Tag: vegan

Cauliflower and Walnut Crumb Pasta

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This cauliflower and walnut crumb pasta is quick and simple to make. Vegan with a gluten-free option that doesn’t require the use of gluten-free breadcrumbs. Requiring only 10 ingredients and ready in 30 minutes this meal is perfect for a quick weeknight supper.

Cauliflower and walnut crumb pasta in a large cast iron skillet with a wooden serving spoon.

If you’re in need of a super quick and delicious weeknight meal grab a large skillet, get some water boiling and make this dinner tonight. All you need are 10 ingredients and about 30 minutes to prepare a family-friendly vegan and gluten-free supper.

Cauliflower and walnut crumb pasta on a grey bowl sprinkled with freshly chopped parsley.

Walnut Crumb

To create a crumb for coating the pasta and cauliflower I decided to use finely chopped walnuts and a blend of dried herbs. This adds and earthy flavor and crunchy texture to the pasta that cannot be matched by breadcrumbs. It also makes this crumb gluten-free!

Simply place the walnuts, herbs, and spices into a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles…you guessed it…breadcrumbs. To a hot skillet, add olive oil and sauté the walnut crumbs until their fragrant. About 4-5 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning. Once done, remove from heat and set aside for later.

Feel free to use this walnut crumb in place of breadcrumbs in other recipes. It would be delicious on top of a macaroni and cheese, lasagna, or used between the fillo dough layers on my Vegan Spanakopita.

Cauliflower Pasta

To prepare the cauliflower pasta, begin by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. While the water is boiling, break up lasagna noodles into strips. Alternatively, use linguini noodles or any other long thin pasta shape. Be sure that your pasta is gluten-free in necessary. Cook pasta according to package directions.

While the water is boiling, heat olive oil over a large skillet. Once hot, add onions and garlic to the pan and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Next, add cauliflower florets and optional red chili flakes. Allow the cauliflower to brown a bit for 4-5 minutes. Once the cauliflower has a nice golden color add 3/4 cup of water. The cauliflower should be allowed to steam for 10-15 minutes. If after 15 minutes the cauliflower is still hard, continue adding water a few tbsp at a time. When the cauliflower is tender, remove from heat.

When the pasta is done, drain and place in the skillet with the cooked cauliflower. Top with walnut crumb mixture and toss to combine. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.

Cauliflower and walnut crumb pasta in a large cast iron skillet.

And that’s it! Quick and easy! This cauliflower and walnut crumb pasta is a simple recipe that is sure to become your family’s go-to weeknight dinner. So grab a fork and enjoy friends!

Ingredient Health Benefits

Cauliflower- fiber, vitamin C, biotin, folate, sulforaphane to block cancer-causing chemicals

Garlic-phytochemicals

Onion- antioxidants; fiber; vitamin C; folate

Walnuts- Omega 3s, thaimine, B6, folic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, Vitamin E, polyphenols

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Vegan Walnut Spanakopita

Roasted Beet and Walnut Salad

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Butternut Squash and Sage Pasta

Lasagna Stew with Pumpkin Ricotta

Print Recipe

Cauliflower and Walnut Crumb Pasta

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: 30-minutes, cauliflower, easy, quick, simple, walnuts
Servings: 4 people
Author: Erin

Ingredients

Walnut Crumb

  • ½ cup walnuts
  • ¼ tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp dried parsley
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • sea salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Cauliflower Pasta

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • ¾-1½ cups water
  • red chili pepper flakes to taste
  • ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
  • 8 lasagna noodles, broken into strips or pasta of choice
  • parsley for garnish

Instructions

Walnut Crumb

  • Place walnuts, herbs, and spices into a food processor and pulse until mixture resembles bread crumbs.
  • Add olive oil to a hot skillet and saute walnut crumb for 4-5 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside for later.

Cauliflower Pasta

  • Prepare pasta according to package directions.
  • While the pasta cooks, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot add onion and garlic and cook until onions are translucent. About 3-4 minutes.
  • Add cauliflower and chili pepper flakes to pan and saute for 4-5 minutes until slightly browned. Add ¾ cup water to the pan and allow to steam the cauliflower about 10-15 minutes. If the cauliflower is still hard, continue adding water ¼ cup at a time until the cauliflower is tender.
  • Add chopped walnuts and cooked pasta. Toss to coat. Serve warm and top with chopped parsley.
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Pumpkin Pie with Cranberry Pecan Streusel

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A vegan pumpkin pie topped with a cranberry pecan streusel. With a hit of orange and vanilla, a dash of pumpkin pie spice, and lightly sweetened with maple syrup this vegan pumpkin pie is ready for the oven in less than 10 minutes. A touch of elegance is added to this classic Thanksgiving dessert by including seasonal favorites: cranberries and pecans.

A slice of vegan pumpkin pie with cranberry pecan streusel topping sitting on a white plate with the whole pie resting on a white cloth in the background.

Get ready for your house to smell like a small slice of autumn heaven. Or rather, a large pumpkin pie. Made with fewer than 15 ingredients this dessert is going to be a show-stopper at Thanksgiving dessert.

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Now, I don’t know about you but I love making a dessert in my blender. Ok, I love any excuse to bust out my Vitamix. But a pumpkin pie?!? Yes, please! Simply toss in all the pumpkin pie ingredients and blend. Stop periodically to scape down the sides but it really shouldn’t take more than a few seconds to be ready for pouring into the pie crust. Don’t worry, if you don’t have a blender you can still totally make this with a large bowl and a whisk. You’ll still get an awesomely delicious pumpkin pie.

Once everything is incorporated, bake your pie for about 35 minutes at 350*F until it’s just a bit jiggly in the middle. At this point, remove the pie from the oven and top with your cranberry pecan streusel.

A vegan pumpkin pie with cranberry pecan streusel topping missing 1 slice which is on a white plate in the background.

Cranberry Pecan Streusel

To make said cranberry pecan streusel topping grab your food processor. Pulse the cold, cubed vegan butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt until just combined and crumbly. Stir in the chopped cranberries and pecans. Gently and evenly sprinkle the streusel on top to the partially baked pie.

Continue cooking the pie for an additional 20-25 minutes. The pie is done when the crust is golden brown and the streusel is golden and bubbling. Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. Serve your vegan pumpkin pie with cranberry pecan streusel warm or at room temperature. You could top it with vegan whipped cream but I think the streusel crumb is beautiful and tasty enough on it’s own. Store leftovers loosely covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

A vegan pumpkin pie with cranberry pecan streusel topping missing a slice of which is on a white plate next to the whole pie.

Ingredient Health Benefits

Cranberries- rich in fiber; excellent source of vitamin C, phytonutrients

Pecans- thaimine, vitamin E, magnesium, protein, fiber, antioxidants, oleic acid, phytochemicals

Pumpkin- fiber, potassium, selenium, vitamin A

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Pumpkin Pie Hummus

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Pumpkin Pie Granola

Sweet Potato Dessert Tots

A slice of vegan pumpkin pie with cranberry pecan streusel topping sitting on a white plate with the whole pie resting on a white cloth in the background.
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Pumpkin Pie with Cranberry Pecan Streusel

A vegan pumpkin pie topped with a cranberry pecan streusel. With a hit of orange and vanilla, a dash of pumpkin pie spice, and lightly sweetened with maple syrup this vegan pumpkin pie is ready for the oven in less than 10 minutes. A touch of elegance is added to this classic Thanksgiving dessert by including seasonal favorites: cranberries and pecans.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Pie Crust Chill Time30 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Holiday, Vegan
Keyword: cranberry, holiday baking, holiday dessert, holiday recipes, pecans, pumpkin pie spice, streusel, thanksgiving dessert, vegan, vegan dessert, vegan pie crust, vegan pumpkin pie
Servings: 8 slices
Author: Erin

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Blender (optional)

Ingredients

Vegan Pie Crust

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp cold vegan butter
  • 6-8 tbsp cold water

Pumpkin Pie

  • 2½ cups pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 2½ tbsp arroowroot powder
  • 1¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp sea salt

Cranberry Pecan Streusel Topping

  • ¼-½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tbsp cold vegan butter
  • 4 tsp flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 4 oz fresh cranberries, chopped
  • ⅔ cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

Vegan Pie Crust

  • In a large bowl, mix flour and salt together with a wooden spoon. Using a pastry cutter or 2 butter knives cut in 6 tbsp cold, cubed vegan butter. Continue cutting in the butter until the mixture resembles wet crumbly sand.
  • Add ice cold water 1 tbsp at a time until the mixture just comes together when stirred with a wooden spoon. You don't want the mixture overly wet and sticky. It should be just moist enough to hold together. If necessary, knead a few times with your hands to get it to come together.
  • Put the dough in the refrigerator to keep cold while you work on the pie filling and the streusel topping. Do not leave the dough uncovered in the refrigerator longer than 1 hour or it will dry out. If you need to store it longer wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
  • When ready to use, roll the dough out on a floured surface. The dough should be about 10-11 inches in diameter.
  • Place pie crust in a 9 inch pie dish and gently press into the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Scallop the edges if desired.

Pumpkin Pie

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. If using your own vegan pie crust, prepare a 9 inch pie dish by gently pressing the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk until combined. The mixture will be slightly thick. That's what you are looking for. Resist the urge to thin it.
  • Pour pumpkin pie mixture into prepared pie crust.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 35 minutes. Prepare the cranberry pecan streusel.

Cranberry Pecan Streusel

  • Add vegan butter, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and salt into a food processor and pulse until combined. The mixture should resemble course, wet sand.
  • Stir in chopped cranberries and pecans.
  • Remove pie from the oven and place streusel mixture on top. Be sure to cover the pie evenly and completely.
  • Bake pie for additional 20-25 minutes until the streusel is golden and bubbling.
  • Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
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Vegan Bacon Buttered Corn

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This vegan bacon buttered corn is only 5 ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes. A quick, simple side dish that’s perfect for the hectic holiday season.

Vegan bacon buttered corn in a large cast iron skillet being scooped up by a wooden spoon.

I’ll admit. This is a dish I’ve been making for years. Even before my vegan days. And it’s become a family favorite at the holidays. So now that my family is vegan, I decided that I had to turn this into a vegan dish as well. An insanely simple side, this dish requires only 5 ingredients and can be thrown together only 15 minutes before everyone sits down for the big Thanksgiving dinner. It’s salty, crunchy, rich, and familiar. The perfect accompaniment the whole family can enjoy.

Vegan Coconut bacon

Before we dive into the corn, let’s take a second to make the coconut bacon. Now, you can use any vegan bacon your prefer just as long as it crumbles well. That being said, I also wanted to include a coconut bacon recipe in this post, just in case you don’t already have a vegan go-to bacon.

Now, this coconut bacon is just about as easy to make as the vegan bacon buttered corn. Simply line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 325*F. In a medium-sized bowl combine coconut aminos, olive, oil, maple syrup, liquid smoke and paprika. Once combined add unsweetened coconut chips and gently stir to coat. Spread the coconut over the parchment paper in an even layer and bake for 15 minutes stirring every 5 to prevent burning. Allow the “bacon” to cool completely before crumbling or storing for later use.

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Coconut “Bacon”

Vegan bacon that crumbles just like the real thing. Crispy, smokey, and sweet this coconut bacon will add texture and flavor to salads, pastas, and roasted vegetable sides.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Resting Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 20 mins
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: bacon, coconut, vegan bacon
Servings: 1 cups
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 1 cups coconut
  • 1 tbsp coconut aminos
  • ½ tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp maple syrup
  • ¼ tsp liquid smoke
  • ¼ tsp paprika

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Combine coconut aminos, olive oil, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and paprika. Gently toss coconut in mixture ensuring that all coconut flakes are coated.
  • Pour onto prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes stirring every 5. Watch closely to prevent burning.
  • When crispy but not browned, remove and allow to cool completely before crumbling.
Vegan bacon buttered corn in a large cast iron skillet with a large wooden spoon for serving.

Bacon Buttered Corn

Once you’ve prepared the “bacon” it’s time to assemble the buttered corn. In a large skillet melt the vegan butter over medium heat. Once melted add the frozen corn. There’s no need to thaw it beforehand. Stir the corn to coat with vegan butter and allow to cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Add more butter if you feel that the corn is looking too dry or if you just prefer really buttery corn. Once the kernels are thawed and warmed through remove from the heat and add the paprika, chopped chives, and crumbled “bacon”. Serve warm and enjoy the time you’ve saved in the kitchen by savoring the company of your holiday guests.

Enjoy friends!

Ingredient Health Benefits

Corn- fiber, B1, folate, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, phyochemicals have heart health and cancer-fighting properties

you might also enjoy

Mom’s Old Fashioned Stuffing

Roasted Apple and Butternut Squash

Vegan bacon buttered corn in a large cast iron skillet being scooped up by a wooden spoon.
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Vegan Bacon Butter Corn

This vegan bacon buttered corn is only 5 ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes. A quick, simple side dish that's perfect for the hectic holiday season.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Holiday, Vegan
Keyword: 1 pan, 5-ingredients, bacon, butter, chives, corn, easy, holiday sides, paprika, quick, side, side dish, simple, vegan bacon, vegan butter
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 3-4 tbsp vegan butter
  • 2 bags frozen corn
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ¼ cup vegan bacon, crumbled
  • 2 tbsp chives, chopped

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, melt vegan butter over medium-high heat.
  • Once melted add frozen corn kernals and cook for 5-10 minutes until thawed.
  • Sprinkle with paprika and allow to cook additional 1-2 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and top with crumbled vegan bacon and chopped chives.
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Mom’s Old Fashioned Stuffing

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10 ingredients and vegan, my mom’s old fashioned stuffing is perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Start to finish, this side requires less than 60 minutes to prepare. Grab a fork, and dig in to this family-favorite dish.

Old-fashioned stuffing with walnut and cranberries in a glass pan.

I wish I could take credit for this recipe. But alas…I cannot. My mom has been preparing this stuffing recipe for almost 40 years. It’s not Thanksgiving without this delicious side sitting on our dining room table. It has traveled through our family and now it’s one of my husband’s favorite foods. Although I have adapted it here to be vegan, and to include a few of my favorite seasonal add-ins, I hope that you all find my mom’s old fashioned stuffing to be just as amazing as our family does.

Old Fashioned Stuffing

Soft yet crunchy. Salty and sweet. Tasty and, well…delicious! This old fashioned stuffing is made with only 10 ingredients and requires about 1 hour of time to prepare. Not bad for the Thanksgiving side. It’s so simple and completely customizable (see Add Ins below). And let me just say that, yes, I am aware that we use 1 CUP of vegan butter in this recipe. I know. It’s a lot. But this is a side dish. And it’s meant to be eaten on a day of celebration. So don’t panic. It’s ok. We can use a cup of vegan butter and still live. I promise. Good, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

The bread

Begin by using your favorite loaf of rustic bread. I’m a huge sourdough fan so that’s what I chose to use. If the crust of your bread is rather crunchy you can remove it just to make sure that the top of your stuffing doesn’t become too hard when cooked. Once that’s taken care of, cut your loaf into large cubes. You’ll need about 9 cups of cubed bread which is about 1, 14oz loaf.

The Celery and Onions

Now, let me just say that for some reason, my mom does not like large pieces of celery or onion in her stuffing. She’s a big texture person so perhaps that’s why she always pulverizes them in the food processor for this recipe. To be honest, I prefer the onions and celery this way. Maybe it’s because I’m my mother’s daughter. Or maybe it’s because that’s just the nostalgia of the dish for me. Either way, give it a try. Place your celery in the food processor and pulse until VERY FINELY chopped. Do the same with the onion. If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, feel free to finely chop the celery and onion yourself. You do you.

Combining

In a large skillet, melt 1 cup (remember, you’ll be ok) of vegan butter. Once melted, add in the celery and onion. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. If your celery and onion pieces are larger, they may need to cook for 4-5 minutes. Just cook them until they’re tender. Once cooked, turn off the heat and add sage, thyme, truffle salt, pepper and 3 cups of cubed bread. Toss to coat. This bread will become very soggy rather quickly. Don’t worry, this is what we’re going for. At this point add in the other 6 cups of cubed bread as well as any add ins.

Add Ins

This is where my recipe really deviates from my mom’s. I decided to add in some fresh cranberries as well as chopped walnuts. You can either leave these things out completely or replace them with other seasonal favorites such as: chestnuts, pecans, pomegranate arils, cooked vegan sausage, or sliced apples.

Missing scoop of old-fashioned stuffing with walnut and cranberries in a glass pan.
Bake it

Once you’ve added (or not) any extras it’s time to bake the stuffing. Grease an 8×8 inch dish with vegan butter and dump in the stuffing. Cover with aluminum foil (or a rimmed baking sheet) and bake at 325*F for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes until the top is crispy. Serve and prepare for this to become a new family holiday classic.

Missing piece of old-fashioned stuffing with walnut and cranberries in a glass pan with cranberries on a wooden spoon.

I would like to end this post by saying “Thank you” to my mom. Not just for sharing this recipe but for instilling in me, at a young age, a love of cooking. She taught me the joy of bring family and friends together over meals. Holidays have always held a special place in my heart because I can remember, even a child, assisting in the kitchen. From this stuffing dish at Thanksgiving, to cookies on Christmas Eve, the holidays, for me, are marked by meals. So thank you Mom, for instilling in me at such a young age the true meaning of holidays: spending time with the people you love. Sharing laughs, love, and, of course, food.

Enjoy friends.

Ingredient Health Benefits

Celery- vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium

Cranberries- rich in fiber; excellent source of vitamin C, phytonutrients

Onion- antioxidants; fiber; vitamin C; folate

Walnuts- Omega 3s, thaimine, B6, folic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, Vitamin E, polyphenols

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Quinoa and Chestnut Dressing Stuffed Squash

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Mom’s Old Fashioned Stuffing

A 10 ingredient, vegan, old fashioned stuffing that is perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Start to finish, this side requires less than 60 minutes. Grab a fork, and dig in to this family-favorite dish.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Total Time55 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Holiday, Vegan
Keyword: 1 pot, 10-ingredients, cranberries, dressing, dried cranberries, fried sage, holiday sides, sour dough, stuffing, thanksgiving sides, walnuts
Servings: 8 people
Author: Erin

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups celery, pulsed in food processor
  • ¾ cup onion, pulsed in food processor
  • 1 cup vegan butter
  • 9 cups loaf sour dough bread, cubed
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp dried sage
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
  • ⅓ cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with vegan butter.
  • In a large skillet, melt the vegan butter. Add celery and onion and cook until soft.
  • Stir in 3 cups of cubed bread and toss to coat. Add remaining 6 cups of cubed bread, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
  • Transfer to prepared baking dish and cover with foil or top with a rimmed baking sheet. Bake covered for 30 minutes.
  • Uncover and cook for additional 15 minutes until top is crunchy.
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Vegan Walnut Spanakopita

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Vegan, with gluten-free options, this walnut spanakopita has a crispy crust and a creamy filling. Traditionally filled with pine nuts, this Greek dish has a new twist with the addition of walnuts. Filled with spinach, herbs and vegan feta cheese sandwiched between layers of crispy fillo dough and breadcrumbs it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser on a busy weeknight.

Close up of vegan walnut spanakopita on a black plate.

Spinach Filling

This vegan walnut and spinach spanakopita filling is beyond simple to make! But don’t let the ease of making it fool you. It’s packed with flavor, texture, and satisfaction. Creamy vegan feta, crunchy walnuts, and a blend of sautéed spinach and fresh herbs create a wonderfully simple and delicious meal. All you have to do is sauté scallions, shallots, and spinach. Mix with vegan feta cheese (I love this recipe), fresh herbs, and chopped walnuts and you’re ready to assemble the spanakopita.

Fillo Dough Tips

Before we start layering the fillo dough, just a few tips…

  • Make sure that your fillo dough has completely thawed before use. If the dough is the slightest bit frozen, it will crack and ruin all the layers making it un-usable.
  • Grab two large, thin dish towels and get them wet. Wring out the excess water and lay one down on your kitchen counter. Gently place your fillo dough on the moist towel and quickly cover with the other moist dish towel.
  • Whenever you remove the top dish towel to grab a layer of fillo dough, replace the towel as quickly as possible making sure that the edges and corners of the fillo dough are covered.
  • In case you haven’t noticed, the trick to working with fillo dough is keeping it moist and cool.
Aerial view of vegan walnut spanakopita on a black plate with the rest of the spanakopita in a baking dish next to it.

Spanakopita Assembly

All you need to assemble this walnut spanakopita are 3 simple ingredients: olive oil, Italian breadcrumbs, and fillo dough. Although these ingredients are few, they are all going to be layered together to create the ultimate crispy, crunchy, and salty crust. Be prepared to put in a little bit of work here but trust me, it’s going to be so worth it!

First Layer of spanakopita

Now that you have your filling made and the fillo dough is ready to use, let’s begin layering the fillo dough. It really is very easy. The most time-consuming part is the number of layers required to create that flaky crust. Begin by placing a layer of fillo dough in the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Gently brush a thin layer of olive oil over the fillo dough then sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Lay another fillo dough on top of the breadcrumb coating and gently brush with more olive oil. Sprinkle more breadcrumbs over the olive oil. Continue this pattern of fillo dough, olive oil, and breadcrumbs until you have used half of your fillo dough. End with a layer of fillo dough.

Second layer of spanakopita

Evenly and gently spread the spinach, walnut, cheese mixture directly onto the fillo dough.

Third Layer of spanakopita

Then continue layer the rest of your fillo dough as before: fillo dough, olive oil, breadcrumbs. Finish with a single layer of fillo dough and generously brush with olive oil. Sprinkle the top of your spanakopita with sea salt and bake at 400*F for 20 minutes watching close to prevent burning. You will know the spanakopita is finished when the fillo dough is golden brown and flakey.

Close up of vegan walnut spanakopita on a black plate being cut with a fork.

And that’s it! You’ve done it! You’ve successfully used fillo dough to make this incredibly delicious spinach-filled Greek dish. Remember to follow this fillo dough tips whenever using fillo dough. And now that you know how to use fillo dough the sky’s the limit! It’s uses go well beyond just spanakopita and baklava. Use it instead of a crust on top of your next pot pie. Cut it into thick strips, fill it with any sweet or savory mixture, and fold it into neat little triangles before baking.

I cannot wait to hear what you think of this vegan walnut spanakopita!

Enjoy friends!

Ingredient Health Benefits

Olive oil- Monounsaturated fats

Spinach- Fiber; vitamin K; calcium; iron; magnesium; manganese; folate; vitamin B; vitamin A; glycolipids (cancer cell growth suppressors)

Walnuts- Omega 3s, thaimine, B6, folic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, Vitamin E, polyphenols

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Walnut and Tofu Bolognese Sauce

Butternut Squash and Fried Sage Pasta

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Vegan Walnut Spanakopita

Vegan, with gluten-free options, this walnut spanakopita has a crispy crust and a creamy filling. Spinach, herbs and vegan feta cheese are sandwiched between layers of crispy fillo dough and breadcrumbs.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Fillo Dough Layering20 mins
Total Time50 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean, Vegan
Keyword: greek, mediterranean, spanakopita, spinach, vegan, walnut butter
Servings: 4 people
Author: Erin

Ingredients

Filling

  • 5 green onions, white and greens, diced
  • 2 large shallots, diced
  • 12 oz fresh spinach
  • ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup vegan feta cheese + more for crumbling
  • ½ cup fresh herbs parsley, dill, etc.

Spanakopita Assembly

  • 1 package fillo dough
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ½ cup Italian bread crumbs gluten-free if necessary
  • sea salt to taste

Instructions

Filling

  • In a large skillet, heat a tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute scallions and shallots for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  • In a large bowl, combine shallot and spinach mixture with choped walnuts, vegan feta, and fresh herbs. Set aside and begin working with fillo dough.

Fillo Dough

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush the sides and bottom of an 8×8 inch baking dish with olive oil.
  • Cut fillo dough to size and place a single layer of fill dough in the bottom of the 8×8 inch dish. Lightly brush fillo dough with olive oil and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Repeat this for a total of 10-12 times.
  • Evenly and delicately spread spinach filling on the top layer of fillo dough.
  • Layer fillo dough, olive oil, and breadcrumbs for additional 10-12 layers. One the final top layer of fillo dough, brush generously with olive oil and sea salt to taste.
  • Bake for 20 minutes watching to prevent burning. Allow to cool for 20-30 minutes before cutting and serving.
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Butternut Squash and Sage Pasta

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A cozy bowl of butternut squash and fried sage pasta is just what you need on a crisp autumn evening. This dish can be ready in 30 minutes and only requires 10 simple, wholesome ingredients. As an added bonus, this pasta sauce is easily turned into a soup. Grab a fork (or a spoon) and dig in.

Fried sage and butternut squash pasta topped with cranberries and walnuts on a grey plate with another plate of pasta in the background.

Can we all just take a second to appreciate pasta? What about another second to appreciate the sauces that we serve them with? Ok. Now that we’ve taken care of that…you can start appreciating this amazing homage to autumn. My incredibly flavorful, insanely easy butternut squash and sage pasta. Oh, and did I mention this squash pasta sauce can double as a soup? Yeah. Two dinner options in one. You’re welcome.

Fried Sage

This is the real secret, behind the scenes, star of the show. Fried, fresh sage is one of the most amazing little additions you could make to any squash dish. It’s so easy and it adds such a subtle sweetness to this sauce. So how exactly do we do this?

Add enough olive oil to thinly coat the bottom of a small pan. Heat the oil over high heat to get it extremely hot. Test the oil by adding a small piece of torn sage leaf to the oil. If the leaf sizzles the temperature is perfect. If it doesn’t continue testing every 30 seconds or so until it’s hot enough.

Once the oil is hot enough, add the sage leaves to the oil and allow to cook about 2-3 minutes per side until crispy and fragrant. Watch the sage closely, making sure that it doesn’t burn. Remove the leaves from the oil and place on a towel to absorb the excess oil. Set the leaves aside until later and begin working on the sauce.

Fried sage and butternut squash pasta topped with cranberries and walnuts on a grey plate with fried sage on the side.

Butternut Squash Sauce

Now that the sage portion of the dish is ready, it’s time to start the sauce (or soup). To the heated oil that you used to fry the sage, add the diced onion and sauté until translucent. Add the butternut squash, herbs, and garlic. Cook on medium-high heat for 5 minutes stirring to prevent burning but allowing the butternut squash to get a bit of a char. Add the vegetable broth to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the butternut squash is tender.

Allow the squash to cool a bit before adding to a high speed blender. Puree the squash with some plant-based milk and vegan parmesan cheese until smooth. At this point your pasta sauce is ready to go! Cook your favorite pasta according to package directions and toss the al dente pasta with this sauce. Top with the crumbled fried sage, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts.

Butternut Squash Soup

If you want to turn this sauce into a soup that’s totally doable and incredibly easy. When you’re blending the sauce simply add more vegetable broth to the blender and continue to blend until the sauce turns into your desired soup consistency. Top the soup with crumbled fried sage, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts. If you really want to go over the top, serve this soup in a sour dough bread bowl. Totally drool-worthy.

I hope that you will try this recipe and that you love it as much as I do. Let me know what you think of this dish and if you prepare it as a pasta sauce or a soup.

Enjoy friends.

Fried sage and butternut squash pasta topped with cranberries and walnuts on a grey plate with fried sage leaves on the side.

Ingredient Health Benefits

Garlic-phytochemicals

Onion-antioxidants; fiber; vitamin C; folate

Rosemary-polyphenolic compounds

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Print Recipe

Fried Sage and Butternut Squash Pasta

A cozy bowl of butternut squash and fried sage pasta is just what you need on a crisp autumn evening. This dish can be ready in 30 minutes and only requires 10 simple, wholesome ingredients.
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: 10-ingredients, butternut squash, dried cranberries, entree, fried sage, pasta, sage, vegan, vegan entree, vegan parmesan, vegan soup, walnuts
Servings: 6 people
Author: Erin

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 10-15 sage leaves
  • ½ cup yellow onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 butternut squash, cubed about 8 cups
  • ¼ tsp dried sage
  • ¼ tsp dried thyme
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 2-3 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup plant-based milk
  • ¼ cup vegan parmesan cheese

Additional Toppings

  • dried cranberries
  • chopped walnuts

Instructions

  • To a large pan, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of oil. heat over high heat. Once hot, lower to medium-high and fry the fresh sage leaves. Fry for 2-3 minutes flipping half way watching closely to prevent burning. Remove sage from the oil and place on paper towels to remove excess oil. Reserve sage leaves for later.
  • In the sage olive oil, saute onions until translucent. Add garlic, butternut squash, sage, thyme, and nutmeg. Cook for 5-10 minutes until crispy.
  • Add 2 cups of vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until vegetable broth has cooked off and the butternut squash is tender. Continue to add vegetable broth as needed in order to cook and soften squash.
  • Allow to cool slightly and blend in a high-speed blender with plant-based milk & vegan parmesan cheese*.
  • Serve over your favorite al dente pasta and top with crumbled fried sage, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts and more vegan parmesan cheese**.

Notes

*If making a soup instead of a sauce, add more vegetable broth 1 cup at a time to thin the mixture to your preferred soup consistency.
**This is my absolute favorite vegan parmesan cheese recipe.
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Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Published on by Erin1 Comment
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This vegan dessert is like taking a pumpkin cheesecake and rolling it up into a cookie. Less than 10 ingredients stand between you and this amazing fusion of desserts that will be a crowd-pleaser this holiday season.

Vegan pumpkin cheesecake cookies on parchment paper with a tsp of pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin butter in the background.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

I’m so glad that you’ve decided to make these vegan pumpkin cheesecake cookies. And incase you were wondering…yes, they really do taste just like a pumpkin cheesecake! By using not only vegan cream cheese in this recipe but graham crackers as well, you really get the full flavor of a thick, creamy slice of vegan cheesecake. These are such an easy cookie to make. All you need are 9 ingredients and 30 minutes, much simpler and quicker than a full-blown cheesecake.

Make ’em

To begin, make sure that your vegan butter and vegan cream cheese are at room temperature. Then, using a hand mixer, cream the two together. Make sure that you’ve removed all the lumps. Just like a true cheesecake, no lumps please.

Once the butter and cream cheese are smooth, add in the sugar, pumpkin butter, and vanilla. Beat together until just incorporated. I highly recommend using my pumpkin butter in this recipe to intensify the pumpkin flavor of the cookies. If you don’t have pumpkin butter then pumpkin puree is a fine substitute.

Finally, add the all-purpose flour, vegan graham cracker crumbs, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. I would recommend using AP flour, as I have not tried this recipe with a whole-wheat or gluten-free alternative. If you do substitute the all-purpose flour, please share your experience in the comments section below.

Vegan pumpkin cheesecake cookies on parchment paper with a tsp of pumpkin pie spice.
Roll ’em

Once all the ingredients have been mixed together, place the dough in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes to firm up a bit. You want the dough to be soft but not overly sticky. While the dough is chilling, combine 1/4 cup of vegan graham cracker crumbs and 1/4-1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (depending on how flavored you want the coating to be). Roll about 2 tbsp worth of dough into a ball and coat with the spiced crumb mixture.

bake ’em

Place the cookies onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake at 350*F for 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently tap down the tops. Return to the oven and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet. Serve cooled, or store them in the refrigerator until ready to eat. They’re best when served chilled but are just as tasty at room temperature. These vegan pumpkin cheesecake cookies should last about one week in the refrigerator.

So what do you think? Much easier than a cheesecake right? Be sure to let me know how you like these down in the comments below.

Enjoy friends.

Vegan pumpkin cheesecake cookies on parchment paper with a tsp of pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin butter in the background.

Ingredient Health Benefits

Cinnamon- manganese, iron, calcium, fiber, antioxidants, decreases stickiness of platelets

Pumpkin- fiber, potassium, selenium, vitamin A

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Print Recipe

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: cheesecake cookies, cookies, cream cheese, dessert, holiday dessert, pumpkin, sweets, vegan cheesecake, vegan cheesecake cookies, vegan cookies, vegan cream cheese, vegan dessert
Servings: 12 cookies
Author: Erin

Equipment

  • Hand mixer

Ingredients

  • 4 oz vegan cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¼ cup vegan butter, room temperature
  • ¼ cup pumpkin puree or pumpkin butter*
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup vegan graham cracker crumbs
  • ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon

Rolling Ingredients

  • ¼ cup vegan graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Using a hand mixer, cream together room temperature vegan cream cheese and vegan butter until smooth.
  • Add in pumpkin puree/butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until incorporated.
  • Add flour, graham cracker crumbs, ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice, and ¼ tsp cinnamon until combined. Place dough in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes until firm and less sticky.
  • Combine ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs and ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl. Roll a 2 tbsp sized ball of dough into the mixed crumb spice mixture. Continue until the dough is used up.
  • Bake cookies for 18 minutes. Remove from oven, gently tap down on the tops of cookies, bake for additional 3 minutes. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

*Check out my easy pumpkin butter recipe here.
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Walnut Fudge with Walnut Caramel

Published on by ErinLeave a comment
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This vegan walnut fudge topped with walnut caramel is just the dessert you should make for the upcoming holidays. The fudge is thick, chocolate-y, and perfectly chewy. And my vegan walnut caramel takes this (or any) dessert from ordinary to extraordinary.

Stack of walnut fudge with more walnut fudge in the background.

Walnut Fudge

This fudge is so simple there’s not much to talk about. Unless of course you want to know just how delicious it is. In that case, there’s plenty to discuss. Don’t let the fact that it’s only 5 ingredients fool you. This perfect holiday dessert packs a powerful punch. It’s sweet, chocolate-y, and chewy. With a slight crunch from walnuts to boot. Made in less 30 minutes, all you’ll need is a food processor and a loaf pan to prepare this ultimate holiday dessert. Make it ahead of time so you can spend your holiday doing what’s really important-hanging out with family and friends.

To make this incredibly easy dessert all you’ll need is: two firmly packed cups of soft, pitted medjool dates, 1/2 cup of walnut butter (for tips on making you own check out this post), some warm water, and a splash of vanilla extract.

Start by pulsing the dates in your food processor until a sticky ball forms. You want a pretty smooth date paste and once you have that, separate the ball so that it’s evenly distributed in the bowl of the processor. Then add the walnut butter, 1/2 cup warm water, and a splash of vanilla extract. Process until everything is incorporated. Continue adding warm water until the fudge is

At this point you can add walnut pieces and pulse to combine. Press the thick, sticky fudge into the prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350*F for 15-20 minutes until the edges of the fudge are just crispy. Allow the fudge to cool in the pan. The longer this fudge sits the firmer it will get. When you’re ready to serve, top it with walnut caramel, vegan ice cream, or whipped coconut cream. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Plated walnut fudge topped with walnut caramel sauce with walnut fudge in the background

Caramel Sauce

As if the fudge isn’t dreamy enough, I’m giving you the ultimate walnut caramel sauce to top it off with. This sauce is vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened with dates. It requires only 4 ingredients and can be made in a food processor in about 5 minutes.

Use it not only to top off this fudge, but any other holiday dessert you wish. Try it on cheesecake, over brownies, or sandwiched between cookies. It’s also pretty amazing right off a spoon too.

Plated walnut fudge topped with walnut caramel sauce with walnut fudge in the background
Print Recipe

Walnut Date Caramel

This 4-ingredient walnut caramel will take your holiday desserts from ordinary to extraordinary. Vegan, gluten-free, naturally sweetened, and oil-free. All you need is a strong food processor and 10 minutes.
Prep Time5 mins
Processing Time5 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Dips and Sauces
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: 4-ingredients, caramel, date, dates, dessert, easy, food processor, gluten-free, medjool dates, naturally-sweetened, oil-free, quick, refined-sugar free, sauce, simple, topping, vegan, vegan topping, walnut butter
Servings: 1 cups
Author: Erin

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 6 pitted medjool dates
  • ¼ cup walnut butter
  • ⅓-½ cup warm water
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  • Place fresh, pitted dates to food processor and process until a sticky ball forms. Break apart ball and evenly distribute in the bowl of the food processor.
  • Add walnut butter, vanilla and ⅓ cup warm water. Process until smooth. Add more warm water as needed to thin the caramel.
  • Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

Let me know if you make this super simple dessert for your next holiday get-together. I promise, you guests won’t know they’re being served a vegan dessert (unless you tell them).

Enjoy friends!

Ingredient Health Benefits

Walnuts- Omega 3s, thaimine, B6, folic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, Vitamin E, polyphenols

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Stack of walnut fudge with more walnut fudge in the background.
Print Recipe

Walnut Fudge

This vegan walnut fudge is just the dessert you should make for the upcoming holidays. Thick, chocolate-y, and perfectly chewy, you won't believe it's made from only 5 wholesome ingredients.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Vegan
Keyword: 5-ingredients, brownies, chocolate, cocao, dates, dessert, easy, food processor, gluten-free, quick, simple, vegan, walnut butter, walnuts
Servings: 8 pieces
Author: Erin

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pitted, tightly packed dates*
  • ½ cup walnut butter
  • ⅓ cup cocao powder
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a small loaf pan with parchment paper.
  • Add moist, sticky dates to the food processor and process until a ball forms. Break the ball apart and spread it evenly around the bowl of the food processor.
  • Add walnut butter, cocoa powder, and melted coconut oil and pulse until incorporated. The mixture will be very sticky and thick.
  • Add chopped walnuts and pulse to incorporate.
  • Dump fudge into prepared loaf pan. Press more chopped walnuts into the top of the fudge if dessired.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes until slightly crunchy around the edges. Allow to cool in the loaf pan. The longer it sits the firmer it will become. Cut into 8-10 pieces and serve with walnut caramel sauce, vegan ice cream, or whipped coconut cream.
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Vegan Charcuterie Board

Published on by ErinLeave a comment

How To

With the holidays just around the corner, let’s put together a vegan charcuterie board! They are extremely versatile, customizable, and easy to prepare. I’ll show you how you can create the perfect charcuterie board for your next gathering.

Charcuterie board with fresh vegetables, fresh & dried fruits, chips, hummus, and vegan cheese.

So what the heck is a charcuterie board anyway? Well, it’s a large platter filled with finger foods of varying flavors, textures, and colors. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the senses. Charcuterie boards make a fantastic appetizer for parties, holidays, and other large social gatherings. They are also a fantastic way to serve many different foods as an appetizer or light meal. Everyone is able to select what they would like and create their own spread. In this post, I’ll give you tips about how to put together the perfect charcuterie board.

What to include on your Charcuterie Board

The trick to having the perfect charcuterie board is creating layers. You want to have layers of flavors as well as textures. Think sweet, spicy, salty, savory. As well as creamy, crunchy, and smooth. Fruits, vegetables, spreads, dips, crackers, breads, nuts, meats, cheezes…all of these can fit into any number of those categories. So let’s brainstorm a bit to give you some ideas that might be a little out of the box.

Fruits

Select fruits that are in season. In the spring and summer think berries, peaches, nectarines, grapes. In the fall and winter months focus on figs, apples, persimmons, grapes, pomegranate arils. And don’t be afraid to add dried fruits. Sprinkle raisins over your board for a finishing touch. Or place dried apple rounds out since freshly sliced apples will brown too quickly.

Vegetables

Raw vegetables are definitely a must when making a charcuterie board. Think sweet bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, or cucumbers. If making a charcuterie board in the summer add grilled zucchini or summer squash. Even pickled or jarred vegetables will work. Think olives, asparagus, or artichokes.

Dips & Spreads

It’s easy to select fruits and vegetables when making a vegan charcuterie board. Obviously, those are vegan. But finding dips and spreads that are vegan can be a bit more challenging. If you don’t have access to a grocery store with a wide variety of vegan dips or spreads this may end up being the portion of the charcuterie board that you have to spend a little bit of time preparing. But don’t let that frighten you off. Most dips are very quick and easy to prepare. Allow me to give you some examples of both store-bought as well as homemade vegan dips and spreads.

Crackers

Choose crackers that have some personality. You should have some mild ones that will pair well with anything and some others that are for specific dips and cheeses. Think outside the box. I love the beet crackers and sweet potato crackers from Trader Joes. Off the Eaten Path has a fantastically salty and crunchy Veggie Crisp. There are also dried carrot, beet, and kale chips. All of which will add depth and interest to your charcuterie board.

Bread

Use your favorite artisan breads to enhance the texture of your board. Add breads with rosemary, hunks of garlic, or cranberries and walnuts to create even more flavor on your board. And don’t think you have to slice your bread either! Feel free to rip the loaves into large chunks to add texture and visual interest to your board.

Nuts

Including nuts in your charcuterie board will add visual interest and texture as well as flavor. Use raw, roasted, spiced, or candied nuts to further elevate the flavor profile of you board. Don’t underestimate the power that flavored and roasted seeds can have as well. I have three wonderful recipes for roasted squash seeds that would work perfectly in an autumnal charcuterie board.

Vegan Meats

A traditional charcuterie board will contain deli meats. Now, it is up to you to decide if you would like to include vegan meats in your own charcuterie board. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of vegan deli meat alternatives. I find them to be rubbery, extremely salty, and rather unappealing to look at. That however is just my opinion so please feel free to add whatever, if any, deli alternatives you find appetizing.

Vegan Cheezes

There are so many vegan cheeses available now! Check out your local grocery store or whip up your own nut-based cheeses at home. I love this feta recipe from Erin Ireland. It’s so simple and adds the saltiness to your board that definitely cannot be overlooked.

Extras

Now that you’ve determined what kinds of fruits, vegetables, dips, spreads, crackers, bread, nuts, “meats”, and cheezes you would like to include on your charcuterie board let’s take just a second to discuss the layout of the actual board. Some tips for creating a beautiful and inviting board are as follows:

  • Pick a board large enough to fit everything you want to include. But not a board that is so large that you will have lots of unfilled space. Empty space on the board will give it an unfinished, uninviting feel. You can, to some extent, fill empty space with herbs but you want to use fresh herbs sparingly as a garnish, not as a star feature.
  • Make sure that you provide utensils for spreading, cutting, spearing, and slicing the spreads, fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses. These can be fancy to add interest to the board. They can be your everyday serving utensils. Or you can use something as simple as toothpicks! There’s not need to go out and buy anything special.
Charcuterie board with fresh vegetables, fresh & dried fruits, walnuts, vegan deli meat, crackers, chips, hummus, and vegan cheese.

Charcuterie Board Steps

Once you have all the pieces of your charcuterie board puzzle figured out, it’s time to put them all together to create that visually appealing appetizer no one will be able to keep their hands off. Let’s go through the steps of laying out all your charcuterie board items.

  • Step 1: Gather your board, bowls, and food items. Place any dips or spreads into your selected bowls and place them on the board in the rough location that you would like them to be.
  • Step 2: Begin by placing your largest food items on the board first. Think large crackers, blocks of vegan cheese, fruits (such as this pomegranate half), and vegetables (the florets of broccoli). Ensure that the food is overlapping to prevent the board from showing through.
  • Step 3: Place medium food items around the larger ones. Think slices of vegan deli “meat”, smaller crackers, chips, and/or dried fruit.
  • Step 4: Place your smallest food items on the board last. If necessary, corral them onto the board by surrounding them with larger, sturdier foods and bowls to prevent them from rolling off the board. Think loose grapes, blueberries, or nuts.
  • Step 5: The final step is adding fresh herbs to your board. Top dips with parsley, dill or cilantro as appropriate. Stick sprigs of rosemary or sage out from under bowls. Don’t be afraid to re-arrange as you go. If something doesn’t look or feel right rearrange it or remove it from the board. Everything you intended on using might not fit and that’s ok. You can always have two charcuterie boards!

Bonus Tip

Make a dessert charcuterie board! Include your favorite cookies, cakes, chocolate hummus, fruits for dipping in chocolate, sugared nuts…let me know in the comments section what you include in your dessert charcuterie board.

I hope that you all have found this charcuterie board how-to informative and helpful. Know that any board you put together will be a hit with your party guest. I mean, who doesn’t love a bunch of fresh food sprawled out on a wooden board? Be sure to let me know in the comments if you make a charcuterie board.

Enjoy friends!

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Roasted Beet and Walnut Salad

Published on by ErinLeave a comment
With Vegan Feta
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This simple, healthy, delicious roasted beet and walnut salad makes for a fantastic holiday side dish. All you need is 1 dish, 4 ingredients, and 45 minutes. Loaded with nutritious beets and walnuts, fresh parsley, and tangy vegan feta, make this vibrant salad a part of your Thanksgiving table this year.

Roasted beet and walnut salad with feta and fresh parsley on a white plate with a bowl on walnuts and a wooden spoon.

Why I Love Beets

I love beets. I love their versatility. Their texture. The slight sweetness they have when they’re roasted. And in this salad the earthy and crunchy walnuts, salty and creamy feta, bright and fresh parsley work beautifully with roasted beets.

Thanksgiving Side

I also love Thanksgiving. And let me tell you, this dish is going to be perfect on your Thanksgiving table. It’s so incredibly easy to make and it will only take up about 30 minutes of that precious oven time you have allotted for the day.

Roasted beet and walnut salad with feta and fresh parsley on a white plate with a bowl on walnuts and a wooden spoon.

Preparation

I also love dishes that require virtually no preparation. (Are you sensing a theme here?) The prep time on my roasted beet and walnut salad is about 5-10 minutes. But if that is even too much to commit to on Thanksgiving morning, you can totally peel, dice, and bake your beets the day before. Just re-heat them gently in the microwave or a low-temperature oven and add the remaining ingredients before serving.

Make It A Meal

If you are finding this recipe any other time of the year other than November (or December), consider turning this dish into a meal. It’s so quick and simple that you could definitely throw it together on a busy weeknight. Or even make it over the weekend and have it prepped for weekday lunches.

Turn it into a meal by pairing it with pasta. Dice the beets into smaller bite-sized cubes and decrease the roasting time. When finished toss with your favorite pasta shape and some olive oil as well as the walnuts, vegan feta, and fresh parsley. You could also add garbanzo beans either while the beets are roasting or after they’ve been roasted.

I would love to hear what you think of this simple roasted beet and walnut salad. Let me know if you use it as a side at a holiday meal or for a quick weeknight meal.

Enjoy friends!

Ingredient Health Benefits

Beets- folate, manganese

Parsley- vitamin C, iodine, iron, phytoestrogenetic properties (cancer-preventing properties)

Walnuts- Omega-3s, thaimine, B6, folic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, Vitamin E, polyphenols

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Roasted beet and walnut salad with feta and fresh parsley on a white plate with a bowl on walnuts and a wooden spoon.
Print Recipe

Roasted Beet and Walnut Salad

This simple, healthy, delicious roasted beet and walnut salad makes for a fantastic holiday side dish. All you need is 1 dish, 4 ingredients, and 45 minutes. Loaded with nutritious beets and walnuts, fresh parsley, and tangy vegan feta, make this vibrant salad a part of your Thanksgiving table this year.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: beet, easy, gluten-free, healthy, holiday sides, light, parsley, quick, salad, vegan, vegan feta, walnuts
Servings: 6 people
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 6 whole beets, peeled cubed
  • ¼ cup walnuts use more or less depending on preference
  • ¼ cup vegan feta, crumbled* use more or less depending on preference
  • 1-2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped use more or less depending on preference

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Peel and dice beets and place in an 9×13 baking dish. Roast beets for 30-40 minutes stirring half way. Beets are finished cooking when they are tender and slightly crispy on the outside.
  • Add walnut pieces, crumbled feta, and chopped parsley to beets.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

I use this recipe from Erin Ireland for the vegan feta. It’s absolutely amazing and so simple that there’s no way I could improve it.
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