This week, I realised something; a lot of food bloggers have favourite recipes as one of their categories. Some have personal favourites, some have reader favourites or best rated, I have neither. Seems like nothing, right? But the more I thought about it, the more I realised the potential this section could have. If someone takes a look through the recipe pages, they could easily give up or get bored before they see the best of the best. I currently have 125 recipes on this little blog, I can understand how someone wouldn’t want to look through them all. A favourites section is a chance to show what you’re about in 10 or so recipes, rather than 125. If they like the look of those, they’re more likely to search through the other categories, right?
Choosing Favourites
Here’s the thing, it’s hard to choose your favouites when you’ve created them all yourself. Obviously, there are some I like more than others, but it’s still hard to choose. So, I thought I’d test the waters with a post rather than a new category. This week, I spent an evening going through my old recipe posts trying to choose some favourites. Some of them, I’d completely forgotten about, some I make all the time and there’s a few that I’ve only made once or twice, but am incredibly proud of how the posts turned out. It wasn’t easy, especially when I got to Recipe A Day May last year, but these are my favourite vegan recipes. I think.
Where do you come in?
You, yes you, reading this. I want your feedback! Be honest with me here, this is my highlight reel. Would you click through the other categories after seeing these ones listed? Or have you made something that you’d like to see added to the list? Tell me!
Let’s take a trip down memory lane…
My Favourite Vegan Recipes
I didn’t know whether to include this with it being such a recent addition to the collection, but they were SO good, it felt rude skipping them.
Caramelised Squash Toast
This recipe is from my ebook, not a recipe post. But it very quickly became one of my favourite meals. It’s quite quick, really easy and butternut squash is one of my favourite vegetables so….
This one is so so so easy, but tastes amazing. This was one of the desserts I posted during Vegmas last year. I made a batch in November for that post, and I made a batch for my family at Christmas. Chocolate, biscuits, nuts. Chewy and crunchy. What’s not to love?
Ah, my lentil ragu. I wasn’t going to include this one, but I kinda feel like I have to. Most of my favourite recipes are ones that started as an idea/ concept or challenge. Can I make this different? Those recipes are the ones I’m happiest with when they’re done. This is a plain lentil ragu. But, to the best of my knowledge, this is the recipe of mine that the most people have made. Sahara made and gave live commentary on Twitter (which I loved). Jas made it and said it was the first time she’d like lentils in years, bold statement. My mum called me from work a few weeks ago to tell me that I had to make a batch for her friend… This one goes down well every single time.
Refined Sugar Free Carrot Cake Muffins
Remember when I didn’t eat any refined sugar for two months? Yeah, I didn’t feel any better for it. But the cakes were still amazing.
I told you I love squash. I’m a huge fan of this burger because it’s actually a veggie burger made from vegetables. It isn’t a bean burger, it isn’t fake meat, it’s squash and potato. Hearty, real food.
This is one of my favourite meals, it’s healthy, diverse in flavour and textures, easy and so good. I know there’s that thing about vegans only eating salad, but salad doesn’t have to mean soggy iceberg letttuce…
Looking through my posts made me realise that I only ever made these once and I have no idea why because I was obsessed with them and demolished the entire batch in one weekend. Actually, I think that’s why I didn’t make them again. This list is in chronological order rather than order of preference, if preference had anything to do with it, this one would be near the top.
Chilli & Tamari Baked Aubergine
I didn’t like aubergine until I created this recipe. A recipe that makes you like a new food has to qualify as a favourite, right?
I made these a lot last year. I loved how they turned out in May and everyone I’ve ever made them for has loved them too.
Overnight Mango & Passionfruit Quinoa
This one comes from a post I did last year with three quinoa breakfast ideas in, but this one was my favourite by a mile. And I was very happy with that photo.
Rustic Winter Vegetable Casserole
Another one with squash in. I don’t think I need to say more than that.
This was only my second ever recipe post. And because it was one of my first posts, hardly anyone saw it. When I say that these were a firm favourite, I mean they were a very firm favourite. I used to make these back when I wasn’t trying to come up with new things all the time and before dishes were potential recipe posts. Only one person has told me that they didn’t like these. And they didn’t tell me until after they ate it that they didn’t like mint chocolates…
I was hoping to narrow this down to 10 and ended up with 13, but I think I have a good mix here. What do you think of this list? Any you’ve tried before, or want to try? Let me know your thoughts on this list and the favourites category in general!
Until next time,
Sophie
The baked aubergine looks so good. I really need to up my game and make meals with more veg. I rely so much on carbs.
These round up posts are amazing, especially for people like me who have been so busy and not had enough time to keep up with reading everyone’s blogs in the last few months, I’ve found such a new love for lentils as well (it actually features in this week’s dinners!). I can’t wait to try and make it myself ☺️
Beka |
Wow, 125 recipes! That’s incredible. I haven’t even got 125 total posts on my blog! I’m really craving something sweet right now so I was instantly drawn to the muffins and brownies. Yum! That chocolate crunch bar also looks like something I could eat at this very moment!
Everything looks so good, especially the pancakes x
http://www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk
These pictures make me so hungry ❤️ What an awesome list!!! I’m not a great cook, but I’d really wanna try to make some of these soon – bookmarking this page hehe 😉 thanks for sharing!
Ooh my favourites are the frozen granola clusters and the after eight brownies! I think this favourites category is a great idea, it displays both sweet and savoury so it shows there’s a variety of recipes you have to offer!
Wow these all look delicious! The brownies, carrot cake muffins and chick pea nuggets definitely look like something I’d love! 125 recipes is quite something- you should be so proud of yourself for coming up with them all and posting each one. I can’t imagine how hard it was to narrow them down to 13 Great post! X
Such a great list of your recipes! I like how you have mixed between savoury and sweet. I think my favourite has to be Go-to-Salad. It looks amazing, and not salady at all! It is something that I would make too, especially in the warmer months.
Your list has just made me realise that I have a lot of cooking and baking to do to try all of your recipes!
Having a favourites category sounds like a great idea too – it will highlight a few recipes and make it easier for people to choose what they would like to re-create (hopefully!)
Thank you for sharing!
Aimsy xoxo
https://www.aimsysantics.co.uk
OK, I am so going to try a few of this! I’m curious to try the chickpea nuggets, sounds yummy. I love vegan pancakes, I usually use almond milk for mine, but this recipe sounds great too. I love using oats for that. really great recipes thank you for sharing.
I’d definitely want to try loads of these! Especially the brownies and the squash toast. Although I’m probably much more inclined to want to try out Vegan sweet recipes for myself.
Jenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com
Everything looks so yummy!!!! I want to try everything now hahaha Thanks for sharing xx
Anaïs |
Ooooh! Your pictures look so yummy and made me hungry. I know how being vegan or vegetarian is regarded as presenting a bowl of salad. haha. These looks yum especially the brownie and the chocolate crunch bar. I love sweet things you see hehehe 🙂
Via | http://glossnglitters.com
They all look amazing! I will definitely flag this for further testing 🙂 You’re very talented to create your own recipes! I loved hearing that dropping sugar for ten years (or 2 months or whatever) didn’t make you feel any different. I toy with at least cutting back but I quickly discard the idea.
Ruth
Oh my gosh darling, please come to my home and cook for me and my family? All of these look so tasty! Thank you so much for sharing
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
I honk it’s good to have a favorites list, and you did a good job of including different types of recipes (as opposed to jus desserts like I would probably do ). Those pancakes and the frozen granola bites look delish!
Ugh, auto correct. I “think”. I surely hope I don’t honk.
The chocolate crunch bar looks amazing! I’m going to have to give that a go soon. So many yummy recipes xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
There’s not one thing on this list I wouldn’t LOVE to try, although I must agree that I also am not a big fan of mint choc so I’d probably swap it for orange personally – although I do seem to remember you doing something chocolate orange at some point? I absolutely adore butternut squash and really HAVE to make those burgers soon. I’m also not sure if I’ve seen the granola clusters before but they look so bloody yummy. Your posts inspire me so much to cook more!
Alice Xx
Your recipes always look super appealing! Oooh, I love the squash toast! The veggie burger looks great as well. I wish I had known about this years ago when I made homemade burgers, hehe. Hope these two picks help! I’m more of a savory kind of person rather than a dessert kind of person.
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
All the desserts! Frozen clutters, the pancakes and brownies!!
Jessica & James | http://www.foodandbaker.co.uk
I don’t even like peanuts but those pancakes look absolutely delicious!! Literally something you would get in a restaurant! I would love to have a go at the crunch bar and the lentil ragu myself! I have made something similar to the Frozen Granola Clusters before but I used chocolate and cookie dough mix and I can remember it really hurt my teeth because it was os sweet so I would love to try a vegan and healthier version! I would love to try the After Eight brownies, I am not a fan of mint chocolate too much but I still think I would love them! Such a fab collection of recipes, thanks for sharing your favourites! xx
Oh my God, thank you for this! A vegan heaven!!
Currently drooling over all these recipes ohhh my gosh – they all look amazing!! Definitely need to try out the muffins and overnight quinoa (how have I never heard of this before???) Great post lovely! xx
Em // https://www.emilybecca.com
Oh my god, I just spent about 10 minutes slowly scrolling through and trying not to drool on my keyboard. Everything looks delicious but as someone with a sweet tooth, the carrot cake muffins, brownies and clusters called my name. I definitely want to try and make them.
Loubee
Those vegan pancakes definitely look like they could become a favourite of mine!
You have so many amazing recipes to chose from! I think my face has to be the peanut pancakes, they sound LUSH!
These recipes are all sound and look delicious! I will definitely give a try to peanut pancakes, thank you so much for sharing!
Lots of love ♥ January Girl
Wow everything looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing!
xx- Nina
Everything looks utterly delicious. I’m vegan and will definitely give a go to some of your recipes 🙂
The brownies look so delicious! OMG! Making me so so hungry! the pancakes look so good too!
125 recipes? OMG Sophie, you are a legend! Based on the ones you’ve listed here I’m going to have to say my favourites are the chocolate ones. And the one I’m going to be checking out first is the After Eight brownies because I adore mint chocolate and I adore brownies. Match made in heaven, win-win! x
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
This is such a great post! Love that you’ve put all these recipes into one post, then I know what I should try out next. That chocolate crunch bar looks amazing definitely going to give that a go! X
I want to try all the recipes but thethe brownies and the butternut squash toast captured my eye!
Natonya | https://justnatonya.wordpress.com
oooooh my goood I get so hungry looking at all of this! I have to try the carrot cake muffins! Very curious to try them especially because they are sugar free! ❤
xx
Selina | Selina’s Inspiration
This all looks absoultely delicious! The lentil ragul and pancakes are right up my street! Love this style of post!!
I would love to try frozen granola clusters, peanut choc chip pancakes, and chocolate crunch bar. I’ve got dessert on my mind.
Some of these that you have listed as your favourites have also been my faves too! I love the sound of the butternut veggie burgers – that is something that I would loveeeeeee. Also love the sound of the spicy chickpea nuggets, I also find that when reading your recipes it inspires me to cook new things, and I wish I did try out new recipes more because it’s always so rewarding!
Chloe xx
http://www.chloechats.com
What you do looks so delicious! People should eat sweets, but there are also foods that the human body needs! In case of persistent vegan nutrition, diseases due to lack of nutrients needed by the body can occur! Remember, nothing has been created in vain! We must eat every food in a balanced way!
friv | http://friv.party/
I love these and think you narrowed it down well. As for which intrigue me more – I find that I have a harder time finding good dessert recipes, so I think I’m going to have to give those a try!
I’m going to have to add all of these (except the pancakes because ew…pancakes haha) to my recipe book to try! I have a major sweet tooth and the savoury dishes are perfect too! xD
Daisy xoxo |