My Plant-Based Family

Eating Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet recipes, On a Budget.

Daniel Fast Recipes

Plant-Based Taco Bar

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Back when we did potlucks, a Taco Bar was always a favorite! It’s easy, everyone can make their own, and almost everyone loves tacos. A Plant-Based Taco Bar is also really versatile because all the ingredients can be mixed and matched! Tacos, burritos, taco salads, choose your own adventure.

Plant-Based Taco Bar

Whether you are feeding a crowd (whenever we get to do that again) or your family, give the Taco Bar a try!

Keep in mind that you don’t have to make it super complicated. You don’t have to have all of these options or toppings. Just in case you need it, I’m giving you permission to simplify this and do the easiest version with ingredients you already have!

Vegan Taco Meat

We choose whole food versions of taco filling. My absolute favorite is my Instant Pot Lentil Taco filling. The stove top version is really good too!

I also have a version that combines Quinoa and Lentils or a version with just quinoa.

Tortillas

Our tortilla choice varies but we usually have corn tortillas for the adults and flour tortillas for the kids. Sometimes we will use lettuce wraps or tortilla chips. We mix and match based on what we are in the mood for and what’s available.

Plant-Based Taco Bar

Taco Toppings

This is where the fun begins. You can use whatever you like but my favorite taco toppings for a Taco Bar include:

  • Lettuce
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Sliced Jalapenos
  • Corn
  • Pico de Gallo
  • Salsa (red and green)
  • Avocado or Guacamole
  • Black Beans (whole)
  • Pinto Beans (whole)
  • Cilantro
  • Lime

Some people like pickled onions and dairy-free cheese but we aren’t into that. I have used vegan sour cream or vegan plain yogurt for a little extra tang!

Oil-Free Refried Beans

Side Dishes for a Taco Bar

I don’t think you really need side dishes when it comes to a taco bar but since I love these I’ll mention them. Plus, they go perfectly with tacos!

Mexican Rice is so easy to make. Cook it in the Instant Pot or stove top. Refried Beans are easy too, just a little time consuming to make from dry beans but don’t let that stop you. I actually prefer to follow this recipe for Instant Pot Refried Beans (oil-free of course)!

What are your must have Vegan Taco Bar options? I’d love to hear if you use the same basics or if you have other options we haven’t thought of!

By the way! I just started a Youtube Channel! I’d love it if you would subscribe! Just CLICK HERE to check it out!

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

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We’ve been eating my Mexican Rice and Bean Casserole for years. It’s a crowd pleaser. I’ve adapted it and made many different versions. It seems like it’s time to do it again. I’m taking the same flavor and most of the ingredients plus quinoa! It make it even easier, I’m making it in my Instant Pot!

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

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If you are like me, you probably have a giant bag of quinoa in your pantry. I don’t know why, but in the summer I always gravitate toward quinoa.

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is technically a seed but most people treat it like a grain. It should be cooked before eating. Quinoa has a slightly nutty flavor.

Quinoa is a great versatile food to add to your rotation. We enjoy it in stir frys instead of rice, in breakfast bowls instead of oats, as a replacement for taco meat, your imagination is the limit.

Should I Washing Quinoa?

If you are new to quinoa, you will want to rinse your quinoa first. Quinoa is coated in saponin. It’s bitter and will make you think quinoa is gross. If you rinse the quinoa well, we use a fine mesh strainer, you’ll be able to get the saponin off easily.

Many brands of quinoa will prewash it to remove the saponin.

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

I love how versatile this recipe is. I enjoy it hot and cold. Whether I reheat leftovers or serve them cold, I love topping it with my pico de gallo. What can I say, fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic and cilantro are irresistible.

When I know I need a filling meal on the go, this is one of my top choices.

Yield: 4 servings

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa is a quick and easy recipe your family will love. Adapt it to your individual preferences.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce can Black Beans (drained, rinsed)
  • 1 1/4 cups water or veggie broth
  • 1 cup Quinoa (uncooked)
  • 1 cup Diced Tomatoes (from the can, drained)
  • 1 cup Frozen Corn
  • 2 teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 Lime, sliced for garnish
  • 2 Avocado (diced)

Instructions

  1. Dump the black beans, water/veggie broth, quinoa, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt into the Instant Pot.
  2. Close the lid and close the pressure valve. Press manual/pressure cooker and cook for 5 minutes on high pressure. Once it is done, release the pressure manually. Remove the lid carefully.
  3. Serve in bowls topped with lime wedges and diced avocado. Fresh pico de gallo is my favorite way to enjoy it.

Notes

Refrigerate leftovers in an air tight container. Enjoy for 3-4 days.

You can eat leftovers warm or cold.

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© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Instant Pot

Oil-Free Potato Wedges

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For months, I’ve had a delicious new obsession. Oven Baked Oil-Free Potato Wedges are my favorite plant-based side dish! This easy recipe is the perfect addition to your next plant-based meal.

oil-free potato wedges

These Oil-Free Potato Wedges are pretty much like eating fries! Making Potato Wedges is easier than making fries though, especially when you use small red new potatoes. 

I’ve always enjoyed eating small red new potatoes because they are easier to wash than other potatoes.  For instance, russet potatoes have thick skin that require a lot of scrubbing. 

Oven baked oil-free potato wedges

The biggest benefit of using the small red new potatoes is their thin skin that most people don’t really notice. One of my kids is a bit on the picky side and doesn’t like the skin. The other doesn’t mind it at all. 

Making Oil-Free Potato Wedges

Oil-Free Potato Wedges are easy to make, too! You can customize them based on what you have but all you really need are potatoes and spices of your choice. At minimum, I use salt and pepper but I prefer to add onion and garlic powder. 

One of my complaints about making oil-free fries in the oven is that they don’t always get crisp. I struggle getting them the same size. Some burn while others are still too raw. I try to flip them at the right time but I struggle at getting them to cook evenly. 

The way I cut the small red new potatoes solves this problem. It is important to find potatoes that are on the small side. Sometimes we get grocery delivery and they give us the larger red new potatoes that are about the size of a lemon and they are a bit trickier to cut, but still work. 

oil free potato wedges

How to Cut Your Potato Wedges

Your cut will depend on the size of your red new potatoes. 

If your potatoes are the size of a grape, don’t cut them, leave them whole. If they are the size of a lime, cut them in half, then cut three wedges in each half, creating six wedges. If they are larger than a lime, cut them in fourths, then cut each of the fourths in half, creating eight wedges. These aren’t hard and fast rules, do what seems right to you. It’s important that all the wedges are of similar size and thickness so they all cook uniformly.

You want to keep the curved part of the potato intact. You’ll arrange each wedge on a cookie sheet covered in parchment or a silicone baking mat. By placing the potatoes with the peel side down and the freshly cut side up, you can avoid having to flip them over in the oven. They will cook evenly.

This also leaves the freshly cut side ready for a sprinkle of seasonings if you want a short cut. You can easily sprinkle salt, pepper, and any other seasoning straight onto the potatoes wedges on the cookie sheet.

The potato wedges will be better covered if you put them in a bowl and sprinkle the seasonings on them and mix them up, but I’ve done it both ways and they both work. 

If you pour the seasonings into the wedges on the cookie sheet, you’ll smell the seasonings as they cook. Toward the end they might start smelling burnt and the spices on the cookie sheet will burn but the spices on the potatoes will be perfect. 

oil-free potato wedges

Once the potato wedges are cut and the spices are applied, it’s time to bake. Like I said, you don’t have to flip these wedges! You do need to preheat your oven to 400 degrees. After moving into this house over the summer, I learned that our oven thermostat was off. We are just renting so it wasn’t worth a service call but I did buy an inexpensive oven thermometer. It’s important that the oven is completely preheated before putting the potato wedges in. 

These need to bake for 40 minutes. That gives me time to make just about anything else! 

Oil-Free Potato Wedges

oil-free potato wedges

Oven baked oil-free potato wedges use only potatoes and spices in this easy plant-based recipe.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8-10 small red new potatoes
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • onion powder, to taste
  • garlic powder, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Wash your small red new potatoes.
  3. Cut them into wedges as describe in the post. They need to be uniform size to cook evenly.
  4. If seasoning them in a bowl, put the potato wedges in a bowl and generously sprinkle seasonings on tip. Stir them with your hands to distribute the seasoning. Then place them on the cookie sheet with the cut side up (as pictured above).
  5. If seasoning them on the cookie sheet, place the potato wedges with the cut side up (as pictured above) on a piece of parchment on a cookie sheet. Generously sprinkle salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder on the wedges.
  6. Place the cookie sheet in the oven for 40 minutes.
  7. Allow the potato wedges to cool for about 5 minutes before eating.

Notes

The potato wedges can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator. They need to be reheated in the oven or an air fryer. They don't microwave well.

See notes in the blog post for tips on cutting the wedges.

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© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Recipes

Hearty Veggie Soup

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As soon as the weather shifted to fall I started making this soup. I’ve always been a fan of simmering all my favorite veggies in a big pot on the stove. I love stealing tastes here and there. This Hearty Veggie Soup took a bit more work.

Hearty Veggie Soup

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One day after watching Game Changers on Netflix, my husband and I started talking about our weekly meal plan. We both really wanted a soup but we have different favorites. I like tomato flavored soups like my Taco Soup and he is a fan of the veggie broth flavored soups like the Chickpea and Rice Soup.

You could picture us across the table negotiating all the ingredients in the soup but it wasn’t that dramatic. We’d both offer suggestions for ingredients and veto other ingredients. Finally this soup emerged victorious. 

Hearty Veggie Soup

We started making it every weekend! It makes about 6-7 servings so it’s perfect for a weekend cooking session. After chopping the veggies it’s pretty hands off. I set it to simmer then go about my business. 

Even though this soup is plant-based, it somehow reminds me of the beef stew I ate as a kid. Crazy huh?

You can use your favorite veggie broth. I’ve used this veggie broth from Amazon with great results. I typically use my Veggie Broth Mix. I’ll usually add a little extra, ok sometimes I double it. 

Hearty Veggie Soup

This soup uses mostly fresh ingredients, I use frozen green beans and canned tomatoes and beans. The chopping doesn’t take too long but you could probably substitute a bag of frozen mixed veggies if you were short on time. I haven’t tried it because I always have fresh potatoes, carrots, onion and broccoli at my house.  

Hearty Veggie Soup

Hearty Veggie Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 carrots, sliced
  • 3 stalks celery, sliced
  • 4 peeled and diced potatoes (about 5-6 cups)
  • 1 cup frozen green beans
  • 1 crown broccoli, chopped (about 2-3 cups)
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes
  • 8 cups of water or broth (if using water, add veggie broth mix)

Do

  1. Begin to saute the onions and garlic. Add a little water if needed. This makes the house smell glorious!
  2. Add the carrots and celery. Then dump in the potatoes, green beans, and broccoli.
  3. Cover the veggie with water  or veggie broth, I use about 8 cups of water and add 8-10 tablespoons of my Veggie Broth Mix.
  4. Pour in the diced tomatoes and black beans.
  5. Cover with a lid and simmer for 30-45 minutes, until all the veggies are soft.

Yield: 6

Hearty Veggie Soup

Hearty Veggie Soup

This Hearty Veggie Soup is an easy plant-based recipe your family will love. Beans, potatoes and broccoli plus more veggie goodness.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 carrots, sliced
  • 3 stalks celery, sliced
  • 4 peeled and diced potatoes (about 5-6 cups)
  • 1 cup frozen green beans
  • 1 crown broccoli, chopped (about 2-3 cups)
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes
  • 8 cups of water or broth (if using water, add veggie broth mix)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Begin to saute the onions and garlic. Add a little water if needed. This makes the house smell glorious!
  2. Add the carrots and celery. Then dump in the potatoes, green beans, and broccoli.
  3. Cover the veggie with water  or veggie broth, I use about 8 cups of water and add 8-10 tablespoons of my Veggie Broth Mix.
  4. Pour in the diced tomatoes and black beans.
  5. Cover with a lid and simmer for 30-45 minutes, until all the veggies are soft.
  6. Salt and pepper if desired.

Notes

If you are using water I highly recommend you use my Veggie Broth Mix. It's delicious and gives you more control over the ingredients. Dry Veggie Broth Mix

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© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Soups, Stews, & Chili
Did you notice something missing from this recipe? I’ve made this so many times but the time I decide to take photos I forgot the green beans. I’ll take new pictures later but trust me, you don’t want to wait that long.

Mango Salsa

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Are you looking for something that will bring the WOW back to your regular favorites? Try adding this Mango Salsa to your salads, tacos, burritos and more!

Mango Salsa

I’ve been a fan of fruit salsa’s long before I ate plant-based. There is something about the sweetness and spiciness mixed together that I find irresistible. Fruit salsas, especially Mango Salsa, will elevate your favorite recipes to a whole new level.

It’s no secret that I love salsa. I have salsa almost every day. Mexican food is my favorite and we almost always have something I can pour salsa on. In the summer when my favorite fruits are in season, I might go a little overboard with all the wonderful salsa combinations.

Mango Salsa

Today, I’m going to focus on this incredibly easy Mango Salsa recipe!

Trust me, if you bring this to a potluck or share it with friends, they will devour it and want the recipe. It doesn’t’ matter if they are plant-based, they will love it.

You can serve it on salad, my Mango Black Bean Salad is very similar to this, just add black beans and greens. In fact, I’d rather have Mango Salsa than any salad dressing!

Mango Salsa

Mango Salsa

If you like mango, you are going to love this super simple Mango Salsa. Feel free to change it up to suit your taste.

Ingredients

  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, or your favorite tomato
  • 1 Large mango, diced (approximately 1 Cup)
  • 1-2 Jalapenos, finely diced (depending your heat preference, remove the seeds for a milder heat)
  • 1/3 Cup Red Onion, diced
  • ½ Cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 Lime, juiced (1/4 Cup juice)
  • Pinch of salt

Do

  1. Dice tomatoes, place tomatoes in a medium sized bowl, then add the remaining diced ingredients and give it a gentle stir.
  2. Add the chopped cilantro, lime juice and a pinch of salt.  Mix well and serve.

This salsa is perfect immediately but it can also be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days. I love it after the first day when all the flavors have gotten a chance to meld together.

You can serve this salsa with just about anything! If you need some ideas, try it with tortilla chips, Lentil Tacos, Breakfast Tacos, Taco Salad, Veggie Burger, Tofu Scramble or Southwest Tofu Scramble, or anything else you can think of.

I’d love to hear how you enjoy this Mango Salsa! Don’t forget to pin this recipe and add it to your meal plan! I’ve pinned it in my “Favorites” board.

Mango Salsa

Mango Salsa

Mango Salsa

Try adding this Mango Salsa to your salads, tacos, burritos and more!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, or your favorite tomato
  • 1 Large mango, diced (approximately 1 Cup)
  • 1-2 Jalapenos, finely diced (depending your heat preference, remove the seeds for a milder heat)
  • 1/3 Cup Red Onion, diced
  • ½ Cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 Lime, juiced (1/4 Cup juice)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Dice tomatoes, place tomatoes in a medium sized bowl, then add the remaining diced ingredients and give it a gentle stir.
  2. Add the chopped cilantro, lime juice and a pinch of salt.  Mix well and serve.

Notes

This salsa is perfect immediately but it can also be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days. I love it after the first day when all the flavors have gotten a chance to meld together.

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© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Recipes

Southwest Tofu Scramble

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I love a hearty, filling, hot breakfast. This Southwest Tofu Scramble is one of my favorite vegan breakfasts!

Southwest Tofu Scramble

I recently shared my simple tofu scramble. It’s a quick and easy version that isn’t spicy but still delicious. This version is for the people who like a little spice!

Adding the beans to this tofu scramble really helps fuel you longer than the veggies alone. I also like to add potatoes and avocado to tofu scrambles but I didn’t here because those don’t reheat as well. This version with beans and peppers is a meal prep dream because it reheats like a dream. Stick your potatoes and avocado on the side if you want them.

Southwest Tofu Scramble

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If you are new to tofu, check out my Tofu Starter Guide. I use extra firm tofu for this recipe. It’s found in the refrigerated section where vegan products are stored, usually near the dairy area.

For most recipes I use my tofu press but I don’t for tofu scrambles. I like to pull pieces apart with my hands because it looks more like a regular scramble.

Hearty Tofu Scramble

You can choose whatever types of veggies you want. I choose onions, bell peppers (I used half red and half yellow), and jalapenos.

Southwest Tofu Scramble Breakfast Burrito

These also make great Breakfast Burritos! Choose your favorite burrito-size tortilla, scoop in the Southwest Tofu Scramble, I like to add salsa, then fold it up.

Southwest Tofu Scramble

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, yellow or red, diced
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced, de-seed if you don’t want it spicy
  • 1 block organic , extra firm tofu
  • 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro, more or less if desired

Do

  1. In a hot skillet, I used nonstick, cook diced onion, diced bell peppers and sliced jalapenos. Stir regularly until veggies are tender crisp.
  2. Next, use your hands to pull bite-sized pieces of tofu apart. Squeeze out excess water, then place it in the skillet with the peppers and onions.
  3. Sprinkle the salt, spices and nutritional yeast over the crumbled up tofu. Give it a stir then add the 1/4 cup water and stir again.
  4. Continue to cook until all the water has cooked out and the tofu is hot.
  5. Add the drained and rinsed black beans, stir and cook for a few more minutes. Just long enough for the beans to get hot.
  6. Then add the cilantro, cover with a lid and remove from heat. The cilantro will steam quickly but the flavor will be delicious!

Serve this with potatoes, fresh veggies like tomatoes or avocado and a side of toast. I always eat this with salsa. When I’m in the mood for something a little more awesome, I’ll wrap it into a tortilla!

Yield: 4

Southwest Tofu Scramble

Southwest Tofu Scramble

I love a hearty, filling, hot breakfast. This Southwest Tofu Scramble is one of my favorite vegan breakfasts!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, yellow or red, diced
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced, de-seed if you don’t want it spicy
  • 1 block organic , extra firm tofu
  • 1 teaspoon Real Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro, more or less if desired

Instructions

  1. In a hot skillet, I used nonstick, cook diced onion, diced bell peppers and sliced jalapenos. Stir regularly until veggies are tender crisp.
  2. Next, use your hands to pull bite-sized pieces of tofu apart. Squeeze out excess water, then place it in the skillet with the peppers and onions.
  3. Sprinkle the salt, spices and nutritional yeast over the crumbled up tofu. Give it a stir then add the 1/4 cup water and stir again.
  4. Continue to cook until all the water has cooked out and the tofu is hot.
  5. Add the drained and rinsed black beans, stir and cook for a few more minutes. Just long enough for the beans to get hot.
  6. Then add the cilantro, cover with a lid and remove from heat. The cilantro will steam quickly but the flavor will be delicious!

Notes

This recipe is best serve hot but can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for a few days. The texture may change but the flavor will still be good.

We prefer this with a side of salsa and fresh veggies, potatoes or toast.

Did you make this recipe?

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© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Recipes