Vegan Dinner

Some of the questions I get asked the most are what do I eat if I’m craving this or what do I eat instead of that? We’ve already discussed appetizers, breakfast, and lunch, now let’s talk about vegan dinner! 🌱

Keep an open mind. Many of us have formed our eating habits over decades, and new diet habits require some getting used to. Transitioning to a plant based diet requires a lot more thought and planning initially–but now, after 8 months of following a strict vegan diet, it’s almost second nature to me.

I’ve curated a list of my favorite recipes for you to try, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! You can also find additional recipes on my Pinterest page.

Asian & Indian Food

General Tso’s Chickpeas

Broccoli Rabe Peanut Soba Noodles

Raw vegan recipes

Butter “chicken”

I prefer to press and crumble the tofu instead of marinating and baking.

Chickpea Tikka Masala

Vegetable Korma

I made this for Christmas dinner with my husband last year, and it’s delicious!

Lentil Dal

Naan

Vegan Raita

Raita is a great way to cool down the palate with spicy meals; I love the freshness of the cucumber and herbs! My favorite plant based yogurt is Kite Hill. (Make sure it’s plain and not vanilla.)

Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce

Stir Fry

Kimchi Fried Rice

Pineapple Fried Rice

Vegan Sushi

Burgers, BBQ, & Tofu Steak

Refried Bean Burgers

Refried bean burgers are absolutely delicious! For best results, form into thick patties and pan fry in olive oil. Baking in the oven works fine too, but I like the crust that develops on the burgers with pan frying. 

Burger Sauce

Falafel

I like to eat falafel with homemade vegan tzatziki. 😋

Other plant based Burgers & Sauces

Tofu Cutlets with Gravy

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Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, this tofu steak is a must try! 

Jackfruit BBQ “Pulled Pork”

Creamy Vegan Slaw

These BBQ jackfruit sandwiches are amazing! Jackfruit can be cut into chunks or shredded to resemble the texture of pulled pork or chicken. (My preferred method is pulsing it a few times in the food processor). Top with coleslaw, grilled onions and mushrooms, pickles, jalapenos, or green onions. They really are magical! 🌱

To read more about vegan BBQ, click here.

Jackfruit Pot Roast

Mexican dishes

Tofu Tacos

Tempeh Tacos

Burrito

Enchilada

Fajitas

Fajitas or burrito bowls are recurring items on our weekly menu. 😍

Quesadilla

One-pot Mexican Quinoa

Mushroom Burrito Bowl

Other Mexican dishes & vegan Taco Meat

Pasta, Pizza, and Rice

Bolognese

Pesto

Alfredo Cream

Chickpea Meatballs

Mac & Cheese

Pasta Bake

Eggplant Parm

Lasagna

Raw Lasagna

Jambalaya

Jambalaya was my husband’s favorite meal before going vegan, and this plant based version got his approval. 🙌 

Gumbo

Pizza

I am still not brave enough to make my own pizza dough 😳 but I have purchased pre-made vegan doughs and then prepared my own pizza sauce and toppings.

My brother-in-law made vegan pizzas for us over Christmas, which were excellent! The most difficult part is finding a vegan shredded cheese that you like. (The only mozzarella I like is Follow Your Heart). Instead, you can make a creamy cheese sauce for the base or make your own mozzarella. I’ve made vegan mozzarella, and it’s much easier than I thought it would be.

Other Pasta, Pizza, and Flatbread

Side Dishes

Black Bean Corn Avocado Salsa

Cucumber Salad

I love fresh side dishes like this, especially in the summer months!

Balsamic Marinated Asparagus

Asparagus wouldn’t be my preferred vegetable, but these are really good chilled–which now happens to be my favorite way to eat asparagus. 🌱

Garlic and Soy Sauce Broccoli

Sauteed Kale

P.F. Chang’s Spicy Green Beans

Purple Cauliflower Puree

The recipe is written as a soup, but I like to make it a little thicker so it’s a puree instead. I much prefer eating the fun color variations of cauliflower rather than the regular! 

Balsamic Garlic Grilled Mushrooms

Other side dish recipes

Curry & Noodle dishes

Chickpea Curry

Winter or summer, curry is on the menu weekly in our house! Curry is really simple to make, especially after a long day of work; and packed full of flavor!

Potato Curry

Spicy Garlic Soba Noodles with Bok Choy

Again, really easy to make and tons of flavor. 🌱

Pad Thai

“Wing it without recipes” 😉

I used to be that person that followed a recipe and didn’t deviate too much from the ingredients and instructions (and I still am, just to a lesser extent). I’m not a creative person, and I like to always have a plan for dinner ahead of time. (P.S. I could never be in a cooking competition! Unless it was the baking competition Nailed It–that one, unfortunately, I could totally do). 

But as I got more confident with vegan cooking, I started to be more adventurous and try more on my own.

And then the pandemic hit. I haven’t been to a grocery store in over 3 months. (Thank goodness for delivery and Instacart!) I learned very quickly how to get creative with limited ingredients and to think for myself without a recipe. The key is a well stocked pantry and refrigerator.

Pasta, curry, and burrito bowls are the easiest dishes for me to make without following a recipe. If you’re one of those creative minds who doesn’t need a recipe to follow, here are some ideas for vegan friendly meals on the fly.

Curry

• Base: coconut milk, tomato sauce, canned tomato, vegetable broth, store bought vegan curry sauce
• “Meat”: tofu, chickpeas, lentils
• Vegetables: broccoli, eggplant, bell peppers, onion, greens (such as spinach or kale), tomatoes, jalapenos, red chiles, cauliflower, potatoes, mushrooms
• Spices: fresh garlic, curry powder, cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, chili flakes, cayenne 
• Add-ins: red or green curry paste (make sure it’s vegan and doesn’t contain fish sauce or shrimp paste), soy sauce, lime juice, sriracha
• Fresh herbs: basil, coriander, cilantro
• Serve over rice, quinoa, or noodles

Burrito Bowls

• Grains: brown rice, quinoa
• Beans: pinto, kidney, black, garbanzo, lentils (serve beans roasted, whole, or mashed)
• Meat substitute: tofu, grated tempeh, pecan mushroom crumble
• Vegetables: onion, bell pepper, corn, mushroom, kale, broccoli, sweet potato
• Spices: garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder
• Top with: tomatoes or salsa, mango, avocado or guacamole, hummus, lettuce, black olives
• Serve with: fresh lime juice, vegan cheese sauce, shredded cheese, taco sauce

Pasta

• Pasta: brown rice pasta, whole wheat pasta, black bean pasta, chickpea pasta, red lentil pasta, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash
• Sauce: fresh or canned tomato, cashew cream sauce, vegan pesto
• “Meat”: tempeh, lentils
• Seasoning: onions, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, basil
• Vegetables: mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, squash, bell pepper, peas
• “Parmesan”: nuts or seeds in a food processor with salt and nutritional yeast (cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, hemp seeds, etc.)

Store bought vegan food

Check out these links for vegan:

• Microwavable frozen meals
• Mac and Cheese
• Chicken nuggets
• Seafood
• Pizza
• Burritos
• “accidentally vegan” food
• Curries and sauces by Maya Kaimal

Check your local supermarket for other vegan items; Whole Foods now has a variety of vegan friendly baked goods and fresh meals for purchase.

Tell me what you think!

I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it yet again: a whole food plant based diet is recommended for the healthiest option. However, I realize sometimes that’s not always realistic (especially when first transitioning to a vegan diet). Whatever you choose, stay encouraged! Even small changes can have a lasting impact. 🌱

When you start craving meat or dairy, remind yourself of the multitude of health benefits, not only to yourself, but to animals and the environment as well!

Do you have a favorite dish that you want to find a plant based alternative to? Are you one of those creative people that comes up with dishes on your own or do you follow a recipe? Subscribe to the mailing list, post your questions and comments below, and don’t forget to share this page with your friends! 🥰

Up next, everyone’s favorite course–dessert!