Ugly Vegan Kitchen

26 Great Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

When I started this blog in 2017, I had no idea that it would become what it is today. Then, as now, my biggest concerns have been pursuing delicious flavor, and making easy vegan “ugly food” or vegan comfort food. I want to thank you for supporting Ugly Vegan Kitchen (UVK) along the way. As…
Vegan Brussels Sprout Slaw with Cranberries, Apples and Walnuts

This vegan Brussels sprout slaw recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, the holidays, or as a delicious winter salad. It’s easy. You blend the walnut-miso dressing, chop some ingredients, and mix it all up in a large bowl. Simple! The real showstopper here is the creamy vegan walnut-miso dressing. It’s oil free, gluten free and has…
Vegan Stuffed Shells with Tofu Ricotta, Spinach and Fennel

This is an easy, baked vegan stuffed shells recipe with tofu ricotta, spinach and fennel bulb. It’s garlicky, savory and totally nut free (no cashews, no almonds). And best of all, they are super delicious and easy to make. It makes 24 jumbo shells or ~4-6 servings. A few things… This recipe for vegan stuffed…
Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Many vegan green bean casserole recipes use cashews or coconut milk. UVK brings you this gluten free vegan green bean casserole recipe made with white beans! It’s completely free of nuts and coconut milk. While it might seem daunting to make vegan green bean casserole from scratch, it couldn’t be easier. The longest part of…
Vegan Pumpkin Soup

Have you ever tried to make a recipe for vegan pumpkin soup with canned pumpkin puree? Maybe you’ve also discovered that it’s pretty bland. If you want the canned pumpkin to really shine in a soup, it requires the right spices, a good bouillon or stock, and pairing it with a roasted vegetable to bring…
Sriracha Tofu Salad

This is a delicious, easy vegan sriracha tofu salad recipe has a lot of versatility! For a protein-packed meal, enjoy it solo. Or fill a tortilla with it with additional cucumber slices and fresh cilantro to make a tasty sriracha tofu wrap. Maybe add some cold orzo pasta? And enjoy a Thai-inspired tofu orzo salad.…
Tofu Enchiladas with Mushrooms and Sweet Corn

This recipe goes out to the hermetically sealed silken tofu that’s been living in my pantry for a year. It’s dutifully sat on the shelf ready for action. There’s a number of UVK silken tofu recipes that this bad boy could have been used in (creamy polenta, cheesy grits, Greek spinach pie, etc), but instead,…
Smashed Potatoes with Scallions and Cilantro

Smashed potatoes are steamed whole potatoes that you smash with the back of a large spoon and then, stir in some delicious seasonings, herbs, etc. They’re rustic and easy. And this quick recipe for vegan smashed potatoes recipe with scallions and cilantro is so tasty! This smashed potatoes recipe uses Yukon Gold potatoes, but I…
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 loaded with bell peppers and onions. It’s perfect for crushing hunger, because it’s just that hearty. And it’s really easy to make! A few things… This recipe makes 4 vegan seitan steak sandwiches. Discover more UVK recipes, like Slow Cooker Vegan Italian Beef, Seitan Beef Stew, Vegan Stuffed…
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 recipe for vegan (or vegetarian) avocado cucumber carrot sushi rolls with sweet chili sauce is the perfect summer meal. It’s flavorful, refreshing, crunchy and loaded with a sweet garlicky sauce. 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.…
Vegan Tofu Ricotta Cheese

Since the 80’s, my family has been making lasagna with tofu. Back then, we just smashed up the tofu with our hands, and then, used it. As the years have gone by, I’ve stepped up my game. This vegan tofu ricotta recipe is still really easy to do, but packs a little more flavor than…
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…
Vegan Sunflower Pesto Pasta Salad

This recipe for vegan pesto pasta salad with sunflower seeds, fresh basil, 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, the pesto doesn’t require nutritional yeast. The sunflower seeds and garlic…
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 is a delicious vegan recipe for homemade white bean burgers with almond ricotta, savory onions and garlic, and dried basil and parsley. And they stay together! These burgers are pretty easy to flip, and aren’t too messy to eat. This recipe makes 3 large or 4 medium burgers. You’ll need…
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,…