As cooler months approach, I get more and more excited to breakout my slow cooker. Not only is it easy to use, but after a few hours of simmering, you have a dish saturated in deliciousness. And this slow cooker vegan stew is a phenomenal example of how things can go really right! I’ve made…
Tag: Budget Friendly Vegan Recipes
Vegan Slavic Green Bean Soup
This recipe is inspired by the Slovak soup, Polievka zo Zelenej Fazule. There are lots of regional differences in how green bean soup is prepared, but I took a little bit from one recipe, a little from another, and then, took some liberties. We end up with a soup that is creamy, slightly sour, fresh…
Vegan Fiesta Rice
When I was a kid, we would eat Rice-A-Roni® Spanish Rice. My mom would add a can or two of beans and frozen corn. Sometimes, we would add shredded cheese to the mix. It was a quick, frugal meal for a working mom to serve her family, and it got the job done. This vegan…
Vegan Tortilla Soup
This vegan tortilla soup recipe is all about the corn flavor. Corn tortillas are cut into strips, fried, simmered in the soup’s broth, and then, completely pulverized by a blender. The result is an intense corn flavor that announces, “This is tortilla soup!” Because tortilla soup often involves chicken, replacing it with soy curls was…
Kidney Bean Succotash
Lima beans are my least favorite vegetable. If they are in front of me, I will eat them, because they are food. And in my opinion, food should never be taken for granted or wasted. But, for the most part, I avoid lima beans. When I think of the American classic succotash, I think of…
Slavic Cabbage Soup
This vegan cabbage soup recipe is inspired by Slovak Kapustová Polievka, or Cabbage Soup, and maintains many of the ingredients of traditional recipes. While many recipes for this soup involve no meat, others do. There are regional (and personal) differences in how it is prepared. While I incorporated some traditional elements, I also took some…
Gnocchi with Swiss Chard and Tomatoes
This vegan gnocchi recipe with swiss chard is fast, hearty and delicious. I use prepackaged gnocchi, but you can also make your gnocchi from scratch. If you want to make this gluten free, make gluten free vegan gnocchi! As an additional time saver, I also have used prepackaged Swiss chard that’s already washed, chopped and…
Black Bean Salsa with Avocado
This vegan black bean salsa recipe with avocado is… the perfect answer for “lunch?” A crowd-pleasing homemade addition to a potluck. An awesome topping to a baked sweet potato. A delicious filling for a tortilla wrap. A tasty topping to a Southwestern-themed green salad. Over and over, this recipe is my go-to, whether it is…
Asian Noodle Salad with Almond Sesame Dressing
Some people are allergic to peanuts, and some people just don’t like them. I’m one of the latter. I wanted to make an Asian noodle salad without peanuts that still had a nice nutty flavor. So here we are! This vegan Asian noodle salad recipe is satisfying, and great for any time of year. The…
Cream of Celery Soup
I’m one of those weirdos that eats the celery on the veggie party tray. I know, who eats the celery? Well, it’s this person. I love the crunch, freshness and slightly salty aftertaste. I like how it compliments dips. And yet, celery doesn’t need to be on a veggie party tray for me to appreciate…
Vegan Feta
If you’re looking for a homemade vegan feta recipe, this is it. It’s salty, acidic, and a touch herbaceous. While using extra firm tofu helps cut down on the fat, there’s also plenty of protein, texture and flavor! This faux feta cheese works well in salads, on pizzas, and in pasta dishes. Or serve this…
Southwestern Sweet Corn Chowder
This soup is a vegan ode to the U.S.’s Southwestern cuisine. With New Mexican green chiles, sweet corn, chipotle chili powder, lime, cilantro, and squash, this vegan chowder is full of robust, fresh flavor, and comes together in 30 minutes or less. This recipe works terrifically for any season. When sweet corn, tomatoes, and zucchini…
Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas, Okra and Tomatoes
Before leaving on a road trip, I like to make food to freeze, so there is less concern about where to get a vegan meal on the road. As a bonus, the frozen meals act as “ice packs” for our food in the cooler! Planning ahead has allowed worry-free exploration of some of the more…
Slow Cooker Vegan Potato Soup
This vegan potato soup recipe combines Russet potatoes with caramelized onions, garlic, smoked paprika, fresh thyme, a pop of jalapeño, and the savory goodness of fresh chives. It is creamy, hearty, flavorful and warming. And very easy to make! The biggest time suck is caramelizing the onions, but if you get that going while…
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Lentils and Breadcrumbs
Maybe you aren’t vegan, but someone you love is and they are coming over for a holiday dinner? Well, making this vegan stuffed portobello mushrooms recipe says, “Hey, I thought of you, and wanted you to have something delicious to dine on at this gathering.” If this is you and you’re reading this, kudos to…
Gnocchi with Cannellini Beans, Spinach and Tomatoes
When I am tight on time, this is one of my favorite vegan gnocchi dishes. It is quick, easy, and hearty. And it has…drum roll…8 ingredients, including the salt and the optional vegan parmesan! Sometimes, simple is best, and leave it to Italian food to perfectly showcase this maxim. Because this vegan gnocchi dinner…
Roasted Carrots and Chickpeas with Harissa Dressing
This vegan harissa chickpeas and carrots recipe works well roasted in the oven or cooked out on the grill. I’ve included directions for how to do either method. No matter how you do it, I love the way the harissa dressing mingles with the carrots, red onions, chickpeas and garlic. Served on a bed of…
Creamy Chickpea Salad
We love road trips! In some parts of the U.S. (like the desert), you’d be lucky to find a gas station; let alone, a vegan meal. So, I always pack a cooler with everything we’ll need before we go. It saves time on the road, and it ensures that all our nutritional needs are met. This…
Vegan Marinara Sauce
Is marinara sauce vegan? Most of the time! When in doubt, read the label or ask. Marinara sauce is usually pretty simple, and this easy vegan marinara sauce recipe stays true to that ethos. Because marinara sauce uses few ingredients, it’s important to pick quality ones. If using canned tomatoes, try brands like Pomi, Mutti…
Chipotle Lime Jackfruit
This vegan chipotle jackfruit recipe is quick, easy and super tasty. It’s got the perfect balance of acid, sweetness, savory flavors and smokiness. And best of all, this simple vegan recipe for jackfruit can be used in a variety of easy, comfort food classics, whether it’s on nachos, inside tacos, burritos or enchiladas, or even…
Cajun Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Inspired by Cajun cuisine, this hearty vegan black-eyed pea soup recipe is easy to prepare, cooks up fast, and tastes absolutely fantastic with a piece of cornbread on the side. It can be enjoyed year around. For this recipe, you can use a prepared Cajun seasoning blend. In the past, I have used Spicely Organic…
Chipotle Tempeh Kebabs
I love chipotle peppers—their spiciness and their smokiness. And, this delicious vegan kebab marinade pays tribute to the chipotle pepper and all it’s amazing synergy with lime, agave, garlic, cilantro, and soy sauce! This tempeh marinade is very easy to make, and just takes a little bit of patience to allow all the flavors to…
Chipotle Bean and Barley Salad
I revised this barley salad recipe for simplicity. Let’s just say that I’ve made it a number of times since I first published it, and I realized, it can be easier. What’s not to love about that?! It still possesses the hallmarks of this delicious dish…a bit of smokey spice from the chipotle peppers in…
Tofu Scramble
I grew up eating Fantastic Foods Tofu Scrambler. During college, I couldn’t always afford it. So, I started making my own from scratch. Sometimes, I would throw in a little oatmeal, as a nod to the old Fantastic Foods’ mix. Since then, I still make my own tofu scramble, but I’ve gotten a little…