Inspire me with your veggie or vegan meal ideas

[themusingsofaninsomniac]

I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, but often do Veganuary to try new recipes out of my comfort zone and try to find things we love that don't have meat as the focus.

My partner is (was) the type who didn't think food was worth eating without meat involved but he's really enjoyed some of the things I've made in the past. I made a really lovely cashew mac and cheese that I can't find the recipe for the life of me!

I'm going to do it again this year but not making it strict vegan (he struggled mostly with no eggs and the fake cheese so will probably use the regular stuff), so aiming for a mix of vegetarian and vegan meals.

Please send any recommendations my way as I'm at a bit of a mind blank and stupidly didn't save any of the things I made before so have forgot most of them..

Thank you!

We had amazing butternut squash and lentil wellington last night. Roast the squash with lots of olive oil and garlic. Scoop out and semi mash. Stir in a tin of lentils, sautéed onion and garlic, chopped cranberries and apricots and seasoning. Use as a filling in shop bought puff pastry. Really good.

Check out the Gousto websites veggie/plant based sections for recipe inspiration!
I really love The Happy Pear's 5 minute chickpea curry and their brazillian feijoada - recipies are available online 😀

Veggie - I really like a flatbread covered in salad, sweet chilli sauce and a bit of Mayo, grilled halloumi, peppers and falafels

Vegan food wise - can't beat a vegetable curry (my favourite is butternut squash, chickpeas and spinach)

Now I'm hungry!

The rukmini iyer roasting tin book the green one is very good - several of her recipes are online as well

They made something like this in the John torode and his wife's programme at the weekend, planning on making it for Christmas Day!

We eat vegan dinners quite a lot, although neither of us are ( I'm dairy free and daughter is vegetarian). Some dinners on our rotation are: spag bol (Vege mince or lentils), sweet and sour Quorn, cottage pie, bean chilli, chickpea curry, daal curry, duck burritos (Linda McCartney hoi sin duck pieces), sausage casserole, burgers, pizza, Quorn tikka masala, tofu stir fry, mince and onion pie (or pukka / pieminster if I'm feeling lazy or they are on offer!), thai green veg curry. Pasta bake tonight!

Lots of Indian food is vegetarian/ vegan. You can try smoky aubergine (roast it on a flame or in the oven) remove the skin, then in a pan add oil , cumin , diced onion, diced tomatoes, garlic and ginger and cook. Add the smoky aubergine and spices (turmeric, red chilli (according to your preference) , raw mango powder and coriander powder. Should take no more than 15-20 minutes

Have a look at Bosh and Max La Manna online. Great ideas. Also Meera Sodha does some great vegan/veggie meals.