Deborah's Favorites

Quick, whole-food plant-based recipes

A working collection of the recipes I actually make when life is busy. Simple ingredients, fast on a weeknight, and good enough to make on repeat. I'll keep adding to it.

  • Almost everything is oil-free or oil-optional — a splash of broth works for sautéing.
  • Use no-salt-added canned beans and tomatoes, and rinse beans well.
  • The dressings are workhorses — make a batch Sunday and use them all week.
  • Quantities are guidelines. Taste as you go.

Breakfast

Cauliflower Oats
01

Cauliflower Oats

A big, filling breakfast that uses riced cauliflower to bulk up the oats — you get a huge bowl with way more fiber and volume. Sounds odd, tastes like chocolate-berry oatmeal.

10 minutes · Serves 3–4 large bowls

Carrot and Zucchini Muffins
02

Carrot and Zucchini Muffins

Fiber-rich, naturally sweetened, freezer-friendly. Bake on Sunday for grab-and-go breakfasts all week.

10 min prep • 35–40 min bake · Serves 12 muffins

Chia Pudding with Berries
03

Chia Pudding with Berries

Make it the night before and breakfast is done. Layer it in jars for a grab-and-go week.

5 min prep • chill 2+ hours (ideally overnight) · Serves 3

Salads & Bowls

Easy Sushi Bowls
04

Easy Sushi Bowls

A weeknight lifesaver — open a few packages, slice some veggies, done. Use whatever crunchy vegetables you have on hand.

15 minutes (no cooking required) · Serves 2

Apple Maple Tofu Kale Salad
05

Apple Maple Tofu Kale Salad

Warm tofu and chickpeas over massaged kale, with a tangy maple-mustard tahini dressing.

~25 minutes · Serves 2

Quinoa Crunch Edamame Salad
06

Quinoa Crunch Edamame Salad

Crunchy cabbage, edamame, quinoa, peanuts — all tossed with the spicy peanut-lime dressing.

~25 minutes · Serves 2

Mains

Mushroom–Lentil–Tofu Taco Filling
07

Mushroom–Lentil–Tofu Taco Filling

A versatile, savory, protein-packed filling. Make a batch, then use it all week — tacos one night, taco salad the next.

10 min prep • 20–25 min bake · Serves 6 generous portions

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
08

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

Cozy, creamy, and hearty without any dairy. A low-effort dinner that feels like a treat.

30 minutes · Serves 4

Lentil Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash
09

Lentil Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash

Hearty, herby lentil meatballs over roasted spaghetti squash with marinara. Comfort food, all plants.

~50 minutes · Serves 4

Butter Bean Burgers
10

Butter Bean Burgers

Crispy on the outside, creamy inside, with a savory umami kick from soy sauce and nutritional yeast.

~45 minutes · Serves 12 burgers

Sauces & Dressings

5-Minute Caesar Dressing
11

5-Minute Caesar Dressing

Creamy, garlicky, cheesy without any cheese. Hemp seeds and white beans do the heavy lifting.

5 minutes · Serves About 2 cups

Spicy Peanut-Lime Dressing
12

Spicy Peanut-Lime Dressing

Punchy, tangy, a little spicy. Works on noodles, slaw, grain bowls, and raw veggies.

5 minutes · Serves About ½ cup

Tofu Ricotta
13

Tofu Ricotta

Bright, herby, creamy. Use it on pasta, in lasagna, as a dip, or spread on toast.

5 minutes · Serves About 2 cups

Ranch Dip & Dressing
14

Ranch Dip & Dressing

Creamy, tangy, herby. Thick for dipping, thin for dressing — adjust with extra liquid.

5 minutes · Serves About 2 cups

Something Sweet

Black Bean Brownies (Banana Version)
15

Black Bean Brownies (Banana Version)

Fudgy, chocolatey, no flour, no oil, no nut butter. A ripe banana takes the place of nut butter — it keeps them moist and adds natural sweetness, so you can use less maple syrup too. You'd never guess there's a can of beans in here.

10 min prep • 22–25 min bake · Serves 9 brownies

Pantry staples

Keep these on hand and most of these recipes come together in minutes.

Always stocked

  • Canned beans: butter beans, black beans, cannellini/white beans, chickpeas, kidney beans
  • No-salt-added canned tomatoes and marinara
  • Rolled oats, whole wheat flour, breadcrumbs
  • Rice (microwaveable pouches), quinoa, gnocchi
  • Lentils — dried and pre-cooked
  • Frozen vegetables: riced cauliflower, edamame, peas, broccoli blends, shredded slaw mix
  • Frozen fruit: blueberries, cherries, mixed berries
  • Tofu (firm and extra firm), tempeh, chickpea pasta

Flavor builders

  • Nutritional yeast, hemp seeds, ground flaxseed, chia seeds
  • Tahini, peanut butter and PB powder, almond butter, raw cashews
  • Soy sauce/tamari, Dijon mustard, sriracha, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar
  • Maple syrup, unsweetened applesauce, unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Spices: smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, dried oregano/thyme/dill
  • Fresh: garlic, onions, lemons, limes, fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley)