Culture

There are some definite benefits to cleaning up your diet and eating as clean as possible. For some people, that means going vegan and that’s really rough for Latinos. Not because so much of our food centers around animal products, but because our parents are always so concerned for us if we change our eating habits form theirs. However, here are ways you can make your favorite Latino foods vegan and just as delicious.

1. Tequeños

Biting into a traditional Venezuelan tequeño means eating gooey cheese with fried fluffy dough wrapped around it. These tequeños sub in animal-free butter dough and your choice of white “cheese.” You have to try these at least once.

2. Flor de Jamaica Tacos

Let’s taco ’bout all the options for Meatless Mondays. Now flor de jamaica does double duty—you can drink it in agua fresca or eat it with sautéed carrots and onions topped on your favorite tortilla. You can even fool your non-veggie friends into thinking that it is come kind of pork when cooked just right.

3. Ropa Vieja

Ropa vieja made with jackfruit tastes like the beef one abuela makes and arroz sin pollo. It really is easy to make your favorite dishes plant-based with all of the options available right now.

4. Picadillo

Lentils can give us all of the fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals we need on the daily with one spoonful, so it is a great base for the traditional picadillo plate. Instead of ground beef, toss in some lentils with green olives, bell peppers and sa-sa-sazon. It truly is that easy.

5. Paletas

A dessert that doesn’t have any dairy, flour, cheese, eggs? This sweet treat from your childhood made with real fruit is getting an over 21+ kick thanks to inventive chefs who are pairing them with boozy additions.

6. Pupusas

Traditional Salvadoran pupusas are made with cheese and sometimes have pork in it (if you’re ordering up some revueltas.) But if you’re saying no to queso, then these mini pupusas might do the trick. Cruelty-free combinations that can be found in the frozen aisle include pinto bean and kale, as well as black bean and sweet corn.

7. Arepas

The great thing about these little culinary pillows of yumminess is that you can play mix master with what you want to put inside. Vegan? No problem. Pack some plantain, avocados and black beans into your arepa for a patada of protein.

8. Empanadas

Throw a recipe at the chefs from Gracias Madre and they’ll come back with a whole concoction of vegan Latino dishes. From vegan empanadas to cashew cheese nachos, you’ll be raising your hands and saying gracias that Mexican food can still taste just as good without dairy and meat.

9. Mofongo Balls

Traditionally, Puerto Rican mofongo balls are made with fried plantains with bits of bacon or chicharrón in the mix. Take out the pork product and put in black beans instead for a seriously delicious substitution.

10. Tacos

Vegan options at taquerias usually means you have to always stick to calabacitas, but that is b.s.—and B.S. Taqueria wants to change that. They are one-upping the veggie game by roasting several types of mushrooms on top of blue corn tortillas for a game-changing mushroom feast.

11. Vegan Torta

Domingo más que agusto✨ A post shared by Lataqueriavegiee (@taqueriavegiee) on May 21, 2017 at 3:47pm PDT

Tortas in Mexico get ham and dollops of mayo, but when you’re vegan, that is not going to make the cut. Chefs are putting in black beans, jackfruit or fried beets as the main star of a vegan torta remake. Yum!

What’s your favorite vegan recipe? Let us know in the comments and share this with your friends!

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