Welcome to Ethnic Vegan, your source for great ethnic recipes and info for vegetarians and vegans.

Maybe you’re concerned about animal welfare and the health of the environment. Maybe you’re trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, lower your cholesterol, or avoid dairy allergens. Maybe you’re just a foodie who loves to prepare great ethnic food! Whatever the reason for your interest in ethnic vegan food, you’re in luck. Ethnic foods offer delicious possibilities for vegetarians and vegans (and everyone else).

The Ethnic Vegan website is a labor of love. Back in early 2000s, Sue and Ruth were co-workers who swapped recipes over their cubicle wall. Now they swap recipes in cyberspace, and they get together whenever possible to drink wine and concoct new recipes. The commonly held notion that vegetarian and vegan foods are unpalatable drives them crazy, and they’re out to prove how delicious vegan foods can be!

about Ruth
I stopped eating meat shortly before New Year’s Eve in 1989. I thought that becoming a vegetarian might be difficult, and that entering a new decade would provide inspiration to persevere. In reality, eliminating meat from my diet made me feel great, and I didn’t miss it.

Back in the early ’90s, vegetarian convenience foods were not as widely available as they are today. Learning to cook was an important part of following this lifestyle. So I learned, and I loved it. Eliminating dairy products from my diet made me feel even better. Instead of feeling limited by fewer food choices, I felt inspired to learn about other cultures and cuisines and to explore incorporating new ingredients.

Fast-forward more than 30 years, and vegetarian and (gasp!) vegan convenience foods are more widely available. Even so, I still prefer to cook from scratch, especially ethnic foods. I haven’t stopped learning, either, and I love to share my knowledge, especially with new vegetarians and vegans.

about Sue
I’ve been a vegetarian since 2000. Cooking is my favorite creative outlet; it also is efficient therapy to relieve stress. It’s so pleasurable to guesstimate spices, add and subtract; shape and blend food into new combinations. It’s exciting to gather a group of vegetables and spices and carefully blend them into something uniquely palate-pleasing. When others taste the results and enjoy it as well, that’s the ultimate thrill!

Of course, the increased health benefits of organic vegetarian food is another plus. Maybe my background in the medical field makes me more aware of healthy options? Still, you don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy a wonderful vegan dish!