Plant-Forward Recipes for Flexitarian Families.

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Recipes
- Weeknight Dinners
- Sweets
- Breakfast
- Salads
- Dips
- Soups
- Veggies
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About
Recipes
- Weeknight Dinners
- Sweets
- Breakfast
- Salads
- Dips
- Soups
- Veggies
Español

Breakfast
Soups
Veggies
Sweets
Mexican
Mains
Salads
Beverages
Dips
Drinks

Real food. Big flavor. Inspired by culture. Made for everyday life.

Three bowls of colorful quinoa salad, featuring chopped veggies like red bell pepper and green herbs, are arranged on a white surface. Reminiscent of Cauliflower Fried Rice, the salad is garnished with cilantro, with wooden chopsticks beside one bowl.

Cauliflower Fried Rice (Easy + Healthy)

A jar of salsa macha sauce with a spoon on a plate.

Peanut Salsa Macha (Easy Recipe) | Crunchy + Spicy

A collage showcases vibrant cabbage dishes: spring rolls, cabbage salad, soup, roasted red cabbage, and Mexican cuisine tacos with cabbage slaw. In the center, text proclaims “CABBAGE vegetable of the year.”.

Cabbage Is the It-Girl Vegetable of the Year (Mexicans Have Always Known)

WHAT TO COOK TONIGHT

Soups
Veggies
Sweets
DINNER
Salads
Mexican

A blue bowl filled with Mexican Cabbage Soup (Caldo de Repollo), topped with a cilantro leaf, sits on a white surface. To the side are a plate of fresh cilantro, lime wedges in a small bowl, and a white and green striped cloth napkin.

Mexican Cabbage Soup (Caldo de Repollo)

A bowl of creamy zucchini soup topped with cucumber slices and red pepper flakes sits on a white surface beside a bowl of sliced cucumbers and crumbled cheese, with a brown napkin and spoon nearby, all lit by natural sunlight.

Zucchini Leek Soup (Simple & Creamy)

Tres pequeños cuencos con asas azules de sopa de cebolla vegana, cubiertos de queso fundido y pan, reposan sobre una servilleta blanca con dos cucharas de plata a su lado sobre una superficie de mármol claro. Una ramita de tomillo adorna los cuencos.

French Onion Soup (Easy, Delicious with a vegan option)

A white bowl filled with vibrant Moroccan Lentil Soup, topped with fresh kale, lentils, and dried cranberries sits on a dark surface. A patterned napkin and gold spoon complete the inviting vegan presentation.

Moroccan Lentil Soup Recipe (Easy, Hearty & Vegan)

Three bowls of colorful quinoa salad, featuring chopped veggies like red bell pepper and green herbs, are arranged on a white surface. Reminiscent of Cauliflower Fried Rice, the salad is garnished with cilantro, with wooden chopsticks beside one bowl.

Cauliflower Fried Rice (Easy + Healthy)

A rustic green bowl holds Spicy Mexican Potatoes—baby potatoes coated in a reddish seasoning. Next to the bowl on a pale surface are whole dried red chilies and scattered chili seeds, hinting at their fiery flavor.

Papas a la Diabla (Spicy Mexican Potatoes)

A blue bowl filled with roasted broccoli florets, chopped pistachios, and pieces of what appears to be caramelized onions or dried fruit makes this Charred Broccoli Salad shine. A small dish of more pistachios and a striped towel sit nearby on a white surface.

Charred Broccoli Salad (Roasted-Style) with Dates, Mint & Pistachios

Two roasted spaghetti squash rings, inspired by Cacio e Pepe and seasoned with herbs and cheese, sit on a dark plate with a fork atop a turquoise cloth napkin. A tumbler of golden liquid rests on a coaster at the upper left.

Spaghetti Squash Cacio e Pepe

A beige plate holds six neatly stacked Mini Apple Tarts made of glossy, caramelized apple slices, each garnished with a green herb sprig. The plate rests on a folded cloth, with a large spoon and stacked dishes in the background.

Mini Apple Tarts (Easy Muffin-Tin Recipe)

A glass pedestal dish holds a pile of crispy, golden-brown homemade apple fritters dusted with powdered sugar. Chunks of apple peek through the fritters. Nearby, stacked ceramic plates hold part of a fritter. The background is light and minimal.

Apple Fritters (Easy, Homemade & Perfectly Crispy)

A marble surface with chocolate almond biscotti stacked on a white rectangular plate, scattered nuts, two glasses of red wine, a spoon with cocoa powder, and a small bowl of chocolate chunks in the background. Crumbs and biscotti pieces are scattered around.

Healthy Chocolate Almond Biscotti (Vegan & Dairy-Free)

Slices of candied pumpkin, or Calabaza en Tacha, are arranged on an oval plate, with one piece on a round tan plate. A gold spoon rests nearby, while cinnamon sticks and star anise hint at the warm spices in this classic Mexican dessert.

Mexican Sweet Pumpkin Dessert, Calabaza en Tacha

Three bowls of colorful quinoa salad, featuring chopped veggies like red bell pepper and green herbs, are arranged on a white surface. Reminiscent of Cauliflower Fried Rice, the salad is garnished with cilantro, with wooden chopsticks beside one bowl.

Cauliflower Fried Rice (Easy + Healthy)

Two plates with sloppy joe-style sesame seed burgers, topped with lettuce and sliced cucumber, sit on a white surface. Each plate includes shredded cabbage salad, and two glasses of white wine are nearby against a plain, light-colored background.

Vegan sloppy joes, a perfect recipe

A golden-brown mushroom Wellington cut in half reveals a savory vegetarian Wellington filling inside flaky puff pastry. It sits on a wooden board with thyme, while a rust-colored cloth and blurred decorative plant are visible in the background.

Portobello Wellington

Dos platos con enchiladas de camote doradas y dobladas, generosamente cubiertas de cremosa salsa verde y espolvoreadas con hierbas frescas. Un pequeño cuenco con salsa y una servilleta con motivos verdes están cerca, sobre una superficie clara. La comida parece fresca y vibrante.

No-Bake Vegan Enchiladas (Sweet Potato Enchiladas with Salsa Verde & Poblano Crema)

A bowl of Emerald Kale Salad with shredded cabbage, chickpeas, and herbs sits on a marble surface. A block of Parmesan cheese on crumpled brown paper and black salad servers are nearby, creating a bright and fresh Hillstone-inspired scene.

My Version of Emerald Kale Salad (inspired by Hillstone)

A blue bowl filled with roasted broccoli florets, chopped pistachios, and pieces of what appears to be caramelized onions or dried fruit makes this Charred Broccoli Salad shine. A small dish of more pistachios and a striped towel sit nearby on a white surface.

Charred Broccoli Salad (Roasted-Style) with Dates, Mint & Pistachios

A plate with wedges of purple radicchio drizzled with bold, Creamy Parmesan Dressing and garnished with chopped herbs. A gold fork and beige napkin sit beside the plate, while more dressing glows in soft natural light. Easy elegance on display.

Creamy Parmesan Dressing (Easy, Bold, Ready in Minutes)

A bowl of fresh green and purple Winter Green Salad with crunchy garlic croutons on top sits on a gray surface. Two gold salad servers are placed beside the bowl. The salad appears vibrant and crisp.

Winter Green Salad with Grainy Mustard Vinaigrette & Garlic Croutons

A jar of salsa macha sauce with a spoon on a plate.

Peanut Salsa Macha (Easy Recipe) | Crunchy + Spicy

A collage showcases vibrant cabbage dishes: spring rolls, cabbage salad, soup, roasted red cabbage, and Mexican cuisine tacos with cabbage slaw. In the center, text proclaims “CABBAGE vegetable of the year.”.

Cabbage Is the It-Girl Vegetable of the Year (Mexicans Have Always Known)

A blue bowl filled with Mexican Cabbage Soup (Caldo de Repollo), topped with a cilantro leaf, sits on a white surface. To the side are a plate of fresh cilantro, lime wedges in a small bowl, and a white and green striped cloth napkin.

Mexican Cabbage Soup (Caldo de Repollo)

A rustic green bowl holds Spicy Mexican Potatoes—baby potatoes coated in a reddish seasoning. Next to the bowl on a pale surface are whole dried red chilies and scattered chili seeds, hinting at their fiery flavor.

Papas a la Diabla (Spicy Mexican Potatoes)

A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a white blouse, stands in a bright kitchen. She holds a glass of white wine and leans on a counter with fresh tomatoes, an onion, and leafy greens in front of her. The atmosphere looks cheerful and relaxed.

I’m Alejandra—a Mexican cook, mom, and flavor lover living in Houston.

I share real food with big flavor, inspired by my culture and everything I’ve picked up along the way. Most of what I cook is plant-forward, designed with flexitarian families in mind — always made for everyday life and meant to bring us together at the table.

Mexican Favorites

Two delicious carnitas tacos filled with seasoned meat are topped with chopped red onions and cilantro, served on a plate with lime wedges. Beside them, small bowls of fresh chopped cilantro and red onion await, with a wooden spoon resting on the edge of one bowl.

A glass bowl of green soup with a wooden spoon sits on a beige plate. Behind it are two zucchinis, one sliced, and a green tomatillo—perfect ingredients for Calabacita salsa recipe inspiration. Fresh cilantro leaves rest in the foreground.

Zucchini Salsa Recipe (salsa taquera)

A small blue-gray plate with a swirl of reddish-brown homemade spice blend sits on a white marble surface. Nearby, a gold measuring spoon filled with more of the seasoning and a glass jar, partially visible, complete the composition.

Homemade Tajín Seasoning (When you are out of Storebought)

Vegan birria Ramen

BREAKFAST

overnight oats tiramisu 1

Tiramisu Overnight Oats (Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast)

A glass of golden yellow turmeric latte with a frothy top sits on a black saucer, accompanied by a gold metal straw. A gray cloth is draped to the side, and a golden spoon with turmeric powder or Golden Banana Smoothie mix rests in the foreground.

Golden Banana Smoothie

Plates of perfect scrambled tofu with herbs sit on a dark blue surface. A side dish of orange sauce accompanies them in a small bowl. Charred tortillas are stacked in the background. Nearby, a folded napkin with two forks and a spoon rests beside one plate.

How to prepare the perfect scrambled tofu

Perfect Vegan French Toast Casserole

SoUPS

Top view of two bowls of tomato-based fideo soup garnished with avocado chunks and cheese, each with a spoon. Accompaniments include a small bowl with lime wedges and a sauce boat filled with red sauce with a black ladle. Everything is arranged on a light gray marble surface.

Sopa de fideo (Mexican noodle soup)

Two white bowls filled with black bean soup, white hominy, shredded lettuce, sliced avocado, and thin onion strips sit on a pink textured surface. Artfully arranged, the bowls evoke a fresh twist on classic pozole.

Black Bean Pozole (Mexican Black Bean Soup)

A textured white bowl filled with creamy roasted butternut squash soup (vegan), garnished with a sprig of sage and sprinkled with black pepper. The bowl rests on a soft pink cloth alongside a shiny gold spoon, all set against a bright, minimalist background.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (vegan)

Three white bowls of carrot ginger detox soup sit on a blue textured surface. The vibrant soup is garnished with chopped herbs and seeds, while fresh cilantro adds a fresh touch between the bowls and wooden spoons placed nearby.

Carrot Ginger Soup with Red Lentils

VeGGIES

A person in a striped shirt holds a bowl of corn and chopped green vegetables, crafting a Sinaloense colache with a wooden spoon. Two zucchinis rest on the wooden table nearby, alongside a small bowl containing two gray stones.

Colache Sinaloense (Calabacitas con elote)

A roasted cauliflower sits on a rustic wooden plate, seasoned with spices and topped with green herbs, chopped nuts, and slices of green onions. A light-colored cloth is underneath the plate, with scattered herbs and nuts surrounding the roasted cauliflower on the white surface.

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe with sweet and spicy sauce

Three bowls of colorful quinoa salad, featuring chopped veggies like red bell pepper and green herbs, are arranged on a white surface. Reminiscent of Cauliflower Fried Rice, the salad is garnished with cilantro, with wooden chopsticks beside one bowl.

Cauliflower Fried Rice (Easy + Healthy)

The best Vegan rajas con crema

SWEETS

A luscious chocolate Bundt cake sits on a round, beige plate, dripping with glossy glaze that cascades down its sides. The subtle white and gray hexagonal pattern in the background accentuates the rich, dark chocolate hue of this decadent dessert.

Vegan Chocolate Bundt Cake (Rich, Moist & Easy Recipe!)

Recipe for vegan lime macaroons

Mexican cocadas

A rustic pear galette topped with chopped hazelnuts and a hint of blue cheese sits on a round wooden board. One slice is slightly pulled away. Beneath, a marble surface holds a glass of water and a white, textured plate with a grey napkin, fork, and knife resting on it.

Pear Galette with Hazelnuts and Blue Cheese

A tray of popsicles with limes and cucumbers, automatic eraser.

Pepinadas, Refreshing mexican street food

DINNER

Vegan Vodka Sauce Pasta (Creamy & Dairy-Free)

A wrapped falafel sandwich on a black plate features crispy chickpea falafel balls, lettuce, cucumber slices, and tomato encased in pita bread. Partially covered with brown paper tied with string, it sits against a backdrop of scattered cilantro garnishes and a striped cloth.

Chickpea, Cilantro & Pumpkin Seed Falafel Pita

Mexican Quinoa Salad (Healthy + Easy)

Chunks of crispy tofu nuggets on a baking tray, accompanied by a bowl filled with a red, chunky dipping sauce. An oven-fresh aroma wafts as a spoon rests in the bowl with its striped rim. Crumbs are scattered around, catching the light from a bright source.

Crispy Tofu Nuggets (Air Fryer or Oven)

salads

A glass bowl filled with a colorful ensalada mediterranea—bursting with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, olives, and beans—rests on a terrazzo surface. Beside it lie a metal spoon, a plate of folded yellow napkins, utensils, amber glasses, and beverage cans.

10-min Perfect Mediterranean navy bean salad

A vibrant ensalada crujiente on a white plate features sliced mango, avocado, shredded purple cabbage, greens, cilantro, and nuts. A small pitcher of aderezo de cashew sits nearby on a light pink and white surface. The salad looks fresh and colorful.

Crunchy salad with spicy cashew dressing

Receta de ensalada vegana, ensalada mediterranea, ensalada de garbanzo y frijol negro.

Mediterranean Chickpea and Bean Salad

A bowl of fresh mixed salad with romaine lettuce, buffalo chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices topped with a creamy dill dressing. The salad is accompanied by a gold fork and knife placed on a dark green napkin. A bowl of dressing with a wooden spoon is placed nearby on the gray surface.

Buffalo chickpea salad with homemade ranch

DRINKS

A refreshing strawberry horchata in a clear glass, filled with ice and diced strawberries, topped with a whole strawberry on the rim. The drink is served with a glass straw, on a light plate

Strawberry horchata (horchata de fresa)

Pineapple, green leaves and banana smoothie. Pineapple smoothie.

Banana Pineapple smoothie

agua de jamaica (Hibiscus Tea )

mimosa prosecco 2

The best, best prosecco mimosa

appetizers

Healthy guacamole recipe

jamaica salsa macha 23 2

Hibiscus salsa macha

three cglass cups with esquites

Esquites, Mexican street corn in a cup

sun dried tomato pesto 3 1

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

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Breakfast
Soups
Veggies
Sweets
Mexican
Mains
Salads
Beverages
Dips
Drinks

Real food. Plant-forward with options for all.

This is cooking for real families with different ways of eating. You’ll find vegetarian and plant-forward recipes, plus flexible options to make each dish your own. And while AleCooks isn’t only a Mexican food blog, it’s where my Mexican roots shine through in bold, plant-forward recipes full of flavor.

Piloncillo y Vainilla LLC participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

© 2026 Piloncillo&Vainilla

About
Recipes
- Weeknight Dinners
- Sweets
- Breakfast
- Salads
- Dips
- Soups
- Veggies
Español

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