15 Vegan Recipes to Enjoy During Kwanzaa!

Kwanzaa is around the corner! This holiday is celebrated to honor African Heritage. The holiday came about in the 1960s specifically as a holiday for African Americans to reconnect to their culture and heritage. Food eaten during the week-long celebration is a combination of traditional and contemporary dishes ranging from African to southern. These delicious recipes from the Food Monster App will be perfect for those celebrating Kwanzaa!

1. African Peanut Stew

Source: African Peanut Stew

You may have never thought about adding peanut butter to your stew, but believe us, you should with this dish. This African Peanut Stew by Molly Patrick is full of flavor with various spices and healthy veggies to keep you warm and full.

2. High-Protein Sweet Plantains and Stewed Black Bean Bowl

Source: High-Protein Sweet Plantains and Stewed Black Bean Bowl

This Sweet Plantains and Stewed Black Bean Bowl by Elsie Kriz is hearty, spicy, and oh-so-delicious. This is a great comfort dish, and pan-frying the plantains just makes it extra special.

3. African Sweet Potato Stew With Peanut Butter

Source: African Sweet Potato Stew With Peanut Butter

Hot stew with a fuzzy blanket and some Netflix is calling your name. Look no further than this African Sweet Potato Stew by Yana Chistyakova. Soft potatoes, full of flavor, and there’s PEANUT BUTTER, people. This stew is filling and perfect for a cozy night in.

4. Baked Jollof Rice

Source: Baked Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is a popular West African one-pot rice dish that combines long-grain rice with tomatoes and olive oil. It’s typically served with fried plantains, vegetables, or protein, depending on which country you’re in. This Baked Jollof Rice by Elsa Brobbey is a classic reimagined as a casserole. The texture is near-perfect and the flavor is delightful and savory.

5. Black-Eyed Pea Chili With Collards

Source: Black-Eyed Pea Chili With Collards

Looking for a hearty chili to help you survive the cold winter months? Look no further. This Black-Eyed Pea Chili With Collards by Celeste Meredith is slowly simmered over six hours so that the flavors can fully blend, and then served over sautéed collard greens with homemade cornbread. It’s delicious, filling, and healthy.

6. Smoky Southern Collard Greens

Source: Smoky Southern Collard Greens

Comfort food at its finest! Warm up your meal with a bowl of these spicy, healthy, oil-free Smoky Southern Collard Greens by Molly Patrick!

7. Cornbread

Source: Cornbread

This delicious Cornbread by Mitra Shirmohammadi is super fluffy, crumbly, and moist! It’s also not overly sweet, but just enough to satisfy a sweet craving, and goes perfectly with savory dishes.

8. African Groundnut Stew

Source: African Groundnut Stew

There’s something about the combination of sweet potatoes and greens that is particularly delicious – and nutritious. Black-eyed peas are a traditional West African staple and add an earthy flavor plus lots of protein to this dish. This recipe is easy to play with to create your own favorite version of groundnut stew. For instance, carrots can take the place of sweet potatoes, and cabbage or okra can replace collards. Serve this African Groundnut Stew by Cathy Elton with brown basmati rice or whole wheat couscous.

9. Coconut and Turmeric Roast Potatoes

Source: Coconut and Turmeric Roast Potatoes

Turns out, coconut flour makes a delicious coating on roast potatoes. Who knew?? These Coconut and Turmeric Roast Potatoes by Tomi Makanjuola make a fantastic and healthier option if you’re craving a breaded french fry on the side of your meal. The recipe is also super simple! All you need is coconut four, turmeric, potatoes, olive oil, and a bouillon cube. Just coat the potatoes and bake them in the oven. The final result: perfectly crisp turmeric potatoes that go well with any main dish!

10. Spicy West African Chickpea and Kale Curry

Source: Spicy West African Chickpea and Kale Curry

Who’s down to try this Spicy West African Chickpea and Kale Curry by Elsie Kriz for lunch or dinner? Loaded with some potatoes, kale, and spice to boot. There is something very fulfilling about a meal you can whip up in 30 minutes and get the family happily fed in little to no time. Nutritious, delicious, and probably the best leftovers for your next-day soup and sandwich brunch.

11. Southern Sweet Potato and Black-Eyed Pea Stew

Source: Southern Sweet Potato and Black-Eyed Pea Stew

Southern flavor with a creamy sweet potato broth base, this Sweet Potato and Black-Eyed Pea Stew by Kayli Dice is packed with black beans, corn, and greens. This is how we do soul food!

12. Sweet Potato Maple Mousse Pie

Source: Sweet Potato Maple Mousse Pie

Mousse tarts are a great choice for the winter holidays. The best thing about these Sweet Potato Maple Mousse Pies by Annie Oliverio is their creamy coolness and ease of preparation. This one will find its way onto either your Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, or Kwanzaa menu.

13. Five Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Source: Five Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This Five Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese by Joni Marie Newman gets its cheesiness from a nutritional yeast-filled sauce, a tofu ricotta-like mixture, vegan cream cheese, shredded vegan cheese, and walnut parmesan sprinkles. Yep, that’s five! If you are looking for an unbeatable “cheesy” comfort dish, here you are.

14. Golden Battered Okra Fritters

Source: Golden Battered Okra Fritters

This recipe for Okra Fritters by Yana Chistyakova will give you the perfect dish to bring to a party. The batter is seasoned well and provides a crisp golden shell that is complimented by the tender okra inside. Plus, these battered okra are simple, quick, and incredibly easy to make.

15. Beju: Nigerian Coconut Cookie

Source: Beju: Nigerian Coconut Cookie

Bejus, a type of coconut cookie widely known in Nigeria, also seems to be common in the northeast of Brazil under the name bijus or tapioquinhas. Over there, these cookies include various fillings such as dulce de leche, jam, compote, or butter. In Nigeria, these cookies are made with only three ingredients: cassava root, coconut, and sugar. This is a dessert that will even appeal to gluten and grain-intolerant people, as it contains no wheat flour. Try these Nigerian Coconut Cookies by Mike Benayoun.

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