It pains us to say it, but summer is almost over. How can that be? Didn’t it just start? Summer always seems to fly by and before you know it, the pumpkins are showing their carved-out faces. Well, before we say goodbye to summer, let’s make sure we have a Labor Day celebration filled with fun and yummy food.
Labor Day was created as a dedication to the contributions American workers have made to the well-being of this country, both social and economic. Today we tend to mark the holiday by acknowledging the end of summer and our last weekend to enjoy summer barbecues, cookouts, and get-togethers. No matter what kind of Labor Day bash you’re planning — a pool party, a barbecue, or just a small dinner with friends and family – we have the recipes to make your holiday mouthwatering and delicious.
Everyone loves appetizers.Be the Life of the Party With These 20 Vegan Appetizers. Take a look at these15 Vegan Cookout Recipes for Labor Day,Fire Up the Grill With These 15 Savory and Saucy Vegan BBQ Dishes,andGet Out The Grill! 10 Meatless Main Dishes to Celebrate Labor Day. Need new ideas for side dishes? Check out theseScrumptious, Shareable Vegan Sides for Labor Day. Of course, desserts are always on the menu. If it’s still too hot to turn on the oven, don’t worry. We have10 Fresh and Delicious No-Bake Pies,10 No-Bake Raw Vegan Cakes, andDesserts for Your Labor Day Bash That Require No Cooking! Last year, we gave you 50 Delicious Vegan Recipes For Your Last Summer Weekend, and now, here are 25 more incredible recipes to help make saying goodbye to summer a little easier. All of these awesome recipes can be found on the Food Monster App!
1. Barbecue ‘Ribs’
Source: Barbecue “Ribs”
These Barbecue “Ribs” by Yana Chistyakova are a work of genius. A combination of textured vegetable protein and vital wheat gluten, they nail the flavor and texture perfectly. They’re meaty, savory, and amazing when coated in homemade barbecue sauce. One bite and they’ll become one of your barbecue essentials.
2. Cola BBQ Sloppy Joes
Source: Cola BBQ Sloppy Joes
These Cola BBQ Sloppy Joes by Alex Edmondson have the flavor of a barbecue pulled jackfruit sandwich and the texture of sloppy joes. Firm tofu is marinated in a combination of spicy barbecue sauce and cola, giving it spicy, smoky flavors and a hint of sweetness. These are perfect when served on a bun with cool, crunchy vegan slaw.
Get the Summer Cookbook!
SUMMER: Stunning Plant-Based Recipes to Enjoy All Season When the Sun’s Out is the only cookbook you need this summer! This cookbook will be your savior this summer. You can now enjoy your mouth-watering meals without spending hours prepping in a hot kitchen. With 75 plant-based, refreshing recipes featuring classic summer flavors, this will be your guide to breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner, with some cooling indulgences! You’ll also find plenty of BBQ and grill recipes that are guaranteed to impress everyone at your next summer barbeque outing! This cookbook features recipes like BBQ Chickpea Sliders with Pineapple Slaw, Watermelon Salad with Fried Tofu and Basil-Lime Dressing, Dragon Fruit Lemonade Frappé, and a Nectarine and Mango Summer Tart that will make your summer a memorable one!
3. Watermelon Salad With Fried Tofu and Basil Lime Dressing
Source: Watermelon Salad With Fried Tofu and Basil Lime Dressing
Say hello to the most flavorful summer salad ever. This Watermelon Salad With Fried Tofu and Basil Lime Dressing by Chris Bartis stands out from all other watermelon salads — and the secret is warm ingredients. Adding one or two warm ingredients to a cold dish is a great way to mix things up and add dimension to your summer salad. This salad has a base of fresh greens, tangy Kalamata olives and red onions, crunchy sprouts, and juicy watermelon. Then, you add the fried tofu and padrón peppers and toss everything in a refreshing basil-lime dressing.
4. Garlicky Barbecue Mushroom Kebabs
Source: Garlicky Barbecue Mushroom Kebabs
These Garlicky Barbecue Mushroom Kebabs by Gloria Sucic make a great addition to any barbecue. Ready in no time, these skewered mushrooms are a delicious side to any veggie burger or other grilled vegetables. It’s easy to make a big batch of these and take them along to a potluck to be used as a side, or make a big batch and serve the leftovers cold throughout the week in sandwiches, salads, or antipasti plates.
5. Pink Lemonade Meringue Pie
Source: Pink Lemonade Meringue Pie
Lemon meringue pie gets a makeover in this Pink Lemonade Meringue Pie by Megan Sadd! The meringue topping is made from aquafaba or the liquid from a can of chickpeas. It whips up into the fluffiest and most delicious meringue ever. With its flaky crust, silky, lemony filling, and marshmallow meringue topping, this pie is perfect for any summer get-together.
6. Carrot and Chickpea Burgers
Source: Carrot and Chickpea Burgers
These Carrot and Chickpea Burgers by Alex Edmondson are super easy to make. Carrots, chickpeas, fresh herbs, and a dash of liquid smoke … can’t go wrong with that! The liquid smoke brings that smoky barbecue flavor without the need for a grill and pumpkin seeds add a little bit of nuttiness and crunch. Serve these crispy burgers with any garnish of your choice, or forego the garnish and eat it in a salad.
7. Honeydew Banana Ice Cream
Source: Honeydew Banana Ice Cream
This Honeydew Banana Ice Cream by Anupama Paliwal has everything delicious ice cream needs. Sweet creamy, and refreshing, it’s made from just fruit. Plus, it doesn’t require an ice cream machine, just a food processor. It’s the perfect cold treat to start your day or to indulge in with chocolate sauce after a long day.
8. Mexican White Sweet Potato Salad With Avocado Dressing
Source: Mexican White Sweet Potato Salad With Avocado Dressing
This Mexican White Sweet Potato Salad With Avocado Dressing by Taylor Kiser is a nutritious take on summer’s favorite picnic side. Just imagine yourself as someone that you think is cool sitting under a shady tree, basking in the warmth around you. Now, add a potato salad that has bites of tender sweet potato that burst with spicy cumin, smoky, charred corn, and crunchy red peppers, and then mishmash it all together with spicy avocado dressing. Is that not just the tastiest and most happy life picture that your brain could be thinking about right now?! Delish!
9. Dill Pickle French Fries
Source: Dill Pickle French Fries
These Dill Pickle French Fries by Jesse Lane Lee are salty, tangy, and bursting with dill flavor just like dill pickle chips! Apple cider vinegar gives these fries a tangy flavor and they are seasoned with fresh dill, garlic powder, and mustard powder.
10. Sweet Potato and Cabbage Dogs
Source: Sweet Potato and Cabbage Dogs
Believe it or not, sweet potatoes combined with cabbage and spices give a wonderful texture and flavor to the best veggie dogs you’ll ever make. A crispy outer layer and a softness inside are served on a toasted bun with ketchup, mustard, and sliced vegetables or relish, like a classic hot dog. The best part is that these homemade Sweet Potato and Cabbage Dogs by Anupama Paliwal are easy to make and they taste awesome.
11. BBQ Portobello Pretzel Sliders
Source: BBQ Portobello Pretzel Sliders
Juicy, grilled Portobello mushrooms on toasted pretzel slider buns with avocado, barbecue sauce, caramelized onions, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes are the magic that is these BBQ Portobello Pretzel Sliders by Anna Bannister. Let’s not forget melty vegan cheese, either. They’re light, flavorful, and slightly spicy — all at the same time. Can’t take the heat? Just leave out the spicy red pepper flakes.
12. Watermelon Sashimi
Source: Watermelon Sashimi
This unique and colorful appetizer of Watermelon Sashimi by Emily Brees is as fun to make as it is yummy. Drizzled with a bit of agave and little black sesame seeds, these are fancy enough for your next dinner party, fun enough to bring to a barbecue, and freezable for an ice-cold treat or the afternoon snack. A vibrant and refreshing twist on sushi.
13. Philly Tofu Cheesesteak With Portobello Mushrooms
Source: Philly Tofu Cheesesteak With Portobello Mushrooms
Who says you have to go to Philadelphia to enjoy a Philly cheesesteak? This Philly Tofu Cheesesteak With Portobello Mushrooms by Gabrielle St. Claire is a vegan version of the popular Northeast fast food that is amazing. Tofu is seared in liquid smoke and vegan Worcestershire sauce until savory and then stuffed into a sub roll with sautéed bell peppers, onions, and Portobello mushrooms. Then, it’s topped with melty vegan cheese, wrapped in foil, and baked until piping hot and delicious.
14. Zucchini Ribbon and Caramelized Hearts of Palm Salad
Source: Zucchini Ribbon and Caramelized Hearts of Palm Salad
This Zucchini Ribbon and Caramelized Hearts of Palm Salad by Tori Cooperis a salad like no other. It has a base of zucchini ribbons topped with sweet corn, blackberries, herbs, and avocado with caramelized slices of hearts of palm mixed in. The vibrant, lemony, and herby dressing would steal the show if it weren’t for the slightly sweet, crisp hearts of palm. The balance of basil, salty, sweet, and sour in this salad is near perfection.
15. Grilled Seitan Asada
Source: Grilled Seitan Asada
This Grilled Seitan Asada by Zsu Dever is a real crowd-pleaser at a grill and it’s so easy to make. These seitan steaks are marinated in a spicy sauce overnight, to give them as much time as possible to absorb all the flavors. The next day, all you need to do is throw it on the grill and cook until it chars just slightly. Serve it in tacos, burrito bowls, or with barbecue sides like corn on the cob, beans, and coleslaw.
16. Mint Grilled Sweet Potato and Tahini Cauliflower Rice Wraps
Source: Mint Grilled Sweet Potato and Tahini Cauliflower Rice Wraps
These Mint Grilled Sweet Potato and Tahini Cauliflower Rice Wraps by Taylor Kiser are packed with addictive bites of tender grilled sweet potatoes, fresh cucumber noodles, and an amazing combo of smoky grilled cauliflower rice, a walloping three herbs, and a punch of zesty lemon, tangy tahini, and sweet maple syrup. This ridiculously good mish-mash of flavors will make your taste buds tingle down to your tippy-toes: cool, crisp mint, lemony-y cilantro, and fresh parsley. Can’t you already feel yourself inducing lunch envy in your coworkers?
17. 7-Layer Dip
Source: Seven-Layer Dip
Become the most-loved person at a party with this Seven-Layer Dip by Koko Brill! Made with refried black beans, tangy guacamole, salsa, non-dairy sour cream, vegan cheese shreds, and an assortment of toppings, this dip is guaranteed to get devoured. Simple, but seriously delicious. Have lots of tortilla chips, veggies, and even spoons ready for dipping.
18. Crispy Seitan Burgers
Source: Seitan Burgers
Crispy, tender, and juicy, these Seitan Burgers by Sara Oliveira are the ultimate crowd-pleasing burger for a barbecue. They’re made from seitan and beans, so they’re big on protein and all the seasoning gives it that “meaty” taste. Serve these with all the fixings of a traditional burger — lettuce, sliced tomato and onion, ketchup, and a sesame seed bun for the fast food experience without having to take a trip to the drive-thru.
19. Strawberry Margarita Popsicles
Source: Strawberry Margarita Popsicles
What could be better than combining the delicious flavor of strawberry margaritas with the fun of eating a popsicle? Absolutely nothing! These Strawberry Margarita Popsicles by Lisa Lotts are icy, fruity, and not too sweet (though you can add more agave if you like a sweeter version). Yum!
20. Tempeh Kebab Rolls
Source: Tempeh Kebab Rolls
This recipe for Tempeh Kebab Rolls by Carla Rendon and Jessica Ruiz transforms bland, flavorless tempeh into something wonderful. Tempeh is coated in spices and then cooked on the stovetop in white wine until soft, tender, and flavorful. They’re topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. The skewers are entirely optional, but they help the overall presentation of this easy meal that’s perfect for summer.
21. Raw Mango Lime Cheesecake With Fruit Topping
Source: Mango Lime Cheesecake With Fruit Topping
This Mango Lime Cheesecake With Fruit Topping by Priscilla Soler is perfect for the summer, highlighting all the best flavors. Besides being super flavorful and seriously gorgeous, it’s also easy to make and requires no baking at all. Best of all, you can choose the toppings based on whatever fruit you have available, so try mixing it up with berries and other tropical fruit like kiwi or more mango.
22. Roasted Beet Kebabs
Source: Roasted Beet Kebabs
These crispy Roasted Beet Kebabs by Anupama Paliwal are made from roasted beets, black beans, cashews, parsley, coconut, and spices. The smoky, char-grilled aroma and melt-in-mouth texture paired with a creamy and vibrant beet dip will easily get you hooked. This is the kind of dish that you would love to serve when you have friends over dinner. It just has that “wow” factor.
23. Thyme Grilled Mushrooms
Source: Grilled Mushrooms
There’s nothing quite like Grilled Mushrooms by Jodi Kay as a meaty entrée for your summer barbecue. This recipe comes with three different components: meaty grilled mushrooms, a simple salsa, and fennel slaw. Serve them together on a bun like a burger, or combine them with greens and other vegetables for an awesome summer salad.
24. Peach Pie With Lattice Crust
Source: Peach Pie with Lattice Crust
Peach season is a wonderful time. The fuzzy fruit is ripe, juicy, plump, and ready to lend all of its deliciousness to a warm, flaky pie. This Peach Pie with Lattice Crust by Lisa Lotts has a lovely lattice crust so that you can see all of the sticky-sweet peach flavors that await you. Bake this one up, you won’t regret it!
25. Grilled Barbecue Tempeh Sliders With Kale Slaw
Source: Grilled Barbecue Tempeh Sliders with Kale Slaw
It’s not summer without something grilled! The perfect addition to any backyard barbecue or a quick dinner for a night in, these Grilled Barbecue Tempeh Sliders with Kale Slaw by Margaret Chapman are flavorful and easy to make. Grilled, barbecue sauce-covered tempeh is served on a toasty bun with delicious kale, red cabbage, and carrot slaw. Serve with all the fixings for a perfect barbecue dinner, like corn on the cob, baked beans, or a side of fries.
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