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  3. All the Vegan Recipes You’ll Ever Need

All the Vegan Recipes You’ll Ever Need

August 24, 2018
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Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio
Following a vegan diet doesn't have to be boring. These healthy and satisfying recipes, ranging from dinner-worthy entrées to mouth-watering treats, show you how to eat deliciously while avoiding animal products. Whether you're searching for vegan desserts, soup, pasta, or pancakes, we have you covered for any occasion. Note: These recipes follow a broader interpretation of the vegan diet, as some do contain honey.
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Kale-and-Chickpea Grain Bowl With Avocado Dressing

Credit: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Kale-and-Chickpea Grain Bowl With Avocado Dressing

This veggie-heavy bowl is loaded with crunch and color, thanks to crispy carrots and chickpeas, fresh kale, and a vibrant avocado dressing. It also delivers more than 50% of your daily dose of fiber, key for weight loss, energy, and healthy digestion. Bulgur, also called cracked wheat, is a quick cooking whole grain. These bowls would also be excellent make-ahead lunches. Pack the avocado mixture separately, adding a little water to thin it as needed.

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Ruthenian Mushroom Soup

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Ruthenian Mushroom Soup

A traditional Ruthenian dish, this soup starts with raw garlic and a bowl of dark brown mushrooms. It's often served on Christmas Eve, but can be enjoyed all winter long. 

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Orange, Tofu, and Bell Pepper Stir-Fry

Credit: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Orange, Tofu, and Bell Pepper Stir-Fry

Fresh orange juice perks up this speedy stir-fry, becoming a sticky, glossy sauce for the colorful vegetables. A quick coat in cornstarch helps the tofu develop a supercrisp crust without needing to fry in lots of oil. It's a good idea to have every element at the ready by the stove before you start to cook, as the stir-fry will come together very quickly. You can use bell peppers or any vegetable you have on hand, such as broccoli florets, thinly sliced carrots, or sliced snap peas.

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Kimchi-Sesame Hummus

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Kimchi-Sesame Hummus

Here's a fun Korean spin on a classic Mediterranean appetizer. Toasted sesame oil enhances the nuttiness of tahini (sesame seed paste) in this easy make-ahead dip.

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Quinoa and Roasted Pepper Chili

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Quinoa and Roasted Pepper Chili

Quinoa is ideal in soups and stews because the grains don’t soak up too much liquid. Here it adds body and texture to a smoky vegetarian chili. Chipotle chiles are jalapeños that have been dried and smoked. Start with 1 minced chile in about a tablespoon of the surrounding adobo sauce, then add more according to your heat preference. 

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Stewed Chickpeas and Chard over Garlic Toast

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Stewed Chickpeas and Chard over Garlic Toast

This is one of those go-to dishes for busy weeknights—it’s fast, easy, and filling. It also happens to be a vegan recipe where legumes and whole grains take center stage. Loads of garlic build a savory flavor base, while Swiss chard contributes a decidedly earthy flavor. If you’re not a big fan of chard, you can also substitute a milder green, such as spinach or baby kale. And that reminds us—though we’re calling this dinner, it would also be splendid for breakfast.

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Acorn Squash With Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: Acorn Squash With Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

Hack the cooker so that you can make smaller amounts with great results. For a stew or braise, use smaller amounts, place into 8- or 10-ounce ramekins, and set those down in the cooker to slowly simmer to perfection while you’re at work. With this recipe, you’re basically treating the slow cooker like a small steam oven.

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Cauliflower-Couscous Toss

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Cauliflower-Couscous Toss

Use this recipe as a template for any hearty vegetables and grains you have on hand, like broccoli and green beans or quinoa and farro.

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Sweet Potato-and-Red Lentil Curry

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Sweet Potato-and-Red Lentil Curry

This fragrant, Indian-style stew hits all the right notes with aromatic garam masala, fresh ginger, and concentrated red curry paste. The coconut milk mellows and loosens the potato and lentil mixture just enough so that it can be spooned over rice.

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Skillet Ratatouille

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Skillet Ratatouille

Instead of a sauce or side, we serve this Provençal dish as it was originally intended—a simple, humble stew. It’s a great way to use up a bundle of peak summer produce. You can also double the stew and refrigerate up to 1 week ahead, then serve as is, spooned over polenta, or with a baked protein. You want a hearty stew consistency rather than a soup here; reserving 1/2 cup of the canned tomato liquid will be just enough. If you’d like to use fresh ripe tomatoes, start with 2 pounds, halving and seeding 1 pound before dicing.

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Tempeh Gyros with Tzatziki

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Tempeh Gyros with Tzatziki

Tempeh's toothsome texture and boundless flavor and adaptability make it an excellent stand-in for lamb meat. Braising the tempeh removes its bitter edge and infuses it with deep umami flavor. Silken tofu blends into a velvety-smooth consistency, lending body and creaminess to tzatziki sauce. Our veggie-centric version packs in 22g plant protein and saves 300mg sodium over the traditional meaty street-cart meal.

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Pasta with Chickpea Sauce

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Pasta with Chickpea Sauce

Onions, carrots, and garlic cook in olive oil until buttery soft, then get blended with chickpeas and water to form a deeply savory puree that coats pasta beautifully. It’s a satisfying dish that just happens to be vegan. Try to let the blender run for a minute or two when pureeing the ingredients; the smoother the sauce, the better the dish. A flourish of fresh herbs at the end brightens and freshens the dish; you can use all parsley or all basil if you don’t have both on hand.

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Fingerling Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Fingerling Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Little fingerling potatoes are fantastic in potato salads, in part because their skin-to-flesh ratio is much smaller than big potatoes, so there's more dynamic textural difference in every bite.

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"Huevos' Soy-Cheros

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: "Huevos' Soy-Cheros

In this vegetarian take on huevos rancheros, cooking crumbled tofu in a skillet achieves the fluffy texture of scrambled eggs, while turmeric adds the quintessential golden hue. Our version saves 20g sat fat over the classic and provides 35% of your daily fiber goal.

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Grill-Smoked Baba Ghanoush

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Grill-Smoked Baba Ghanoush

This classic Middle Eastern eggplant dip is known for its smoky flavor and creamy texture. The smoke here comes from four components: charred eggplant, green onions, garlic, and a dash of smoked paprika. To grill the garlic, pull the cloves off in a clump from the bulb so the bundle won’t fall through the grates. Don’t worry if the clump contains more than 4 cloves—you’ll surely find a use for the roasty-toasty extras. Serve with pita bread wedges, pita chips, or crudités.

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Churrasco-Style Tofu Steaks with Hemp Chimichurri

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Churrasco-Style Tofu Steaks with Hemp Chimichurri

Be sure to press and drain as much liquid as possible before cooking the tofu; it will better absorb the spices from the dry rub and reach its full grilling potential. Hemp seeds lend quality plant protein to zesty chimichurri and are a rich source of heart-healthy fats and fiber.

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Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas

Crunchy roasted chickpeas are a cinch to make and take only about 40 minutes from start to finish. They make for a satisfying salty snack that’s high in protein and fiber. To ensure the crunchiest texture, pat the chickpeas dry before tossing with oil. You can play around with other spices for different flavor combinations—try smoked paprika and cumin, Madras curry powder, or even cinnamon and powdered sugar.

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Smoky Carrot Dogs With Nacho Sauce

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Smoky Carrot Dogs with Nacho Sauce

We've embellished the humble carrot to mimic the smoky taste and snappy texture of a hot dog. To lend a dairy-free cheesy flavor to plant-based nacho sauce, we use nutritional yeast; look for it in health food stores or well-stocked specialty grocers. Our recipe saves 8g saturated fat over standard cheese dogs without losing any of the flavor.

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Yellow Bell Pepper Gazpacho

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Yellow Bell Pepper Gazpacho

This soup just screams "summer" with its bright, refreshing flavor and cool temperature. You can make the soup a day ahead and keep it chilled; just give it a good whisk or another turn in the blender before serving. 

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Thai Sweet Potato Noodle Bowls

Credit: Photo: Greg Dupree
View Recipe: Thai Sweet Potato Noodle Bowls

Add fresh curry paste to canned coconut milk and nut butter, and you have an instant, wonderfully complex satay sauce. Use as a dip, in stir-fries, or drizzled on this gluten-free veggie bowl. If you don’t have a spiralizer, you can use a julienne peeler or the shredding blade of your food processor. The sweet potato noodles will look like too much for the skillet but will shrink considerably as they cook. If using store-bought curry paste, start with 2 teaspoons, as it is much higher in sodium than fresh.

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Cantaloupe-White Balsamic Sorbet

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Cantaloupe-White Balsamic Sorbet

This sorbet is refreshing with an almost creamy texture. The white balsamic vinegar is subtle, but it adds depth of flavor that enhances the melon.

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Sesame-Ginger-Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Sesame-Ginger-Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Sesame, especially toasted sesame oil, is a key flavor in many Asian cuisines. It makes sense that tahini would fit here too, especially as a finishing touch for roasted sweet potatoes with Sriracha.

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Beer-Brushed Tofu Skewers with Barley

Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Beer-Brushed Tofu Skewers with Barley

If you don't have barley on hand, serve with brown rice, quinoa, or farro. You can also cook the tofu on a stovetop grill pan—just be sure to turn your oven vent on high, as the honey-based glaze is sure to create some smoke.

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Tahini-Carrot Soup With Pistachios

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Tahini-Carrot Soup With Pistachios

A hint of toasted sesame oil lends depth to this velvety soup. Use real baby carrots, not the whittled-down packaged ones, which are lacking in flavor. Garnish with sautéed carrot strips.

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Pea and Wasabi Dip

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Pea and Wasabi Dip

This blend is a zippy alternative to hummus; serve with crudités or crackers. Sweet green peas offset the kicky heat of wasabi (which you'll find on the Asian foods aisle).

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Szechuan Tofu with Cauliflower

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Szechuan Tofu with Cauliflower

We combine everything you love about Chinese takeout—the sweet, savory, spicy sauce; the super-crispy tofu; and the crisp-tender, perfectly caramelized vegetables—into one quick vegetarian main. Celery takes on a leading role rather than a base ingredient here: It maintains its crunch, adds a natural saltiness, and is a nice foil to the more robust flavors in the dish. Szechuan here refers to the stir-fry method rather than a tingling, chile-laden heat. If you want more spice, swap the crushed red pepper for one or two very thinly sliced Thai red chiles.

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No-Bake Vegan Brownies

Credit: Photo: Jamie Vespa
View Recipe: No-Bake Vegan Brownies

Finally, a brownie with benefits that you can feel good about eating. Our no-bake treats taste ultra decadent, yet are free of added sugar thanks to naturally sweet dates. Each vegan, gluten free brownie also boasts 6g fiber (about 25% of your daily recommended goal) and 6g of plant-powered protein. Enjoy them for dessert or as pre- or post-workout snack. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week, or in the freezer up to 1 month.

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Jackfruit Tostadas

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Jackfruit Tostadas

Jackfruit is a nutrient-rich, tree-borne fruit that easily shreds to mimic the texture of pulled pork. It's gluten-free and a favorite ingredient for vegetarians. Look for young green jackfruit found canned at Asian supermarkets.

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Purslane in Green Salsa

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Purslane in Green Salsa

The salsa verde that flavors the purslane would make a terrific table salsa; just leave out the leaves. While purslane's gently tart flavor and soft, slightly succulent texture makes it distinct, a mix of torn watercress, spinach, and chard in equal portions will give you a similar taste.

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Vegan Carrot Cake Truffles

Credit: Photo: Jamie Vespa
View Recipe: Vegan Carrot Cake Truffles

Everything there is to love about carrot cake made into 2-bite, no-bake truffles. Our plant-powered, vegan treats are brimming with heart-healthy omega-3 fats, and free of added sugar thanks to naturally sweet dates. Use the smallest setting of your box grater or food processor's grating attachment to grate the carrots into fine, fluffy pieces. Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg compose the heady spice trinity, so don’t be shy about adding extra, if you like. Enjoy these truffles for a snack or dessert, or share them with family and friends for easy Easter entertaining.

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Jackfruit Taquitos

View Recipe: Jackfruit Taquitos

Crispy, spicy, and totally plant-based, these vegan taquitos make the ultimate party finger food. Shredded jackfruit mimics the texture of cooked chicken, while being doused in a tangy chipotle-infused sauce. These easy snacks are baked, not fried, to keep the calories low still creating that irresistibly crunchy texture. Serve with homemade guacamole on the side to cool down the peppery bite.

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Jackfruit Potpie

View Recipe: Jackfruit Potpie

Nothing says comfort quite like potpie. Traditionally made with chicken, we put a plant-based spin on this cozy casserole by substituting shredded jackfruit and using vegan-friendly puff pastry. With rich flavor thanks to the sautéed onions and combination of herbs, this is a vegan main dish that will fool even the most committed meat-eaters. Serve with a side salad or steamed veggies to complete the meal.

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Green Pea and Parsley Hummus

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Green Pea and Parsley Hummus

Make good use of frozen green peas to create this creamy spread infused with parsley, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Smoothie

Credit: Photo: Greg Dupree
View Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Smoothie

This super-chocolaty smoothie is a tasty nondairy option. Dates offer richness and a caramel-like sweetness--naturally--while boosting fiber by about 2g.

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Sofrito Pinto Beans

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch
View Recipe: Sofrito Pinto Beans

We take a shortcut to the rich, deep flavor of slow-simmered beans by starting with a quick sofrito--aromatics sautéed until tender with tomato and vinegar--and adding canned pinto beans. The result is better than any seasoned bean you'll find in a can.

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Blackberry-Citrus Granola Bowl

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Blackberry-Citrus Granola Bowl

The best way to cook steel-cut oats during the week? Don't cook them at all. Soak the oats overnight in your milk of choice: The oats will soften and plump in the liquid but remain slightly chewy. Enjoy cold, or heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Cocoa nibs add a little extra crunch and a wake-up jolt similar to coffee.

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