Let’s Go On a Vegan Picnic! (VZ 363)

Vegetarian Zen

Summertime…and the living is easy — except that, down here in the blazing heat of south Texas, going outdoors can be rough. Sounds like the perfect time for a virtual vegan picnic!

We asked our friends in our closed Facebook group, The Peas and Carrots Society, to let us know what they’d be bringing. In this episode of the podcast, we’re going to share some of their responses and recommendations.

No time to listen? No problem. Read on for a quick summary and links to everything we mention on the show!

We’re Going on a Vegan Picnic!

1. Mediterranean Polenta Snacks from Cooking with Plants

One Peas and Carrots Society member said, “Press these into an 8 x 8 pan. This is sooo delicious and refreshingly summery! Toppings can be changed round to suit your tastes.”

2. The Best Vegan Macaroni Salad by Nora Cooks

No picnic (vegan or otherwise) would be complete without a good ol’ pasta salad! This one from Nora Cooks is vegan and oil-free.

This particular recipe doesn’t call for bacon bits, but I grew up with my mom’s bacon bit-studded macaroni salad, which my family LOVED! But wait! Bacon bits? How are those vegan?

Believe it or not, MANY store bought bacon bits brands don’t contain bacon at all. You’ll still want to check the package to ensure there aren’t any whey products (dairy). You can also consider these:

Pimp My Salad Coconut Bacon Bits (Vegan)

The vegan bacon alternative. All the sweet, smoky, and savory goodness of the bacon, with none of the meat! Our vegan bacon alternative is the best way to enjoy those classic flavors you love in plant-based form.

Buy on Amazon Learn More

3. Herbed Fingerling Potatoes by Forks Over Knives

While this recipe called for fresh herbs, you can substitute easily substitute dried herbs. Tasty and oil-free!

4. One-Pot Creamy Garlic Orzo by Six Vegan Sisters

The Peas and Carrots member who recommended this recipe from Six Vegan Sisters said, “This is SUPER easy and delicious warm or cold.”

What I really like about this one is it calls for nutritional yeast (aka Nooch) which adds a cheesy flavor without the cheese. It also has added nutritional benefits. We talk about Nooch in episode 142, Just What Is Nooch Anyway?.

5. Roasted Carrot Dogs by Brand New Vegan

The Peas and Carrots member who recommended roasted carrot dogs didn’t include a recipe but we found this one from Brand New Vegan that looks amazing! It calls for liquid smoke to give the “dogs” that grilled-out smokey flavor.

What I like about this recipe is the “smoky” part. In episode 361, Spice Up Your Life with These Vegan and Vegetarian Seasonings we talked about using liquid smoke to give certain foods that grilled/smoked taste. We definitely want to try this one!

6. Fully Vegan Red Velvet Cake with Buttercream Frosting

Red Velvet cake is one of my FAVORITE desserts (especially the buttercream frosting)! Traditional buttercream is not, as its name implies, vegan, however. Peas and Carrots member Ramya Ramachandran — who shares her own vegan and vegetarian recipes on her site, Food E-scape — recommends this vegan buttercream icing from Loving it Vegan.

Additionally, if you’re in a rush and don’t want to make your cake batter from scratch, many conventional cake mixes are vegan, like this cake mix from Betty Crocker. Adding eggs or dairy is what makes cakes made from these mixes not vegan.

Luckily, there are several ways to replace these animal-based ingredients. Use your choice of plant milk in place of dairy milk and a vegan egg replacer such as the ones we mention in episode 317, Your Guide to Egg Replacers.

7. Fruit Salad by Vegan Kitchen Magick

Another must-have for any picnic, vegan or otherwise, is a refreshing fruit salad.

This recipe from Kitchen Magick looks close to the one my mom used to make except that my mom included marshmallows.

If you plan to use marshmallows in your fruit salad, remember that most marshmallows are not vegan because they contain gelatin.

Luckily, Dandies marshmallows ARE vegan and they taste amazing! So amazing, as a matter of fact, that Larissa and I don’t keep them in the house because they are way too easy to binge.

8. English Scones by BBC Good Food

Who doesn’t love a good scone? These vegan scones from BBC Good Food Enjoy use soy milk and vegan vegetable spread to replace the dairy milk and butter. Serve with your favorite jam for a sweet treat!

9. Cowboy Caviar by Food 52

If the name “cowboy caviar” doesn’t ring a bell, you may know this tasty dish by its other name, “Texas Salad.” According to Food 52:

“The dish didn’t get the name of Texas Caviar…until it was served at the Driskill Hotel. Evidently, Texans decided that it deserved a fancier name than ‘pickled black eyed peas!’ The name stuck and so has this dish.”

10. Simple Vegan Tuna Salad by Vegetarian Zen

And last but certainly not least, I’m bringing the vegan tuna salad!

Like a lot of people, I grew up with tuna as standard fare for lunch. If you are plant-based, it’s easy to think the days of tuna for lunch are over. Not so!

After tinkering with several recipes, I came up with my own tuna-free recipe that satisfies my tuna cravings. This recipe doesn’t call for black salt which provides the sulfurous taste reminiscent of hard-boiled eggs, but you can certainly add a dash if you prefer!

And there you have it! Some great vegan picnic ideas brought to you by our closed Facebook group, The Peas and Carrots Society. Enjoy!

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Thanks for listening!

Peace and Veggies,
Vickie and Larissa

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