Each recipe will feed the whole family, and help you get closer to reaching your health goals by eating plant-based. Now when you come home after work or a workout, you know dinner will be done in no time.

Easy Vegan Recipes Everyone Will Love

We’ve all been there, standing around the kitchen for what feels like forever, waiting for the carrots to cook through or the potatoes to get soft enough to chew. And if you’re cooking for more than yourself, someone is likely to ask, “how much longer until dinner is ready?”

Now, they’ll be surprised at how quickly the meal was ready and how delicious it tastes. These no-fuss recipes are restaurant quality at fast-food service!

Easy Vegan One-Pot/Pan Dinners

The secret to meals in minutes: For the quickest ways to cook dinner and clean up, make easy vegan one-pot or one-pan dinners. You’ll find in the recipe list below that many of the recipes simply just call for one pot or pan, whether it’s a stew or a pasta dish.

Take our Southwest Hash, for example, this recipe can be enjoyed at any time of the day and makes for a delicious breakfast and dinner. All that’s required is to sautee your vegetables and potatoes with oil and spices in one pan and heat your tortilla in the same pan. Then you’ll stuff your tortilla with the veggies and sweet potatoes and enjoy this dish like a folded taco.

1. Vegan Thai Green Curry

Prepared in ten minutes and cooked in twenty, make this vegan Thai green curry for dinner in just half an hour. Flavorsome seasonings like garlic, ginger, Thai basil, and lemongrass infuse a rich coconut milk broth, and fresh, tender vegetables make every bite seem better than the last.

2. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Curry

In just fifteen minutes you can have the most delicious, flavorful pumpkin curry made with coconut milk and silken tofu. This comforting dish is easy to make and feeds the whole family.

3. Chickpea and Avocado Grain Bowl With Creamy Tahini Dressing

For a healthy dinner option, make this fiber-filled chickpea and avocado grain bowl with creamy tahini dressing that’s completely dairy-free.

4. Ramen Noodle Salad with Kimchi

Made in just twenty minutes, this comforting ramen noodle salad with kimchi is full of flavor and crunchy texture.

5. Loaded Sweet Potato Rounds With Vegan Goat Cheese and Cranberries

Ready in thirty minutes, these Loaded Sweet Potato Rounds are baked into caramelized perfection and topped with vegan goat cheese and cranberry mash for the perfect sweet and savory bite.

6. Creamy Vegan Pasta Packed With Nutrients

Ready in thirty minutes, this pasta recipe is simple and delicious. The pine nuts add a buttery taste and crunchy texture to finish.

7. Vegan Pasta Primavera

Packed with hearty vegetables, this easy vegan pasta primavera is a quick, no-waste dinner ready in just thirty minutes.This recipe is a great way to use up your veggie scraps!

8. Dairy-Free, Vegan Vegetable Risotto

Made in thirty minutes or less, you can easily throw this dairy-free vegetable risotto together for a quick weeknight dinner or last-minute side dish.

9. Vegetable and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

This nutritious stuffed pepper recipe is made with vegetables, quinoa, and pecans and has the option to cook in your Instant Pot or in the oven.

10. Vegan Chana Masala

In just thirty minutes you can dive into the delicious taste of vegan chana masala, and enjoy a healthy dinner. Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant fiber and protein.

11. Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu With Vegetables

Prepared in fifteen minutes, and cooked in fifteen minutes, this spicy maple mustard tofu with vegetables is the perfect sweet and savory dish for dinner.

12. One-Pan Vegan Southwest Sweet Potato Hash Wrap

Enjoy this easy one-pan southwest sweet potato hash wrap for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Taste the bold flavors of this dish which feature spices like cumin, ancho chiles, and smoked paprika to spice things up.

13. Black Pepper Tofu With Rice and Broccolini

In less than twenty-five minutes you’ll have a complete dinner with tofu, rice, and broccolini. Most ingredients you’ll already have on hand!

For our full list of vegan dinner recipes, check out our column on The Beet.

The post 13 Family Dinner Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less…Easy and Vegan! appeared first on The Beet.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is closer to Christmas this year, starting on Sunday, December 18, and ending on December 26. Hanukkah celebrates the recovery of Jerusalem and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt in the 2nd century. The lighting of the menorah candle, one each night, signifies that there was only enough oil to light the temple for a single night but instead, it lasted eight days. During Hanukkah, this is honored by cooking with oil, specifically by celebrating with fried foods.

What Food Do You Serve During Hanukkah?

Traditional Hanukkah recipes are typically made with eggs, dairy, and other animal products. Some of the most popular Hanukkah recipes are:

• Potato latke
• Applesauce
• Kugel
• Sufganiyot
• Babka

Traditional Hanukkah recipes can be easily made vegan by swapping animal products for dairy alternatives, applesauce, and other vegan swaps.

Let the kids get busy singing “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” while you put the finishing touches on these 11 Vegan Hanukkah recipes. Enjoy the holiday knowing that your dishes are both traditional and made to be fully vegan and vegetarian.

Vegan Main Dishes for Hanukkah

• Vegan Kugel

This vegan kugel recipe tastes the same, if not better, than classic recipes made with heavy cream, butter, and cheese. Kugel can be made vegan by replacing eggs with apple sauce, butter with vegan butter, and yogurt with dairy-free yogurt.

• Vegan Brisket

Guests will never know that this flame-grilled vegan brisket is actually made out of seitan. Cover the vegan brisket in a sticky, sweet BBQ sauce.

• Vegan Lemon Butter “Halibut” and Asparagus

You can never go wrong with serving vegan fish, such as this vegan lemon butter “halibut.” To emulate halibut, extra-firm silken tofu is lightly coated in a potato mixture, then fried until golden.

Vegan Side Dishes for Hanukkah

• Vegan Potato Latke

Hanukkah is incomplete without crispy vegan potato latkes. This vegan potato latke is both traditional and updated to be vegan, so you won’t use eggs or dairy.

• Meatless Matzo Ball Soup

This matzo ball soup is a vegan version of the classic recipe with simple ingredients and an amazingly healthy taste.

• Vegan Lentil Beetroot Salad

This vegan spiced lentil beetroot salad is one of the healthier options on the menu for Hanukkah. This simple vegan salad is easy to make and packed with superfoods.

Vegan Desserts for Hanukkah

• Vegan Chocolate Babka

Babka is a sweet braided dessert that is one of the most popular desserts to serve and indulge in on Hanukkah. This recipe takes a bit of time but is worth it in the end!

• Vegan Sufganiyot

The doughnut is deep-fried in oil, filled with jelly, jam, or custard, and topped with powdered sugar. These traditional donuts are usually made with butter and eggs, but we made them over to be vegan and dairy-free.

• Olive Oil Brownies

As long as you’re making applesauce for Hanukkah, you might as well whip up a batch of vegan brownies. Adding olive oil to brownies adds moisture and balances out the chocolate flavor.

• Vegan Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies

There’s nothing sweeter and tastier than warm vegan cookies fresh out of the oven. Everyone in your family will love this dessert and won’t believe that these cookies are vegan and flourless.

• Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake

Make this vegan flourless chocolate cake for an easy and stress-free yet elegant holiday cake.

What Do You Drink During Hannukah?

Wine is a very popular alcoholic drink of choice to celebrate Hanukkah because it is a symbol of joy and happiness. Finding vegan wine is trickier than it sounds. Most wine is not vegan due to the processing and fining before it reaches the bottle.

Though not as popular, people do celebrate Hannukah with hard liquor and cocktails. Don’t stress about finding wine and hard liquor that is both vegan and kosher. Here’s a list of a few of our favorite vegan, kosher wines and liquors.

Kosher Vegan Drinks

Wine

• Covenant Red C Sauvignon Blanc 2018
• Barkan Classic Chardonnay 2017
• Koenig Pinot Gris 2019
• Binyamina Reserve Merlot 2018
• Capcanes Peraj Petita Rosat 2020

Kosher Vegan Liquor

• Ketel One Vodka
• Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, Tennessee Rye, Gentleman Jack and Single Barrel
• Empress 1908 Gin 
• Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Looking for tips to host an effortless holiday party? Check out this guide to make holiday entertaining effortless.

The post Host Hanukkah With This 2022 Guide to Easy Vegan Recipes appeared first on The Beet.

To help you incorporate these ingredients into your diet, we compiled a list of 13 vegan protein-rich recipes that contain more than 10 grams of protein per serving and include foods you already love like chickpeas, tofu, lentils, edamame, and plenty more.

In this list, you’ll find how to make our Easy Vegan Protein Bar recipe that tastes like a thin mint cookie and has the texture of a chewy brownie. We also have two vegan protein shakes that taste just like dessert, one of the shakes being NFL star Rob Gronkowski’s favorite post-game treat made with pea protein. We also serve up the perfect protein-rich main dish, Easy Vegan Meatloaf finished with a homemade glaze, the perfect entrée at your holiday party, and each slice contains 7 grams of protein.

Here are 13 vegan recipes with over 10 grams of plant-based protein.

Protein-Rich Vegan Recipes

1. Gronk’s Plant-Based Smoothie

Complete with 24 grams of sustainable pea protein, a full amino acid profile, and just one gram of sugar, Gronk’s favorite plant-based smoothie supports faster recovery, promotes sustained energy, and helps rebuild muscle after a tough workout.

2. Easy Vegan Meatloaf

Want a healthier dinner option? This dish has seven grams of plant-based protein in one slice of vegan meatloaf.

3.  Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches

Jackfruit mimics the consistency of meat and tastes just like pulled pork when marinated with BBQ spices. Try this recipe that contains almost 11 grams of plant protein per sandwich.

4. Chickpea Salad Niçoise with Dairy-Free Lemon Dijon Dressing

Enjoy this high-protein refreshing salad as a healthy lunch or side dish with your entree and pack in 13.9 grams of plant-based protein mostly from chickpeas!

5. Vegan Lentil Burger

Make your veggie patty from scratch to avoid unwanted ingredients and enjoy the delicious taste of warm, firm lentils, veggies, and an array of spices. Each burger has just under 29 grams of plant protein, which is more than a traditional meat-based burger.

6. Vegan Lemon Butter “Halibut” and Asparagus

To emulate fish varieties like halibut, extra-firm silken tofu is lightly coated in a potato starch mixture, then fried until golden and crispy on the edges.

7. Vegan Stuffed Veggie Peppers with Meatless Crumbles

These stuffed veggie peppers are packed with savory vegetables like mushrooms, plant-based grounds, rice, and flavorful seasonings, and each pepper contains 19.5 grams of protein.

8. Easy Banana Protein Pancakes

These easy, delicious protein pancakes only require six ingredients and will keep you full all morning long. Mix your favorite fruits or chocolate chips into the batter for a decadent treat.

9. Mint Chocolate Protein Bars

This protein bar is made with All American Mint Chocolate Dream Almond Butter, which has 7.8 grams of plant-based protein per two tablespoons.

10. Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake

With 32.5 grams of plant protein, make this easy banana and peanut butter shake for breakfast or an easy snack.

11. Chocolate Protein Bar With Pitaya Jelly

Enjoy these protein bars as a snack to tide you over to your next meal, or after a workout to help repair your muscles.

12. Vegan Baked Tofu Teriyaki

Making a delicious teriyaki sauce has never been easier – this one takes just five minutes.

13. Dairy-Free Loaded Tofu Scramble Quesadilla

Switch up your morning routine with this loaded vegan tofu scramble quesadilla, packed with whole foods and bursting with flavor.

For more great dairy-free recipes, check out The Beet’s recipe library of more than 1,000 vegan or plant-based recipes.

The post 13 Vegan Recipes With More Than 10 Grams of Protein Per Serving appeared first on The Beet.

Tofu contains important antioxidants and acts as an anti-inflammatory to benefit overall health by helping to prevent diseases and boost immunity. It’s also a good source of ‘complete’ protein with 20 grams of protein per cup, in addition to fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. If you’re eating plant-based and are looking for a way to increase your protein intake, or simply want a healthier-for-you protein option, take a look at these 10 different recipes, and choose the one that suits your taste buds!

1. Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu With Vegetables,

Turn up the heat with this Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu, an easy-to-make dish with a sweet and tangy flavor, loaded with vegetables to fuel your body. Serve it over a bed of brown rice and garnish it with fresh herbs, chili peppers, and toasted cashews.

Recipe: Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu With Vegetables

2. Vegan Baked Tofu Teriyaki

Making a delicious teriyaki sauce has never been easier – this one takes just five minutes. Mixed in with some crispy baked tofu, rice, and veggies on the side and you’ve got yourself a flavorful, high protein meal so good you’ll be getting for up seconds.

Recipe: Vegan Baked Tofu Teriyaki

3. Vegan Kung Pao Tofu

If you’re craving a dish packed with veggies with a bit of a kick then we’ve got you covered with this Vegan Kung Pao Tofu. This is an easy recipe to make whether you want to make dinner for the whole family or meal prep dinner for the next few days.

Recipe: Vegan Kung Pao Tofu

4. Crispy Baked Tofu

These tofu slices are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This is a very easy recipe to make, is delicious on its own, and even better when paired with your favorite dipping sauce.

Recipe: Crispy Baked Tofu

5. Sweet & Sticky Crispy Tofu “Chicken”

Here’s an insider trick: By freezing and thawing your tofu (not once but twice), you end up with a meat-like texture, perfect for making this Sweet & Sticky Tofu  Crispy “Chicken.”

Recipe: Sweet & Sticky Crispy Tofu “Chicken”

6. Easy Vegan Tofu Curry

Love curry? Make it with tofu with this easy vegan recipe that requires two easy parts: Baking tofu and mixing spices together for the perfect curry sauce.

Recipe: Easy Vegan Tofu Curry 

7. Dairy-Free Loaded Tofu Scramble Quesadilla

Need a new breakfast option? Make this tofu scramble quesadilla to switch things up. If it’s your first time eating tofu as an egg substitute, no worries, you won’t be able to tell the difference!

Recipe: Dairy-Free Loaded Tofu Scramble Quesadilla

8. Japanese Vegan Tofu Katsu Dinner

If you love Japanese cuisine, you’ll be happy to know that there are so many Japanese dishes like ramen, tempura udon, takoyaki, and sushi that can easily be made plant-based. One particular fan-favorite Japanese meal is a tonkatsu dinner, which is not vegan, but here we show you how delicious and easy making a totally vegan Tofu Katsu dinner can be.

Recipe: Japanese Vegan Tofu Katsu Dinner

9. Crispy Tofu Satay Bowl

Do you ever get those days where you don’t feel like putting much effort into making dinner? Here’s the perfect meal that will satisfy your palette even on the laziest of days. Make this crispy tofu satay bowl in less than 20 minutes.

Recipe: Crispy Tofu Satay Bowl

10. Black Pepper Tofu

This Black Pepper Tofu can be whipped up in 30 minutes making it the perfect last-minute meal that’s packed with protein. Because this recipe is so simple to make, it’s easy to cook in large batches, making it a great recipe to meal prep for the week. Serve it with rice and a side of your favorite veggies to complete this nutrient-dense dish.

Recipe: Black Pepper Tofu

For more great dairy-free recipes, check out The Beet’s recipe library of more than 1,000 vegan or plant-based recipes.

The post 10 Easy, Delicious Tofu Recipes, From Scrambles to Teriyaki “Chicken” appeared first on The Beet.

Ingredients like heavy cream, eggs, cream cheese, butter, dairy cheese, condensed and regular milk are thought to make the risotto rich-tasting or the potato gratin indulgently greasy, and they do, but vegan substitutes can still provide the same flavor and texture in each one of these 13 vegan comfort food recipes.

And just as an extra bonus, vegan meals tend to lean healthier because dairy is considered an inflammatory food that may cause certain diseases, according to several studies.

So gather around the fire with your loved ones this holiday and enjoy a home-cooked vegan meal. We rounded up easy vegan comfort food recipes that make the dairy-free and meatless cut, including fluffy, steaming egg-less quiche or a cheesy, saucy artichoke dip that will keep you warm on brisk nights.

Want to make someone’s day? We’ll be the first to tell you that a homemade meal is surely one of the best. If you want to ring in the cheer this holiday to a neighbor, best friend, or significant other, these dairy-free comforting recipes are like a favorite cozy sweater in the form of food and make for a wonderful surprise. After their first bite, be sure to catch their reaction when you reveal your “beef” stew doesn’t contain meat and that jackfruit makes for a wonderful substitute. It’s not unlikely they’ll say something like, “What on earth is jackfruit?”

What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that grows on a tree and originated between the Western Ghats of southern India, all of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the rainforests of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. When cooked, the fruit has a thick consistency that mimics chewy, tender meat, and it has the ability to pull apart like pork. When jackfruit is pulled apart and seasoned with herbs, rub, and spices it’s often mistaken for an actually pulled pork sandwich.

What Can I Use as a Meat Alternative?

There are plenty of vegan foods that taste and can appear like meat or fish depending on how you cook them, season them, and the type of dish. Tofu is a popular plant-based protein often used as a chicken replacement or even a fish replacement, like halibut.

Seitan is a vegan meat alternative made from gluten that’s often used in replace of deli meats, pork, steak, and tempeh is a soy-based plant protein that mimics all the same foods. Mushrooms are also used as a meat alternative thanks to their rubbery, thick texture that can pass for tasting like a steak.

What Kind of Comfort Foods Are Vegan?

Comfort foods made without dairy, eggs, and meat products are just like the classic foods that are considered “comforting,” but instead these recipes and vegan foods call for alternatives that taste and work just like the real thing.

Here we take ingredients like heavy cream and replace them with cashew cream, dairy milk for oat or almond milk, dairy cheese for cashew or any nut-based cheese, beef for jackfruit, chicken for tempeh, and the list goes on. These vegan replacements are easy to cook with, better for the environment, and healthier for you because they don’t contain cholesterol or fat in animals that may cause inflammation in the body, which has been shown to cause diseases including certain cancers.

1. No-Waste Vegan Vegetable Quiche

This warming, hearty quiche has a simple flaky crust with an extremely creamy, luscious, and egg-like filling with a slightly cheesy flavor.

Recipe: No-Waste Vegan Vegetable Quiche

2. Full English Breakfast Made Vegan

Full English Breakfast is especially awesome for lazy weekend mornings. Serve it with hot tea and coffee, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Recipe: Full English Breakfast Made Vegan

3. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Curry

Looking to switch up your go-to lunch or dinner with a dish seasonal, flavorful dish? Surprise your taste buds with this quick and easy Dairy-Free Pumpkin Curry made with Thai-inspired ingredients that’s ready in just 15 minutes.

Recipe: Easy Vegan Pumpkin Curry

4. Easy Vegan Meatloaf

Make this hearty, savory, smoky Vegan Meatloaf packed with an array of vegetables and spices. The texture is soft and chewy on the inside with a crispy outer crust.

Recipe: Easy Vegan Meatloaf

5. One-Pot Vegan Chili

We have the perfect vegan chili recipe packed with chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, mushrooms, and more. Comfort food meets healthier-for-you eating in this easy recipe loaded with fiber and protein, helping you stay fuller longer and allowing your muscles to repair after a workout.

Recipe: One-Pot Vegan Chili

6.  Vegan “Butter” Chickpeas

Your tastebuds will be in heaven with this rich, creamy, delicious butter chickpea recipe! Inspired by Northern India’s famous butter chicken dish, this recipe is completely meat and dairy-free.

Recipe: Vegan “Butter” Chickpeas

7. Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

In 30 minutes or less, you can dip into the rich, creamy, cheesy flavors of a plant-based spinach artichoke dip. This simple recipe is an instant crowd-pleaser, making it the perfect appetizer for any party or family gathering.

Recipe: Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

8. One-Pot Vegan “Beef” Stew

Vegan Irish Beef Stew is comfort food at its finest. It’s hearty and meaty, with rich flavors. Tender jackfruit pieces look and taste just like beef chunks. It’s all cooked in the mix of a well-spiced broth and Guinness beer, which will give your stew an amazing depth of flavor.

Recipe: One-Pot Vegan “Beef” Stew

9. Healthy Moroccan-Style Vegan Lentil Stew

This stew is thick, hearty, warming, and comforting – perfect for colder days. It’s packed with protein-rich lentils, nutritious veggies, and flavorful, aromatic spices that make your kitchen smell wonderful.

Recipe: Healthy Moroccan-Style Vegan Lentil Stew

10. Vegan Vegetable Thai Green Curry

Creamy, spicy, and full of authentic flavors and textures, this Thai vegetable green curry is delicious, healthy, and easy to make. Serve it with a side of jasmine rice, fresh chilies, and lime wedges for the perfect meal.

Recipe: Vegan Vegetable Thai Green Curry Recipe 

11. Vegan Potato Gratin

French-inspired potato gratin is the perfect comfort food for gloomy days. It’s cheesy, creamy, filling, satisfying, and super delicious.

Recipe: Vegan Potato Gratin

12. Vegan Vegetable Risotto

Add this creamy, comforting, flavorful vegetable risotto to your kitchen repertoire – It’s the perfect way to use up all those leftovers hanging out in your fridge for a romantic dish to serve.

Recipe: Vegan Vegetable Risotto

13. Vegan Chickpea Pot Pie

If comfort food is what you’re craving this holiday season, a chickpea pot pie is just the thing you need. It’s loaded with protein-rich chickpeas and mixed with hearty vegetables like carrots, celery, and green peas.

Recipe: Vegan Chickpea Pot Pie

For more great plant-based dishes, check out The Beet’s recipe library. 

For more lists of recipes, check out:

• 7 simple plant-based recipe ideas for under $1 a serving
• 7 popular plant-based soup recipes
• 7 easy plant-based breakfast recipe ideas 
• 8 heart-healthy plant-based recipes to lower your lifetime risk
• 7 one-pot vegan recipes
• 10 vegan soups and salads recipe
• 10 vegan lentil recipes to make for a healthy lunch or dinner

The post 13 Easy Vegan Comfort Food Recipes to Make Right Now appeared first on The Beet.

In these recipes, you’ll find ingredients that include matcha powder for its well-balanced combination of caffeine and L-theanine –– a natural amino acid that’s been shown to improve relaxation, tension, and calmness. You’ll also find three recipes for artichokes which contain an important prebiotic that’s been shown to help reduce the stress that builds in your gut and promotes clarity and healthier decision-making.

More recipes include broccoli, another powerhouse in the sense that the cruciferous vegetable contains glutathione, an antioxidant that protects against many forms of stress. These recipes also feature the sesame paste tahini, which contains an amino acid  L-tryptophan that helps to lower your serotonin system and cognition function. You won’t want to miss our vegan tahini fudge recipe – it’s so delicious.

Matcha Powder for Stress Relief

Matcha powder is a superfood ingredient with supernatural stress-reducing properties: In a study, researchers analyzed the relationship between the intake of matcha components and the suppression of stress. Researchers from the study noted, a “significant stress-reducing effect was observed.” In addition, matcha has a balanced combination of caffeine and L-theanine, a natural amino acid found in plants that helps with relaxation without drowsiness. In a different study, researchers note, “L-theanine alone improved self-reported relaxation, tension, and calmness starting at 200 mg.”

How Artichokes Help Reduce Stress From Your Gut

Artichokes are rich in a prebiotic called fructooligosaccharides, often known as FOSs. Researchers who tested “whether chronic prebiotic treatment modifies behavior across domains relevant to anxiety, depression, cognition, stress response, and social behavior,” concluded that the prebiotic FOSs is beneficial for stress-related behaviors and may reduce the stress that builds up in your gut.

Eat Broccoli to Boost Mental Health

It’s been proven that diets rich in cruciferous vegetables may reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and mental health disorders, which helps the body respond to fighting stress more easily. In one study, researchers investigated different foods that promoted recovery from depressive disorders. The results found that the highest-scoring foods were all plant-based and included cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli also contains glutathione, an antioxidant that protects against many forms of stress, according to a study.

Tahini May Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Tahini is an incredible source of the amino acid L-tryptophan, a serotonin precursor that helps reduce stress and anxiety. In a review study, researchers say that L-tryptophan is “a nutritional approach to the treatment of anxiety.” A deficiency in tryptophan may lower your serotonin system and cognition function. according to a different study.

11 Vegan Recipes to Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety

1. Vegan Matcha Waffles with Homemade Coconut Whipped Cream

Dairy-free buttermilk waffles are surprisingly easy to make but taste and look special thanks to the addition of matcha powder. They are also light and fluffy, with a perfectly crisp outer edge.

Recipe: Vegan Matcha Waffles with Dairy-Free Coconut Whipped Cream 

2. Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls

These Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls are easy to make, healthy, gluten-free, and a quick energy booster. You can make these in less than 30 minutes if you’re ever craving a quick snack you don’t want to feel guilty about.

Recipe: Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls

3. Matcha Acai Bowl with Kiwi and Coconut

This recipe is a matcha-based açai bowl topped with fruits, nuts, and grains –– a refreshing and healthy breakfast or snack. Açai bowls are a puree of the açai berry mixed with ice in a blender and are typically topped with fruit and granola.

Recipe: Matcha Acai Bowl with Kiwi and Coconut

4. Pizza with Artichokes, Olives, Tomatoes, and Dairy-Free Cheese

In this recipe, you’ll be able to taste the care that goes into making vegan pizza taste just as good, if not better than the real thing.

Recipe: Pizza with Artichokes, Olives, Tomatoes, and Dairy-Free Cheese

5. Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

In 30 minutes or less, you can dip into the rich, creamy, cheesy flavors of a plant-based spinach artichoke dip. This simple recipe is an instant crowd-pleaser, making it the perfect appetizer for any party or family gathering.

Recipe: Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe 

6. Lemon, Basil, and Artichoke Pasta

This signature pasta dish is loaded with citrus, acid, sweetness, and nuttiness, leaving you with the most refreshing umami aftertaste you will dive right back in for another bite. The key to making this pasta taste so delicious is to use quality ingredients, the freshness boldens the flavors and makes this dish brighter.

Recipe: The Best Lemon, Basil, & Artichoke Pasta: Easy Vegan Recipe

7. Beet Carpaccio with Broccoli and Pistachio Crumbles

Want to really impress your dinner guests? Serve them something they’ve likely never had before, like this carpaccio made with sliced beets topped with broccoli and pistachios.

The earthy flavor of the baked beets works so well with the fresh, crunchy broccoli toppings. The tart balsamic drizzle and silky olive oil create the perfect balance of tastes.

Recipe: Beet Carpaccio with Broccoli and Pistachio Crumbles

8. Vegan Broccoli Potato ‘Cheddar’ Soup

Vegan Broccoli ‘Cheddar’ Soup. Broccoli and cheese are one of those combos that are perfect together, which is why broccoli cheese soup is such a satisfying dish.

Recipe: Vegan Broccoli Potato ‘Cheddar’ Soup

9. Bang Bang Broccoli

Trying to find a way to add more veggies to your diet? This might be the best way! This Vegan Bang Bang Broccoli is so tasty and that sauce is just magical. The best part of this recipe, besides that it tastes amazing, is how easy it is to make.

Recipe: Bang Bang Broccoli

10. Tahini Chocolate Fudge

Tahini works great in desserts, especially in this fudge recipe. The tahini makes this fudge creamy and melt-in-your-mouth just like real fudge.

Recipe: Tahini Chocolate Fudge

11. Crispy Buffalo Chickpea Salad with Tahini Ranch Dressing

They’re crispy, spicy, and so delicious. Whether you’re making Buffalo Chickpeas or just regular roasted chickpeas, they’re both a healthier and gluten-free alternative to croutons. And they’re just fun to snack on.
Recipe: Crispy Buffalo Chickpea Salad with Tahini Ranch Dressing

For more great plant-based dishes, check out The Beet’s recipe library. 

For more lists of recipes, check out:

• 7 simple plant-based recipe ideas for under $1 a serving
• 7 popular plant-based soup recipes
• 7 easy plant-based breakfast recipe ideas 
• 8 heart-healthy plant-based recipes to lower your lifetime risk
• 7 one-pot vegan recipes
• 10 vegan soups and salads recipe
• 10 vegan lentil recipes to make for a healthy lunch or dinner

The post Feel Stressed? 11 Recipes High in Antioxidants to Boost Inner Calm appeared first on The Beet.

Turning back the clocks at the end of Daylight saving time can feel like a drag even with that hour of sleep. It’s the beginning of a long dark winter when evening walks or runs after work means going out in the dark. By the time we get off work, it’s pitch black out, and the last thing you want to do is get outside and be active. So now it’s even more important to eat healthy foods full of vital nutrients and focus on getting more vitamin D in your diet.

Until December 22nd, the Winter Equinox, we will continue to lose sunlight every day, at which point the days get longer again until Springtime. This is why it’s even more important to get your vitamin D from food sources since there’s less and less sunshine in the coming months. We have you covered with these easy vegan recipes all containing vitamin D.

Read More: How to Get Vitamin D on a Plant-Based Diet

How Much Vitamin D Should You Have?

As for how much vitamin D you need, the Mayo Clinic recommends that babies up to 12 months get 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D and people ages, 1 to 70 get at least 600 IU daily, and after age 70 you should up that to 800 IU. People were taking large multiples of that amount for better immunity during the pandemic, but that much is not recommended and too much can be toxic.

Sunshine is a great source of vitamin D since your body converts UV exposure to a precursor to D vitamin and then to actual vitamin D. It’s recommended that light-skinned people get at least 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week to maintain healthy levels of vitamin Dl while darker-skinned people should aim for longer. Darker skin pigment contains more melanin, which protects the skin from absorbing UV rays, which can result in less vitamin D getting converted in the body from sunshine alone.

Midday sun is the most effective for helping your body convert sunshine into vitamin D, but higher regions (Norway and England) get weaker rays in winter, so if you live in the northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere, it’s even harder to get vitamin D naturally without a supplement.

In colder months, you can still ensure getting healthy amounts of vitamin D by eating certain vegan foods like fortified tofu, fortified cereals, fortified plant-based milks, and certain types of mushrooms.

Place Mushrooms in Sunlight to Get Your Vitamin D

As for which mushrooms have the most vitamin D, the answer is those grown in the wild like chanterelles and morels, and some farmed ones that catch the UV light instead of hiding out in the shade. Two rich sources of vitamin D are shiitake and maitake mushrooms. Growing in UV light boosts their vitamin D content, as does drying them in UV light, which helps to preserve the vitamin D for longer.

In an experiment, mushrooms that were grown indoors, in the sunlight, and dried, had the most vitamin D. shiitake mushrooms, exposed to sunlight with the gills up. Shitake mushrooms not only produce vitamin D₂ but also produce vitamin D₃ and vitamin D_4.

According to studies, “vitamin D enhanced mushrooms are the only non-animal food product with substantial amounts of bioavailable vitamin D and, as such, have the potential to be a primary source of dietary vitamin D for vegans and vegetarians.”

It’s much easier for non-vegans to find readily-available sources of vitamin D since it’s found in fish and beef. To help you find the right food choices containing this important vitamin, we compiled 10 vegan recipes that call for tofu, dairy-free milk, and of course, mushrooms!

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps us absorb two crucial minerals that promote bone health, calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D has also been shown to help reduce your risk of cancer and inflammation and help boost overall health and well-being.

1. Sweet & Sticky Crispy Tofu “Chicken”

Tofu has a bad reputation for being bland, but there are so many ways to cook flavorful and satisfying tofu. One trick: By freezing and thawing your tofu (not once but twice), you end up with a meat-like texture, perfect for making this Sweet & Sticky Tofu  Crispy “Chicken.”

Recipe: Sweet & Sticky Crispy Tofu “Chicken”

2. Dairy-Free Loaded Tofu Scramble Quesadilla

If you’re a vegan who prefers breakfasts that are on the savory side, you’ve likely had your share of tofu scrambles. Although tofu scrambles are both delicious and nutritious, they can get a bit boring after a while. If you’re getting tired of the same old tofu scrambles, then this vegan Tofu Scramble Quesadilla is the perfect way to mix things up.

Recipe: Dairy-Free Loaded Tofu Scramble Quesadilla

3. Easy Vegan Tofu Curry

This simple curry calls for a fragrant blend of spices and seasonings. There are two phases to making this dish: The first, cooking the tofu and the second, making the curry. The good thing about this recipe is you’ll be baking your tofu, which means you can cook your curry stovetop while your tofu is in the oven!

Recipe: Easy Vegan Tofu Curry

4. Black Pepper Tofu With Rice and Broccolini

This Black Pepper Tofu can be whipped up in 30 minutes making it the perfect last-minute meal that’s packed with protein. Because this recipe is so simple to make, it’s easy to cook in large batches, making it a great recipe to meal prep for the week. Serve it with rice and a side of your favorite veggies to complete this nutrient-dense dish.

Recipe: Black Pepper Tofu With Rice and Broccolini

5. Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu With Vegetables

As the temperature falls, we’re bringing the heat to the kitchen with this Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu: A sweet, spicy, tangy dish loaded with veggies to fuel your body.

The best part of this recipe is that it’s easy to swap out the veggies for your own favorite vegetables or whatever leftover add-ins you have in the fridge that you need to cook up.

Recipe: Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu With Vegetables

6. Mushroom & Broccolini with Noodles

If you’re searching for a lunch or dinner recipe you can make on repeat, this Mushroom and Broccolini with Noodles will become a go-to dish. It’s a recipe with simple ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store, and you probably already have most of them in your pantry or fridge. Better yet, it calls for rice noodles, making it a great option for gluten-free eaters.

Recipe: Mushroom & Broccolini with Noodles

7.  Japanese Vegan Tofu Katsu Dinner

If you love Japanese cuisine, you’ll be happy to know that there are so many Japanese dishes like ramen, tempura udon, takoyaki, and sushi that can easily be made plant-based. One particular fan-favorite Japanese meal is a tonkatsu dinner, which is not traditionally vegan, so were showing you how delicious and easy a totally vegan Tofu Katsu dinner can be.

 Recipe: Japanese Vegan Tofu Katsu Dinner

8. Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff

If there’s ever a recipe you want to double up on, it’s this one. This mushroom stroganoff tastes so good that the four servings this recipe makes might not be enough. This recipe is also made in one pot, so it will save you extra dishes and stress.

Recipe: Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff

9. One-Pot Pasta With Spinach & Mushrooms

Make your life a little easier this weekend with Spinach and Mushroom One-Pot Pasta, which is easy, delicious, and filled with healthy ingredients. Pasta can actually provide a decent amount of protein depending on what kind you choose (look for whole-grain, brown rice, or black bean varieties). Everything is going to be cooked in one pot. For an extra creamy texture, substitute the water with non-dairy milk, and feel free to add whatever ingredients you have on hand!

Recipe: One-Pot Pasta With Spinach & Mushrooms

10. Vegan Scallops Over Mushroom Risotto

No dinner says “romance” quite like this Scallops over Mushroom Risotto recipe. Don’t worry it’s not really scalloped, it’s made out of King Oyster Mushrooms, a versatile ingredient that can be used to substitute many meaty ingredients. In this case, we are using it both for the scallops and the risotto.

Recipe: Vegan Scallops Over Mushroom Risotto

For more great plant-based dishes, check out The Beet’s recipe library. 

For more lists of recipes, check out:

• 7 simple plant-based recipe ideas for under $1 a serving
• 7 popular plant-based soup recipes
• 7 easy plant-based breakfast recipe ideas 
• 8 heart-healthy plant-based recipes to lower your lifetime risk
• 7 one-pot vegan recipes
• 10 vegan soups and salads recipe
• 10 vegan lentil recipes to make for a healthy lunch or dinner

The post 10 Vegan Recipes High in Vitamin D Just in Time for the End of Daylight Savings appeared first on The Beet.

Feeling festive? Stack up pumpkin whoopie pies on a Halloween-themed serving platter and let your company grab one of these cream-filled cake-like cookies and enjoy the seasonal flavor with every bite. Or, try our apple crisp topped with an olive oil crumble made in muffin tins so all that’s required for serving is a spoon and a sweet tooth!

If you’re looking for the classics, make our vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies that will make you want to use almond flour in all your baked goods. We even have a healthier-for-you Oreo cookie recipe that’s delicious on its own but even more tasty with a glass of almond or oat milk for dunking!

1. Vegan Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

This treat tastes like somewhere between a cookie and a cake with hints of pumpkin flavor. Add a scoop of dairy-free cream cheese filling to the middle of the sandwich and smoosh! These whoopie pies are the perfect hand-held dessert to present on a platter and let the company reach in for one, two, or three!

Recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling 

2. Easy Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

There’s nothing like warm homemade donuts to enjoy with a glass of hot apple cider on a fall day. Stack up this photogenic dessert and treat yourself and your guests to a cinnamon-apple-flavored delight.

Recipe: Easy Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

3. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Spice Bread With a Warm Streusel Topping

Switch up your go-to pumpkin loaf for this dairy-free, egg-free pumpkin bread topped with warm crispy streusel is made with an array of autumnal spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove that fill your kitchen with an irresistable aroma.

Recipe: Easy Vegan Pumpkin Spice Bread With a Warm Streusel Topping

4. Vegan Apple Crisp With Olive Oil Crumble Topping

Bake your apple crisp in a muffin tin and top it off with this homemade olive oil crumble and a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream. This dessert is made in just ten minutes!

Recipe: Vegan Apple Crisp With Olive Oil Crumble Topping

5. Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Want the best vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe of all time? Try this one for cookies that are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.

Recipe: Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

6. Low-Calorie Oreo Cookies with Natural Vegan Ingredients

Need a dessert to meet special dietary needs? Make healthier Oreo cookies at home with this quick and easy recipe that preserves all the great flavors of store-bought Oreos using only natural plant-based ingredients. These cookies are oil-free, refined sugar-free, and gluten-free!

Recipe: Low-Calorie Oreo Cookies with Natural Vegan Ingredients

7. Vegan and Gluten-Free One-Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Lauren Toyota –– the chef behind the famous blog Hot for Food –– shares how to make this simple vegan and gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe in just one bowl. Enjoy the taste of crunchy, crisp oats on the outside and warm, soft batter on the inside of each cookie.

Recipe: Vegan and Gluten-Free One-Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

8. Vegan Chocolate Hummus

Do you want to ‘have your cake and eat it too?’ Then try this smooth, creamy, decadent chocolate hummus. It’s so tasty, you won’t believe it’s secretly healthy!

Recipe: Vegan Chocolate Hummus

9. Chef Chloe Coscarelli’s Vegan Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Celebrity chef Chloe Coeserlli turns apple pie into sticky caramel bars that are the perfect grab-and-go treat.

Recipe: Chef Chloe Coscarelli’s Vegan Caramel Apple Pie Bars 

10.  Vegan Chocolate Marble Pumpkin Loaf

We added a chocolate swirl to your pumpkin loaf in this easy vegan recipe. Cut the loaf into slices and let your guest enjoy one with a mug of hot chocolate.

Recipe: Vegan Chocolate Marble Pumpkin Loaf

For more great plant-based dishes, check out The Beet’s recipe library. 

For more lists of recipes, check out:

• 7 simple plant-based recipe ideas for under $1 a serving
• 7 popular plant-based soup recipes
• 7 easy plant-based breakfast recipe ideas 
• 8 heart-healthy plant-based recipes to lower your lifetime risk
• 7 one-pot vegan recipes
• 10 vegan soups and salads recipe
• 10 vegan lentil recipes to make for a healthy lunch or dinner

The post 10 Vegan Desserts to Share and Bring to a Party appeared first on The Beet.

Everyone loves pasta. There’s a reason for that. It’s delicious and comforting, and if you choose legume-based pasta such as noodles made from chickpeas or lupini beans,it can even be healthy. Even whole wheat pasta is better than noodles made with plain refined flour since the complex carbs are released slowly, offering you energy and sharpness for hours and you’re adding protein into the mix, which keeps blood sugar from spiking.

You may or may not consider classic mac and cheese a pasta dish, but we included a butternut squash dairy-free mac and cheese recipe because it’s so good (and packed with fiber) that you won’t want to miss out on the festive flavors.

If you love to indulge in a healthier way, try the dairy-free creamy, saucy carbonara created by plant-based chefs Derek and Chad Sarno, founders of the Wicked Kitchen, The marinated, crunchy shiitake mushrooms provide a smoky bacon flavor to the dish.

If you’re someone who wants pasta pronto, we have several delicious, quick, and easy pasta recipes that require less than 20 minutes. And if you make our homemade tomato sauce and keep leftovers in the fridge, you can make a restaurant-quality pasta dish in under five minutes – just saying.

Here are 15 great-tasting plant-based pasta dishes for every palate.

15 Dairy-Free and Vegan Pasta Recipes

1. Vegan Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Creamy, seasonal, and nutty, this Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is a delicious meal to make right now or as a side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of using cheese, this dairy-free recipe calls for cashews and nutritional yeast to achieve the perfect comforting cheese-like taste.

Recipe: Vegan Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

2. Pumpkin and Crispy Kale Pasta with Vegan Parmesan

We’re switching up your go-to pasta dish with this autumnal recipe made with pumpkin and crispy kale. This easy lunch or dinner proves that you can still have delicious, healthy pasta without heavy sauce.

Recipe: Pumpkin and Crispy Kale Pasta with Vegan Parmesan

3. Creamy Vegan Carbonara Shiitake “Bacon”

Derek and Chad Sarno, the founders of Wicked Kitchen, share their creamy vegan carbonara with shiitake mushrooms prepared like crispy bacon.

Recipe: Creamy Vegan Carbonara Shiitake “Bacon”

4. Vegan Pesto Pasta

Love pesto? Make this dairy-free version made with toasted pine nuts and nutritional yeast for the perfect nutty flavor. Enjoy this dish on repeat because pesto can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks in a jar.

Recipe: Vegan Pesto Pasta

5. Rich Pasta With Homemade Tomato Sauce

Less is more when it comes to this creamy homemade tomato sauce and spaghetti recipe. Serve this dish to your loved one on date night!

Recipe: Rich Pasta With Homemade Tomato Sauce

6. Vegan Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

This vegan Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta is simple and easy to make and extremely delicious – no one will ever know it took you less than 30-minutes to make.

Recipe: Vegan Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

7. Chickpea & Tomato Pasta

If you only have a few minutes and want to cook a delicious dinner, pasta is the obvious choice: You can whip up a hearty dish pretty quickly. This chickpea and tomato pasta is a healthier-for-you option when it comes to choosing your favorite noodle!

Recipe: Chickpea & Tomato Pasta

8. Quick and Easy Lemon Garlic Pasta with Asparagus

Fill your plate with this bright, zesty pasta for a refreshing dinner that’s not too heavy and can be completed in 30 minutes or less.

Recipe: Quick and Easy Lemon Garlic Pasta with Asparagus

9. Vegan Pasta Primavera

Want an easy vegan dinner recipe that’s loaded with vegetables? Pasta Primavera is absolutely a classic for a reason: This recipe is truly one of the most convenient and simple pasta dishes you will ever make.

Recipe: Vegan Pasta Primavera

10. Easy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

The gluten-free breadcrumbs are made with oats that are ground up and turned into a flour-like texture for a crispy finish. To complete your masterpiece, this dish is mixed and topped with seasonal herbs and spices such as sage, rosemary, thyme, and nutmeg – so it has a taste of holiday cheer with every bite.

Recipe: Easy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese 

11. Mark Bittman’s Vegan Mediterranean Gratin with Almond Breadcrumbs

Mark Bittman shares his Vegan Meditteran Gratin with Almond Breadcrumbs and it became one of The Beet’s most popular recipes. Enjoy the taste of greens and sweet caramelized onions over hearty whole-wheat pasta.

Recipe: Vegan Mediterranean Gratin with Almond Breadcrumbs

12. Vegan Fettuccine Chicken Alfredo

Turn chicken alfredo into a creamy dairy-free and meatless masterpiece with this recipe that calls for vegan chicken culets, prepared and cooked just like the real thing! This recipe is the perfect meal to make if you ever need to make a quick, easy, and impressive dinner.

Recipe: Vegan Fettuccine Chicken Alfredo 

13. Vegan Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine alfredo is a classic loved by many, but at the same time isn’t the healthiest as it’s traditionally made with heavy cream, butter, and flour. Make this pumpkin fettuccine alfredo that’s healthier than the real thing and has a taste of seasonal flavor.

Recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo

14. Vegan Mexican Green Spaghetti (Espagueti Verde)

Espagueti Verde (green spaghetti) is a classic Mexican pasta dish full of rich flavor a creamy, thick texture, and a hint of spice. The traditional recipe is made with dairy but we added a plant-based flair by swapping heavy cream for almond milk and raw cashews to achieve the same silky and creamy texture. Note that the cashews are soaked overnight for the best quality, but if you’re short on time, you can soak them quickly in boiling water for two to three hours.

Recipe: Vegan Mexican Green Spaghetti (Espagueti Verde)

15. Vegan Taco Mac & Cheese

This recipe combines two comfort food classics –– mac and cheese and tacos –– into one dish that has all the same zesty, indulgent flavors you love, made entirely vegan!

Recipe: Vegan Taco Mac & Cheese

For more great plant-based dishes, check out The Beet’s recipe library. 

For more lists of recipes, check out:

• 7 simple plant-based recipe ideas for under $1 a serving
• 7 popular plant-based soup recipes
• 7 easy plant-based breakfast recipe ideas 
• 8 heart-healthy plant-based recipes to lower your lifetime risk
• 7 one-pot vegan recipes
• 10 vegan soups and salads recipe
• 10 vegan lentil recipes to make for a healthy lunch or dinner

The post The 15 Best-Tasting Vegan Pasta Recipes You Won’t Want to Miss appeared first on The Beet.

Easy Swaps to Make Your Cocktails Vegan

Sugar: Snow white sugar is achieved by processing it with bone char or ‘natural
carbon’. To avoid this use beet or organic sugar with a vegan stamp.

Egg white: If a drink calls for egg whites, aquafaba is a game changer. This liquid is
what’s left over from a can of chickpeas, so don’t ditch it after making hummus! You’ll
need 40g of aquafaba to equal an egg white. Keep it chilled and whip it with a dash of
simple syrup. We guarantee no chickpea flavor will reach your cocktails!

Milk and creams: When a recipe calls for milk or cream, choose your favorite nut or
plant-based milk. Coconut cream makes a perfect cream substitute but remember it
does alter the taste profile. For the whipped cream, separate the fatty cream part of the
coconut cream and chill it before whipping.

7 Easy Vegan Creamy Cocktail Recipes

White Russian
This easy three-ingredient White Russian cocktail is arguably one of the best coffee cocktails you can serve. It’s made so quickly with just vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream. For a vegan option, swap out the heavy cream for creamy oat milk so all of your guests can enjoy this indulgent yet delicious after-dinner drink.

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• 2 Oz SKYY Vodka
• 1 Oz Coffee liqueur
• 1 Glug of dairy-free heavy cream
• Maraschino cherry to garnish
• Ice

Instructions 

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes
2. Add the vodka and coffee liqueur
3. Pour over a splash of heavy cream
4. Serve with a swizzle stick and pop a cherry on top

Grasshopper
This minty dessert cocktail is as retro as they come and was super popular in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. So famed, it made a special place on the International Bartender Association’s (IBA) list of official cocktails. The Grasshopper is simple to pull off at a moment’s notice with just three ingredients: crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and heavy cream. Ditch the cream and use coconut milk or blitz in the blender with a scoop of your favorite vegan gelato for a dairy-free alternative.

Ingredients

• 0.75 Oz Crème de cacao
• 0.75 Oz Crème de menthe (green)
• 0.75 Oz dairy-free Heavy cream
• Chocolate shavings to garnish
• Ice

Instructions

1. Prepare a frosted martini glass by chilling it in the freezer for about an hour
2. Add a dash of either crème de cacao or crème de menthe to one plate, and chocolate shavings to another
3. Dip the rim of the martini glass into the liqueur and then into the chocolate and set aside
4. Add cracked ice to a cocktail shaker, followed by crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream
5. Shake it up (until you feel you might get frostbite on your hands)
6. Strain into the frosted chocolate-rimmed martini glass and serve

Dirty Banana
The Dirty Banana cocktail is a true island-style 90s cocktail that hails from Jamaica, made with
creamy rum, banana, and a coffee kick! To make one bung ½ cup of crushed ice in a blender with 1½ oz Caribbean Trois Rivières White Rum, ¾ oz coffee liqueur, and ¾ oz banana liqueur. Blitz it up with a chopped banana (the riper the better) and 2 oz of creamy plant-based milk. Pour into a hurricane or highball glass and garnish with a slice of banana and a maraschino cherry.

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• ½ cup of crushed ice in a blender
• 1½ oz Caribbean Trois Rivières White Rum
• ¾ oz coffee liqueur
• ¾ oz banana liqueur

Instructions

1. Blitz it up with a chopped banana (the riper the better) and 2 oz of creamy plant-based milk.
2. Pour into a hurricane or highball glass and garnish with a slice of banana and a maraschino cherry.

Coconut Gin Sour
The origins of sours are hazy, but they were a sophisticated drink in the 1800s. Just imagine
socialites sipping a sour in flapper dresses and dapper pin-striped suits! For more island vibes, try this version, a holiday-ready cocktail with the cheeky addition of coconut. To make one, add 2 oz of O’ndina Gin to your blender with ½ oz coconut cream (the thick fatty top), ½ oz of the coconut water (found underneath the cream), and ¾ oz fresh lime juice. Add a good handful of ice and whizz until smooth. Whip 40g of aquafaba with a tablespoon of simple syrup and some vanilla extract (optional). Pour your drink into a rocks glass and top it with a spoon of whipped aquafaba!

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients 

• 2 oz of O’ndina Gin
• ½ oz coconut cream (the thick fatty top)
• ½ oz of the coconut water (found underneath the cream)
• ¾ oz fresh lime juice.
• A handful of ice and whizz until smooth.
• 40g of aquafaba with a tablespoon of simple syrup and some vanilla extract (optional).

Instructions 

1. Add 2 oz of O’ndina Gin to your blender with ½ oz coconut cream (the thick fatty top), ½ oz of the coconut water (found underneath the cream), and ¾ oz fresh lime juice.
2. Add a good handful of ice and whizz until smooth.
3. Whip 40g of aquafaba with a tablespoon of simple syrup and some vanilla extract (optional).
4. Pour your drink into a rocks glass and top it with a spoon of whipped aquafaba!

Clover Club
Try this pretty in pink berry cocktail, it’s a perfect serve whatever the occasion! A Clover Club
cocktail is a dreamy gin sip, swirled with raspberry syrup. It tastes as fantastic as it looks!
Typically, this wouldn’t be served with other creamy vegan cocktails as it’s shaken with egg
white. But try our nifty swap of 40g of aquafaba: shake it on its own first to create the ideal
froth. Adjust the sweetness with a little more syrup, if needed. This classic may become your
favorite serve.

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bulldog Gin
• 0.5 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 0.5 oz raspberry syrup
• 40 g of aquafaba
• Fresh raspberries
• Ice

Instructions

1. Add the gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and aquafaba into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously until well-chilled
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
3. Garnish with 3 speared raspberries

Eggnog Martini
Just because you follow a plant-based diet, don’t miss out on a delicious Eggnog Martini this
winter! Make an easy vegan eggnog recipe with coconut cream and cashew or almond milk or pick one up from your local vegan-friendly grocer. This Martini fills you with all the festive cheer you need!

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz amaretto
• 2 oz vegan eggnog
• Ice

Instructions

Golden Dream
The fantastic Golden Dream cocktail has a firm seat on the IBA Top 50 cocktails list. You’ll
happily skip dessert if this creamy vanilla and citrusy drink is on offer. It holds all the nostalgia
of those childhood popsicles you enjoyed in the summertime. This 60s drink was whipped up by Miami bartender Raimundo Alvarez as an ode to his favorite golden girl of the moment.

Ingredients

• 0.75 oz Grand Marnier
• 0.75 oz anise liqueur
• 0 oz orange juice
• 0.75 vegan heavy cream
• Ice

Instructions

For more great plant-based dishes, check out The Beet’s recipe library. 

For more lists of recipes, check out:

• 7 simple plant-based recipe ideas for under $1 a serving
• 7 popular plant-based soup recipes
• 7 easy plant-based breakfast recipe ideas 
• 8 heart-healthy plant-based recipes to lower your lifetime risk
• 7 one-pot vegan recipes
• 10 vegan soups and salads recipe

The post Your Guide to Festive Vegan Cocktails & 7 Recipes to Make This Weekend! appeared first on The Beet.