Ugly Vegan Kitchen

Smoky Red Bean Soup

This vegan smoky red bean soup recipe is inspired by preparations of Slovak Fazul’ová Polievka (or “bean soup”). There are many versions using different varieties of beans (like white beans, cranberry beans, red beans), meats (smoked bacon, sausage, etc), and add-ins (sour cream, vinegar, etc). However, most preparations involve potatoes, carrots, and paprika in some […]
Seitan Steak Sandwich

This vegan seitan steak sandwich recipe is delicious. Loaded with bell peppers and onions, it’s the perfect seitan sandwich for crushing hunger, because it’s just that hearty. And it’s really easy to make! A few things… This recipe makes 4 vegan steak sandwiches. Discover more UVK recipes, like Slow Cooker Vegan Italian Beef, Seitan Beef […]
Beet Potato Salad with Sauerkraut

Inspired by vinegret, a popular Russian and Ukranian salad, this recipe for cold vegan beet potato salad with sauerkraut is very similar to traditional preparations. Commonly, there are beets, potatoes, carrots, onions, and then, sauerkraut and/or diced pickles. Often, it is dressed in additional brine from the sauerkraut or pickles, and sunflower oil. Positively delicious. […]
Vegan Baked Pasta with Tofu Ricotta and Eggplant

This Italian-inspired recipe for vegan baked pasta with tofu ricotta and eggplant is easy to make and a substantial meal. It’s filling and hearty. You don’t wonder later whether you ate dinner or not. You’ll know you did! And hopefully, it was a hit 😊 Think of this baked vegan Italian eggplant dish as a […]
Slow Cooker Vegan Baked Beans

This is a simple, slow cooker vegan or vegetarian baked beans recipe. As they slow simmer in the crock pot, the smell is positively heavenly–punctuated by maple syrup, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, and savory notes of onions and garlic. They are hard to resist. Native Americans first made the dish using beans, animal fat, and […]
Avocado Cucumber Carrot Sushi with Sweet Chili Sauce

This vegan avocado carrot cucumber sushi roll recipe is the perfect summer meal. It’s flavorful, refreshing, crunchy and loaded with a sweet garlicky chili sauce. Yum! It uses one of my favorite condiments, Mae Ploy Sweet Chilli Sauce, which you can find all over the U.S. at major grocery stores. A few things… This recipe […]
Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese

Since the 80’s, my family has been making lasagna with tofu. Back then, we smashed up the tofu with our hands, and then, used it instead of ricotta. As the years have gone by, I’ve stepped up my vegan ricotta game. This vegan tofu ricotta recipe is still really easy to do, but packs a […]
Gazpacho

Is gazpacho vegan? Usually. Traditionally, the Spanish cold soup is vegan, but sometimes, it’s garnished with meat. And other times, the preparation uses ingredients that are not vegan. When in doubt, find out or better yet, make your own! And this vegan tomato gazpacho recipe couldn’t be easier. Like many modern gazpacho recipes, you add […]
Sunflower Pesto Pasta Salad with Artichoke Hearts, Grape Tomatoes and Black Olives

This recipe for vegan sunflower pesto pasta salad with artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes and black olives is quick and tasty. By the time the fusilli pasta is done boiling, the rest of the ingredients are ready to go. Not only that, sunflower basil pesto doesn’t need nutritional yeast. This nut free vegan pesto has enough […]
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

This watermelon salsa recipe is quick, easy, tasty and refreshing! I love how the watermelon’s sweetness balances with the spicy jalapeño, savory garlic and acidic lime juice. Enjoy it with tortilla chips, on tacos, and more! A few things… This recipe makes ~4 ½ cups of blender watermelon salsa. It’s perfect for summer, because all […]
Italian White Bean Burgers

Inspired by Italian flavors, this delicious vegan white bean burger recipe is rich from the almond ricotta, savory from the onions and garlic, and slightly herby from the dried basil and parsley. And they stay together! These white bean burgers are pretty easy to flip, and aren’t too messy to eat. This recipe makes 3 […]
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. And thus, it was the perfect candidate to add some dimension to […]
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 uses either vegan sour cream or vegan yogurt. It does a great job filling the void. It’s super easy to make. You chop some cucumber and […]
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 veggie sushi rolls. And thus, […]
Sushi Rice

This vegan sushi rice recipe uses Calrose 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. There are a number of steps in the process to make sushi rice, […]
Vegan Pita Sandwich with Grilled Eggplant and Pomegranate Molasses Tempeh

This is an easy vegan pita sandwich recipe with grilled tempeh and eggplant. You’ll need to get the pomegranate molasses tempeh marinade prepared the night before, or allow the tempeh, at least 4 hours, to marinate. Other than that, putting together this vegan pita filling recipe is very straightforward. This Middle Eastern inspired eggplant and […]
Mediterranean Chickpea Eggplant Salad

This Mediterranean-inspired vegan chickpea eggplant salad recipe has it all! The grilled eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, pistachios and a tasty oregano dressing really make it happen. It tastes great over some garlic toast, or on a bed of spinach greens. Or all by itself! It’s hearty enough to be a lunch or a meal, but […]
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. And […]
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. […]
Vegan Cauliflower Leek Soup

This easy vegan cauliflower leek soup recipe cooks up fast! Many cauliflower soups are super creamy or very cheesy. This soup is neither. It has a 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 […]
Asparagus Salad with Walnuts, Farro and Lemon Vinaigrette

The best parts of this herby farro asparagus salad recipe are the texture and the flavor! It’s crisp from the lightly steamed asparagus, crunchy from the walnuts, and chewy from the farro. The lemon vinaigrette is a tasty combination of citrus and freshness from the basil. Together, it’s a very satisfying and filling vegan asparagus […]
Vegan Stuffed Zucchini with Italian Herb Risotto

This is a delicious vegan stuffed zucchini boats recipe with herb risotto rice. It’s almost too perfect. Because let’s get real here, zucchini loves fresh basil 💚 This recipe makes ~6 stuffed zucchini boats. Try to select medium zucchini that are all roughly the same size, so they cook through at the same rate. It […]
Vegan 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? And this recipe for vegan Brussels sprout soup with potatoes attempts just that! […]