Vegan Recipes for Beginners that Everbody Loves!
When you’re just starting to follow a vegan diet, the best advice you can get is to keep it simple! Forget complex dishes and exotic ingredients, but rather focus on the things that are available to you at any moment. Also, there is a vegan variety for most of the foods you already love.
So, to ease yourself into a new way of eating, start by swapping little things; for instance, go for veggie-based pasta sauce or make a tofu stir-fry. I listed a whole lot of beginner-friendly vegan recipes to kick-start your plant-based journey!
20-Minute Pasta
Starting strong with the (almost) everyone’s favorite dish – it is just a need to have a quick, easy, and tasty pasta recipe to whip up every time you don’t feel like cooking. The addition of nutritional yeast will give you that cheesy smack!
Veggie Pizza
Having good recipes for classics is important, as it will allow you not to feel excluded at any moment or when you just want to be a superb host. Use regular pizza dough; just swap regular toppings for veggies like corn, broccoli, tomatoes…
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
This is, hands down, one of the best sandwiches you can have! The base is your favorite bread, but the real star is chickpeas-based creamy salad with tahini and Dijon mustard. Add some Kalamata olives, cucumber, radishes, and onion for the crunch!
Quinoa, Basil, and Olive Stuffed Tomatoes
Serving quinoa in regular bowls definitely tends to be boring, but serving it in tomatoes is something else! Add some olives, garlic, and herbs, and you have a full meal. You can definitely add some tofu if you want to boost the protein count!
Tacos with Plant-Based Ground
Tacos are the ultimate dinner, so it is a must to have a reliable vegan recipe. You can use plant-based ground or swap it for cooked green/black lentils. Go all out with spices to get the signature kick!
Quick and Easy Ramen
Instant ramen, but make them fancy! Tofu and shiitake mushrooms are excellent sources of protein, which is very important in plant-based diets. Don’t forget soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and miso paste for a complete experience.
Mediterranean Sheet Pan Dinner
Sheet pan meals are superior, as they require minimum effort but taste fabulous. Just toss cubed potatoes, red onion, tofu, mushrooms, and peppers on a sheet, coat them generously in marinade, toss in the oven, and enjoy!
Red Lentil Curry with Coconut Milk
All-vegetable curry takes only half an hour to reach the perfect silky, creamy consistency. Red lentils, tomatoes, spinach, and chickpeas pair wonderfully with coconut milk and all the warm spices curry calls for.
Vegan Dumplings
Get the wonton wrappers and get to work! The carrot, cabbage, and mushroom trio is ideal for the dumplings, especially when you season them generously with ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. I love sauteing them as they get this beautiful charred touch!
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Rice spring roll papers stuffed with vegetables sound fantastic, right?! I love this combo with beet, cilantro, cabbage, peppers, avocado, carrots, and vermicelli noodles. P.S. The recipe for peanut sauce is flawless!
Tofu Stir-Fry
Tofu stir-fry is a simple way to skyrocket your protein intake, plus it pairs impeccably with loads of different veggies and side dishes. This recipe is on the spicier side, but you can definitely go with something more neutral if you prefer.
Buddha Bowl
I’d choose a Buddha bowl over a salad any day – plus, it has a way cooler name! This recipe combines chickpeas, rice noodles, red cabbage, beetroot, arugula, baby spinach, avocado, sweet corn, and absolute star – pomegranate!
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
This and sweet potato fries on the side are an ultimate combo. The texture of cauliflower steaks is phenomenal, and they are truly a blank canvas when it comes to seasoning – you can go with anything and everything.
Thick Smoothie Bowl
The secret to a super thick and creamy smoothie bowl is frozen fruits, but if you want to go a step further – go for canned coconut milk. Of course, the toppings make these bowls a full meal, so add nuts, nut butter, seeds, coconut, and granola, for instance.
Quick Spinach Lasagna
When you’re not making ragu for lasagna, they become a pretty quick dinner option! This is probably my favorite combination – vegan ricotta plus spinach. You can sprinkle some vegan parmesan to round the taste.
Lemon Blueberry Cake
Usually, cakes are loaded with dairy and eggs, but this plant-based recipe will give you the spongy and moist texture you want, even without them. The blueberry and lemon combo is chief, but you can definitely exchange it for any other berries or cherries.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
In my book, a perfect chocolate chip cookie must have crispy edges, a chewy middle, and loads of chocolate. If you’re the same, check out this recipe! Having classic vegan recipes is the best!
Cheesecake Bites
A vegan diet doesn’t ditch a creamy cheesecake off the menu! The crust is all walnuts, plus dates for a texture and sweetness, while raw cashews and coconut milk are fantastic swaps for mascarpone cheese. You already know the taste is super rich!
Tiramisu-Inspired Dessert with Chocolate Cream
I love serving desserts in a cup for one reason only – you don’t have to wait for it to stiffen in the fridge so you can cut it. This combination is flawless – vanilla sponge cake, chocolate, cream layer, and a cherry on top!
Simple Vegan Pancakes
This is the most basic recipe for vegan pancakes, and you can spice it up with tons of different stuff. You can add banana, apple sauce, chocolate chips, nuts, blueberries – the list is endless!
Vegan Burrito
There is no better to-go lunch than a burrito – it is easy to pack, filling, and incredibly delish! This recipe is pretty much perfect, loaded with vegetables, rice, spicy guacamole, and layers of chili for a kick.
Easy Vegetable Stew
A hearty stew is a winter’s favorite! Mushrooms are a flawless base for stews, as they give everything you want – meaty and silky texture. Of course, there are loads of other veggies, legumes, and aromatic herbs in the recipe, too.
Vegan Cobb Salad
I chose this specific recipe for the list because of one superb detail – coconut bacon. This salad can pass as a full meal, as it is loaded with chickpeas, Romaine salad, corn, tomatoes, radishes, avocado, and onion. Don’t forget the ranch dressing!
Shirazi Salad Pitas
Shirazi salad is one of the best ones out there, so it simply needed an honorary mention! It is best to stuff pita with it and boost your protein count with the addition of falafel bites, for example.
White Bean Mushroom Stew
Mushrooms and beans are a powerful duo in a vegan world. This dish has a fair share of proteins and a flawless creamy and silky consistency. Also, the addition of mustard gives it a subtle depth.
Tomato Orzo
The first time you make this Mediterranean gem, it will become a staple dish on your menu! Obviously, the sauce is tomato-based, with the addition of cremini mushrooms and spinach. And there you have it – a perfect dinner.
Buffalo Tofu Wrap with Vegan Ranch
If you’re not very fond of the taste of tofu, coating it with buffalo sauce will do the trick! Wrap it in a tortilla with carrots, Romaine salad, avocado, and vegan shredded cheese, and prepare yourself for a heavenly bite!
Crispy Tofu Fries
Crispy, cheesy-tasting, and packed-with-protein fries make a fantastic snack! Or, pair them with fries for a more nutritious version of fast food! These are air-fried, so you’ll get the crunch without unnecessary fats.
Vegan Chorizo Butter Beans
If you can get your hands on vegan chorizo, this is probably the best dish you can prepare with it! Sear them a tad and add the veggies and spices, and in about half an hour, you will have a warm hug on a plate!
Dear cooks, thank you for sharing these phenomenal plant-based recipes with us!
