You’re dedicated to your vegan lifestyle, but it can be hard to watch people around you indulging in comfort foods and not feel a bit jealous from time to time. These simple recipes will show you how to make gooey, crusty, and even downright hearty dishes that are all completely vegan.

Simple Vegan Tofu Lasagna [Whole Foods]
Versatile tofu miraculously transforms into ground “beef” in this classic dinner staple that’s covered in melted vegan cheese.

Baked Eggplant with Nutty Bulgur Stuffing [Whole Foods]
In this vegan dish that’s similar to stuffed peppers, baked eggplant is topped with a bulgur and nut blend that’s rich and flavorful.

BBQ Peanut Veggie Burgers [Lunch Box Bunch]
A burger is the ultimate comfort food, and this recipe adds a zesty barbecue peanut sauce for a unique flavor.

Black Beans with Mexican Beer [Chow]
This recipe cooks tasty black beans in beer to create one of the most indulgent comfort food dishes you could imagine—and it's entirely vegan.

Father’s Day Breakfast Casserole [PETA]
Though it was originally created for Father’s Day, this recipe is good any day of the year. It combines a vegan egg mixture with mock sausage and potatoes to create a truly hearty breakfast casserole.

Vegetable-Barley Pot Pies [PETA]
Try this vegan take on chicken pot pie that's just like Mom used to make.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/thebittenword.com

Part dive bar, part music venue, Fitzgerald's has been a Houston institution since 1977. In fact, musicians and bands such as James Brown and The Romones have graced the stage here, and many locals are likely to tell you that Fitzgerald's was the site of their first show.

Downstairs, Fitzgerald’s hosts a stage and two full bars, one of which is located on the venue's sprawling back patio. Upstairs sits the venue's main stage, which regularly hosts music acts in a wide range of genres, from hip hop to indie rock. You can see what performers are on the docket by visiting the venue's website, then purchase tickets online.

Fitzgerald's hosts performances several days per week. Shows are open to people of all ages, but only of-ages guests are granted access to the bar.

Fitzgerald’s
2706 White Oak Drive
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 862-3838
www.fitzlivemusic.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fitzgeralds-houston

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Edsel L

Uchi offers elegant, modern fare in an atmosphere that works well for everything from a romantic date to a business dinner with new clients. This central Houston restaurant is inspired by Japanese flavors and techniques, though it serves seafood from around the globe in a series of small, shareable dishes.

You'll find traditional sushi and sashimi, like sea eel with orange and ginger or salmon belly with ikura, but you'll also find a number of unique options, like the "ham and eggs" sushi roll, which combines katsu pork belly with an egg yolk custard and espelette. Other menu items include things like smoked duck confit served with endives and bacon and tempura fried cauliflower, and regulars say you shouldn’t miss the crispy Brussels sprouts served with a squeeze of lemon chili. Finally, you should know that this place is popular and fills up during peak hours, so making a reservation is definitely the way to go.

Uchi
904 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-4808
www.uchirestaurants.com/houston
www.yelp.com/biz/uchi-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Samson Loo