Going vegan comes with plenty of ups and downs, but your range of food options are certainly some of the best things that come with the transition. While most people believe that vegans eat nothing more than cucumbers and celery, the truth is that cruelty-free food is full of flavour and texture and, more often than not, more delicious than their ordinary counterparts.
The key to cooking delicious vegan dishes is to look for alternatives to your kitchen essentials. Whether it is cheese, butter, or mayonnaise, you will surely find a variation appropriate for cruelty-free diets.
You can even make magical vegan condiments out of dairy replacements such as chickpeas and almond milk, and you will undoubtedly fall in love with their more vibrant, guilt-free flavour profiles. Here are some fun and easy recipe inspirations to kickstart your meat-free gastronomic adventure.
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are french fries’ sweeter and more nutrient-dense cousin. Their boiled or roasted variation is a popular item on the weight loss menu for dieters all over the world because they contain plenty of antioxidants, Vitamin A and C, and selenium. While they are delicious that way, you can opt to bake sweet potato fries if you can afford a little bit of a caloric leeway.
The process is simple: preheat the oven to 400 F. Wash the sweet potato, peel, and slice to fry-sized pieces, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, add in cumin, paprika, and sea salt before tossing in a bowl. Meanwhile, you want to spray a baking sheet with vegetable-based oil and add in a wax sheet before lining up your sweet potato fries.
Bake for 30 minutes, and you have a brilliant burst of crispy flavours. To further elevate the taste, add in your favourite vegan condiments. A recommendation is to use chipotle mayo — the perfect low-calorie dip for equally low-calorie fries.
Vegan Burrito
Nobody can say no to a burrito, so a vegan version is necessary for all meat-free folks to enjoy the infamous Mexican dish. There are plenty of ways you can go about this recipe, but here is a super easy one for days when you’re in a rush to prepare a healthy dinner spread. First, lay out the ingredients: rice, beans, lettuce, corn, tomatoes, guacamole, cilantro, lime, and vegan sour cream.
You want to cook the rice, beans, and corn before mixing them along with the rest of the ingredients, based on your preferred ratio. Generally, 2 cups of rice equate to 1 cup of beans and 1 cup of veggies. Lay them all on top of a tortilla, spread a generous amount of vegan sour cream, and wrap them up nicely. Squeeze in some lime as you eat, and you will soon be addicted to the delicious — and completely vegan — flavour.
Fishless Fingers
While a classic fish and chip will never make it back to your vegan diet, there is a fantastic alternative that will bring back the dreamy combination of a soft texture wrapped with a crispy exterior. But this recipe is entirely cruelty-free. The magic ingredient is tofu — a common meat alternative used for its relatively mild flavour.
To start, get blocks of firm tofu, cut into thick strips, and coat in flour. Mix soy or almond milk with lemon juice on a separate bowl before using it to add another layer to your floured tofu.
For the crispy exterior, dip the coated tofu onto breadcrumbs before baking for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. If you do not have an oven, you can pan fry each side until you get the desired colour. You can enjoy your fishless fingers with an array of vegan condiments, including garlic aioli and sour cream. Alternatively, you can make tartar sauce with vegan mayo, relish, lemon, and a hint of dill.
Anyone can enjoy vegan recipes regardless of their lifestyle and diet choices. Nothing beats exploring new flavour profiles and finding fresh condiments to stock your shelves and flavour your food, after all. Who knows — it might be the push you need to transition to a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Author – Jane Smith
