Over the past few decades, vegan diets have become very popular, and many gourmet recipes are now available for vegans in fine dining settings. Unlike conventional foods, vegan diets are also easy to prepare, and if done right, they can have enormous health benefits, such as improved blood sugar control and a trimmer waistline. Put simply, you will feel amazing after even a week of going vegan in the middle of winter.
Even though a vegan diet excludes meat, fish, and poultry, the diet is flexible and on occasion may permit the use of fish or egg in small quantities. Here are nine vegan gourmet recipes that will keep you warm for the winter.
1. Falafel
Falafel is one of the perfect gourmet vegan recipes because it does not contain any meat, dairy or animal product. If you want a really exciting meal, make falafel balls out of chickpeas mixed with a variety of spices, garlic, onions, cumin, and parsley. If you want to eat healthy, don’t fry them but instead, bake them. They can be enjoyed with tahini sauce or plain yogurt.
2. Shiitake Noodle Salad
If you are feeling lazy on a cool winter day but want a gourmet vegan meal, buy some rice noodles, combine it with shredded veggies, fresh herbs and mix with toasted mushrooms. If you enjoy a bit of spice, you can add some hot sauce, spicy chili, and garlic. You can also add some peanuts to put a bit of crunch into your salad.
3. Lemon Green Bean Pasta Salad
Another ideal vegan winter dish is the Green Bean Pasta Salad. Mix crisp green beans with arugula and spice it up with a touch of lemon or ranch dressing. To make it more flavorful, serve with roasted pistachios or walnuts. Green beans are extremely healthy for you, and lemon is always a useful ingredient in most salads.
4. Black Bean Salad with Mango Sauce
Some people hate eating salads during winter, but this salad dish is different – it will warm you inside and out. Use some black beans and make a thick mango dressing. Add spices and chili for flavor and combine it with green tea. This recipe is unique as it does not use the usual ingredients. It’s a glorious blend of beans, mangoes, and spices.
5. Black Pepper Tofu Pot
This is another great gourmet vegan dish for winter. Heat some sesame oil, put black pepper, and soy sauce and add tofu cut into 1-inch cubes. Add spices to the mix. The right way of making these gourmet vegan recipes is to make sure you fry the tofu, then take them out and then put other spices and vegetables. Blend the two and serve.
6. Quinoa, Avocado & Sweet Potato Timbale
This is another unique vegan dish. Take some Peruvian quinoa, sweet potato timbale, and avocado. Once the quinoa is ready, whip the avocado and sweet potato into a tortilla and layer it on top of the quinoa. Garnish with chives or bean sprouts.
7. Compressed Wild Mushrooms & Avocado with Red Pepper Coulis
If you love avocado, this is the perfect recipe for you. Arrange the sweet red pepper, creamy avocado, and smoked wild mushroom with a bunch of herbs in a layered fashion. Each stack will tingle your taste buds. Add spices and dressing to taste.
8. Grilled Cauliflower with Pesto
This is a side dish made famous by the British chef, Jamie Oliver. The cauliflower is first grilled and combined with pesto sauce spiked with butter beans. To add flavor, add some crispy fried onions. Cauliflower has now become a key ingredient in the world of vegan gourmet cooking. You can use it to make pizza crust; you can substitute it for rice and make stir fry vegetables and cauliflower.
9. Vegan Tofu Peanut Butter Pie
If you are craving dessert but want to sustain your healthy eating habit, you can simply whip a decadent vegan tofu peanut butter pie. This dish is easy to make with a few ingredients – all you have to do is combine the ingredients in a food processor and pour into a vegan pie dish. Chill for a few hours and consume with a topping of vegan chocolate swirl and slices of strawberries/pineapple.
Vegan eating is not a whim – it’s a lifestyle. But sometimes, people find it difficult to sustain this form of eating because they have to put in time and effort to plan and make these dishes. In winter especially, people tend to feel lazy and often opt for dishes that are quick and simple to make.
The above-mentioned gourmet vegan recipes are all easy to make and require ingredients that most vegans would already have in their kitchen. You don’t have to go out of your way; you don’t have to be a gourmet chef. You just need a few tips and tricks – and voila – your winter meals are ready for you.
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