5 Vegan St. Patrick's Day Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert

With St. Patrick's Day on the horizon, how can a vegan celebrate with all of the holiday's festive food options? It's actually not all that hard! There are plenty of meatless and dairy-free alternatives to an otherwise meat- and dairy-heavy holiday. Read on for some delicious and easy vegan St. Patrick's Day recipes that you can enjoy without compromising your dietary choices.

Vegan Corned "Beef" and Cabbage

Corned beef and cabbage is synonymous with St. Patrick's Day fare. This meatless, dairy-free version will not only satisfy your belly, but it also adds a healthy vegan component to your St. Paddy's Day culinary repertoire that will rival its traditional counterparts.

Here's what you'll need to get started:

• 2 small onions, cut in wide slices
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• ½ head of green cabbage, sliced
• 1½ cups baby carrots
• 2 celery stalks, cut in wide slices
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp. ground mustard
• ½ tsp. ground allspice
• ½ tsp. ground coriander
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• ¼ tsp. ground sage
• 1 tbsp. vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 6-8 oz. vegan beef substitute, such as seitan or tempeh
• 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• ½ cup water
• Salt to taste

Sauté the onion slices in olive oil in a large pot until they are golden. Add the cabbage, carrots, celery, vegetable broth, mustard, spices, and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, then add the seitan or tempeh. Continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, then remove the tempeh or seitan along with all the vegetables from the pot and place them in a serving dish. Continue cooking the seasoned broth, and add the flour and water. Intermittently stir until the mixture thickens up, then pour it over the vegan corned beef and vegetables. Season the dish with salt to your liking.

Vegan Irish Soda Bread

Soda bread, another traditional Irish staple, has endured many iterations over the ages. Many recipes contain raisins or caraway seeds, and some even include oats or sunflower seeds on the top. This recipe is closer to its basic, familiar roots, but without the dairy. This bread is great for a side dish to any lunch or dinner.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1½ cups unsweetened dairy-free milk
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 4 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free baking flour)
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 4 tbsp. dairy-free butter, separated

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the dairy-free milk with the lemon juice in a bowl and set aside. Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Cut the butter into the dry mixture using two knives. Add the dairy-free milk and lemon juice mixture and combine it with the other ingredients. Once combined, remove the dough from the bowl and knead it on a lightly-floured surface. Only knead enough so that the dough can be formed into a disc about 1½ to 2 inches high. Next, place the dough disc on greased baking sheet and mark the top with an "X." Bake it for 35 to 45 minutes.

For a colorful spin on this staple, add a cup of baby spinach to the mix!

Vegan Irish Potato Pancakes

As a popular Irish mainstay, these potato pancakes are a delicious addition to breakfast or lunch. Serve them with sautéed spinach and beans or vegan sausages for a full, hearty meal.

Here are your ingredients:

• 1 cup dairy-free milk
• 1 tbsp. vinegar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 large potato, peeled, boiled, and mashed
• 1½ cups raw, peeled, and grated potatoes
• Oil for frying
• Vegan butter or sour cream

Begin by mixing the dairy-free milk and vinegar in a measuring cup. Set this aside for about 5 minutes while it curdles into buttermilk. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate large bowl, combine the mashed potato with the raw, grated potatoes and add the flour mixture. Stir in the milk mixture, creating a batter. Heat a griddle and coat it with oil. Scoop about ¼ to ½ cup of batter onto the griddle. Cook it on both sides, flipping over when each side becomes golden. Serve your pancakes with vegan butter or sour cream.

Vegan Green Smoothie

For a fun twist, go for the green in a refreshing way with a vegan St. Patrick's Day smoothie! A healthy, green smoothie is the perfect way to start your day, or it can be a yummy lunch pairing or a great snack for children. You can also add a scoop of plant-based protein powder to make it more of a meal.

Here is what you'll need to get started:

• 2 cups sliced, frozen bananas
• 1 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk (almond, coconut, cashew, etc.)
• ½ cup to 1 cup baby spinach

Place all the ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Add more dairy-free milk as needed for desired consistency. For a less-icy treat, simply use 1 to 2 non-frozen bananas and cold, dairy-free milk.

Sweet Vegan Irish Potato Candies

Out of all the vegan St. Patrick's Day recipes for desserts, these might be the most fun. These little "potatoes" are a delicious treat. Traditionally made with cream cheese and butter, they actually can be made very easily without dairy.

Here are the ingredients:

• 4 oz. dairy-free cream cheese
• ¼ cup dairy-free butter
• 1½ tsp. vanilla
• 4 cups powdered cane sugar
• 2½ cups unsweetened flaked coconut
• 2 tbsp. cinnamon

In a large bowl, beat the dairy-free cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with an electric hand mixer until creamy. Add the powdered sugar, ½ cup to 1 cup at a time, incorporating it with the creamy mixture. Add the coconut flakes and stir until they're well combined with the sugar and cream.

Next, put the cinnamon in a bowl. Scoop approximately 1 to 2 tablespoons worth of the cream and coconut mixture into small balls. Roll the balls in the cinnamon and shape them into small potatoes. Place them on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet or dish and chill in the refrigerator until set.

For more delicious vegan recipes, check out the Meatless Monday board by @tomsofmaine on Pinterest!

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