15 Favorite Vegetable Recipes ♥ Still Useful After 15 Years

A special anniversary collection of vegetable recipes, dedicated especially to the long-time members of this vegetable-loving community. These recipes, just 15 from a field of 365, stand the test of time and earn a place of honor among all the Favorite Vegetable Recipes here on A Veggie Venture for sheer usefulness: that means easy-to-find ingredients, simple preparation, good nutrition and outright deliciousness.

Real Food, Fresh & Practical, Fast & Casual. Year-Round Kitchen Staples. Budget Friendly. Many Are Low Carb, Weight Watchers Friendly, Vegetarian or Vegan and Naturally Gluten Free.

Skip Straight to the Top 15 Recipes
Skip Straight to 2020's Best Recipe
Skip Straight to 2021's Best Recipe

A Milestone for A Veggie Venture

Back in 2005, I launched A Veggie Venture on sheer whim and for good measure, on April Fool's Day no less. For the month, I set out to cook a vegetable in a new way every day – but then kept it up every day for an entire year.

So hey, Happy 15th Anniversary, A Veggie Venture!

A Heartfelt Thank You

To all of you who go way-way back with this vegetable-focused food blog, thank you! thank you! thank you! All these years later, it remains a total thrill knowing that we share this passion for the myriad vegetable plants that feed us, body and soul.

It remains much fun to explore all things vegetable. I don't know about you, but my curiosity is not yet sated! Here's to another year! another five years! a lifetime? Who knows what life shall bring?

This Anniversary Collection

During A Veggie Venture's first year of exploration and experimentation, I produced some definite duds. Basic Freezer-Burned Broccoli, anyone?

But as time has passed, I find myself gratified and inspired how many of that first year's recipes remain staples in my kitchen so many years and recipes later.

It's a wonderful life reminder, yes? Mathematically speaking, if you try 365 different recipes, some number will indeed be duds but some subset will be completely wondrous. It's kind of like that age-old practice of kissing countless frogs before finally locking lips with your prince. Pucker up, baby ...

So in honor of A Veggie Venture's 15th anniversary last spring, I hereby offer up a shortlist of just 15 recipes that remain useful and dare I say, essential. The list started with 50 candidates: it was brutal to pare down to just the Top 15, all drawn from that first year.

So explore away, my fellow vegetable lovers. I hope you find a few recipes that become "princes" in your own kitchen.

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New Here? Welcome!

For the many visitors new to A Veggie Venture, welcome! You'll find that all the vegetable recipes here are super-organized, from the Recipe Box to the famous Alphabet of Vegetables to the motherlode of vegetable recipes for Weight Watchers, all sorted by Weight Watchers points. So look around, explore. You may never look at vegetables in the same way again!

Never Miss a Recipe

To never miss a recipe, be sure to join thousands of fellow vegetable lovers who count on a free e-mail subscription from A Veggie Venture, it's easy to sign up here. Once you do, new recipes will be automatically delivered straight to your e-mail In Box.
Otherwise, check out my most Recent Recipes, a mix of brand-new vegetable ideas and long-standing recipes just updated. It's a great way to get acquainted!

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Top 15
Favorite Vegetable Recipes
from A Veggie Venture's
First Year

(in no particular order)

#1

• THE RECIPE Roasted Cauliflower The classic, including my tips and tricks.
• ANOTHER TAKE Spiced Chicken Tagine with Roasted Cauliflower A one-skillet supper with warm spices.

#2

• THE RECIPE Asparagus Tapenade
• ANOTHER TAKE Beet Pesto

#3

• THE RECIPE Mashed Potatoes & Carrots Why haven't we done this forever?
• ANOTHER TAKE Mashed Cauliflower (Low-Carb Mashed "Potatoes") So close to mashed potatoes, your mouth will do a double-take.

#4

• THE RECIPE Summer Vegetable Stew
• MANY MORE TAKES Favorite Seasonal Vegetable Stews 10 recipes plus 10 tips & techniques

#5

• THE RECIPE Refrigerator Pickled Beets No canning required!
• THEN JAZZ 'EM UP Pickled Beet Salad with Fresh Blueberries & Mint

#6

• THE RECIPE Swedish Red Cabbage & Apples Savory not sweet.
• ANOTHER TAKE Cabbage Noodles Ribbons of soft, silky cabbage, almost like pasta.

#7

• THE RECIPE Summer's Best Corn Chowder
• ANOTHER TAKE Summer Seafood Chowder Shrimp and scallops in a milky broth, with barely cooked tomato, corn and my favorite vegetable this summer, okra.

#8

• THE RECIPE Chipotle Chickpea Salad A fresh, summer salad with a smidgin of heat, substantial enough for dinner.
• ANOTHER TAKE Celery & Chickpea Salad A captivating salad, crunchy celery, creamy chickpeas and tangy feta.

#9

• THE RECIPE Quick Broccoli Soup or Quick Cauliflower Soup Healthful veggie soups on the table in minutes.
• ANOTHER TAKE Spinach Soup with Perfect Hard-Cooked Eggs A soup flushed with spring.

• THE RECIPE Quick Cauliflower Soup or Quick Broccoli Soup Healthful veggie soups on the table in minutes.
• ANOTHER TAKE Vichyssoise A simple leek & potato soup.

#10

• THE RECIPE Greek Greens (Flash Cook to Eat Later)
• ANOTHER TAKE Asian Greens

#11

• THE RECIPE Veggie-Lentil Burritos with Cilantro Sauce
• ANOTHER TAKE Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes

#12

• THE RECIPE Quick Tomato Sauce for Pasta & Pizza Just canned tomatoes, a few pantry ingredients and 20 minutes.
• ANOTHER TAKE Fresh Tomato Sauce When summer tomatoes are most perfect.

#13

• THE RECIPE Weight Watchers Zero Points Garden Vegetable Soup
• BUT WAIT, THERE's MORE All the WW Zero-Point Soups

#14

• THE RECIPE Cook’s Illustrated Foolproof Oven-Baked Brown Rice Moist and nutty, thanks to a special but easy technique.
• ANOTHER TAKE Perfect Stovetop Brown Rice Water volume and timing make all the difference.

#15

• THE RECIPE How to Roast Peppers in the Oven
• ANOTHER TAKE How to Roast a Pepper on a Gas Stove

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That's It!

I hope you find a place in your kitchen for these long-standing favorites.

BOOKMARK! PIN! SHARE!
How do you save and share favorite recipes? recipes that fit your personal cooking style? a particular recipe your mom or daughter or best friend would just love? If this collection of recipes seems useful, go ahead, save and share! I'd be honored ...

• THE COLLECTION 15 Favorite Vegetable Recipes, Still Useful After 15 Years From A Veggie Venture's first year.
• ALL THE FAVORITES Favorite Vegetable Recipes Each year's best recipes, starting Day One.

Best Recipe 2020

• THE RECIPE Pinto Bean Salad
• ANOTHER TAKE Black Bean & Corn Salad

Best Recipe 2021

• THE RECIPE Jubilee Greens How to Sauté Leafy Greens Like Spinach, Chard, Kale & More
• ANOTHER TAKE Greek Greens How to Flash Cook Dark Leafy Greens to Eat Later

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Looking for healthy new ways to cook vegetables? A Veggie Venture is home to hundreds of super-organized quick, easy and healthful vegetable recipes and the famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables. Join "veggie evangelist" Alanna Kellogg to explore the exciting world of common and not-so-common vegetables, seasonal to staples, savory to sweet, salads to sides, soups to supper, simple to special.

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