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,…
Broccoli Pasta Salad with Fresh Italian Herb Dressing
When I was a kid, my mom would let me pick a pasta salad from the deli counter at our local grocer every week. I almost always picked the same broccoli pasta salad with sliced black olives and a tangy vinaigrette. While I was putting together this recipe for broccoli chickpea pasta salad, I couldn’t…
Sunflower Pesto Pasta Salad with Artichoke Hearts, Grape Tomatoes and Black Olives
This vegan pesto pasta salad recipe is quick, easy and tasty! By the time the fusilli pasta is done boiling, the rest of the ingredients are ready to go. If I had known vegan pesto with sunflower seeds was going to be this good, I would have done it sooner. Sunflower basil pesto doesn’t need…
Refrigerator Dill Pickles
In the summer, my cousins and I would play outside all day. Periodically, we’d sneak into the refrigerator in the garage and eat icebox dill pickles. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories. And I still love dill pickles. For years, I wasted my money buying them at the store. But these days, I like…
Watermelon Salsa
Some people need to sneak veggies into food, so their kids will eat them. I have to add fruit into savory recipes, so I’ll eat it. I often find the sweetness to be too much, so I like balancing it with other flavors. Maybe you can relate? Whether you positively love fruit or have to…
Italian White Bean Burgers
Inspired by Italian flavors, these delicious vegan white bean burgers are rich from the almond ricotta, savory from the onions and garlic, and slightly herby from the dried basil and parsley. And they stay together! They are pretty easy to flip, and aren’t too messy to eat. This recipe makes 3 large or 4 medium…
Black Bean, Sweet Corn and Jicama Salad
Jicama is a plant from Mexico. Many people associate the term, jicama, with the plant’s edible tuberous root. This part of the plant is crisp, starchy and slightly sweet. In Mexico, it is often enjoyed raw with lime juice, chili powder and salt. Jicama was a perfect candidate to add some dimension to this delicious…
Vegan Tzatziki Sauce
Is tzatziki vegan? Unfortunately, one of the main ingredients in the popular Greek sauce is yogurt. So no, it is not vegan. Fortunately, this Greek-inspired vegan tzatziki sauce recipe is super easy. You chop some cucumber and herbs, and then, mix everything in a bowl. It tastes awesome on grilled vegetables (like eggplant and zucchini),…
Shiitake Mushroom Sushi Rolls
Some years ago, I had 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…