I know how important good game day food is! Especially food that us vegans can serve to fool all our omni friends. Well this one is it, peeps! I've tested a number of methods, batters, and blah blah blah. The important part is that this was the obvious winner for the best vegan jalapeño poppers!
They're even covered in a creamy sundried tomato aioli... are you kidding me! How freakin' good do these look?!
Now you can make them at home in your own kitchen and serve 'em up to your friends, loved ones, or even for a solo game day shindig!
If you're making a whole game day feast, check out my recipes for nachos and layered dip, too! I think I feel a post-feast nap coming on...
the best vegan jalapeño poppers
Ingredients
jalapeño poppers
- 10 jalapeños
- ¾ C vegan herb & chive (or herb & garlic) cream cheese
- 2 to 3 tablespoon finely chopped chives
- 1 to 2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- 1 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Field Roast Italian vegan sausage
- ½ C bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ C vegan cheese shreds (optional)
sun dried tomato aioli
- ¼ C sun dried tomatoes
- ½ C vegan mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Soak the sun dried tomatoes in warm water while you prepare the jalapeño poppers. It just helps them blend a little easier.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- If you're using a vegan sausage, finely chop it or crumble it with your hands and brown in a pan over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Combine the vegan cream cheese with chives, cilantro, and minced garlic. Once the cooked sausage has cooled a bit, you can add it to the cream cheese mixture. Or add coconut fakin' bacon or tofu bacon bits to the mixture. You could also brown up seasoned veggie ground round/meat crumbles. Whatever you want! Refrigerate this while you prepare the jalapeños.
- Cut the jalapeños in half and scoop out the flesh and seeds inside gently with a small spoon. You might want to wear rubber gloves, because I didn't and had burning hands for a couple hours afterward! If that happens, just wash your hands in rubbing alcohol or vodka. It seemed to relieve the sensation.
- Drain the sun dried tomatoes from the soaking water and add to high powered blender with the remaining aioli ingredients. Blend until very smooth. You can make the aioli before assembling and baking the jalapeño poppers to allow it to chill in the fridge or make it while they're baking.
- Combine the bread crumbs with smoked paprika or chili powder, garlic powder, and sea salt in a shallow dish.
- Stuff the halves of jalapeños with the cream cheese mixture, then add a little bit of vegan cheese shreds (if using) and press the top into the bread crumb mixture, coating it well. Add a little more shredded vegan cheese to the top (if using) and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- To help brown the tops, spray them with some oil. Bake them for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown on top, jalapeños look wrinkled and cooked through and the cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately while they're hot and drizzle the sun dried tomato aioli on top. I found this easier than dipping them in the aioli, as the jalapeño poppers are pretty stuffed!
Jaymee
Making these today! They look AMAZING. Thanks for the recipe!
Buy Poppers
For me the transition from regular to vegan was made easy as i found the cheese replacement and just made poppers all the time 😀
phil
Do you think you could assemble the poppers and store them refrigerated for a while before baking? I'd like to bring them to a gathering but would rather we bake them fresh there! Also looks incredible
Lauren Toyota
yes just don't add bread crumb mixture on top until right before baking!