Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash – Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash – Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash With Cranberry Rice & Garam Masala

Oh acorn squash – how I thought you were disgusting when I was a child, and, now I know what it takes to make you delicious!

Many adults aren’t squash fans, probably because their family didn’t serve it very well.  This recipe can change all that.

Healthy Vegan Baked Acorn Squash – No-Oil, Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Most people don’t know how to stuff vegetables, do they?   The ones I know anyways, are wowed when presented with a flavourful rice filled acorn squash.

No need to be impressed folks, because this stuffed acorn squash recipe is a dead easy meal to make.

Downright relaxing for the cook actually.

Jump to Recipe

Roasted With Wild Rice, Dried Cranberries, Garam Masala, Spinach and Black Beans

This whole-foods plant-based (wpb) oil-free roasted and stuffed acorn squash is extra deliciously complex, because the whole grain wild rice (any nice healthy whole grain rice should do) has extra scrumptious dried cranberry bits in it, plus the east Indian dessert pepper spice Garam Masala.

Nutrition Facts
Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash - Stuffed With Cranberry Rice
Amount Per Serving (1 / 4th of recipe)
Calories 568 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Sodium 727mg32%
Potassium 1617mg46%
Carbohydrates 125g42%
Fiber 18g75%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 4325IU87%
Vitamin C 37mg45%
Calcium 170mg17%
Iron 6.1mg34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

You can buy Garam Masala in the ethnic section of your grocery store.  I have a large bag of it, it goes nicely with fruit as well, like apple slices before bed, or on oatmeal.

Garam masala, cranberries, and acorn squash are a great combo.  Very romantic.

Plus, I’ve stirred some spinach ribbons, and optionally black beans, through this sticky sweet, spicy, rice, making things very much more interesting.

Can You Eat the Skin of Acorn Squash?

I looked it up and people said that the skin of acorn squash is edible if cooked long enough, so I announced this to my family, when serving them, they promptly all said “no thanks”.

Then I proceeded to try some of the skin on my squash, spit it out, and declared it was much too tough.

“Told you so” my husband said.

I would not encourage others to enjoy eating the skin.

Do enjoy the rest though. 🙂

FODMAP rating – without the black beans this recipe is Low FODMAP.  With the black beans, be sure to used canned, eat 1/4 cup or less of the canned beans and it is moderate FODMAP.

vegan garam masala cranberry rice stuffed acorn squash

Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash - Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Jeanette
Stuffed acorn squash presents well at any family gathering or dinner party, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  The warm, peppery and sweet seasonings pair perfectly with fall and winter weather.
I can't over-emphasize how easy this dish is to make, but makes you look like a fairly accomplished cook.  As long as you have time to cook rice, it will come together 5 minutes after the rice is done.
This vegan no-fat version has dried cranberries, rice, spinach and optionally black beans, so it can easily serve as your entire meal.  
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Indian, Western
Servings 4 people
Calories 568 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 cups wild rice or other healthy whole grains, like short grain brown rice, brown basmati rice, or quinoa
  • 4 cups water or as per rice package instructions
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 tsp garam masala
  • 1 cup dried cranberries I use Craisins (sweetened)
  • 2 acorn squash small, or 1 large, washed and halved
  • 5 cups spinach finely chopped
  • 398 ml black beans, can small can, optional - if you are serving as a meal rather than a side dish
  • Preheat oven to 400F
  • Add rice, water, salt, garam masala and cranberries to a pot on high heat.  Bring to a boil, immediately reduce to low simmer, and cook for 45 minutes, or as per rice package instructions.  Check and stir often, to prevent the cranberries from burning.   If the rice is not soft once the water is gone, add more water and cook longer.  The dried cranberries can absorb liquid the rice needs.
  • Break stem off acorn squashes (if there is one).  Cut in halves.  Scoop out the seeds and strings.  Sprinkle with pepper and salt, place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 30 - 45 minutes (timing will depend on the size of the squash).    
  • Once the rice is done, turn off the heat.  Stir chopped spinach into the rice so it 'melts'.
  • If using, drain and rinse black beans, add to rice mixture.  Let sit for a few minutes to warm the beans.
  • Once done, remove acorn squash from the oven.  The squash should be soft all the way through.
  • Spoon spinach, black bean, cranberry, rice mixture into squash, you should be able to pile it quite high, serve warm.

Notes

Omit the black beans to make this recipe a side dish. 
Goes well with lentil loaf at holidays.
Cut large squash into quarters before serving.
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash - Stuffed With Cranberry Rice
Amount Per Serving (1 / 4th of recipe)
Calories 568 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Sodium 727mg32%
Potassium 1617mg46%
Carbohydrates 125g42%
Fiber 18g75%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 4325IU87%
Vitamin C 37mg45%
Calcium 170mg17%
Iron 6.1mg34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!

 

JOIN the VeganEnvy.com Community 

VeganEnvy.com Facebook Group

Click here to EXPLORE

People Exploring Plant Based Eating

 
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to VeganEnvy.com on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!

Get FREE healthy vegan information and recipes!

FOLLOW HERE!

Adding Healthy Plant Based Meals to Your Menu is Easy!

Help others learn – share on social media!

SaveSave

SaveSave

Green Tomatoes Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad

Green Tomatoes Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad

Mix Avocado, Fresh Green Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Edamame Beans for a Creamy Vegan Spread or Salad Bowl

Use up fresh green tomatoes in this creamy avocado, edamame, chickpea, whole-foods plant-based green goddess recipe.

Put it on rice, quinoa, or other grains with some greens, like a bed of spinach.  No-oil needed, it’s fat-free but full of natural omega fats to keep your body glowing.

Also try smashing this green spread on toast or as a filling in a lettuce wrap.

Hard to go wrong, and very easy to go right, with avocado and edamame, some frozen peas, and optionally green tomatoes.

Create yourself a super vegan creamy mixture and delight.

FODMAP rating – medium low amount of FODMAPS.  Monash recommends eating less than 1/4 cup of chickpeas, and less than 1/4 cup of thawed peas in a sitting.  If you proportion more grains and spinach and less of the filling, IBS sufferers should be able to enjoy this recipe.

Nutrition Facts
Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 / 6th of recipe including rice and red pepper)
Calories 530 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 510mg22%
Potassium 1119mg32%
Carbohydrates 89g30%
Fiber 16g67%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 3685IU74%
Vitamin C 83.7mg101%
Calcium 132mg13%
Iron 6.2mg34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

chickpea avocado edamame rice bowl

Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad

Jeanette
This has a green goddess appeal when you use green tomatoes fresh from your garden or local farmer's market.  Fresh and green, with creamy avocado, edamame, the tomatoes add a light citrus.
Red tomatoes also work, or omit the tomatoes.
On toast, on rice, in a lettuce wrap how else can we use this delicious filling, spread and smash?
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine Vegan, Western
Servings 6 servings
Calories 530 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups brown rice or a brown rice, quinoa blend
  • 1.5 cups edamame beans, frozen
  • 1 avocado
  • 540 ml chickpeas canned, drained and rinsed
  • 1.5 cups green tomatoes diced, optional
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp dijon mustard or more to taste
  • 1 cup peas frozen
  • 2 tbsp green onions as garnish, discard the white parts of the onions to make this recipe low FODMAP
  • hot sauce to taste
  • 4 cups spinach
  • 2 red peppers

Cook Grains

  • Cook grains, I used a rice quinoa mix.  Set aside to cool.

Prepare Edamame, Avocado, Chickpea Mix

  • Microwave edamame in a microwave steamer to cook, as per package directions.  Usually 5 minutes. 
  • Add avocado, drained chickpeas, green tomatoes, salt, and dijon mustard to a medium/large bowl.  Taste and adjust amount of mustard to your preference.
    vegan green tomato avocado chickpea salad
  • Add edamame to the bowl.   Mine were in their shells still, so I microwaved them in their steamer bag and then shelled them into the bowl.
    Chickpeas, avocado, edamame smash
  • Mash with potato masher until desired consistency.
    Edamame, Avocado, Chickpea Filling
  • Stir in frozen peas, still frozen, they will cool it down and then you don't need to refrigerate.

Notes

To Assemble Salad:
Line a bowl or plate with fresh baby spinach or romaine lettuce.
Add rice/grains, and then the edamame, avocado, chickpea mix.  
Top with sliced red peppers, use scissors to cut green onions on top.
Add hot sauce.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 / 6th of recipe including rice and red pepper)
Calories 530 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 510mg22%
Potassium 1119mg32%
Carbohydrates 89g30%
Fiber 16g67%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 3685IU74%
Vitamin C 83.7mg101%
Calcium 132mg13%
Iron 6.2mg34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!
 
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to VeganEnvy.com on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!

Get FREE healthy vegan information and recipes!

FOLLOW HERE!

Adding Healthy Plant Based Meals to Your Menu is Easy!

Help others learn – share on social media!

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Green Beans and Lentil Casserole with Homemade Toasted Bread Croutons

I asked my mother the other day, what is the best way to cook green beans?  They can be tough and chewy if you try to steam them in the microwave, but can be limp, soggy, and watery if you boil them on the stove.  She agreed.  We weren’t sure.

How about baked green beans in a vegan casserole?  Sounds like a great dinner idea.

Apparently green bean casserole is a thing.  I needed to try it, and after testing it out, green beans in a casserole is my favourite way to cook green and yellow beans.

First you blanch the beans in salted boiling water for 5 minutes, then bake them in the casserole for 20-25 minutes in a rich savoury bubbling lentil gravy sauce.  The result?  Tender, flavourful green beans, really nicely done.  Sprinkle them with toasted croutons and almonds before baking, and you get a combo of crunchy, soft, and creamy textures, plus flavours of a holiday meal like Christmas or Thanksgiving.  Quite a delight.

Because of the homemade toasted bread croutons, and the rich lentil gravy base, this classic Thanksgiving side dish could be a light main course on a regular night, lots of protein here.  But, if you are like us, you probably will crave more carbs, so consider serving it with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, or my tomato parsley quinoa salad.

I think you should try making a warm and nicely textured green bean casserole too, the beans will be not too tough, and not too soggy, they will be just right.

Hopefully you choose this whole-foods plant-based green bean casserole recipe to try first. 🙂

FODMAP recipe rating – this is a low FODMAP recipe except for the croutons – use wheat free bread to make low FODMAP croutons.

Nutrition Facts
Fat-free Vegan Lentil Gravy in 10 minutes
Amount Per Serving (1 / 7th of recipe)
Calories 194
% Daily Value*
Sodium 172mg7%
Potassium 598mg17%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 15IU0%
Vitamin C 2.4mg3%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 5.3mg29%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Facts
Green Bean Casserole With Croutons
Amount Per Serving (1 / 7th of recipe (no gravy))
Calories 135 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Sodium 300mg13%
Potassium 314mg9%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 680IU14%
Vitamin C 12.2mg15%
Calcium 85mg9%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Whole-foods plant-based Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole With Croutons

Jeanette
Turn a classic Thanksgiving side dish, into a wfpb main dish, with lentil gravy, crispy croutons and no heavy cream.  The sauce is my 10 minute gorgeous vegan gravy.
This recipe is easily adjusted to be low FODMAP by using gluten free bread.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Vegan, Western
Servings 7 servings
Calories 135 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients
  

  • 24 oz green beans fresh or frozen
  • 4 cups Brown Lentil Gravy prepared, see recipe
  • 8 slices wheat bread or gluten free bread
  • 1 tbsp green onions chopped fresh or chives
  • 1 tsp sage chopped, or dried
  • 1 tsp thyme leaves chopped, or dried
  • 1 tsp rosemary chopped, or dried
  • 3 tbsp almond flour or blended or crushed almonds
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Take out a large sized casserole dish, no lid required.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil with a large pinch of salt to season the beans nicely; add the green beans. Cook for about 5 minutes, the beans should still be crisp, they will be cooked more in the oven. 
    Blanched Green Beans
  • Prepare a batch of my 10 minute lentil Gorgeous Vegan Gravy.
    Low FODMAP Lentil Vegan Gravy
  • Drain and put the green beans into the baking dish, pour the lentil gravy over top and stir to cover the beans.  
  • Prepare topping: in a small bowl, combine chives, sage, thyme, rosemary, almond flour, pepper, and salt. 
  • Prepare croutons: Toast whole grain bread, pile on a cutting board, and cut into medium sized squares, with a long bread knife.   Bread with seeds or crunchy bits in it adds another lovely texture element if you have any.  Use wheat free (low FODMAP) or gluten free bread if desired.
    Homemade Croutons
  • Top beans with the croutons, and sprinkle the herb mix overtop. 
  • Bake uncovered, until everything is hot and bubbling, about 20 to 25 minutes.
    Vegan Green Bean Casserole Topping

Notes

Fresh herbs add amazing flavour, but dried herbs work also!
Adapted from Tyler Florence.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Green Bean Casserole With Croutons
Amount Per Serving (1 / 7th of recipe (no gravy))
Calories 135 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Sodium 300mg13%
Potassium 314mg9%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 680IU14%
Vitamin C 12.2mg15%
Calcium 85mg9%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!
 
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to VeganEnvy.com on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!

Get FREE healthy vegan information and recipes!

FOLLOW HERE!

JOIN the VeganEnvy.com Community 

VeganEnvy.com Facebook Group

Click here to EXPLORE

People Exploring Plant Based Eating

Adding Healthy Plant Based Meals to Your Menu is Easy!

Help others learn – share on social media!

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Healthy Cabbage Coleslaw Recipe – Whole-Foods Plant-Based No-Oil

One of my new behaviours in 2017 is to eat a salad for lunch or supper most days.  When I do this, I stay slim and have more energy and need less sleep.  How often do you eat salad?

Plant-based doctors recommend we eat cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts or cauliflower daily to prevent cancer.  Coleslaw is a tasty, refreshing and easy way to eat cabbage – a proven cancer fighting food.

The dressing I recommend is my Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette. I have included the nutrition facts from the salad and the dressing for you to see.

Coleslaw is great for picky eaters like kids, many kids like coleslaw plain without dressing.  Try offering some plain to your kids (if you have any) or put some aside before you add the dressing.

Coleslaw keeps for a long time in the fridge, it’s great for school and work lunches.

Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Apple Coleslaw
Amount Per Serving (1 / 8th of salad with no dressing)
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
Sodium 42mg2%
Potassium 288mg8%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 5690IU114%
Vitamin C 8.3mg10%
Calcium 49mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Dressing
Amount Per Serving (1 / 8th of dressing only (no salad))
Calories 84 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Sodium 18mg1%
Potassium 138mg4%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

healthy vegan apple cabbage salad

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Jeanette
Apples, carrots, celery, cranberries, and cabbage are beautiful to look at and are a wonderful combination as well.  Making coleslaw in the food processor is so fast and easy.  Only 100 calories per serving, and you are getting cruciferous vegetables (cabbage) which if you eat daily will greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer.
I recommend my healthy sugar-free  and oil-free vegan Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette dressing for this coleslaw.  This dressing turns a salad into a sweet tasting but healthy treat!  
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine High Fibre
Servings 8 servings
Calories 105 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups red apples red, shredded
  • 4 cups chinese cabbage raw, shredded. Click link to view a picture of Chinese Cabbage. You can use regular green or red cabbage too. I used Chinese Cabbage because it is a bit softer to chew, and easier for me to digest raw.
  • 2 cups carrots raw, shredded
  • 1 cup dried cranberries or raisins, reduce to 1/2 cup for weight loss diets.
  • 2 celery stalks sliced and diced
  • healthy vegan coleslaw dressing low-fat
  • Slice unpeeled apples into chunks and add to food processor.  Add to large salad bowl.
  • Chop or food process cabbage and carrots.  Slice and dice celery, I do celery by hand because of the strings not always doing well in the food processor.
  • Add dried cranberries or raisins.  
    chopped vegan coleslaw wfpb
  • Pour Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette dressing on salad, and stir to combine.
    pour creamy vegan coleslaw salad dressing wfpb
  • Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 30 minutes first.  
    creamy vegan apple cabbage coleslaw

Notes

Coleslaw keeps well for days in the fridge.  

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Apple Coleslaw
Amount Per Serving (1 / 8th of salad with no dressing)
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
Sodium 42mg2%
Potassium 288mg8%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 5690IU114%
Vitamin C 8.3mg10%
Calcium 49mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!
 
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to VeganEnvy.com on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!

Get FREE healthy vegan information and recipes!

FOLLOW HERE!

What's Special About VeganEnvy Recipes?  

VeganEnvy recipes are easy, low-fat, whole-foods, plant-based and nutrition rich.  Real food my family eats, and techniques we use to cook.

I choose ingredients that are proven to prevent and reverse disease, based on scientific studies, such as those reviewed on nutritionfacts.org and findings published by whole-foods plant-based (WFPB) experts featured in the Forks Over Knives (FOK) and What the Health documentaries FOK trailer.

Eating VeganEnvy recipes will make you lose weight, look better, feel better and live longer.  PLUS spend your money to cruelty free food systems, cut your environmental impact, and likely increase your compassion for, and awareness of, lives other than your own.

JOIN the VeganEnvy.com Community 

VeganEnvy.com Facebook Group

Click here to EXPLORE

People Exploring Plant Based Eating

Vegan Healthy Slow Cooker Summer Potato Corn Chowder No-Oil WFPB

Plant based whole foods slow cooker summer chowder. You can time this vegan soup to be ready when you are.  The longer it cooks the thicker and more delicious it gets.

Gorgeous Vegan Gravy

This smooth, brown, fast, fat-free lentil based vegan gravy reminds us of Thanksgiving dinners, stuffing, and good times at family gatherings. A traditional brown gravy colour, with savoury flavour. Ready in 10 minutes, in the microwave.

Awesome Vegan Breakfast Sweet Potato Muffins – Whole Wheat, No-Oil

Moist, flavourful, delicious vegan muffins made with sweet potato instead of carrot. Try these unique healthy treats for quick vegan breakfast or snack today!

Fiery Maple Sweet Potato Bowl, No Oil

COLORFUL sweet potatoes, MAPLE CHIPOTLE chickpeas or tofu, EARTHY mushrooms, VIBRANT greens, CREAMY avocado and a FIERY sauce makes for a SPICY and HEALTHFUL VEGAN MEAL BOWL IDEA!

Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash – Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Deliciously complex, tasty, healthy baked, stuffed acorn squash. Cranberry rice and spinach stuffing, Garam Masala East Indian dessert peppery spice. UNIQUE!

Zesty Caesar Salad With Croutons – No Oil

HEALTHY FAT-FREE EASY VEGAN CAESAR SALAD with croutons. The ZESTY garlic, and BRIGHT lemon FLAVOURS SHINE in this RECIPE, that is what makes Caesar dressing taste awesome.  GARLIC AND LEMON!

Whole Weekend Waffles

It’s EASY to make VEGAN WAFFLES from a box mix. Follow these simple steps to healthy whole grain dairy-free and egg-free waffles.

Bok Choy Silken Tofu Noodle Soup (Source of Calcium!)

Bok choy, tofu, carrots, spaghettini noodles, and ginger combined, make an easy, quick, simple, and healthy hearty vegan soup recipe for dinner.

Healthy Vegan Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie – Guilt Free Goodness! Eggless, Dairy Free

Use a blender to create a quick no bake WFPB pumpkin pie with dates instead of sugar, pecans instead of margarine, and cornstarch for thickener. Make the filling in a saucepan, and chill to set in a graham crumb crust. Dairy free, no-oil. With lovely pumpkin pie spices, and nice texture, this pie is guilt free and tastes good!

Indian Palak Paneer (Spinach, Tofu and Eggplant) Side Dish

15 min easy AWESOME healthy Indian SPINACH side dish recipe using FROZEN OR FRESH, fast FAT-FREE vegan dinner idea, DAIRY-FREE, tofu paneer substitute/replacement, cook eggplant, tasty onion, fresh tomato, garlic, ginger, SPICES. Serve meal with rice or potatoes.

Chocolate Banana Green Smoothie

DELICIOUS, vegan, HEALTHY, sugar-free, DAIRY-FREE, smoothie recipe with COCOA POWDER, banana, dates, spinach, pineapple and soy milk or almond milk or other non-dairy milk. Cocoa powder is full of antioxidants and is iron rich.

Fiery Vegan Mayo Sauce, No Oil

DELICIOUS VEGANSAUCE. SPICY CHIPOTLE OIL-FREE VEGAN MAYO! Spicy, smoky, dairy-free, eggless, egg-free, chipotle, HEALTHY, fat-free vegan mayo recipe.

Vegan Asparagus Black Bean and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – No Oil, 30 Minute Dinner

Ready in 30 minutes, this colourful, healthy, vegan dinner salad has roasted sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, asparagus, black beans and a tangy lemon, dijon, green onion, dill dressing. It is a complete meal and will leave you and your loved ones feeling satisfied and full of energy to be your healthy best.

Green Bean Casserole

Turn a classic Thanksgiving green beans side dish, into a delicious low-fat dairy-free whole-foods vegan dish, with lentil gravy, crispy homemade croutons and perfectly cooked green beans.

Meatless Marinara Sauce With Protein

Healthy Vegan Italian Tomato Pasta Sauce with Whole-Foods Plant-Based Protein and No-Oil. Modernize your marinara by using lentils and chickpeas in a no-oil meatless version that replaces traditional spaghetti sauce.

Healthy Cucumber Sandwich Rolls with Hummus

Hummus, and cucumber idea to make sandwich roll ups. Plant based protein lunch idea for kids!

Healthy Vegan Apple Cake – Whole Wheat No-Oil WFPB

Looking for healthy low-fat vegan recipe ideas to make with apples? This moist apple cake is wfpb and quite tasty.

Fat Free Easy Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie – Frozen Veggies, Potato, Sweet Potato, Herbs WFPB

Use canned lentils and mixed beans to create a low calorie garlic and onion free vegan shepherd’s pie with mashed potato and sweet potato topper. Frozen vegetables and herbs, poultry seasoning and marjoram make this healthy cottage pie delish!

Easy Crustless Tofu Quiche (Whole Foods Vegan)

REAL VEGANS EAT QUICHE! EASY eggless, dairy-free, baked, vegan brunch, breakfast or dinner casserole. Firm tofu as a vegan egg substitute, best healthy no crust, oil-free, egg-free, whole foods quiche, smells and looks and tastes wonderful.

Rhubarb Strawberry Crisp, low-fat, vegan, gluten-free, low FODMAP, healthy dessert

Healthy low-fat gluten-free strawberry rhubarb crisp. Delicious low-fodmap dessert, suitable for IBS Diets.

Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

This dairy-free no-oil healthy dressing will make your vegan coleslaw shine!  With dates, tofu, rice vinegar, lemon and pecans it is also going to keep you from getting hungry.

Satisfying Split-Pea Soup

With PERFECT SEASONINGS, potatoes, barley, and carrots it’s a SO GOOD, fat-free VEGAN SPLIT-PEA SOUP. Better than what you ate as a child! Full of IRON AND VITAMIN A, HEALTHY WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED recipe, LOSE WEIGHT, feel and LOOK FANTASTIC.

Cool as a Cucumber Vegan Tzatziki – Fat-Free

Use Tofu and apple cider vinegar as a YOGURT SUBSTITUTE to make a dairy-free, no-oil, fat-free, healthy vegan dill and cucumber Greek Tzatziki dip that is refreshing and delicious.

Green Tomatoes Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad

Mix Avocado, Fresh Green Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Edamame Beans for a Creamy Vegan Spread, or Rice Quinoa Salad Bowl. Whole-foods plant-based green goddess recipe. No-oil needed, it’s fat-free but full of natural omega fats to keep your body glowing.

Sweet Zing Orange Thyme Dressing

Healthy OIL-FREE vegan dressing with a SWEET ZING from green onions, apples, and dried cranberries. AWESOME on quinoa and lentils pilaff, and is delicious on BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

Green Vegetable Medley Pasta Soup (Dad’s Soup)

Our family’s FAVOURITE VEGAN green vegetable medley DINNER SOUP with PASTA, a wonderful meal soup – combination of green peppers, zucchini, SPINACH, corn and black beans, with basil and oregano, in a hearty, whole foods, no oil, vegetarian dinner soup. Fat free.

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Apples, carrots, celery, cranberries, and cabbage are beautiful to look at and are a wonderful combination as well. Making coleslaw in the food processor is so fast and easy.

Low FODMAP Healthy Salad Dressing – Creamy Orange Vinaigrette – No-Oil

Spicy, with oranges and pumpkin seeds, or peanuts. A low fodmap salad dressing you can make at home, sweet, creamy, healthy and satisfying.

Epicure Healthy Tofu Pad Thai (Whole Foods Vegan)

Dinner in 20 minutes. A fast oil free, whole foods vegan Pad Thai recipe with tofu, noodles, and a homemade sriracha sauce, using Epicure Spice mixes. Easy healthy plant-based fat free meal.

*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries – wfpb no-oil

People think you need to coat OVEN FRIES in oil, but THEY DON’T KNOW… try this recipe and you will learn better.  Moist heat escapes and ACTIVATES the seasonings, your fries will be CRISPY, oil-free and full of HEALTHY LOW CALORIE FLAVOUR.

Healthy Vegan Cranberry Cake – Whole Wheat No-Oil, No-Sugar, WFPB

Healthy whole wheat vegan cranberry cake, delicious but has no sugar and no oil. Whole foods plant based snack or dessert!

Italian Cornmeal Zucchini Polenta – 20 minutes

Mmmmmm, a bag of cornmeal, a zucchini, oregano, rosemary, and salt and pepper turn into a filling, stick to your ribs, healthy vegan comfort food, tasty polenta plant-based, no-oil, side-dish, so fast, quick, and easy, and tastes wonderful. Best fast vegan dinner side-dish idea!

Fun Healthy Easy Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs (no-oil)

Comforting and creamy for adults and children, macaroni with cut up veggie dogs in a no-oil low fat smooth carrot, butternut squash vegan cheese sauce. Whole foods plant based and Dairy-free.

Tahini Roasted Broccoli – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Toss broccoli in a vegan and gluten-free mixture of tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, soy sauce, and pepper, then bake for 10 minutes.  
It’s crispy and creamy at the same time.  

Healthy Aqua Faba Vegan Chocolate Birthday Cake: Fat-Free, Whole Wheat

PLANT-BASED WHOLE-FOODS! Tall, light and fluffy, awesome and delicious, oil-free, CHOCOLATE layer cake, with a vegan frosting filling. Uses whole-wheat flour and zucchini, low-fat, dairy-free, perfect for birthdays, KIDS LOVE THIS CAKE, tasty and moist. wfpb

Lazy Vegan Frittata with Spinach, Tofu, Potatoes, and Chickpeas

HEALTHY VEGAN COMFORT FOOD. Vegan Lazy Frittata – Potatoes, Chickpeas, Tofu, Spinach, Peas, Mushrooms – combined in a OIL-FREE creamy mess that is satisfying, NUTRITIOUS, and delicious. FAST vegan meal – dinner recipe is 30 minutes to make.

Creamy Tofu Pasta Sauce with Garlic, Zucchini & Tomato

FAST, CREAMY, DAIRY-FREE tofu pasta sauce recipe, with soft silken tofu as a milk substitute to make a high protein, nut free, low fat and tasty zucchini, tomato penne pasta sauce.

Easy Vegan Chocolate Bean Brownies (Oil Free with Dates)

Easy, moist, fudgy, VEGAN, whole-foods, gluten-free, BEAN brownies. Use white beans, cocoa powder, blended oats, dates, and fruit, in a food-processor, for perfect, chocolate, healthy, rich, brownies everyone will love. FAT-FREE, HIGH FIBER, HEALTHY, DAIRY-FREE, EGG-FREE, AWESOME!

BEST SLOW COOKER CHILI for a CROWD

This SMOKY VEGAN CHILI recipe LOOKS LIKE IT HAS MEAT, but tastes even better. TAKE THIS TO A PARTY, it is so good, with the best chili spices recipe.

Vegan Lasagna – Tofu & Spinach, Whole Foods Plant Based

Healthy simple vegan whole-foods plant-based lasagna that kids and families love, with no-oil, it uses tofu and spinach as a quick and easy ricotta cheese substitute.

Anti-Inflammation Smoothie – Ginger and Turmeric

Ginger and turmeric have demonstrated significant impacts on reducing pain and inflammation in multiple studies, try them in a vegan green smoothie!

FAST No-Rise Healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (oil-free vegan)

Make FAST, FAT-FREE, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, HEALTHY, NO-RISE, VEGAN PIZZA DOUGH, in your food processor. Perfect, crispy and soft. Roll out, place toppings, and bake in 10 minutes. Fat-free, healthy, moist, no-oil, THE BEST. KIDS LOVE THIS CRUST!

Healthy No-Oil Vegan Mayonnaise – Salad Dressing and Dip Substitute

Egg-free Oil-free Vegan Mayo Make dressings and creamy dips This is my go-to...

Ginger Pear Fruit Crisp – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Pears make a delicious healthy vegan fruit crumble when baked with oats, almond flour and ground cashews. Try this TASTY whole-foods plant-based kid friendly fat-free no-oil recipe with a ginger lemon twist!

Brussels Sprouts, Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf – Orange Cranberry Apple Sauce

Easy Vegan Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf with Brussels Sprouts and Orange Apple...

Wonderful White Bean and Walnut Sauce with Linguine and Asparagus

If you would like to have a DAIRY-FREE VEGAN WHITE SAUCE for your PASTA, or maybe you are trying to LOSE WEIGHT – here is a WHITE BEAN PESTO SAUCE, it’s a HEALTHY WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED, CREAMY, FAT-FREE recipe.

Healthy Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp, Apple Cobbler) Whole-Foods Plant-Based, Vegan, Gluten Free Dessert

Use pecans, or cashews in the oat topping, instead of butter or margarine, and you get 10x the health, better flavour, and a topping that won’t go soggy!

Sweet and Sour Tempeh Stir-fry WFPB No-Oil

Quick and Easy Healthy Tempeh Stir-Fry Recipe with Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce, Fresh Vegetables, and Noodles.

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Fast and easy delicious vegan parmesan cheese replacement uses nuts, garlic, and nutritional yeast. It is the best dairy-free, and lactose-free cheese sprinkle substitute I have found.

Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad

Fast HEALTHY best vegan fat-free PASTA SALAD with BLACK BEANS, corn, green onions, tomatoes, frozen peas and BLACK OLIVES. Low calorie, high vitamin C, HIGH IRON, so GOOD FOR YOU! Families and KIDS love to eat this whole-foods plant-based (wfpb) quick meal.

Great Tofu Recipe Ideas For Dinner

Looking for fast, simple, easy, and the best tofu recipe ideas for dinner? Here is a list of healthy, family friendly tofu recipes with soft, silken, medium, firm and extra firm tofu options that taste delicious, and are great healthy, no oil, vegan meals.
Eating these tofu recipes will make you and your loved ones lose weight and fight disease – guaranteed.

What You Need to Know About Seaweed and Iodine for Vegan Nutrition

Iodine – how much do you need and how should you get it? Everyone needs iodine, but it’s especially important for vegans. Find out how much iodine you need daily to prevent goiter/goitre and the best sources in foods.

That Meat is Not Giving You Muscle

Getting protein from animal products isn't as satisfying as you think Many...

How to Stir, Use, and Store Natural Peanut Butter – and Why It is SO MUCH BETTER

Natural Peanut Butter What is natural peanut butter?  It is peanut butter that...

Eating Nuts Daily Did Not Cause Weight Gain – It Caused Weight Loss!

Did you know that adding nuts didn't make people gain weight? In over 20...

Why No Oil on a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet?

We haven’t used oil in our kitchen since 2013 and I recommend you don’t either, starting now. This post outlines the reasons.

Eating Whole Foods Plant-Based Vegan With IBS

Fix, cure, and treat IBS with a whole-foods plant-based vegan diet, what to do if you still have IBS and you are vegan, or a vegan diet makes IBS worse, eat a low-FODMAP vegan diet to successfully treat IBS.

Mission Statement for VeganEnvy

I created VeganEnvy to be a fun, relevant, engaging, social and helpful place for you to belong.

How to Eat Vegan for Energy and Weight Loss – For Adults and Kids

RECOMMENDED PRINCIPLES of the VeganEnvy DIET AND LIFESTYLE – how to eat whole foods plant based healthy vegan without oil TO LOSE WEIGHT, stay skinny, have great skin, and be FULL OF ENERGY, and how to move to STOP BACK PAIN and keep your ENTIRE body feeling great.

What Is Tofu? | All About Tofu, Nutrition, Benefits, Protein, Types, Ingredients, Health

ALL YOUR TOFU QUESTIONS ANSWERED – learn about tofu taste, nutrition, what tofu is made of, protein content, fiber, benefits, controversy, GMO, soybeans, calories, fat, and is tofu healthy. Plus how to choose, buy, press, and prepare soft, silken, and firm tofu.

How to Judge the Healthiness of Grain Products

Trying to decide what kind of bread is healthiest to buy?  What granola bar, cookie, snack food, or what pancake mix is best? Use these 2 tips to increase your resistance to diseases like cancer. Learn what to look for on the nutrition label.

What my IBS Symptoms Were Like – Before I Went Vegan

As an omnivore, my IBS symptoms included alternating diarrhea and constipation, acid indigestion, doctor’s tests, depression, stomach and intestinal pain, fatigue and weight loss.

Adding Healthy Plant Based Meals to Your Menu is Easy!

Help others learn – share on social media!

SaveSave

Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Sweet Tangy Rich Creamy Healthy Dressing – Perfect for Coleslaw

This sweet tasting dairy-free no-oil healthy dressing will make your vegan coleslaw shine!  With dates, rice vinegar, tofu, lemon and pecans it is also going to keep you from getting hungry.  Eat healthy unsaturated fats from whole nuts and not processed oil.

How often can you say your salad dressing is high fibre and sugar-free?  With this vinaigrette you can!

Jump to Recipe
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Dressing
Amount Per Serving (1 / 8th of dressing only (no salad))
Calories 84 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Sodium 18mg1%
Potassium 138mg4%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

creamy tangy sweet vegan coleslaw dressing from tofu

Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Dressing

Jeanette
A sweet and tangy egg-free, dairy-free, dressing made with tofu, rice vinegar, lemon, dates and pecans.  Plant-based oil-free dressing that complements coleslaw and keeps you from getting hungry.  Contains healthy fats from nuts rather than unhealthy fats from processed oils.
I recommend my Cranberry Apple Coleslaw recipe to go with this dressing.
Going to a pot luck or a party?  Try wowing your friends with Crowd Pleasing Chili recipe, it's amazing.  Don't forget dessert!  How about some White Bean Brownies or Peanut Butter Cookies?  No one will know they are eating healthier than they ever have...
No ratings yet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Salad, Sauce
Cuisine Dresssing
Servings 8 servings
Calories 84 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup tofu soft or medium (I use medium because I can always add a non-dairy milk to make it thinner)
  • 1/2 cup soy milk or almond milk, or hemp milk
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 6 dates pitted
  • 4 tsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 cup pecans optionally toasted - Toasting nuts like pecans results in a more intense flavor.

How to Toast Pecans - 3 Methods Broil, Bake, or Skillet

  • You don't have to toast the pecans, but if you do, you are going to get a more intense and rich flavoured dressing.  I recommend toasting, and it is really easier than you might think.  Often I have the oven going anyways, and I just spread nuts on the sheet beside whatever else I am baking for a few minutes and then take them out again.
  • Broil: Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Place in oven under Broil in oven on the "broil" setting for 2 - 4 minutes to toast.  Bake: Preheat oven to 350. Place in oven for 10 - 12 minutes.  Skillet: Heat a pan to medium on the stovetop, add pecans. Stir for 3 - 5 minutes with a spoon continuously so they will cook evenly and not burn. 
  • Regardless of method, remove when they begin to smell toasty and turn dark. Do not burn.

Blend Dressing

  • While pecans toast, add tofu, non-dairy milk, rice vinegar, dates, and lemon juice to a high speed blender.
  • Add toasted pecans and blend.
    healthy vegan coleslaw dressing low-fat
  • Pour over Cranberry Apple Coleslaw.  Or other coleslaw of your choice.
    vegan healthy salad dressing vinaigrette
  • Mix, and serve.
    creamy vegan apple cabbage coleslaw

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Dressing
Amount Per Serving (1 / 8th of dressing only (no salad))
Calories 84 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Sodium 18mg1%
Potassium 138mg4%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!

JOIN the VeganEnvy.com Community 

VeganEnvy.com Facebook Group

Click here to EXPLORE

People Exploring Plant Based Eating

 
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to VeganEnvy.com on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!

Get FREE healthy vegan information and recipes!

FOLLOW HERE!

What's Special About VeganEnvy Recipes?  

VeganEnvy recipes are easy, low-fat, whole-foods, plant-based and nutrition rich.  Real food my family eats, and techniques we use to cook.

I choose ingredients that are proven to prevent and reverse disease, based on scientific studies, such as those reviewed on nutritionfacts.org and findings published by whole-foods plant-based (WFPB) experts featured in the Forks Over Knives (FOK) and What the Health documentaries FOK trailer.

Eating VeganEnvy recipes will make you lose weight, look better, feel better and live longer.  PLUS spend your money to cruelty free food systems, cut your environmental impact, and likely increase your compassion for, and awareness of, lives other than your own.

FAST No-Rise Healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (oil-free vegan)

Make FAST, FAT-FREE, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, HEALTHY, NO-RISE, VEGAN PIZZA DOUGH, in your food processor. Perfect, crispy and soft. Roll out, place toppings, and bake in 10 minutes. Fat-free, healthy, moist, no-oil, THE BEST. KIDS LOVE THIS CRUST!

Easy Low Fat Graham Cracker Crumb Pie Crust No-Shortening

Low fat quick and easy pie crust without butter or margarine. Tastes amazing, everyone will love it! Great for pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, cherry, banana cream, chocolate pies and more.

Healthy Vegan Cranberry Cake – Whole Wheat No-Oil, No-Sugar, WFPB

Healthy whole wheat vegan cranberry cake, delicious but has no sugar and no oil. Whole foods plant based snack or dessert!

Vegan Asparagus Black Bean and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – No Oil, 30 Minute Dinner

Ready in 30 minutes, this colourful, healthy, vegan dinner salad has roasted sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, asparagus, black beans and a tangy lemon, dijon, green onion, dill dressing. It is a complete meal and will leave you and your loved ones feeling satisfied and full of energy to be your healthy best.

Cool as a Cucumber Vegan Tzatziki – Fat-Free

Use Tofu and apple cider vinegar as a YOGURT SUBSTITUTE to make a dairy-free, no-oil, fat-free, healthy vegan dill and cucumber Greek Tzatziki dip that is refreshing and delicious.

Healthy Aqua Faba Vegan Chocolate Birthday Cake: Fat-Free, Whole Wheat

PLANT-BASED WHOLE-FOODS! Tall, light and fluffy, awesome and delicious, oil-free, CHOCOLATE layer cake, with a vegan frosting filling. Uses whole-wheat flour and zucchini, low-fat, dairy-free, perfect for birthdays, KIDS LOVE THIS CAKE, tasty and moist. wfpb

Anti-Inflammation Smoothie – Ginger and Turmeric

Ginger and turmeric have demonstrated significant impacts on reducing pain and inflammation in multiple studies, try them in a vegan green smoothie!

Healthy Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp, Apple Cobbler) Whole-Foods Plant-Based, Vegan, Gluten Free Dessert

Use pecans, or cashews in the oat topping, instead of butter or margarine, and you get 10x the health, better flavour, and a topping that won’t go soggy!

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

PERFECT LITTLE CROWD PLEASERS, vegan and gluten free oat cookies, but packed with BIG PEANUT BUTTER FLAVOUR! Healthy, no-oil, fat-free, whole-foods plant-based easy fast coconut sugar.

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Apples, carrots, celery, cranberries, and cabbage are beautiful to look at and are a wonderful combination as well. Making coleslaw in the food processor is so fast and easy.

Cream of Cauliflower and Potato Soup (with Tofu)

EASY, DAIRY-FREE CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER soup WITH SILKEN TOFU AND POTATOES. Make in 45 MIN. Healthy vegan dinner, without oil. Whole foods, plant based, so nutritious!

Vegan Lasagna – Tofu & Spinach, Whole Foods Plant Based

Healthy simple vegan whole-foods plant-based lasagna that kids and families love, with no-oil, it uses tofu and spinach as a quick and easy ricotta cheese substitute.

Lazy Vegan Frittata with Spinach, Tofu, Potatoes, and Chickpeas

HEALTHY VEGAN COMFORT FOOD. Vegan Lazy Frittata – Potatoes, Chickpeas, Tofu, Spinach, Peas, Mushrooms – combined in a OIL-FREE creamy mess that is satisfying, NUTRITIOUS, and delicious. FAST vegan meal – dinner recipe is 30 minutes to make.

Lovely Lentil and Brown Rice Soup

Vegan lentil and brown rice soup with tomatoes, basil, oregano, onion, garlic, thyme, and zucchini. So easy to make, and clean up, a one pot meal. Aromatic and delicious blend of complex flavours in a hearty and satisfying comforting soup.

Low FODMAP Healthy Salad Dressing – Creamy Orange Vinaigrette – No-Oil

Spicy, with oranges and pumpkin seeds, or peanuts. A low fodmap salad dressing you can make at home, sweet, creamy, healthy and satisfying.

Italian Cornmeal Zucchini Polenta – 20 minutes

Mmmmmm, a bag of cornmeal, a zucchini, oregano, rosemary, and salt and pepper turn into a filling, stick to your ribs, healthy vegan comfort food, tasty polenta plant-based, no-oil, side-dish, so fast, quick, and easy, and tastes wonderful. Best fast vegan dinner side-dish idea!

Wonderful White Bean and Walnut Sauce with Linguine and Asparagus

If you would like to have a DAIRY-FREE VEGAN WHITE SAUCE for your PASTA, or maybe you are trying to LOSE WEIGHT – here is a WHITE BEAN PESTO SAUCE, it’s a HEALTHY WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED, CREAMY, FAT-FREE recipe.

Ginger Pear Fruit Crisp – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Pears make a delicious healthy vegan fruit crumble when baked with oats, almond flour and ground cashews. Try this TASTY whole-foods plant-based kid friendly fat-free no-oil recipe with a ginger lemon twist!

Gorgeous Vegan Gravy

This smooth, brown, fast, fat-free lentil based vegan gravy reminds us of Thanksgiving dinners, stuffing, and good times at family gatherings. A traditional brown gravy colour, with savoury flavour. Ready in 10 minutes, in the microwave.

Chocolate Banana Green Smoothie

DELICIOUS, vegan, HEALTHY, sugar-free, DAIRY-FREE, smoothie recipe with COCOA POWDER, banana, dates, spinach, pineapple and soy milk or almond milk or other non-dairy milk. Cocoa powder is full of antioxidants and is iron rich.

Sweet Zing Orange Thyme Dressing

Healthy OIL-FREE vegan dressing with a SWEET ZING from green onions, apples, and dried cranberries. AWESOME on quinoa and lentils pilaff, and is delicious on BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

This dairy-free no-oil healthy dressing will make your vegan coleslaw shine!  With dates, tofu, rice vinegar, lemon and pecans it is also going to keep you from getting hungry.

Creamy Tofu Pasta Sauce with Garlic, Zucchini & Tomato

FAST, CREAMY, DAIRY-FREE tofu pasta sauce recipe, with soft silken tofu as a milk substitute to make a high protein, nut free, low fat and tasty zucchini, tomato penne pasta sauce.

Satisfying Split-Pea Soup

With PERFECT SEASONINGS, potatoes, barley, and carrots it’s a SO GOOD, fat-free VEGAN SPLIT-PEA SOUP. Better than what you ate as a child! Full of IRON AND VITAMIN A, HEALTHY WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED recipe, LOSE WEIGHT, feel and LOOK FANTASTIC.

Healthy No-Oil Vegan Mayonnaise – Salad Dressing and Dip Substitute

Egg-free Oil-free Vegan Mayo Make dressings and creamy dips This is my go-to...

Zesty Caesar Salad With Croutons – No Oil

HEALTHY FAT-FREE EASY VEGAN CAESAR SALAD with croutons. The ZESTY garlic, and BRIGHT lemon FLAVOURS SHINE in this RECIPE, that is what makes Caesar dressing taste awesome.  GARLIC AND LEMON!

Fat Free Easy Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie – Frozen Veggies, Potato, Sweet Potato, Herbs WFPB

Use canned lentils and mixed beans to create a low calorie garlic and onion free vegan shepherd’s pie with mashed potato and sweet potato topper. Frozen vegetables and herbs, poultry seasoning and marjoram make this healthy cottage pie delish!

Brussels Sprouts, Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf – Orange Cranberry Apple Sauce

Easy Vegan Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf with Brussels Sprouts and Orange Apple...

Red Lentil Soup with Potatoes Leeks and Squash – Vegan Fat Free WFPB

Onion and garlic free, comforting and nutritious vegan lentil soup recipe.
Most kids seem to enjoy it, and leftovers taste even better.
A chunky vegan leek chowder, with added lentils and squash of your choice.
Seasoned with bay leaves, thyme, poultry seasoning, or ground savoury.

Easy Crustless Tofu Quiche (Whole Foods Vegan)

REAL VEGANS EAT QUICHE! EASY eggless, dairy-free, baked, vegan brunch, breakfast or dinner casserole. Firm tofu as a vegan egg substitute, best healthy no crust, oil-free, egg-free, whole foods quiche, smells and looks and tastes wonderful.

Green Tomatoes Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad

Mix Avocado, Fresh Green Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Edamame Beans for a Creamy Vegan Spread, or Rice Quinoa Salad Bowl. Whole-foods plant-based green goddess recipe. No-oil needed, it’s fat-free but full of natural omega fats to keep your body glowing.

Healthy Cucumber Sandwich Rolls with Hummus

Hummus, and cucumber idea to make sandwich roll ups. Plant based protein lunch idea for kids!

Easy Vegan Chocolate Bean Brownies (Oil Free with Dates)

Easy, moist, fudgy, VEGAN, whole-foods, gluten-free, BEAN brownies. Use white beans, cocoa powder, blended oats, dates, and fruit, in a food-processor, for perfect, chocolate, healthy, rich, brownies everyone will love. FAT-FREE, HIGH FIBER, HEALTHY, DAIRY-FREE, EGG-FREE, AWESOME!

*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries – wfpb no-oil

People think you need to coat OVEN FRIES in oil, but THEY DON’T KNOW… try this recipe and you will learn better.  Moist heat escapes and ACTIVATES the seasonings, your fries will be CRISPY, oil-free and full of HEALTHY LOW CALORIE FLAVOUR.

BEST SLOW COOKER CHILI for a CROWD

This SMOKY VEGAN CHILI recipe LOOKS LIKE IT HAS MEAT, but tastes even better. TAKE THIS TO A PARTY, it is so good, with the best chili spices recipe.

Fun Healthy Easy Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs (no-oil)

Comforting and creamy for adults and children, macaroni with cut up veggie dogs in a no-oil low fat smooth carrot, butternut squash vegan cheese sauce. Whole foods plant based and Dairy-free.

Tahini Roasted Broccoli – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Toss broccoli in a vegan and gluten-free mixture of tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, soy sauce, and pepper, then bake for 10 minutes.  
It’s crispy and creamy at the same time.  

Butternut Squash Apple Galette – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Whole-foods plant-based Butternut Squash Galette with no-oil. Whole-wheat pastry made with almond flour. Delicious creamy tofu filling with sage, fennel, and apple.

Bok Choy Silken Tofu Noodle Soup (Source of Calcium!)

Bok choy, tofu, carrots, spaghettini noodles, and ginger combined, make an easy, quick, simple, and healthy hearty vegan soup recipe for dinner.

Awesome Vegan Breakfast Sweet Potato Muffins – Whole Wheat, No-Oil

Moist, flavourful, delicious vegan muffins made with sweet potato instead of carrot. Try these unique healthy treats for quick vegan breakfast or snack today!

Green Bean Casserole

Turn a classic Thanksgiving green beans side dish, into a delicious low-fat dairy-free whole-foods vegan dish, with lentil gravy, crispy homemade croutons and perfectly cooked green beans.

Healthy Vegan Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie – Guilt Free Goodness! Eggless, Dairy Free

Use a blender to create a quick no bake WFPB pumpkin pie with dates instead of sugar, pecans instead of margarine, and cornstarch for thickener. Make the filling in a saucepan, and chill to set in a graham crumb crust. Dairy free, no-oil. With lovely pumpkin pie spices, and nice texture, this pie is guilt free and tastes good!

Fiery Vegan Mayo Sauce, No Oil

DELICIOUS VEGANSAUCE. SPICY CHIPOTLE OIL-FREE VEGAN MAYO! Spicy, smoky, dairy-free, eggless, egg-free, chipotle, HEALTHY, fat-free vegan mayo recipe.

Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad

Fast HEALTHY best vegan fat-free PASTA SALAD with BLACK BEANS, corn, green onions, tomatoes, frozen peas and BLACK OLIVES. Low calorie, high vitamin C, HIGH IRON, so GOOD FOR YOU! Families and KIDS love to eat this whole-foods plant-based (wfpb) quick meal.

Epicure Healthy Tofu Pad Thai (Whole Foods Vegan)

Dinner in 20 minutes. A fast oil free, whole foods vegan Pad Thai recipe with tofu, noodles, and a homemade sriracha sauce, using Epicure Spice mixes. Easy healthy plant-based fat free meal.

Indian Palak Paneer (Spinach, Tofu and Eggplant) Side Dish

15 min easy AWESOME healthy Indian SPINACH side dish recipe using FROZEN OR FRESH, fast FAT-FREE vegan dinner idea, DAIRY-FREE, tofu paneer substitute/replacement, cook eggplant, tasty onion, fresh tomato, garlic, ginger, SPICES. Serve meal with rice or potatoes.

Fiery Maple Sweet Potato Bowl, No Oil

COLORFUL sweet potatoes, MAPLE CHIPOTLE chickpeas or tofu, EARTHY mushrooms, VIBRANT greens, CREAMY avocado and a FIERY sauce makes for a SPICY and HEALTHFUL VEGAN MEAL BOWL IDEA!

Meatless Marinara Sauce With Protein

Healthy Vegan Italian Tomato Pasta Sauce with Whole-Foods Plant-Based Protein and No-Oil. Modernize your marinara by using lentils and chickpeas in a no-oil meatless version that replaces traditional spaghetti sauce.

Sweet and Sour Tempeh Stir-fry WFPB No-Oil

Quick and Easy Healthy Tempeh Stir-Fry Recipe with Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce, Fresh Vegetables, and Noodles.

Green Vegetable Medley Pasta Soup (Dad’s Soup)

Our family’s FAVOURITE VEGAN green vegetable medley DINNER SOUP with PASTA, a wonderful meal soup – combination of green peppers, zucchini, SPINACH, corn and black beans, with basil and oregano, in a hearty, whole foods, no oil, vegetarian dinner soup. Fat free.

That Meat is Not Giving You Muscle

Getting protein from animal products isn't as satisfying as you think Many...

Great Tofu Recipe Ideas For Dinner

Looking for fast, simple, easy, and the best tofu recipe ideas for dinner? Here is a list of healthy, family friendly tofu recipes with soft, silken, medium, firm and extra firm tofu options that taste delicious, and are great healthy, no oil, vegan meals.
Eating these tofu recipes will make you and your loved ones lose weight and fight disease – guaranteed.

What my IBS Symptoms Were Like – Before I Went Vegan

As an omnivore, my IBS symptoms included alternating diarrhea and constipation, acid indigestion, doctor’s tests, depression, stomach and intestinal pain, fatigue and weight loss.

Eating Nuts Daily Did Not Cause Weight Gain – It Caused Weight Loss!

Did you know that adding nuts didn't make people gain weight? In over 20...

How to Eat Vegan for Energy and Weight Loss – For Adults and Kids

RECOMMENDED PRINCIPLES of the VeganEnvy DIET AND LIFESTYLE – how to eat whole foods plant based healthy vegan without oil TO LOSE WEIGHT, stay skinny, have great skin, and be FULL OF ENERGY, and how to move to STOP BACK PAIN and keep your ENTIRE body feeling great.

Why No Oil on a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet?

We haven’t used oil in our kitchen since 2013 and I recommend you don’t either, starting now. This post outlines the reasons.

How to Stir, Use, and Store Natural Peanut Butter – and Why It is SO MUCH BETTER

Natural Peanut Butter What is natural peanut butter?  It is peanut butter that...

Eating Whole Foods Plant-Based Vegan With IBS

Fix, cure, and treat IBS with a whole-foods plant-based vegan diet, what to do if you still have IBS and you are vegan, or a vegan diet makes IBS worse, eat a low-FODMAP vegan diet to successfully treat IBS.

How to Judge the Healthiness of Grain Products

Trying to decide what kind of bread is healthiest to buy?  What granola bar, cookie, snack food, or what pancake mix is best? Use these 2 tips to increase your resistance to diseases like cancer. Learn what to look for on the nutrition label.

Mission Statement for VeganEnvy

I created VeganEnvy to be a fun, relevant, engaging, social and helpful place for you to belong.

What You Need to Know About Seaweed and Iodine for Vegan Nutrition

Iodine – how much do you need and how should you get it? Everyone needs iodine, but it’s especially important for vegans. Find out how much iodine you need daily to prevent goiter/goitre and the best sources in foods.

What Is Tofu? | All About Tofu, Nutrition, Benefits, Protein, Types, Ingredients, Health

ALL YOUR TOFU QUESTIONS ANSWERED – learn about tofu taste, nutrition, what tofu is made of, protein content, fiber, benefits, controversy, GMO, soybeans, calories, fat, and is tofu healthy. Plus how to choose, buy, press, and prepare soft, silken, and firm tofu.

Adding Healthy Plant Based Meals to Your Menu is Easy!

Help others learn – share on social media!

Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad

Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad

Healthy Vegan Black Bean Pasta Salad

We eat this salad on days I have waited too long to start supper.  If I want to feed my family food in 15 minutes, this will do!  My kids favourite food is pasta, so they love it.

Try this great no-oil whole-foods plant-based meal salad for a pot-luck, party, or BBQ. Get your plant-based protein from beans and whole grain pasta.  People will ask you about the dressing, surprise them by saying “it’s only dried herbs and lemon!”.

With frozen peas, cucumber, canned or frozen corn, green onions, tomatoes, whole grain pasta and black olives this simple vegan dinner salad is fast, fresh, and easy to put together.

Jump to Recipe

Nutrition Facts
Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 / 10th of recipe)
Calories 351 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 1275mg55%
Potassium 719mg21%
Carbohydrates 60g20%
Fiber 11g46%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 800IU16%
Vitamin C 25.8mg31%
Calcium 103mg10%
Iron 4.6mg26%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Hot pasta thaws the peas, activates the seasonings

While the pasta cooks, gather the vegetables, stir them together, still frozen.  Add the drained pasta and the heat cooks the peas a touch, the pasta cools, things get juicy, the dried herbs release flavour, and your meal is ready to serve in minutes.

Why whole grain pasta?  Read How To Judge the Healthiness of Grain Products to learn more about why whole grain pasta is going to help your gut microbiome, prevent cancer, and help you lose weight.

Olives make this salad so satisfying

Olives are better for you than olive oil – filled with a small amount of healthy unsaturated fat – the way nature intended us to eat fat, packaged with fibre and phytonutrients.

Canada’s food guide is being revamped, I just gave my input, and was pleased to see they recommend we limit saturated fats and instead choose unsaturated fats.  Good news!

Olives cause your brain to signal “yup, we are satisfied and full here!”  You get that mouth oil feeling, olives curb cravings.

Vegan meal salad that kids love

Simplicity means kid friendly, and most kids really enjoy pasta.  I call this pasta salad, and focus on the pasta when serving it to my kids, more than the vegetables.  Once they taste a few bites, they gobble it all up, making us all happy.  🙂

Vegan Meal Proportions

See my article, How to Eat Vegan For Energy and Weight Loss I talk about the proportions of beans, greens, veggies and starches to eat to keep up your energy and lose weight!  Tip: eat this salad on a bed of spinach or other dark greens, if you want to feel extra energy.

 

Vegan Healthy Pasta Salad Fat-free Italian

Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad

Jeanette
This salad is a meal, a 15 minute vegan fat-free plant-based protein pasta salad dinner!  Black olives, cucumber, whole grain rotini pasta, frozen peas, corn, tomatoes, green onions plus Italian seasonings and lemon juice make an extraordinary delicious high fibre FRESH healthy pasta salad.  
Assemble the vegetables - including the frozen ones - add the drained pasta, stir and the temperature will become perfect to serve.  The peas will melt, even cook a bit, the pasta will cool, it's awesomely fast.
We are always surprised by how tasty this simple combination is.  It's just perfect.  Kids love the sweet peas, salty seasonings, and the pasta!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course, Pasta, Salad
Cuisine Italian, Western
Servings 10 servings
Calories 351 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients
  

Pasta

Vegetables

  • 3 cups cucumber diced, 1 large is about 3 cups
  • 2 cups tomatoes cherry quartered, or large diced whole tomatoes
  • 4 green onions sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups corn frozen, or canned
  • 398 ml black olives pitted canned, whole, no-oil, add a splash of olive juice to the salad, then drain the rest.
  • 1080 ml black beans can drained
  • 2 cups peas frozen

Dressing

  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp basil dried
  • 1 tbsp oregano dried
  • 1 tsp salt depending on how salty your canned items already are
  • 6 tbsp lemon juice fresh squeezed for vitamin C if you can!
  • Heat water for pasta.  We like whole grain rotini for this, the rotini shape holds the seasoning well and doesn't get soggy as leftovers.  Once water is boiling, add the pasta, stir.  Cook to be firm - al dente, following package directions, don't overcook.
  • While the water heats, dice the cucumber, tomatoes, green onions and add to an extra large bowl.
  • Open the cans of black beans, corn (if using canned) and black olives.
    Add corn with it's juice (max 1/3 cup) to the bowl, I like to splash some of the black olive juice into the salad bowl too.  If you are using frozen corn it will create some juice when it hits the hot pasta, so don't worry.
  • Add the drained black beans and olives. 
  • Add frozen peas - it is important that they are frozen at this point because they cool the pasta.
  • Add seasonings and lemon juice to a small bowl or measuring cup, stir to combine, taste test and adjust to your preference, pour over salad, and stir  through.
    Easy Healthy WFPB Bean Tomato Cucumber Pasta Salad
  • Once pasta is done, drain pasta well, while it is still hot add the pasta to the vegetables and dressing.
  • Stir to combine. Wait a couple minutes for the herbs to release their flavours, and serve!

Notes

 
Variations: 
Sub herbs for a dried Italian seasoning purchased mix.  Store mixes usually contain salt, so don't add any extra salt.  Read the label, choose a mix that doesn't contain added oils.
Sub cucumber for orange and yellow peppers, zucchini, or romaine lettuce.  As long as you keep the peas, corn, tomatoes and olives other vegetables work well.
Omit the Pasta: This tastes great without the pasta as well, as a bean salad, serve with toast, pitas, or rice, or just with spinach.
Vinegar: I'm curious if a vinegar would make this even nicer.  Afraid to try, because my kids aren't into vinegar much yet and we've got something here that works.
If anyone tries adding vinegar, please let me know!!  Personally, I'd use a balsamic.
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 / 10th of recipe)
Calories 351 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 1275mg55%
Potassium 719mg21%
Carbohydrates 60g20%
Fiber 11g46%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 800IU16%
Vitamin C 25.8mg31%
Calcium 103mg10%
Iron 4.6mg26%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!

 

Chocolate Banana Green Smoothie

DELICIOUS, vegan, HEALTHY, sugar-free, DAIRY-FREE, smoothie recipe with COCOA POWDER, banana, dates, spinach, pineapple and soy milk or almond milk or other non-dairy milk. Cocoa powder is full of antioxidants and is iron rich.

Fiery Vegan Mayo Sauce, No Oil

DELICIOUS VEGANSAUCE. SPICY CHIPOTLE OIL-FREE VEGAN MAYO! Spicy, smoky, dairy-free, eggless, egg-free, chipotle, HEALTHY, fat-free vegan mayo recipe.

Healthy Vegan Cranberry Cake – Whole Wheat No-Oil, No-Sugar, WFPB

Healthy whole wheat vegan cranberry cake, delicious but has no sugar and no oil. Whole foods plant based snack or dessert!

Healthy Vegan Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie – Guilt Free Goodness! Eggless, Dairy Free

Use a blender to create a quick no bake WFPB pumpkin pie with dates instead of sugar, pecans instead of margarine, and cornstarch for thickener. Make the filling in a saucepan, and chill to set in a graham crumb crust. Dairy free, no-oil. With lovely pumpkin pie spices, and nice texture, this pie is guilt free and tastes good!

Lovely Lentil and Brown Rice Soup

Vegan lentil and brown rice soup with tomatoes, basil, oregano, onion, garlic, thyme, and zucchini. So easy to make, and clean up, a one pot meal. Aromatic and delicious blend of complex flavours in a hearty and satisfying comforting soup.

Creamy Coleslaw Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

This dairy-free no-oil healthy dressing will make your vegan coleslaw shine!  With dates, tofu, rice vinegar, lemon and pecans it is also going to keep you from getting hungry.

Vegan Lasagna – Tofu & Spinach, Whole Foods Plant Based

Healthy simple vegan whole-foods plant-based lasagna that kids and families love, with no-oil, it uses tofu and spinach as a quick and easy ricotta cheese substitute.

Anti-Inflammation Smoothie – Ginger and Turmeric

Ginger and turmeric have demonstrated significant impacts on reducing pain and inflammation in multiple studies, try them in a vegan green smoothie!

Fun Healthy Easy Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs (no-oil)

Comforting and creamy for adults and children, macaroni with cut up veggie dogs in a no-oil low fat smooth carrot, butternut squash vegan cheese sauce. Whole foods plant based and Dairy-free.

Bok Choy Silken Tofu Noodle Soup (Source of Calcium!)

Bok choy, tofu, carrots, spaghettini noodles, and ginger combined, make an easy, quick, simple, and healthy hearty vegan soup recipe for dinner.

Indian Palak Paneer (Spinach, Tofu and Eggplant) Side Dish

15 min easy AWESOME healthy Indian SPINACH side dish recipe using FROZEN OR FRESH, fast FAT-FREE vegan dinner idea, DAIRY-FREE, tofu paneer substitute/replacement, cook eggplant, tasty onion, fresh tomato, garlic, ginger, SPICES. Serve meal with rice or potatoes.

Healthy Aqua Faba Vegan Chocolate Birthday Cake: Fat-Free, Whole Wheat

PLANT-BASED WHOLE-FOODS! Tall, light and fluffy, awesome and delicious, oil-free, CHOCOLATE layer cake, with a vegan frosting filling. Uses whole-wheat flour and zucchini, low-fat, dairy-free, perfect for birthdays, KIDS LOVE THIS CAKE, tasty and moist. wfpb

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

PERFECT LITTLE CROWD PLEASERS, vegan and gluten free oat cookies, but packed with BIG PEANUT BUTTER FLAVOUR! Healthy, no-oil, fat-free, whole-foods plant-based easy fast coconut sugar.

Easy Vegan Chocolate Bean Brownies (Oil Free with Dates)

Easy, moist, fudgy, VEGAN, whole-foods, gluten-free, BEAN brownies. Use white beans, cocoa powder, blended oats, dates, and fruit, in a food-processor, for perfect, chocolate, healthy, rich, brownies everyone will love. FAT-FREE, HIGH FIBER, HEALTHY, DAIRY-FREE, EGG-FREE, AWESOME!

Lazy Vegan Frittata with Spinach, Tofu, Potatoes, and Chickpeas

HEALTHY VEGAN COMFORT FOOD. Vegan Lazy Frittata – Potatoes, Chickpeas, Tofu, Spinach, Peas, Mushrooms – combined in a OIL-FREE creamy mess that is satisfying, NUTRITIOUS, and delicious. FAST vegan meal – dinner recipe is 30 minutes to make.

Easy Low Fat Graham Cracker Crumb Pie Crust No-Shortening

Low fat quick and easy pie crust without butter or margarine. Tastes amazing, everyone will love it! Great for pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, cherry, banana cream, chocolate pies and more.

Italian Cornmeal Zucchini Polenta – 20 minutes

Mmmmmm, a bag of cornmeal, a zucchini, oregano, rosemary, and salt and pepper turn into a filling, stick to your ribs, healthy vegan comfort food, tasty polenta plant-based, no-oil, side-dish, so fast, quick, and easy, and tastes wonderful. Best fast vegan dinner side-dish idea!

Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash – Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Deliciously complex, tasty, healthy baked, stuffed acorn squash. Cranberry rice and spinach stuffing, Garam Masala East Indian dessert peppery spice. UNIQUE!

Healthy Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp, Apple Cobbler) Whole-Foods Plant-Based, Vegan, Gluten Free Dessert

Use pecans, or cashews in the oat topping, instead of butter or margarine, and you get 10x the health, better flavour, and a topping that won’t go soggy!

Sweet Zing Orange Thyme Dressing

Healthy OIL-FREE vegan dressing with a SWEET ZING from green onions, apples, and dried cranberries. AWESOME on quinoa and lentils pilaff, and is delicious on BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

Green Tomatoes Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad

Mix Avocado, Fresh Green Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Edamame Beans for a Creamy Vegan Spread, or Rice Quinoa Salad Bowl. Whole-foods plant-based green goddess recipe. No-oil needed, it’s fat-free but full of natural omega fats to keep your body glowing.

Fiery Maple Sweet Potato Bowl, No Oil

COLORFUL sweet potatoes, MAPLE CHIPOTLE chickpeas or tofu, EARTHY mushrooms, VIBRANT greens, CREAMY avocado and a FIERY sauce makes for a SPICY and HEALTHFUL VEGAN MEAL BOWL IDEA!

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Apples, carrots, celery, cranberries, and cabbage are beautiful to look at and are a wonderful combination as well. Making coleslaw in the food processor is so fast and easy.

Vegan Asparagus Black Bean and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – No Oil, 30 Minute Dinner

Ready in 30 minutes, this colourful, healthy, vegan dinner salad has roasted sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, asparagus, black beans and a tangy lemon, dijon, green onion, dill dressing. It is a complete meal and will leave you and your loved ones feeling satisfied and full of energy to be your healthy best.

Wonderful White Bean and Walnut Sauce with Linguine and Asparagus

If you would like to have a DAIRY-FREE VEGAN WHITE SAUCE for your PASTA, or maybe you are trying to LOSE WEIGHT – here is a WHITE BEAN PESTO SAUCE, it’s a HEALTHY WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED, CREAMY, FAT-FREE recipe.

Low FODMAP Healthy Salad Dressing – Creamy Orange Vinaigrette – No-Oil

Spicy, with oranges and pumpkin seeds, or peanuts. A low fodmap salad dressing you can make at home, sweet, creamy, healthy and satisfying.

Awesome Vegan Breakfast Sweet Potato Muffins – Whole Wheat, No-Oil

Moist, flavourful, delicious vegan muffins made with sweet potato instead of carrot. Try these unique healthy treats for quick vegan breakfast or snack today!

Green Bean Casserole

Turn a classic Thanksgiving green beans side dish, into a delicious low-fat dairy-free whole-foods vegan dish, with lentil gravy, crispy homemade croutons and perfectly cooked green beans.

Meatless Marinara Sauce With Protein

Healthy Vegan Italian Tomato Pasta Sauce with Whole-Foods Plant-Based Protein and No-Oil. Modernize your marinara by using lentils and chickpeas in a no-oil meatless version that replaces traditional spaghetti sauce.

Rhubarb Strawberry Crisp, low-fat, vegan, gluten-free, low FODMAP, healthy dessert

Healthy low-fat gluten-free strawberry rhubarb crisp. Delicious low-fodmap dessert, suitable for IBS Diets.

Easy Crustless Tofu Quiche (Whole Foods Vegan)

REAL VEGANS EAT QUICHE! EASY eggless, dairy-free, baked, vegan brunch, breakfast or dinner casserole. Firm tofu as a vegan egg substitute, best healthy no crust, oil-free, egg-free, whole foods quiche, smells and looks and tastes wonderful.

Green Vegetable Medley Pasta Soup (Dad’s Soup)

Our family’s FAVOURITE VEGAN green vegetable medley DINNER SOUP with PASTA, a wonderful meal soup – combination of green peppers, zucchini, SPINACH, corn and black beans, with basil and oregano, in a hearty, whole foods, no oil, vegetarian dinner soup. Fat free.

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Fast and easy delicious vegan parmesan cheese replacement uses nuts, garlic, and nutritional yeast. It is the best dairy-free, and lactose-free cheese sprinkle substitute I have found.

Whole Weekend Waffles

It’s EASY to make VEGAN WAFFLES from a box mix. Follow these simple steps to healthy whole grain dairy-free and egg-free waffles.

Epicure Healthy Tofu Pad Thai (Whole Foods Vegan)

Dinner in 20 minutes. A fast oil free, whole foods vegan Pad Thai recipe with tofu, noodles, and a homemade sriracha sauce, using Epicure Spice mixes. Easy healthy plant-based fat free meal.

Ginger Pear Fruit Crisp – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Pears make a delicious healthy vegan fruit crumble when baked with oats, almond flour and ground cashews. Try this TASTY whole-foods plant-based kid friendly fat-free no-oil recipe with a ginger lemon twist!

Cool as a Cucumber Vegan Tzatziki – Fat-Free

Use Tofu and apple cider vinegar as a YOGURT SUBSTITUTE to make a dairy-free, no-oil, fat-free, healthy vegan dill and cucumber Greek Tzatziki dip that is refreshing and delicious.

Zesty Caesar Salad With Croutons – No Oil

HEALTHY FAT-FREE EASY VEGAN CAESAR SALAD with croutons. The ZESTY garlic, and BRIGHT lemon FLAVOURS SHINE in this RECIPE, that is what makes Caesar dressing taste awesome.  GARLIC AND LEMON!

Fat Free Easy Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie – Frozen Veggies, Potato, Sweet Potato, Herbs WFPB

Use canned lentils and mixed beans to create a low calorie garlic and onion free vegan shepherd’s pie with mashed potato and sweet potato topper. Frozen vegetables and herbs, poultry seasoning and marjoram make this healthy cottage pie delish!

Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad

Fast HEALTHY best vegan fat-free PASTA SALAD with BLACK BEANS, corn, green onions, tomatoes, frozen peas and BLACK OLIVES. Low calorie, high vitamin C, HIGH IRON, so GOOD FOR YOU! Families and KIDS love to eat this whole-foods plant-based (wfpb) quick meal.

Healthy Cucumber Sandwich Rolls with Hummus

Hummus, and cucumber idea to make sandwich roll ups. Plant based protein lunch idea for kids!

Healthy No-Oil Vegan Mayonnaise – Salad Dressing and Dip Substitute

Egg-free Oil-free Vegan Mayo Make dressings and creamy dips This is my go-to...

Tahini Roasted Broccoli – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Toss broccoli in a vegan and gluten-free mixture of tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, soy sauce, and pepper, then bake for 10 minutes.  
It’s crispy and creamy at the same time.  

Sweet and Sour Tempeh Stir-fry WFPB No-Oil

Quick and Easy Healthy Tempeh Stir-Fry Recipe with Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce, Fresh Vegetables, and Noodles.

Creamy Tofu Pasta Sauce with Garlic, Zucchini & Tomato

FAST, CREAMY, DAIRY-FREE tofu pasta sauce recipe, with soft silken tofu as a milk substitute to make a high protein, nut free, low fat and tasty zucchini, tomato penne pasta sauce.

Butternut Squash Apple Galette – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Whole-foods plant-based Butternut Squash Galette with no-oil. Whole-wheat pastry made with almond flour. Delicious creamy tofu filling with sage, fennel, and apple.

*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries – wfpb no-oil

People think you need to coat OVEN FRIES in oil, but THEY DON’T KNOW… try this recipe and you will learn better.  Moist heat escapes and ACTIVATES the seasonings, your fries will be CRISPY, oil-free and full of HEALTHY LOW CALORIE FLAVOUR.

Gorgeous Vegan Gravy

This smooth, brown, fast, fat-free lentil based vegan gravy reminds us of Thanksgiving dinners, stuffing, and good times at family gatherings. A traditional brown gravy colour, with savoury flavour. Ready in 10 minutes, in the microwave.

Red Lentil Soup with Potatoes Leeks and Squash – Vegan Fat Free WFPB

Onion and garlic free, comforting and nutritious vegan lentil soup recipe.
Most kids seem to enjoy it, and leftovers taste even better.
A chunky vegan leek chowder, with added lentils and squash of your choice.
Seasoned with bay leaves, thyme, poultry seasoning, or ground savoury.

Healthy Vegan Apple Cake – Whole Wheat No-Oil WFPB

Looking for healthy low-fat vegan recipe ideas to make with apples? This moist apple cake is wfpb and quite tasty.

Learn About the VeganEnvy Diet

Great Tofu Recipe Ideas For Dinner

Looking for fast, simple, easy, and the best tofu recipe ideas for dinner? Here is a list of healthy, family friendly tofu recipes with soft, silken, medium, firm and extra firm tofu options that taste delicious, and are great healthy, no oil, vegan meals.
Eating these tofu recipes will make you and your loved ones lose weight and fight disease – guaranteed.

Eating Whole Foods Plant-Based Vegan With IBS

Fix, cure, and treat IBS with a whole-foods plant-based vegan diet, what to do if you still have IBS and you are vegan, or a vegan diet makes IBS worse, eat a low-FODMAP vegan diet to successfully treat IBS.

How to Judge the Healthiness of Grain Products

Trying to decide what kind of bread is healthiest to buy?  What granola bar, cookie, snack food, or what pancake mix is best? Use these 2 tips to increase your resistance to diseases like cancer. Learn what to look for on the nutrition label.

How to Stir, Use, and Store Natural Peanut Butter – and Why It is SO MUCH BETTER

Natural Peanut Butter What is natural peanut butter?  It is peanut butter that...

Eating Nuts Daily Did Not Cause Weight Gain – It Caused Weight Loss!

Did you know that adding nuts didn't make people gain weight? In over 20...

What my IBS Symptoms Were Like – Before I Went Vegan

As an omnivore, my IBS symptoms included alternating diarrhea and constipation, acid indigestion, doctor’s tests, depression, stomach and intestinal pain, fatigue and weight loss.

Mission Statement for VeganEnvy

I created VeganEnvy to be a fun, relevant, engaging, social and helpful place for you to belong.

That Meat is Not Giving You Muscle

Getting protein from animal products isn't as satisfying as you think Many...

Why No Oil on a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet?

We haven’t used oil in our kitchen since 2013 and I recommend you don’t either, starting now. This post outlines the reasons.

What Is Tofu? | All About Tofu, Nutrition, Benefits, Protein, Types, Ingredients, Health

ALL YOUR TOFU QUESTIONS ANSWERED – learn about tofu taste, nutrition, what tofu is made of, protein content, fiber, benefits, controversy, GMO, soybeans, calories, fat, and is tofu healthy. Plus how to choose, buy, press, and prepare soft, silken, and firm tofu.

How to Eat Vegan for Energy and Weight Loss – For Adults and Kids

RECOMMENDED PRINCIPLES of the VeganEnvy DIET AND LIFESTYLE – how to eat whole foods plant based healthy vegan without oil TO LOSE WEIGHT, stay skinny, have great skin, and be FULL OF ENERGY, and how to move to STOP BACK PAIN and keep your ENTIRE body feeling great.

What You Need to Know About Seaweed and Iodine for Vegan Nutrition

Iodine – how much do you need and how should you get it? Everyone needs iodine, but it’s especially important for vegans. Find out how much iodine you need daily to prevent goiter/goitre and the best sources in foods.

 

JOIN the VeganEnvy.com Community 

VeganEnvy.com Facebook Group

Click here to EXPLORE

Get surrounded by vegan LOVE.  

SaveSave

SaveSave

*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries – wfpb no-oil

*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries – wfpb no-oil

Easy, Simple, Fast, Best, Delicious, Healthy, Fat-Free, Sweet Potato Oven Baked Fries

People think you need to coat oven fries in oil, but they don’t know… try this recipe and you will learn better.  Moisture leaves the sweet potatoes as they bake, and activates the seasonings. Your fries will be crispy, oil-free, and full of flavour.

Nutrition Facts
*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries The Whole-Foods Plant-Based Way
Amount Per Serving (1 / 5th of recipe)
Calories 89
% Daily Value*
Sodium 57mg2%
Potassium 350mg10%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 14755IU295%
Vitamin C 2.5mg3%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I recommend Epicure seasoning mixes, I used this Cajun spice to make mine tonight.  It was spicy!  Epicure seasonings are amazing high quality spices, with high nutritional value, and no artificial ingredients like MSG or gluten fillers.

If you are in Canada, you can conveniently order spices and seasoning mixes from my Epicure site online catalogue and ship them to your home.

My kids had no seasonings, they dipped their fries in ketchup.  You can also use whatever spice blends you have around the house, like chili powder, or salt and pepper and garlic powder.

Back to oil – One gram of oil is 9 calories… empty, empty, harmful calories.  13.6 grams of oil (a tablespoon) is 120 calories.  One serving of these sweet potatoes without oil is only 89 calories!  When you add oil, you are adding calories that are nutrition poor.  You do not need processed oil to live.  We have been cooking oil-free since 2013.  If you think you need it…. what is something bad that happens to people who don’t eat oil?

Skip the oil.  Why no-oil cooking?

Jump to Recipe

Sweet potatoes have many health benefits, they are a super-food.

Like what benefits?  Well, much of the following information was conveniently provided on a paper that came with my bag of 6 sweet potatoes – let’s learn together, ok?

High in Fiber

Sweet potatoes are a good source of dietary fiber, which lowers your risk for constipation, diverticulitis, colon and rectal cancer, heart disease, type two diabetes and obesity.

The fibre in sweet potatoes provides a feeling of fulness and satisfaction, which makes you eat less!

High in Antioxidants

Antioxidants play a role in the prevention of heart disease and cancer, and sweet potatoes supply plenty of the antioxidants vitamin E, and beta-carotene.

Antioxidants are essential for good brain functioning and delay the effects of ageing on the brain. Vitamin E is found mainly in high fat foods such as oils, nuts, and avocados.

Only sweet potatoes provide vitamin E without fat and calories.

Vitamin A

One serving of this recipe is 285% of the vitamin A required for a person following a 2000 calorie diet.  BAM!

If you are short like me that is like 400% vitamin A… I don’t count calories, but I know from before I went vegan (when I stressed about calories ALL THE TIME) that I need about 1100 – 1200 calories a day to maintain my 5’2″ frame.  Now that I eat whole-foods plant-based I don’t need to stress…. if I notice I’m getting some extra flab, I eat more greens and it goes away.  Serious.

Low Glycemic Index

A low glycemic index is desirable and is characterized by slow absorption, a modest rise in blood glucose, and smooth return to normal. This is especially important for people with diabetes, whose good health is dependent upon stable blood glucose levels.

Diabetics and others wanting to avoid glucose highs and lows can turn to sweet potatoes, which have a low glycemic index.

Excellent Source of Potassium

Potassium plays a major role in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and cell integrity. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best sources of potassium, and sweet potatoes are among the top three richest sources. Naturally low in calories and high in nutritional value.

Ways to Include Sweet Potato Fries in Your Diet

Some ideas for using these nummy, nummy fries that you can consider while they are baking, or while you are peeling and chopping them.

  • Take sweet potato fries for lunch, topped with cinnamon flavoured applesauce
  • Add leftover sweet potatoes to your next stew or soup.  That’s going to be fast…
  • You can even eat raw sweet potato fries with your favourite dip (I read this on the sweet potato marketing literature that came with them, I have never actually tried this).
  • Eat sweet potato fries for vegan breakfast with scrambled tofu and pancakes.

Let’s dig into some sweet sweet potato fries!

 
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to VeganEnvy.com on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!

Get FREE healthy vegan information and recipes!

FOLLOW HERE!

 

cajun sweet potato oven fries with ketchup

*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries The Whole-Foods Plant-Based Way

Jeanette
Don't buy frozen fries, make them fresh, and use orange sweet potatoes to get more antioxidants, potassium, and fibre, from a fat-free, low-glycemic index super-food!
Peel the potatoes, cut into sticks, spread on your baking sheet, sprinkle with seasonings, bake, enjoy.
See full instructions and pictures here!
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Vegan, Western
Servings 5 people
Calories 89 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients
  

  • Preheat oven to 425° F.  Use a foil or silicone lined baking sheet or stoneware.  No-oil required.
  • Peel the potatoes.
  • Cut in half or quarters, place on the round side, slice down 2-3 times to make 1 inch lengths.  Set in a pile on the flat side, cut into sticks.
  • Spread mostly in a single layer, some overlap is fine.  No-oil required.  Really jam the sticks together, they will shrink quite a bit.  Pack as many on the sheet as you can, because I think you are going to eat these up really quick-like and be sad if you don't have enough.  In fact, I wish I had put a lot more on my sheet here. 🙁
    sweet potato fries in sticks ready for baking
  • Sprinkle with seasonings like seasoned salt, chili powder, or cajun seasoning from Epicure.  If you have a convection oven, then fire up two sheets and cook those babies at the same time.
  • Bake for 30 - 40 minutes.  Remove if fries start to burn.
    baked healthy sweet potato fries no-oil
  • Serve!  In this case we had them with beet greens (with fresh squeezed lemon) and vegan chicken fingers.  It was honestly a great combo.  Spicy cajun fries, salty lemon beet greens (they are naturally salty), sweet ketchup veggie fingers - it was all really good, and pretty good for us too, right?
    cajun sweet potato oven fries with ketchup

Notes

Serving suggestions:
With Ketchup mixed with cajun seasoning, or cranberry sauce, or lemon juice.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
*Sweet* Sweet Potato Fries The Whole-Foods Plant-Based Way
Amount Per Serving (1 / 5th of recipe)
Calories 89
% Daily Value*
Sodium 57mg2%
Potassium 350mg10%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 14755IU295%
Vitamin C 2.5mg3%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!

 

JOIN the VeganEnvy.com Community 

VeganEnvy.com Facebook Group

Click here to EXPLORE

People Exploring Plant Based Eating

Healthy Vegan Apple Cake – Whole Wheat No-Oil WFPB

Looking for healthy low-fat vegan recipe ideas to make with apples? This moist apple cake is wfpb and quite tasty.

BEST SLOW COOKER CHILI for a CROWD

This SMOKY VEGAN CHILI recipe LOOKS LIKE IT HAS MEAT, but tastes even better. TAKE THIS TO A PARTY, it is so good, with the best chili spices recipe.

Epicure Healthy Tofu Pad Thai (Whole Foods Vegan)

Dinner in 20 minutes. A fast oil free, whole foods vegan Pad Thai recipe with tofu, noodles, and a homemade sriracha sauce, using Epicure Spice mixes. Easy healthy plant-based fat free meal.

Wonderful White Bean and Walnut Sauce with Linguine and Asparagus

If you would like to have a DAIRY-FREE VEGAN WHITE SAUCE for your PASTA, or maybe you are trying to LOSE WEIGHT – here is a WHITE BEAN PESTO SAUCE, it’s a HEALTHY WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED, CREAMY, FAT-FREE recipe.

Lovely Lentil and Brown Rice Soup

Vegan lentil and brown rice soup with tomatoes, basil, oregano, onion, garlic, thyme, and zucchini. So easy to make, and clean up, a one pot meal. Aromatic and delicious blend of complex flavours in a hearty and satisfying comforting soup.

Super Summer-Time Pasta Salad

Fast HEALTHY best vegan fat-free PASTA SALAD with BLACK BEANS, corn, green onions, tomatoes, frozen peas and BLACK OLIVES. Low calorie, high vitamin C, HIGH IRON, so GOOD FOR YOU! Families and KIDS love to eat this whole-foods plant-based (wfpb) quick meal.

FAST No-Rise Healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (oil-free vegan)

Make FAST, FAT-FREE, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, HEALTHY, NO-RISE, VEGAN PIZZA DOUGH, in your food processor. Perfect, crispy and soft. Roll out, place toppings, and bake in 10 minutes. Fat-free, healthy, moist, no-oil, THE BEST. KIDS LOVE THIS CRUST!

Fat Free Easy Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie – Frozen Veggies, Potato, Sweet Potato, Herbs WFPB

Use canned lentils and mixed beans to create a low calorie garlic and onion free vegan shepherd’s pie with mashed potato and sweet potato topper. Frozen vegetables and herbs, poultry seasoning and marjoram make this healthy cottage pie delish!

Indian Palak Paneer (Spinach, Tofu and Eggplant) Side Dish

15 min easy AWESOME healthy Indian SPINACH side dish recipe using FROZEN OR FRESH, fast FAT-FREE vegan dinner idea, DAIRY-FREE, tofu paneer substitute/replacement, cook eggplant, tasty onion, fresh tomato, garlic, ginger, SPICES. Serve meal with rice or potatoes.

Fiery Vegan Mayo Sauce, No Oil

DELICIOUS VEGANSAUCE. SPICY CHIPOTLE OIL-FREE VEGAN MAYO! Spicy, smoky, dairy-free, eggless, egg-free, chipotle, HEALTHY, fat-free vegan mayo recipe.

Anti-Inflammation Smoothie – Ginger and Turmeric

Ginger and turmeric have demonstrated significant impacts on reducing pain and inflammation in multiple studies, try them in a vegan green smoothie!

Healthy Vegan Cranberry Cake – Whole Wheat No-Oil, No-Sugar, WFPB

Healthy whole wheat vegan cranberry cake, delicious but has no sugar and no oil. Whole foods plant based snack or dessert!

Healthy Cucumber Sandwich Rolls with Hummus

Hummus, and cucumber idea to make sandwich roll ups. Plant based protein lunch idea for kids!

Italian Cornmeal Zucchini Polenta – 20 minutes

Mmmmmm, a bag of cornmeal, a zucchini, oregano, rosemary, and salt and pepper turn into a filling, stick to your ribs, healthy vegan comfort food, tasty polenta plant-based, no-oil, side-dish, so fast, quick, and easy, and tastes wonderful. Best fast vegan dinner side-dish idea!

Healthy No-Oil Vegan Mayonnaise – Salad Dressing and Dip Substitute

Egg-free Oil-free Vegan Mayo Make dressings and creamy dips This is my go-to...

Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash – Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Deliciously complex, tasty, healthy baked, stuffed acorn squash. Cranberry rice and spinach stuffing, Garam Masala East Indian dessert peppery spice. UNIQUE!

Sweet and Sour Tempeh Stir-fry WFPB No-Oil

Quick and Easy Healthy Tempeh Stir-Fry Recipe with Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce, Fresh Vegetables, and Noodles.

Cool as a Cucumber Vegan Tzatziki – Fat-Free

Use Tofu and apple cider vinegar as a YOGURT SUBSTITUTE to make a dairy-free, no-oil, fat-free, healthy vegan dill and cucumber Greek Tzatziki dip that is refreshing and delicious.

Low FODMAP Healthy Salad Dressing – Creamy Orange Vinaigrette – No-Oil

Spicy, with oranges and pumpkin seeds, or peanuts. A low fodmap salad dressing you can make at home, sweet, creamy, healthy and satisfying.

Tahini Roasted Broccoli – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Toss broccoli in a vegan and gluten-free mixture of tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, soy sauce, and pepper, then bake for 10 minutes.  
It’s crispy and creamy at the same time.  

Healthy Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp, Apple Cobbler) Whole-Foods Plant-Based, Vegan, Gluten Free Dessert

Use pecans, or cashews in the oat topping, instead of butter or margarine, and you get 10x the health, better flavour, and a topping that won’t go soggy!

Healthy Vegan Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie – Guilt Free Goodness! Eggless, Dairy Free

Use a blender to create a quick no bake WFPB pumpkin pie with dates instead of sugar, pecans instead of margarine, and cornstarch for thickener. Make the filling in a saucepan, and chill to set in a graham crumb crust. Dairy free, no-oil. With lovely pumpkin pie spices, and nice texture, this pie is guilt free and tastes good!

Vegan Asparagus Black Bean and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – No Oil, 30 Minute Dinner

Ready in 30 minutes, this colourful, healthy, vegan dinner salad has roasted sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, asparagus, black beans and a tangy lemon, dijon, green onion, dill dressing. It is a complete meal and will leave you and your loved ones feeling satisfied and full of energy to be your healthy best.

Sweet Zing Orange Thyme Dressing

Healthy OIL-FREE vegan dressing with a SWEET ZING from green onions, apples, and dried cranberries. AWESOME on quinoa and lentils pilaff, and is delicious on BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

Red Lentil Soup with Potatoes Leeks and Squash – Vegan Fat Free WFPB

Onion and garlic free, comforting and nutritious vegan lentil soup recipe.
Most kids seem to enjoy it, and leftovers taste even better.
A chunky vegan leek chowder, with added lentils and squash of your choice.
Seasoned with bay leaves, thyme, poultry seasoning, or ground savoury.

Green Bean Casserole

Turn a classic Thanksgiving green beans side dish, into a delicious low-fat dairy-free whole-foods vegan dish, with lentil gravy, crispy homemade croutons and perfectly cooked green beans.

Bok Choy Silken Tofu Noodle Soup (Source of Calcium!)

Bok choy, tofu, carrots, spaghettini noodles, and ginger combined, make an easy, quick, simple, and healthy hearty vegan soup recipe for dinner.

Vegan Healthy Slow Cooker Summer Potato Corn Chowder No-Oil WFPB

Plant based whole foods slow cooker summer chowder. You can time this vegan soup to be ready when you are.  The longer it cooks the thicker and more delicious it gets.

Green Vegetable Medley Pasta Soup (Dad’s Soup)

Our family’s FAVOURITE VEGAN green vegetable medley DINNER SOUP with PASTA, a wonderful meal soup – combination of green peppers, zucchini, SPINACH, corn and black beans, with basil and oregano, in a hearty, whole foods, no oil, vegetarian dinner soup. Fat free.

Meatless Marinara Sauce With Protein

Healthy Vegan Italian Tomato Pasta Sauce with Whole-Foods Plant-Based Protein and No-Oil. Modernize your marinara by using lentils and chickpeas in a no-oil meatless version that replaces traditional spaghetti sauce.

Fiery Maple Sweet Potato Bowl, No Oil

COLORFUL sweet potatoes, MAPLE CHIPOTLE chickpeas or tofu, EARTHY mushrooms, VIBRANT greens, CREAMY avocado and a FIERY sauce makes for a SPICY and HEALTHFUL VEGAN MEAL BOWL IDEA!

Easy Crustless Tofu Quiche (Whole Foods Vegan)

REAL VEGANS EAT QUICHE! EASY eggless, dairy-free, baked, vegan brunch, breakfast or dinner casserole. Firm tofu as a vegan egg substitute, best healthy no crust, oil-free, egg-free, whole foods quiche, smells and looks and tastes wonderful.

Creamy Tofu Pasta Sauce with Garlic, Zucchini & Tomato

FAST, CREAMY, DAIRY-FREE tofu pasta sauce recipe, with soft silken tofu as a milk substitute to make a high protein, nut free, low fat and tasty zucchini, tomato penne pasta sauce.

Awesome Vegan Breakfast Sweet Potato Muffins – Whole Wheat, No-Oil

Moist, flavourful, delicious vegan muffins made with sweet potato instead of carrot. Try these unique healthy treats for quick vegan breakfast or snack today!

Chocolate Banana Green Smoothie

DELICIOUS, vegan, HEALTHY, sugar-free, DAIRY-FREE, smoothie recipe with COCOA POWDER, banana, dates, spinach, pineapple and soy milk or almond milk or other non-dairy milk. Cocoa powder is full of antioxidants and is iron rich.

Easy Vegan Chocolate Bean Brownies (Oil Free with Dates)

Easy, moist, fudgy, VEGAN, whole-foods, gluten-free, BEAN brownies. Use white beans, cocoa powder, blended oats, dates, and fruit, in a food-processor, for perfect, chocolate, healthy, rich, brownies everyone will love. FAT-FREE, HIGH FIBER, HEALTHY, DAIRY-FREE, EGG-FREE, AWESOME!

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Fast and easy delicious vegan parmesan cheese replacement uses nuts, garlic, and nutritional yeast. It is the best dairy-free, and lactose-free cheese sprinkle substitute I have found.

Fun Healthy Easy Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs (no-oil)

Comforting and creamy for adults and children, macaroni with cut up veggie dogs in a no-oil low fat smooth carrot, butternut squash vegan cheese sauce. Whole foods plant based and Dairy-free.

Satisfying Split-Pea Soup

With PERFECT SEASONINGS, potatoes, barley, and carrots it’s a SO GOOD, fat-free VEGAN SPLIT-PEA SOUP. Better than what you ate as a child! Full of IRON AND VITAMIN A, HEALTHY WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED recipe, LOSE WEIGHT, feel and LOOK FANTASTIC.

Whole Weekend Waffles

It’s EASY to make VEGAN WAFFLES from a box mix. Follow these simple steps to healthy whole grain dairy-free and egg-free waffles.

Lazy Vegan Frittata with Spinach, Tofu, Potatoes, and Chickpeas

HEALTHY VEGAN COMFORT FOOD. Vegan Lazy Frittata – Potatoes, Chickpeas, Tofu, Spinach, Peas, Mushrooms – combined in a OIL-FREE creamy mess that is satisfying, NUTRITIOUS, and delicious. FAST vegan meal – dinner recipe is 30 minutes to make.

Gorgeous Vegan Gravy

This smooth, brown, fast, fat-free lentil based vegan gravy reminds us of Thanksgiving dinners, stuffing, and good times at family gatherings. A traditional brown gravy colour, with savoury flavour. Ready in 10 minutes, in the microwave.

Green Tomatoes Chickpea Avocado Edamame Rice Salad

Mix Avocado, Fresh Green Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Edamame Beans for a Creamy Vegan Spread, or Rice Quinoa Salad Bowl. Whole-foods plant-based green goddess recipe. No-oil needed, it’s fat-free but full of natural omega fats to keep your body glowing.

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

Apples, carrots, celery, cranberries, and cabbage are beautiful to look at and are a wonderful combination as well. Making coleslaw in the food processor is so fast and easy.

Zesty Caesar Salad With Croutons – No Oil

HEALTHY FAT-FREE EASY VEGAN CAESAR SALAD with croutons. The ZESTY garlic, and BRIGHT lemon FLAVOURS SHINE in this RECIPE, that is what makes Caesar dressing taste awesome.  GARLIC AND LEMON!

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

PERFECT LITTLE CROWD PLEASERS, vegan and gluten free oat cookies, but packed with BIG PEANUT BUTTER FLAVOUR! Healthy, no-oil, fat-free, whole-foods plant-based easy fast coconut sugar.

Healthy Aqua Faba Vegan Chocolate Birthday Cake: Fat-Free, Whole Wheat

PLANT-BASED WHOLE-FOODS! Tall, light and fluffy, awesome and delicious, oil-free, CHOCOLATE layer cake, with a vegan frosting filling. Uses whole-wheat flour and zucchini, low-fat, dairy-free, perfect for birthdays, KIDS LOVE THIS CAKE, tasty and moist. wfpb

Ginger Pear Fruit Crisp – Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Pears make a delicious healthy vegan fruit crumble when baked with oats, almond flour and ground cashews. Try this TASTY whole-foods plant-based kid friendly fat-free no-oil recipe with a ginger lemon twist!

Vegan Lasagna – Tofu & Spinach, Whole Foods Plant Based

Healthy simple vegan whole-foods plant-based lasagna that kids and families love, with no-oil, it uses tofu and spinach as a quick and easy ricotta cheese substitute.

Brussels Sprouts, Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf – Orange Cranberry Apple Sauce

Easy Vegan Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf with Brussels Sprouts and Orange Apple...

Learn About the VeganEnvy Diet

That Meat is Not Giving You Muscle

Getting protein from animal products isn't as satisfying as you think Many...

What You Need to Know About Seaweed and Iodine for Vegan Nutrition

Iodine – how much do you need and how should you get it? Everyone needs iodine, but it’s especially important for vegans. Find out how much iodine you need daily to prevent goiter/goitre and the best sources in foods.

How to Stir, Use, and Store Natural Peanut Butter – and Why It is SO MUCH BETTER

Natural Peanut Butter What is natural peanut butter?  It is peanut butter that...

Mission Statement for VeganEnvy

I created VeganEnvy to be a fun, relevant, engaging, social and helpful place for you to belong.

Eating Nuts Daily Did Not Cause Weight Gain – It Caused Weight Loss!

Did you know that adding nuts didn't make people gain weight? In over 20...

Eating Whole Foods Plant-Based Vegan With IBS

Fix, cure, and treat IBS with a whole-foods plant-based vegan diet, what to do if you still have IBS and you are vegan, or a vegan diet makes IBS worse, eat a low-FODMAP vegan diet to successfully treat IBS.

What Is Tofu? | All About Tofu, Nutrition, Benefits, Protein, Types, Ingredients, Health

ALL YOUR TOFU QUESTIONS ANSWERED – learn about tofu taste, nutrition, what tofu is made of, protein content, fiber, benefits, controversy, GMO, soybeans, calories, fat, and is tofu healthy. Plus how to choose, buy, press, and prepare soft, silken, and firm tofu.

Great Tofu Recipe Ideas For Dinner

Looking for fast, simple, easy, and the best tofu recipe ideas for dinner? Here is a list of healthy, family friendly tofu recipes with soft, silken, medium, firm and extra firm tofu options that taste delicious, and are great healthy, no oil, vegan meals.
Eating these tofu recipes will make you and your loved ones lose weight and fight disease – guaranteed.

How to Judge the Healthiness of Grain Products

Trying to decide what kind of bread is healthiest to buy?  What granola bar, cookie, snack food, or what pancake mix is best? Use these 2 tips to increase your resistance to diseases like cancer. Learn what to look for on the nutrition label.

What my IBS Symptoms Were Like – Before I Went Vegan

As an omnivore, my IBS symptoms included alternating diarrhea and constipation, acid indigestion, doctor’s tests, depression, stomach and intestinal pain, fatigue and weight loss.

Why No Oil on a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet?

We haven’t used oil in our kitchen since 2013 and I recommend you don’t either, starting now. This post outlines the reasons.

How to Eat Vegan for Energy and Weight Loss – For Adults and Kids

RECOMMENDED PRINCIPLES of the VeganEnvy DIET AND LIFESTYLE – how to eat whole foods plant based healthy vegan without oil TO LOSE WEIGHT, stay skinny, have great skin, and be FULL OF ENERGY, and how to move to STOP BACK PAIN and keep your ENTIRE body feeling great.

Adding Healthy Plant Based Meals to Your Menu is Easy!

Help others learn – share on social media!

Brussels Sprouts, Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf – Orange Cranberry Apple Sauce

Brussels Sprouts, Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf – Orange Cranberry Apple Sauce

Easy Vegan Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf with Brussels Sprouts and Orange Apple Cranberry Thyme Sauce

This whole-foods plant-based, fat-free, no-oil healthy brussels sprouts with lentils and quinoa recipe is crazy easy.

The quinoa and lentil pilaf in one pot is a delicious staple that can serve as a vegan starch and protein base for many of your meals.

Here, I’ve added my orange thyme dressing, but other vegetables and sauces will work well too.

Jump to Recipe

 

Lentils and Quinoa in Only 20 Minutes

Cook dry sprouted lentils and dry quinoa together, in the same pot, they take the same amount of time – and in 15 – 20 minutes you’ll have a pilaf of lentils and quinoa that is fluffy and ready for a vegetable and a sauce.

You can dress the quinoa and lentils up in so many ways.

Boil, Steam or Microwave Brussel Sprouts

Cook a huge batch of brussels sprouts for this, they go perfectly.

Add Orange Thyme Cranberry Tahini Dressing

The lentils and quinoa are going to be pretty boring on their own, but look through the sauces/dressings on this site and pick one and it becomes a different dish each time.

I recommend my Sweet Zing Orange Thyme Dressing.

You can click on the “sauce” tag in the sidebar to view a list of sauces.  Or use the search feature on the site and search for “sauce” or “dressing”.

Mmmm, just looking at these pictures again now, I remember how good this was!

The sauce has a lot of tasty ingredients – orange juice, diced apple, sesame paste (tahini), green onions, chia seeds, dried cranberries… it’s great.  Very quick, easy and simple to make too.

My kids liked the pilaf and brussels sprouts without the sauce, instead of the dressing, one added lemon juice, the other  loads of cranberry sauce from a can.

When I eat beans and rice, or lentils with quinoa I feel like I am living harmoniously with our planet, and usually surprised at how great they taste, and how satisfied I feel after.

I hope at least someone else can relate to what I am talking about.

Bringing peace through plants…  🙂