Whether it’s an anniversary, a birthday, or a dinner party, there’ll come a time when you’ll want to create an impressive, homemade meal. If you want to create crowd-pleasing dishes, but don’t like the idea of spending hours in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered. These simple recipes are easy to make but look super fancy. We’ve compiled a list of 15 easy recipes that will make you look like a chef!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Peppered Tofu Steaks

Source: Peppered Tofu Steaks

Unseasoned tofu never draws people over to the barbecue—that’s a fact. However, nobody can resist these delicious Peppered Tofu Steaks by VBQ: The Ultimate Vegan Barbecue Cookbook by Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer —that’s a promise.

2. Cauliflower “Steaks” with a Chimichurri Sauce

Source: Cauliflower “Steaks” with a Chimichurri Sauce

These Cauliflower “Steaks” with a Chimichurri Sauce by Bila are such a great lunch or dinner option! They are so flavorful and delicious!

3. Spaghetti Carbonara

Source: Spaghetti Carbonara

Here is a veganized, healthy version of a classic, Spaghetti Carbonara by Kirsten Kaminski. Imagine the creamiest non-dairy sauce, slightly flavored with a cheesy and eggy note, paired with little bits of smokey and crunchy plant-based ‘bacon’ – yum! What’s great about this recipe, in particular, is that you can adjust the sauce according to your taste, and add more or less cheesiness, spices, or egg flavor!

4. Savory Mushroom Tartlets

Source: Savory Mushroom Tartlets

Be sure to make a big batch of these Savory Mushroom Tartlets by Lisa Lotts, because you will surely need them! Filled with mushrooms, onions, and sour cream, they are a little piece of heaven for sure.

5. Pumpkin Ravioli in White Wine Butter Sage Sauce

Source: Pumpkin Ravioli and White Wine Butter Sage Sauce

Although making your ravioli takes a bit more work than opening a package, with hard work comes great reward. These tasty Pumpkin Ravioli and White Wine Butter Sage Sauce from Gabrielle St. Claire have pumpkin folded into the dough, which gives them a lovely orange color. Then, they are stuffed with creamy pumpkin purée and vegan Parmesan and cooked until tender. The finishing touch is a delicious white wine butter sauce that is perfectly seasoned with fresh sage!

6. 15-Minute Hearts of Palm Lobster Rolls

Source: 15-Minute Hearts of Palm Lobster Rolls

This hearts of palm lobster roll recipe by Gabrielle St. Claire only takes minutes, involves a handful of affordable and accessible ingredients, is effortless, has multiple textures, and packs that classic lobster roll flavor! What’s not to love? The hearts of palm matches the texture of lobster meat and the spice mayonnaise topping adds creaminess and heat to the dish.

7. Ecuadorian-Style Hearts of Palm Ceviche

Source: Ecuadorian-Style Hearts of Palm Ceviche

Ceviche is the perfect warm-weather food, and this vegan version of ceviche by Nancy Lopez-McHugh is so light that your belly won’t feel weighed down. It’s tender and crispy, tart and zesty and fresh, and oh so perfect served with a crunchy tostada or corn chips.

8. Hearts of Palm Calamari

Source: Hearts of Palm Calamari 

We don’t have to sacrifice our oceans, the planet, or animals to eat amazing food. This vegan calamari recipe by Ashley Hankins is flavorful, light, crispy, and delicious. It’s served with a classic cocktail sauce that perfectly complements the crispy, tempura-battered hearts of palm. Not to mention, it only requires a few ingredients and takes just half an hour to prepare.

9. Sausage Rolls with Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion

Source: Sausage Rolls with Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion

These Sausage Rolls with Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion by Harriet Porterfield are irresistibly snackable, delicious, and sure to please all of your guests, even the meat-eaters. The filling is prepared with a favorite homemade sausage recipe, full of smoky flavor and herbs. The sausages are blended with baked sweet potato to make the sausage meat and layered up with caramelized red onion. Encased in flaky puff pastry, these little rolls are sure to be a hit at your festive table this season!

10. Coconut White Chocolate Crème Brûlée

Source: Coconut White Chocolate Crème Brûlée

Yes, even custard can be made vegan, with coconut milk and cashew cream. This Coconut White Chocolate Crème Brûlée by Lisa Dawn Angerame is the epitome of an impressive and elegant dessert. Serve them at a dinner party or even on a random weeknight!

11. Aquafaba Chocolate Coffee Mousse

Source: Aquafaba Chocolate Coffee Mousse

This delicious Aquafaba Chocolate Coffee Mousse by Kirsten Kaminski is not only completely vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free but also super easy to make! All you’ll need is 3-4 basic ingredients and you’re ready to go!

12. Chocolate Orange Macarons

Source: Chocolate Orange Macarons

These Chocolate Orange Macarons by Kirsten Kaminski are fantastique! Now, the biggest question in vegan macaron-making is how to replace the main ingredient: egg whites? Well, let us introduce you to a magic liquid called aquafaba – also known as chickpea water! Yes, you’ve heard that right!

13. Raw Cocoa Vanilla Swiss Roll

Source: Raw Cocoa Vanilla Swiss Roll

Despite the name, Swiss rolls are thought to have originated in Austria. Regardless of where they come from, they’re a delicious treat worthy of any occasion. This Raw Cocoa Vanilla Swiss Roll by Adam Graczynski can be enjoyed by many because it’s gluten-free and grain-free; the chocolatey outer roll is made from dates and almonds and it’s stuffed with cashew cream filling that can also be made with macadamia.

14. Tempeh Maki Rolls

Source: Tempeh Maki Rolls

These Tempeh Maki Rolls by Tempeh Girls are incredible. Inspired by the beauty and simplicity of Asian food, these Tempeh Maki rolls are simple and delicious! Nori and tempeh are both excellent sources of plant-based protein, which makes these a filling lunch or dinner choice that comes together quickly for a satisfying meal.

15. Healthy Balsamic Mushrooms

Source: Healthy Balsamic Mushrooms

Sautéing mushrooms is great because it’s quick, easy, and so flavorful. Certainly, this recipe is as simple as they come. You need only 5 ingredients for these ultra lush and full-bodied healthy balsamic mushrooms. These Healthy Balsamic Mushrooms by Hannah Sunderani are umami flavored, creamy, and lightly tangy. It makes for a great side dish, or top on toast and comforting dishes like baked potatoes and risotto.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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