Vegetarian Recipes

Pleasing the tongue and the soul

This page is dedicated to "found" vegetarian recipes with tips for Krishna conscious eating. Over the past many years I have been slowly rehabilitating my relationship with food and consequently with my whole self. Since I have come to Krishna consciousness, my food journey has become a spiritual one, providing yet another way to purify my consciousness and with it, my health (physically, mentally and spiritually). In Krishna consciousness, everything we do, including eating, is done with the intention of purifying the consciousness and elevating our selves to the mode of goodness (sattva). In so doing, we can fully revive our dormant spiritual nature, "suddhasattva" which means beyond the mode of material goodness, entering into the spiritual platform. So I offer these "tried and delicious" recipes with special tips for Krishna conscious eating so that you too can transform your diet into a spiritual practice!

 

This vegetable broth recipe is approximate and can be modified to your liking. For Krishna conscious preparation, leave the garlic, onion and mushroom at the grocery store.

  
Recipe:
4-6 Tomatoes
A bunch of Kale (about 6-10 leaves)
8 Carrots
8-12 Celery stalks (I use a whole head)
1 Tbsp Thyme (or more)
1/4 - 1/2 cup fresh Parsley 

Chop all ingredients (except the thyme, unless you buy fresh), put them in a large pot, add enough water to submerge vegetables. Bring to a boil, cook uncovered or partially covered for about 1-2 hours or until vegetables have softened and the water takes on a light brothy color. Puree entire contents of the pot in a capable blender (I use the Vitamix). Strain liquid broth using cheese cloth or very fine sifter. Discard remaining mush; compost or feed to your pets, even the tiny pesky ones you never invited. Refrigerate broth.

Garlic/onion substitute: Asafoetida (aka Hing)

www.buzzle.com/articles/asafoetida-substitute.html

This website gives backwards conversions, from hing to garlic and/or onion but it can be used to convert garlic to hing as well.

1/4 tsp asafoetida powder = 1 clove of minced garlic

 Vegan egg substitute: Flax Egg

For every egg the recipe calls for, mix together:
1 Tbsp of ground flax seed (flax meal), it doesn't matter what color
3 Tbsp room temperature water
Stir and let sit for 5-10 mins, and then stir again until the mixture is thick and the water is absorbed

Vegan Soft Pretzels

www.loveandlemons.com/2014/05/18/vegan-soft-baked-pretzels/

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies


veganricha.com/2014/11/vegan-pumpkin-snickerdoodles.html

Tips:
I coated in brown sugar instead of cinnamon sugar mixture 

Pumpkin Butter from scratch!

ohsheglows.com/2012/09/11/all-natural-pumpkin-butter-from-scratch-many-ways-to-use-it/

Vegan Pepper Jack Cheese

veganricha.com/2014/08/almond-milk-pepper-jack-cheese-vegan-glutenfree-recipe.html

Vegan Fluffy White Dinner Rolls

ohsheglows.com/2010/09/30/vegan-fluffy-white-dinner-rolls/

Maple Vanilla Cashew Cream

oatmealafterspinning.com/2012/10/30/maple-vanilla-cinnamon-cashew-cream/

Banana Oat Bundles

plantpoweredkitchen.com/recipe-page/?recipe_id=6025840

Raw Vegan Egg Nog

thisrawsomeveganlife.com/2013/12/you-gotta-love-raw-vegan-egg-nog.html#.VHZ8h2ewRKo

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

minimalistbaker.com/the-worlds-easiest-cinnamon-rolls/

The BEST Vegan Mac n Cheese

detoxinista.com/2011/01/move-over-kraft/

Tips:
For Krishna conscious recipe, replace garlic with hing or omit altogether

Pumpkin Pie Almond Butter

theorganicdietitian.com/pumpkin-almond-butter/

Super delicious just the way it is!

 Vegan Caramel Apple Muffins

vegangela.com/2010/10/05/vegan-caramel-apple-muffin/

Tips:
I used flax egg, left out the baking soda, used almond milk instead of soy milk, used coconut sugar instead of brown sugar for the muffin recipe only, and used whole oats instead of quick oats, and also experimented with the flour combo using oat flour in place of the whole wheat and pastry flour in place of the all purpose

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes

minimalistbaker.com/chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookie-pancakes/

Tips:

Try using dried blueberries and/or fresh strawberries in place of the chocolate chips

Vegan Cashew Cheese

healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/raw_vegan_cashew_cheese

Tips:
Omit garlic or replace with hing for Krishna conscious recipe
Omit onion for Krishna conscious recipe

Sweet Potato Flax Tortilla Chips

healthfulpursuit.com/2014/03/sweet-potato-tortilla-chips-paleo/

Tips:
Omit the onion for Krishna conscious recipe

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

yammiesglutenfreedom.com/2013/09/simple-chewy-gluten-free-chocolate-chip.html

Tips:
Replace 1 egg with 1/4 cup whole milk yogurt for Krishna conscious recipe
Replace white sugar with coconut sugar

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Au-Gratin-Potatoes/Detail.aspx?evt19=1

Tips:
Omit onions or replace with 2 chopped kale leaves for Krishna conscious recipe

 Whole Wheat & Flax Tortillas

irunonnutrition.com/2013/10/07/whole-wheat-flax-tortillas/

Tips:
Replace olive oil with coconut oil

Zucchini Fritters

alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2013/07/zucchini-and-feta-fritters-low-carb-and-gluten-free.html

Tips:
Use 1/2 cup whole milk yogurt instead of eggs for Krishna conscious recipe
Can replace zucchini with carrots and/or potatoes

Brown Sugar Granola

aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com/brown-sugar-baked-granola-trail-mix-2/

Tips:
You can use coconut oil instead of butter
Add 1 cup of walnuts

Candied Pumpkin Seeds

vegkitchen.com/recipes/candied-pumpkin-seeds/

Tips:
Bake on parchment paper instead of greasing the pan

Sautéed Kale and Sweet Potato

livinglou.com/2013/09/sauteed-kale-and-sweet-potatoes.html

Tips: 
Olive oil is actually toxic when cooked; replace olive oil with coconut oil
Omit garlic or replace with hing for Krishna conscious recipe
 



 Winter Salad with Lemon Yogurt dressing

bonappetit.com/recipe/winter-salad-with-lemon-yogurt-dressing

Raw Hemp and Chia seed bars

thehealthyfamilyandhome.com/raw-hemp-and-chia-seed-bars/

Make your own sourdough starter from scratch!

kingarthurflour.com/blog/2012/04/05/creating-your-own-sourdough-starter-the-path-to-great-bread/

Coconut Curry Lentil Stew over Quinoa

allrecipes.com/recipe/coconut-curry-lentil-stew-served-over-quinoa/

Tips:

Omit onion and garlic for Krishna conscious recipe

Replace canned coconut milk with home-made (see recipe below) 
The quinoa doesn't need so much salt, I used ~1/4 tsp and it turned out great
Add a head of broccoli and cook alongside tomatoes
Dice broccoli stems and cook with the quinoa

Curried Coconut Carrot Soup

thekitchn.com/recipe-for-all-159168

Tips: 
Omit the onion for Krishna conscious recipe
Replace canned coconut milk with home-made coconut milk (see recipe below)

Ditch the canned stuff! Make your own coconut milk!

allsortsofpretty.com/super-easy-diy-coconut-milk-coconut-flour/

Tips:
For soups and stove-top cooking, I forgo the straining, using the coconut "meat" for an extra coconutty experience :)

Broccoli Salad with Almond Chile dressing

www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/broccoli-salad-almond-and-chile-dressing 

Spiced Red Lentil, Tomato, Kale Soup

ohsheglows.com/2012/11/07/spiced-red-lentil-tomato-and-kale-soup/

Tips:
Omit onion and garlic* for Krishna conscious recipe
*Replace garlic with hing
Chop 4-6 fresh, medium sized tomatoes instead of using canned

Brussels Sprouts Soup

crossroadscommunityfarm.com/brussels-sprouts-soup/

Tips:
Replace onion with celery for Krishna conscious recipe

"Why no garlic, onion or mushroom? They're so tasty!"

This question comes up a lot when talking with non-devotees and it is a simple one to answer. To sacrifice indulging in garlic, onion and mushroom is a Vedic standard for Krishna consciousness. If you have heard of yoga, you have probably heard of Ayurveda (both are Vedic systems of health and well-being for mind, body and spirit). These foods are "tamas" and "rajas" and when we eat them, they put our consciousness in the mode of ignorance and passion. In Krishna consciousness, we aspire to raise our vibration, our consciousness to the mode of goodness (sattva) so that we may be eligible to enter into the spiritual world. Sure, garlic, onion and perhaps even mushrooms may please the pallet and may contain beneficial antioxidants, but nature provides a plethora of sources for anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant ingredients that are equally delicious.

"Those who are interested in self-realization, in terms of mind and sense control, offer the functions of all the senses, as well as the vital force [breath], as oblations into the fire of the controlled mind." (Bhagavad Gita, 4.27)

"All these performers who know the meaning of sacrifice become cleansed of sinful reaction, and having tasted the nectar of the remnants of such sacrifice, they go to the supreme eternal atmosphere." (Bhagavad Gita, 4.30)