Superbowl is typically not an eventI would celebrate simply because I didn’t grow up watching American football. But something exciting is happening this year. Superbowl 50 will be held in the bay area, my current residence! The entire bay area is buzzing and the local news hasbeen covering the anticipation. The city of Santa Clara is bracingitself for a surge of visitors, tourists, and traffic. Although I won’t be at the Levi’s Stadium, I’m still excited for the attention the bay area is getting. I’m pumped to watch the game at home and serve some if not all 8 vegan Superbowl recipes from the blog.
The recipes are vegan Filipino-inspired.Each one is hearty and comforting either as appetizer or main entree. These dishes are feel-good food whether you’re on the winning team, losing team, or you’re just watching for the commercials and the half-time show (like me).
Grilled Tempeh with Filipino Barbecue Sauce
Watching sporting events usually involve eatingbarbecue (I have no idea why). This “Grilled Tempeh with Filipino Barbecue Sauce” could fill that barbecue fixin a vegan and healthy way. Tempeh is a wonderful meat substitute with a hearty texture. It’s packed with protein and is less processed than tofu. Tempeh is also a great sponge for flavors especially from a barbecue marinade. You could use your favorite barbecue sauce but I prefer the simple, Filipino version.
For the recipe, click here.
Vegan Calamari Lettuce Wraps
Fried battered mushrooms and lettuce wraps are a fun, colorful way to entice your omnivore loved ones to try your vegan dish (if you chooseto share ha!). You could dress up the wraps with colorful fixings like red onions, tomatoes, and cilantro, as well as different kinds of sauces like barbecue sauce, co*cktail sauce, and/or dijon mustard.There are so many ways to present this dish. Feel free to have fun and get creative.
For the recipe, click here.
Vegan Filipino Menudo
Not to be mistaken for the Mexican dish (or the 80s boy band), Filipino Menudo is a savory sweet stew made of meaty ingredients cooked in red sauce and spices. The vegan version is just as meaty thanks to the gluten cake, tempeh, and tofu, and hearty vegetables like garbanzo beans, carrots, and many more. Because this dish is heavilymeaty and hearty, try serving itwith a side dish like rice or bread. Better yet, serve this on top of tortilla chips for a plate of Vegan Filipino Menudo Nachos.
For the recipe, click here.
Vegan Sisig
Another way to dress up your nachos (or burritos) is to use vegan Sisig. The traditional version calls for differentkinds of pig parts but the vegan version is a simple mix of different kinds of mushrooms and fried tofu cooked in flavorful seasonings.
Mushrooms are a great meat substitute with a chewy texture. Your old school Filipino guestmight not even know the difference between the meat and this version! For the adventurous chili head, try adding extra serving of chili peppers.
For the recipe, click here.
Beer-Battered Kangkong
If you already have beer to drink at your Superbowl party, might as well have beer in your food too. In beer-battered Kangkong that is. This dish is so easy and simple to make, which is perfect if you don’t have muchtime in the kitchen or the patience to whip up something elaborate. It’s crunchy and portable to eat, perfect if you need finger food because you couldn’t sit stillas you watch the game unfold. I like to eat the chips as is but you could serve them with differentkinds of sauces.
For the recipe, click here.
Vegan Filipino Spaghetti
There’s the Italian spaghetti and then there’s the Filipino spaghetti. If you want something more meaty and less “tomato-ey”, I suggest to try the Filipino version, vegan of course. Filipino spaghetti isusually served at parties including birthdays, town fiestas, the holidays, and other special occasions. Make your Superbowl screening officially a party by serving Filipino spaghetti!
For the recipe, click here.
Vegan Chicharon
Another finger food you could serve at yourSuperbowl screening is the healthy and vegan version of fried pork rinds or Chicharon. I used a type of mushroom called snow fungus, which you could usually find at most asian grocery stores. Snow fungus ishigh in nutrients. In fact it’s considered a chinese medicinal herb. While you’re enjoying the game and your snack, you’re also doing your body good. A win-win is possible after all.
For the recipe, click here.
Peach Mango Hand Pie
For something sweet, try the the vegan version of Peach Mango Hand Pie. This the vegan version of the popular snack from a Filipino fast food restaurant called Jollibee. The pie is individually wrapped and fried (gasp!), making it the ultimate portable, comfort food. These hand pies are great if you would like to take turns between applaudingand eating as you watch the game.
For the recipe, click here.
These are eight vegan Superbowl dishes to enjoy as you root for your team, whether you like to nibble or devour your food. All of the dishes above are comforting, hearty, and even meaty -without the meat.
I hope you’ll enjoy watching the game with your loved ones. If you are watching it at the Levi’s Stadium, lucky you! Hopefully someday I get to check it out too. I heard the stadium has tons of vegan options.
Game on. Kain na, let’s eat!
