About Olives for Dinner
Hi, I’m Erin and this is Jeff. Welcome to Olives for Dinner—a vegan recipe site for people who love to cook and eat. I started this space in 2011 to capture my kitchen experiments and it’s grown into a collection of plant-based recipes and cooking guides that show how fresh, creative, and satisfying vegan food can be.
I live outside of Boston with my husband Jeff, who photographs everything you see here, and our rescue dog, Harper. I’m drawn to the savory side of vegan cooking—seared or crispy tofu with a great sauce, quick focaccia, mushrooms that bring on bold umami, easy, creative sushi, cozy comfort classics, and vegan seafood made from plants.
Our work has appeared in VegNews, Vegetarian Times, HuffPost, Bon Appétit, Harper’s Bazaar, and more.
I’m also a graduate of Rouxbe Cooking School (2015).
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What You’ll Find Here
Tofu
Crispy, saucy, marinated, or air-fried—this is where tofu actually tastes good. Our Mapo Tofu, Vegan Tikka Masala, and Crispy Fried Tofu are great options! Learn how to press, brown, and glaze it for maximum texture.
Mushrooms
From oyster to shiitake to king oyster, mushrooms bring richness and a savory quality to vegan cooking. Each variety is unique, and exploring those possibilities is half the fun. Start with our Shiitake Bacon and Oyster Mushroom Tacos.
Vegan Umami
Savory, rich, and a little unexpected. Built from miso, tamari, and slow browning. Start with Tempeh Bacon or a clean Miso Soup—simple moves, big depth.
Vegan Seafood
Hearts of palm crab cakes, silky carrot lox, and vegan sushi rolls built for real texture and flavor. Start with our Vegan Seafood Guide and Vegan Fish and Chips and see how many possibilities you can make.
More Olives for Dinner Favorites
recipes and articles to savor
Every recipe on Olives for Dinner starts from a place of curiosity.
New ways to combine flavors, develop textures, deepen umami, or brighten and balance. Although our recipes are diverse, the goal has always been the same: to make vegan cooking and food feel satisfying and fun—not restrictive.
Jeff brings that same curiosity through his own unique lens and perspective. His photography brings textures and colors alive—transforming them into a visual feast. Together, we try to capture what makes good food worth slowing down for: the right technique, good ingredients, and a little mess along the way.
Beyond the Blog
When I’m not testing recipes or styling food photos with Jeff, life is slow and quiet. You can find me walking through the woods with Harper, listening to music, a podcast, or an audiobook. I’m happiest when I’m outside, in the kitchen, or discovering a new vegan restaurant in Boston with Jeff.
Olives for Dinner has always been more than just a recipe site—it’s an always-evolving space to experiment and connect with others through food. If you’d like to stay in touch, feel free to reach out to say hi or sign up for our weekly newsletter below.
Hi Erin,
I work for a publisher and we are releasing a new cookbook by Nava Atlas called Vegan Soups and Stews for All Seasons. Would you be interested in mentioning her new release or posting a recipe?
I can send more information and a pdf or mail a copy if interested.
Thanks,
Rita
Are you, by chance, creating a cookbook? I love being able to peruse a book and have the recipes on a more reliable basis
Thanks
My culinary journey is nearly identical to yours! The first time I ate tofu it was so bland and repugnant, that I felt like it was an insult to my taste buds. Now, I am a chef and create unique vegan food with an Italian-Hispanic- Middle Easten flare. I’ve found that since having gone vegan that I eat/create/serve/share far more interesting and unique foods in comparison to the standard American fare. Your insight and recipes (which I admittedly have never followed to the letter) have provided endless amounts of inspiration and excitement. I thoroughly enjoy your perspective, taste and beautiful food porn! Thank you for doing what you do. If you’re ever in Orange County, California, I’d love to work with you to create something truly unique and memorable. Cheers!
Betty, thanks for your comment! I love hearing that you also don’t follow recipes to the letter (I find I enjoy cooking the most when I’m not forced to write every step and measurement down, or follow exact steps either) and I love that it’s provided inspiration to you. We were recently in California (South Bay) for 3 years, but moved back to Boston half a year ago. I definitely miss the food scene and people there — the vegan food options were insane there!
HI Erin,
I read quite a few food blogs but yours is by far the most gourmet. I get excited every time I see your email. I too stopped eating animals because of the utter cruelty they face every single day. All the more reason I so enjoy your recipes.
Thank you for always sharing!
Erin I am trying to email you with the address online but it is not working. This is Lauren from the Fillo Factory. Can you email me and I’ll respond? Thanks!
Hi Erin,
My husband and I are just started our Vegan Journey. Your blog is just what we were looking for. We have so many questions and I have found many answers on your blog. If you can recommend the basics for our pantry that would be very helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comment — I’m so happy to hear that! Check out this post: https://olivesfordinner.com/vegan-grocery-list-pantry-essentials/
I love this! I became a vegan purely for ethical reasons, and whenever searching for vegan recipes I am frustrated by the fact they are so often gluten free, oil free, or in some other way trying to be healthy. Also, I love(d) the taste of animal products and am always looking for ways to make mock versions of them. That’s why I am so excited about your blog. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Erin, I stumbled on your website as I was completing my Plant Based Diet through Rouxbe! I was so fortunate to win 3 of their courses by playing Monopoly at Safeway. They had 3 to try so I did Knife Skills, Plant Based & Cook’s Roadmap .On the Cook’s Roadmap, I just have the last 4 course dinner to prepare, but I am still in the process of remodeling our Kitchen/house so I am waiting until I can use my kitchen in it’s entirety! I absolutely love the Rouxbe classes & the structure as well. I am on task #170 of the Plant Based Diet with only 4 more tasks to complete. Congratulations on them waiving their fee for your blog & your husband does amazing photography!
Hi! I JUST now found your site! So happy 🙂 I was searching for a Ramen recipe (I’ve never made it before) and stumbled here.
I have just (barely) started a blog/website but I still have no idea what I am doing- it’s all new to me and I’m not really sure why I am doing it… kinda fun and I love food and drink I suppose.
I plan on trying out lots of your recipes!
I wish my husband was the photographer too.. instead, he bought me a camera haha
Cheers!
I have been following you on Instagram, and today I decided to investigate you more. What a lovely surprise! Thank you for your immense creativity as well as your generous sharing!
Marian,
Thanks for visiting and your very kind comment … I’m so happy that you like what you see!
Thank you for sharing your story! Your path into a vegan diet and cooking is truly inspiring.
I can't believe I'm only just now discovering your incredible blog. Your dishes have an exotic and soulful appeal that are right up my alley. Thank you for all the food for thought as I conceptualize my own blog in the works!
Glad you like … and good luck with your blog!
I LOVE your blog. Thank you for keeping it open for anyone to read.
Thanks for visiting!
I just stumbled on your site via vegansaurus and omg – I am in love!!!
Your story is very similar to mine and now I find myself with a real love and passion for cooking. My husband used to be an avid meat and cheese person and now, as a (ethical) vegan, he actually likes food more (a good extra 20 pounds and everyday excitement for dinner can attest to that).
After bookmarking a few recipes, I'm beyond excited to (ambitious goal coming) try everything you've posted. Love the layout, love the feel here!
1st up? Seitan Roulade, here I come…
Thanks for your kind words — nice to "meet" you! I hope you and your husband enjoy the recipes!
Thank you for sharing your story and your journey with us. My whole family are now very well fed vegans with a lot of help from you, the beautiful pictures and your recipes.
I love to hear that, thank you so much!!
Thank you SO much for bringing wonderful photographs and vegan cuisine to all of us vegans who believe as you do that vegan cuisine need not be boring. I also love taking classic meals and veganizing them. Wonderful! Appreciate you so much. Please keep it up. Thanks also for the information on properly pressing tofu..
Thank you for your very kind words, Gregory!
I love your story, Erin! You and Jeff make an awesome pair, and I am so, so grateful to have met you!
Thank you Jackie! We miss you! xo
Thank you, made my day even better than it already was :-)And yes you inspire me and I would think so many others!
Deborah, thanks for your very kind comment—it made my day!
I agree with and love everything about this entry except that a vegan diet isn't for everyone. I think it is! Everyone can come to reject speciesism and live in a way that causes minimal harm to others.:-)
I just found your blog, and your story about your omniverous husband and you as a vegan sounds EXACTLY like my household. On the bright side, I find that my husband is my primary indicator of how good something is – if he's willing to eat my vegan dish instead of meat or fish, it's a go :-). I look forward to reading more!
What a wonderful story! And I have to say you've been absolutely successful at bringing us the most delicious looking food I've seen! Of the recipes I've tried out, they have all been fantastic, and they're all things I now keep on hand whenever I need to brighten up my mealplan!
Thanks so much for your kind words and feedback … glad the site has been useful to you! : )
Glad I found you!