Italian Vegan Dishes For Your Italian Home

The words vegan and Italy are not something you often see in one phrase. For a country that has cheese, eggs, and meat as culinary staples, Italy is more recognized for non-vegan Italian recipes like cured hams and dairy-laden pizzas. The good news: Italian food is one of the most diverse cuisines in the world. It features a wide array of dishes that go beyond meat. Variations of greens, grains, and beans deliver a harmony of flavor and sustenance not just to Italian food enthusiasts, but also to foodies who follow a plant-based diet.

Learn more about Italian vegan dishes—and some easy-to-make recipes you can try at your Vista Alabang home—in this short guide.

Easy-to-Make Italian Food Recipes for Vegans

Italian food is one of the most popular dishes in the world, so finding variations of Italian main course in one of the local restaurants in your area is not surprising. But nothing beats the satisfaction of cooking your own meal. Doing so saves you from worrying if all ingredients are vegan-friendly as well. Ahead are some of the quick and easy Italian vegan dishes you can whip in minutes:

Vegan Cacio e Pepe

The classic Italian food experience is not complete without pasta. If you are looking for a filling pasta dish that you can whip in minutes, Cacio e Pepe is an easy choice. Literally translated as “cheese and pepper,” Cacio e Pepe requires only the said two ingredients for the sauce: Pecorino Romano cheese and black peppercorns. Below is a dairy-free take on this popular pasta dish.

What you will need:

(Makes up to four servings)

• ¼ cup of cashew butter
• 1/3 cup of nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoons of white miso paste
• 1 tablespoon of black peppercorns (whole)
• 450 grams of bucatini or dried spaghetti
• ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil
• ½ lemon for drizzling

Instructions:

Step 1:  Boil lightly salted water in a large pot. Then, toss in pasta into the boiling water and lower the heat to medium. Make sure to stir the pot occasionally until the pasta is cooked. Follow the cooking time indicated in the pasta packaging to achieve an al dente consistency. Once the pasta is cooked, set aside 2 ½ cups of pasta water before draining the pasta.

Step 2: In a small bowl, stir cashew butter, nutritional yeast, and miso paste into a thick paste. Coarse ground whole peppercorns and set aside in a separate bowl.

Step 4: Heat olive oil in an empty pan over medium heat. Toss in the coarsely-ground peppers and stir for at least two minutes until fragrant. Then, pour the miso mixture and reserved pasta water and whisk until you achieve a smooth sauce consistency.

Step 5: Finally, add the cooked bucatini or spaghetti to the sauce and cook over medium to high heat. Make sure to toss the pasta occasionally until the sauce become glossy. Add another splash of pasta water for extra gloss.

Your vegan version of Cacio e Pepe is done. Divide the pasta dish among bowls and season with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle the remaining crushed peppers. It is a perfect Italian main course you can make during lazy days.

Vegan Minestrone Soup

If you are in the mood for comfort Italian food recipes, you can make yourself a hearty bowl of 1-Pot Minestrone soup. This deliciously healthy meal is made with garden vegetables, beans, pasta, and spices that deliver a harmony of rich and filling flavors. Here is a vegan version of this popular Italian recipe.

What you will need:

(Makes up to 6 servings)

• 6 cups of vegetable stock
• 1 cup of mini penne pasta
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 medium-sized white or yellow onion (diced)
• 4 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 2 large-sized carrots (diced)
• 2 celery stems (diced)
• 1 small-sized zucchini (sliced into half-moon shapes)
• 1 ½ cup of trimmed green beans (roughly chopped)
• 1 can or about 14 ounces of chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
• 28 ounces of tomatoes (diced)
• 2 teaspoons of dried basil
• 2 teaspoons of dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar
• 1 cup of fresh kale or spinach (roughly chopped)

Instructions:

Step 1: In a large pot, sauté white onion, carrots, and celery for about five minutes.

Step 2: Pour in the broth along with all the ingredients except the kale or spinach and bring to a boil.

Step 3: Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer while stirring it occasionally. Turn the heat off when the vegetables are tender and the pasta is done. Toss the fresh kale or spinach into the soup.

Serve while warm. A bowl of vegan Minestrone soup is perfect for warming up during rainy days and cold seasons.

Vegan Travel Tips: How to Find Authentic Plant-Based Italian Food in Italy

Recreating plant-based Italian food recipes is a quick and easy way to enjoy the country’s diverse cuisine. But if you want a more authentic experience, traveling to Italy should be your next gastronomic adventure. Vegan travel could be challenging because you have to keep your dietary restrictions in check without missing out on the authentic food experiences available in your destination.

So, if you are planning to visit Italy soon, here is how you can make the most of your vegan trip:

1. Memorize important Italian phrases.

Always assume that not everyone knows your diet preference and restrictions unless you explicitly said so. These lines may come in handy when you want to eat Italian vegan dishes at a restaurant in Italy.

“Sono vegano/vegana” means “I eat vegan”

“Non mangio latticini, uova o carne” means “I don’t eat dairy, eggs, or meat”

You can customize the phrase according to your preference.

2. Research each region’s vegan specialties beforehand.

Every region in the country has its own specialty, including Italian vegan dishes. For instance, the plant-based stew, Caponata, is a year-round delicacy in Sicily. It is made with eggplant, peppers, olives, and zucchini, which are best paired with vegan bread. You can have it as a simple Italian main course or a filling appetizer.

3. Visit open markets

Eating in vegan-friendly restaurants in Italy is fun, but if you want to self-cater some of your Italian vegan dishes, open markets are your saviors. Piazza Vittorio market is one of the largest and most popular open markets in Rome. It offers fresh vegetables, lentils, and even international vegan staples like miso, tahini, and gochugang (red pepper paste).

Vegan travel to Italy does not have to be daunting. Even though the country is known for its meat-based dishes, finding their vegan-friendly counterparts is easy, as long as you know what to ask and where to go.

Experience Classic Italian Living in Vista Alabang by Brittany Corporation

Want to have your own slice of classic Italy in your luxury home? Coming home to Vista Alabang is stepping into the understated opulence of Old world Italy. Vista Alabang is an Italian-inspired luxury residence from Brittany Corporation. The upscale neighborhood features luxury house and lot properties for sale that features a blend of rustic architecture and modern amenities. Located in Daang Hari, Vista Alabang offers the best of both urban and idyllic lifestyles.

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