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Vegan Eggplant Parmesan (Gluten-Free)

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holding a baking dish with vegan eggplant parmesan inside

This mouthwatering Vegan Eggplant Parmesan recipe is made with delicious vegan mozzarella, breadcrumbs and marinara sauce baked to bubbly perfection. Whip this super easy meal together for friends, family, or when you’re craving something comforting!

holding a baking dish with vegan eggplant parmesan inside

Mmm, who doesn’t love a good eggplant parm?! When you’re craving something plant-based and super hearty, this is the perfect meal to cook. This recipe also freezes easily, making it the perfect make-ahead dish. 

What You’ll Need To Make Vegan Eggplant Parmesan

Panko Breadcrumbs – For a gluten-free option, Panko Breadcrumbs are my go-to. Panko crumbs are larger, crispier and lighter, so they coat without “packing” like regular bread crumbs, allowing foods to stay crispier longer. 

Cashews– Made from cashews, my recipe for the vegan-based mozzarella cheese is perfect wherever you would normally use mozzarella. This mozzarella spreads, melts, and has a mild flavor that makes it versatile and omnivore-approved.

Nutritional Yeast– Nutritional yeast has a natural sharp and cheesy flavor, so it’s an ideal substitute for vegan cheese or a perfect addition to any dish to make it a little more decadent.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

Make it Paleo: Substitute the Panko breadcrumbs for 1 cup coconut flour.

Add Cheese: If not vegan or dairy-free, then use regular mozzarella and parmesan cheese in place of the vegan options.

Tips For Making Vegan Eggplant Parmesan

  • Soak the Cashews: Before making the vegan mozzarella, soak the cashews to get them nice and soft. This will ensure the mozzarella blends up super smooth and creamy!

  • Make it in Advance: If you don’t plan on eating this vegan eggplant parmesan recipe right away, no worries! It can be stored in the freezer before baking. Just make sure you put it in the fridge the night before to let it thaw out.

  • Shelf Life / Storage: Tightly seal any leftovers in the original baking dish, or transfer them to an airtight container. Store them in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Recipe
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Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy

This mouthwatering Vegan Eggplant Parmesan is made with delicious vegan mozzarella, breadcrumbs and marinara sauce baked to bubbly perfection. Whip this super easy meal together for friends, family, or when you’re craving something comforting!

Ingredients For eggplant

  • 1 large eggplant, cut into ½-inch thick slices

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup non-dairy milk

  • 1/2 cup cassava flour

  • 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs (I used gluten-free)

  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast

  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

  • INGREDIENTS FOR MOZZARELLA

  • ½ cup raw cashews, soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes

  • ½ cup almond milk

  • 3/4 cup water

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 4 tablespoons tapioca starch

  • FOR THE DISH

  • 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce

  • ¼ cup vegan parmesan (optional)

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Lay eggplant slices out on a dish towel and sprinkle with salt, let sit for 10 minutes then pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Mix together non-dairy milk and cassava flour in a bowl, then mix together breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, and Italian seasoning in a separate bowl.
  • Dunk each eggplant slice into the milk and flour mixture, then coat in the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Transfer coated eggplant to baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
  • While eggplant bakes, add all vegan mozzarella ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Transfer mozzarella mixture to a small saucepan over medium heat and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat once smooth, thick, and stretchy.
  • Spread 1/3 of the marinara sauce into an even layer at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place an even layer of eggplant on top of marinara, then top eggplant with another 1/3 of marinara.
  • Dollop half of vegan mozzarella over the eggplant and marinara, then repeat those layers – remaining eggplant, marinara, and mozzarella.
  • Sprinkle vegan parmesan over top if using, then cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until lightly brown and bubbly.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • If you don’t have almond milk, any non-dairy milk (like oatmilk) will work just as well!
  • If you don’t have cassava flour, rice flour or all purpose flour will work in its place.

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30 Minutes or Less

Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

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two spicy cucumber margaritas with spicy salt rim on the side

These spicy cucumber margaritas are tangy, smoky, and perfectly sweet! This refreshing cocktail features a spicy rim along with fresh muddled cucumbers. Shake together a batch of these healthier homemade margaritas for your next dinner party or summer barbecue!

two spicy cucumber margaritas with spicy salt rim on the side

What You Need To Make Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

Lime Zest – The lime zest in the spicy rim is my very own secret ingredient. It adds a touch of brightness that will have people asking, “what is that?!” Just a teaspoon of fresh lime zest brings these drinks together. They’re ideally salty, sweet, and savory!

Agave – This natural sweetener makes these margaritas that much more healthy. I personally like the taste of agave better than simple syrup. Agave is darker in both color and flavor. Though if you’re looking for an even healthier cocktail – use honey instead!

Cucumber – This crisp, fresh vegetable is 96% water! Therefore, I like to look at this cocktail as a way to hydrate while I dehydrate. Ok ok gigs up. I can’t confidently say these margaritas are actually healthy just because they contain a vegetable. But I can say the cucumber perfectly balances out the spice. There’s just something about the combination of the two that is *chef’s kiss* perfect!

Make It A Mocktail

  • Use 2 ounces of tonic or sparkling water in place of the tequila. Also, use orange juice instead of triple sec for a virgin spicy cucumber margarita!

Tips For Making Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

  • The longer you shake these margaritas, the spicier they’ll be! Tossing the sliced jalapeños in your cocktail shaker will encourage them to release their spicy oils. So the longer they have to release those oils, the spicier your drinks will be.
  • For a skinny margarita, use orange juice instead of triple sec. The use of agave falls under the “skinny” label. Though if you want to make this a true skinny spicy cucumber margarita (wow that’s a mouthful) make sure you use fresh-squeezed orange juice instead of triple sec.
  • If you don’t like a salty rim, use sugar instead! Replace the salt with the same amount of sugar. Enjoy a slightly sweeter, yet still spicy and delicious cocktail.
Spicy Cucumber Margaritas
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Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: DrinksCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

These spicy cucumber margaritas are tangy, smoky, and perfectly sweet! This refreshing cocktail features a spicy rim along with fresh muddled cucumbers. Shake together a batch of these healthier homemade margaritas for your next dinner party or summer barbecue!

Ingredients

  • For the spicy rim:

  • 3 tablespoons salt

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon lime zest

  • 4 ounces tequila

  • 2 ounces lime juice

  • 1 ounce triple sec, see Notes

  • 1 tablespoon agave, see Notes

  • 1 cup cucumber, sliced

  • 3-4 jalapeño slices

Directions

  • Mix together all spicy rim ingredients together on a small plate. Then run a lime wedge along the rim of both glasses before dipping in the salt mixture. Set glasses aside.
  • Place the tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave, and cucumber in a cocktail shaker. Muddle together, squashing the cucumbers in the process.
  • Fill the shaker with ice, add in jalapeño slices. Then secure with lid and shake for about 1 minute.
  • Fill both glasses with ice, then pour over ice.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Triple Sec: For a lower calorie drink, you can sub the triple sec for 1 ounce of fresh-squeezed orange juice instead!
  • Agave: Simple syrup or honey would both work in place of the agave in this recipe.

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30 Minutes or Less

Frozen Margaritas

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glasses of frozen margaritas with limes on top

These frozen margaritas are everything you’ve ever dreamed of, and MORE! They’re deliciously tart, slightly sweet, and oh-so refreshing. Ditch the unnecessary margarita mix and blend together a batch of these homemade frozen margaritas. All you’ll need is 5 ingredients and just a few minutes!

overhead image of four glasses of frozen margaritas with a plate of salt on the side

What You Need To Make Frozen Margaritas

Silver Tequila – I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – use good quality tequila! I’m sure we’ve all taken a sip of a margarita and thought, hmmmm that’s not a very good margarita. And I’m telling you, 9 times out of 10 it’s because that marg you’re sipping on was made using dirt-cheap tequila. Whenever I pick up tequila, I aim for not the most expensive, but also not the cheapest. Espolón, Patron, and Casamigos are all brands I’ve tried and would definitely recommend!

Triple Sec – For those of you that don’t know, triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur. It adds just a touch of sweetness and some nice fresh flavor to these frozen margaritas. However, if you don’t have triple sec, you can easily use fresh squeezed orange juice instead. Fresh squeezed orange juice is lower-cal and a slightly healthier option. So use whichever you’d like in this recipe!

Agave – This natural sweetener is used in place of the simple syrup in this frozen margaritas recipe. Agave dissolves quickly and packs in quite a bit of sweetness. This sweet syrup is the perfect compliment to the otherwise tart flavors in this frozen cocktail. Just a little bit of agave is all you need to make these drinks perfectly sweet!

Make It A Mocktail

  • To make virgin frozen margaritas, substitute the tequila with grapefruit juice. Also, use fresh squeezed orange juice instead of triple sec. You’ll have a delicious and refreshing summertime mocktail!

Tips For Making Frozen Margaritas

  • Serve these margaritas immediately after making! Unfortunately, any frozen cocktail will begin to separate after blending. Especially in the warmer months! Therefore, I highly recommend preparing your ingredients and then blending everything up right before serving.
  • Feel free to add any frozen fruit you’d like! A handful of frozen strawberries would make a delicious addition to these cocktails.
  • Blend just enough, but not too much. Under-blending will result in large ice chunks throughout your drink. And let me tell you, nothing’s worse than not being able to slurp up your frozen margarita because a giant ice chunk has clogged your straw. However, if you blend them too much, they could start to melt and taste watered down.
Frozen Margaritas
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Frozen Margaritas

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: DrinksCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

These frozen margaritas are everything you’ve ever dreamed of, and MORE! They’re deliciously tart, slightly sweet, and oh-so refreshing. Ditch the unnecessary margarita mix and blend together a batch of these homemade frozen margaritas with just 5 ingredients and in just a few minutes!

Ingredients

  • lime wedges

  • salt

  • 8 ounces silver tequila

  • 1 cup lime juice

  • 4 ounce triple sec, see Notes

  • 2 ounces agave or simple syrup

  • 4-6 cups ice

Directions

  • Run a lime wedge along the rim of each glass, then dip them in salt to coat the rim.
  • Add all remaining ingredients to a blender and blend until no ice chunks remain.
  • Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Triple Sec: If you don’t have triple sec, you can use fresh squeezed orange juice instead!

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30 Minutes or Less

Swiss Chard Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

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swiss chard salad on a plate with a fork and sunflower seeds on the side

This Swiss chard salad is light, fresh, and crunchy! It’s loaded with healthy vegetables and dressed with a simple red wine and dijon vinaigrette.

swiss chard salad on a plate with a fork and sunflower seeds on the side

Why Swiss Chard?

Swiss chard is a nutritional POWERHOUSE! It’s jam-packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. But before I really get into how healthy this Swiss chard salad is for you, let’s first talk about its taste. Swiss chard is sort of a cross between kale and spinach. It’s not quite as tough as kale, but also not as light as spinach. Swiss chard is most commonly cooked or sautéed to help break down its hearty texture. Though, like any raw fruit or vegetable, when you cook Swiss chard, you lose much of its nutritional benefits.

Admittedly, Swiss chard can be tough to chew when raw. HOWEVER, the method in the Swiss chard salad recipe below provides this veggie with the right ingredients and steps to break down on its own – without any exposure to heat. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s a total win WIN. Swiss chard is a warm-weather vegetable, peaking from early spring to late fall. Unlike other lettuces, it can withstand hotter temperatures making it the last-man-standing during brutal July/August heatwaves. My parents have harvested a large amount of this hearty green vegetable over the last few months. And aside from its health benefits, that was one of the main reasons why I came up with this easy salad recipe!

Ok now back to the nutritional benefits! Swiss chard is full of:

  • Calcium (builds strong bones and teeth)
  • Vitamin C (aids in growth, development, and repair of all body tissues)
  • Iron (gives you energy and is vital to growth and development)
  • Vitamin E (big time antioxidant and protects body against free radicals)
  • Magnesium (supports a healthy immune system and muscle function)
  • Potassium (maintains heartbeat and a healthy blood pressure)
  • Vitamin A (great for skin health and cell growth!)
  • Folate (helps convert carbs into energy)
  • Vitamin K (positively contributes to bone, cognitive, and heart health)
  • Fiber (regulates hunger and blood sugar)

What You Need To Make Swiss Chard Salad

Sunflower Seeds – The sunflower seeds give this easy vegan salad recipe an irresistible crunch! Raw, cooked, unsalted, or salted will all taste equally as delicious in this dish – so use whichever kind you’d like. I went with roasted and salted sunflower seeds and they tasted incredible. This easy-to-find seed acts as a healthier crouton in this Swiss chard salad recipe. However, if you don’t have sunflower seeds, feel free to use any kind of seed or nut you’d like!

Red Wine Vinegar – The acidity in this vinegar is what helps to break down the fibers in swiss chard, therefore making it easier to eat and digest. Red wine vinegar is delightfully tangy, a little fruity, and has just a touch of sweetness. Additionally, I should probably mention just a few of the health benefits of red wine vinegarl. Red wine vinegar has been proven to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as cholesterol. Therefore, as if the swiss chard wasn’t enough, this dressing addition makes this salad even healthier!

Swiss Chard Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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Swiss Chard Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Chilling Time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

This Swiss chard salad is light, fresh, and crunchy! It’s loaded with healthy vegetables and dressed with a simple red wine and dijon vinaigrette.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped

  • 1/2 cucumber, sliced

  • 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

  • 4-5 radishes

  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, see Notes

  • For the vinaigrette:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, see Notes

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Mix all vinaigrette ingredients together in a large bowl then add in the vegetables and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes before serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Sunflower Seeds: Feel free to use whatever kind of seed or nut you’d like in place of the sunflower seeds in this recipe! Pumpkin seeds, chopped walnuts, or sliced almonds would also make great additions.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: If you don’t have red wine vinegar, you can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar instead.

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30 Minutes or Less

Summer Squash Pasta (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

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summer squash pasta on a plate with white wine, basil, and red pepper flakes on the side

This summer squash pasta is the perfect way to enjoy one of this season’s BEST vegetables! Fresh summer squash is quickly sautéed until perfectly tender then tossed with your favorite pasta. This simple weeknight meal is light, healthy, and comes together in under 20 minutes!

summer squash pasta being lifted off a plate with a fork

‘Tis the season! If you (like me) feel like you’re drowning in squash this summer, then you NEED to make this recipe. Summer squash peaks in the ….you guessed it – summer! My parents garden is currently being taken over by summer squash and zucchini. They have so much squash at this point that they have no clue what to do with it all! One solution to their problem is sending me home with massive bags of it every time I visit them. And while I still have a few squash sitting in my fridge right now, I was able to use some of them in this delicious pasta recipe!

I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve been a big fan of anything quick and easy when it comes to time spent in the kitchen. Hovering over a hot stove for more than 20 minutes sounds like pure torture in this city heat and humidity. Therefore, I’m on a mission to develop as many no-bake/cook recipes or ready in under 30 minutes recipes as possible! This specific vegan and gluten-free pasta recipe falls into the latter category, and for that reason alone we love it so much.

What You Need To Make Summer Squash Pasta

Summer Squash and/or Zucchini– This recipe is the perfect way to use up any leftover summer squash and/or zucchini in your garden! Simply wash and then slice at least two of them, then throw them in this recipe. If you like your pasta extra squash-y (new word – squashy!) feel free to add an extra squash or two in there. The more, the merrier when it comes to this summer squash pasta!

Pasta – I used Jovial Brown Rice Gluten-Free Farfalle pasta in my dish, however you can use whatever kind of pasta you’d like in this recipe. Rigatoni, orecchiette, ziti, penne, or really any pasta shape would work here. If you’re gluten-free like me, I highly recommend the Jovial pasta as it tastes incredibly similar to the real thing.

Basil – Continuing on with the summer trend, this herb flourishes in the warm weather! Basil really helps pack on the freshness in this simple pasta dish. If you don’t have basil, you can use fresh parsley instead.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Add Dairy: Finish this summer squash pasta off with a sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan cheese for a delightful, savory bite!
  • Make it Paleo: You can easily make this dish paleo by doubling up on the squash and removing the pasta from this recipe. It’ll be more of a side dish than a main course, but will still taste totally delicious!
Summer Squash Pasta (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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Summer Squash Pasta (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

This summer squash pasta is the perfect way to enjoy one of this season’s BEST vegetables! Fresh summer squash is quickly sautéed until perfectly tender then tossed with your favorite pasta. This simple weeknight meal is light, healthy, and comes together in under 20 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces pasta, see Notes

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 5 garlic cloves, minced

  • 2 summer squash and/or zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/4 cup fresh basil

Directions

  • Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add in the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
  • Add in the squash and/or zucchini along with the salt, cook 10-15 minutes, tossing every few minutes.
  • Transfer cooked and drained pasta to the skillet along with red pepper flakes and lemon juice, toss everything together.
  • Remove from heat, add in basil, and serve immediately.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Pasta: I used gluten-free farfalle pasta in this recipe, though you can use any kind of pasta you’d like!

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