Ten years ago, the average person had no idea what the word ‘vegan’ meant. But now, it’s a phenomenon! People from all over the globe are going vegan in an attempt to better their health, live more sustainably, and save the animals.
Best of all, eating vegan food doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor. You can replicate nearly any non-vegan recipe using plants, so you never have to say goodbye to your favorite foods. To learn more about some delectable and healthy vegan summer recipes that are sure to be a hit at your next summer barbecue, continue reading.
Why Create These Healthy Vegan Recipes for the Summer?
Before diving into these mouth-watering and healthy vegan summer recipes, here are a few reasons why you should ditch the meat and dairy in your diet.
If you’re concerned about getting enough protein from plants, rest assured. Plant protein is of the same quality as its animal-based counterpart. You can get vegan protein from nuts, seeds, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, beans, and even soy! Vegan protein powders are excellent for womens health too. These powders are not formulated with whey powder, which can cause acne and bloating. Dairy has even been linked to breast cancer in the past.
Veganism is also affordable.
Many people refuse to switch up their nutrition choices because they fear it will be too expensive.
But despite this popular belief, eating vegan is budget-friendly! The affordability of products can range, but if you stick to using pantry staples, like rice, beans, and fresh veggies, your grocery bill shouldn’t skyrocket.
Certain products can be a little pricer, such as specialty vegan ice cream and plant-based meat. However, you should be using these items sparingly if you want to optimize your vegan diet for the health benefits.
Now, if you’re convinced that you should make the switch, try some of these next few healthy vegan summer recipes.
These recipes are also easy quick.
1. Tempeh Ribs
If you want to impress even the most stubborn carnivore, try preparing a rack of meatless ribs. Use tempeh as your base and follow the next few steps. You can find tempeh at most health food stores. This is one of those healthy vegan summer recipes that you’ll want to keep in your Rolodex of recipes. Yes, it’s that great!
- one block of tempeh
- premade BBQ sauce of choice
- onions
- pickle slices
Steps
- Broil your block of tempeh on a pan drizzled with oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Turn over the tempeh after ten minutes of cooking. It should look slightly golden brown on both sides.
- Cover your tempeh and heat your BBQ sauce. You can also make your own using liquid aminos, agave, date sugar, tomato paste, and pepper.
- Using a brush, cover the tempeh stack with your sauce. Add sliced white onions and pickles on top and serve!
2. Fried BBQ Tofu
For a simpler recipe that still manages to pack in those smokey bbq flavors, try creating this BBQ tofu dish.
What You’ll Need
- extra-firm tofu
- cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- all-purpose seasoning
- breadcrumbs
- BBQ sauce of choice
Steps
- Start by draining your tofu. You need to expel all the excess water if you want this recipe to work. If you don’t have a tofu press, you can wrap your block up in towels, and leave a heavy book on top for thirty minutes or so.
- Then, chop up the tofu into cubes. Make sure they are all equally sized.
- Toss your tofu in the cornstarch, breadcrumbs, and seasoning.
- If you have an air fryer, load up the tofu into the pan and cook it at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for fifteen minutes. If you don’t, load up a pan with some olive oil and wait for it to get hot. Toss your tofu into the pan and turn it until all the sides are crispy and golden brown.
- Serve next to a bowl filled with BBQ sauce for dipping.
3. Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a summer staple, and it happens to be vegan as-is! However, if you want to upgrade your corn on the cob using a few delicious plant-based items, try this recipe.
What You’ll Need
- 2-3 ears of corn
- vegan butter
- salt and pepper
- lime
- chili powder
Steps
- Cook your corn. Either steam it, roast it in the oven, or wrap it up in tinfoil and throw it on the grill for that smokey flavor.
- While the corn is still hot, add one tablespoon of vegan butter and let it melt.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
- Lastly, add the chili powder and a drizzle of lemon juice.
4. Gluten-Free Carrot Dog
Since most vegan meat substitutes contain ingredients like soy and gluten, they may not be suitable for people with severe food allergies. However, this doesn’t mean they should eliminate the possibility of going plant-based! There are several healthy vegan summer recipes that mimic meaty dishes, without the use of faux-meat products. Take the popular carrot dog for example.
What You’ll Need
- gluten free hotdog buns
- carrots
- liquid smoke
- tamari
Steps
- Fill a sealable plastic bag with the liquid smoke and tamari. Use a couple of tablespoons of each. Taking your carrots, insert them into the bag. Allow the veggies to sit for thirty minutes to an hour to absorb the flavor.
- Take your carrot dogs out of the bag and place them onto the grill.
- Once they’re cooked all the way through, put them on a gluten-free bun with toppings and enjoy!
5. Meatless Hotdog
Try this variation if you’d prefer a hot dog that tastes closer to the non-vegan version.
You can find vegan franks at major retailers and boutique health stores.
What You’ll Need
- a pack of vegan hotdogs
- hotdog buns
- condiments like ketchup and mustard
- diced onions
- crispy fried onions.
Steps
- Start by roasting the vegan hotdog on the grill or in the oven.
- Place it into the bun and pile it high with your favorite toppings.
6. Fruity Popsicles
For a refreshing and healthy dessert, give this recipe a try. It’s also one of the easiest healthy vegan summer recipes on this list, so if you have children, try to get them involved too. While you can find this treat in the fridge freezers at most grocery stores, making your own is so much more fun!
What You’ll Need
- popsicle sticks
- ice tray
- strawberries
- pineapple
- apple juice
Steps
- Pour your juice into the ice tray.
- Place the fruit into each square.
- Put a toothpick or popsicle stick into each cube and allow it to freeze overnight.
7. Vegan Apple Pie
Apple pie is a staple pastry for the summer. Try your vegan baking skills out by preparing these mini vegan apple pies. They’ll taste as good (if not better) than the traditional apple pie you’re familiar with. And this is also one of the easiest healthy vegan summer recipes you can try this year.
What You’ll Need
- ready-to-bake crescent roll dough
- apples
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- brown sugar
Steps
- Chop your apples up and sprinkle them with the cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg.
- Line a cupcake sheet with the ready to bake crescent roll dough. Add the dough to each insert.
- Fill the pockets of dough with your apple mixture.
- Pop your tray in the oven and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for ten to fifteen minutes.
8. Black Bean Burger
You can create this burger with staples that you’d normally find in your kitchen cabinets.
Try this out if you want a healthy burger alternative the next time your family decides to grill.
What You’ll Need
- 1 can of black beans
- cornstarch
- frozen corn
- salt and pepper
- wheat buns
- avocado
Steps
- Smash the black beans into a paste.
- Add the frozen corn and seasonings.
- Create patties from this mixture and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for thirty minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve the burger with your favorite Southwestern-inspired toppings.
9. Fourth of July Burger
This is one of those healthy vegan summer recipes that pack a punch, so make sure you can handle spice before preparing this sandwich this summer.
Using a Beyond Burger patty, wrap it in tinfoil before placing it on the grill. Be careful, since these burgers are quite oily and can cause the fire to rise or react uncontrollably.
What you’ll Need
- premade meatless burger
- spicy salsa
- burger buns
- Sriacha sauce
- vegan mayo
Steps
- Cook your burger following the directions on its packaging.
- Mix your vegan mayo with the sriracha sauce, and spread it on a toasted bun.
- Add the burger patty along with spicy salsa, and all of your favorite toppings.
10. Veggie Skewers
You can never go wrong with a veggie skewer. Out of all these healthy vegan summer recipes, this one may be the quickest. Best of all, you can create this appetizer any way you want. Add fruit, chili lime salt, or sriracha sauce to change up the flavor.
If you’re feeling uninspired, try following this example.
What You’ll Need
- skewers
- zucchini
- sweet potatoes
- rosemary
Steps
- Add your veggies and roots to a skewer and season it heavily with salt and rosemary sprigs.
- Wrap it up and tin foil and throw it on the grill for thirty minutes and serve once the sweet potatoes are cooked all the way through.
11. Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Lastly, create this easy 8-ingredient sandwich the next time you pack a picnic. It’s filing, packed with plant protein, and can be customized any way you please. The leftovers store well in the fridge, so keep this in mind if you wish to make meal-prep.
This is another one of those healthy vegan summer recipes you’ll want to make year-round.
What You’ll Need
- a roll of white bread
- vegan mayonnaise
- almonds
- canned chickpeas
- cranberries
- lettuce
- tomato
- garlic powder
Steps
- Begin by draining and rinsing the canned chickpeas. Then, move them to a separate bowl.
- Using a fork or masher, begin mashing the chickpeas into a paste. Add two tablespoons of vegan mayonnaise, and continue mixing these ingredients.
- Place your roll in the toaster and come back to your chickpea and mayo mixture.
- Add in celery, cranberries, almonds, and the garlic powder to taste.
- Once the roll is done toasting, add your chickpea salad to the bun. Add tomato, lettuce, and salt to taste and you’re done!
Try One of These Vegan Summer Recipes and You’ll Be Sold on Plant-Based Living!
Don’t miss out on those summer pool parties and BBQ dinners. If you’ve wanted to follow a plant-based diet for healthcare or ethical reasons, try recreating one or more of these healthy vegan summer recipes to treat your tastebuds and impress your guests! You’ll find that healthy and compassionate eating is not as boring as most people are originally led to believe.