Dining In

Recipes for all Occasions · Cooking Vegetarian
Selected Resources


Recipes for all Occasions

  • Breakfast

o Banana Flapjacks
o Breakfast Tofu Scramble
o Phenomenal French Toast
o Tofu Bacon

  • Appetizers

o Crock Cheese
o Mushroom, Walnut and Rosemary Pate
o Tapenade

  • Soups & Stews

o Groundnut Soup
o Stick-To-Your-Ribs Chili

  • Sandwiches

o Fowl Play Tempeh Salad
o Happy Hen Salad

  • Salads

o Cesar Salad

  • Entrees

o Macaroni and "Cheese"
o Neat Loaf
o Not Roast Beef
o Seitan & Mushroom Stroganoff
o Spaghetti with Meaty Mushroom Sauce
o Stuffed Shells

  • Desserts

o Carrot Cake
o Chocolate Chip Cookies
o Chocolate Peanut Butter Crème Pie
o Ultra Fudgey-Fudge Brownies

Cooking Vegetarian

Ready to experiment and have some fun with vegetarian cooking? Whether you get recipes from a cookbook or modify some of your old favorites, a little creativity and knowledge about substitution will allow you to make almost any dish vegetarian. Stocking your pantry and refrigerator with a variety of plant-based ingredients will make your culinary pursuits, no matter how simple or complex, a whole lot easier. Below are some of the most common ingredients you may want to have on hand.

Baked Tofu
With access to flavors as pleasing to the palate as barbecue, tomato basil, teriyaki, Oriental, Thai, lemon pepper, and jalapeno, you will never get bored with the taste of tofu. Dice it for stir-fries or slice it for sandwiches to make a tasty, high-protein meal.

Beans
Versatile and inexpensive, beans come in all shapes, sizes and colors and can be used to make all sorts of nutritious, filling meals. Popular bean types include kidney, pinto, black, and Great Northern, as well as chickpeas and lentils. Try them in soups, chilis, burritos, casseroles, pasta dishes, curries, and more.

Butter Alternatives
Available in sticks or in tubs, most vegetarian butter alternatives are low in saturated fat and free of cholesterol and hydrogenated oils. Suitable for every purpose, including baking, these soy-based spreads can be substituted for butter in every conceivable way.

Breads
Whole grain bread products are good sources of fiber, complimenting and adding substance to almost any meal. Keep your freezer stocked with tortillas, pitas, bagels, waffles, pre-made pizza dough, flatbreads, and more.

Cheese Substitutes
Soy-based cream cheese, available in flavors as enticing as chive and French onion, are delicious on bagels. Vegetarian cheeses, available in mozzarella, Monterey Jack, American, cheddar, and Parmesan flavors, come in all kinds of shapes and consistencies and can be used in mostly any recipe that calls for dairy cheese.

Coconut Milk
Delicious and creamy, coconut milk can be used as a unique alternative to dairy milk or cream. Try adding it to curry sauces, mashed potatoes, smoothies, or soups.

Fruits
Fruits, of course, are an important part of any vegetarian diet. They are good sources of fiber, vitamin C and beta-carotene, and can add a satisfying sweetness and flavor to many recipes. Try adding fresh fruits to chutneys and salsas, dried fruits to salads or cookies, and frozen fruit to smoothies or pancakes.

Egg Replacer
A more commonly used egg substitute is a ready-made, powdered product made by Ener-G and can be found in most health food and grocery stores. It replaces eggs when used as a binding agent in baked goods and other recipes. Soft tofu or flax seeds and water pureed in a blender can also substitute for egg.

Grains
Grains are an indispensable part of a vegetarian diet. Grains come in all sorts of varieties, including rice (Arborio, basmati, brown, jasmine, sushi, and wild), millet, barley, bulgur, couscous, and quinoa. Inexpensive and nutritious, grains can be used to make all sorts of complete meals, including paella, risotto, pilaf, casserole, stir-fry, and more.

Herbs & Spices
Some of the more common seasonings required for many vegetarian recipes include basil, bay leaves, oregano, parsley, cilantro, dill, garlic granules, onion granules, curry powder, cumin, chili powder, crushed red pepper, turmeric, sea salt, fresh-ground pepper, as well as fresh garlic and ginger root.

Ice Cream Substitutes
Soy, rice and nut-based ice creams are creamy and delicious and do not contain the harmful fat and cholesterol found in their dairy counterparts. Enjoy pints of every flavor, or try vegetarian ice cream sandwiches, nutty bars, fudgesicles, and other frozen treats.

Mayonnaise Alternatives
Natural foods stores and a growing number of supermarkets carry a few varieties of vegan mayonnaise. A very popular brand is Vegenaise. Use this product as a condiment or in recipes that call for mayonnaise and you'll never know the difference!

Milk Substitutes
Milk made from soy, rice, almonds, oats, and other plant-based foods is becoming more and more popular by the day. Rich and creamy, and available in a variety of flavors, including plain, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and coffee, these milks can be used on cereal, in coffee or hot chocolate, for baking, or enjoyed straight from the glass.

Miso
Made from fermented soybeans, rice and other grains, dark miso is a great base for soups (served at most Japanese restaurants). Its lighter, sweeter versions can be used as dairy substitutes in dips and dressings.

Mock Meats
From faux chicken, veggie hot dogs and burgers, meatless BBQ, and ground beef substitute to deli slices, faux sausages and soy-based seafood, mock meats are versatile, widely available and can be used to replace the animal protein in almost any recipe.

Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast is very rich in minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin B12, and can be used to lend a "cheesy" flavor to soups, pasta dishes, gravy, and vegetables. Used as the basis of many uncheese recipes, this inactive yeast makes a great breading for tofu and tastes terrific sprinkled over pizza and popcorn.

Nut Butters
Healthier alternatives to butter or margarine, nut butters can add protein and flavor to many recipes. Nut butters made from sesame seeds (tahini), almonds, cashews, peanuts, and more can be used alone as spreads or as yummy additions to sauces, dressings and baked goods.

Nuts & Seeds
Popular sources of protein for vegetarians, nuts and seeds not only make great hunger-fighting snacks, but also are nice additions to salads, pilafs, casseroles, stir-fries, and other dishes. Nuts more commonly used in cooking include almonds, cashews, flaxseeds, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, sesame and sunflower seeds, and walnuts.

Pasta & Noodles
From vegetable and wheat-based Italian pastas to Asian-style noodles made from rice and other grains, these popular standby foods offer limitless possibilities to the vegetarian cook. Combine pasta and noodles with vegetables, plant proteins and any kind of sauce for a hearty and comforting meal like veggie lasagna, stroganoff, Pad Thai, or lo mein.

Sea Vegetables
Packed with protein, iron and calcium, sea vegetables can be added to soups and salads or cooked with grains and vegetables to add nutritional value and flavor. Common types of sea vegetables include hijiki, kelp, kombu, nori, and wakame.

Seitan
This wheat gluten protein product, pronounced "say-TAN," is very high in protein and has a wide range of mock meat applications. Normally used as a stand-in for beef, seitan can be made into cutlets for breading, baking or grilling, thinly sliced for "uncheese steaks," diced for stews and stir-fries, and ground up for tacos, pasta sauce or meatless meat loaf.

Silken Tofu
This "silky" variety is more smooth and creamy than regular tofu and is commonly used for sauces, soups, dips, dressings, and puddings. Although it can be purchased fresh, it's more widely available in shelf-stable aseptic packages.

Soy Sauce & Tamari
Very popular flavor-enhancers and condiments, soy sauce and/or tamari are some of the most common ingredients called for in vegetarian cuisine, and are often used in place of salt, especially in sauces and gravies.

Sweeteners
There are many yummy, cruelty-free alternatives to honey on the market, including maple and brown rice syrups, agave nectar, fruit puree, and barley malt. Any of these plant-based sweeteners can be used as substitutes for honey in almost any recipe, and are often chosen as superior replacements for granulated sugar.

Tempeh
Tempeh is a cultured soy product that may be a bit difficult to come by. It sometimes includes other grains or beans, and is very nutritious, having more taste and zing than tofu. Tempeh works well in stir-fries and can be used as a substitute in nearly any recipe that calls for meat.

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)
TVP is made from soy flour that has been cooked under pressure, extruded and dried. Varied with seasonings, shapes and textures, it is used in a wide range of meat substitutions. TVP, reconstituted in water, expands in size and takes on a meaty texture. It's an ideal basis for chili, meat sauce and sloppy Joes.

Vegetable Broth
An important base for soups, stews, sauces and gravies, vegetable broth is a must-have ingredient for the vegetarian pantry in its liquid, powder or bouillon cube form.

Vegetables
Good sources of vitamin C, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, riboflavin and fiber, vegetables should be the mainstay of any balanced vegetarian diet. Vegetables can play a prominent role in almost any meal, so it is always a good idea to have a lot of them around. While maintaining a decent stock of frozen and canned vegetables like corn, peas and green beans is important, it's also ideal to have some versatile, fresh veggies like potatoes, carrots, celery, onions available at all times.

Selected Resources

Websites

All Recipes.com
Offers a wide array of vegan recipes with reader ratings.

Compassionate Cooks
Empowers people to make informed food choices and debunks myths about vegetarianism through cooking classes, podcasts, workshops and lectures, articles and essays, and cooking DVDs.

How Mary and Frank and Friends Eat
An entire recipe book online! Plenty of meal ideas and great pictures, too.

In a Vegetarian Kitchen
Offers easy-to-follow recipes for simple family meals to festive fare for holidays and entertaining from vegetarian cookbook author, Nava Atlas.

International Vegetarian Union (IVU)
Offers African, Latin American, Caribbean, Asian, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, Afghani, Pakistani, Sri Lanka, and Western recipes.

Kate's Vegan Cookery Site
Offers more than 130 carefully tested recipes.

The Post Punk Kitchen
This one-of-a-kind site offers rockin' recipes, easy navigation and a special dietary needs section.

Random Girl Vegan Recipes
Everyone has his or her own little collection of standbys. Access Random Girl Miki's private collection here.

The Vegan Chef
Offers mouth-watering, creative recipes for everything from soup to nuts from vegan chef, Beverly Lynn Bennett.

Vegan Cooking
Take a look here for gourmet appetizers--and don't miss the complete list of animal ingredients to avoid.

Vegan Food
An incredibly large and eclectic collection of vegan recipes, ranging from easy to gourmet.

The Vegan House Kitchen
A small collection of unique recipes from the UK.

Vegan Lunchbox
Animal-free lunch recipes for kids and adults

VeganMania!
VegMania! not only has awesome recipes, but it also provides some really key information about sweeteners, oils, and animal ingredient replacements.

Vegan Street
In the mood for Thai food? No need to leave the house-the living is easy on Vegan Street.

Veg-Recipes
Subscribe to Veg-Recipes and share recipes with hundreds of vegetarians.

Vegan Vice
Fabulous vegan recipes for the whole family

Vegan Village
This site has a great dessert section, and newest additions are always listed at the top.

Vegan Yum Yum
Some of the most stunning, pleasurable vegan recipes ever!

Vegetarian Resource Group Recipes
The Vegetarian Resource Group lists their surefire recipes - even homemade baby food!

Veg Web
Link to hundreds of vegan recipes neatly broken down into 30 alphabetized categories.

Yellow Rose Recipes
Amazing array of high-quality, original vegan recipes

**Please note: All websites listed in this section are offered to provide supplemental information only and do not necessarily represents the viewpoints of Farm Sanctuary or its staff. Sites are not maintained or monitored by Farm Sanctuary.

Cooking DVDs/Shows

Christina Cooks
A celebration of life, love, health and great vegetarian food

Delicious TV
Vegetarian cooking and lifestyle series produced in Portland, Maine

The Eazy Vegan
Online demos on how to make everything from vegan quiche to tofu turkey

Everyday Dish
Online cooking show featuring recipes for homemade soymilk and more

Tofu 1-2-3: Taking the Mystery out of the "Big White Blob"
Adding tofu to your diet has never been easier! This DVD is full of quick and tasty all-American recipes and features Maribeth Abrams and Olympic Athlete Carl Lewis.

Vegetarian Cooking with Compassionate Cooks
The hosts of this engaging, energetic, and remarkably informative DVD demonstrate six tantalizing yet easy-to-make dishes, packing each one full of nutritional facts and shopping tips. With this DVD, you can learn to create Hearty Three-Bean Chili, Chocolate Chip Cookies and more! There are also helpful segments providing a visual aid to finding vegetarian products in the supermarket, and answering a number of frequently asked questions regarding vegetarianism.

**Please note: All resources listed in this section are offered to provide supplemental information only and do not necessarily represents the viewpoints of Farm Sanctuary or its staff. Sites are not maintained or regularly monitored by Farm Sanctuary.

Cooking Classes/Schools

Institute for Culinary Awakening
Dedicated to the teaching and preparation of organic, plant-based cuisine. ICA offers consultations, custom programs, and training in the Vegan Culinary Arts to individuals, businesses and food professionals.

Living Light Culinary Arts Institute
Offers hands-on certification courses in the art of gourmet raw vegan cuisine for individuals, chefs and teachers. Living Light is known internationally as the premier raw chef school in world. Courses are designed to assist students in achieving the highest level of competence, regardless of initial skill level.

The School of Natural Cookery
Plant-based cooking and beyond, in a unique curriculum where students learn to cook without recipes. Cook intuitively with whatever ingredients are at hand, as a professional or for yourself.

Meal Delivery Services

Buy Kind
877-777-7723
Nationwide meal delivery service featuring renowned restaurant-prepared meals.

Eat Your Veggies
310-633-7637
A LA-based meal delivery service providing vegan meals for families and individuals.

Lucky Palate
206.352.2583
Affordable Seattle-area vegetarian meal delivery service

My Green Bistro
877-743-8258
Exquisite vegetarian cuisine delivered straight to your door, most anywhere in the U.S.

Vegin' Out
310-574-9405
Totally vegan, healthy Southern California meal delivery service

**Please note: All resources listed in this section are offered to provide supplemental information only and do not necessarily represents the viewpoints of Farm Sanctuary or its staff.