Chicago’s deep dish or New York thin slice pizza — for ages, people have argued over which pizza is better. The Chicago style lovers cherish the cheesy, saucy deep pan. Meanwhile, New Yorkers fold slices and eat on the go. But there is a third option: Detroit-style pizza. In 2017, SmartAsset named Detroit the number one city in the U.S. for pizza lovers, which made us wonder: What other foods from Detroit are worth trying? Can we create some of these dishes plant-based?

The wonderful thing is that we can! In other words, with a good bit of creative energy, anything goes vegan. Detroit has an array of good eats for any palate, whether dining out at Detroit Vegan Soul or cooking some great food at home. Below are four classic Detroit-style foods along with their plant-based variations, so that you can enjoy them regardless of your location.

1.      The Iconic Detroit-Style Pizza

What is Detroit-style pizza? A pizza that is rectangular, thick-crusted, baked in a pan, with cheese laid all the way to the edges, and tomato sauce on top. Yes, you read it right — sauce goes on last!

For making it vegan, begin with your favorite Sicilian-style pizza dough, or learn How to Make a Yeast-Free Pizza Crust! Press the dough into an olive oil-brushed rectangular pan.

Then comes a thick layer of vegan cheese. Go wild! After all, a typical Detroit pizza packs on quite a hefty amount of fatty cheese. Make this Cashew Mozzarella That Melts, or sprinkle some Raw Parmesan Shards for an extra punch. Bake at 450°F for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly. Pour tomato sauce on top after baking. Feel free to use this: The Only Tomato Sauce You’ll Ever Need.

2.      The Coney Dog

In Detroit, the Coney Dog is a plain hot dog with chili with no beans, onions, and mustard. It tastes wonderful, bold, and a little bit messy, for the adventurous eater.

For a plant-based take, start with Homemade Seitan Hot Dogs. If you want to get creative, go for Carrot Hot Dogs! Finish by smothering your awesome Vegan Chili, chopped raw onions, and mustard stripes. You can even take a step further and Check out How to Make Your Own Magnificent Mustards!

3. Greek Food

Though Detroit was founded with French influence, Greek food is also a presence in its culture. There's even a neighborhood called Greektown downtown.

If you're daring for more cheese after pizza, go for this Labneh: Greek Cheese Spread with Homemade Pita Bread. It's smooth, tangy, and delicious for dips or on toast. You can also roll them into balls, cover them with herbs, and preserve them in olive oil.

Also worth a go: Vegan Greek Keftedes - plant-based meatballs with fries and salad. They're especially popular at parties, where they go by the name Keftedakia when served in small quantities.

And you simply cannot skip dessert. Baklava for Beginners: sweet, simple, and with a total prep time of fewer than 30 minutes. It avoids the tricky filo sheets — it uses just a few easy ingredients and loads of flavor.

4.      Corned Beef Anything

As USA Today wrote: “Detroit comes as close to corned-beef-sandwich heaven as any place in America.”. But to get that truly satisfying flavor, a person need not have meat.

Try out Mayim Bialik's Reuben Sandwich. It has loads of flavor and texture with veggie bacon, sauerkraut, and onions seasoned just right. And grilled rye bread takes it to the next level.

Need to spice things up? Try Sweet Potato Reuben Sandwich or the Best Beet Reuben. Both equally loaded with colors, healthy, and craving-worthy.

And for more ideas, check out: Forget Cold Cuts – These 15 Veggie Sandwiches are Warm and Delicious.

If this article has made you curious about other vegan pizzas across the States, venture onto The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Pizzerias in America:

Learn to Cook Delicious Plant-Based Food at Home

These are just a few reasons to eat more plant based food: reducing inflammation, improving heart health, supporting mental well-being, boosting fitness, supporting digestion, and allergy relief. Also, lowering dairy in your diet increases the prevention factor for acne, hormonal imbalance, and even a few cancers. Need help getting started? Explore the Food Monster App with over 20,000 plant-based recipes, it is the largest resource of its kind!

Visit onegreenplanet.org and download the Food Monster App!