5 Easy Vegan Meals Perfect for Meatless Monday
Many classic recipes are made with meat or dairy products as the star — but did you know how easy it is to recreate these favorites with vegan ingredients? This Meatless Monday, we’ve taken five of our favorite dishes and seen how they can be recreated as vegan meals. The result is a collection of vegan recipes that everyone should have in their arsenal: they’re quick, they’re easy, they’re delicious, and they’re some of the best ways to introduce omnivores to how delicious vegan meals can be.
This vegan cheese is a classic for a reason: made with a careful balance of rich, creamy cashews, zesty lemon juice, and umami nutritional yeast, it has a moreish flavor that you’ll love. The recipe allows you to make three variations on a typical cashew cheese — truffle, sun-dried tomato, and olive — for a vegan cheese platter that pairs perfectly with crudités and sprouted grain bread.
Vegetarian Meatloaf Image from Shutterstock
Vegan meatloaf may seem like a contradiction in terms, but this veggie-loaf gets lots of meaty consistency from its vegan chickpea base. A maple-soy glaze is slightly reminiscent of the ketchup topping of your youth, with just a bit more oomph and flavor.
Scrambled tofu image via Shutterstock
If you’re looking for something quick and filling for a Meatless Monday breakfast or dinner, this scrambled tofu recipe is perfect. The Mexican-inspired tofu dish is spiced with cumin, coriander, and turmeric. A variety of vegetables including bell pepper and black beans add color and nutrients to the dish. Top the scramble with your favorite hot sauce or salsa, or even some homemade guacamole.
Image: Rescue Rabbit
Stuffed mushrooms are the perfect party food, and this version has all the flavor of a sausage-stuffed mushroom with none of the meat. Instead, these mushrooms are filled with a combination of Italian-spiced Tofurky sausage, breadcrumbs, parsley, and just a touch of white wine.
Vegan bolognese via Shutterstock
This chunky Bolognese sauce is made with a combination of eggplant, tomato, and frozen spinach, seasoned with spices and aromatics and cooked down until it’s thick and rich. The recipe is surprisingly quick to prepare, but it has the depth of flavor of a sauce that’s simmered all afternoon.
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Meatless Monday Recipe Roundup: Vegan BBQ
Vegan cashew cheese image via Shutterstock