35 ajar recipes

Ajvar: smoky Balkan roasted pepper and eggplant spread with garlic, lemon, and olive oil. The 'Serbian caviar' that goes on grilled meats, fresh bread, and cheese boards.

Ajam Panggang is a flavorful Indonesian dish featuring chicken marinated in a rich blend of sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), garlic, lime, and spicy sambal ulek, then roasted or grilled until juicy and caramelized. Paired with crispy shrimp puffs (kroepoek oedang) and a thickened marinade sauce, it’s perfect as a standalone dish or part of an Indonesian rice table with nasi goreng (fried rice).

Serve as an appetizer spread on thick slices of country-style white bread, or flat pita bread, or use as a side dish to accompany grilled or roasted meats.

Vegan key lime torte with a silken tofu filling, carob cake base, kiwi slices, and a mint-brown rice syrup glaze. Dairy-free, egg-free, and set with agar-agar.

Almond float with mandarin oranges: a delicate Chinese-restaurant dessert of agar-agar almond jelly squares served in cool mandarin orange syrup. Light, dairy-flexible, and refreshing.

Crispy phyllo crust filled with tofu-apricot cream spiked with honey, topped with glazed canned apricots and optional chocolate drizzle.

Peach and berry kanten made with agar-agar and apple juice. A vegan, gelatin-free fruit jelly dessert that sets at room temperature with no refined sugar.

Thanksgiving Day tofu: a savory tofu loaf wrapped around classic sage-and-bread stuffing, then baked into a sliceable vegan holiday centerpiece. A homemade tofurkey that gives plant-based eaters their own showpiece.

Homemade pomander pebbles made with essential oils and clay litter. A simple DIY sachet alternative to scent drawers, closets, and small spaces.

Fresh pineapple rings nestled in a chilled vanilla-honey sauce set with agar flakes. A light, elegant fruit dessert that's naturally dairy-free and comes together in 35 minutes.

A vegan butternut squash pie with soy milk and agar flakes, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, garnished with pecans and a barley malt glaze. An egg-free and dairy-free twist on the classic holiday pie.

Low-fat ricotta cheesecake with ginger and nutmeg on a Grape Nuts crust, set with agar instead of eggs. A no-bake, lighter cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries.

Sesame soy eggplant salad is a cold, silky Chinese-style starter: steamed eggplant torn into strips and tossed in a punchy Hunan vinaigrette of ginger, garlic, soy, chili oil and sesame. Light, vegan, and refreshing.

Vegan no-bake pumpkin cheesecake with silken tofu, almond butter, maple syrup, and agar for setting. Dairy-free, egg-free, and set overnight in the fridge.

A vegan cima roll: pureed tofu wrapped around a colorful filling of seitan, spinach, roasted red peppers, pistachios, and peas, then steamed into a sliceable log. Plant-based Italian showpiece.

Crockpot pumpkin bread baked inside canning jars for cylindrical loaves. Pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, currants, and a wet pumpkin batter. Edible gift idea.