easy vegan recipes

Butternut squash is one of my favorite foods, as it's so versatile, delicious, and healthy. It's often just part of a dish with many flavors, but I also enjoy it on its own, as mashed butternut squash with a few added ingredients.

As much as I love butternut squash, it can be a headache to cut and peel it. Fortunately, this mashed butternut squash recipe doesn't require any peeling or cubing! After three slices (plus spooning out the seeds), the squash goes in the oven and then the flesh gets easily scraped away from the skin.

One of my favorite things in life is hosting parties, dinners, and gatherings at home. Cooking delicious, indulgent foods that everyone loves is a big part of that. This vegan queso is so cheesy that no one ever believes it's vegan! But it is! Even better, it's healthy! The main ingredients for this dip are cashews and vegetables--much better than dairy-based dips.

This recipe uses a cashew cream base, and nutritional yeast, tomato paste, carrots, butternut squash, and powdered seasonings bring the flavor. For texture and flavor, I included chopped tomatoes, corn kernels, and a diced jalapeño pepper (but you can use any veggies you'd like for this, or leave them out for a smooth cheesy dip).

At parties, this appetizer sometimes gets overlooked for flashier, more visually interesting dishes. But it always gets finished, because the few people who try it end up eating the whole thing.

I love making this recipe because it's so easy and delicious. The dip can be made in a blender and doesn't need to be heated. And the potatoes just get coated with oil and seasonings, then put in the oven to get all crispy and delicious, while I do practically nothing. That makes it perfect for parties or game day.

A "curry" dish is hard to define, since it can use many types of sauces (or no sauce), and many different spice blends. Many of the chickpea curry recipes on the internet are some form of the American version of channa masala, made with cumin and coriander, tomatoes, and a coconut milk base.

In this dish, I wanted to create something slightly different, so I used a spice blend that contains more turmeric (similar to Caribbean curries). I also used cashew cream as a base for the sauce. Turmeric is a root that's related to ginger. Both turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties, so I love adding them to my dishes. As Hippocrates said, "let thy food be thy medicine."

Have you decided to go plant-based for the month of January, but don't know where to start? Knowing what to eat can be the hardest part of a new diet, but it can also be the most exciting part! If you approach it as an adventure, going vegan for a month (or longer) can be a great opportunity to try new foods you never knew you would love so much.

This strawberry-açaí smoothie is my perfect summer smoothie recipe! It's light and refreshing, and oh-so-delicious. Strawberries and açaí create a classic flavor combination that's tart but sweet.

If you're unfamiliar with açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-EE), it's a fruit that grows in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Brazilians have been enjoying it in cups and bowls for a long time, but it only recently became more popular in the United States. Because the fruit doesn't last very long, the best way to get it here is either in frozen or powdered form.

I was first introduced to açaí berries in 2011, when I visited Rio de Janeiro. It was a hot day on the beach in Ipanema, and my Brazilian friend led me to the vendor selling açaí cups along the beach walkway. She said most Americans don't like açaí, but I loved it. Later, it became more popular in the United States and now I can easily buy frozen acai packets at my local grocery store.

While acai bowls and cups are the "normal" way of consuming acai, I really like acai in smoothies as well. I've experimented a lot, and one of my favorite smoothies is "PB & Açaí", with, you guessed it, peanut butter. I also used homemade cashew milk in this recipe to make it even creamier, and frozen strawberries to balance the mellow flavor of the peanut butter.

I called this chocolate-açaí smoothie a pudding smoothie, because that's what it tastes like. More accurately, it tastes like something of a cross between pudding and chocolate-raspberry cheesecake. Either way, it's absolutely delicious. I'm happy to use this to replace dessert, without feeling like I'm missing anything at all.

The flavors in this smoothie are so nicely balanced, as the cacao brings out the açaí's flavor, and the bananas and yogurt add creaminess. It's a little bit of an indulgence, but as indulgences go, this one's relatively healthy!

I had my first taste of açaí in 2011 at a beachside stand in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was a simple cup of frozen tart fruit topped with granola and banana slices. Since that time, I'm happy to report that açaí has become more widely available in the United States, from juices to powders to frozen packets. Unfortunately, the fruit spoils too quickly to be transported here fresh.

Açaí bowls are the most common way to enjoy this exotic fruit, but I've come to love acaiaçaí smoothies just as much. It's a really versatile flavor that makes great combinations with other fruits, and even chocolate and peanut butter. I've decided to share my four favorite açaí smoothie recipes with you so you can enjoy this fruit just as much as I do!