Easy Vegan Squash Gratin

Name: Easy Vegan Squash Gratin
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: Topping Ingredients; 1/4 cup almonds; 3 Tbs. nutritional yeast; 1/4 tsp. salt; 1 tsp. coconut oil; Gratin Ingredients; 1.5 Tbs. coconut oil; 1 yellow squash (cut into 1/4 inch slices); 1 zucchini (cut into 1/4 inch slices); 2 shallots (chopped); sea salt (to taste); freshly ground black pepper (to taste); 1/4 cup coconut milk (full fat); 2 Tbs. nutritional yeast

Are you wondering what to do with all that seasonal squash? With zucchini and yellow squash in full bounty during this time of year, one fun way to enjoy them is in my Easy Vegan Squash Gratin recipe. This exciting new recipe is so simple to make and savory to taste. Roasting layers of squash coated with creamy coconut milk allow the veggies to get all deliciously caramelized. Plus, a protein-rich, crunchy, gluten-free, and cheesy, dairy-free topping makes this so mouthwatering!

Unlike traditional gratin recipes, my Easy Vegan Squash Gratin recipe is naturally anti-inflammatory. As with all the recipes I create for you, Beauties, I focus on balancing levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates so that you don’t have to think twice. I also 100% of the time, avoid things like gluten, dairy, saturated fats, and processed ingredients.

If you love a good casserole, but you don’t love all that heavy cream or dairy then this recipe is for you. The key to cooking what you love is to figure out healthy alternatives to your old favorites. Focus on using ingredients that are easily digested and cleansing, yet still delicious and satisfying. It takes many of us a long time to transition off our favorite foods, and that’s okay. Rather than feel like you must cut them out of your life for good, focus your creative energy on discovering ways to make them healthier.

Yellow Squash

One of my favorite veggies to grow during summertime is squash. They pop up in such fun varieties of colors, shapes, and sizes that look so beautiful in garden beds. Plus Lil’ Bub loves to go out and pick them from the vine. I believe it is so important to get our kids eating foods that come straight from the earth. And squash is one easy veggie to grow that almost all kids love. Especially if you prepare it in a fun way like my Easy Vegan Squash Gratin recipe I am sharing with you today.

You can feel so good making this recipe for yourself and your family. For starters, yellow squash packs in quite the punch of folate. And this is one thing that we all want to be sure we are getting enough of. Folate helps build and repair our DNA: think healthy connective skin tissue. We can all use this vitamin to boost our beauty! Our bodies also require it to help us maintain a normal rate of red blood cell production.

This is especially even more true for us women while we are of childbearing age. Folate is important during early pregnancy, to support the normal development of the fetal brain and nervous system. So if you are thinking about conceiving, you may even consider taking a prenatal with folate to cover your basis. I took one with both my pregnancies just to cover my bases. :) One cup of squash contains around 35 micrograms of folate. With that in mind, the recommended daily amount of folate for a healthy diet is around 400 micrograms for adults. So don’t be shy. Serve yourself up this Easy Vegan Squash Gratin and know that you are giving the body the right tools to repair and build itself!

Zucchini

While making this recipe, have fun layering your yellow summer squash with zucchini to create a colorful pattern of your liking. Zucchini is just as healthy and delicious as yellow summer squash. I always enjoy incorporating several varieties of summer squash in my dishes. With a slightly different texture, it helps add depth to the Easy Vegan Squash Gratin recipe. Note, both yellow summer squash and zucchini can be used interchangeably in most dishes. But consuming a variety of veggies is always best!

During summer it is even more important that we stay hydrated. Enjoying zucchini is one delicious way to do so! Zucchini is abundant in potassium and “living water” which makes it excellent for hydration. Adding in hydrating foods to your diet will help keep you looking and feeling your best! When we are dehydrated, our skin starts to look weathered. Our organs even have a harder time working efficiently when they are lacking water. Even our hair can become brittle and break. No thank you!

Do you want even more ways to help your skin glow to it’s fullest potential? Here is an insider tip, Beauty: Be sure to check out my Feel Good Moisturizer. Formulated with carefully selected plant-based natural ingredients, it is the ultimate secret weapon in your beauty arsenal! It leaves the skin feeling supple and refreshed with a botanical alternative to Retinol that works to reduce and prevent wrinkles. If you have any existing skin damage then give this a go! It even helps prevent oxidative damage with plant-based stem cell extracts. Vegan skincare has never felt this good!

Nutritional Yeast

If there is one question I hear time and time again it’s this. “How do we get enough protein as plant-based eaters?” Well, Beauties, it is time to clear that confusion up. We’ve got so many options for plant-based protein sources. We are so lucky that to live in a time where this truly should never be of concern to us.

One protein superstar that I am using in today’s recipe is nutritional yeast. Haven’t tried it yet? It is quite an impressive protein source! Nutritional yeast contains 71% protein by weight. Now isn’t that just so amazing for plant food? With a wonderfully-balanced amino acid composition, it has all the right things to help boost brain function and muscle definition.

When craving something savory and creamy goodness, reach for nutritional yeast. The name doesn’t do justice for how good this superstar really tastes. Plus, it is so good for you too! Nutritional yeast is heated, and therefore not an active yeast. Because the yeast is deactivated, what we have left in the finished product is an assortment of vitamins and minerals. It has a full spectrum of B vitamins, so it can offer a great little boost of energy if you are feeling low. It is also rich in sources of phosphorous and chromium as well.

Besides in my Easy Vegan Squash Gratin recipe, there are numerous ways you can reap the benefits of nutritional yeast. Try sprinkling it over soup to thicken it up and create a creamy flavor. You can also toss it into your salad and witness it take on a yummy twist to your greens! I’ve personally been consuming nutritional yeast, very regularly for years, I feel stronger, healthier, and more mentally sharp than ever before, thanks to its benefits!

Sea Salt

Before I sign off and let you start making this Easy Vegan Squash Gratin recipe, I must highlight one last humble ingredient. Sea salt. Too often we use sea salt in our lives without taking out a moment to appreciate what it is offering us. Besides being great to enhance the flavor of your food, sea salt also provides many beauty benefits!

Before I jump in, let me point out that sea salt is not the same thing as table salt. Do not confuse sea salt with table salt, as table salt is iodized. This means that table salt is much more heavily processed and lacking some of the top health benefits that sea salt offers. For starters, do you know that by adding sea salt into your day, it can actually help you stay hydrated? I know it may sound a bit confusing but sea salt contains trace minerals which help balance fluid levels in your body. Sea salt can also help your body absorb more nutrients from the food you eat. But be mindful, a little goes a very long way!

In order to help your body digest food even more, I highly recommend that you try out my Feel Good Digestive Enzymes. They break down stubborn macronutrients in your food like protein, carbs and fat. Adding this digestive enzyme supplement to your daily practice helps to ensure you will get the most out of every meal and is essential to your digestive system and wellness.

There are so many different things you can benefit from by enjoying this Easy Vegan Squash Gratin recipe.

Unlike traditional heavy casseroles, this one comes beautifully layered with a bounty of beneficial nutrients! Be sure to tag me in your Instagram creations. I love to see how your recipes turn out. And if you are on Pinterest, Pin the picture above to your board to save it for a late date.

Easy Vegan Squash Gratin Recipe