Food

Buttery fettuccine noodles, dubbed “alfredo,” laced with Parmesan and butter have been a fixture in Italian cuisine since 1914. Over the years, it became popular in America and increasingly richer with the addition of cream and eggs. Today, there’s a reversal stirring as people search for plant alternatives to rich, creamy dishes without compromising flavour. Enter a truly vegan pasta chock full of creamy garlicky flavour. The silky smooth tofu sauce coupled with garlic and cashew cheese is a delicious vegan alternative with the rich essence of traditional alfredo pasta.

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(pictured with Raw Tostadas with Spicy Strawberry Avocado Salad)

Strawberries make a sweet splash against the spicy jalapeño and cooling jicama in this recipe, standing in for more traditional tostada flavors like avocado and lime. The raw tortillas make for a different texture than the usual crisped version—one that’s fun to try out.

These two-bite treats are just the right size to pop into your mouth for a delicious dessert or a sweet afternoon pick-me-up. (Valentine’s treat, anyone?) They dazzle with their brilliant blue color, courtesy of butterfly pea flower. Butterfly pea flower is a beautiful blue flower that’s dried and ground to be added to recipes for an ocean-like hue.

Matcha maker

Here, we pair opposite colors on the color wheel with flavors that perfectly match. These delicious patties topped with fresh berry salsa are chock full of vitamin C and fiber—perfect to kick off the new year! Serve them as a main course (they’re delicious on a bed of wild rice) or shape the patty mixture into small bites and serve as an appetizer.

Double down

There’s a lot of umami going on in this salad. From the fresh taste of blueberries coupled with nutrient-rich greens to crispy toasted nuts paired with creamy tahini dressing, it’s flavorful and fresh. The added pungency of crumbled vegan blue cheese on top gives it that extra wow. Give your health an antioxidant blue boost this year.

Samey-samey

Sipping soup is supreme comfort on a wet and damp winter evening (especially if you also turn on your favorite R&B playlist!). This lovely vegan bisque is creamy and nurturing for any occasion. We jazzed it up with homemade chips made of blue-tinted potatoes, but a dairy-free grated cheese is also a tasty option.

Bisque-y business

A traditional recipe for mushrooms on toast usually calls for butter and cream or crème fraîche. We did a little transition and developed an amazing vegan creamy mushroom topping! It can even be made ahead and refrigerated to cut down on prep time during a weeknight. It features blue foot mushrooms, which have a delicate periwinkle hue to their stems—almost as if someone brushed them with watercolor paint.

A tamer take

Adding a subtle fresh-from-the-sea flavor, think of kombu as slaw’s secret weapon. British researchers have found that alginate—a unique fiber present in forms of sea kelp like kombu—may reduce fat absorption in the body. (FYI: This slaw will also work with wakame.) Quinoa provides quality carbs while sweet-tart apples add a counterpoint to earthy veggies, and the orange dressing is here for a splash of brightness. For added sweetness, you can include golden raisins or dried cherries. You know we’re easy like that.

Blade runner

Arame is a dark brown Japanese sea veg sold as long, wiry strands that are rich in dietary fiber. Its mild flavor makes arame one of the most versatile seaweeds and a great addition to salads and soups, as it won’t overpower other ingredients. If you don’t have arame, rehydrated and chopped kombu or wakame can be used in this recipe. You can also use cranberry, kidney, cannellini or orca beans if you’re adzuki bean-less. Whichever ingredient combo you use, each spoonful of this nourishing minestrone is like a liquid hug.

They’ve bean everywhere

Also called alaria and resembling pappardelle pasta noodles when rehydrated, lightly vegetal wakame is what you’re most likely to find floating in miso soup. It can also be the starring green in a riff on pesto. Slather the pesto between slabs of tofu and you’ve got a hearty vegan main. This briny pesto can also be dolloped on grain bowls!

Allowing this chutney to ferment gives it a more complex flavour that would be perfect to accompany any holiday meal.

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This fermented vegetable medley is bursting with healthy goodness. After fermentation, the vegetables are still crisp yet have a nice tang that goes great with cheese, on a sandwich, as a garnish for soup, or tossed in a salad.

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These spice-kissed breakfast cookies are a perfect way to start your morning. By giving them, you’ll ensure your host also has a sunny start to their day. Oats and quinoa both provide a good amount of dietary fibre, which helps you feel satiated until your next meal.

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This indulgent treat is chock full of good-for-you ingredients. Both goji berries and cacao nibs are excellent sources of antioxidants, almonds contain a good dose of potassium which is essential for good heart health, and hemp hearts are a great source of plant-based protein. If you’re going to multiple holiday parties, this recipe doubles beautifully.

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Healthy eating can be tricky come the holidays: temptation is everywhere. Give your host the gift of an easy, filling, and nutritionally satisfying meal with this delicious soup jar.

Tips

• Take the time to pick through your lentils, as occasionally you may find small stones.
• Jazz up this soup with additional vegetables or proteins. Chopped carrot, chopped celery, baby spinach, or shredded chicken added during the cooking process will add body and richness, making for a more filling meal.

Remoulade is a delicious cool and crisp side dish—perfect for everyday or special occasions. To the French it’s an elegant coleslaw made with a homemade mayonnaise. We’ve lightened it up without sacrificing flavour.

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A simple dinner to satisfy the day. For thousands of years, black rice was only available to Chinese royalty. Hence the name forbidden, perhaps? Given its reputation of being more impressive with higher nutrients than other rice grains, it’s popping up in mainstream stores and health food shops everywhere.

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Beautiful black pasta with a hint of squid—a delicious and visual dish perfect for a celebration meal. The flavour of salty anchovy coupled with fresh lemon is a taste explosion. This dish can be further jazzed up with some seared cherry tomatoes and broccolini!

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Have your cake and vegetable too! No need to turn on the oven for this delicious chocolate tart; it’s quick to assemble and satisfyingly rich. Plus, the added black beans make for a nutrient-dense dessert with healthy protein-rich carbs.

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Pretty tough to beat this delicious vegan steak. Cauliflower lends itself to so many flavours. We’ve paired our vegan cauliflower steak with a South American twist—chimichurri sauce. The combination of flavours coupled with the beautiful green sauce is perfect for the season.

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Chicken soup is comfort in a bowl. And making it from scratch gives your broth oodles of healthy bone nutrients. Coupled with white lentils, it’s meal-worthy. Store in the freezer in handy single-serve containers for lunches or for giving when someone you know needs a hug.

Tips

• Switch out white lentils for red, beluga, or French lentils, if you wish. Jazz it up with a little fresh kale stirred in.
• If time is not on your side, use prepared low-sodium chicken stock. Add 3/4 lb (350 g) boneless, skinless chicken pieces along with lentils and simmer until both are cooked. Remove chicken and shred. Return to stock and stir in parsley and serve.

Cook the sweet potato the day before to speed up the process on Christmas Day. Light and savory—these make a great sharing breakfast.

Well, it wouldn’t be a vegan Christmas without a nut roast! Roasted in a wreath tin and topped with my cranberry sauce, it’s the perfect Christmas centerpiece.

Sage wisdom