A sign of the uncomfortable times we live in is the cultural craving for comfort food. These days, grilled cheese is hot, so to speak. There are even restaurants devoted almost solely to them. Some even offer vegan grilled cheese sandwiches, not wanting to leave anyone out (see listing at the end of this post). Here we showcase vegan grilled cheese sandwiches 5 ways, that you can make in minutes.
There’s no big revelation here, we’re not going to hand-craft our cheese or anything like that. But grilled cheese one of those things that many non-vegans still think needs to be sacrificed in a plant-based diet, like pizza. All photos by Hannah Kaminsky.Continue Reading…
A very simple savory tart recipe that uniquely combines asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes with vegan cheese, all nestled in a perfect puff-pastry square. I love recipes that double as quick-and-easy snacks by day and elegant party foods by night. And this one is exactly that. The prep is easy, and minimal equipment is needed.Â
Here’s a sandwich with substance — these tempeh reuben hero sandwiches are delicious, high in protein, and even supply you with your healthy fermented food in the form of sauerkraut. If you’re feeding a small group and don’t feel like making individual sandwiches, this is a great choice. Double the recipe for a larger crowd. Great served with dill pickles and a colorful salad. Continue Reading…
Vegan ceviche, a Latin-American specialty, is a perfect and refreshing first course or appetizer, especially when it’s made all-vegetable.Traditionally, it’s made with seafood and vegetables, but taking the fish out of the equation, it’s still really good, with its salty and citrusy flavors. It’s a great appetizer for most any kind of Southwestern- or Mexican-style meal.
Mexican Independence Day is September 16, and just in time, Vegan Mexican Food, a resource of the nonprofit Food Empowerment Project, has been updated and expanded. Thanks to these organization for this tasty contribution, as well as the photo.Continue Reading…
Is this you: Are you someone who vows to eat more salad? Are you always promising yourself that you’ll do better at eating some fresh raw foods with lunch or dinner? Making a simple salad isn’t a big deal most of the time, but there are times when chopping a bunch of veggies can be less than appealing — whether you’re hurrying to pack your lunch or coming home tired after a long day. Our no-chop power greens salad comes to the rescue. There’s nothing to it other than layering a few veggies (and seeds) that need no prep at all. And it’s easy on the eyes, too.
With this salad, there’s also no need to measure. Use as much as you need to make one salad or two, or more. Continue Reading…
It is a well-known fact that diet plays a decisive role in the annoying symptom known as heartburn or acid reflux – often as a trigger, or root cause. Changing your diet can help resolve heartburn symptoms for the long run. Some foods have substantial alkaline effects to alleviate acid reflux quickly and effectively. Here, we’ll discuss the 5 best vegetables for acid reflux and heartburn — remedies you’ll find in any produce section or farm market.
Latest studies are now showing us, that certain unexpected vegetables are in fact great home remedies for acid reflux symptoms. The same studies are also showing that other groceries have so far been overrated as heartburn remedies. At the end of the article we additionally present you an easy and tasty anti-heartburn smoothie recipe, combining the power of all these ingredients.Continue Reading…
I’m not sure who invented that Buffalo wings combo that contrasts spicy BBQ flavors with celery and creamy dressing. It’s kind of weird, but obviously there’s something about it that people love, because there are hundreds of vegan variations, let alone thousands of the non-vegan variety. In plant-based versions, cauliflower or tofu stand in for “wings.†However, even in the ones labeled “simple†or “easy†there are usually between 15 and 20 ingredients.
In ours, the easiest Buffalo tofu bites ever, we use Nasoya’s chipotle flavored baked tofu. It has a great flavor and texture for this so-called recipe. Full-fledged lazy and full flavor become perfect partners. You can even find precut celery (or celery and carrot) sticks in the produce section of your supermarket. They cater to slackers like us these days. Continue Reading…
Have you ever thought about growing your own herbs? I don’t just mean the usual candidates like rosemary and thyme – though you should definitely find a spot for them – but also more unusual plants like lovage, dill and yarrow. Herb growing, no matter how much or how little space you have, is simple, quick and very rewarding.
I think that every kitchen windowsill in the county should be crammed with overflowing pots of tasty, aromatic leaves. Many herbs are well-suited to growing indoors and will provide harvests all through the year. Some, like chives, are so prodigious that you may well find yourself under-harvesting them! Continue Reading…
As a vegan, you probably care deeply about where your food comes from. It should be responsibly sourced, sustainable and free from harmful chemicals and practices. What better way to achieve this than to start your own vegetable garden? Whether in a specially acquired allotment or your own back yard, you can start growing the freshest ingredients to put into a great vegan recipe. Today, we’ll talk about the benefits of growing your own vegetables, and some ways to get started.
The simple fact about taking control of your vegetables is that you know exactly what you get. Any pesticides that you may take issue with are a problem no more. This may mean that the final product is healthier and more nutritious than the mass produced vegetables found at your local supermarket.Continue Reading…
We love healthy treats that are as tasty as candy truffles, and these dried fruit and walnut energy balls fit that description. With just a few ingredients, they’re super easy to make, too. Did you you know that walnuts are just about the best source of omega 3 fatty acids? This beneficial fat is hard to come by in plant-based foods, and walnuts are the only nut that contains ALA, or alpha-linolenic acid. Eating 3 or 4 of these will give you just about your total daily requirement.
Though the maca powder in these is optional, it’s highly recommended — it’s another way to get an energy boost and enjoy its other health benefits.Continue Reading…
Thanksgiving has gotten to be a more inclusive holiday over the past few years — where once upon a time, the lone vegetarian or two picked at side dishes. Fast-forward to the present, and even full-fledged vegans can enjoy the full feast, from appetizers to desserts. Whether you’re going to be a guest or host, you’ll want to explore these options for our best vegan Thanksgiving main dish recipes. And make sure to explore our entire array of vegan Thanksgiving dinner recipes. Three Sisters Stew(shown at top) is somewhat like chili, though it’s more about the squash than beans. In Native American mythology, squash, corn, and beans are known as of the “three sisters†— the very crops that the harvest festival of Thanksgiving is meant to celebrate!Continue Reading…
VegKitchen’s pages offer a number of tasty recipes and ideas for vegan sandwich and wraps, perfect for lunches at home or to take to school or the office (or even as quick, casual dinners). Here are the ones that have proven most popular with readers — most views, comments, and in general, going most crazy over them when we share on our Facebook page. Keep this list handy, and it will be a long time before you wonder what to have for lunch! Of course, for the mid-day meal, you can rotate these with some of our delicious saladsand/or leftover soupsas well. Another tip: You can turn any of the wraps below into sandwiches, and vice versa. Continue Reading…
There are plenty of pulled jackfruit sandwich recipes around the web, but this miracle food is so amazing that we just had to have one of our own. This super-easy pulled jackfruit sandwich recipe relies on flavorful BBQ sauce to envelop the starchy fruit. In its unripe state it has that kind of stringy texture provides an animal-free way to enjoy a “meaty†treat. Pairing it with coleslaw gives the sandwich a cool crunch.
Pulled jackfruit
Two 20-ounce cans young green jackfruit in water (see Note)
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 to 1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
1 to 2 teaspoons barbecue seasoning such as mesquite (see Note)
The rest
2 cups or so pre shredded coleslaw
1/4 cup vegan mayo or other creamy dressing
4 whole-grain buns
1Â Drain and rinse the jackfruit. Cut away and discard any core portion, then chop the jackfruit roughly.
2Â Heat the oil in a large skillet, then add the jackfruit and 3/4 cup barbecue sauce. Heat up over medium-high heat until the sauce bubbles, then turn down the heat, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Stir from time to time.
3 Uncover and mash with a potato masher or large fork to create string-like “pulled†texture. Add a little more BBQ sauce if the jackfruit has gotten dry, then stir in the BBQ seasoning to taste. Cook for 5 minutes or so longer.
4Â In the meantime, combine the slaw with enough vegan mayo to coat.
5Â Divide the pulled jackfruit among 4 buns (you may have excess), top with a little coleslaw and the top of the bun, then serve.
Notes:
Make sure to get jackfruit in water, not brine or syrup. If you can’t find canned young green jackfruit at a natural foods store near you, it’s available online at Amazon.com.
Barbecue seasonings are available in the spice section of most supermarkets
Hummus, the rich, creamy dip, is central to Middle Eastern cuisine. Most of us eat it because it’s so tasty; but we don’t often consider the health benefits of hummus. But you can be sure that hummus is a good-for-you treat — it consists mainly of chickpeas and sesame seeds. Lemon and garlic are also intrinsic to its unique flavor — and variations can include spices, peppers, olives, and other ingredients to make a great thing even better. Hummus is most often used as a dip for fresh pita, but there are other ways to use it. It’s great in wraps, as a potato topping, and even on pizza in place of tomato sauce.
You can buy hummus from the store, but for all the healthy goodness that it comes with, it’s always better to make it yourself at home — it’s easy to do — here’s our basic recipe, with variations. Despite its delicately complex taste, hummus is actually surprisingly easy to make. Continue Reading…
Low-sugar peanut butter puffed cereal gives these easy snack bars a fun look and really pop when you chew them! With peanut butter in them too, they’re double peanut-y — though you can use any other kind of puffed cereal (we used Nature’s Path Panda Puffs), like puffed rice. Taking minutes to make, these are no-bake; you just have to have some patience as they set up in the fridge (or you can speed things up by placing in the freezer). Continue Reading…
While there are good arguments for reducing bad fats (trans fats, saturated fats) from the diet, there are several sources of plant-based fats that have numerous health benefits. Read on for more on how to get these 6 healthy fats into your daily repertoire.
What Are Healthy Fats? Fats aren’t totally evil! While there are some fats that should be avoided — like trans fats and saturated fats — there are also good fats that are a must for overall health. These healthy fats are mostly those coming from vegetables.
Plant-based fats are polyunsaturated, containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that our bodies need, since they’re not capable of manufacturing them. Since we cannot get off eating bad cholesterols even though how hard we try to, These polyunsaturated fats will help achieve a more balanced fat content.Continue Reading…
