Alissa Saenz

Phoenixville, United States

Blogger at Connoisseurus Veg

Vegan food lover, cook and blogger, avid yogi, cat mom, and arts & crafts enthusiast and participant.

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Articles

Vegan Panzanella

1 week ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

My vegan panzanella is the best thing about summer! It’s loaded with juicy tomatoes, garlicky dressing, and chunks of crusty bread that soak up all the flavor. Hearty chickpeas make this vegan spin on the classic Italian salad extra satisfying. Perfect for everything from cookouts to weeknight dinners.
Vegan Rum Cake

2 weeks ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

My vegan rum cake is super moist and flavorful, made with a vanilla, rum-spiked batter, and drizzled in a buttery rum syrup. A big slice of this is absolutely heavenly with some fresh fruit, vegan ice cream, or all by itself!If you like rum, you're going to LOVE this vegan rum cake. Actually, though, if you don't like rum, you'll still love this cake. Personally, I'm not a fan of rum at all! But maybe I'm just not a fan of liquor, unless it's cooked into a delicious dessert.
Eggplant Ragù with Creamy Polenta

2 weeks ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

My eggplant ragù is hearty, rustic, and full of flavor! Serve it over a bed of creamy polenta for a cozy weeknight dinner that feels gourmet without the fuss. I love reinventing traditionally meat-based sauces and stews using hearty vegetables and legumes. Think mushroom Bolognese, lentil Bolognese, chickpea marsala, or mushroom paprikash. These dishes pack all the savory flavor of the originals, but in totally plant-based form.
Vegan Massaman Curry Paste

3 weeks ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

Make your own vegan massaman curry paste, from scratch! It's rich, bold, and packed with flavor! You'll be amazed at how simple it is to make, and it's absolutely perfect for curries, soups, stews, and marinades!Massaman curry is my favorite curry to make, but for a long time, I had a hard time finding massaman curry paste in stores.
Scallion Oil Noodles

3 weeks ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

These scallion oil noodles are packed with bold, savory flavor! They taste like they came from a restaurant, but are really easy to make at home in just 15 minutes with only 6 ingredients. These scallion oil noodles are one of the simplest dinner recipes I make, but you'd never know it by the taste. The scallion oil infuses the noodles with rich, savory flavor, while the fried scallions add a crisp, caramelized finish.
Garlic Roasted Asparagus

4 weeks ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

This garlic roasted asparagus is tender, flavorful, and ready in just 25 minutes! Made with just a handful of ingredients, this fuss-free side dish is a delicious way to bring out the best in fresh spring asparagus. Fresh asparagus is always one of my favorite ingredients to cook with during spring. You may have noticed how I love to share delicious recipes like my vegan cream of asparagus soup, balsamic asparagus pasta, and asparagus stuffed puff pastry this time of year.
Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

1 month ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

My easy slow cooker lentil soup is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it meal. This soup is hearty, healthy, and packed with flavor! It's vegan and gluten-free, too, so everyone can enjoy a bowl!Soup season is all year long, as far as I'm concerned. There's not a single day of the year that I couldn't go for a big bowl of soup! But there are days when I'm not up for doing much cooking. That's where slow cooker soups and stews come in.
Mediterranean Mason Jar Salads

1 month ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

Whether you're meal prepping for the week or packing a quick lunch on the go, my Mediterranean mason jar salads are just what you need. Layered with delicious ingredients like chickpeas, olives, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and spinach, with a zesty balsamic vinaigrette, they're as delicious as they are convenient!I'm pretty routine when it comes to lunch. During the cooler months I'm a soup kind of girl. Apparently, so are you guys. You all loved my mason jar soups recipe from last year.
Pasta with Vegan Rosé Sauce

1 month ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

My pasta with creamy vegan rosé sauce is rich, flavorful, and made completely dairy-free with a velvety cashew base. Tossed with tender broccoli and fresh basil, this dish is super satisfying and feels fancy, but is actually really easy to make! This one comes together in under 30 minutes of active cooking time. I waited tables in an Italian restaurant when I was in college, and the servers got a free meal for every shift. This pasta dish that you see before you was my dish.
Vegan Egg Drop Soup

1 month ago | connoisseurusveg.com | Alissa Saenz

This vegan egg drop soup is made with strips of silken tofu that mimic delicate egg ribbons perfectly, suspended in a savory, sesame-scented broth. It’s cozy, satisfying, and comes together in about fifteen minutes!There's just something so comforting about classic egg drop soup, which is why I've wanted to create a vegan version of it forever! But nailing those delicate eggy ribbons without using actual eggs? That part proved tricky.