Monday is Labor Day, which is the unofficial start to summer. As with most holidays, this one is celebrated with food. People across the country will be heading to their backyards this weekend to fire up the grill, or they’ll be gathering in parks for picnics and potlucks. No matter how you’re celebrating, we’ve put together a menu of vegan recipes that are sure to make your Memorial Day delicious.
10 Vegan Recipes for Memorial Day
Rawkin’ Kale Salad from The Abundance Diet by Somer McCowan – Somer calls this “a salad for the kale haters” because her husband, who isn’t fond of kale, asks for seconds of this incredibly lush and dreamy salad. It works well served alongside veggie burgers at barbecues, and it’s also perfect for picnics and potlucks.
Seitan Kebabs with Sangria Tomato Salad from The Lusty Vegan by Ayinde Howell and Zoe Eisenberg – Your omnivore friends won’t miss the meat when you serve them these hearty skewars. Other party-pleasing snacks from The Lusty Vegan include Tempeh Fries with Dill Avocado Dip, Hearts of Palm Lobster Rolls, and Tortilla Chips with Refried Chipotle-Lemon Pinto Beans
BBQ Sweet Potato and Chile Peanut Tacos from Vegan Tacos by Jason Wyrick – If you’d rather have a bit of a non-traditional meal this Memorial Day weekend, give these BBQ tacos a try! The recipe was inspired by the barbecue dishes Jason ate while living in Fort Worth, Texas. These tacos are messy, a bit decadent, but oh-so-tasty. Vampire Tacos, also from Vegan Tacos, are also excellent for serving at holiday cookouts, as they’re cooked right on the grill.
Creamy Macaroni Salad from Everyday Vegan Eats by Zsu Dever – Macaroni Salad is a dish that quintessentially summer and can often be found at outdoor potlucks and cookouts. This vegan version of the classic salad is sure to please all of the guests at your summer gathering, no matter what their dietary preference. Other great barbecue side dish recipes such as Buttermilk-Style Coleslaw and German Potato Salad can also be found in Everyday Vegan Eats.
Red, White and Blue Potato Salad from World Vegan Feast by Bryanna Clark Grogan – This patriotic vegan potato salad can be red, white, and blue for American holidays, or red and white for Canadian celebrations. It makes a colorful, fresh, and tangy counterpart to veggie burgers, such as the All American Incrediburger. Your guests will also enjoy Hot German Potato Salad and Peruvian Tri-Color Potato Salad Terrine, also from World Vegan Feast.
All American Incrediburgers from American Vegan Kitchen by Tamasin Noyes – Everyone will want to try one of these burgers right off the grill. The minced onion, which steams into the burgers, give these a wonderful old-fashioned diner taste. Other barbecue favorites from American Vegan Kitchen include Smokin’ BBQ Portobello Sandwiches and Old-Fashioned Tempeh Burgers
Sriracha Tempeh Sliders with Vegan Ranch Dressing from The Lusty Vegan by Ayinde Howell and Zoe Eisenberg – These little sandwiches are perfect for parties, and you can replace the sriracha with BBQ sauce if it’s too hot you. Tofu Sausage Pizza Sliders, also from The Lusty Vegan, are another delicious crowd-pleaser.
Amazing Technicolor Chickpea Salad from Vegan Unplugged by Jon Robertson with recipes by Robin Robertson – This super simple, yet extremely tasty, salad comes together in a flash and is perfect for a picnic dish. Beat-the-Blahs Black Bean Patties and Chickpea Spread from Vegan Unplugged are both also excellent dishes for serving at picnics and potlucks this weekend.
Balinese-Inspired Spicy Green Bean Salad from World Vegan Feast by Bryanna Clark Grogan – This dish is a very simplified, North-American version of the Balinese salad “lawar.” Lawar is fairly complicated to make, and Bryanna didn’t have access to some of the spices need to recreate it at home, but her version is absolutely delicious. Because this dish can be served at room temperature, it’s the perfect dish to serve at summertime picnics and barbecues and is a refreshing change of pace from the usual coleslaw. Other salads from World Vegan Feast that are potluck-worthy include Peruvian-Style Crispy Tofu and Cabbage Salad and Glazed Moroccan Carrot Salad.
Chicken-Free Salad Sandwiches from Everyday Vegan Eats by Zsu Dever – Your protein of choice – Soy Curls, tofu, or TVP – is right at home in these easy-to-make vegan picnic-worthy sandwiches. You can take a step back in time to the eighties and stuff the filling into a tomato or just add it to a bed of crisp green salad. Of course, it’s also fantastic between two slices of bread. Egg-Free Salad Sandwiches and Tempeh No-Tuna Sandwiches, also from Everyday Vegan Eats, are also perfect for picnics.
