Vegan Recipe Ideas with Apples

We often get requests for recipes that fit into special diets, including vegan and vegetarian recipes. In this blog post, Jennifer Farley of our Kitchen Council and Savory Simple blog shares her favorite ways to include different apple varieties into recipes and snacks that are entirely vegan. Enjoy!

Whether sweet or savory, healthy or decadent, the best recipes almost always have a proper balance of flavor and texture. Flavor balance refers to the four tastes: sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Adding a variety of textures can also greatly enhance our enjoyment of a dish. Vegan recipes are missing a variety of ingredients that typically add certain tastes and textures to a recipe, and apples are a perfect way to incorporate both elements! Apples add sweetness and/or acidity depending on the variety. They also add a crisp texture as well. On top of that, the skin adds a beautiful, vibrant color which adds visual appeal to any dish. We eat with our eyes first. Here are some ways to add Stemilt apples to vegan recipes, including recipes from The Stem Blog:

• Pay attention to the flavor profile of the apple, and carefully consider how it will enhance the other ingredients in the recipe. Whole grains are a wonderful way for vegans to incorporate protein into their diets. Adding apples can add that sweet and crunchy element. Lemon juice can be added to the dressing to add acidity, so this is an excellent opportunity to add a sweeter apple variety, such as Stemilt’s Pinata apple. This Pinata Apple, Grains & Greens Bowl is an excellent example, though you’ll want to substitute a vegan sweetener such as light agave nectar with the honey (which is not a vegan ingredient). This Apple, Quinoa and Lentil Salad is also a healthy, delicious option. Learn more about Pinata apples here.
• For a wholesome, sweet snack that kids will love, Easy Green Apple Fruit Roll Ups are a perfect vegan treat. In this example, Stemilt’s Granny Smith apples are a good option because they add tartness to balance the sweetness of the fruit leather. Once again, substitute an equal amount of light agave nectar for the honey to adapt this recipe for the vegan diet. Learn more about Granny Smith apples here.
• Chocolate dipped strawberries get quite a bit of attention, but did you know that chocolate dipped apples are also amazing? In fact, they’re even better in some ways because when you consider flavor balance and texture, a tart, crunchy apple adds so much more dimension than a strawberry. These Chocolate Dipped Apple Slices highlight Stemilt’s Pink Lady Apples (shown in the photos), and are an easy, decadent, vegan dessert. Learn more about Pink Lady apples here.
• Roasting apples can add caramelization and flavor to a variety of vegan recipes, and soup is a perfect example. Not only do apples add sweetness and/or acidity, they add thickness and fiber. It’s perfect for those who crave a more hearty soup. This Roasted Apple & Parsnip Soup, topped with Sautéed Garlicky Kale and Turkey Bacon highlights Stemit’s SweeTango apple, and it can easily be adapted into a vegan recipe for the fall season when this particular apple is available. Either swap the turkey bacon for a vegan brand or, if you prefer to avoid vegan meat replacements, simply omit the bacon altogether. Learn more about SweeTango apples here.