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    About

    welcome!

    Hey there, I'm Sarah!

    I'm so glad you stopped by the Alternative Dish!

    Headshot of Sarah Pilley.

    I went vegan in 2016 and have never looked back! I've also lived with food allergies to eggs, dairy, and peanuts my entire life (and gluten and soy for a few years too!) 

    Growing up, it was quite a challenge to find delicious alternatives to the dishes my family and friends loved...that I could enjoy too.

    The vegan community has grown quite a bit since then! There are so many more options both when eating out and at your regular grocery store. While it is great how inclusive the world is becoming, I still find it so empowering to cook or bake a new recipe from scratch.

    I'm thrilled to share recipes, tips, and my passion for tasty vegan food with you on the Alternative Dish. I'm building upon an amazing collection of recipes developed by Chef Maggie.

    I Could Never Give Up ...

    Can you finish that sentence?

    A comment that vegans hear most often is, “Oh, I could never go vegan because I could never give up cheese” … or some other non-vegan food.

    To that, I say, that’s okay! You don’t have to go vegan to make and enjoy vegan food.

    What you eat doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If this site can introduce you to even just a few vegan dishes that you want to incorporate into your life, I think that is great! And if you do become vegan one day, that is great too!

    What I love is bringing people together to eat and enjoy the same meal!

    Sarah's Favorite Recipes

    • Strawberry balsamic crostini with basil and tofu ricotta in a line on a sheet of parchment paper.
      Strawberry Balsamic Crostini with Whipped Ricotta
    • One vegan buttermilk biscuit stacked on top on of 2 other biscuits, more biscuits are scattered in the background with butter.
      Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits
    • Baked oatmeal in a red heart ramekin with a fork taking out a piece.
      Vegan Baked Oatmeal For One
    • Crispy bang bang tofu on skewers over arugula, drizzled with vegan bang bang sauce.
      Vegan Bang Bang Tofu
    • Square piece of a chickpea blondie with a bite taken out of it surrounding by more blondies with chocolate chips.
      Flourless Chickpea Blondies
    • Blackened tofu and creamy vegan coleslaw sandwich being held up by a hand with more coleslaw in bowls in the background on top of a red and white gingham napkin.
      Blackened Tofu and Coleslaw Sandwiches
    • Vegan Bisquick pancakes stacked on a pink plate with chopped strawberries piled on top and maple syrup being poured. More pancakes and strawberries are in the background.
      Fluffy Bisquick Pancake Recipe (Without Eggs)
    • Air fryer cookie with chocolate chips on parchment paper.
      Air Fryer Cookie For One (Quick & Easy Recipe)

    Recipe Philosophy

    The recipe collection here at Alternative Dish is completely vegan. Many recipes are also gluten-free and provide substitutions for other common allergens or food sensitivities, such as nuts or soy. 

    We share recipes that focus on eating as a way to fuel and nourish ourselves. I don’t like to label any food as "bad for you" or "unhealthy" (unless you are allergic to it, of course!) 

    Instead, I hope our recipes show that a "healthy" diet is one of balance and variety. Eat what is right for you!

    Some of my favorite recipes on the site are avocado key lime pie, chocolate quinoa crunch bars, and cauliflower ceviche.

    My favorite part of these recipes, and about plant-based eating in general, is how they make plants the star of the show instead of just a side dish!

    Fun Facts

    • I am a figure skater, watercolor artist, crocheter, and runner!
    • I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture and a minor in Sustainability. Environmental issues have been a guiding force throughout my life and were one of the main reasons I chose to go vegan!
    • My mom, the Dinner-Mom, is a huge inspiration to me. I watched her create and grow her blog from the ground up over the last 10 years. I was a diligent taste tester while also fostering my own love of recipe development! 
    • Chef Maggie was the head chef at the Rivertown Inn, in Stillwater, MN, before starting this blog. She's also a certified Holistic Nutritionist. If you want to reach Maggie, you can reach her at mkwescott at gmail dot com.
    16 photos collaged of recipes by the Alternative Dish.

    Stay in Touch!

    Contact Sarah {at} alternativedish {dot} com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Headshot of Sarah Pilley.

    Hi, I'm Sarah!

    I’m so excited you stopped by! I'm thrilled to share my passion for tasty vegan food with you on the Alternative Dish. I focus on creating recipes that everyone can enjoy with allergy-friendly tips! 

    More About Me

    Vegan Summer Recipes

    • Brownie batter hummus in a bowl surrounded by strawberries.
      The BEST Brownie Batter Hummus (Easy Vegan Recipe)
    • Nutritional yeast tofu nugget on a fork with more in the background in a bowl.
      Nutritional Yeast Tofu
    • Two vegan gluten-free banana muffins with chocolate chips stacked on top of one another with more muffins and bananas in the background.
      Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Muffins
    • Chickpea chicken salad on a piece of bread with lettuce. Top piece of bread is slightly to the side. A bowl of vegan chicken salad is in the background.
      Best Chickpea Chicken Salad (Easy Vegan Recipe)

    What's Trending

    • Spoonful of golden colored popped quinoa with bowl of toasted quinoa in background, sitting on top of red, orange, and blue cloth napkin.
      How to Make Popped Quinoa (Easy, Crunchy Recipe)
    • Chocolate quinoa crunch bar on sheet of parchment paper. In background are 2 more bars. Quinoa crunch bar is sliced through and the popped quinoa looks like tiny polka dots against dark chocolate.
      Chocolate Quinoa Crunch Bars
    • Hand holding up a chickpea brownie with more in the background.
      Flourless Chickpea Brownies (Vegan & Gluten Free)
    • Vegan Bisquick pancakes stacked on a pink plate with chopped strawberries piled on top and maple syrup being poured. More pancakes and strawberries are in the background.
      Fluffy Bisquick Pancake Recipe (Without Eggs)

    New Dish Alert!

    • Cracker being dipped into a ceramic bowl filled with vegan spinach artichoke dip, surrounded by crackers.
      Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
    • Coconut date balls on a sheet of parchment paper with a few pieces of shredded coconut.
      Coconut Date Balls
    • Carrot cake overnight oats in a glass jar with a spoon taking out some of the oatmeal, bowls of shredded carrot, walnuts, oats, and coconut are in the background.
      Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
    • Vegan egg salad on a piece of toast with a bowl of eggless egg salad in the background.
      Vegan Egg Salad
    • Maple dijon tofu cubes on a fork with more on a baking tray.
      Maple Dijon Tofu
    • Jar of pumpkin spice overnight oats with a spoon and walnuts and chocolate chips.
      Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats

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