Celebrate Labor Day weekend with your friends and family compliments of these 10 plant-based Labor Day recipes sure to honor the late summer season.
Labor Day is coming, that wonderful harbinger which separates summer and fall. It signals that the kids are going back to school, and that the long, lazy days on vacation have come to an end. The days will become shorter, and the last glorious summer produce will begin to vanish from your local farmers market. And it also reminds us that the color-saturated days of fall are just around the corner. So, celebrate this fabulous Labor Day weekend with your family and friends with some really delicious, plant-powered foods sure to honor the summer-to-fall season. Try out some of my favorite plant-based Labor Day recipes for inspiration.
10 Fabulous Plant-Based Labor Day Recipes
Make your own lighter, refreshing version of an Aperol Spritz—the go-to, orange-based alcoholic drink in Italy.
I love a good veggie-rich salsa dip to serve with whole grain crackers, corn or bean chips, and veggies. And this avocado salsa is packed with extra goodies: corn, green onions, cilantro, black olives, corn, and jalapenos. It’s not only delicious, but it’s beautiful to boot.
You’ll find this classic staple based on seasonal, ripe tomatoes served in most restaurants in Italy as an appetizer with toasted rustic bread. But it’s so easy to make at home. And if you have an abundance of summer tomatoes on hand from your garden or the farmers market, this is the perfect summertime dish to make the most of those rich, juicy tomatoes.
Summer Green Bean Tomato Salad
Turn to summer-ripe produce, green beans and tomatoes, with a simple red wine vinaigrette and a sprinkle of sliced almonds and basil, to make a hearty, vegan-friendly, gluten-free salad for any meal.
The Southwestern flavors of this completely plant-based Black Bean Corn Chili make it an easy satisfying meal anytime of the year—you can also cook it up quickly in an Instant Pot.
Turn to a flavorful grilled tofu, recipe, like this Grilled Spicy Sesame Tofu, as the star of your plant-based Labor Day grill menu. Marinate it in advance, pop it on the BBQ, and serve it toasty, brown, and warm.
These savory, home-made veggie burgers are filled with nutrient-rich whole plants, like edamame, quinoa, walnuts, oats, carrots, and flax.
Inspired by the “boils” celebrated in the South and New England, this plant-powered version excludes the seafood normally included in these big steaming pots. This dish is the perfect way to celebrate simply perfect, late summer produce, such as fresh sweet corn and tender new potatoes.
It’s peach season! So enjoy these yummy, succulent fruits while you have the chance. I love this easy way to serve fresh, ripe peaches. Just brush them with this olive oil-basil marinade and grill them up. Serve them with plant-based ice cream for a special treat.
This 100% plant-based Apricot Almond Tart is simple and wholesome—the perfect way to celebrate a bounty of fresh apricots in the summer. The almonds in the crust and topping add a sweet, crunchy bite.
For other plant-based Labor Day recipes, try the following:
Spicy Sorghum Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers
Pistachio Hummus
Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers with Black Beans and Quinoa