I’ve got 25 delicious vegan recipes for you to cook up this new year and I’m sure you’re going to love seeing what a plant-based diet can do for you! The idea behind veganuary is to encourage people to try eating just vegan meals for a month. Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from us every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Hurry the Food Up. This could end up with a permanent switch to a vegan diet, or just help people introduce more plant-based food into their diets, once they see the range of food available without animal products.
Vegan vs plant-based: what’s the difference?
I’ve been using plant-based and vegan pretty interchangeably, but did you know they are actually different concepts? Veganism refers to the exclusion of all animal products from your diet, and often from your lifestyle as well (ie. no leather clothes, buying animal-friendly cosmetics). Plant-based means eating a diet primarily of plants and excluding any processed or refined ingredients. Obviously, the overlap is large – lots of vegan recipes are plant-based recipes too (legumes, vegetables etc). One main difference is that people who follow a plant-based diet wouldn’t eat processed food, even if it was vegan. So no fake meat, oreos or coca cola (all vegan, but not plant-based!). Another main difference is that veganism has always been rooted in ethical concerns (animal cruelty, environmental issues), whereas the origins of a plant-based diet are more to do with health. Whatever your motivations, you’re going to need some inspiration! That’s where I come in, with a selection of easy vegan recipes that will fill your veganuary with the most delicious food (our lazy vegan recipes are also worth taking a look at!)!
Let’s check out the veganuary recipes:
What’s cooking this January? We’ll start with breakfast:
Best veganuary breakfasts
Bonus: high protein, filling Tofu, spices and veggies combine to make the ultimate vegan breakfast, a tofu scramble, in this vegan-friendly take on the classic. Bonus: transportable, full of fruit A fruity vegan smoothie, packed with protein to fuel your day ahead (one of many vegan high protein smoothie ideas). Love fruit and nuts? Then you’ll love this! Bonus: warming, hearty Looking for a tasty new porridge recipe? Try bulgur porridge! No oats, just bulgur wheat, drizzled with sweet rhubarb! Bonus: sweet or savoury, choose your toppings This vegan French toast should be on every food radar. Our simple guide with the dos and don’ts of French toast means breakfast has never been easier! Bonus: super healthy, great meal prep Chia breakfast pudding packs a lot of healthy goodness into a small package! Meet tomorrow’s breakfast!
Best veganuary lunches
Bonus: full of flavorful, loaded with veggies In this healthy burrito bowl we’ve got quinoa, avocado, pineapple, tofu and Adobo sauce for a sizzling taste bud fiesta! Bonus: light, gluten-free After a delicious and filling dinner? Try our vegan pho recipe – a healthy Vietnamese noodle soup with crispy tofu topping! Bonus: fresh flavors, high protein Looking for an easy tabbouleh recipe? Get a load of our lentil tabbouleh – a protein packed take on the classic dish! Bonus: perfect meal prep, full of veggies Need a fresh and healthy new recipe for lunch or dinner? Our vegan poke bowl with sesame tofu is for you – try it now! Bonus: warming, flavorful A beautiful vegan soup starring cauliflower and lentils, spiced with a taste of Morocco. High in protein, works for lunch or dinner. Bonus: full of veggies, simple prep A beautiful bowl of crunchy veg, tofu, drizzled with a peanut butter glaze? This vegan Korean bibimbap bowl is amazing!
Veganuary dinner recipes
Bonus: hearty, flavorful A great example of flavorful vegan dinner recipes that will warm your body and soul! This chili sin carne is hearty and full of flavor. Bonus: rich in antioxidants, high fibre Smooth and hearty meets sweet and crunchy, this sweet potatoes and beetroot salad has got it going on! Bonus: light but creamy After something light and tasty for dinner? Try our high protein coconut mushroom stew – the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold night (and if you like this, I reckon you’ll also love these casseroles for weight loss!). This is my favorite recipe using mushrooms! Bonus: high fibre, high protein Follow our fool-proof simple cooking steps for the perfect coconut curry lentil soup. Packed with protein, fiber and a high-summer taste! Bonus: healthy, filling Love a good bolognese but trying to eat less meat? Try our healthy, plant-based lentil bolognese – you’ll never look back! The best vegan recipe for spag bol that you will find. Bonus: dump and bake, simple ingredients A dump and bake dish that will please everyone, this bean and pasta vegetarian casserole makes a perfect healthy dinner. Bonus: “cheesy”, filling Looking for healthy comfort food options? This vegan broccoli casserole is hearty, filling & surprisingly light! Bonus: creamy, simple Follow Kat’s simple instructions for the creamiest vegan mushroom risotto this side of an animal product. An easy recipe you will cook again and again. Bonus: flavorful, delicious Creamy aubergine curry laced with unctuous coconut milk, delicately spiced with garam masala powder. Try making our aubergine curry today!
Sweet treats for veganuary
Bonus: two ingredients, super speedy With only two ingredients in just 25 minutes, you could be staring at a fresh batch of mouthwatering healthy vegan banana oatmeal cookies (our original and favorite light oatmeal cookie)! Bonus: simple, light This recipe makes a cozy treat for two. Cinnamon and pears are a tasty match when topped off with yogurt and walnuts! Bonus: creamy, healthy Creamy Coconut Rice Pudding with a tropical kick – super easy to make, a real joy to eat and it’s vegan too! Maybe even better than the “original”? Bonus: gluten-free, simple Love banana bread, but want to make it vegan? Our vegan banana bread recipe is simple made with store-cupboard staples (as is our protein veggie banana bread). Bonus: smooth, delicious Smooth and Creamy Chocolate Avocado Mousse – the truly healthy dessert that ticks all the right boxes. It’s vegan too, but you wouldn’t know it! Creamy avocado provides the perfect base. Got more questions about turning vegan this January? I’ve got answers for you:
What are typical vegan meals?
Thinking about including a grain/carb, a source of protein, and some fresh vegetables is a good way to structure healthy meals as a vegan. For example, one of the simplest plant-based meals would be rice with a tomatoey stew made with veggies and beans. The rice provides a carb base, the beans provide the protein and the vegetables provide plenty of fibre and nutrients! Our Free 7-Day Vegan Meal Plans should give you a good idea of a week’s worth of veganuary meals that will help you along on your vegan journey.
Is Veganuary a thing in the US?
Yes! Veganuary was founded in the UK in 2014, however it has come to the USA over recent years.
What foods can vegans not eat?
Animal products! These include: meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy milk, butter, honey, lard, gelatine, yogurt. Vegans replace meat, fish and eggs with vegan protein sources like kidney beans, chickpeas or fake “meats” which are now readily available in many supermarkets and are usually made of soy protein (all these are put to use in our high protein vegan dinner recipes!). Vegans also eat dairy alternatives like soy milks, vegan yogurt, often made out of plant milk, and vegan butter or olive oil for a source of fat. There are so many tasty recipes that don’t include any animal products!
Can vegans eat rice?
Yes. Rice is a great vegan grain. It is particularly popular because it is one of the only foods that is free of most allergens! Rice is vegan and gluten-free. We hope you have enjoyed these easy veganuary recipes. Let us know which delicious veganuary recipes you tried out in the comments!
