You know you've got a plant-based diet down to a T when most of your dishes are packed full of color, you are feeling energetic, and you look forward to whipping up delicious healthy options in the kitchen. Regardless of your taste, we are here to inspire your next homemade plant-based dish, and there are plenty more where these come from.
So, how can I get the best out of my vegan diet? We are glad you asked because the first step is to know about plant-based foods, what they are, what benefits they carry, and of course, the creative recipes you can conjure up in the kitchen, which will make eating vegan food exhilarating.
Vegan food – Plant-based ingredients to indulge in
A plant-based diet is ideal to ensure you are eating the healthiest vegan food while decreasing the amount of saturated fat, sodium, sugar, and cholesterol, which is generally much higher for carnivores. In turn, these foods will help to decrease and prevent inflammation, which we all know is the root cause of many diseases and illnesses. There are many benefits to eating this type of vegan food. One of the best things is that once you familiarize yourself with the variety of ingredients, you can create an expansive menu of exciting, colorful, and tasty food.
Plant-based foods include:
- Fruit and vegetables – The recommended daily amount is five per day, but the more, the better.
- Legumes – Peas, beans, chickpeas, and lentils which are an excellent source of nutrients and are fantastic vegan food for creating hearty dishes
- Nuts & Seeds – Unroasted nuts provide a range of minerals, vitamins, and fiber, while hemp, chia, and flaxseeds are the best seeds for omega-3 fatty acids and protein
- Healthy fats like olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil (in moderation)
- Tofu, tempeh, and seitan – This protein-rich vegan food is an ideal alternative to meat and can be used for scrambled eggs, meatballs, burgers, etc.
- Calcium-fortified vegan milk products – Calcium and B12 are low in vegan diets, so always opt for vegan food which has fortified calcium and B12, both of which are essential to staying healthy
- Wholegrains & cereals are excellent sources of fiber, carbs, iron, and a host of vitamins. Examples include quinoa, spelt, amaranth, and teff
- Fermented & Sprouted plants – These are the best form to ensure you absorb minerals as best you can. Examples of vegan food in this category are kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, pickles, and kombucha
So, now that you know why plant-based vegan food is good for your health, it's time to get some inspiration for cooking up some authentic vegan food recipes in the kitchen.
7 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes – Vegan food never tasted so good
- Artichoke & Sundried Tomato Pasta
Ingredients you will need:
- One box of whole grain bow tie pasta
- Three cloves of diced garlic
- Two tbs of high-quality olive oil
- Half of a red pepper
- 3/4 cup sundried tomatoes in oil
- 1 cup artichoke hearts
- 1/3 cup black olives
- 1/3 cup chopped basil
Method to follow: (20 minutes total)
- Start by preparing the pasta as directed on the packet, do not overcook, and aim for al dente
- Sautee the chopped garlic in a pan with oil for around 30 seconds before adding the diced pepper
- Next, you will add in your artichoke hearts, olives, basil, and chopped sundried tomatoes but be sure not to overcook
- The next step is to pour the mixture into your already-made pasta and mix thoroughly in a large bowl
- Plate up and serve
- Vegan Casserole
Ingredients you will need:
- Five peeled potatoes
- One clove of minced garlic
- One chopped celery
- One bunch of fresh parsley
- Eight whole black peppercorns
- One onion
- One bay leaf
- One tbs light miso paste
- One tbs olive oil
- One tbs olive oil
- 3/4 cup diced red onion
- One clove of garlic, minced
- 1/2-pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 1 pound firm tofu
- Four tbs hickory flavored barbecue sauce
- One tbs nutritional yeast
- One tbs vegan chicken flavored gravy mix
- One tbs paprika
- One tbs tamari
- 1 cup fresh corn kernels
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- Two tbs olive oil
- 1/8 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- Two tbs nutritional yeast
- One tbs vegetarian chicken flavored gravy mix
- 1 cube vegetable bouillon
Method to follow: (1.5hr total)
- Start by preheating your oven
- Peel and quarter your potatoes, adding them to a pot of water.
- Add the garlic, celery, onion, bay leaf, peppercorns, and parsley and bring to a boil for 200 minutes
- To make the filling, begin by sauteing the onion, garlic, and oil, and then add the mushrooms and crumbled tofu.
- Next, stir the barbeque sauce, nutritional yeast, gravy mix, paprika, thyme, and tamari.
- Take a large bowl and place the potatoes in it while saving 3 ½ cups of broth. Add miso, oil, and 3/4 to 1 cup of the potato stock to the potatoes, mashing potatoes as you add the broth.
- Add the corn and the spinach to the filling mixture and then spoon this into a greased-over dish.
- Lastly, spread the potato mix over the top, smooth it with a spoon, and bake for 30-40 minutes until golden.
- Black Bean & Sweet Potato Chilli
Ingredients you will need:
- One tbs chili powder
- One tbs cumin
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Two tbs olive oil
- One small onion
- Two cloves garlic
- Two small, sweet potatoes
- Two medium carrots
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- One can of black beans
- One can of diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
Method to follow: (33 mins)
- Add some oil to a large soup pot, and saute the onions and garlic
- Add bell pepper, sweet potatoes, and carrots, and cook for five minutes
- Reduce the heat and add the black beans, broth, and spices
- Simmer the whole mixture for 20 minutes until the flavors have been released, and the vegetables are tender
- Vegan Mushroom Bean Burger
Ingredients you will need:
- Three tbs oil
- One small diced yellow onion
- One clove garlic
- Three green onions
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 3/4 cup diced mushrooms
- Two tbs warm water
- 1 tsp egg replacer
- One can of pinto beans
- 1 tsp minced fresh parsley
- Four hamburger buns
- Sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and baby spinach for dressing
Method to follow: (20 mins total)
- Begin by sauteing the onion and garlic
- Add the cumin, mushrooms, and green onion and cook for a further 5 mins
- Mix the warm water with the egg replacer and set aside while you pulse the beans in a food processor. Add both mixtures together
- Add this mixture to the mushroom mixture from the pan and add salt, pepper, and parsley.
- Shape into patties and cook for three minutes on each side.
- Place the burgers on the buns and add a fresh salad and vegan dressings of choice
- Vegan pancakes with mixed berry compote
Ingredients you will need:
- 200g mixed frozen berries
- One tbs icing sugar
- lemon juice
- 150g plain flour
- Two tbs caster sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- a pinch salt
- a dash of vanilla extract
- 150ml unsweetened almond milk
- ½ tbs vegetable oil
Method to follow: (30 minutes)
- For the compote, cook the berries with icing sugar and lemon juice
- Add flour, caster sugar, baking powder, and salt into a bowl, and mix
- Pour in the vanilla and unsweetened almond milk and whisk to combine
- Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat with 2 tsp of oil. Add a heaped tbsp of batter to the pan and cook the pancakes in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side
- Plate up and serve with the berry compote
- Vegan Tofu Scramble
Ingredients you will need:
- One tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- Two cloves garlic, crushed
- One red chili, finely chopped
- 1/2 zucchini, diced
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Spinach
- 225g smoked tofu
- Two slices of toasted sourdough
- One avocado, lime juice, and coriander
Method to follow:
- Heat the oil in a pan and add onion, garlic, zucchini, and chili.
- After 5 minutes, add in the cumin, paprika, and oregano, and add in the spinach last
- Mash the tofu until it resembles scrambled eggs and stir into the mixture in the pan.
- Serve on top of freshly toasted sourdough with a side of avocado
- Roasted Zucchini, Chickpea & Lemon Salad
Ingredients you will need:
- 50g bulgar wheat
- 200g baby zucchinis
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- One lemon, juiced
- 1/2 a clove of garlic, crushed
- 2 tsp rose harissa
- 400g tin chickpeas, rinsed and d
- a handful of flat-leaf parsley
Method to follow: (20 minutes)
- Preheat your oven while you prepare the bulgar in a bowl of boiling water.
- Roast the zucchini with oil and seasoning for 10-15 minutes
- Mix the lemon juice, garlic, harissa, and leftover oil, then add the roasted zucchini.
- Drain the chickpeas and bulgar and toss them all together in a large bowl
- Add the parsley for extra taste and mix one more time.
Conclusion – Why choose a plant-based diet?
Following a vegan plant-based diet is the ideal way to ensure you are eating a wide range of healthy vegan food – because, if you didn't already know, not all vegan food is healthy. There is a considerable difference between omitting animal products from your diet and replacing them with heavily processed vegan food replacements. Still, you are missing out on the benefits of healthy vegan food options. This is why we are sure that you will enjoy creating these simple, easy, and delicious vegan recipes at home while knowing you are doing the best for your body.