7 Ina Garten Recipes Made Vegan
Welcome to my “Kinda Garten” series, where I make classic Ina Garten recipes vegan. Just because you don’t eat meat, dairy, or eggs doesn’t mean you should have to miss out on the delicious recipes from this culinary icon.
Vegan Ina Garten Recipes: a Breakdown
Ina has over 1,200 recipes between her 13 cookbooks. Out of these, there are 111 vegan recipes — less than 10 percent of her total repertoire. Here’s the category breakdown of these 111 vegan recipes:
- Appetizers/snacks: 17
- Salads: 21
- Soups: 3
- Sides: 41
- Desserts: 9
- Sauces/condiments: 20
While this is a nice start, there is not a single breakfast or main entree that is vegan as written. It’s understandable, given Ina never pretends to cater to plant-based eaters — but I found myself craving more than just salads and roasted vegetable side dishes as I watched her whip up delicious creations with that signature hint of Hamptons sass.
Luckily, a few simple swaps is all it takes to enjoy the nostalgic treats from one of America’s most beloved food personalities. And let me tell you — they’re a hit every time.
1. Raspberry Crumble Bars
In this recipe, we swap in dairy-free butter for a crumbly, tangy treat that’s just as satisfying as Ina’s. In fact, we’d bet she wouldn’t even notice her favorite ingredient is secretly plant-based!
2. Meatloaf
Nothing screams comforting nostalgia more than a classic meatloaf. Here, we swap in Impossible or Beyond meat for ground beef, and ground flax seed for egg to bind everything together. The recipe also calls for Worcestershire sauce, so make sure you find a vegan brand (like Lord Sandy’s).
3. Irish Soda Bread with Orange and Currants
Irish soda bread is a lovely, no-knead bread that’s easy to whip up. This recipe required a few substitutes: First, plant-based milk mixed with lemon juice for buttermilk. Then, ground flaxseed in place of egg. And lastly, some vegan butter — of course.
4. Penne Alla Vodka
For this iconic dish, we swapped in homemade cashew cream for heavy cream. You could also look for store bought plant-based unsweetened cream, like Silk’s heavy whipping cream. The result is a luxuriously silky sauce. A sprinkle of vegan parmesan finishes off the dish!
5. Italian Wedding Soup
Meatballs, spinach, vegetables, and small pasta shapes make the perfect marriage in this warm and cozy soup. While the meatballs are baking, you make the soup so that everything’s ready at the same time. I swap in vegan ground beef for the meatballs and bind them together with a flax egg. Just add some vegan parmesan and you’ve got yourself a well-rounded meal.
6. Roasted Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
Need an easy weeknight sheet pan dinner? Just swap out vegan sausages in this recipe! The classic sausage, peppers and onions combo is elevated by the addition of fennel, white wine, and cherry tomatoes. Serve it over pasta or polenta topped with a healthy dose of dairy-free parmesan and basil.
7. Challah French Toast
Ina’s original recipe calls for challah or brioche bread — but since these are typically hard to find vegan, a good sourdough or other plant-based bread works just as well. Simply substitute JUST Egg, a plant-based milk of your choice, and dairy-free butter for a delicious vegan french toast.
