Healthy Vegan Comfort Food Recipes

What is Comfort Food?

Comfort food is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental feeling to the one who is eating it. This can mean different things to different people, but it usually involves a sense of familiarity and safety. Comfort food usually has a high calorie count, and often has a high carbohydrate content, as well as a high fat content. Examples of comfort food include macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, and ice cream. Comfort food is often associated with childhood memories, and is eaten when one is feeling down or stressed.

What is Vegan Comfort Food?

Vegan comfort food is comfort food that is vegan-friendly. This means that it does not contain any animal products or by-products, such as eggs, dairy, or honey. Vegan comfort food can still provide the same nostalgic or sentimental feeling as its non-vegan counterpart, but it does so without the use of animal products. Examples of vegan comfort food include vegan macaroni and cheese, vegan mashed potatoes, vegan fried “chicken”, and vegan ice cream.

Healthy Vegan Comfort Food Recipes

There are many ways to make vegan comfort food healthier. By using whole food plant-based ingredients, and limiting processed ingredients, you can create healthy versions of your favorite comfort foods. Here are some healthy vegan comfort food recipes:

1. Vegan Macaroni and Cheese

This vegan macaroni and cheese is made with a combination of cooked cauliflower and potatoes, which provide a creamy, cheesy flavor. It is also gluten-free and made without any dairy, eggs, or processed ingredients. To make this recipe, you will need: 1 head of cauliflower, 2 large potatoes, 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt. First, preheat your oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish. Next, cut the cauliflower and potatoes into small cubes and place them in a large pot. Add enough water to cover the vegetables, and bring to a boil. Let the vegetables cook for 10-15 minutes, or until they are tender. Drain the water, and then mash the cauliflower and potatoes together until they form a thick, creamy mixture. Add the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, olive oil, and sea salt, and mix until combined. Finally, pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

2. Vegan Mashed Potatoes

This vegan mashed potato recipe is a healthier twist on the classic comfort food. It is made with a combination of potatoes, cauliflower, and onions for a rich and creamy flavor. To make this recipe, you will need: 2 large potatoes, 1 head of cauliflower, 1 onion, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/3 cup almond milk, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. First, preheat your oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish. Next, cut the potatoes, cauliflower, and onion into small cubes and place them in a large pot. Add enough water to cover the vegetables, and bring to a boil. Let the vegetables cook for 10-15 minutes, or until they are tender. Drain the water, and then mash the potatoes, cauliflower, and onion together until they form a thick, creamy mixture. Add the olive oil, almond milk, and garlic powder, and mix until combined. Finally, pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

3. Vegan Fried “Chicken”

This vegan fried “chicken” recipe is made with a combination of vegan chicken-style seitan and a crispy coating of almond flour, nutritional yeast, and spices. To make this recipe, you will need: 2 cups vegan chicken-style seitan, 2 cups almond flour, 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. First, preheat your oven to 375°F and prepare a baking sheet. Next, mix together the almond flour, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the almond milk and olive oil. Dip each piece of seitan in the almond milk mixture, and then coat it in the almond flour mixture. Place the coated seitan on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Enjoy!

Conclusion

There are many ways to make vegan comfort food healthier, without sacrificing the nostalgic or sentimental feeling that it can provide. By using whole food plant-based ingredients and limiting processed ingredients, you can create healthy versions of your favorite comfort foods. Try out some of the recipes above, and enjoy the delicious vegan comfort food!