Veganuary 2025

[kikisparks]

A thread for anyone doing this who might need any help or tips 😊 I’m already vegan but happy to offer suggestions or support if anyone wants it!

This is the kind of recipe inspiration I'm here for - quick, easy, healthy, delicious! May even make it today with lentils swapped for butter beans amd honey for maple syrup if needed. Sounds like it'd make a good chunky soup too.

Hey all can I join please ? Was vegetarian for years then turned vegan in lockdown but I'm the worst cook so tend to stick to the boring safe route of salads and veg , vegan fake alternatives , I only started with nutritional yeast last year and love that. My daughter is a meat eater well all the kids are so I'm the only non but it's only me and her who live together so I don't need up making big meals for myself to freeze which I should.
I've never managed to make a lentil cottage pie or bolognaise etc I tend to aim too then not so gonna try more this year

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I don't know why I hadn't thought of tinned lentils as that would work so well for me being the only vegan
Thanks for posting

Anyone have any tips on tofu please.
I have never used it, does it have to be squeezed dry? I see it roasted and baked and it looks delicious!

Ah sounds good, I don’t use honey but I know maple syrup is a good vegan sub 😊 and I’m not a fan of onion but could try without.

Well done going back to the gym! I’ve put on some Christmas weight too, not sure how much but definitely need to eat less and move more now!

You are very welcome 😊 I am not a good cook at all but the shepherds pie and bolognese type meals I can manage so I am certain you can as well.

Soups can be great to batch cook and freeze too!

There are a few different brands and I find Cauldron needs to be squeezed but Tofoo is already about as firm as it gets! There’s also silken tofu but that’s totally different and cannot be squeezed, that is better used in different ways.

One thing with tofu is it has no real taste so it’s all about what you marinate/ flavour it with!

I've eaten loads today. Not missing anything non vegan though so must be good stuff! And can't beat crunchy peanut butter bagel for breakfast!

Had a alpro vanilla milk and banana smoothie with Creatine powder after gym (where normally I'd have a Kit Kat). One of my goals is to eat healthier so that's a win. Also put seed bread on online shopping rather than white.

Having just typed this out and now going to check that Creatine powder is vegan. Hadn't even considered that

Go you! My healthy food has failed as I’ve snacked on “cheese” and crackers and popcorn 🙈 need to get this snacky stuff out of the house!

My DH has vegan creatine powder so it’s definitely available.

I actually prefer it with butterbeans, but nobody else likes them!

Maybe add leeks instead of onion?

I don’t like leeks, shallots, chives or spring onion 😬 I’m a pain I know! I am quite happy with things bland though.

Had a sweet and sour tofu dish tonight which I enjoyed, just used a jar sauce for it but that’s still much better than I have been doing over the festive period! DD ate the rice noodles and corn but no tofu, but she had a soya yoghurt and they have decent protein.

Also my colleague at work says she’s trying to go vegan and we had a nice chat about different recipes 😊

lol - I think it would survive without them! Could add diced courgette/diced sweet potato- I made it up, so you could easily make up a different version of it!



There were so many amazing goodies in Aldi today. I got some tofu, vegan Parmesan and yoghurt but couldn't easily got a lot more!

I found frickles 🤩

Didn't make it to the gym, so much for good intentions 😆

I also made... something! Inspired by the recipe upthread. I've called it "chunky vegetable soup" because if I call it lentil and bean stew my husband won't touch it. Basically consisted of the sad contents of the veg drawer - onion, leek, garlic, various root vegetables, cooked in stock and passata with a tin of tomatoes, tin of lentils and tin of cannelini beans with a random assortment of vaguely italian-esque herbs. Just about to have some for dinner

@kikisparks thank you :) I do love chunky soup ! I haven't been to aldi yet to look at their vegan range but I also don't want to find something I like and then it disappear in February!
I've only ever used the scrambled "egg" version of tofu before I just have no idea how to use it normally

That sounds amazing!
I normally just nuke those hot dogs in the microwave I never add them to actual recipes 😅 !
They're £1.50 a box in Asda at the minute too so I have plenty in :D

Sainsbury's have some fun vegan sandwiches (not sure if new/old hardly ever but lunch)

I'm having hoisin no duck. Yummy!

Don't want be a party pooper and may have missed comments but honey isn't vegan

I just made a soup / stew over the weekend with red onion, leeks, carrots, quartered new pots, sautéed then add in vegan bouillon and pouch of lentils and can of butter beans and simmer for a while. But if wine vinegar and bouquet garni. Salt and pepper. Was delish and the next day was almost like a hotpot it was so tasty

Honey?

That sounds amazing I was thinking of getting the slow cooker out and making something similar at the weekend.

I just cubed and fried some up yesterday so it went golden and crispy on two of the sides then added it to my sweet and sour sauce for the stir fry.