Chef Jake

Short Bio

Jake switched to a plant based diet in 1996 and quickly realized he had no idea how to cook. 16 years later and he's still trying to figure it out...

All Recipes and Posts by Jake

Strawberry Kale Salad

Recipe Type: Dips and Sauces, Salads, Side Dishes Tags: balsamic, engine2, forks over knives, kale, plant based, Salad, Strawberries, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism, vinaigrette

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

Love kale? Love strawberries? You'll love this unlikely combo!

Quinoa Tater Tots

Recipe Type: Side Dishes, snacks Tags: almond milk, BBQ, bites, catsup, chives, forks over knives, hashbrowns, ketchup, onion, plant based, quinoa, soy milk, tater, tots, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

These quinoa tater tots are a sure fire healthy snack that won't disappoint any time of the day.

It’s our 1-year anniversary: VegNews

By: Jake | 17 Comments | On: April 14, 2013 | Category : Blog, Giveaways

a Rafflecopter giveaway This is it! Our last giveaway to thank you for all your appreciation and support over the last year. And it’s a great one – a gift pack from VegNews! One lucky winner will receive a big VegNews tote bag filled with the current issue of VegNews...

We’re Turning 1!

Average Rating: (0 / 5)

Come celebrate with us and enter to win some awesome prizes!

We’re Turning 1!

By: Jake | 0 Comments | On: April 13, 2013 | Category : Blog

Come celebrate with us and enter to win some awesome prizes!

It’s our 1-year anniversary: Chicago Vegan Foods Giveaway!

By: Jake | 7 Comments | On: April 10, 2013 | Category : Blog, Giveaways

Our good friends over at Chicago Vegan Foods are helping us celebrate our one year anniversary by hooking you up big time! Our lucky winner will receive: 4 varieties of their vegan cheeses 2 bags of their award-winning vegan marshmallows 1 tote bag a whole bunch of pins and temporary tattoos! ...

Peppermint Patties

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: chips, chocolate, copy cat, mint, mock, pattie, patties, patty, peppermint, plant based, plant based on a budget, powdered sugar, shortening, spearmint, sugar, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism, york

Average Rating: (3.9 / 5)

These are a delicious, minty once-in-awhile treat!50

Spicy Sesame Tofu Stir-fry

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: cornstarch, forks over knives, fry, mushrooms, plant based, plant based on a budget, red pepper flakes, sesame, shiitake, snow peas, spicy, stir, stir fry, stirfry, tofu, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism, vinegar

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

The right combination of spicy and sweet gives this dish a great flavor!

Sweet & Salty Tofu Bites

Recipe Type: Side Dishes, snacks, Toppings and Fillings Tags: agave, bites, easy, fast, forks over knives, maple syrup, pepper, plant based, plant based on a budget, salt, snack, syrup, tasty, tofu, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

This recipe is super fast, really tasty, and costs a couple bucks for the tofu. It's a great finger ...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Patties

Recipe Type: Desserts, snacks Tags: awesome, chocolate, cookies, delicious, dessert, girl scout cookies, patties, peanut, peanut butter, snacks, treats, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

These are delicious, quick, easy and you may already have everything in your house to make them.

Carrot Fries

Recipe Type: Side Dishes, snacks Tags: budget, carrots, forks over knives, french fries, fries, oil, pepper, plant based on a budget, salt, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Average Rating: (4.5 / 5)

These quick, very inexpensive fries pack a great sweet and savory punch.

Veggie Wrap

Recipe Type: Entrees, Side Dishes Tags: carrots, chard, cucumbers, engine2, forks over knives, hummus, pants off dance off, party time, peanut sauce, plant based, sprouts, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism, veggie, wrap

Average Rating: (3 / 5)

These are quick, healthy, gluten-free wraps that are filled with nutritious goodness.

Orange Glazed Tempeh Kabobs

Recipe Type: Entrees, Side Dishes Tags: brown, carrot, garlic, glaze, kabob, kabobs, on a budget, onion, orange, peel, plant based, satay, shallot, suck it down johnny, sugar, tangelo, tempeh, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Average Rating: (0 / 5)

This dish packs a solid punch of orange goodness!

Sweetheart Short Stacks

Recipe Type: Desserts, Entrees, Side Dishes Tags: blackberries, day, finger, food, get some, hearts, international pancake day, pancakes, party time, plant based, Strawberries, treat, valentine's day, valentines, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

February brings us Valentine's Day AND International Pancake Day! Knock off two holidays at once with these delicious short ...

Triple Stack Tofu Sandwich

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: based, bowl, delicious, finger, foods, mushroom, oil, onion, party time, plant, plant based, roll, sandwich, sauce, shallot, soy, spinach, stack, super, tofu, triple, vegan, veganism, vegetarian

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

Sometimes you gotta get messy, and this one doesn't disappoint.

Sweet & Spicy Tempeh Wrap

Recipe Type: Entrees, Side Dishes Tags: budget, carrot, chili, cucumber, delicious, fast, forks over knives, pepper, plant based, snack, spicy, sticky, sugar, sweet, tempeh, tortilla, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism, wrap

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

This is a quick meal or snack that has some of the greatest tempeh I’ve made, all in about 15 ...

Top 5 Recipes of 2012

Average Rating: (0 / 5)

Top 5 of 2012

By: Jake | 1 Comment | On: January 20, 2013 | Category : Blog

It was a great year for Plant Based on a Budget – and it was a short one, at that. We started the blog back in April of 2012 with the hope of sharing some delicious, healthy, cheap, plant-based recipes and ideas with our friends and loved ones. What it...

Pistachio Crusted Tofu

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: budget, diet, hoisin, pasta, pepper, pistachios, plant based, soy sauce, sriracha, tofu, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

Turn plain old tofu into these tasty pistachio crusted fillets!

Tofu & Spinach with Peanut Sauce

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: based, dinner, easy, fast, garlic, onion, peanut, plant, sauce, spinach, sriracha, tasty, thai, tofu, vegan, veganism, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.4 / 5)

Cost per Serving: $1.25 This is another really quick, easy meal that is a great source of protein, iron, and ...

Fruit Cones

Recipe Type: Desserts, Side Dishes Tags: blackberries, cantaloup, coconut, cone, cream, dessert, fruit, honey dew, ice, melon, raspberries, Salad, side, Strawberries, water, whip, whipped

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

Here's a great way to get your kids to eat more fruit!

Shiitake Asparagus Tofu Stir-fry

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: asparagus, engine2, flakes, forks over knives, fry, garlic, ginger, green, hoisin, hot, mushrooms, oil, onions, pepper, red, sauce, sesame, shiitake, shitake, soy, spicy, stir, stir fry, stirfry, tofu

Average Rating: (3.3 / 5)

A healthy, quick, and easy meal best served over a bed of rice.

Beer Bread

Recipe Type: Side Dishes Tags: baking, basil, beer, bread, flour, garlic, hearty, margarine, no, oregeno, pepper, powder, rising, salt, sugar, tasty, thick, thyme, yeast

Average Rating: (3 / 5)

This bread is really easy to make, requires no yeast or rising, and is a hearty side on a cold ...

Coconut Whipped Cream

Recipe Type: Desserts, Dips and Sauces Tags: chicago, coconut, cream, engine 2, forks over knives, holidays, party, soy free, sugar, sugar-free, sweet, tasty, treats, vanilla, vegan, vegetarian, whip

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

A quick and delicious whipped cream that is dairy, soy and sugar free!

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Jar

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: berries, christmas, cookie, cookies, cranberries, faked, fall, fruit, gift, holiday, idea, jar, oatmeal, pants, party time, pillowcase, plant based, ribbon, secret santa, spoon, sugar, sweet, teacher, used, vegan, vegetarian, wooden

Average Rating: (4.5 / 5)

Give the gift of cookies this year with this easy, quick cookies in a jar!

Cucumber Tofu Rolls

Recipe Type: Side Dishes Tags: carrots, cucumber, engine 2, forks over knives, garlic, oil, plant based, powder, rolls, sauce, soy, sushi, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.5 / 5)

A quick and easy protein boost, as a side or snack.

Quinoa Cranberry Stuffing

Recipe Type: Side Dishes Tags: bay leaves, bread, budget, celery, cheap, christmas, cranberries, cranberry, easy, feast, garlic, holiday, onion, pepper, plant based, quinoa, sage, salt, stuffing, thanksgiving, thyme, vegan, vegetable broth, vegetarian, veggie

Average Rating: (3.7 / 5)

This is an easy way to sneak in a really healthy grain into this delicious side dish.

Mushroom Gravy

Recipe Type: Toppings and Fillings Tags: aroma, autumn, bay, brown, flour, forks over knives, gravy, leaf, leaves, mushroom, onion, oregano, pepper based, plant, plant based, salt, sauce, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

This fast and easy gravy not only tastes great, but fills your home with a warm, autumn aroma.

Veggie Sausage

Recipe Type: Side Dishes Tags: beans, breakfast, cornmeal, delicious, easy, engine 2, faux, forks over knives, hickory, lima, liquid, meat, plant based, pork, rosemary, sage, sausage, side, simple, smoke, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.5 / 5)

They're quick, easy, and healthier than sausage!

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: apple, cranberry, crisp, dessert, fruit, margarine, plant based, sugar, taste explosion, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.3 / 5)

Autumn means apple crisp as much as humanly possible!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Recipe Type: Side Dishes, Toppings and Fillings Tags: carve, cayenne, engine 2, forks over knives, halloween, jack-o-lantern, margarine, pepper, plant based, pumpkin, roasted, salt, seeds, snack, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

A quick and easy way to turn pumpkins seeds into a healthy, fast snack or a great salad topping!

Severed Finger Lemon Sugar Cookies

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: baking powder, cookies, dessert, fall, fingers, flour, halloween, lemon, october, plant based, severed, sugar, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (3.5 / 5)

Talk about finger foods! Try these fun cookies for the holidays.

Rosemary Roasted Red Potatoes

Recipe Type: Side Dishes Tags: extra virgin, garlic, oli, olive, onion, pepper, plant based, potato, potatoes, red, rosemary, salt, shallot, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

The roasted garlic and rosemary makes this tasty side dish a warming treat.

Sweet Coconut Thai Tofu

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: budget, coconut, cornstarch, e2, engine 2, fish, forks over knives, garlic, ginger, lime, milk, onion, plant based, sauce, soy, sriracha, sugar, sweet, thai, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.7 / 5)

The mixture of sweet, sour, and spicy is just right, and makes for a flavorful dish.

Peanut Butter Bonbons

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: bite, budget, butter, chocolate, dessert, krispies, peanut, plant based, powdered, puffed, rice, sized, snack, sugar, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.2 / 5)

These are quick and easy, bite-sized and irresistible!

Sweet Tomato Chutney

Recipe Type: Dips and Sauces Tags: africa, basil, brown, budget, chutney, engine 2, forks over knives, fruit, lemon, mouth explosion, onion, party time, plant based, sakari, sugar, sweet, tomato, tomatoes, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

This chutney's amazing flavor packs a punch!

Roasted Peaches with Vanilla and Raspberries

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: berries, dessert, fall, fruit, lemon, margarine, peaches, plant based, raspberries, roasted, sugar, vanilla, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

As summer comes to an end, roasted peaches with a vanilla glaze and raspberries keep it alive.

Veggie Ramen

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: budget, carrots, garlic, onion, oriental, peanuts, pepper, plant based, ramen, soy sauce, sriracha, stir fry, vegan, vegetables, vegetarian, veggie, veggies

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

Veggie Ramen for when you only have change in your pocket for a meal.

Zucchini Bread

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: apple sauce, bread, breakfast, budget, cheap, dessert, easy, forks over knives, fresh, homemade, loaf, plant based, vegan, vegetables, vegetarian, veggies, zucchini

Average Rating: (4.8 / 5)

This zucchini bread is super easy to make and puts all that extra zucchini to use. Plus it makes ...

Raspberry Mockjitos

Recipe Type: Drinks Tags: berries, budget, citrus, drink, fauxjito, fruit, gluten free, lime, mint, mockjito, mojito, plant based, raspberry, simple, syrup, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

As the summer winds down (or is just starting here in San Francisco), these are nice drinks everyone can enjoy.

Tofu Fillets with Tomato Herb Pan Sauce

Recipe Type: Entrees, Side Dishes Tags: budget, cherry, engine 2, filet, forks over knives, garlic, oregano, paprika, parsley, plant based, tofu, tomato, tomatoes, tomatos, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

A pretty simple dish with a lot of different flavors, but the charred cherry tomatoes add this great burst of ...

Kale Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

Recipe Type: Dips and Sauces, Salads, Side Dishes, Toppings and Fillings Tags: budget, cashews, cheap, citrus, cranberries, dressing, engine 2, food, forks over knives, fruit, kale, lemon, plant based, Salad, sauce, soy, super, tahini, tomato, vegan, vegetables, vegetarian, veggies, zest

Average Rating: (3.8 / 5)

This is a super easy salad with kale as the base. And the tahini dressing? So good.

Udon with Spicy Tofu & Greens

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: bok choy, budget, engine 2, forks over knives, greens, noodles, oil, plant based, recipe, scallions, soy sauce, spicy, tofu, udon, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.3 / 5)

This is a quick, easy recipe that looks minimal but really impresses.

Apple Pie Burritos

Recipe Type: Desserts, Side Dishes Tags: apple, apples, budget, burritos, cinnamon, cranberries, fruit, pie, plant based, sugar

Average Rating: (3.5 / 5)

They are super quick, really easy, fun to make with the little ones in your life and satisfy the biggest ...

Spicy Mint Brussels Sprouts

Recipe Type: Side Dishes Tags: brussels, budget, cereal, chile, cilantro, citrus, engine 2, forks over knives, krispies, lime, mint, plant based, rice, spicy, sprouts, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

I hear you: "Brussels Sprouts? Really?" But these are a game changer! The right amount of mint and ...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: bark, budget, chips, chocolate, peanut butter, peanuts, plant based, pretzels, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

This isn't exactly healthy, but it's plant-based, on a budget and it tastes amazing. So whip these up and ...

Fresh Spring Rolls

Recipe Type: Entrees, Side Dishes Tags: beans, budget, carrots, egg rolls, engine 2, forks over knives, green, mint, onion, peanut sauce, plant based, rice noodles, rice paper, spring rolls, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

These rolls are healthy, tasty and fresh, for a fractio

Pita Bread Pizza

Recipe Type: Entrees, Side Dishes Tags: budget, diet, engine 2, forks over knives, mushrooms, oil, olive, pepper, pita, pizza, plant based, seinfeld, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (0 / 5)

June 30th is National Vegan Pizza Day so I thought I would make these super easy pita bread pizzas to ...

Raspberry Bread Pudding

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: berries, berry, blackberry, blueberry, bread pudding, breakfast, citrus, dessert, fruit, plant based, raspberry, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4 / 5)

Total cost (minus sundries): $7 So, the last couple of weeks I shared with you my orange ginger tofu and ...

Sweet Lime Tofu with Green Beans

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: brown, citrus, forks over knives, green beans, lime, pepper, plant based, plant based on a budget, sour, sugar, sweet, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.8 / 5)

So this has a sweet flavor from the brown sugar, a little sour from the lime and a little hot ...

Orange Ginger Tofu

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: brown rice, cilantro, citrus, delicious, garlic, ginger, orange, plant based, plant based on a budget, tasty, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.6 / 5)

Fresh orange and ginger give this tofu dish a great burst of flavor.

Seashells with Basil and Tomatoes

Recipe Type: Entrees, Salads, Side Dishes Tags: basil, easy, olive oil, pasta, plant based, plant based on a budget, recipe, tomatoes, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.7 / 5)

This pasta, tomato and basil powerhouse makes a great summertime meal on those warm nights.

Crazy Cake!

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: cake, chocolate cake, depression cake, plant based, poor cake, pour cake, vegan, wacky cake

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

I'm not joking - you can prep this amazingly moist chocolate cake in less than five minutes. You don't ...

Free Formed Bread

Recipe Type: Side Dishes Tags: artisan, bread, french, loaf, plant based, vegan

Average Rating: (4.8 / 5)

For $5 you can make several loaves of some of the greatest bread you've had. And don't be fooled ...

(Sorta) Spicy Peanut Sauce

Recipe Type: Dips and Sauces Tags: citrus, lemon, peanut butter, peanut sauce, plant based, sauce, vegan

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

This is a really quick and easy sauce that you can make in a couple of minutes with stuff you ...

Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Recipe Type: Entrees

Average Rating: (5 / 5)

Here is a delicious chili submitted by reader Candice B.!

Apple Granola Goodness

Recipe Type: Desserts Tags: apples, chocolate, dessert, fruit, granola, healthy dessert, oats, snack, vegan, vegetarian

Average Rating: (4.4 / 5)

Sometimes you need a super quick, easy inexpensive snack or dessert, and this one does the trick!

Pasta with Veggies & Breaded Tofu

Recipe Type: Entrees Tags: breaded tofu, broccoil, easy, inexpensive, pasta, peppers, simple, tofu

Average Rating: (4.7 / 5)

This is my go-to dish for a quick, healthy meal. The best part is, it costs about $6 and ...

News and Events

It’s our 1-year anniversary: VegNews

a Rafflecopter giveaway This is it! Our last giveaway to thank you...more
We’re Turning 1!

Come celebrate with us and enter to win some awesome prizes!more
It’s our 1-year anniversary: Herbivore Clothing Company

a Rafflecopter giveaway The wonderful Herbivore Clothing Company in Portland, Oregon has...more

Recipe Search

Chef Jake

Short Bio

All Recipes and Posts by Jake

Weekly Special

Recipe Types

Follow Us

Find us on Facebook

News and Events

Translate Our Site

Follow Us

Subscribe to PBB via Email