Category: Recipes

Vegan Copycat McDonalds Burger

Vegan Copycat McDonald’s Burger

I’ve been pretty dang lucky in my time as a vegan in that I’ve craved meat approximately once (I contribute this entirely to not enjoying it prior).  Not bad for three year’s time!  However, there is a sense of nostalgia for certain non-vegan-friendly dishes.  That’s where my vegan copycat McDonald’s burger comes in.

Click here to go straight to the recipe!

I have fond memories of stopping with Mom for a sweet tea before a long road trip or after a particularly grueling band practice.  We didn’t go to McDonald’s often, but it was something special—besides, it’s awfully difficult to avoid the ever-present golden arches forever.

Even if you aren’t looking for something to stir up nostalgia, there’s value in this recipe.  Some pre-made veggie burgers are better than others, and homemade tends to be even better than the best of those.  But sometimes even your favourite patty needs a little something extra (and it might even make Uncle Arnold stop teasing you about your “weird, fake sandwich!”).

Try it for yourself and see!

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Vegan Copycat McDonald's Burger

Our vegan copycat McDonald's burger is the perfect setup for your favourite veggie burger---kick it up a notch!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 patty your favourite veggie burger
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp white onion, finely minced
  • 3 dill pickle chips
  • 1 hamburger bun of choice

Instructions

  1. Prepare your burger as you wish (I especially like to grill a Boca burger).  

  2. Place patty on lower half of bun.  

  3. Swirl ketchup on top bun, followed by mustard.  Bonus points if you swirl them in opposite directions to make it extra "fancy!"

  4. Top ketchup and mustard with minced onion.  

  5. Place pickle chips evenly on top of burger patty.

  6. Top lower bun half, patty, and pickles with the top half of the bun (with condiments).  

  7. Enjoy!

Add lettuce, tomato, avocado, “cheese,” or whatever you like best to make it the ultimate burger!

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Vegan Copycat McDonalds Burger

Have you tried our vegan copycat McDonald’s burger? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

Salad Stuffed Shells

Salad Stuffed Shells

I love pasta salad.  But I also love veggies and recognise their importance. So, when I saw an image of salad stuffed shells on Pinterest (are you following us yet?), I knew I had to try it.  I got a few strange looks from my family—I’m not going to lie, it does seem strange—but it was so delicious that I didn’t care.

Click here to go straight to the recipe!

Full disclosure:  I finished off the leftovers while writing this post!

I kept the toppings separate so we could mix and match, but you could easily combine them all initially to make the “filling.”  Here, I just used some simple cherry tomatoes.

I used Italian dressing, but feel free to grab your favourite!  I’m sure a creamy dressing would go beautifully with the pasta shells.

Try it for yourself and see!

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Salad Stuffed Shells

These salad stuffed shells are a great way to satisfy pasta cravings while getting your veggies in!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 head lettuce
  • 1/2 box jumbo shell pasta
  • salad toppings (tomato, cucumber, pepper, or whatever you like best!
  • your favourite salad dressing

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to directions on box.  Once cooked, drain pasta.  Allow to cool.  

  2. Meanwhile, chop/shred lettuce and prepare toppings as desired.

  3. Add salad mixture to shells individually. Top with dressing to taste.  

Super simple, and great for a hot summer day!

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Salad Stuffed Shells

vegan pancakes

Mega Fluffy Easy Vegan Pancakes

One of my housemates’ favourite dinners while abroad was Breakfast for Dinner.  Between the lot of us, we had enough vegan and non-vegan options to appease even the pickiest eaters in the house.  We’d have cereals, bacon and sausage (both vegan and non-vegan), potatoes . . . and each time, these easy vegan pancakes were a hit!

Click here to go straight to the recipe!

Growing up, I had pancakes and waffles with my grandmother pretty often.  One of my favourite memories was of her special pancake topping: milk and sugar.  Her mother did it, Nan did it, and now I do it—with non-dairy milk since becoming vegan, of course.

Of course, they’re just as good with more standard pancake toppings.  From (vegan) butter and plenty of maple syrup to your favourite fruit, you can customise them to your liking.

Believe it or not, I haven’t tried this with any mix-ins, but blueberries or chocolate chips sound wonderful.  Though I haven’t tested it, I see no reason why these wouldn’t be even more delicious than the pancakes themselves!  If you do try a mix-in like these, let us know in the comments–we’d love to hear how it went!

These pancakes are delicious and tend to come out extra fluffy.  Plus, the recipe makes enough pancakes for everyone (or leftovers!), so you’ll have plenty.

Most importantly, though, these pancakes are super simple.  I’ve found that there seems to be a pretty common misconception that vegan recipes are difficult.  That’s not the case here!  These pancakes are super simple.

The only bit that might prove troublesome is the inclusion of buttermilk.  It’s not a common store-bought vegan ingredient and, if you haven’t used it before, it definitely seems intimidating.  After all, what’s less vegan than butter AND milk?

Try our vegan buttermilk recipe for a simple solution to that ingredient.  I promise—it might be the easiest part of it all!

From my childhood mornings of pancakes with Nanny to breakfasts for dinner with my housemates in Bath, pancakes have been a frequent character in my life and these make it easier than ever to have a vegan version!

So, without further ado . . . .

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Mega Fluffy (Easy!) Vegan Pancakes

The absolute fluffiest easy vegan pancakes.  Super simple and always a hit!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

Pancakes

  • 2 cups flour
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups vegan buttermilk Try our recipe, listed above!
  • 4 tbsp canola oil

Our topping suggestion (or use your favourite topping!):

  • 1 tbsp sugar per pancake
  • 2 tbsp non-dairy milk per pancake

Instructions

  1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.  

  2. Add buttermilk and mix until smooth.

  3. Heat large griddle to medium heat, greasing with canola oil, and cook pancakes.


  4. Top with sugar and milk or your favourite pancake toppings.  

Try our mega fluffy easy vegan pancakes for yourself?  Let us know what you think in the comments or on social media!

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vegan pancakes

Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich

Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich

While living in England, one of my housemates whipped up Hot for Food’s vegan buffalo cauliflower sandwich.  For the first time in my life, I finished off my leftovers and was sad I had none left.  I’ve never felt so much like Patrick Star in my life!

Click here to go straight to the recipe!

But all Spongebob references aside, this was by far one of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve had the opportunity to consume.

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Me being me, I made a few adjustments, and our vegan buffalo cauliflower sandwich was born.

My biggest difficulty so far is the dressing.  Since Vegenaise is impossible to find in my middle of nowhere town, it’s up to me to make my own.  Unfortunately, none of my blenders open on top, which complicates the emulsification process a bit.  So, my dressing tends to be a lot runnier than I’d like, but it’s delicious nevertheless!

Our buffalo sauce is quite different than the inspiration, too, but I think it adds a nice touch. You can play around with the flavours, too! Prefer your sandwich less spicy? Adjust accordingly.  Want to up the spice? Go for it!  Either way, I can just about guarantee that you’ll love this sandwich–hopefully as much as I do!

Try it for yourself and see!

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Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich

A delicious, healthy buffalo cauliflower sandwich.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 2 buns I split the steaks in half sometimes, so feel free to use more buns!

Cauliflower "Steak"

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 1/2 cup non-dairy milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Buffalo Sauce

  • 1/4 cup hot sauce
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 stick vegan butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Ranch sauce

  • 1/2 cup vegan mayo
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 F.

  2. Clean cauliflower and slice in half. From each half, cut one steak, about 1/2 inch thick. Save the remaining cauliflower to make buffalo cauliflower wings or your favourite cauliflower recipe!

  3. Whisk flour, non-dairy milk, water, and spices in a bowl. Pour into a baking dish and use to coat the steaks completely. Place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.

  4. While they are baking, prepare your sauces.

  5. Prepare vegan mayo if you haven't already, then whisk all ingredients together. Chill until the remaining ingredients are ready.

  6. Melt butter, then combine with remaining ingredients to form buffalo sauce. Add to baking dish and coat baked cauliflower. Place back in oven and bake for another 25 minutes.

  7. Add steaks to bun with dressing and condiments of choice. I've used Hot for Food's suggestion of lettuce, tomato, and onion, and substituted avocado from time to time. They're all wonderful!  

Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich

Tried it?  Let us know what you think!

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