Ugly Vegan Kitchen

Mango Hand Roll Sushi

Many Americans are familiar with maki sushi. It is shaped like a long cylinder, is sliced, and then, eaten with chopsticks. Temaki sushi, or hand roll sushi, is cone shaped, and can be eaten by hand. Inspired by Japanese temaki, this is an easy vegan mango hand roll sushi recipe with cucumber, red bell pepper,…
Smoky Roasted Chickpeas

This is an easy vegan smoky roasted chickpeas recipe with smoked paprika, garlic powder, soy sauce, hot sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke and olive oil. The process is easy–mix everything together, marinate, and then, roast the chickpeas in the air fryer or oven. Enjoy these smoky chickpeas as a snack, topping for salads, inside wraps,…
Sweet Corn Salad with Tomatoes, Basil and Bulgur

This is an easy recipe for vegan sweet corn salad with tomatoes, fresh basil and bulgur. The flavor is bursting with summer’s bounty! It’s one fresh, tasty corn and bulgur salad that’s perfect for lunch or as a side dish. It’s super simple to make. You boil some water and add it to the bulgur.…
Cherry Bruschetta

Originating in Italy in the 15th century, bruschetta is grilled bread rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil, and often topped with tomatoes and fresh herbs. Inspired by summer stone fruit, I put together this easy vegan cherry bruschetta recipe with fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic reduction, olive oil and garlic. Savory and slightly sweet,…
Grilled Tofu Skewers

This is an easy recipe for vegan grilled tofu skewers with a soy sauce marinade, mushrooms and red bell peppers. Loaded with garlic, ginger and scallions, the marinade is very flavorful. Overall, it’s a simple, tasty dish for summer. This recipe makes ~5 skewers. A few things… This grilled tofu skewers recipe tastes delicious on…
Vegan Cold Beet Soup

Inspired by Lithuanian Saltibarsciai, this easy vegan cold beet soup recipe has cucumbers, scallions, lemon juice, cashews, horseradish and fresh dill. It’s a very tasty creamy vegan cucumber beet soup recipe! Traditionally, Lithuanian cold beet soup uses buttermilk or kefir, and is topped with hard boiled eggs. For this inspired vegan version, we’ll be using…
Grape Cucumber Couscous Salad

With flavors inspired by Spanish white gazpacho, this easy vegan grape cucumber couscous pasta salad recipe is simple and refreshing. It’s got nice texture and flavor. The toasted walnuts add a satisfying crunch, but also work really well with the sherry vinegar. The green grapes, cucumbers and herbs make it taste very fresh. And the…
Buffalo Flavored Nuts

This vegan buffalo flavored nuts recipe keeps you coming back for more. When I was putting it together, I had the Snyder’s of Hanover Hot Buffalo Wing Pretzel Pieces on my mind. Homemade buffalo almonds and cashews should taste like the king of all vegan snack food. And when they do, those spicy nuts are…
Vegan Loose Meat Sandwich with Lentils and Mushrooms

Raised in the U.S.’s Midwest, I couldn’t deny giving loose meat sandwiches a vegan overhaul. UVK’s vegan loose meat sandwich recipe uses lentils and mushrooms. And thus, it’s more of a loose “lentil meat” sandwich recipe. What is a loose meat sandwich? Originating in Iowa, it’s a sandwich filling that’s loose like a sloppy joe,…
Savory Vegan Bread Pudding with Leeks and Rainbow Chard

Is bread pudding a side dish or a main course? Is it a casserole for breakfast, lunch or dinner? Basically, it is all of these things! I’ve eaten this savory vegan bread pudding recipe with leeks and rainbow chard for breakfast and enjoyed it with a salad for dinner. It would make a great addition…
Asparagus Potato Salad with Fresh Dill and Horseradish

This easy recipe for vegan asparagus potato salad with fresh dill was an excuse to use horseradish. I love sneaking it into soup or a veggie burger recipe. And as I considered what to make for April, I thought, “Let’s make potato salad with horseradish!” Horseradish and fresh dill taste awesome with potatoes and asparagus.…
Smoky Maple BBQ Popcorn

This is an easy vegan BBQ flavored popcorn recipe with maple syrup, smoked paprika, chipotle powder and more. It’s smoky, sweet, spicy, and savory. It’s texture is crunchy and light. As you snack, it doesn’t leave seasoning all over your fingers, as some recipes do. In the end, it’s flavor dares you not to finish…
Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Often, I write down recipe ideas, and come back to them later. This month felt like a good time to circle back and look for inspiration. And there within all the scribbled notes was this little gem. What could be more delightful than an easy vegan recipe for strawberry spinach pasta salad with poppy seed…
Vegan Poppy Seed Dressing

This easy vegan poppy seed dressing recipe is sweet, tangy, and a bit savory. All it takes is a mixing bowl and a whisk. Two things… This recipe make ~2/3 cup. Keep stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I’ve always used it within 2-3 days, but at all times, use your best judgment…
Beet Risotto

This vegan beet risotto recipe is a delightful blend of elements of Slavic borscht and Italian risotto. It’s flavorful and delicious. And while beauty is never a high priority, I cannot deny how lovely magenta vegan beetroot risotto looks! As I’ve mentioned in other vegan risotto recipes, making risotto takes time and vigilance. It’s not…
Green Bean and Radish Salad

This is an easy vegan green bean and radish salad recipe with barley, pistachios, and a very tasty orange-mint vinaigrette. Between the chewy grains, crisp veggies, and crunchy roasted nuts, there’s a lot of nice things happening with the texture. It instantly asserts itself as a spring salad. It’s light, and yet, filling and satisfying.…
Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

This is an easy vegan roasted sweet potato soup recipe. You roast the sweet potatoes, sauté the aromatics, simmer for 15 minutes, and combine in a blender. That’s it. Simple, spiced, creamy and delicious. It has it all! This recipe makes 4 servings. Two things… If you enjoy this vegan roasted sweet potato soup recipe,…
Kale Tofu Salad with Spicy Tamari Dressing

For awhile, I debated titling this vegan kale tofu salad recipe either “Crunchy Tofu Salad” or “Super Seedy Tofu Kale Salad”. A generous helping of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds create a delightful texture that’s crunchy and satisfying. And they pair so nicely with the hot chili oil tamari dressing, the marinated baked…
Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

My favorite part of a big breakfast is the potatoes. And this recipe for vegan roasted breakfast potatoes with rosemary does not disappoint. These beauties are roasted, spiced, salted and delicious, and make enough for 4-6 servings. Two things… Most importantly, season your vegan breakfast potatoes and roast them in the oven to perfection. And…
Vegan Stroganoff with Mushrooms and Seitan

About a decade ago, I came across a recipe for vegan stroganoff with tahini. Despite having no vegan sour cream in it, the sauce was great. Time passed, and I haven’t been able to locate it. And honestly, at this point, all I can recall is that it had tahini and cornstarch in it! Inspired,…
Cannellini Bean Salad with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

This is an easy vegan cannellini bean salad recipe with roasted red peppers, black olives and a homemade roasted garlic vinaigrette that’s very flavorful. It’s perfect year round. It holds up well. It’s great to pack for lunch or a road trip. And it tastes so nice with toast. While flavor is always the most…
Vegan Guacamole

When I first moved to California, I went through a guacamole phase. I’d make a big bowl of vegan guac, and we’d eat it for dinner with tortilla chips. Yep, that was dinner. And now, I’m going to share that vegan guacamole recipe with you! This avocado dip is super easy. You mash up the…
Vegan Black Bean Soup

Some black bean soup recipes use tomatoes, dried beans, and lots of time. This one uses none of these things. This easy vegan black bean soup recipe uses canned beans and orange juice. It’s simple, budget friendly, and comes together in about 30 minutes. My absolute favorite ingredient is the orange juice. Its sweetness works…
Vegan Southwestern Casserole with Soy Curls, Sweet Corn and Hash Browns

With frozen sweet corn, Southern-style hash browns, mild green chiles, and soy curls, I’m happy to report this vegan Southwestern chicken casserole recipe delivers. I mean, who doesn’t love a good one dish meal? They’re usually the very definition of “ugly food” (visually unattractive, but oh so comforting), and easy to make. And if the…