The rise and rise of veganism in the last few years has been difficult to miss; in fact, the number of vegans in the UK had skyrocketed by over 350% from 2006 to 2016 .
Whether the motivation is down to environmental reasons, a love of animals, a lactose intolerance or preferring to eat plant foods, everyone has their own reasons for eating a plant based diet. However, if you want to sample a vegan diet without completely giving up meat, eggs and dairy, there are a few dishes you can make to try it out – and you can even get your family and friends on board.
You could begin by making one vegan dish a week, or by following initiatives such as Veganuary and committing for a month. Either way, we’ve rounded up a selection of warming, fragrant, hearty vegan meals to try this winter; perfect for a comforting dinner when eating solo or when cooking for family and friends.
2 - Pea and Watercress Soup Recipe
Peas and watercress go together perfectly. The sweetness of the pears and the peas go together beautifully in this simple soup recipe, while the peppery taste of watercress balances the flavour and gives it a subtle kick. To make this recipe vegan, instead of butter, simply use a couple of teaspoons of vegetable oil.
3 - Mushrooms on a Waffle
The ultimate comfort dish - earthy mushrooms piled on toasted waffles. Our garlicky, basil infused sauce makes these mushrooms a perfect winter warmer and a delicious yet simple starter when cooking for a group. Alternatively, this dish is great for when you fancy something warm and filling but are short for time. Although our recipe states fromage frais as an ingredient, you can just as easily use a vegan substitute for this, such as soy sour cream; a blend of vegan cream cheese with a small amount of soy milk; or another sort of vegan milk mixed with lemon juice will also make a crème fraîche substitute that is similar in taste to the original.
4 - Tagliatelle Peas and Rocket (without parmesan)
The peppery rocket and zesty lemon combined with lashings of freshly cracked black pepper make this a wonderfully invigorating pasta dish. Quick, tasty and simple, this vegan tagliatelle (make sure not to buy egg pasta!) makes a quick and healthy hot lunch or dinner as well as helping towards your 5-a-day. Of course, as a vegan pasta dish, instead of parmesan cheese you may want to top with a cheese substitute recipe, made of ingredients such as yeast flakes, nuts and garlic powder.
5 - Clear Pea and Vegetable Soup with Brown Rice
This Clear Pea and Vegetable Soup with Brown Rice is beautifully fragrant, and is the perfect comforting dinner when you’re feeling a little under the weather. The nutrients of the peas, carrots, celery, leek and cabbage combined with the aroma of the bay leaf, fresh thyme, oregano and parsley ensure you’ll be feeling warm and wintery in no time.
6 - Simple Rice and Peas (without parmesan)
Rice and peas is a dish that is enjoyed around the world, not just in its Caribbean home. This classic, simple, comforting dish is incredibly easy to make and a great side dish for lots of meals. For a herbier taste, you could add some fresh thyme and garlic to infuse with the white wine, or for a creamier, sweeter dish, you could add coconut cream to the recipe.
7 - Pea and Aubergine Curry
This is a healthy and low carb yet beautifully aromatic and tasty curry: the perfect warming winter vegan recipe. We combine five different spices along with cumin seeds and black mustard seeds to make this a seasoned sensation. If you do want to make the dish more filling, you can always add a portion of brown rice on the side.
7 delicious, hearty vegan recipes. Whether you’re already a committed vegan or you’re just venturing out into the world of plant based dishes, our meal recipes show that compromising on your meat and dairy consumption doesn’t have to mean compromising on flavour, nutrition or ease. At Birds Eye, all of our vegetables are frozen within a few hours of being picked, making them packed with goodness. With us, you can get your five-a-day the tasty way with our wide range of frozen vegetables and healthy nutritious vegetarian meals, which are all quick and easy to make and bursting with flavour. Autumn and Winter are the perfect times of year to gather family and friends round and cook them a hearty, warming and nutritious meal – why not try something new and make it vegan? Browse our wide range of vegetables here to inspire your meat free meal times.