Vegan Fourth of July Dishes

Whether you're planning a huge Fourth of July BBQ or a family picnic, there are many vegan dishes available for those who prefer this type of diet. Being a vegetarian does not mean you have give up the traditional holiday celebration with good food and great friends. You just need to switch up the menu a bit. Replace the traditional foods with vegan dishes that contain no red meat or dairy products for your holiday dinner.

Veggie Burgers

Veggie burgers are patties that look like hamburger but they contain no red meat or dairy products. Instead, they're filled with soy meat or vegetables and egg substitutes. When grilled to perfection, they make a tasty meal that any vegan can appreciate. Replace dairy cheese with Vegan Gourmet brand cheese and you can easily turn your veggie burger into a cheeseburger.

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is an all time favorite food that's been severed up during the Fourth of July celebration for years. No dinner would be complete without it and Vegetarians in Paradise offers a great recipe for grilling corn over an open flame. When the grill is ready, place un-shucked corn over the flame, cover and cook for about five to ten minutes. Turn the ears of corn over and repeat. Allow the corn to cool, remove the shucks and it's ready to serve. It's fast, easy and delicious.

Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

Eating Vegan.com offers up a tasty recipe for mashed potatoes that will spice up any Fourth of July dinner. Boil fresh rosemary and red potatoes together in a pot of water. When the potatoes are tender, place them in a mixing bowl and mash up with rice milk and vegetable broth to add flavor. Add salt and pepper to suit your individual taste.

Vegan Deserts

No Fourth of July is complete without deserts and you can make cakes, cookies and pies for your dinner simply by switching a few key ingredients. Eggs and butter or lard are the main ingredients that need to be replaced to turn a regular desert into a vegan desert. Several options are available to use for egg substitutes. For example, one egg is equal to one half of a mashed banana, one tablespoon ground flax seed simmered in water or one fourth cup of tofu blended with any liquid ingredient from your recipe. When a recipe calls for butter or lard, you can use vegetable oil or shortening instead.