It’s time for another installment of What Vegans Eat. I have been doing these posts for the past few months to show some of my easiest vegan meals. Because plant-based dining doesn’t have to be labor intensive to be filling and delicious.
Easiest vegan meals
So often people say that making “vegan food” is too hard or that they don’t have time to make vegan meals. However, with a well-stocked refrigerator and pantry, it’s not difficult to pull together tasty and inexpensive dishes that require a minimal amount of fuss.
Breakfast:
I started with a quick and portable breakfast – a seitan BLT wrap.
I always have a pack of wheat tortillas in the refrigerator. I use them more often than bread.
With any number of leftovers or refrigerator staples, it’s easy to make a spring roll wrap, vegan refried bean burrito, vegan breakfast quesadilla, or even puffy vegan nachos.
For the wrap this day, I used Upton’s Naturals seitan bacon.
I simply browned 3 slices in a little bit of oil in a skillet while getting the other elements ready. I warmed a tortilla in the microwave for 20 seconds, added a light slathering of Vegenaise, and then threw on a couple big handfuls of spring lettuce mix, sliced cherry tomatoes and red bell pepper.
(If I’d had ripe avocado, it would have been even better!)
By then the bacon was ready, and I rolled it up into an easy handheld breakfast. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes to make.
I know some people would think of it as more of a lunch food, but I don’t mind blurring the lines between breakfast and lunch.
Lunch:
For lunch, I made split pea soup.
Even though it takes 60-90 minutes to make, the vast majority of that time is inactive while the split peas soften. I take 10 or 15 minutes to get the soup going, and then don’t give it much thought until I’m ready for lunch. I rounded it out with a handful of crackers.
This soup also freezes beautifully. So when I make a larger batch, I can freeze portions for an even easier lunch or dinner that’s just in the freezer waiting to be eaten.
Dinner:
At our home, we often make 3-flavor dinners in which we have three sides that come together to make one meal. Usually one of those flavors is something protein-rich like beans or tofu, one is a vegetable, and one is a grain, potato, or sweet potato.
This night, I made bowls with brown rice, roasted broccoli, and a healthy dollop of homemade hummus. I toasted wheat pita triangles in the oven for dipping.
(You know how pita bread naturally makes pockets? I like to cut the pita into triangles and then pull the two sides apart for a thinner triangle before baking. That way each triangle gets extra crisp.)
I also added a few kalamata olives and a handful of cilantro to finish it off.
Dessert:
For dessert David and I split a chocolate peanut butter bar from the grocery store. We’re lucky in that our grocery store makes several vegan desserts in their bakery, and this is one of our favorites.
Meredith
I am so thrilled to have found your blog! I am from the Des Moines area and I was so excited to see your veganized versions of Tasty Tacos and Happy Joe’s taco pizza! I can’t wait to make them. Where did you find the vegan peanut butter bars?
Cadry
I’m so glad to hear that, Meredith! I can’t wait for you to make the Tasty Tacos flour tacos. They really take me back, and I hope they will for you too! The vegan peanut butter bars are sold at New Pioneer Co-op in Coralville, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids. However, closer to you, you should check out the Chicago Diner cake slices sold at Whole Foods in Clive, if you haven’t tried them already. They are excellent!
KZ
Mmm everything looks great as usual Cadry!
Cadry
Thanks, KZ! 😀
Rachel Lyn
I really love this series. I wish more vegan bloggers did this. They all say, it’s so easy to be vegan, but they only post elaborate dishes. I understand why, you can’t really blog a recipe for something like pb&j. But it’s nice seeing the simple everyday food. Your approach to becoming and being vegan really makes sense to me. Especially your comparing learning and speaking a new language to becoming vegan. That made more sense to me than any thing else I have heard. Keep it coming!
Cadry
What a sweet comment, Rachel! I’m so glad that my posts are resonating with you. That means a lot to me.
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover
I should NOT look at your blog when I’m hungry, haha! That split pea soup looks and sounds delicious! Bookmarking 🙂 thank you!
Cadry
Excellent! It’s one of my longtime favorites. Let me know if you try it!
EC
That is the cutest dinner bowl ever! I’m a big fan of adding a dollop of hummus to round out flavors.
Cadry
Thank you! I’m a big hummus fan too. It’s always welcome for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! 🙂
Lucie
I never thought I could survive without a sweet breakfast but the seitan BLT looks so good! Great tip, I’ll give it a try. I can always leave it for lunch if I feel like chocolate in the morning 🙂
Cadry
That’s interesting, Lucie! If I start the day with a sweet breakfast, it feels like I didn’t really have breakfast at all. I’m a savory person all the way.
Harriet Emily
Your food looks so delicious! I’m seriously craving a chocolate peanut butter bar right now!
Cadry
Thanks, Harriet! There’s a reason that chocolate and peanut butter are classics. They go so well together!
Sophia @veggiesdontbite
All this sounds so good! I love the breakfast wrap. I’m going to have to do this, I’m in a rut right now and although I love my oatmeal I’ve been craving savory lately.
Cadry
Thanks, Sophia! I’m the opposite as far as savory versus sweet breakfasts. I rarely have something sweet for breakfast. I even prefer savory oatmeal! 🙂
The Vegan 8
That chocolate peanut butter bar looks soo good!!
Cadry
Looks do not deceive! We get that bar pretty regularly for an after dinner treat. It’s the perfect size for splitting. (Although, it never feels that way when I’ve quickly finished my half). 😉
Trinity Bourne
What a wonderful idea for a post. I love that you shared your day with us. Beautiful and soooo delicious too!
Cadry
Thank you, Trinity! <3
Chrissy
I like this series a lot also! Even though I am a longtime vegan and I cook all the time, it is fun to see what someone else throws together for a quick, satisfying vegan meal.
Cadry
That’s great, Chrissy! Thanks for letting me know!
Becky Striepe
I love this series!
Cadry
I’m so glad to hear it, Becky!
Jenn
Sounds exactly like the way I eat. When in doubt make a wrap or quesadillas…always! 🙂 And I love veggie and grain bowls…so easy and delicious….and versatile! And that soup! Split pea is one of my favorite soups ever! So yummy!
Cadry
Thanks, Jenn! Tortillas are so useful to have around! It’s very rare that I don’t have some in the refrigerator for a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Tracey
Yummy ideas!!! Keep them coming 🙂
Cadry
Thanks, Tracey! 😀