18 standing recipes

Crispy cornmeal-fried soft shell crab sandwiches on sourdough with smoky chipotle adobo mayo and a citrus bell pepper slaw. A restaurant-quality seafood sandwich you can make at home.

Vegan black bean chili with smoky chipotle and chewy seitan stand-in for meat. A 45-minute one-pot chili that delivers serious depth and heat without animal protein.

Creamy avocado hot sauce blends serrano chiles, garlic, and onion into a fiery, silky Mexican-style salsa. Five minutes, no cooking, pure heat with a smooth finish.

Fat-free oatmeal drop cookies with applesauce standing in for butter or oil, rolled oats, and raisins. No eggs, naturally vegan, and done in just 10 minutes.

Smoked sausage and lentil gumbo with a dark roux, celery, onion, carrots, and cayenne. A hearty, protein-packed Cajun-style soup where lentils stand in for okra with rich, smoky depth.

No-cholesterol chocolate cake gets its tender crumb from a surprising swap: cholesterol-free mayonnaise stands in for eggs and butter. One bowl, no creaming, deep cocoa flavor with a moist tight crumb.

Mock fish Buddhist: Chinese vegetarian stir-fry with crispy fried potato slices standing in for fish, paired with snow peas and crunchy wood ear mushrooms. Traditional Buddhist temple cuisine with clever meat-free texture play.

Standing rib roast with a roasted garlic and parsley crust, served with tarragon carrots, browned butter parsnips, roasted onions, and red wine au jus. A holiday showpiece.

The thickness of the soup is somewhat unpredictable, so stand by with a bit of water or stock to thin it down if necessary.

7-Up Refrigerator Dough: a soft, enriched make-ahead yeast dough where lemon-lime soda stands in for some of the sugar. Mix today, bake tomorrow for tender rolls or coffee cakes.

Taco lentils simmer green lentils until tender, then bake them in a smoky pureed ancho chile and tomato sauce spiced with cumin and chili. A high-protein, high-fiber vegan stand-in for taco meat.

Vegetarian soybean burgers made with whole soybeans, ground sunflower seeds, and soy sauce. Protein-packed veggie burger with a hearty bite, no fillers or fake-meat stand-ins.

Sky-high lemon meringue pie crowned with coconut chips. Tall lemon-extract-spiked meringue, glossy lemon curd filling, and a flaky stand-up edge make this a showstopping classic.

Pistachio torte with 2 cups of finely chopped pistachios and breadcrumbs standing in for flour, lifted with beaten egg whites, and topped with a cup of lemon curd. A proper European-style celebration cake.

Light pumpkin praline cheesecake: low-fat cottage cheese stands in for cream cheese, wheat germ replaces graham crumbs in the crust, and pumpkin pie spice carries the flavor. Topped with maple-drizzled pecans.

Whole wheat soft pretzels, a chewy, golden twist made with just whole wheat flour, yeast, and water, brushed with egg and sprinkled with sea salt. A high-fiber, homemade take on the snack-stand classic.