Dairy-Free

July 13, 2021 Breakfast

Vegan Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping

Gorgeous and delicious, this vegan coffee cake is perfectly decadent. With a layer of rich cinnamon brown sugar sandwiched between two layers of fluffy, moist cake, it’s all topped with a crumbled streusel topping and sweet glaze for a perfect dairy-free, egg-free treat.

Two squares of vegan coffee cake stacked on top of each other

What Makes This Vegan Coffee Cake So Good

Move over, Starbucks. The actual cake is SO incredibly moist and fluffy, and the crumbled streusel topping bakes up crisp and gives it just the right amount of texture. You’ll fall in love with the way this cake melts in your mouth.
It’s decadent enough for a special occasion or holiday, but simple enough to be a casual weekday treat. Enjoy it in the morning with a cup of coffee or after dinner to satisfy your sweet tooth.
This cake is perfect for a variety of dietary needs! Since it’s a vegan recipe, it’s written to be completely free from dairy and eggs. It’s also easy to make gluten free and added-sugar free, too!

Key Ingredients for Vegan Coffee Cake

All-Purpose Flour – For a vegan coffee cake that’s also gluten free, use gluten-free all-purpose flour. If your GF flour doesn’t contain xanthan gum, you’ll want to add a little so the texture is right. ½-¾ teaspoon added to the 3 cups of flour in the cake should do the trick. If your GF flour contains xanthan gum already, don’t add any extra!

Sugars – This recipe calls for 4 different sugars: granulated white sugar, brown sugar, light brown sugar, and powdered sugar. You can make it your own, though! Use brown sugar instead of granulated in the cake for a richer, warmer flavor. To cut back on the added sugars, use coconut sugar or Swerve (granular, Brown, and/or confectioners’) where appropriate.

Chef’s Tips

Like with most baked goods, the coffee cake will continue to bake a little as it cools, so it’s important that you don’t leave it in the oven too long. Bake times will vary from one oven to another and one altitude to another, so I recommend you start checking the doneness of the coffee cake around 25 minutes. Insert a toothpick or butter knife into the center of the cake – if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, it’s time to take the cake out of the oven!
This vegan coffee cake will keep best if you refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container. You’ll get up to 2 weeks out of it that way, assuming it even lasts that long! If you want to store it at room temperature, an airtight container is still the way to go. It should keep 3-5 days at room temp if stored properly.
As written, this recipe is nut free, depending on the type of non-dairy milk you use. If you’d like, though, you can add finely chopped walnuts to the streusel topping for a little crunch and extra flavor!
For a vegan blueberry coffee cake, just fold ¾-1 cup fresh blueberries into the coffee cake mixture before you portion it into the baking dish.
To make vegan coffee cake muffins instead, line a muffin tin with paper liners and portion the recipe out as written – one layer of cake, the brown sugar-cinnamon filling, another layer of cake, then the streusel topping. They’ll need less time to bake, probably 15-20 minutes or so, up to 25 minutes depending on your oven. I’d start checking the doneness around minute 12 using the toothpick method. Take them out of the oven when they’re ready and finish the recipe as written below.

Squares of vegan coffee cake on a white plate

More Vegan Recipes You’ll Love

We hope you loved this recipe as much as we did! We’d love for you to give us a star ★ rating below, and follow us on Instagram! For more delicious, healthy recipes, be sure to check out 40 Aprons.

One square of vegan coffee cake close up

Print Recipe

Vegan Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping

Gorgeous and delicious, this vegan coffee cake is perfectly decadent. With a layer of rich cinnamon brown sugar sandwiched between two layers of fluffy, moist cake, it's all topped with a crumbled streusel topping and sweet glaze for a perfect dairy-free, egg-free treat.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dairy-free, egg free, holiday recipe

Servings: squares

Calories: 398kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Oven
9×13 baking dish
Parchment paper
Small bowls (2)
Hand mixer
Large bowls (2)
Whisk (3)

Ingredients

For the Cinnamon-Sugar Filling

¾ packed cup brown sugar see Notes
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Fo the Streusel Topping

6 tablespoons vegan butter
1 packed cup light brown sugar see Notes
1 cup all-purpose flour

For the Coffee Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar see Notes
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup coconut oil melted
1 ¾ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

For the Glaze (Optional)

¼ cup powdered sugar see Notes
1 tablespoon unsweetened non-dairy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Line 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper.
In small bowl, mix together brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon to create cinnamon-sugar filling. Set aside.
In separate small bowl, use hand mixer to mix together butter, light brown sugar, and all-purpose flour to create streusel topping. Set aside.
In large bowl, whisk together wet ingredients for coffee cake: applesauce, vanilla extract, coconut oil, non-dairy milk, and apple cider vinegar. Let mixture sit 5 minutes.
In separate large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients for coffee cake: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
When 5 minutes is up, slowly pour wet ingredients for coffee cake into large bowl with dry ingredients for coffee cake. Mix until ingredients are just combined.
Pour half of coffee cake mixture into lined baking dish. Add cinnamon-sugar filling to top of cake mixture, distributing evenly edge to edge.
Pour remaining coffee cake mixture on top of cinnamon-sugar filling layer. Crumble streusel topping over top of cake batter.
Place baking dish in preheated oven and bake 30-35 minutes. Toothpick inserted in center of cake should come out clean or with very few crumbs.
Remove baked coffee cake from oven and let cool completely in baking dish. While cake cools, whisk together all ingredients for glaze, if desired.
When cake is cool, drizzle glaze over top of cake. Cut coffee cake into squares and serve.

Notes

Sugar: Some sugar is filtered through bone char, which makes it not vegan. Use organic or unfiltered sugar, or a brand that specifically says it’s vegan.
Make it Added-Sugar Free: Use granular, Brown, and confectioners’ Swerve in place of the respective sugars listed above.
Make it Gluten Free: Use gluten-free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum.

1 square = 1 serving. Recipe yields approximately 16 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on the size of your squares and your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving out of 16 using the ingredients listed. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 16. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

July 8, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Okra

Easy air fryer fried okra is a lighter version of a classic Southern side dish. Fresh okra is battered in a seasoned cornmeal mixture then air fried until golden and crispy for a perfect quick snack or side that’ll please any crowd.

What Makes Air Fryer Okra So Good

Fried okra is a Southern staple! This air fryer version is every bit as good as the deep fried classic, but without the actual deep frying. The okra comes out light, crispy, and delicious.
The breading is perfectly seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, and a little cayenne pepper to add the right amount of flavor to every bite.
It’s such an easy recipe! Once you’ve got the hang of breading the okra, everything goes really quickly. Whip this up whenever you want a healthier crunchy snack or an easy side dish for BBQ chicken or pulled pork.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Okra

Okra – Use fresh okra and cut away the stems and tips, then slice the remaining okra into ½-to-1-inch-thick slices. You can also use frozen cut okra – just make sure to thaw it first, then pat it completely dry before breading it. Too much moisture will keep the batter from sticking, and the okra will be slimy.

Cornmeal – If you don’t have cornmeal, you can use just flour, but the cornmeal adds a texture and crispiness you won’t get from the flour alone.

Cayenne Pepper – If you’re not a fan of anything spicy, you can leave the cayenne pepper out of the breading. I really love the flavor boost it adds, though! You could also use smoked paprika instead of or with the cayenne pepper.

Chef’s Tips

Be sure to use a cooking spray that’s safe for air fryers! Anything aerosolized (like PAM) contains harsh ingredients that can damage the coating on your air fryer basket. Avocado oil and light olive oil have a high smoke point that makes them perfect for the air fryer.
For even crispier air fryer okra, lightly spray the okra with cooking spray twice – once before you put them in the air fryer, then again when you shake the basket after the first 6 minutes. Depending on your air fryer and your preferences, one spray may be perfect for you.
This method works for frozen breaded okra, too. Since it’s already battered, just skip all those steps and go straight to the air fryer! 400°F for 15 minutes, shaking once halfway through, will give you even easier air fryer frozen okra.

Air fryer okra in a bowl of lemon garlic aioli

More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Okra

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: healthier option, Southern food, summer recipes

Servings:

Calories: 226kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer
Medium bowls (2)

Ingredients

¾ cup cornmeal
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
⅓ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 eggs beaten
1 pound fresh okra cut into ½-to-1-inch-thick slices and patted dry
air-fryer-safe cooking spray

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit.
Mix together cornmeal, all-purpose flour, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in medium bowl.
Dip okra slices in beaten eggs, coating both sides. Let excess egg drip off okra back into bowl, then dredge okra in cornmeal mixture, coating both sides. Tap okra against side of bowl to remove excess cornmeal. Repeat until all okra slices are battered.
Place battered okra in air fryer basket in one even layer, being careful not to overcrowd basket. Work in batches as needed. Spray okra liberally with air-fryer-safe cooking spray, then place basket in air fryer.
Cook 6 minutes, then gently shake basket and cook additional 6 minutes, or until okra is golden brown and crispy. Transfer to plate and cook remaining okra slices. Serve with lemon-garlic aioli, if desired.

Notes

Work in batches as needed to avoid overcrowding air fryer basket.
Make it Gluten Free: Use gluten free all-purpose flour. Make sure your cornmeal is labelled “gluten free” to avoid cross-contamination.

For the Lemon-Garlic Aioli (optional)

Ingredients

¼ cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to smooth.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving out of 4, using the ingredients listed. Nutritional values do not include information for lemon-garlic aioli. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

July 6, 2021 Dairy-Free

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

These Instant Pot boiled peanuts are a healthy and delicious savory snack! This foolproof method yields perfectly cooked peanuts with hardly any effort. Easily cook up a batch of these peanuts at the start of your week and enjoy this nutritious snack all week long!

What Makes These Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts So Good

It’s seriously the easiest boiled peanuts method out there! Chuck everything in the Instant Pot, then leave it to do all the hard work. Return to perfectly soft and savory peanuts every time.
They’re an incredibly healthy snack! Boiled peanuts are proven to have nearly four times more antioxidants than other peanuts. So the next time you need a delicious but good-for-you snack, I highly recommend you give this recipe a try!
They’re perfectly savory with the right amount of salt to balance out the natural sweetness of the peanuts. I will warn you, this snack is highly addictive, though lucky for you it’s healthy too!

Key Ingredients for Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

Peanuts – You can make this recipe using either dried or undried peanuts. I unfortunately do not have access to undried peanuts, so I used dried peanuts and they still turned out delicious! The most important thing when selecting your peanuts is that they have the shell on, are raw and do not contain any salt. All of these things will equate to perfect, ready-for-boiling peanuts!

Salt – Feel free to adjust the salt based on your preferences. However, boiled peanuts are traditionally rather salty and this Instant Pot recipe is no exception. If you prefer a less salty nut, reduce the amount of salt by as little as half!

Chef’s Tips

Be patient and allow the steam to naturally release from these Instant Pot boiled peanuts! Once the 80 minutes it up, the pot will take about 20 minutes to naturally release all of its steam. You’ll know the lid is ready to be removed once the pressure valve has dropped down to its starting position.
You can easily half this recipe if you’d like! This makes quite a few peanuts, so if you’re looking for a small batch simply use half a pound of peanuts instead. If using half a pound of peanuts, then use just 1/4 cup of salt.
Strain these Instant Pot boiled peanuts from their water and store them in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge for up to one week. You can enjoy these hot, at room temperature, or cold – really however you’d like!

close up image of instant pot boiled peanuts in a bowl

More Simple Instant Pot Recipes

Print Recipe

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

These Instant Pot boiled peanuts are a healthy and delicious savory snack! This foolproof method yields perfectly cooked peanuts with hardly any effort. Easily cook up a batch of these Instant Pot boiled peanuts at the start of your week and enjoy this nutritious snack all week long!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time1 hr 20 mins

Total Time1 hr 25 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy snack, healthy, instant pot recipe

Servings: servings

Calories: 215kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

1 pound peanuts raw, shelled, and unsalted
½ cup salt
water

Instructions

Rinse peanuts well under cold water then add to the Instant Pot along with the salt and fill with enough water to cover peanuts.
Place trivet inside Instant Pot and place a heatproof bowl over the top to hold it down. Cover with lid and set to high pressure for 80 minutes.
Allow pressure to release naturally before removing lid.

Notes

The Instant Pot pictured above is a 6 quart Instant Pot, be careful not to fill your Instant Pot beyond the max fill line.

Recipe yields approximately 12 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving out of 12. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

July 1, 2021 Appetizer

Roasted Chili Corn Salsa

Roasted chili corn salsa is a homemade take on a popular restaurant side dish. With sweet corn, red onion, roasted peppers, and bright lime juice, this zesty, refreshing salsa goes great with burrito bowls, tacos, or a helping of tortilla chips.

What Makes This Roasted Chili Corn Salsa So Good

If you love the roasted chili corn salsa from Chipotle, then you’re in luck! This homemade copycat is every bit as good as the real deal! You could even pair it with this Chipotle sofritas copycat for a whole Chipotle-at-home dinner.
Roasted chili corn salsa is a little sweet, a little zesty, and a lot of delicious. Don’t worry if you don’t like heat – this one is actually pretty mild.
You can serve this as a salsa with tortilla chips, on top of nachos, wrapped up in a burrito, as a side with carne asada, or mixed into a Southwestern salad. It adds so much flavor and texture to any dish!

Key Ingredients for Roasted Chili Corn Salsa

Corn – We’re using frozen corn here, and that’s what Chipotle uses, too. You can use fresh if you prefer, though. We used a mixture of white and yellow corn for variety, but you can use whichever you like or can find.

Poblano Pepper – This recipe gets the “roasted chili” part of its name right here. The roasted poblano pepper. Roasting the pepper under the broiler (or over an open flame on a gas stove) brings out its delicious smokey flavor which adds this amazing depth to the salsa. If poblanos aren’t your thing, you could use bell peppers instead.

Chef’s Tips

I highly recommend letting the salsa sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. The flavors develop as it sits, making it even more delicious.
You can use thawed, uncooked frozen corn, like we did here, or you can cook it first if you like! Just follow the instructions on the package, then let the corn cool completely before using it in your roasted chili corn salsa. You can also roast it first for a slightly different flavor. Just toss the thawed kernels in a little neutral oil and bake them at 375° Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.
The easiest way to remove the skin from the poblano pepper is to cover the pepper with a bowl or plastic wrap as soon as it comes out of the oven. Let the steam build for 10 minutes or so, then use a paper towel or gloves and gently rub off the charred skin.

Other Delicious Sides You’ll Enjoy

Print Recipe

Roasted Chili Corn Salsa

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chipotle, chips and dip, roasted vegetables

Servings:

Calories: 81kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Broiler
Small baking sheet
Cutting board
Sharp knife
Large bowl

Ingredients

1 large poblano pepper
10 ounces frozen corn thawed
1 jalapeño seeds removed, finely chopped
⅓ cup chopped cilantro
½ of one red onion diced
2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ teaspoon cumin
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Instructions

Turn broiler on and set to high if it has multiple settings. Place poblano pepper on baking sheet and set under broiler. Broil pepper, turning every minute or so, until charred outside. Note: if you have a gas range, you can char the pepper over an open flame instead.
Transfer charred pepper from baking sheet to cutting board. Remove charred skin (see Notes), stem, and seeds. Chop remaining pepper into fine pieces.
In large bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients, including chopped poblano pepper. Serve immediately, or cover and chill at least 30 minutes, then serve.

Notes

Poblano Pepper: The easiest way to remove the skin from the poblano pepper is to cover the pepper with a bowl or plastic wrap as soon as it comes out of the oven. Let the steam build for 10 minutes or so, then use a paper towel or gloves and gently rub off the charred skin.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving out of 4 using the ingredients listed. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

June 24, 2021 Dairy-Free

Easy Taco Pie Recipe

Mix up your next taco night with this delicious, easy taco pie recipe. It’s loaded with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, salsa, refried beans, corn, and taco seasoning, all topped with shredded cheese and baked in a savory pie crust. This taco pie is going to be a new family favorite dinner!

Slice of taco pie topped with sour cream and tomatoes on a white plate

What Makes Taco Pie So Good

It’s full of flavor, and unlike most typical tacos, all of the ingredients are distributed perfectly throughout every bite!
Your whole family will love it! Tacos are fun on their own, of course, but taco pie is a great way to mix things up a little.
This taco pie recipe is SO easy! Of course, you can make it as hands-off or as involved as you want. You can use all store-bought/pre-packaged ingredients, or make some things (like the salsa or the taco seasoning) from scratch.

Key Ingredients for Taco Pie

Pie Crust – Pre-made, frozen pie crust keeps things so simple. Sure, you can make a homemade savory pie crust if you want, but sometimes it’s nice to keep things easy. For a twist, you could use flaky, buttery crescent roll dough instead of a frozen pie crust.

Ground Beef – You can use ground beef with whatever fat content you prefer. You could also use ground turkey!

Salsa – Again, we’re focusing on ease and deliciousness here! If you’ve got a favorite homemade salsa, go for it. Otherwise, your taco pie will be perfect with a store-bought, jarred salsa, as mild or as hot as you prefer!

Refried Beans – Canned or homemade, black or pinto. The type of refried beans you use is entirely up to you!

Chef’s Tips

Drizzle a little avocado salsa or cilantro lime dressing across the top of your easy taco pie just before serving. DELICIOUS!
Don’t overbake the pie crust! On its first trip through the oven, bake it just until golden brown. Take it out of the oven even if you’re not done with the ground beef mixture yet.
This recipe is great for leftovers! Just refrigerate any leftover slices in an airtight container up to 5 days. When you’re ready to eat, pop it in a 400° Fahrenheit pre-heated oven for 15-25 minutes. Bake it just until it’s warmed through. You can also freeze your baked pie – just let it cool completely first!

Taco pie in white pie plate with 2 slices missing

Other Delicious Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Print Recipe

Easy Taco Pie Recipe

Mix up your next taco night with this delicious, easy taco pie recipe. It's loaded with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, salsa, refried beans, corn, and taco seasoning, all topped with shredded cheese and baked in a savory pie crust. This taco pie is going to be a new family favorite dinner!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Keyword: family friendly, meal prep, taco tuesday

Servings: slices

Calories: 328kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Oven
Pie dish
Fork
Large skillet
Large spoon or silicone spatula
Bowl

Ingredients

1 9-inch pie crust
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon avocado oil
½ of one onion diced
½ of one green bell pepper diced
1 packet taco seasoning or make your own
½-¾ cup water according to instructions on packet of taco seasoning
½ cup jarred salsa of choice
½ cup refried beans canned or make your own
¾ cup corn
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
lettuce shredded, optional, for topping
tomatoes diced, optional, for topping
sour cream or Greek yogurt, optional, for topping
avocado sliced, optional, for topping

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
Place pie crust in pie dish. Crimp edges and poke holes in bottom of crust using tines of fork. Bake pie crust 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
While pie crust bakes, add ground beef to skillet and brown over medium heat.
Drain any fat from browned ground beef, then transfer beef to bowl. Set aside. Add avocado oil, onion, and bell pepper to skillet. Cook until vegetables are soft.
Return ground beef to skillet. Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer until water is absorbed.
Add salsa, refried beans, and corn to skillet. Stir until combined and thoroughly mixed, then simmer 1 additional minute.
Transfer taco filling mixture to pre-baked pie crust. Place taco filling in one even layer. Top with cheese. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.
Remove from oven, slice into 8 slices, and serve with desired toppings.

Notes

Ground Beef: You can use ground beef with whatever fat content you prefer.
Make it Keto: Use the crust from our keto meat pie recipe. Use a ground beef with higher fat content, a keto-friendly taco seasoning, and a keto-friendly salsa with no added sugar. Leave out the refried beans and the corn. Onions are up to you.
Make it Gluten Free: Use a gluten free frozen pie crust and make sure your taco seasoning is gluten free.
Make it Dairy Free: Make sure your pie crust doesn’t include any dairy ingredients and use a vegan/dairy-free cheese.

Recipe yields 8 slices of taco pie. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 slice, not including any optional toppings. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

June 17, 2021 Dairy-Free

Steamed Potatoes with Herbs

These steamed potatoes are irresistibly soft and buttery! In a few simple steps you’ll have a healthy side dish that pairs well with virtually any meal. Make these steamed potatoes the next time you’re craving something quick, easy, and delicious!

close up image of steam potatoes on a plate with a lemon

What Makes These Steamed Potatoes So Good

They’re cooked to soft, buttery perfection! Steaming is one of the best ways to guarantee deliciously tender potatoes every time.
They require barely any effort at all. Simply add to a steamer basket, then remove and toss in butter and fresh herbs – that’s it! Leave these steamed potatoes to cook while you work on the rest of your meal and you’ll have dinner on the table in no time.
They’re super easy to customize to your liking! Use your favorite fresh herbs and add as much or as little salt as you’d like.

Key Ingredients for Steamed Potatoes

Baby Potatoes – There are a few kinds of baby potatoes out there, and any kind will work in this recipe. These steamed potatoes are also a great dish to throw together when you have any leftover potatoes lying around. No need to peel or chop these potatoes either. Simply give them a good rinse then toss them straight into a steamer basket!

Fresh Herbs – I used fresh parsley and chives, but you can use a few tablespoons of whatever fresh herbs you’d like! Fresh dill, cilantro, thyme, and basil are all delicious options as well. Have fun with this part of the recipe, get creative and make it your own.

Chef’s Tips

Depending on the size of your potatoes, they may take longer to cook. At the 20 minute mark, check on the potatoes to see how they’re progressing. Do this by gently piercing one with a fork, if the fork glides through the potato easily then they’re ready to eat!
If you don’t have a steamer basket, then simply add the potatoes to a medium pot with one inch of water. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
Turn this into a complete meal by adding some broccoli to the steamer basket in the final 4-5 minutes of cooking. When done, toss potatoes and broccoli in the butter and herbs then serve alongside a protein for a healthy weeknight meal!

overhead image of steamed potatoes on a plate with a fork and lemon

More Easy Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Steamed Potatoes with Herbs

These steamed potatoes are irresistibly soft and buttery! In a few simple steps you'll have a healthy side dish that pairs well with virtually any meal. Make these steamed potatoes the next time you're craving something quick, easy, and delicious!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy side, fewer than 5 ingredients, weeknight dinner

Servings: servings

Calories: 157kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Medium pot
Steamer basket

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds baby potatoes
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter see Notes
2-3 tablespoons fresh herbs see Notes
Additional salt to taste

Instructions

Add about one inch of water to a pot with a steamer basket. Once simmering, add the potatoes and salt into the steamer basket, cover, and cook for 20 minutes or until tender.
Transfer steamed potatoes to a large bowl with the butter and fresh herbs, tossing to coat. Taste and season with additional salt as desired.

Notes

Make it Vegan: Use vegan butter or olive oil in place of the butter in this recipe.
Fresh Herbs: I used fresh chives and parsley, but you can use any fresh herbs you’d like in this recipe.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines, and reflect information for one serving. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific types and brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

June 15, 2021 Dairy-Free

Instant Pot Carne Asada

Instant Pot carne asada is one of my favorite ways to prepare a perfect flank steak. Easy and quick, this recipe is full of simple ingredients that give you incredible flavors. Use it as the protein in tacos, nachos, or carne asada fries, or enjoy it on its own with a few complementing sides.

What Makes This Instant Pot Carne Asada So Good

Carne asada is actually grilled meat, and true, if you’re cooking in the Instant Pot you’re not really grilling. Sometimes you want a carne-asada-style dinner, though, and don’t have the time (or equipment) to grill a flank steak. That’s where this recipe comes in! It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s not weather-dependent.
Carne asada is super versatile! You can change up the spices and liquids you use to get different flavors, no problem. It’s perfect for tacos, nachos, and carne asada fries. It’s also delicious with just a side of cilantro lime cauliflower rice, refried black beans, or guacamole salad.
The Instant Pot keeps the flank steak super juicy and makes it perfectly tender. Everything cooks quickly and clean-up is a snap. If you’re on the fence about getting an Instant Pot, let this be your sign!
This recipe is a wonderful option for all you meal-preppers! Instant Pot carne asada is a great make-ahead recipe. Store any uneaten carne asada in an airtight container in the fridge and it’ll keep up to 7 days. You can freeze it, too! Just let it cool completely, pack it in an airtight container, freeze it, and eat it within 3 months.

Key Ingredients for Instant Pot Carne Asada

Flank Steak – Flank steak is a lean cut of meat that’s really versatile and easy to work with. Since it’s leaner, it can be tough if you overcook it. That’s what’s great about cooking it in the Instant Pot with a lot of liquid, though – it reduces the odds of overcooking and drying out the meat. You can use a skirt steak instead of flank steak if you prefer it or just can’t find flank steak.

Orange Juice – Unexpected? Maybe. Delicious? Definitely. The acid in orange juice (and in the lime juice) helps tenderize the flank steak, so long as you don’t use too much. Too much acidity can actually make the steak tougher. The OJ is also citrusy and just a tiny bit sweet, which adds another great level of flavor to the marinade and keeps it from tasting too acidic.

Chef’s Tips

If you’d like your flank steak less done, lower the cook time by about 5-10 minutes. Your exact cook time will depend on how rare/done you like your steak. As always, internal temperature is the best test of doneness. For medium steak, you’ll want an internal temperature of 140°-145° Fahrenheit. Medium rare, 130°-135° Fahrenheit. Medium well, 150°-155° Fahrenheit. Since you can’t really pause the Instant Pot and open the lid to check the temperature of the meat, you might try a test run with a small amount of flank steak before you cook the whole 2 pounds. The test run won’t be exact since it’s a smaller amount, but it’ll give you a ballpark cook time to try!
This part isn’t super necessary, BUT if you have time, I recommend letting the flank steak sit with the spice mixture on it for 15-30 minutes. After 15-30 minutes, move on to step 3 of the instructions below. This just gives the spice mixture more time to mingle with the steak and lets those flavors really develop.
To really lock in the flavors and juices of your Instant Pot carne asada, let the flank steak rest on a cutting board for 5ish minutes after you take it out of the Instant Pot, before you slice it. Again, not necessary, but a simple step that can have an impact!

Zoomed out photo of sliced Instant Pot carne asada on a white plate sitting on a white table

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Print Recipe

Instant Pot Carne Asada

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Latin, Mexican

Keyword: game day, pressure cooker, taco tuesday

Servings:

Calories: 263kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Small bowl
Instant Pot
Tongs
Cutting board
Sharp knife

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cumin
2 pounds flank steak
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup beef broth
¼ cup lime juice
¼ cup orange juice see Notes
3 cloves garlic minced
½ cup cilantro chopped, plus more for serving if desired
½ of one small onion sliced

Instructions

In small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, chili powder, onion powder, and cumin.
Generously season both sides of flank steak with spice mixture, making sure to rub spices into steak very well.
Add olive oil to Instant Pot and turn on Sauté function. Add flank steak to Instant Pot. If needed, cut flank steak (against the grain) into two large pieces to fit in Instant Pot. Brown flank steak on both sides for approximately 6 minutes total (2-3 minutes per side).
After browning flank steak, add beef broth, lime juice, orange juice, and garlic to Instant Pot.
Place cilantro and onion on top of flank steak. Secure lid on Instant Pot and set to Manual High Pressure for 20 minutes (for well done steak – see Notes). After 20 minute cook time is up, let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
Vent to release any remaining pressure and carefully remove lid. Transfer flank steak to cutting board. Slice into thin strips, always cutting against the grain.
Top sliced flank steak with additional chopped cilantro if desired and serve.

Notes

Cook Time: Cook times vary from one Instant Pot to another, so you may need to adjust the cook time based on your pressure cooker and on the size and thickness of your flank steak. For less well-done steak, lower the cook time by 5-10 minutes depending on desired doneness. Check temperature with internal meat thermometer before cutting steak.
To Cut the Flank Steak: Using a sharp knife, slice against the grain of the meat, slicing at a diagonal angle. What does against the grain mean? Look for the lines of muscle running through the meat, and slice perpendicularly to those. You may have to adjust the way you’re slicing on different sections of meat depending on the direction the fibers run.
Make it Gluten Free: Make sure your broth is gluten free.
Make it Keto: The orange juice and onion are the only non-keto ingredients in this recipe. Some keto-eaters don’t worry about onions, but you can skip them altogether if you want. Depending on your keto style, you can try an organic orange juice with no added sugar – since you’re only using ¼ cup here, the OJ will only add about 6 carbs total to the entire recipe, or 1 carb per serving. If you’re strict keto, you can skip the orange juice altogether and use more beef broth and lemon juice or more lime juice in its place. You’ll end up with a slightly different flavor but it’ll still be great!

Recipe yields approximately 6 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

June 10, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

These air fryer turkey burgers are simple, juicy, and delicious! Throw this easy meal together on a busy weeknight or whenever you’re craving something quick, yet healthy. A perfectly seasoned turkey burger patty is cooked in the air fryer in no time!

What Makes This Air Fryer Turkey Burgers Recipe So Good

Ground turkey, a few very simple ingredients, and an air fryer is all you’ll need to make these air fryer turkey burgers! Lightly seasoned, then cooked to perfection and you’re free to serve them however you’d like.
This recipe includes three different turkey burger options, allowing you to pick the one you like best! Choose from either making the patties yourself, buying them pre-made from the store or cooking up that box of frozen turkey burger patties in your freezer. Each method is equally as simple and delicious!
The air fryer takes all the guesswork out of cooking these air fryer turkey burgers. Simply add the patties to the air fryer, cook for 15 minutes, pause to flip halfway through, and then you’re done! I love cooking up a double batch of these turkey burgers at the start of a busy week for an easy grab-and-go lunch or dinner.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

Ground Turkey – This ground meat has less calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium than ground beef. I use and recommend 90%-95% lean ground turkey for this recipe. However, if you can’t find ground turkey you can easily substitute it for ground chicken instead.

Egg – The egg in this recipe helps to bind the air fryer turkey burger patties together during and after cooking. Without the egg, you’ll have a more crumbly turkey burger that risks falling apart when eaten. If you want to go without the egg, you can, though I do not recommend it for this recipe.

Worcestershire Sauce – Just a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce packs so much flavor into these air fryer turkey burgers! Often found in beef burgers and a variety of other grilled recipes, the Worcestershire sauce helps these burgers mimic that delicious, slightly tangy flavor.

Chef’s Tips

Ground turkey is stickier and slightly more challenging to handle than ground beef. Lightly coat your hands with oil before forming patties, in order to avoid sticking. It’s also useful to keep in mind that the less you mix and handle the ground turkey, the less sticky it will be!
Leave the turkey burger patties in the freezer for no more than 10 minutes before transferring to the air fryer. The goal here is to get the patties solid enough to handle, but not too frozen to cook all the way through.
Feel free to serve these air fryer turkey burgers however you’d like! I kept things simple with a toasted bun, a thick layer of mashed avocado, as well as some lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Fresh cucumber, pickles, or a slice of cheese would also make a great addition to these burgers!

air fryer turkey burgers place on one half of a bun

More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

These air fryer turkey burgers are simple, juicy, and delicious! Throw this easy meal together on a busy weeknight or whenever you're craving something quick, yet healthy. A perfectly seasoned turkey burger patty is cooked in the air fryer in no time!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings: servings

Calories: 148kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Large bowl
Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey
1 egg
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, then divide and shape into four patties. Place the turkey burger patties in the freezer for 5-10 minutes, or until firm enough to handle.
Add patties to the air fryer and cook at 360° Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Pre-made Turkey Burger Patties:

If not already seasoned, evenly season both sides of pre-made turkey burger patties with salt and black pepper.
Add to air fryer basket and cook at 360° Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Frozen Turkey Burger Patties:

Add frozen turkey burger patties to air fryer basket and cook at 375° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Notes

Depending on the thickness of your patties and the intensity of your air fryer, these turkey burgers may take a few more or a few less minutes to cook. When pausing the air fryer to flip the burgers, take a moment to evaluate how slowly or quickly they’re cooking and adjust the time from there.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines, and reflect information for one turkey burger patty, not including a bun or any toppings. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific types and brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

June 8, 2021 Dairy-Free

Vegan Peach Cobbler

This vegan peach cobbler is perfectly sweet and packed with fresh peaches! We took a summertime favorite, made it completely vegan, and even included gluten-free and sugar-free options as well. Serve this vegan peach cobbler warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream for the perfect warm-weather treat!

What Makes This Vegan Peach Cobbler So Good

It’s a classic recipe, turned vegan! With the help of some vegan butter and almond milk, this is a traditional dessert that now everyone can enjoy. And the best part is, non-vegans won’t even know it’s vegan – it’s that good!
It’s perfectly sweet, with just the right amount of sugar which still allows that fresh peach flavor to shine! Peaches are a summertime fruit favorite around here and the last thing we’d want to do is take away from their incredible and naturally sweet flavor. A touch of sugar and a bit of lemon juice do an impeccable job of bringing out that delicious peach taste.
It’s easily made gluten-free and/or sugar-free! Simply swap out the all purpose flour for gluten-free all purpose flour to make this a vegan and gluten-free peach cobbler. Likewise, replace the sugar with granular Swerve or your favorite sugar substitute to make this dessert added sugar-free!

Key Ingredients for Vegan Peach Cobbler

Peaches – Peak peach season is May through September and when you should have no trouble finding the best tasting peaches at your local grocery store or farmers market! To know when your peaches are ripe enough for this cobbler simply give them a gentle squeeze. If the peach gives a little bit without bruising, then it’s ready to use! To prepare peaches for this vegan recipe, start by removing the skin then cut around the pit and into similar-sized slices.

Sugar – You can use white sugar, cane sugar, coconut sugar, or even your favorite sugar-free substitute in this vegan peach cobbler recipe. I used cane sugar and had delicious results, but any of the listed options will taste equally as delicious!

Almond Milk – Almond milk bakes up similar to cows milk and is why I prefer it for this recipe. However, you can use any vegan milk you’d like! The others I’d recommend are soy milk, oat milk, or cashew milk.

Chef’s Tips

This is the perfect recipe to bring to a summer potluck or barbecue! For optimal serving – if cool, warm slightly in a 350° Fahrenheit oven for 10 minutes. Then, serve this warm vegan peach cobbler with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or whipped coconut cream!
Resist the urge to stir the melted butter, cobbler crust batter, and peach filling together before baking. The trick to a perfect cobbler is layering everything together, then letting the ingredients work their magic in the oven. The cobbler crust batter and melted butter will slowly rise to the top of the baking dish and wrap the peach filling in an irresistibly delicious crust.
If you feel like your cobbler is browning too quickly, cover it with a sheet of aluminum foil while it bakes. Sometimes if the ends of any peaches poke out of the cobbler, they can become susceptible to getting a little too charred in the oven. So keep an eye on things and pull out the aluminum foil if needed!

What Do We Mean By Healthy?

Our recipes focus on real ingredients and homemade elements. We try to avoid processed flour and sugar, like white flour or white sugar. Our recipes often swap less healthy options (like a commercial, deep-fried tostada) for an easy homemade version.

Our recipes are not necessarily low fat or low calorie, and we aren’t afraid of fat or carbs! Some of our recipes will be “skinny,” low carb, keto, paleo, dairy free, grain free, gluten free, Whole30, or vegan, and they will be labeled when they qualify for any of these diets. All our recipes are easy and family friendly!

vegan peach cobbler in a bowl with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream on top

More Delicious Vegan Recipes

Print Recipe

Vegan Peach Cobbler

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fruit dessert, potluck, summer cookout

Servings: servings

Calories: 332kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Medium saucepan
Medium bowl
9×13 baking dish

Ingredients

For the peach filling:

3 pounds peaches peeled and sliced
⅔ cup sugar see Notes
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the cobbler crust:

¼ cup vegan butter
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour see Notes
¾ cup sugar
1 cup unsweetened almond milk or any non-dairy milk
1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
Add all peach filling ingredients to a saucepan over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.
Place the butter in a 9×13-inch baking dish and transfer to the oven for 3 minutes, or until butter has melted completely.
Mix together the flour, sugar, milk, and baking powder in a large bowl until just combined.
Remove baking dish from the oven and pour batter over the melted butter, do not stir. Then pour the peach filling over top of the batter and bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes

Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free all purpose flour in place of the all purpose flour in this recipe.
Make it Sugar-Free: Replace the sugar with granular Swerve or your favorite sugar substitute.

Recipe yields approximately 6 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving out of 6. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 6. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

June 3, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Squash

An air fryer is all you need to get perfectly tender, crisp summer squash in no time at all! This recipe for air fryer squash uses olive oil and a little salt & pepper to highlight the natural flavors of the vegetables without overpowering them.

What Makes This Air Fryer Squash So Good

It’s a quick and easy recipe that fits almost any dietary need – low calorie, low carb, keto, gluten free, grain free, no added sugar, paleo, vegan, vegetarian… Everyone can enjoy this tasty snack or side dish!
If you don’t like mushy squash, this is the recipe for you. The air fryer gives you perfectly tender-crisp summer veggies in less than 10 minutes. There’s no messy clean up, no standing over a hot stovetop, no turning and tossing to keep things from burning. Just perfectly cooked squash at the touch of a button.
Any leftover squash can easily be reheated in the microwave, under the broiler, or in the air fryer again for just a couple of minutes. Refrigerate your leftover squash in an airtight container and it’ll keep up to 4 days.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Squash

Yellow Squash – Yellow squash is pretty iconic. It’s got a beautiful color (hello, gorgeous yellow) and an interesting shape (roundish and bulbous on one end but skinnier toward the other end).

Zucchini – Another summer squash, zucchini doesn’t look like yellow squash. It’s a straight squash with uniform thickness from one end to the other, and it’s got a rich green color. Both zucchini and yellow squash have a similar taste and texture, and you can use them interchangeably in recipes. I like to use them together, like in this air fryer squash recipe, for some added color.

Chef’s Tips

Like any other air fryer recipe, you want to make sure you don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The yellow squash and zucchini should lay in one flat layer, not stacked or overlapping. If they’re stacked, the air won’t circulate around the discs like it should. If the air can’t circulate, they won’t cook evenly. You may have to cook in two batches if you have a small air fryer or if you’re cooking a lot of squash.
For extra flavor, you can mince a little garlic and toss it with the squash and oil. You could also try soy sauce or coconut aminos instead of olive oil.
For crunchy squash and zucchini, try our recipe for Air Fryer Zucchini Chips. The veggies are sliced thin to crisp up nicely, and they’re topped with a little parmesan for a wonderful cheesy flavor.

While You’re Here, Check Out These Other Air Fryer Recipes

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Squash

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Vegan

Keyword: easy cooking, summer food, veggie chips

Servings: servings

Calories: 81kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer
Large bowl

Ingredients

1 small yellow squash
1 small zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit.
Slice squash and zucchini into quarter-inch-thick discs.
Place discs in bowl. Drizzle olive oil over vegetables and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat.
Transfer squash to air fryer. Cook 6 to 7 minutes, or until tender but crisp.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 2 servings. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving. Actual macros may vary slightly based on specific types and brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition