5 Tasty Winter-Themed Vegan Recipes to Warm Up Your Day

Although their lifestyle is never exactly simple, vegans face particular challenges to their eating habits during the coldest seasons. Where others might turn to hearty meats to warm their bones, you might want to take a look at what cooks around the world have found to be vegan-friendly alte atives when food becomes more important. No-Gluten Pumpkin Pier Although it calls for a little extra work, even a vegan can enjoy sinking their teeth into baked goods without betraying the cause. Butter, the supposed lynch pin of baking, can be swapped with a variety of alte atives for your crust, including homemade vegan butter based on refined coconut oil. The filling is comparatively easy, only requiring for access to a milk substitute, like the conveniently-already-sweet almond milk. A Seafoodless Chowderr Chowders get most of their press from the clam-based variant, but are actually a very flexible sub-genre of soups. A vegan chowder can include many of the elements of a non-vegan one, including the ever-popular corn and potatoes, with shiitake mushrooms serving as a protein substitute, and soy or almond milk as the broth's base. A Reuben You Won't Ruer Making a reuben without cheese or meat may seem like a tall order, but it's easier than you'd think. Tempeh (a soy product similar to a firmer tofu) seasoned with garlic and bay leaf is the star of this sandwich, although a well-made sauerkraut comes in at a close second. Residents of the Midwest United States can find the right, hearty rye loaves, among other vegan-friendly, baked goods, for their sandwiches from chains like Klosterman Baking Company. Vegan Lasagnar There's nothing more satisfying than sinking a serving spoon into a steaming heap of lasagna. Seasoned tofu needs barely any modifications to turn into a creamy 'ricotta' paste, while ground cashews with garlic can play the role of the parmesan. Don't forget the pre-roasted eggplant! Three Sisters Stewr Need something chunky in a bowl to fill you up for a cold day? Three Sisters stew is a classic of eastern Native American cuisine, based on diced winter squash, pinto beans, and corn. Optional but popular extras include tomato and peppers to add savory-ness and spice to the end result, which ends up resembling a no-meat, light-sauce 'chili.' Whether your reasons for choosing veganism are health-related or more philosophical, there's no reason going green has to mean eating poorly. These recipes provide just a sample of some of the easiest and most varied ways to keep your belly warm without going carnivorous during the most fuel-hungry months of the year. Stay healthy, not hungry!