What do vegans cook with instead of oil?

It's very easy to bake oil-free. I've done it for years and am very confident with it and know very well how each nut or fruit will perform. Instead of oil, I use fruit purees, veggies, dairy-free yogurt, nut butters, almond flour or other nuts, sometimes coconut butter.

How to make food without oil?

No Oil: Perhaps the easiest of all the categories! Simply sauté your ingredients in water or broth (for soups and stews), or coconut milk (for curries) before adding your other ingredients . This works because you'll be adding additional liquid to cook your ingredients later anyway, namely water, broth, or coconut milk.

How do you cook without oil or butter?

There are so many things you can substitute for oil when sauteing. Water works for a start, but you can also try vegetable broth, cooking wine, vinegar or soy sauce. Not only are you eliminating harmful oils with these options, you're also infusing your food with additional flavor!

What is a vegan substitute for butter or oil?

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado . In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.

Why do vegans not like oil?

The short answer is: oil is a processed food full of fat and calories and not much else . We all agree that sugar is a processed food, full of “empty calories.” Well, so is oil. Actually, oil has more empty calories than sugar.

Which food doesn t contain oil?

Frozen Fruits and Vegetables Most frozen fruits will not contain fats and oils. Frozen vegetables. Look for single-ingredient frozen vegetables to ensure that you're buying seed oil-free products.

Can you fry eggs without oil?

Yes, you can use water to cook eggs . If you're frying or scrambling them, start by heating a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add a small amount of water, then crack the eggs into the pan and proceed to cook them as desired. The water helps create steam and prevents sticking.

Can you fry pancakes without oil?

First, you can use some multicooker device,like instant pot , where the cooking process and temperature are held because of the pressure. Pancakes could be a little fluffy, but it's healthy option. You can also just use nonstick pan or special pans for baking with round surface, special for pancakes.

What is frying without oil called?

Technically, frying without oil is often referred to as "baking" or "roasting." Frying typically involves submerging food in hot oil, while baking or roasting uses dry heat in an oven.

Do vegans use oil to cook?

Thankfully for ethical and environmentally minded eaters, all mainstream oils are plant-derived products and completely vegan . So whether you're a vegan or not, it's sure important to know which animal-free cooking oil works best.

Can you bake chicken with no oil?

Baking: Baking is a fantastic way to cook chicken without any added fats . Simply season your chicken with your favorite herbs and spices, place it on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, and bake it in a preheated oven. This method creates tender and juicy chicken with a crispy exterior.

What do vegans use an air fryer for?

Air frying! It's a MUST in a vegan kitchen for transforming veggies, tofu, and even frozen meatless meats into delicious side dishes and main meals, FAST . Whether you're a die-hard fan of your air fryer or haven't taken the plunge and purchased one yet, we've got recipes here for you.

What can a vegan take instead of fish oil?

Omega-3 fatty acids are readily available in a wide variety of plant foods. Sources include walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, edamame, seaweed, and algae . Other green leafy vegetables and beans also contain small amounts.

17 Oil-Free Vegan Comfort Food Recipes (2024)

Published: Feb 17, 2022 by Addison LaBonte · This post may contain affiliate links.

Did you know that you can make your favorite comfort foods not only vegan, but also without butter or oil? From a stack of fluffy pancakes to a hearty bowl of mac and "cheese" to a luscious chocolate cake, this collection of oil-free vegan recipes is pure comfort food!

17 Oil-Free Vegan Comfort Food Recipes (1)

Why cook without oil?

Oil is pure fat and has a high-calorie density.

With that being said, some nutrition experts claim that certain oils are healthy while others believe all oils are unhealthy.

Followers of the whole foods plant-based diet (WFPB) avoid oils entirely and
focus on unprocessed or minimally processed foods.

However, some vegans and vegetarians just want to reduce the amount of their oil intake whether or not they are strict WFPB eaters.

Although I personally am not taking part in an oil-free diet, I do try to cut back on the amount of oil I use and try not to have oil as part of every meal.

How to cook without oil

There are a number of ways to cook (and bake) without using oil.

Some recipes can simply be cooked in a non-stick pan or baked using non-stick bakeware without the use of any oil substitute.

For sautéing veggies, you can use water, vegetable broth and even vegan white wine.

Vegetable broth also works great for coating veggies before roasting them in the oven or for replacing the oil in gravies.

Nuts can be dry-roasted or roasted with other liquids to keep them oil-free.

Pureeing nuts, seeds and vegetables with water or plant-based milk is a great
way to make sauces and vegan cheeses oil-free.

Using nut butters or a nut flour (such as almond) in place of oil is one way to make baked goods oil-free.

Fruit purees, such as banana or apple sauce, can also work to replace oil in baking recipes.

Aquafaba (canned chickpea liquid), which is often used as an egg replacement in vegan baking, can also double as an oil replacement in certain recipes.

Silken tofu also works to replace oil in a number of recipes such as vegan mayo.

Of course, these are just some ideas for cooking and baking without oil.

Oil-free vegan recipes

We've compiled some amazing vegan comfort food recipes that are also oil-free from some of the best food bloggers including ideas for breakfast, lunch/dinner, and sweets.

Breakfast

Cheesy Vegan Tofu Scramble

Scrambled eggs with cheese are a breakfast favorite and this vegan version made from tofu and nutritional yeast doesn't disappoint.

Check out this recipe

Vegan Biscuits and Gravy by A Plantiful Path

When it comes to breakfast, a plate of biscuits and gravy is the ultimate comfort dish. This vegan version includes homemade vegan sausages.

Check out this recipe

Lunch/Dinner

Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup by Veggie Inspired

Tomato soup is one of the most loved comfort food soups, especially when the weather is cold. This warming vegan version is perfect for the whole family, grownups and kids alike.

Check out this recipe

Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese by Zardyplants

I don't know about you, but when I think of comfort food, the first thing that comes to mind is mac and cheese. This vegan version features a panko bread crumb topping and can also be made gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

Red Lentil Bolognese

Pasta with meat sauce gets a vegan makeover with this Bolognese sauce made with red lentils. This hearty sauce is perfect over your favorite pasta, gluten-free if needed.

Check out this recipe

Vegan Pesto Pizza with Almond Ricotta by No Sweat Vegan

Pizza is hands down a comfort food favorite among many. This vegan version is loaded with flavor, featuring marinara, pesto, almond ricotta, cherry tomatoes and basil.

Check out this recipe

Sweets

Easy Vegan Cinnamon Rolls by Nutriciously

If you've ever walked past that famous cinnamon roll shop in the mall and got a whiff of the cinnamony goodness, then you'll be happy to know that your kitchen can have all those glorious smells when you make this vegan version at home. These vegan cinnamon rolls also happen to be refined sugar-free.

Check out this recipe

Vegan Chocolate Cake by My Pure Plants

Not only is this decadent chocolate cake vegan, but it's also gluten-free! Chocolate cake and chocolate frosting combine for the ultimate chocolaty treat. Perfect for birthday celebrations or whenever you're in the mood for some cake.

Check out this recipe

White Bean Chocolate Chip Cookies by Two City Vegans

Chocolate chip cookies are a favorite among both kids and grownups. This vegan version features white beans and almond butter and is also gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies by Health My Lifestyle

With only three simple ingredients, these banana oatmeal cookies are super easy to make. In this recipe, bananas double as an oil replacement and natural sweetener.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Donuts by The Vegan Monster

These chocolate-glazed chocolate donuts are a chocolate lover's dream. And they're not only vegan, but also gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

3-Ingredient Vegan Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse by Lavender and Macarons

Chocolate mousse is always a delicious ending to any meal. This vegan version uses aquafaba to make it light and fluffy.

Check out this recipe

Strawberry Hemp Milkshake by the Honour System

This strawberry hemp milkshake takes this classic drink to the next level with the addition of hemp seeds for protein. This vegan version is also refined sugar-free.

Check out this recipe

More vegan recipe collections

55 Vegan Air Fryer Recipes
24 Silken Tofu Recipes
30+ Best Vegan Sandwiches for Lunch
22 Best High-Protein Vegan Meals
25 GF & Vegan School Lunch Ideas
42 Vegan Smoothies

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17 Oil-Free Vegan Comfort Food Recipes (2024)

Why cook without oil?

How to cook without oil

Oil-free vegan recipes

Breakfast

Lunch/Dinner

Sweets

More vegan recipe collections

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