Finding vegan recipes online can be tricky. So often vegetarian recipes rely on high-fat ingredients, such as cheese and oil, to make up for a lack of animal products. Commercial “faux meats” are another pitfall for the vegetarian chef, placing the focus on emulating traditional, meat-laden dishes rather than extolling the benefits of cruelty-free ingredients on their own. Of course, there is something to be said for an old favorite stripped down then dressed up to be healthy and satisfying.
Enter fatfreevegan.com, a treasure trove of a website where hungry, health conscious vegetarians can get the best of both worlds.
What is FatFreeVegan.com?
The concept is simple: an online community where like-minded people can meet, discuss health and lifestyle choices, read articles and exchange recipes. There are some very specific guidelines, however.
Recipes submitted to fatfreevegan.com may not include:
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish/Seafood
- Meat stocks
- Honey
- Gelatin (product of animal bones)
- Marshmallows (a gelatin product)
- Bonito flakes (seafood product)
- Worcestershire sauce (usually contains anchovies, use veg version)
- Cheese
- Milk (from animal sources)
- Sour cream/yogurt/other milk products
- Eggs
- Mayonnaise
- Fat/margarine/lecithin/oils
- Chocolate bars, chips or morsels
- Carob bars, chips or morsels
There is also a restricted list of higher-fat vegetable foods that threaten to compromise the site’s goal of providing recipes containing no more than 15% fat. These include:
- Nuts (except chestnuts, water chestnuts, and ginko nuts)
- Nut butters
- Sesame oil
- Seeds
- Seed butters
- Olives
- Avocados
- Coconut
- Full-fat tofu and tempeh
Avoid the restricted list unless there is a phenomenal reason for including one or more of these items (the website claims the dish must be “spectacular” and “suffer” without the ingredients if they are to be included).
The Vegan Blog
Complementing the extensive database of reader submitted recipes at fatfreevegan.com is an entertaining and informative blog. Award-winning blogger and photographer extraordinaire, Susan Voisin, creates a space that is visually stunning, populated by shot after shot of tantalizing vegan vittles.
Voisin extends a weekly invite into her own “FatFree Vegan Kitchen,” which she describes as “sinlessly delicious.” Voisin’s blog centers on a “Featured Recipe of the Week” and is set in engaging and familiar tone. Voisin blogs through her entire cooking process, providing play-by-play commentary along the way. She is not shy when a recipe doesn’t work, often using her culinary misses as an opportunity to involve readers: Voisin hosts regular “Save this Recipe!” contests, which feature excellent prizes such as cookbooks and swanky kitchen tools.
Vegan Recipe Search Engines
Fatfreevegan.com is extremely user-friendly, one of its best features being the search engine capabilities. Cuisiniers can search the recipe database by category (holiday, breakfast, condiments, etc), region (Asian, Italian, Indian, etc), most popular recipes, kid friendly recipes, ingredient or key word.
Another stellar feature is the “Blogs I Like / Veg Blog Search,” which allows users to search over 280 vegan and vegetarian blogs with a single mouse-click.
Dietary Restrictions
Since the website is strictly vegan, the recipes on fatfreevegan.com may prove too restrictive for the average, lacto-ovo vegetarian. However, since many of the recipes have been adapted from traditional recipes, it is often easy to reintroduce dairy or eggs in place of the substitutions offered. The site provides ample literature and conversion charts, making adaptation a snap.
Another potential deterrent for the true gourmand is the “fat free” concept. The complete elimination of fat may seem a bit extreme to some, but the site does provide substantial support for a fat free diet, citing that “diets low in animal protein and fat but high in legumes, vegetables, and fruit have been shown to help people lose weight, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, protect against cancer, and reverse diabetes”.
What About Essential Fatty Acids?
Voisin asserts the importance of getting your Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), and advocates using avocados, nuts, and seeds sparingly in your diet as forms of healthy, unrefined fat. However, if the idea of sautéing in broth instead of oil or baking with applesauce in place of butter is too extreme, use the higher fat staples. Voisin cautions, though, that her recipes “are all about tasting good while keeping the fat, sugar, salt, and processed ingredients to a minimum,” so adding these ingredients could throw off the delicate balance of spices and seasonings that make these recipes so delicious.
Whether the end product adheres to the fat free plan or incorporates traditional cooking methods, these recipes are a great starting point for an exciting and vitamin rich meal.
Gourmet Vegan Cooking
Fatfreevegan.com is an amazing resource for anyone wanting to spice up their culinary life while enhancing their health. Even the most carnivorous of culinary connoisseurs will be impressed by tasty treats like Bruschetta with Roasted Baby Tomatoes, Provençal Soupe au Pistou, Porcini Wonton Ravioli, or a decadent meal capper of Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake. The recipes are easy to follow and the blog and discussion boards make asking questions and giving feedback a pleasure, providing a welcome sense of community.
Hungry for More Vegan Recipes?
Check out Vegan and Raw Foods on suite101.
Ryann Salik - Freelance journalist, copywriter and editor, Ryann Salik, is a healthy living guru. Check out her latest work at ...
Join the Conversation