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Jul 7, 2016

23 recipes you won't believe are vegan

By: The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

These dishes are so tasty and satisfying that even meat-lovers will ask for seconds. From snacks, to mains and desserts, we're sharing 23 of our very best vegan recipes.

Cauliflower Steaks With Grape & Pine Nut Relish

This "steak" is vegan-friendly but hearty enough for any meat lover.

Vegetable Quinoa Soup

Homemade vegetable broth is the best option for minimizing the sodium content in this delicate, flavourful soup. However, if you prefer to use store-bought broth, choose organic, which is lower in sodium.

Black Bean Rice Bowl

Beans and rice are a culinary combination eaten all over the world. Enjoy them at home with this easy one-pot vegetarian and vegan-friendly meal. Serve with lime wedges to squeeze over top.

Moroccan Tomato Soup

Peanut butter gives this delicious soup its creamy texture and adds protein. If you love a little heat, double the cayenne pepper. A sprinkling of peanuts makes an attractive garnish, if desired.

Curry Vegetable Barley Soup

This thick and hearty soup has a subtle kick to it, but if you prefer a bit more heat, increase the curry paste to 1 tbsp. Cooking the mushrooms on the side gives them a nice golden colour and prevents them from becoming waterlogged in the broth.

Indian-Spiced Carrot Soup

Spices can go a long way when it comes to flavouring foods commonly found in your fridge and pantry. The lentils are an inexpensive way to add heartiness and protein to your meal. Puréeing some of the soup adds body and thickness to the broth.

Lentil Curry with Squash and Spinach

There's lots of satisfying flavour in this inexpensive high-fibre vegetarian dish. Serve with rice, warm pita or naan breads.

Stewed Kale and Lentils

This hearty vegetarian dish has Moroccan flavours and no added salt, making it perfect for those on sodium-reduced diets. Organic vegetable broth typically has less sodium than other vegetable broths, but check the label to be sure.

Moroccan Vegetable Couscous

This vegetable and chickpea couscous fills you up without filling you out. Chickpeas are high in fibre and iron, and a good source of protein. The prunes add a hint of natural sweetness, which makes this all-in-one dish feel indulgent.

Crispy Tofu Stir-Fry with Udon Noodles

Japanese udon noodles, which cook in a matter of minutes, soak up all of the slightly spicy umami-rich sauce in this stir-fry. Cubes of golden tofu make the meat-free supper substantial.

Tofu and Spring Vegetable Stir-Fry

Golden pan-fried tofu is right at home alongside fresh, crisp spring produce. Make this dinner a weekly staple by switching up the veggies and using whatever you have in the fridge.

Spicy Green Bean and Tofu Stir-Fry

To make this dish extra spicy, increase the hot pepper flakes to 1/2 tsp. Serve over rice for a tasty meal that's better (and cheaper!) than takeout.

Mustard Seed-Spiced Green Beans and Onions

Spiced with fragrant mustard seeds, these green beans work beautifully as a side to your meal. You can use yellow mustard seeds if you can't find black ones.

Roasted Beets and Pearl Onions With Pistachio Vinaigrette

Beets are hearty, delicious and so good for you. Red beets tend to stain everything in their path, so if you're using a combination of red and gold, keep the two colours slightly separated when roasting.

Roasted Root Vegetables With Thyme

This tasty recipe is no fuss. In fact, you just toss and bake. These vegetables are equally delicious served at room temperature. Make this dish your own by adjusting the amount of each vegetable to your liking, such as adding more beets and using fewer parsnips. You need 12 cups prepared raw vegetables for six people.

Mustard-Spiced Nuts

This quick mix is irresistibly sweet and savoury. Switch up the nuts according to your taste—just keep the total amount at 4 cups.

Jewelled Farro & Wild Rice

A mélange of farro, wild rice, dried apricots and pomegranate, you'll love the hit of fall flavour from this beautiful, hearty meal.

Kale Chips

These crispy kale chips are addictive. For a little spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper along with the paprika.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Fondue

The best part about fondue is that your guests do most of the work— and kids love it. This recipe is versatile: It doubles easily to serve a larger crowd, but it also makes for lovely individual desserts served in espresso cups with a bit of fruit and matzo alongside.

Watermelon Granita

This cool, icy treat is dead simple to make, and it's a healthy alternative to ice cream.

Roasted Beet & Lentil Salad

Ease into the flavours of fall with this hearty salad, which boasts beets, lentils, microgreens and goat cheese. Omit the goat cheese for a just as delicious vegan meal.

Dark and Delicious Vegan Chocolate Cake

Everyone should be able to eat chocolate cake! A few simple substitutions is all it takes to make our classic recipe free of dairy, eggs, white sugar and vegetable oil, without sacrificing the intense chocolaty taste and moist, fluffy texture you've come to love. Most high-quality semisweet chocolates are dairy-free; read the label to ensure the brand you've selected doesn't contain any milk products.

Sweet Potato & Lentil Shepherd's Pie

Comfort food at its best, this vegan take on classic shepherd's pie has a sweet potato topping and flavourful lentil filling that is sure to satisfy even the most devout meat eater.