Ugly Vegan Kitchen

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

Tempeh and eggplant make such a tasty plant based pita filling. If you’re looking for a way to liven up your vegan summer grill routine, look no further than this pomegranate molasses tempeh and grilled eggplant pita sandwich recipe. With fresh mint, lemon tahini sauce, juicy tomatoes, and more, it’s flavorful and satisfying. This recipe…
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…
Vegan Tofu Quiche with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Arugula

This was one of UVK’s first recipes. It’s been through several revisions over the years, but this is by far, the best of them all. A vegan quiche recipe with tofu, chickpea flour, sun-dried tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, arugula and a little plant based parmesan? Yes please! A few things… This recipe for vegan tofu quiche…
Vegan Chipotle Mayo

This easy recipe for spicy vegan chipotle mayo is a delicious sauce for enjoying on veggie burgers, fries, sandwiches, grilled corn on the cob. In some places in the U.S., you could buy an entire jar, but maybe you don’t need an entire jar. This recipe has only 6 ingredients. This mayo is a great…
Vegan California Benedict with Portobello Mushroom

Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, California is an incredible vegan resort. Of course, one of the best parts is going to Raven’s Restaurant for one of their legendary meals. It’s always absolutely delicious. And this vegan portobello benedict recipe is inspired by Raven’s Restaurant’s Portobello Benedict and by classic California Eggs Benedict. There’s…
Vegan Stuffed Red Peppers with Chickpeas and Rice

This is an easy vegan stuffed red bell peppers recipe with brown rice, chickpeas, turmeric, lemon juice, cilantro, mint and more. It’s partly inspired by UVK’s Golden Beet and Couscous Salad with Slivered Almonds and Currants and to some extent, it’s inspired by elements of Indian cuisine. This dish is easy to make, tastes amazing,…
Vegan Hollandaise Sauce

This is a quick, easy vegan hollandaise sauce recipe with raw cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, cornstarch and more. All you need to do is add the ingredients to a high speed blender (like a Vitamix or Ninja), and then, whisk in a small saucepan over medium heat until thick enough for you. That’s it.…
Smoky Gnocchi with Sweet Corn, Collard Greens and Tempeh Bacon

Inspired by the U.S.’s Southern cuisine, this recipe for vegan smoky gnocchi with corn, collard greens, and tempeh bacon is savory and hearty! It’s quite lovely in the summer, but really, it works for any time of year. Is it the way fresh basil interacts with the smoky notes of the tempeh bacon? Or the…
Roasted Beets

This is an easy, delicious oven roasted beets recipe that’s seasoned with salt or vinegar. Some recipes instruct you to use whole beetroots. Chopping them up first makes it easier to use them later, especially if you want to put them on a salad or eat them right out of the refrigerator. This roasted beets…
Lemon Tahini Dressing

This easy vegan lemon tahini dressing recipe improves almost any food it touches–kale salad, roasted cauliflower, grilled tempeh pitas, broccoli and more. It’s super creamy, tangy, savory, and 100% dairy free. Whether as a salad dressing, savory sauce or delicious dip, lemon tahini dressing is quick, easy and delicious! This recipe makes ~¾ cup. Store…
Vegan Tortellini with Almond Ricotta

This vegan tortellini recipe uses store bought wonton wrappers, almond ricotta, and a few staple items, like fresh parsley and garlic powder. It takes some time to wrap the tortellini, but the rest is pretty straight forward. I included for a simple garlic butter and grape tomato sauce, but you could also dress your pasta…
Slow Cooker Vegan Coconut Collard Greens

Sometimes, I sit around thinking about the Coconut Stewed Greens off the old menu at the now shuttered Papa G’s, a vegan cafe in Portland, Oregon. Those tasty coconut vegan collard greens were soft, flavorful and totally delicious. Inspired I put together this slow cooker vegan coconut collard greens recipe with garlic, fresh ginger, jalapeño,…
Vegan Cheesy Grits

This recipe for vegan cheesy grits first came out several years ago. It was embedded in another recipe, which was a shame. It is so creamy and delicious, and felt like it deserved it’s own post. You can enjoy them for breakfast, as a savory meal, or as a gluten free side dish. It tastes…