Inspired by Tex-Mex flavors, this easy vegan sloppy joe recipe is absolutely delicious. And, best of all, they cook up fast! In less than 20 minutes, you’ll have a hearty, healthy bean meal. They taste amazing with a little thin sliced pickled red onion on top. To pickle red onions, thin slice some red onion,…
Slow Cooker Vegan Cabbage Rolls with Sauerkraut Tomato Sauce
Inspired by Slovak stuffed cabbage (also known as holubky or halupki), these vegan cabbage rolls with brown rice, tempeh bacon, sauerkraut and tomato sauce are packed with savory, sour delicious flavors. And they are so good! So, what goes with this vegan cabbage rolls recipe? Mashed potatoes. A big, huge mound of mashed potatoes topped…
Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon Tahini and Za’atar
In Portland, Oregon, there is no shortage of very, very good vegan food. Wait five minutes and another restaurant, natural foods store or food truck opens to the public. And one of my favorite things is tasting everything vegan! After a recent trip to Aviv, a plant based Israeli restaurant in town, I was really…
Slow Cooker Vegan Italian Beef
So, what’s Italian beef? A Chicago classic, a U.S. Midwestern favorite. Scraps of meat are slow simmered in au jus, served in a hearty roll, and topped with hot giadiniera, a Chicago-style relish of spicy peppers and pickled vegetables. This vegan Italian beef recipe combines shredded young jackfruit and thinly sliced seitan to create an…
Shiitake Mushroom Sushi Rolls
Some years ago, I has vegan sushi in San Francisco at Cha-Ya, a vegan sushi restaurant. Being raised vegetarian and spending most of my adult life as a vegan, I had never had sushi. Needless to say, it was so good! Since that time, I’ve become a big fan of vegan sushi. And thus, UVK…
Sushi Rice
Calrose rice was developed in the late 1940’s in California. When cooked, this medium grain rice becomes soft and sticky. It’s an ideal rice for sushi, and pretty easy to find throughout the U.S. This sushi rice recipe uses Calrose rice. It makes enough rice for 3-4 vegan sushi rolls. You can use this sushi…
Vegan Pita with Grilled Eggplant and Pomegranate Molasses Tempeh
This is an easy tempeh pita recipe. You’ll need to get the tempeh marinade prepared the night before, and allow the tempeh time to marinate. Other than that, it is very simple to make and tasty! This Middle Eastern inspired vegan eggplant pita recipe makes 4 pitas. To make this gluten free, use gluten free…
Mediterranean Eggplant Chickpea Salad
This vegan eggplant chickpea salad recipe has it all! The grilled eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, pistachios and a tasty oregano dressing really make it happen. It’s easy and simple. It’s hearty enough to be a lunch or meal, but could also work well as a side dish. It holds up well, so make it in…
Vegan Paella with Artichokes and Green Olives
Paella is a rice dish that originated in Valencia, Spain. Saffron, a spice derived from crocus flowers, is one of the main seasonings. In addition to making the rice yellow, it has a distinct flavor that’s a bit like honey. It’s very expensive, but it doesn’t take much of it to flavor a dish. This…
Romesco Sauce
Is romesco sauce vegan? Yes, the Catalan condiment is made from roasted tomatoes and red peppers with toasted almonds, stale bread, garlic and vinegar. There are some differences in ingredients, but commonly, it is free of dairy and animal products. Traditionally, it is served with fish, but there are many other ways to enjoy it….
Cauliflower Soup with Leeks
This easy vegan cauliflower soup recipe cooks up fast! Many cauliflower soups are super creamy or very cheesy. This soup is neither. It has light broth that’s savory, sour and herbaceous, which perfectly compliments the cauliflower and leeks. There’s no coconut milk, no cashews, no potatoes, and no vegan cheese. It’s simple and tasty. If…
Asparagus Salad with Walnuts, Farro and Lemon Vinaigrette
The best part of this herby asparagus farro salad is the texture! It’s crisp from the lightly steamed asparagus and chewy from the farro. Together, it’s very satisfying and filling. Not to mention, the flavors work so well! This vegan asparagus salad recipe works great as an everyday or Easter side dish. It also works…
Zucchini Stuffed with Italian Herb Risotto
This is a delicious vegan stuffed zucchini recipe. Zucchini boats filled with herb risotto is almost too perfect. Because let’s get real here, zucchini loves fresh basil 💚 This recipe makes ~6 stuffed zucchini boats and works well as a main course for dinner. It would taste awesome paired with a side of Fennel and…
Brussels Sprout Soup with Potatoes
I might be someone that has mistakenly called a Brussels sprout, a “brussel sprout”. I had no idea those tiny cabbages were named after Brussels, Belgium! Regardless of how you’ve said it, maybe we can agree that they can be absolutely delicious? Pair them with caraway seeds, mustard powder, a little smoked paprika and white…
Balsamic Reduction
What’s balsamic reduction? Balsamic vinegar that’s been simmered in a pot until enough water evaporates and it becomes a sweeter, thicker version of itself. It tastes awesome on roasted beets, salads, pizza and more. Is balsamic reduction vegan? Sometimes. Some recipes stir in honey, so it’s good to check. Some people use the terms “balsamic…
Vegan Tofu Pot Pie
When I was growing up, my mom’s close friend was vegan. In the 1980’s, this was uncommon in the U.S.’s Midwest. She was a wonderful role model–compassionate, kind, and giving. She’d often shared recipes with my mom. And it didn’t take long for her tofu pot pie recipe to become a staple in our household,…
Vegan Tofu Quiche with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Arugula
This was one of UVK’s first recipes. It’s been through several revisions over the years, but this is by far, the best vegan tofu quiche recipe of them all. Sun-dried tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, arugula and a little vegan parmesan? All of the above! A few things… ・This recipe for vegan quiche is not meant to…
Vegan Chipotle Mayo
Vegan chipotle mayo… delicious on veggie burgers, fries, sandwiches, grilled corn on the cob. In some places in the U.S., you could buy an entire jar, but maybe you don’t need an entire jar. This recipe for vegan chipotle mayo is super easy, has 6 ingredients, and tastes awesome. It makes ~½ cup to be…
Vegan California Benedict with Portobello Mushroom
Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, California is an incredible vegan resort. Of course, one of the best parts is going to Raven’s Restaurant for one of their legendary meals. It’s always absolutely delicious. This vegan mushroom benedict recipe is inspired by Raven’s Restaurant’s Portobello Benedict and by classic California Eggs Benedict. There’s a…
Vegan Stuffed Red Peppers with Chickpeas and Rice
This vegan stuffed peppers recipe is partly inspired by UVK’s Couscous Salad with Golden Beets, Slivered Almonds and Currants and to some extent, it’s inspired by elements of Indian cuisine. This dish is easy to make, tastes amazing, and is completely gluten free. It works awesome for dinner! A few things… ・The size of your…
Vegan Hollandaise Sauce
Quick, easy vegan hollandaise sauce! All you need to do, is add everything to a high speed blender (like a Vitamix or Ninja), and then, whisk in a small saucepan over medium heat until thick enough for you. It’s oil free, soy free, and wants to smother your vegan brunch in deliciousness. Who’s hungry? This…
Smoky Gnocchi with Sweet Corn, Collard Greens and Tempeh Bacon
Inspired by the U.S.’s Southern cuisine, this vegan recipe using gnocchi is smoky, savory and hearty! It works for any time of year. If you use prepackaged vegan gnocchi, it cooks up under 30 minutes. Is it the way fresh basil interacts with the smoky notes of the tempeh bacon? Or the hint of sage…
Roasted Beets
Making roasted beets in the oven is easy and delicious. This recipe makes 4 cups, and lasts in the fridge for ~4 days. These roasted beets taste great ice cold or warm. They taste awesome in salads or just eating them solo. Some roasted beets recipes instruct you to use whole beets. Chopping them up…
Lemon Tahini Dressing
This easy lemon tahini dressing recipe improves almost any food it touches–kale salad, roasted cauliflower, grilled tempeh pitas, broccoli and more. It’s super creamy, tangy, savory, and 100% dairy free. Whether as a salad dressing, savory sauce or delicious dip, lemon tahini dressing is quick, easy and delicious! This recipe makes ~¾ cup, and will…
Vegan Tortellini with Almond Ricotta
This vegan tortellini recipe uses store bought vegan wonton wrappers, almond ricotta, and a few staple items, like fresh parsley and garlic powder. While this recipe includes directions for a simple garlic butter and grape tomato sauce, you can also dress your tortellini in marinara sauce, pesto sauce or the sauce of your choice. This…
Slow Cooker Vegan Coconut Collard Greens
Sometimes, I sit around thinking about the Coconut Stewed Greens off the menu at Papa G’s, a vegan cafe in Portland, Oregon. Those tasty coconut greens are soft, flavorful and totally delicious. Since moving away from Portland, I can’t help but miss them. After hours of simmering in the crock pot, this vegan collard greens…
Vegan Cheesy Grits
This recipe for vegan cheesy grits first came out several years ago. It was embedded in another recipe, which is a shame. It is so creamy and delicious. You can enjoy vegan grits with cheese for breakfast, as a savory vegan grits meal or as a gluten free side dish. It tastes incredible paired with…
Vegan Italian Herb Risotto
When it comes to creating creamy risotto, stirring is everything. As the rice grains rub against one another during the stirring, they release some of their starch. This creates the creamy consistency. The creaminess doesn’t come from cheese, milk or cream. It comes from good old fashioned stirring. And that means, it’s important to use…