Inspired by Asian flavors, this easy vegan orzo salad recipe makes a good warm side dish or cold pasta salad. After having time to sit overnight in the fridge, I thought it tasted even better. It uses few ingredients. It works well for a cookout, picnic, road trip cooler, camping trip, simple meal, or lunch….
Category: Sides
Orange Zest and Fennel Risotto
Risotto is one of my all-time favorite meals. It is simple, requires few ingredients, and is quite satisfying. While I have given tips about making a risotto in the past, there are only a few principles you need to adhere to to have success. If you do these three things, you’re on the right track….
Carrot and Beet Salad with Fresh Dill and Roasted Pistachios
I’ve made this carrot and beet salad recipe a few times for guests. Every time, someone asks, “Is this on your blog?” And I say, “No, I keep leaving it out, because how many beet salads can one blog have?” And then, they tell me that it’s really good, and it should be on my…
Sicilian Eggplant Crostini
Fancy appetizer, delicious snack, light lunch, hearty side. However you look at it, this vegan eggplant crostini recipe is where it’s at! Some crushed red pepper, green olives, eggplant and fresh tomato… it’s really something. A few bites, and it’s on to the next one. This vegan crostini recipe tastes amazing straight out of the…
Vegan Tater Tot Casserole with Broccoli and Mushrooms
When I was a kid, the church potluck was where it was at! So many delicious hot dishes made with love, and ready to share with one another. And while there were many options to choose from, I always gravitated towards the casseroles. Tater tot casserole! Broccoli cheese rice casserole! Green bean and mushroom casserole!…
Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Wild Rice Casserole
This vegan mushroom and spinach wild rice casserole recipe is creamy, savory, and delicious. It works well as a main dish (plenty hearty!) or as a side dish. It’s fancy enough for the holidays, but doesn’t have to be a holiday dish. It’s gluten free, has no nutritional yeast, and loaded with fall-winter flavors (think…
Braised Red Cabbage and Carrots
It’s savory, sweet, sour and totally delicious! This recipe for braised red cabbage and carrots is light and acidic, and makes a terrific side dish that isn’t chock-full of sodium, fat or calories. This vegan red cabbage recipe takes some time to make (about an hour), but has very simple ingredients and is easy to…
Lemony Greek Wheat Berry Salad
This Mediterranean-inspired grain salad is chewy from the wheat berries, crunchy from the orange pepper and cucumber, and possesses a flavorful lemon herb dressing that keeps you coming back for more! And best of all, this vegan wheat berry salad’s texture holds up, even after a day or two of refrigeration. It is great for…
Vegan Slow Cooker Stewed Green Beans and Tomatoes
Upon trying these green beans, my husband announced that this is the only way he wants to eat them from now on. This recipe takes inspiration from the U.S.’s Southern-style green beans and tomatoes. Usually, meat is used to add complexity and flavor to this popular side dish, but I wanted to see if I…
Roasted Carrots and Farro with Citrus, Ginger and Dill
This vegan farro recipe works well as a warm side dish or as a cold grain salad. As a warm vegan side dish, it can be served directly after combining all the elements together. If you choose to serve it cold and it has been marinading in the fridge for a few hours, make sure…
Grilled Sweet Potato Salad with Creamy Curry Dressing
Inspired by Indian flavors, this is a zippy, flavorful sweet potato salad that’s perfect for the summer. Pop those sweet potatoes on the grill outside, and keep your house from feeling like a total inferno. It’s all about timing with the grilled sweet potato. Leave it on the grill too long, and you’ll have a…
Vegan Fiesta Rice
When I was a kid, we would eat Rice-A-Roni® Spanish Rice. My mom would add a can or two of beans and frozen corn. Sometimes, we would add shredded cheese to the mix. It was a quick, frugal meal for a working mom to serve her family, and it got the job done. This vegan…
Summer Wild Rice Salad
While I think of wild rice as an American staple (especially in states like Minnesota), it always feels pretty seasonal. One eats wild rice in the fall or winter. I rarely see it outside of soup or stuffing recipes. It’s a shame, because it has a lot of vital mineral and vitamins, and possesses a…
Kidney Bean Succotash
Lima beans are my least favorite vegetable. If they are in front of me, I will eat them, because they are food. And in my opinion, food should never be taken for granted or wasted. But, for the most part, I avoid lima beans. When I think of the American classic succotash, I think of…
Grilled Okra with Curry Spices
This vegan okra recipe combines all my favorite things—okra, curry spices, and grilling! Best of all, it is incredibly easy, quick to make, and flavorful. It makes an awesome side to any cookout or summer meal. To pull this off, I used a disposable aluminum sheet pan, lined it was non-stick aluminum foil, and then,…
Vegan Farro Salad with Kale and Tomatoes
Bursting with fresh Italian flavors, this vegan farro salad recipe is quick, easy and makes a delicious side, lunch, a picnic, or light dinner. A few notes… ・If you aren’t into baby kale, you could use arugula. ・The fresh oregano is maybe the best part, but if you want to substitute 1 tsp dried oregano,…
Thai Pineapple and Cucumber Salad
From the spicy notes of Thai basil to the sweet, juicy addition of pineapple, this pineapple and cucumber salad recipe takes inspiration from Thai cuisine. It’s fresh, easy and oil free. It brings together spicy elements with sweet and sour elements. Overall, it’s a refreshing salad that is perfect for summer. I’ve been going through…
Black Bean Salsa with Avocado
This vegan black bean salsa recipe with avocado is… the perfect answer for “lunch?” A crowd-pleasing homemade addition to a potluck. An awesome topping to a baked sweet potato. A delicious filling for a tortilla wrap. A tasty topping to a Southwestern-themed green salad. Over and over, this recipe is my go-to, whether it is…
Asian Noodle Salad with Almond Sesame Dressing
Some people are allergic to peanuts, and some people just don’t like them. I’m one of the latter. I wanted to make an Asian noodle salad without peanuts that still had a nice nutty flavor. So here we are! This vegan Asian noodle salad recipe is satisfying, and great for any time of year. The…
Bulgur with Zucchini and Vegan Feta
This bulgur with zucchini recipe is easy, Mediterranean-inspired and perfect for summer! It takes about 30 minutes to make, and it’s sooo good. I love how all the elements work together in a symphony of summer flavor—fresh mint works so well with grilled zucchini, bulgur and vegan feta. You can use either store bought or…
Artichoke Potato Salad
Growing up in the U.S.’s Midwest, we had two types of potato salad—German and Classic American-Style. I didn’t like Classic, because many times, it had hard-boiled eggs in it. And even though German seemed more up my alley flavor-wise, there was bacon. Both salads were non-starters, so I avoided potato salad. In the 90’s, I…
Vegan Feta
If you’re looking for a homemade vegan feta recipe, this is it. It’s salty, acidic, and a touch herbaceous. While using extra firm tofu helps cut down on the fat, there’s also plenty of protein, texture and flavor! This faux feta cheese works well in salads, on pizzas, and in pasta dishes. Or serve this…
Lentil Barley Salad with Fresh Dill and Chives
This easy barley salad recipe is great for potlucks, picnics, lunches, and really, any season of the year. It’s chewy, crunchy, hearty and satisfying! If this green lentil and barley salad is left in the refrigerator for hours before serving, make sure to taste the salad, and adjust the seasonings. It will likely need more…
Herbed Millet with White Beans and Asparagus
When I was growing up, my mother was a big fan of millet. She made a lot of millet loaf, which I would always smother in BBQ sauce. Years later, I would see millet become more popular in the U.S. due to the rise of the gluten free movement. Today, millet may still seem like…