Classic Dishes Made Dairy-Free (and Just As Delicious)
No milk? No CHEESE? No problem.
Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Even die-hard meat eaters with absolutely no plans to jump on the vegan train will want to save these recipes. Because no matter what kind of diet you follow, there's a very good chance you'll need a dairy-free recipe one day. You might find yourself cooking for someone with an allergy, trying to cut back on cheese (why's it so HARD?) or, let's face it, craving banana bread and out of butter. Don't worry! We've got you covered. These classic dishes ditch the dairy but deliver the flavor.
Vegan Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna (pictured above)
Trade your meat-and-cheese-filled recipe for this vegan one and don't be surprised if you never go back. Tofu and vegan cream cheese help make the spinach filling "cheesy" and irresistible, and mushrooms add heartiness to the tomato sauce. Sprinkle shredded vegan cheese on top for the last 15 minutes of baking and you'll have a dairy-free lasagna that looks and tastes just as good as the classic.
Banana bread is one of my all-time-favorite comfort foods. It's easy to make, and I'm as happy to eat a sweet piece with coffee in the morning as I am after dinner with a cool glass of milk. What's not to love about this quick bread? Well, if you're dairy-free, the butter (obvi). This vegan take calls for vegetable oil and soy milk yogurt, giving you irresistibly tender slices every time.
Mac and cheese without the actual cheese? Yes. And it's amazing. Thanks to pureed cauliflower, vegan Cheddar and turmeric, this dish has the color and creaminess of the American fave without any dairy in sight.
When you've got the main covered, but you're still in need of a dairy-free side, look to mashed potatoes — there's really no reason to limit yourself to Thanksgiving when it comes to garlicky mashed spuds! They're a perfectly complementary side year-round, and they can easily be made dairy-free. The secret is in the potatoes: Yellow-fleshed Yukon gold potatoes are dense and creamy, and they need only a touch of olive oil and your favorite plain, unsweetened almond or plant-based milk to reach your desired consistency.
Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Apple-picking season is here, and there's no reason you should miss out on a sweet slice of pie just because you can't (or don't want to) eat the butter that usually comes along with a rich pie crust. Coconut oil is a perfect stand-in, so go start baking!
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