elegant vegan appetizer

Vegan Roasted Tomato Caprese Towers

vegan roasted tomato caprese towers

Vegan Roasted Tomato Caprese Towers

Elegant stacked towers of roasted heirloom tomatoes, creamy cashew mozzarella, and fresh basil — drizzled with balsamic glaze. A stunning plant-based take on the Italian classic.

Servings – 4

Ingredients

  • 4 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes
  • 1 ripe avocado, sliced
  • 1 cup raw cashews (soaked 4 hrs, drained)
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon agar-agar powder
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil (for roasting)
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts (toasted, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives (for garnish)

Steps

1. Soak the cashews: Place 1 cups raw cashews (soaked 4 hrs, drained) in a bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for at least 240 minutes 240:00 (or overnight). Drain and rinse thoroughly before using.

2. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

3. Roast the tomatoes: Slice 4 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes into thick rounds (about 1.5 cm each). Arrange on the baking tray, drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil (for roasting), and season with 0.5 teaspoons sea salt flakes and 0.5 teaspoons black pepper, freshly cracked. Roast until caramelized and slightly shrunken but still holding their shape.

4. Blend the cashew mozzarella: Add the soaked cashews, 0.3 cups water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, and 0.8 teaspoons salt to a high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy with no lumps — about 2 minutes 02:00.

5. Set the mozzarella: Pour the blended mixture into a small saucepan. Whisk in 1 teaspoons agar-agar powder and heat over medium, stirring constantly until it bubbles and thickens slightly (about 3–60 minutes 60:00). Pour into a lightly oiled round mold or small glasses and refrigerate until firm.

6. Toast the pine nuts: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast 2 tablespoons pine nuts (toasted, optional) for 2–3 minutes 03:00, stirring often until golden. Set aside to cool.

7. Unmold the mozzarella: Once the cashew mozzarella is firm, gently unmold and slice into rounds roughly the same diameter as your tomato slices.

8. Assemble the towers: On each plate, layer: one roasted tomato slice → one cashew mozzarella round → one or two slices of ripe avocado → a few fresh basil leaves. Repeat layers 2–3 times to build the tower. Press gently to secure.

9. Garnish & serve: Drizzle generously with 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze, scatter toasted pine nuts (optional) and 1 tablespoon fresh chives over the top. Finish with a pinch of ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes and a crack of ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked. Serve immediately while tomatoes are still warm.

Notes

Tips & Variations:

  • 🍅 Best tomatoes: Heirloom, beefsteak, or Roma work best. Avoid watery varieties.
  • 🥛 Shortcut: Skip agar-agar for a softer, spreadable cashew cream — still delicious!
  • 🌿 Herb swap: Try fresh mint or micro-greens instead of basil.
  • 🧄 Roasted garlic: Add roasted garlic cloves between layers for extra depth.
  • 🫙 Make ahead: Cashew mozzarella keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days.
  • 🌡️ Serving: Best served with warm roasted tomatoes and chilled mozzarella for contrast.
  • 🥑 Avocado tip: Make sure your avocado is ripe but firm so the slices hold their shape nicely in the tower. Slice just before assembling to keep them looking fresh and vibrant.

🥗 Nutrition Facts (per serving, approx.): | Nutrient | Amount | |———-|——–| | Calories | ~320 kcal | | Protein | 9 g | | Carbohydrates | 22 g | | Dietary Fiber | 4 g | | Sugars | 9 g | | Total Fat | 23 g | | Saturated Fat | 4 g | | Sodium | 380 mg | | Vitamin C | 35% DV | | Calcium | 6% DV | | Iron | 15% DV | | Magnesium | 18% DV |

💚 Health Benefits:

  • 🍅 Lycopene-rich tomatoes — A powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and reduced cancer risk, especially enhanced by roasting.
  • 🥜 Cashews — Provide heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, magnesium for muscle function, and plant-based protein.
  • 🌿 Fresh basil — Rich in vitamin K, anti-inflammatory compounds, and essential oils that support immunity.
  • 🫒 Olive oil — High in oleocanthal, a natural anti-inflammatory, and supports brain and cardiovascular health.
  • 🍇 Balsamic glaze — Contains acetic acid which may help regulate blood sugar, plus antioxidants from grape polyphenols.
  • 🌾 Nutritional yeast — An excellent source of B-vitamins (including B12 in fortified versions), zinc, and complete protein.
  • 🌱 100% Vegan & Dairy-Free — Ideal for those with lactose intolerance or following a plant-based lifestyle.

A few highlights about this dish:

  • The star ingredient is the cashew mozzarella — it mimics the creamy, mild flavour of traditional buffalo mozzarella beautifully, and the agar-agar gives it that satisfying sliceable texture.
  • Roasting the tomatoes is the key technique here — it concentrates their natural sweetness and adds a caramelized depth that raw tomatoes simply can’t match.
  • Nutrition-wise, this is a powerhouse plate — loaded with lycopene, healthy fats, plant protein, and a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, all around 320 kcal per serving.

Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! Browse all our vegan recipes to keep enjoying ultimate delicious and healthy lifestyle.

May 10, 2026 by All Recipes Mains & Bowls 5

Vegan Artichoke White Bean Dip — The Most Elegant Plant-Based Dip You Will Make All Week

vegan artichoke white bean dip

There are dips you put out because something is needed on the table. And then there are dips like this Vegan Artichoke White Bean Dip — the kind that blends into a pale, creamy, deeply savory spread with a subtle, slightly briny artichoke character that is sophisticated in a way most dips simply are not, topped with a drizzle of herbed olive oil and a few artichoke hearts arranged over the surface that make it look as beautiful as it tastes. This is that dip. The one that elevates a simple gathering into something that feels genuinely considered. The one that disappears completely and gets asked about every single time.

Artichoke hearts — whether jarred or canned — have a tender, slightly tangy, subtly earthy flavor that pairs with white beans in an extraordinarily harmonious way, the mild creaminess of the bean providing body and richness while the artichoke brings its specific, complex, slightly briny character that makes this dip taste completely its own. Together with lemon, garlic, and good olive oil they produce a Mediterranean-inflected dip of genuine elegance and depth.

What makes this dip so outstanding is how the artichoke changes the character of an already excellent white bean dip — adding a layer of flavor complexity and a slightly savory, briny depth that makes this version more interesting and more distinctive than any plain white bean preparation.

This recipe is 100% vegan, naturally gluten-free, ready in just 15 minutes, and absolutely wonderful served with warm pita, flatbread, crudités, or crackers at any occasion from a casual weeknight to a formal dinner party.

Recipe Information

Prep TimeCook TimeTotal TimeServingsCalories
10 mins5 mins15 mins6~150 kcal

Ingredients

For the Dip

  • 1 can (400g) white beans (cannellini), drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (400g) artichoke hearts in water, drained and roughly chopped (reserve a few whole hearts for topping)
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • 3–5 tbsp ice cold water to reach consistency

For the Herbed Oil Topping

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, very finely chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
  • ¼ tsp chili flakes (optional)
  • Pinch of salt

For Garnish

  • Reserved artichoke hearts, halved or quartered
  • Extra fresh parsley leaves
  • A pinch of smoked paprika
  • Lemon zest

To Serve

  • Warm pita or flatbread
  • Sliced baguette or sourdough
  • Vegetable crudités — cucumber, carrot, celery, radish
  • Crackers or breadsticks

Instructions

  1. Blend the dip. Place the drained white beans, chopped artichoke hearts, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, nutritional yeast, salt, and white pepper in a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend for 60–90 seconds, scraping down the sides as needed. Add ice cold water one tablespoon at a time until the dip reaches a smooth, creamy, spreadable consistency. Continue blending for a full 2 minutes for the silkiest result.
  2. Taste and adjust. Taste the dip and adjust with additional lemon juice for brightness, salt for depth, or garlic for pungency. The artichoke flavor should be present but harmonious with the white bean base — not overpowering.
  3. Make the herbed oil. In a small bowl combine the olive oil, finely chopped parsley, lemon zest, chili flakes if using, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine.
  4. Plate the dip. Transfer the dip to a wide, shallow serving bowl. Using the back of a spoon create a swirl starting from the center and sweeping outward. Arrange the reserved artichoke heart pieces over the surface. Drizzle the herbed oil generously over the top. Finish with fresh parsley leaves, a pinch of smoked paprika, and extra lemon zest.
  5. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Serve with warm bread and vegetables alongside, or cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Pro Tips

  • Use artichoke hearts packed in water rather than marinated in oil for a cleaner, more balanced flavor — marinated artichokes introduce their own seasoning that can overwhelm the delicate white bean base.
  • Blend for the full 2 minutes for the smoothest, most elegant texture — white beans require sustained blending to achieve true silkiness.
  • Add ice cold water gradually — the exact amount varies by brand of bean and blending power. Stop adding when the dip is smooth and spreadable.
  • Reserve a few artichoke hearts before blending for the garnish — they make the finished presentation immediately identifiable and visually beautiful.
  • Serve at room temperature for the most vivid flavor — a refrigerator-cold dip mutes the lemon and artichoke character significantly.

How This Differs From Smoky White Bean Dip

While both recipes use white beans as their base, these two dips are genuinely different in character. The Smoky White Bean Dip is defined by its bold smoked paprika oil finish and crispy chickpea topping — warm, smoky, and dramatic in presentation. This Artichoke White Bean Dip is defined by the subtle, briny, Mediterranean character of the artichoke and the bright herbed oil — lighter, more elegant, and more complex in its underlying flavor. One is a statement dip; the other is a sophisticated accompaniment. Both belong on the same table for different occasions.

Flavor Variations

  • Roasted Garlic Artichoke Dip: Replace the raw garlic with a full head of roasted garlic for a sweeter, more deeply caramelized garlic character throughout.
  • Spinach Artichoke Dip: Add a handful of wilted, squeezed spinach to the blender for a version inspired by the classic spinach artichoke combination.
  • Sun-Dried Tomato Artichoke Dip: Add 2 tablespoons of sun-dried tomatoes to the blender for a more intensely savory, slightly sweet variation.

Nutritional Highlights (Per Serving)

CaloriesProteinCarbsFiberFat
~150 kcal6g15g5g8g

Storage

  • Refrigerator: Store the dip in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The flavor deepens during storage. Add the herbed oil and garnish fresh when serving.
  • Freezer: Freezes well for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and re-blend briefly to restore smoothness.
  • Make ahead: This dip is ideal for making a day ahead — the flavors meld beautifully overnight and the texture is excellent straight from the refrigerator once brought to room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen artichoke hearts?

Yes — thaw completely and drain thoroughly before using. Frozen artichoke hearts often have a cleaner flavor than canned and work excellently in this recipe.

Can I make this without nutritional yeast?

Yes — the nutritional yeast adds savory depth but the dip is still delicious without it. An extra pinch of salt and a small additional amount of lemon juice compensates reasonably well.

What white bean variety works best?

Cannellini beans produce the creamiest, most neutral result. Butter beans work well for a slightly richer, more substantial dip. Great Northern beans are also excellent. All produce a good result with the same blending technique.

Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! Tag us on Instagram and Facebook — we love seeing your plant-powered creations. Looking for more addictive vegan snack and appetizer recipes? Browse all recipes on Easy Vegan Recipes — new recipes posted every single week!

December 30, 2025 by All Recipes Mains & Bowls 0