Vegan
3054 recipes found
Caramelized Tomato and Shallot Soup
Fresh tomato soup is a treat best enjoyed with juicy, end-of-season tomatoes, but this versatile recipe is delicious all year long. Both the shallots and tomatoes are caramelized along with tomato paste, which gives the soup deeper flavor. Take your time and let the tomatoes reduce, because the more they caramelize, the more delicious the soup will be. While this recipe does take a little bit of time, it’s mostly hands-off simmering. Make it when the weather turns cool and a big pot of soup simmering on the stove sounds just right.
Microwave Corn on the Cob
In a microwave, corn steams to juicy sweetness in minutes without heating up the kitchen. The husks trap the vegetable’s natural moisture, and the silks slip off easily after being zapped. (In fact, this method is great for shucking corn quickly. You can microwave the corn for just a minute or so, until the husks and silks come off easily, then finish cooking the ears on the grill.) Microwaving corn is ideal when you’re preparing just an ear or two, but you can microwave as many as can fit in a single layer in your machine at one time. You’ll just have to cook them longer, about 4 minutes for two ears and 5 minutes for three.
Lecsó (Paprika-Packed Pepper Stew)
This traditional Hungarian pepper stew recipe delivers a flavor-packed one-pot meal that’s perfect for any busy weeknight. Every family has their own version, but at its root, lecsó is a paprika-spiced stew with melting onions, peppers and tomatoes. The vegetables are simmered together until saucy, jammy and glossy; the sweetness of the onions and peppers is offset by tomatoes, making this an irresistibly balanced dish that is light but satisfying. Hungarian peppers would be ideal. Typically enjoyed at their yellow stage, they are sweet and savory with a mild heat level. Red bell peppers are more modest, with their predominantly sweet flavor, but make a delicious option for this recipe. The dish, adapted from “Pass the Plate” by Carolina Gelen (Clarkson Potter, 2024), is vegan as written, but you can use this foundational recipe to make it your own. Some people serve it with fried or scrambled eggs, some with sausage or other meats, some use animal fat to cook the vegetables. Each version will bring comfort and flavor to your table.
Zingy Sour Veggie Soup
In Romania, and many other European countries, fermenting cabbage at home during winter months is a common practice. As temperatures start dropping, massive bags of shaved cabbage start popping up across farmers’ markets. Home cooks bring them home to make sauerkraut, roughly massaging the cabbage with salt and starting the fermentation process in their kitchens. They later store their giant sauerkraut-filled barrels outside, on patios and balconies throughout winter. The sauerkraut-consumption comes in many forms, from sauerkraut-stuffed flatbreads, cabbage rolls and sautéed sauerkraut with various meats, to soups like ciorbă de varză acră, a sour cabbage soup. There are as many versions as you might imagine: Some use cream, and some use sausage or smoked meats, but this recipe, adapted from “Pass the Plate” by Carolina Gelen (Clarkson Potter, 2024), delivers a bowl of comfort using paprika-spiced vegetables. When cooking with sauerkraut brine, taste the broth as you go to ensure a balanced salt level. Serve your soup with crusty bread and sweet, jammy garlic.
Sweet and Sour Cauliflower
Reminiscent of classic sweet and sour dishes served at Chinese American restaurants, cauliflower seamlessly steps in for pork or chicken here. For beautifully burnished florets with crispy edges, the cauliflower is treated to a simple dusting of cornstarch, applied in stages to create a more even coating, and a gentle lick of oil before baking or air-frying. Punchy and tart, this sweet and sour sauce is a keeper. Ketchup is the key ingredient, and it brings sourness, sweetness and umami to a simple blend of garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce and sugar. Eat with rice, noodles or on top of pan-fried tofu.
Pasta al Sugo Finto (Vegetable Ragu)
A hearty vegetarian pasta sauce fortified with vegetables rather than meat, “sugo finto” translates from Italian to “fake sauce” — but this dish is full of real flavor. Popular throughout Tuscany and southern Italy, it is a highlight of cucina povera (an Italian term — and art — referring to frugal cuisine), allowing vegetables to stand in as a nutritious substitute for pricier meat. The base of the dish begins with a traditional soffritto (sautéed onion, carrot and celery). In this version, the addition of mushrooms simulates a meaty texture. Red wine deglazes the pan and adds richness. Chopping the vegetables that form the foundation of the sauce is a meditative task, but you can toss them in a food processor to shred, if preferred, to save time. To elevate this dish for a weekend, add the optional pangrattato topping for a crunchy, nuttier bite. A sprinkle of cheese can also be added before serving.
Sticky, Spicy Tempeh
Crispy tempeh glazed in a spicy-and-sweet soy sauce can anchor many a dinner, whether served over rice and vegetables, rice noodles, lettuce wraps or soup. Tempeh is a fermented vegan protein with a nutty flavor and firm texture that can stand up to assertive seasonings. That could be the fresh sambal in tempe penyet, a famous street food in Indonesia, where tempeh was first made — or this easily memorizable ratio of two parts soy sauce to one part each rice vinegar, brown sugar and chile sauce. Crumbling the tempeh into small, irregular pieces so that it resembles ground meat creates a variety of textures in each bite. To make it a complete meal, stir in spinach, peas or another quick-cooking vegetable with the sauce — or accompany with crispy raw vegetables like thinly sliced cucumbers or radishes on top of rice.
Seared Tofu With Kimchi
A simple, meatless weeknight recipe, this tofu and kimchi braise has deep flavors but comes together in just 30 minutes. The two main ingredients are tofu and kimchi. Equally delicious warm or at room temperature, this tofu braise makes a fun addition to meal prep. Serve it with rice, to soak up the delicious kimchi sauce, or tuck the tofu and kimchi into a sandwich. Store-bought kimchi vary in flavor and salt level and the more fermented kimchi will be softer, juicer, and a bit more sour. The recipe can take all levels of fermentation, but adjust seasoning as you see fit, sweetening with sugar or salting with extra soy sauce.
Spiced Vegetable Medley With Almonds and Raisins
This delightful Moroccan dish, often served on Rosh Hashana, incorporates an abundance of traditional harvest foods and is warm with spices (cinnamon, cardamom and coriander). This version is served in Marina Pinto Kaufman's family, from Tangiers and Tetouen as well as Martha’s Vineyard, where she now lives. Traditionally served with chicken couscous, it is somewhat like the Moroccan version of tsimmes, an Eastern European dish incorporating both carrots and sweet potatoes. In Ms. Kaufman's recipe, the vegetables are scooped into long piles, giving children — often picky when it comes to such delicacies — the choice of what they like, while adults can stir them all together to enjoy the spices and the caramelized onions. Great for entertaining, this dish can be prepared the day before serving, so all you have to do is heat it, but you can roll straight through the recipe, enjoying it the day you prepare it, with wonderful results.
Pepper Sauce
Throughout the English and French-speaking Caribbean, homemade pepper sauce in glass jars or plastic bottles are an important part of the tablescape, kept within reach to add a burst of fruity, sharp heat to whatever is being eaten. This version, from cookbook author Lesley Enston, is earthy thanks to the addition of culantro, a fresh herb not to be confused with cilantro. From island to island, and even household to household, the recipe varies, but Scotch bonnets, the brightly colored bonnet-shaped chiles native to the region, are a must. Feel free to play around with this sauce to create one that matches your tastes, adjusting the seasonings or adding a pinch of a spice like clove or nutmeg. Keep a jar on hand to add a teaspoon or so to dishes from the Caribbean like braised oxtails or to serve as a condiment for dishes like fried snapper with Creole sauce.
Vegan Zha Jiang Mian
Zha jiang mian is a popular Chinese noodle dish that is the quintessential pantry meal: Staples in many Chinese households, the fermented soybean pastes are like richer, deeper misos, and add significant depth to this quick dish. Traditionally, zha jiang mian is made with pork belly, but this vegan version captures a similar texture with sautéed eggplant, which cooks down to become soft and creamy, adding to the body of the sauce. Crumbled tofu helps the sauce coat the noodles when mixed. Chinese soybean pastes vary in saltiness, so season lightly with salt in the beginning to help build flavor without overdoing it. (You can always adjust the seasoning at the end if you need more salt.) These noodles are typically served with mung beans and slivered cucumber, but a variety of fresh vegetables could step in; shredded romaine lettuce or carrots would also be delicious.
Little Gem Salad With Tamarind Dressing
While this sweet-and-sour tamarind-date dressing can be made year-round, it feels meant for the abundant produce of summer and early fall. Developed with turmeric in mind — an ingredient many Somalis add to salads — this recipe balances heirloom tomatoes with the tang of tamarind; it offsets the pungent sharpness of onions and radishes with the caramel-like flavor of dates and maple syrup. This colorful Little Gem salad maintains a glossy coat of dressing, but you can opt for heartier vegetables such as brussels sprouts or kale, depending on the time of year. Pair this salad with a bowl of maraq misir (red lentil soup) for a lovely vegan meal, or eat it alongside a plate of white rice and malaay qumbe (coconut fish curry).
Maraq Misir (Red Lentil Soup)
Maraq misir, also known as shurbo cadas, is a hearty red lentil soup found in Somali cuisine. This soup is great year round but is often in heavy rotation during Ramadan, when it makes for a light and nourishing option for breaking one’s fast. Alongside a foundation of quick-cooking red lentils, this soup gets its body from tomatoes, onions and carrots, and deep flavor from a layered blend of spices and fresh cilantro leaves. While many lentil soup variations exist, the warmth of the xawaash spices builds with each sip and makes this a uniquely Somali interpretation. The texture can suit your preference: Serve it as is, with some bite, blend it until smooth and creamy, or opt for a partly blended, half-chunky soup.
Ginger-Scallion Tofu and Greens
A classic Chinese condiment, ginger-scallion oil is most commonly served with poached chicken but is incredibly versatile — and shines here, applied to cold silken tofu and blanched greens. Most Chinese families will have their own version of the aromatic oil, each with their own ideal ratio of ginger to scallions. There are no hard rules here, so feel free to adjust the amount of ginger and scallions to your preferences. Thinly slicing both will give you a robust sauce, but you may chop them until minced for a smoother sauce. This oil is a great one to make in bulk, as it keeps, refrigerated, up to one month, so you can add it to rice, roasted veggies, pan-fried tofu, cold noodles or eggs, invigorating your everyday cooking.
Lemon-Pepper Tofu and Snap Peas
This combination of sesame and pepper-crusted tofu, blistered snap peas and tahini-lemon sauce creates a lively and quick dinner, while the three elements are just as valuable as building blocks to many more meals. The tofu is crisp with a coating of cornstarch and sesame seeds and punchy with lots of black pepper and lemon zest. The snap peas are seared until juicy but still snappy. The tahini sauce, which is buoyed by lemon, ginger and soy sauce, can be drizzled on everything from salads to seared chicken. Serve this dish over rice or other grains, soba noodles or salad greens.
Pickled Garlic
Soften the sharp edge of raw garlic cloves by pickling them in a tangy and salty brine studded with a medley of flavorings. Refrigerated pickled garlic (see Tip) adds a pop of flavor to a variety dishes and spreads. Add pickled garlic to a charcuterie board or party board (it’s particularly good alongside tinned fish), or chopped into salads or salsas, or blended into dressings and sauces. Use any combination of added flavorings you like; consider mustard seeds, juniper berries, peppercorns or coriander seeds. While it’s tempting to use pre-peeled garlic, it’s best to set aside a little time and peel your own (pre-peeled garlic very quickly loses its potency, sharp scent and flavor). Gently whack each clove with the side of a knife and then peel, or use one of those handy silicone tube peelers.
Green Beans and Tomatoes
When two vegetables grow together, they more than likely pair well together, and that’s the case here, with green beans and tomatoes. Tomatoes get a small head start in the pan alongside garlic and onion, and a little tempering sweetness from brown sugar. Then, the green beans are added, to cook down even further. Feel free to use over-ripe tomatoes here. They cook down wonderfully in this easy side dish and are a simple way to add more vegetables to your table.
Grilled Eggplant, Herby Lentils and Turmeric Tahini
This easy summer salad brings bold flavors, contrasting textures and gorgeous color to the plate. Well-cooked eggplant is succulent and juicy, and needs less time (and oil!) than many may think. Eggplant is known to absorb liquid like a sponge, so here’s a trick: Oil the slices (lightly) just before they hit the pan to ensure that they are not oil-logged. Pressing them into the pan gives them nice color and promotes charring. A flexible utensil, such as a fish or silicone spatula, is useful here. Each element of this salad can be prepared ahead, making this a great option for gatherings or weekly meal prepping. The eggplant can also be grilled outdoors, which will deliver even deeper smoky flavors. If you’re looking for a shortcut, use canned lentils (or other legumes) rather than starting with dry, uncooked ones.
Chiltomate Salsa (Tomato and Habanero Sauce)
Smoky and fruity and with a sneaky heat, chiltomate salsa is a combination of habanero chiles and tomato popular throughout the Yucatán peninsula. While it’s made in many ways, this version, which is adapted from the chef Alex Henry, is particularly fresh. The tomatoes are cooked only by blackening their skins so their tang remains. They’re then mashed — skin, seeds and all — with charred habanero, cilantro leaves and stems into a chunky sauce. At El Molino del Sureste, Mr. Henry’s restaurant in St. Louis, it’s served over venison sausage and black beans, and at Sureste, his food hall spot, it tops steak tacos, but it’s great on all grilled meats.
Sheet-Pan Tofu With Corn and Chiles
This colorful dish is as much about the lively mix of textures as it is the tangy, spicy flavors. On the textural side, cubes of tofu are coated in cornstarch so they become crispy at the edges as they roast, staying soft and pillowy on the inside. Corn kernels lend sweetness and a juicy snap while green chiles, onions and herbs lend freshness and heat. Fresh corn kernels are ideal when in season, but frozen corn works well too, making this a year-round dish with an inherently summery feel.
Tomato and Ginger Braised Tofu
Tomatoes and tofu may not be an obvious pairing, but they belong together in this speedy braise. A brave amount of ginger provides a robust flavor foundation for this sauce, imparting verve. (If you’d like to increase the heat, you could add some crushed red pepper, too.) Halving the cherry tomatoes helps them break down faster, transforming them into a rich sweet, savory and tangy sauce in minutes. This recipe works any time of year: If fresh cherry tomatoes are unavailable, 28 ounces of canned cherry tomatoes will also work. Pan-frying the tofu first makes the slices sturdier and locks in moisture, creating the perfect texture to carry and soak up the braising sauce.
Cold Tomato and Kimchi Soba Noodle Soup
When the coolness of gazpacho meets the punchiness of kimchi, magic happens. The result is a cold soup that is alive with freshness and rich with layered flavors that belie its ready-in-minutes preparation. The fruity tang of tomatoes and the mild vegetal sweetness of cucumbers are emboldened by the sour heat of kimchi. The soup serves as the perfect base for nutty soba, a noodle that always performs exceptionally well when served cold. If you don’t have soba, try rice, egg or wheat noodles. The soup could also be consumed noodle-free, served with crusty bread for a simple and quick meal that deeply satiates. If you like, top with extra kimchi and, on extra-hot days, dot with a few ice cubes.
Garden Salad
This simple salad works well as a side for almost any main dish and is an excellent way to use up whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand. You’ll end up with a delicious, well-balanced salad as long as you combine mild, crunchy items, like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, with more intensely flavored ones, like radishes and raw onion. Homemade balsamic, ranch or your favorite bottled dressing will all work well here, but do wait to dress the salad until right before serving for best results.
Spiced Roasted Eggplant
This simple eggplant recipe yields soft and deliciously spiced rounds. Eat them as a side with meat or fish, or as a vegetable main, with seasoned yogurt and chopped herbs. Don’t be afraid to use your broiler for extra crispness at the end of roasting, and consider leftovers an excellent start for your favorite eggplant dishes, like moussaka or ratatouille.