Eating vegan has become the lifestyle choice for millions of people globally. Most people fear trying or cooking vegan food. They seem to think it’s too bland or too much effort to prepare. Whether you’re a committed vegan or trying to incorporate some vegan meals into your weekly menu, plenty of quick and delicious vegan recipes for breakfasts, lunches, or dinners will have family and friends returning for more.
These easy vegan recipes prove that meatless substitutes can have the same mouthwatering results, thanks to their nutritional value and the inclusion of delicious herbs and spices.
Easy Vegan Recipes: Delicious plant-based meals for every occasion
Around the year, there is no shortage of occasions to unite people around dining room tables. Finding easy vegan recipes that will please even your most eclectic guests is not always easy unless you have a huge collection of vegan recipes.
One of the best places to find delicious plant-based meals for every occasion is Veganuary, where you can find various menu options. Put together a menu from their breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, or dessert options, creating the perfect menu for your special occasion. Some favorites include the Christmas Savory Roulade, the Vegan Prawn Cocktail, and Shamembert Tofu Quiche.
They even have the most delicious vegan cocktail recipes to match your occasion, whether a Valentine’s dinner for two or a family get-together for Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, or Grandma’s 80th.
Vegan Dinner Ideas: Quick and tasty meals for a satisfying dinner
Vegan food can be satisfying because several plant-based ingredients provide a high protein content to satisfy your hunger at dinner time.
Some classics packed with plant-based protein that are quick and tasty include bean soups or curries. You can also use chickpeas to recreate these delicious and satisfying dinner options. Other options for a filling dinner include Shepherd’s Pie and Falafal burgers.
Another favorite for dinner in most households is Vegetarian Chili. Here’s a recipe you can reproduce using beans. If desired, you can add about half a cup of dry quinoa to add a meaty texture to the recipe.
Vegetarian Chili
Ingredients:
- Two tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- One chopped medium red onion
- One chopped red bell pepper
- Two chopped carrots
- Twochopped celery sticks
- Four minced garlic cloves
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Chili powder to taste
- Two t. ground cumin
- One t. each of smoked paprika and dried oregano
- One bay leaf
- One large can of diced tomatoes with their juices
- One 15-ounce can each of pinto and one of black beans black beans, rinsed and drained
- About 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- Two T. chopped cilantro
- About 2 T. lime juice or red wine vinegar
Garnishes:
- Chopped cilantro
- Jalapenos
- Sliced avocado
- Vegan sour cream
- Crushed tortilla chips
Instruction:
- In a saucepan and on medium heat, place the olive oil. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, carrot, celery, and some salt when heated slightly. Stir occasionally for about 10 minutes or until the onion and vegetables are glazed nicely.
- Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano. Stir in and cook for one minute to release the fragrances.
- Add the tomatoes and their juices, drained black beans, and pinto beans.
- Add the vegetable broth and bay leaf.
- Stir to combine the ingredients, bringing the pot to a simmer.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Reduce the heat if necessary to allow a gentle simmer, and cook for about thirty minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Discard the bay leaf and add the chopped cilantro and lime juice.
- Serve with the toppings.
Best Vegan Recipes: Tried and tested dishes that will impress everyone
Award-winning husband and wife team Sonja and Alex Overhiser continue to advocate the importance of eating healthy, sustainable foods with minimal effort but maximized flavor.
They mainly eat plant-based foods prepared from scratch. On their website, A Couple Cooks, you will find many of their tried-and-tested original recipes that will impress everyone. You can browse for recipe ideas or look through their recipe collections like Vegan Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Soup, Side Dish Recipes, etc.
You can also pick up hints on cooking broccoli perfectly in the microwave, pickling green tomatoes, and making clear ice.
Some of their excellent and easy vegan recipes that usually impress almost everyone include Vegan Broccoli Soup, Cauliflower Stir Fry, Vegan Bean Enchiladas, Creamy vegan Mushroom Soup, and Peanut Noodles.
Easy Vegan Meals: Simple and nutritious options for a balanced diet
It’s critical to eat nutritionally balanced foods on a plant-based diet. Look for well-balanced recipes to ensure the ideal ratio of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains (50%, 25%, and 25%). Its fat content must also not exceed 10%.
The best plant-based protein sources come from legumes, pulses, and nuts. Tofu is an incredible protein source; half a cup contains 21.8 g.
You can achieve this in summer with refreshing salads and oven bakes, while in colder weather with stews and one-pot meals.
Therefore, some of the best meal options for a balanced diet include hearty lentil soups, roasted stuffed acorn squash using legumes, pulses, nuts, herbs, and this easy vegan eggs benedict.
Vegan Eggs Benedict
Ingredients:
- Two slices of toasted sandwich bread
- 1 tsp oil
- 2 chopped green onions. Keep the green part aside for garnish
- 1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 t. dried thyme
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup chopped spinach
- ½ cup chopped bell peppers
Vegan egg mix
- 7 oz soft or firm tofu
- 1 t. flour
- 1/4 t. dried thyme
- 1/8 t. salt and ¼ t black salt
- 1/4 t. turmeric
- 1/8 t. each baking powder and ground mustard
- 1/2 cup water
Vegan hollandaise
- 1 t. vegan butter
- 2 t. all-purpose flour
- 2 t. nutritional yeast
- 1/4 t. turmeric
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 t. black salt (used in vegan cooking for its umami flavor)
Instructions
- Chop the toasted bread and set aside.
- Spread the oil to an 8×7 inch baking dish
- Add mushrooms, onions, thyme, and salt, toss well, and bake in a heated oven at 350 degrees F for 6-8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the egg mix by blending all the ingredients until smooth.
- Remove the dish from the oven to add the bread, spinach, and peppers, and drizzle the egg sauce on top.
- Lightly toss the ingredients to coat and even out with a knife or spatula.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the mixture has set in the middle.
- Garnish with the reserved green onions.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving (the time required to make the hollandaise sauce).
Make the hollandaise sauce:
Mix all the ingredients over medium heat in a small saucepan, whisking well to incorporate the flour. When the mixture thickens, pour over the casserole dish and serve the vegan eggs benedict.
Makes four servings.
Vegan Meal Ideas: Creative and flavorful suggestions for all taste buds
Creating colorful and flavorsome vegan meals that satisfy all taste buds is easier than you think. Combining meatless substitutes in the right combination with your favorite herbs and spices requires a bit of creativity.
There are countless products to incorporate into dishes, including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, that you can use to make mains, sides, and delicious desserts that will have everyone asking for a second serving.
However, it is hard to get that creativity flowing if you are new at this. Start by following recipes to ensure you get the right quantities and tastiest mix of vegan ingredients. With time, you will master the art of creating easy vegan recipes for your meal ideas.
Good Housekeeping is an excellent place to start if you want ideas to create vegan meal plans. In no time, you will probably want to start experimenting with ideas inspired by vegan ingredients you like or are easier to find near you. For example, their delicious pumpkin risotto can quickly become a versatile spring vegetable risotto if you substitute the pumpkin and sage with the fresh flavors of asparagus, peas, and mint.
Quick and Easy Vegan Meals: Time-saving recipes for busy individuals
One of the great things about preparing vegan food is that most ingredients don’t require a long cooking time. You can substitute with canned varieties to reduce your cooking time for recipes requiring ingredients like beans and pulses that need to cook longer.
Usually, bakes require more prep work than curries, stews, or soups, but you will find that it’s quite easy to come up with a delicious meal in half an hour or less if needed. Salads and stir fries are examples of time-saving foods.
Here’s a pizza base that takes only 10 minutes to prepare, allowing you to have a vegan pizza ready in 30 minutes.
Flatbread Pizza Dough (Servings: 2)
Get your oven on to 400 degrees F to preheat it as you prepare the flatbread dough.
Ingredients:
- 250 ml plain vegan yogurt
- 250 ml spelt flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- Salt
Instruction:
- Mix all the ingredients for the dough in a large bowl until the dough forms. Add more flour if it feels too wet to get the right consistency.
- Roll it into a pizza shape on a lightly floured surface and transfer to a non-stick or lined baking tray.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- While the base is baking, prepare your toppings.
- Remove and spread your favorite pizza sauce over the base. Add your other ingredients and bake for a further 10 minutes.
- Remove the pizza and add your favorite cheese sauce and other ingredients you want to keep fresh, like arugula or avocado.
- Your pizza is ready to enjoy.
Healthy Vegan Dinner Ideas: Nutritious and delicious options for a well-rounded meal
Plant-based food can also be unhealthy if you prefer to serve deep-fried foods. However, if you want easy vegan recipes for healthy dinners, there are several online places to get ideas.
Love and Lemons is a hard-working team known for its feel-good food recipes that are healthy and nutritious. Some of that you must try for well-rounded dinner options include their scrumptious Spaghetti Bolognese, an all-time vegan winner, and the Best Veggie Burger that’s grillable. Place the burger in a bun, satisfying even the most fussy eaters in your home.
Vegan Dish Ideas: Exciting and satisfying plant-based dishes to try at home
Finding the vegan version of some all-time favorites can often be a mission to please picky eaters. Whether you are going to make soup, a stir fry, a vegan bowl, a pizza, some tortillas, a salad, or a deeply satisfying shepherd’s pie, there are some essential things that you must think about if you want it to be exciting and satisfying.
Consider Nutrition
Nutrition is essential when preparing any meal. You want your food to be tasty and satisfying.
Protein is more critical than starch to create a satisfying meal. Some options include vegan processed foods like chicken nuggets, sausages, and burgers. Even though these contain vegan ingredients like potato or pea proteins, they are very processed and not ideal for daily intake.
You can create balance by adding proteins like beans, lentils, tofu, edamame, seeds, and nuts to help you create balanced dishes. Aim to fill at least 30% of your plate with these. This way, you will get your fill of proteins plus other nutrients like fiber and minerals.
Fat and fiber also play a role in helping keep you full for longer. Vegan fats help absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. The more calories added to a meal, the longer you will feel satisfied and the more energy you will have.
Provide texture
When creating vegan dishes, try to add layers of texture to create excitement for your meal. Therefore, you want to add some chewiness, bite, and creaminess. Various ingredients can help you incorporate textures into dishes. These include filled dumplings, crispy vegetables, nuts, seeds, deep-fried tofu skin, and pickles. Remember that if you want to add nuts and seeds for texture, toasting them for a bit provides more flavor.
Lentils and extra firm tofu can add chewiness to food that many people miss when becoming vegans.
Emphasize the flavor
Adding flavor to vegan foods is not tricky. You can use marinades, sauces, and dips to give plant-based ingredients flavors similar to those of meat-based foods you were eating before.
You can add flavor depth and umami by using spices, too. Even ingredients like Marmite can enhance the flavor, and it’s vegan. For example, smoked paprika can add a smoky flavor to foods, and dried mushrooms greatly contribute to the chewiness and flavor of dishes.
Use these principles when preparing plant-based recipes for an exciting and satisfying meal every time.
Vegan Cooking Made Simple: Essential Tips and Tricks for Effortless Plant-Based Meals
Transitioning to or maintaining a vegan diet can seem daunting at first. However, with a few clever tips and strategies, you’ll find that whipping delicious vegan meals is easy and incredibly satisfying. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan chef or just starting, these pointers are designed to simplify your cooking process and add more flavor and nutrition to your meals.
- Stocking Your Vegan Pantry: The key to effortless vegan cooking begins with your pantry. Ensure you’re well-equipped with staples like beans, lentils, quinoa, brown rice, nuts, seeds, and various spices and herbs. These ingredients are nutritious and versatile, forming the base for countless recipes.
- Efficient Meal Planning: Planning your meals ahead of time can be a game-changer. It helps manage your grocery shopping more effectively, ensuring you have everything you need for the week. Plus, it takes the guesswork out of what to cook daily, saving time and reducing stress.
- The Magic of Batch Cooking: Preparing larger quantities of meals like soups, stews, and casseroles can be convenient and delicious, especially during busy weeks.
- Mastering Vegan Substitutes: Familiarize yourself with vegan substitutes for traditional animal products. Nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor, flaxseeds or chia seeds for egg binding, and plant-based milk can transform any dish into a vegan delight.
- Simple, Yet Effective Cooking Techniques: Embrace techniques instrumental in vegan cooking. Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sweetness while blending soaked cashews can create a creamy sauce base. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
In Conclusion: Remember, vegan cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. With these straightforward tips and a little planning, you can create nutritious, delicious, and satisfying meals that will please vegans and non-vegans alike. Happy cooking!
