Being a vegan doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some delicious soul food! It can be hard to find comforting food that tastes just like home when you’re a vegan, but we’re going to make it easy for you! There are plenty of soul food recipes out there that you can make using plant-based ingredients.
So, to help you start cooking, we’ve put together our top ten favorite vegan soul food recipes. You won’t be disappointed by these hearty dishes!
1. Vegan Fried Chicken
The delights of crispy fried chicken can now be enjoyed by vegans without eating chicken thanks to human innovation.
Of course, the experience won’t be the same for a carnivore. However, if you’ve been a vegan for a while and have been hankering after some nice fried chicken, this won’t let you down.
Despite the fact that there are other recipes available, this one produces fried chicken with crispy-crunchy skin and moist, meaty, and delectable flesh.
Ingredients
Seitan
- 2 cups vital wheat gluten
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
Broth
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
Flour Mix
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp cayenne powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Egg Mix
- 2 cups cold water
- 1/2 cup egg replacer
Extras
- Canola oil
2. Vegan Southern Soul Bowl
Mac and cheese, cornbread, collard greens, and sweet and smoky tofu cubes are all ingredients in this vibrant bowl. It really is a bowl of southern soul!
With so many different ingredients, you’d think this dish would take a lot of time and effort, but not at all! All of the pieces come together in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Cornbread
- See below for a delicious cornbread recipe!
Collards
- 1 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
- 4 cups collard greens, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1-2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Tofu
- 10 oz tofu, firm, cubed
- 1 cup vegan barbecue sauce
Cheese Sauce
- 3/4 cup sweet potato, baked, mashed, skin removed
- 4-5 tbsp vegan butter
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup pasta water, add more to blend if needed
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp turmeric, optional
- 1/4 cup vegan cheddar cheese shreds, optional
Extras
- 3 cups pasta shells
3. Baked Vegan Mac And Cheese
Vegetarian mac and cheese are simple to make. but making vegan mac and cheese is a bit more challenging; how can you make mac and cheese without the cheese?
It’s simple with this recipe! This food blogger made a really impressive mac and cheese that neither tastes nor feels like it is made of plants. Nutritional yeast holds the key!
Ingredients
Cheese Sauce
- ½ cup vegan butter
- 6 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 5 cups coconut milk, unsweetened
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 cup nutritional yeast
- 3 tsp onion powder
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Macaroni
- 18 oz elbow macaroni
Topping
- 3 thick slices of white bread, toasted, or 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp vegan butter, melted
4. Vegan Cornbread
The usual ingredients for cornbread and other bread recipes include milk, eggs, and buttermilk, but not in this case. However, the results are still rather spectacular.
Just flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, oil, and almond milk are needed to create the batter. Take note of how simple it is to find the ingredients! Why not give it a shot? As a vegan, you’re bound to already have them all on hand!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp vegan sugar or any natural sweetener, optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup plant-based milk
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup light olive oil or any neutral-flavored oil
- 1 tbsp light olive oil, for greasing the pan or skillet
5. Vegan Gumbo
This vegan gumbo manages to taste fantastic despite lacking the traditional gumbo mainstays of meat and shrimp.
It makes up for the absence of meat in flavor. It is guaranteed by the inclusion of beans, vegetables, mushrooms, and a flavorful broth that is rich and well-seasoned.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegan butter
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 medium green bell peppers, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1 medium onion white, yellow, or brown, finely chopped
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 cup mixed frozen vegetables
- 1 medium head of cauliflower, chopped into florets
- 5 cups Cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tbsp crushed garlic
- 1 tbsp cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 bay leaf
- 14 oz can of chopped tomato
- 15 oz can kidney beans, drained
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Basmati rice, to serve
- Chopped spring onions, to serve
6. Vegan Cheese Grits
Grits with no cheese in them? Even while it might not seem ideal to make a dish that calls for cheese vegan, it actually works!
There is nothing you can’t accomplish as long as you’re inventive in coming up with vegan substitutes for conventional products. Instead of using traditional cheese in this recipe, you’ll use nutritional yeast and vegan cheddar cheese shreds.
Ingredients
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 cup corn grits
- 1/4 cup vegan butter
- 1/2 cup vegan cheddar cheese shreds
7. Vegan Biscuits
Even without butter, these biscuits are buttery, flaky, flavorful, and fluffy. The secret is to use butter that isn’t dairy. You can eat as many biscuits as you like now that there is a plant-based alternative.
These are great for brunch or breakfast. You can top them with your favorite jam or preserves or just slather them with even more vegan butter.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain almond milk, unsweetened
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 4 tbsp non-dairy butter, unsalted
8. Southern-Style Vegan Black-Eyed Peas
Making black-eyed peas vegan can be a little challenging because they frequently contain meat flavoring. But not with this recipe! The secret is to season the peas with liquid smoke, spicy sauce, and other seasonings.
Although the spices are excellent, the liquid smoke truly enhances the flavor of the peas. No one will even realize they are vegetarian because they are so delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried black-eyed peas
- 1 tbsp vegan chicken broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp tabasco
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 3/4 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp liquid smoke
- Chives, for garnish
9. Ultimate Vegan Chili
Although it’s difficult to picture chili without ground beef, you should give it a shot first! This vegan chili is so delicious that it might become a new family favorite.
This chili, which is brimming with beans, seasoned tofu, and seasonings, is the pinnacle of vegan comfort food. It only takes one hour to put it together. Additionally, it freezes well, allowing you to enjoy a bowl of spicy chili whenever the urge hits.
Ingredients
Tofu
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 14-ounce firm tofu
Chili
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup water
- 3 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
10. Vegan Chicken And Waffles
There is nothing better than waking up to the aroma of tasty fried chicken and luscious waffles! Waffles and chicken really do go together better than they do separately.
Although the chicken may not be real, the flavors and textures are unquestionably excellent. No one will even realize it’s fake chicken if you serve it with vegan butter and waffles drizzled with maple syrup.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1/4 cup texturized vegetable protein
- 1 cup vital wheat gluten
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
- 2 tsp vegan poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of smoked paprika
- 6.5 oz canned jackfruit
- 1/4 cup firm tofu, drained
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup and 1 tbsp water
Chicken Batter
- 1 cup vegan buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2-3 tbsp vegetable oil
- Cooking spray
Waffles
- 2 cups vegan buttermilk
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed, mixed with 5 tbsp water
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp of vanilla
Topping
- 1 cup fresh arugula
- Maple syrup
- Sweet chili sauce
Conclusion
Who says vegans can’t enjoy soul food? Certainly not us! Try one of these delicious recipes today and find your next favorite ultimate vegan comfort food!
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