Ugly Vegan Kitchen

Beet Potato Salad with Sauerkraut

Inspired by vinegret, a popular Russian and Ukrainian 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,…
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 is a Mediterranean-inspired vegan chickpea eggplant salad recipe with sun-dried tomatoes, pistachios and a tasty oregano dressing. 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 could also work well as a side dish.…
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

Whether it’s hot, room temperature or cold, this romesco sauce recipe tastes awesome on roasted or grilled vegetables, toasted bread, or as a vegan dip. You can also enjoy it as a spread for sandwiches or on veggie burgers hot off the grill. It works for any time of year, and tastes delicious on just…
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!…
Balsamic Reduction

This vegan balsamic reduction (or glaze) recipe tastes awesome drizzled on roasted beets, salads, pizza and more. And it’s so easy to make. Basically, you simmer balsamic vinegar in a pot until enough water evaporates and it becomes a sweeter, thicker version of itself. Some people use the terms “reduction” and “glaze” interchangeably. Other people…
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. And she’d often shared recipes with my mom. It didn’t take long for her savory vegan tofu pot pie recipe to become a staple in…