As you begin your journey towards a vegan lifestyle, it doesn’t mean giving up the foods you love – unless your favorite thing is meat of course. Too many people view a vegan diet as a plate full of raw vegetables, salad with no dressing and a side of fruit. Now, if that’s your thing, you go for it. But, if your goal is to start a vegan lifestyle and still eat great tasting food that is full of flavor, you have come to the right guy. In fact, cooking vegan is an opportunity to get creative in the kitchen and discover new ways to enjoy all your favorite meals while being kind to the planet and animals. In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can make some of your beloved non-vegan dishes into scrumptious vegan alternatives. Below are some foods that are easily made vegan, and I will provide a link to at least one of my recipes for each.
ALL AMERICAN BURGERS and MORE
The classic burger is an all-time favorite, and you can easily transform it into a vegan masterpiece. Instead of ground beef, use plant-based alternatives like black bean patties, chickpea burgers, or even a portobello mushroom cap. Top it with vegan cheese, fresh vegetables, and a tasty vegan mayo or avocado spread. You won’t believe how satisfying and delicious a vegan burger can be! I make a “Messy Burger” that is so darn good. The actual patty that I make from scratch holds together great and you can use it as a start to any type of burger you want to make. I also make a “Buffalo Chix pea Burger” with a cool slaw and avocado spread. Give these a try!
And the MORE part is where some great sandwiches come to play. I love to use mushrooms to provide the texture and flavor for a sandwich. We have 3 favorites in our menu rotation. One is a Vegan Philly Cheesesteak, one is a Vegan Po’ Boy and the last but least is a Vegan Sloppy Joe. All deliver big. bold flavors and satisfy that need for a hearty sandwich or sub.
Can you say PASTA PLEASE
Pasta dishes are incredibly versatile and extremely easy to make vegan. Replace traditional meat or dairy-based sauces with a rich tomato sauce, or a chunky red sauce full of veggies or a pesto sauce. You can easily make a vegan ricotta to add to your lasagna or stuffed shells. Vegan cheeses have come a long way and I use Violife Parmesan and Mozzarella in some of my pasta dishes.
One of my favorite vegan pastas is my “Vegan Lasagna.” Rich red sauce, vegan ricotta and full of fresh veggies. This is a family favorite for sure! But when we are in a rush, I just make some red sauce, sauté some veggies, add in some mushrooms and you have a great tasting and very healthy pasta dinner.
PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA
Who doesn’t love Pizza? The good news is that pizza is super easy to make vegan and delicious too! The dough is typically just flour, yeast, salt, and water. No problem there. For the sauce, you can use my simple red sauce, vegan pesto, or garlic oil. Vegan cheese has come a long way and we love either Violife or Myokis Mozzarella. For the toppings, just use your imagination. Veggies, Mushrooms, garlic, vegan meats, nuts and on and on.
When I make pizza, I typically make a Vegan Wild Mushroom Pizza, a Pesto Pizza and a Red Sauce Pizza with green pepper, onions, and mushrooms. What’s your favorite pizza?
SOUPS On!
There’s nothing more comforting or satisfying than a big bowl of hearty soup. The options for a great vegan soup are endless. From soups to chili’s to bisques to chowders and everything in between. I typically make a large pot of vegan soup so we can eat it for a couple days and share some with our friends and family.
I try to add at least a couple new soups to my website each year. There are so many options out there. But to be honest, we have some of our very favorites that I tend to make over and over again. We love my Garden Vegetable and Minestrone soups. Every time I look at the recipe, I think, this just can’t have the big, bold flavor that I love – BUT THEY DO! Tons of veggies, beans, pasta, and spices bring these soups alive. When we want a little heat, I make my Tortilla Soup or my Chili. The Tortilla Soup is impressive and is quick and easy to make. The Chili takes a bit more time and effort, but it is so worth it. I used dried chilies to create the base flavor and heat and that makes all the difference. Go ahead and explore the rest of my Hearty Soups.
VEGAN THANKSGIVING
Ok, confession time. I used to love eating turkey on Thanksgiving – sorry. I remember when I first went vegetarian 30+ years ago and the only thing that concerned me was Thanksgiving and how was I going to enjoy the day without turkey. Seems odd now, but that’s the truth.
Fast forward to present time and I have mastered a wonderful Vegan Thanksgiving menu. Our Son in Law’s family comes from the south and I have incorporated some of their favorite dishes with ours to form what I think is the perfect Thanksgiving feast. And no, I no longer miss turkey and neither does anyone who eats with us.
We have a wild mushroom dressing, mac n cheese, collard greens, green bean casserole, squash, wild rice, mashed potatoes and gravy and biscuits. I also make Gardein Turkey Cutlets and a Vegan Turkey Roast. It is the perfect Vegan Thanksgiving Feast, and we absolutely love it which is a good thing since we eat it for the next few days. I have linked the recipes I currently have on my website, and I will add the rest of them before this Thanksgiving.
Conclusion
Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle doesn’t mean saying goodbye to your favorite meals; it means reimagining them with plant-based ingredients and elevating them to something special. These vegan alternatives are not only delicious but also kinder to animals and the environment. With some creativity in the kitchen, you can continue to enjoy the flavors you love while embracing a compassionate and sustainable way of eating. Give these recipes a try and discover a world of delectable vegan dishes waiting for you! The possibilities and flavors are endless.
