Vegetarian Comfort Food

What is comfort food? Something that makes us feel safe? Something that reminds us of home? Whatever it is, comfort foods tend to be soft, warm, and easy to prepare. Potatoes, pasta, and soups feature prominently. Here are some of my favorite comfort foods - let us know about yours.
 

Alfredo Sauce
A rich and creamy Italian sauce, usually served over fettucine. It's also delectable in spinach lasagna and with ravioli.

Apple Pie
Does anything taste as good as warm apple pie?

Applesauce
Sure you could just buy it at the store, but homemade applesauce is one of the all-time great treats.

Avocado Soup
Chilled soups are wonderful in the summertime, and they tend to be incredibly easy to prepare. This creamy avocado soup is no exception.

Baked Ricotta Cheese
Baked ricotta cheese with herbs makes a savory, slightly spongy cake - a very simple yet delicious appetizer.

Barley Soup
This barley soup recipe from Sicily is a perfect vegan alternative to chicken soup when you're feeling under the weather.

Béchamel Sauce
This simple white sauce can be used plain, or as the base for herbs, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, nuts, or other additions. It can easily be made vegan using the alternate ingredients listed.

Broiled Asparagus
Broiled asparagus topped with cheesy bread crumbs is the perfect dish for spring.

Broiled Ricotta Gnocchi
Gnocchi are usually treated like a variety of pasta and served with sauce. But these broiled ricotta gnocchi are great served plain or as dumplings.

Brownies
The ultimate treat for chocolate lovers.

Buttermilk Biscuits
There's nothing quite like buttermilk biscuits hot out of the oven.

Cabbage Rolls
Normally filled with a mixture of ground beef and rice, cabbage rolls are a staple in Eastern Europe and a favorite in many other countries. Try these vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with vegetables for an equally tasty main course.

Cheese Blintzes
Although I've seen menus with various kinds of fruit blintzes listed, for me cheese blintzes are the only option. The creamy cheese filling complements the warm crêpe so nicely, I can't imagine filling it with anything else.

Cheesy Grits
Whether you serve them straight up or fried, cheesy grits make a great addition to breakfast or brunch.

Chili
Here's a very easy vegetarian chili recipe - just open some cans, chop a few veggies, and leave it on the stove for a couple of hours.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
A delicious, rich, warm chocolate cake with a hint of peanut butter that tastes even better when served with berry sauce and/or vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Pudding
A rich, creamy, and extremely chocolatey pudding. It's got some calories, but it's worth it! There's also a frozen chocolate pudding variation.

Chocolate Pudding Cake
This interesting chocolate pudding cake has numerous good points: it's low in fat, potentially vegan, easy to make with kids, and delicious too.

Chop Suey
Chop suey, despite its Chinese name, is actually an American recipe, normally made with a mix of meat, vegetables, and bean sprouts. This vegan version uses tofu, bok choy, and spinach, to great effect.

Corn Chowder
An extremely rich and filling chowder.

Cream of Spinach Soup
A rich, warming soup made of spinach, potatoes, and (optional) milk.

Cream of Zucchini Soup
Zucchini grows like a weed in our garden, and I find it difficult to eat it all without getting bored. Sound familiar? Here's one very tasty way to use up fresh zucchini.

Deep-Dish Potato Pie
If you're looking for a rich and elegant dish and aren't worried about calories, give this beautiful potato pie a try.

Deviled Eggs
Aside from being a nice way to use up leftover hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs are easy to make, convenient to eat, and tasty to boot.

Egg Salad
This classic egg salad can be enjoyed in sandwiches or atop a bed of lettuce and veggies. Also see my recipe for mock (tofu) egg salad.

French "Fries"
Although I call these French fries, it's a bit of a misnomer, as they are roasted rather than fried. They're very similar to the fried ones and every bit as good!

Fresh Pasta
Making fresh pasta takes less than an hour and you can't beat it for taste and texture. Kids will love the different color possibilities.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
These aren't much more work than regular mashed potatoes, but they have a lot more flavor.

Gravy
This simple, nut-based gravy recipe will satisfy your cravings at Thanksgiving or any other time of year.

Hearts of Palm Dip
This creamy dip made with hearts of palm and green onion will remind you of sour cream and onion potato chips.

Hot and Sour Soup
I know a number of people who crave hot and sour soup when they're sick.

Italian-Style Macaroni and Cheese
Try this macaroni and cheese made with great Italian cheeses.

Lasagne
Vegetarian lasagne is easy and delicious. Here's a variation on the classic red sauce version, with some extra vegetables.

Lemonade
The ultimate summertime drink - fresh, sweet-tart lemonade.

Lemon Mousse
Light and tangy; perfect after a heavy, rich, or spicy meal.

Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is one of those dishes that sound boring, but can be just as delicious as a "fancier" pasta dish like lasagne or pesto.

Macaroni Salad
A simple but tasty dish. Macaroni salad is great for picnics and buffets, or as a side dish.

Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. They're quick and easy and the soft texture makes me feel like a kid. They're also a great base for all kinds of variations like vegan mashed potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes.

Matzo Balls 
Matzo balls (also spelled matzoh) are a traditional Jewish dumpling, usually made with chicken fat and served in chicken soup. This vegetarian version tastes great in vegetable soup.

Mock Beef Stroganoff
I just love this pasta dish: a creamy sauce with mushrooms and chunks of mock meat.

Noodle Kugel
Kugel is a traditional Jewish side dish that is usually slightly sweet but is served as a side dish, rather than a dessert.

Noodles and Cheese
I don't know where this recipe comes from or if there's a nicer name for it; all I know is that my mother used to make it when I was a kid and it only has 5 ingredients. The buttery, almost smoky onion flavor and the melty cottage cheese are absolutely delicious!

Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of the great breakfasts - not only is it packed with nutrients, it's also easy to cook and can be customized to your heart's content.

Ocean Chowder
This is a rich and delicious vegetarian alternative to New England clam chowder.

Onion Confit
Onion confit is basically carmelized onions with a couple of additional ingredients. Don't let its simplicity fool you - onion confit is a terrific addition to pizza, pasta, mashed potatoes, and curry.

Pancakes + Waffles
Pancakes and waffles are, for me, the ideal breakfast. They're quick and easy, and customizable to everyone's individual taste. Also see my pages on pancake/waffle mix and pancake/waffle ideas.

Pasta with Squash Sauce
Squash and pasta make a nice autumn meal.

Pecan Pie
The richest and most delicious pecan pie you'll ever taste.

Pizza
Making homemade pizza is one of the best and most creative ways of proving that meat is not a necessary part of a human's diet. Also see my pages on pizza dough and toppings.

Polenta
Polenta is a thick cornmeal mush served as a side dish to stew, or topped with vegetables, sauce, and/or cheese.

Potato Leek Gratin
Potatoes and leeks are one of those combinations that are just meant to be, and this gratin recipe is the perfect way to enjoy them.

Potato Leek Soup
There's something about the combination of potatoes and leeks in a creamy soup base - it's a terrific comfort food.

Potato Soup
A quick and easy recipe for a favorite cold-weather food.

Pot Pie
This pot pie recipe is better than the TV dinner version for two reasons: it's vegetarian and it's prepared and baked, rather than frozen and microwaved. It's also quick and flexible, so give it a try.

Quesadillas
Quesadillas - toasted tortillas filled with melted cheese - are quick, easy, and a favorite of kids.

Red Lentil Soup
Red lentils turn into golden mush when cooked, but they taste divine, especially in simple recipes like this red lentil soup from Syria. Just a few ingredients bring out all the flavor you need for a hearty and delicious a vegetarian / vegan soup.

Rice Pudding
Sweet and rich, this easy rice pudding recipe can be made with white or brown rice, whether dry or leftover from dinner.

Ricotta Gnocchi
Gnocchi are little Italian dumplings served with sauce. Usually made with potatoes, the best gnocchi are like soft pillows. Personally, I find they are even more delectable when made with ricotta cheese.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip
The first time I tasted this roasted red pepper dip, it was so good that I actually gasped.

Roasted Vegetable Stew
Roasting brings out all the rich flavor and sweetness of veggies.

Seitan Mock Beef Stew
A rich, thick stew made with seitan and lots of good veggies. It's especially tasty served with hot French bread on a cold night.

Shepherd's Pie
This vegetarian shepherd's pie recipe is a simple yet delicious lambless version of the real thing.

Spanish Tortilla with Peas
Peas and saffron really spice up a traditional Spanish tortilla (potato omelette).

Split Pea Soup
Vegetarian split pea soup is easy and just as flavorful as the kind made with ham.

Squash-Leek Quiche
This quiche made with squash and leeks and topped with cheese is a simple yet elegant main course. Serve it with salad and rice or quinoa pilaf for a satisfying meal.

Squash Soup
Just a handful of ingredients and an hour of roasting make the most flavorful squash soup you can imagine.

Strawberry Sorbet
When it's hot out, a cool strawberry sorbet really hits the spot.

Stuffed Shells
Pasta shells stuffed with cheese, topped with tomato sauce, and baked until bubbly.

Stuffing
Stuffing doesn't have to be cooked inside a turkey - this vegetarian bread stuffing with apples and walnuts is delicious baked as a casserole.

Sweet Potato and Corn Soup
Sweet potato soup with corn, peppers, and carmelized onions is a real cold weather treat.

Sweet Potato Gratin
Sweet potatoes layered with black beans, rice, and spinach make a hearty, healthy main course.

Sweet Potato Pie
This lovely pie is sweet but not too sweet, so you can eat it as a side dish with or dessert after Thanksgiving dinner.

Tamale Pie
An authentic Mexican dish that can be made as spicy (or not) as you like.

Tempeh Hash
This simple recipe yields a high-protein breakfast.

Tomato Cheese Tart
An extremely simple dish that is always a hit. Everyone who eats it raves about the crust.

Tomato Soup
This ultra simple soup can be eaten hot or cold and is the perfect way to enjoy summer tomatoes. Don't let the cooking time scare you - this tomato soup practically cooks itself.

Tortellini Soup
This garlicky soup is easy, quick, and delicious.

Tuscan Bean Dip
This elegant bean dip is known as fagioli in fiasco, or beans in a bottle. Traditionally made in Tuscany in a Chianti bottle cooked in embers in a brick oven, this modern version is creamy and delicious.

Vegan "Cheese" Sauce
Here's an easy and completely vegan recipe to help you deal with your cheese cravings.

Wild Mushroom Risotto
Wild mushroom risotto is earthy and unbelievably rich. It takes some time at the stove, but is well worth it for a special dinner.

Winter Squash Risotto
Risotto isn't difficult to make, but it does require a lot of standing at the stove, stirring away. The end result, however, is delicious and a wonderful comfort food.

Zucchini Soup
Zucchini grows like a weed in our garden, and I find it difficult to eat it all without getting bored. Sound familiar? Here's one very tasty way to use up fresh zucchini.

If you have a recipe for a favorite comfort food that you would like to share please do so on the forum!

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