Skip the party, not the plants: Vegan recipes for the Super Bowl
A list of plant-based snacks to fuel your resentment toward Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.
This year’s Super Bowl will look different.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States’ top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned against Super Bowl parties, advising fans to just “lay low and cool it.”
We should heed Fauci’s advice and watch the game with only those in our household. But we can also use this year’s game to try something different — like help out the Planet.
Even if it’s a small gathering, people are still likely to eat a ton on Sunday — the Super Bowl is the second-largest food consumption day in the U.S., and last Super Bowl Sunday, Americans ate 1.4 billion chicken wings. All that meat takes a toll on the Planet, with animal agriculture accounting for at least 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
So this weekend, replace all that pizza and wings with, well, pizza and (cauliflower) wings. Below is a list of plant-based snacks to fuel your resentment toward the new dynasty of Patrick Mahomes or the ageless one of Tom Brady:
Warm-ups
Here are some snacks to get started in the afternoon, or even the day before. While you’re shopping, don’t forget the chips, pretzels, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, whatever else you want to dip with.
Hummus
What you need:
1 can of chickpeas (save the water)
1 tbsp. lemon (~1/2 lemon)
1/4 cup tahini
1 tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Healthy amount of cumin, coriander, and paprika
To make: Drain the can of chickpeas, but save the water (also called aquafaba). Throw the chickpeas with all the ingredients in a blender and mix. Slowly pour the aquafaba into the blender, mixing as you go. Continue doing so till you get the right consistency.
Tip: Try smoked paprika. It hits different.
Guacamole
What you need:
3–4 hass avocados
1 lime or 1/2 lemon
2–3 cloves of garlic, minced
1–2 vine tomatoes, diced
1/4–1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 jalapeño, diced and seeded
Healthy amount of cumin
Healthy amount of cilantro, chopped
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
To make: Start with the avocados. Slice them up and throw them in a large bowl. Mash them a bit with a fork (not too much though, you don’t want it mushy). Add the rest of the ingredients and stir together. Taste regularly to get your spices right.
Tip: Like spice? Don’t seed the jalapeño.
Buffalo artichoke dip
What you need:
2 cups raw cashews
1 cup water
3 tbsp. lemon juice (~2 lemons)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 cup buffalo sauce
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained
To make: I follow an online recipe for this one: Nora Cooks has you covered.
Tip: Top with chopped green onions. *Chef’s kiss.
Loaded jackfruit nachos
What you need:
1 bag tortilla chips
Jackfruit:
2 cans jackfruit
1 cup pineapple
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 dash liquid smoke
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
Sauce:
2 cups raw cashews (soaked overnight)
2 cups plant-based milk
2 cups water
2 tbsp. lemon juice (~1 lemon)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. salt
Optional toppings:
Jalapeños, banana peppers, avocados, diced tomatoes, red onions, black olives
To make: Start with the jackfruit. Heat the olive oil, then saute the onion and garlic in a large pan. Once the onion is translucent, turn down to medium-low heat and add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer for 20 minutes. Now for the sauce. Add all the ingredients to a blender, and blend until smooth. You may have to add more water to get it thinner. Finally, layer tortilla chips, jackfruit, and sauce in a deep serving dish. Then add your toppings.
Tip: If you don’t soak the cashews overnight, you can add the cashews to hot (no longer boiling) water for about 30 minutes.
Gametime
Don’t care to watch a bunch of old guys in suits make bad predictions? During the pregame show, start these main dishes.
Pizza
What you need:
Naan bread (similar to pita bread)
Olive oil
Pizza sauce or tomato sauce
Oregano
Vegan shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional toppings:
Mushrooms, bell peppers, jalapeños, red onion, banana peppers, oregano, roasted red pepper flakes, etc.
To make: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Drizzle olive oil on the naan bread. Spread pizza sauce all over, and sprinkle with oregano. Add toppings of choice, then sprinkle with vegan mozzarella cheese. Pop it into the oven for 10 minutes, or, as my friend says, “until you smell pizza.”
Tip: If vegan cheese isn’t your thing, go cheeseless. Still tasty.
Cauliflower wings
What you need:
1 head cauliflower
1/2 tbsp. olive oil
For batter:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup almond, soy, or oat milk
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. pepper
For sauce:
6 oz. buffalo sauce (half a normal bottle)
1 tbsp. vegan butter
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp. honey
To make: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the florets off and toss in a bit of olive oil. In a large bowl, add the flour, milk, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, paprika, and pepper. Whisk. Coat each floret in the batter and place on the baking sheet. Cook for 10 minutes, flip, then cook another 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the sauce in a bowl. Melt vegan butter and add to bowl with sauce, garlic, and honey. Whisk. Brush onto cauliflower, ensuring you get all the sides. Cook for another 20–25 minutes (or until crispy).
Tip: Don’t cheat on the sauce. Spend a couple more bucks on something a little higher quality than Frank’s Red Hot. It’s worth it.
Chili
What you need:
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 small bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 can black beans, drained
1 can kidney or pinto beans, drained
1 can chickpeas, drained
1 can diced tomatoes, with liquid
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. cumin
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Optional toppings:
Chopped cilantro, diced avocado, vegan shredded cheese
To make: Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper and saute for five minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Add the celery and the jalapeno for another minute. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil, mixing well. Lower the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add your favorite toppings.
Tip: For spicy chili, add another diced jalapeño, plus a 1/2–1 tsp. cayenne pepper.
Post-game
Full of food but still want something sweet? I know nothing about desserts, but this Instagram account has plenty of easy recipes to choose from. Or you can just have some dark chocolate — also vegan.
It’s been a long season, and if you’re not a Kansas City or Tampa Bay fan, you’re probably pissed your team didn’t make it/over the past year in general. I kind of hate how good Brady and Mahomes are in a year marred by badness.
All that said, don’t forget the beer.