, oregano and salt. Add the oil and the yeast mixture. Mix until the ingredients are well-combined. Knead for about 5 minutes or until you have a smooth dough.

Form the dough into a ball and place into an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a warm, damp cloth. Allow to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size. Punch the dough down and knead again. Separate the dough into 6 equal round pieces and let them rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle flour on a work surface. Roll each ball of dough into a circle for each calzone.

To make the filling: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion slices and cook for 4 minutes until they soften. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the onions caramelize, about 15-20 minutes. They will turn light brown and reduce in size. Add in the chopped spinach and the garlic and cook until the spinach just wilts. Mix in the olives and the seasoning. Turn off the heat. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

To assemble the calzones: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and spray them with cooking oil. For each calzone, lay a circle of dough on the work surface. Dip your finger in water and wet the perimeter of the dough. On one half of the circle, place 2 slices of Chao cheese. Top with 1/3 – ½ cup of the filling. Fold the other half of the dough over the filling. Press the edges of the dough together to form a semi-circle. Using a fork, press the tines into the dough along the edge to seal the calzone. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

Transfer the calzones to the baking sheets. Spray the tops with cooking oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until the calzones are golden brown and sound hollow when you tap them. Cut in half and serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

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The “V” Word: Say it. Eat it. Live it.

Homemade Calzones with Caramelized Onions, Spinach, Kalamata Olives and Chao Slices
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree, Pizza
Cuisine: Italian
 
Ingredients
  • For the pizza dough
  • 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp.) active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 Tbs. olive oil
  • For the filling
  • 2 Tbs. olive oil
  • 2 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 6 cups fresh, chopped spinach
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 Tbs. Kalamata olives, sliced
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • A pinch of nutmeg
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • 12 slices Chao Original cheese
  • Cooking oil spray
  • Marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
  1. To make the pizza dough:
  2. In a mug, mix the yeast and sugar with the warm water. Set aside and allow to foam.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, garlic powder, oregano and salt.
  4. Add the oil and the yeast mixture. Mix until the ingredients are well-combined.
  5. Knead for about 5 minutes or until you have a smooth dough.
  6. Form the dough into a ball and place into an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a warm, damp cloth. Allow to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  7. Punch the dough down and knead again.
  8. Separate the dough into 6 equal round pieces and let them rest for 10 minutes.
  9. Sprinkle flour on a work surface. Roll each ball of dough into a circle for each calzone.
  10. To make the filling:
  11. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion slices and cook for 4 minutes until they soften.
  12. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the onions caramelize, about 15-20 minutes. They will turn light brown and reduce in size.
  13. Add in the chopped spinach and the garlic and cook until the spinach just wilts.
  14. Mix in the olives and the seasoning. Turn off the heat. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  15. To assemble the calzones:
  16. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and spray them with cooking oil.
  17. For each calzone, lay a circle of dough on the work surface. Dip your finger in water and wet the perimeter of the dough.
  18. On one half of the circle, place 2 slices of Chao cheese. Top with ⅓ – ½ cup of the filling.
  19. Fold the other half of the dough over the filling. Press the edges of the dough together to form a semi-circle. Using a fork, press the tines into the dough along the edge to seal the calzone. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
  20. Transfer the calzones to the baking sheets. Spray the tops with cooking oil.
  21. Bake for 20 minutes or until the calzones are golden brown and sound hollow when you tap them.
  22. Cut in half and serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

 

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