No Eggs, No Problem: 7 Plant-Based Takes on Eggs Benedict

There are a few legends around the creation of eggs Benedict. Some believe the dish was first invented in a Manhattan restaurant called Delmonico’s back in the 1860s, while others attribute its invention to the area’s luxurious Waldorf Hotel. Either way, eggs Benedict have remained a brunch favorite over the decades.

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On average, Americans eat nearly 300 eggs per year, and while many of those will be scrambled or sunny side up, eggs Benedict are a popular choice for plenty of people. The dish usually consists of toasted English muffins and poached eggs, which are served with bacon or ham and a generous drizzle of hollandaise sauce. The traditional recipe is far from plant-based, but with a few ingredient changes, it is possible to make a delicious vegan version of eggs Benedict. Find out exactly how below.

What are vegan eggs Benedict made of?

Eggs Benedict usually start with a base of toasted English muffins (but there are no real rules, you can also opt for bagels or sourdough if you prefer). While English muffins are often made with milk or butter, it is possible to find dairy-free options on the shelves. Erewhon’s Organic English Muffins are vegan, for example, as are theseDave’s Killer Bread Classic English Muffins.

Eat Just

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Next up, you’ll need to swap out the poached eggs. Tofu is a popular alternative, but you can also opt for one of the many vegan options from brands like Yo Egg and Just Egg, too. Instead of ham or bacon, tempeh or eggplant are great whole-food alternatives (find out more about those in the recipes below!), or you can check out vegan meat options. Finally, for an authentic eggs Benedict recipe, you need hollandaise sauce. It’s easy to make from scratch with ingredients like dairy-free milk, flour, lemon juice, and mustard.

7 vegan eggs benedict recipes

Lauren Toyota

1 Vegan Crispy Tofu Benedict With Hollandaise

Taken from the Hot for Food Comfort Classics cookbook, this super tasty take on eggs Benedict swaps out the egg for a tofu patty, which is seasoned with black pepper, smoked paprika, and salt. To finish, the velvety hollandaise sauce—which is made with a base of blanched almonds—is poured over the tofu, English muffins, and a stack of baby spinach and vine tomatoes.
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The Ravens

2 4-Step Vegan Portabello Benedict

Not all vegan eggs Benedict recipes need to be made with tofu. If you prefer, you can also make a satisfying umami-rich version of the brunch classic with marinated mushrooms, just like this delicious meatless, egg-free recipe from The Stanford Inn (a top vegan hotel in California) demonstrates.
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3 Vegan Eggs Benedict With Smoky Tofu

This delicious, plant-based take on the brunch favorite combines smoky tofu, fried tomato, and spinach on toasted vegan English muffins. The final essential component of the dish is, of course, the creamy hollandaise sauce, which is made with a combination of ingredients like almond milk, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, and a splash of dry white wine.
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Tasty Thrifty Timely

4 Vegan Eggs Benedict With Tempeh Bacon

If you like the meaty texture that bacon brings to eggs Benedict, consider swapping in some marinated tempeh instead. This recipe from Tasty Thrifty Timely will show you how to combine ingredients like tamari, vegan Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and maple syrup to create all the flavors of Canadian bacon.
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Minimalist Baker

5 Vegan Eggs Benedict With Avocado

Avocado toast lovers will enjoy this simple whole-food take on vegan eggs Benedict from Minimalist Baker. It combines avocado, red onions, and tomatoes with creamy homemade hollandaise to make a delicious brunch that is guaranteed to become your new weekend favorite.
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Zucker & Jagdwurst

6 Vegan Eggs Benedict With Eggplant Bacon

Eggplant is an incredibly versatile whole-food ingredient. It can be roasted, fried, baked, and even made into bacon for vegan eggs Benedict, just like this tasty recipe from Zucker & Jagdwurst demonstrates. It’s combined with a delicious plant-based egg, which is made with a mix of ingredients like silken tofu, cream, chickpea flour, and kala namak (which brings that signature sulfurous egg-like taste).
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Eating Figs Not Pigs

7 Vegan Eggs Benedict With Fried Tomato and Hollandaise

Crispy breadcrumb-coated fried tomatoes bring a delicious texture to this vegan recipe from Eat Figs Not Pigs. They’re extra tasty when combined with ingredients like vegan hollandaise, firm tofu, and meatless deli slices. In fact, once you’ve tried this dish, we can almost guarantee you’ll want to add fried tomatoes to every future brunch recipe.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.