Are you trying vegan January? We want to help you discover the awesomeness of cooking with plants! Here you'll find some easy, fun and tasty Veganuary recipes and our personal tips to help you have a successful plant powered month.
First of all, well done on the choice to try a completely vegan diet this January! You're not alone. Hundreds of thousands around the world are joining you in Veganuary this month.
There are many possible reasons why people want to give going vegan a try. They might be environmental, ethical or medical reasons, a health or fitness related lifestyle-choice. Maybe you just like a good challenge or want to experience new things.
Whatever your reason to try Veganuary, for many people it is a life-changing experience - discovering a new style of cooking and a whole world of flavours.
A personal challenge
I tried Veganuary back in 2016. I did it on my own, I didn't do any research, nor did I have any support. Not knowing where to start or where to go, I had my troubles along the way.
My meal plan was lacking variety and nutrition, though I wasn't aware at the time. However, I was more conscious of the fact that my food wasn't particularly tasty, exciting or satisfying. I already knew how to make vegan cakes, so I baked a lot to make up for it.
I made it through January without eating any animal products, but I soon slipped back into a vegetarian diet afterwards. I ate cheese because it was in the fridge at home, and politely ate a slice of non vegan cake when I was offered it. And that is totally ok, but in hindsight I wish I had stayed vegan after my first Veganuary.
Now, in 2022, I haven't consumed any animal based foods in years, and I am not missing them. My food these days is more tasty and satisfying, and my diet more balanced than it used to be.
At first my plant-based diet meant a certain amount of work to change my habits. My research and food experiments now amount to a lot of experience - experience that I am more than happy to pass on to you!
I hope these recipes and tips help you have a successful Veganuary and maybe even convince you that a vegan diet does not equal restriction, but can be a diverse, nutritious and absolutely satisfying way of eating. Good for you, good for the planet and good for animals!
Helpful ingredients
You can do a lot with the vegetables, pulses, grains and spices you probably already have at home. But there are some really useful ingredients that can help you with your vegan cooking.
Here’s some ingredients that you may want to get and why they are useful:
- Tofu - Tofu is protein rich and made from soybeans. For the best texture and convenience, we recommend extra firm tofu which does not need to be pressed before cooking to remove excess water.
- Silken tofu - This is a different variety of tofu that is very soft and works well in desserts or to replace eggs. Confusingly, silken tofu may also be called ‘firm’, but is not to be confused with the above variety of tofu! Silken tofu is often sold in long life packets, whereas firm or extra firm tofu is usually found in a refrigerated section.
- Dried soy mince - Also known as TVP, this is a convenient and very budget friendly alternative to ground beef or mince. Rehydrate and season well before cooking.
- Chickpea flour - Also known as garbanzo bean flour, besan or gram flour. This flour is made from finely ground chickpeas and is very useful as an egg alternative, as well as an ingredient for baking.
- Vital wheat gluten - Vital wheat gluten is a powder made from flour which has the starch content removed, leaving just the high protein gluten behind. It is the main ingredient in seitan, which is typically used as a meat substitute.
- Liquid smoke - Liquid smoke is a seasoning which adds a smoky flavour to your cooking. It’s especially good when you want to bring more umami and ‘meatiness’ to a dish and works great with tofu, beans and mushrooms for example.
- Ground flaxseed - Also known as linseed, flaxseed is a small brown seed rich in nutrients. Ground seeds are better for digestion and you can buy them already ground, or grind them at home if you have a powerful grinder. When mixed with water, ground flaxseed can be used to make a flax ‘egg’ which is very useful as a binder in baking.
- Chia seeds - These small grey seeds are also very nutritionally rich. They swell up when added to liquid to make a jelly like texture and can be used to make puddings or as a binding ingredient.
- Plant milks - There are so many varieties of non-dairy milks to try. We recommend soy milk for use in baking and cooking and I like oat milk with my breakfast. For tea or coffee look for a ‘barista style’ plank milk, which are designed to not separate when added to hot drinks.
- Nutritional yeast - Fondly known as ‘Nooch’, nutritional yeast are dry yellow flakes made from inactive yeast. They might look and sound a little strange, but they are loved by vegans for the cheesy and nutty taste they can bring to a recipe. It’s also rich in protein and often comes fortified with vitamin B12.
- Black salt - Contrary to its name this is a fine pink coloured salt with a very distinctive sulphurous smell! It is also known as kala namak and it's great for bringing an eggy flavour to a vegan dish.
- Vegan butter - There are many brands of non dairy butter. We like Naturli or Flora Plant Butter. In the US Miyoko's or Earth Balance are a good option. For baking, a block type (rather than the spreadable kind) of vegan butter will work best as a replacement for dairy butter.
You’ll find that supermarkets have an ever growing collection of meat, dairy and egg substitutes that you can buy too. But the only essential thing you'll need for Veganuary is an appetite to try new things!
31+ Veganuary Recipes to Help You Discover the Awesomeness of Plants!
So you've decided to try a vegan diet for a month - Hooray! We've put together this list of creative and easy recipes, spiced up with useful tips, to help you discover how much fun it is to cook with plants.
Vegan Schnitzel
Every new vegan needs a recipe like this up their sleeve! This vegan schnitzel is crisp and tender, with no need for any fake meat.
Easy Tofu Wraps
For a quick and easy lunch on the go, make these 15 minute vegan tofu wraps. Feel free to customise with your favourite veggies.
Easy Vegan Tiramisu
This is our incredibly easy way to make vegan tiramisu. Our readers absolutely love it! It has silken tofu in, which is a kind of very soft tofu that works amazingly well in vegan desserts - try it!
Vegan Tofu Bacon
That's right, vegan bacon! If you are wondering whether this tofu bacon recipe is any good, we think this reader feedback speaks for itself! "Okay, I've only been vegan for a little over 2 months and I was a bacon LOVER before that so vegan bacon is a hard sell for me...that said WOW!!! OMG I did not expect this to taste this good! It is so good. Saving this recipe for LIFE."
TOP TIP: For a savoury flavour boost to your vegan cooking experiment with adding ingredients like soy sauce, liquid smoke, stock powder, nutritional yeast or garlic and onion powder.
Chocolate Nice Cream
Nice cream is an easy and great value vegan alternative to dairy ice cream. The main ingredient is frozen bananas which get an amazingly creamy texture when you blend them. This recipe is easy to customise, so you can have fun experimenting with your favourite flavours and vegan toppings!
Sticky Lemon Tofu
Miss your favourite old takeway dish? Sophie veganised her favourite Chinese takeout dish and this Sticky Lemon Tofu is one of our most raved about recipes. Newbie vegans find it a great way to start to enjoy tofu. Make it easy on yourself and get an extra firm tofu (that doesn't need pressing to have a great texture) for this recipe.
Easy Vegan Thai Red Curry with Sweet Potato
When you're new to being vegan, quick dinners are essential! This easy vegan Thai red curry is simple to make with storebought vegan curry paste.
Vegan Egg Fried Rice
This quick 15 minute recipe will show you how to make 'egg' fried rice vegan style! It's easy and so tasty. You'll want to get some chickpea or gram flour, which when mixed with water and seasonings is a great egg substitute. Black salt, also known as kala namak, is the magic ingredient which brings an eggy taste.
Vegan Mushroom Pâté
Mushrooms are typically used in vegan dishes for the 'meaty' element they bring. I never used to be a fan of mushrooms until I went vegan, so we encourage you to give them a try! This vegan pate is a good place to start.
Vegan Chocolate Pear Cake
This is one of the first vegan cakes I taught myself to make. Instead of using eggs, the batter uses a bit of vinegar and baking soda to get it to rise. It might sound strange, but it works really well (and it doesn't taste of vinegar, just yummy chocolate cake!)
Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese
Yes, you can make all your favourite dinners, vegan style! This vegan spaghetti bolognese will show you how to cook with dried soy mince, which is a simple and great value meat alternative.
TOP TIP: Make vegan versions of meals you already like to cook, and simply swap the meat, dairy or eggs for their plant based alternatives.
Vegan Parmesan
Make this easy & budget friendly vegan parmesan in the beginning of January, and you can sprinkle it on many of your meals through out the rest of the month. Perfect for adding extra protein to your meals, and boost their flavour.
Vegan Korma
All newbie vegans need a good vegan curry recipe! This creamy korma has a thick sauce made with vegan yoghurt, cashews and lots of veggies.
Red Lentil Flatbreads
These flat breads are a protein-rich side dish and really easy to make. All it takes is a little bit of time to soak the red lentils and a blender. We like to add a bit of curry powder for some extra flavour, but you can vary them to your liking! Great with curry and to dip in chutney.
TOP TIP: Sign up on the official Veganuary website now for daily tips, meal plans, shopping lists, recipes and further support with your vegan January adventure!
Vegan Pesto
The zingy and fresh vegan pesto is easy to whizz up and a great staple to have in the fridge or freezer. Cashews and nutritional yeast give it cheesiness, without the need for dairy. Pair it with pasta, spread it on toast, or toss it with roasted veggies for an easy meal.
Easy Nut Roast
If you are used to having a roast dinner, this Easy Nut Roast is a great option to make it vegan. This recipe have just 10 ingredients and is quick to prepare. Pair it with roasted potatoes, gravy and plenty of veggies for a satisfying dinner.
Vegan Apple Pancakes
For a lovely vegan brunch, we love a stack of fluffy vegan pancakes - no eggs or dairy required!
Vegan Chilli Non Carne
Got some tins of beans and corn in the cupboard? This hearty vegan dinner is protein packed and filling and can be made entirely with vegan pantry staples.
TOP TIP: One common concern about going vegan is getting enough protein. But there's lots of ways to add plant based protein to your diet - try seitan, tofu, lentils, chickpeas, beans, nutritional yeast, seeds, nuts and oats.
Butternut Squash Soup with Carrot & Ginger
Make it easy on yourself by making a big batch of vegan soup for quick meals throughout the week. This butternut squash, carrot and ginger soup is cosy and satisfying. Pair it with some tasty bread and vegan butter for a low maintenance lunch.
Easy Vegan Chocolate Tart
Only 4 ingredients needed for this delicious vegan dessert. It's quick, it's easy and it tastes wonderful. (I sometimes even eat it for breakfast!)
Vegan Rice Pudding
Yes, you can still make a really creamy rice pudding without the dairy. We usually use soy milk in this recipe, but it's really flexible so you can use other plant milks such as almond, oat or coconut.
Vegan Chorizo
This meaty and spicy Vegan Chorizo sausage is one of reader's most praised recipes. If you're looking for a meat alternative that won't disappoint, this is seitan based sausage is a fantastic one to try. The firm texture and high protein content comes from a special ingredient made from flour called vital wheat gluten, which you can easily order online.
Peanut Butter Jelly Oat Bars
These energy boosting peanut butter jelly oat bars are super easy to make - with no baking required! You can even keep them in the freezer for anytime you need a quick snack to give you a boost.
Vegan Scones
Think going vergan means missing out on light and fluffy scones? Think again! These easy vegan scones are a hit with our readers and make a great snack.
Red Lentil Dal
This was one of Paul's favourite meals even before he became vegan. This Indian inspired red lentil dal is satisfyingly filling, protein rich and just so tasty!
TOP TIP: Buddy up! Get a friend or family member to do Veganuary with you for mutual support, sharing meals and exchanging ideas and experience.
Vegan Sweetcorn Fritters
These quick and easy vegan sweetcorn fritters are one of our go to recipes when we want tasty food - fast! The one ingredient you might not be familiar with is ground flaxseed, which works great in place of egg as a binder.
Vegan No Bake Chocolate Cookies
There's just three ingredients for these simple no bake cookies. Most dark chocolate is 'accidentally' vegan, just check the ingredients to be sure.
Vegan Garlic & Herb Cheese
Cheese is often one of the most difficult things to find a vegan replacement for. Instead of replicating the taste, we like to have things that fulfil a similar role to cheese - in this case something tangy, garlicky and great spread on crackers. This garlic and herb 'cheese' is made with sunflower seeds.
Chocolate Orange Truffles
We recommend making a batch of these yummy vegan truffles to celebrate your Veganuary achievements! They are decadently delicious, and your friends and family (vegan or not) will love them too.
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Our homemade hot chocolate powder is a great convenience to have in store during January. Find your favourite plant milk, and whishk in this powder for a cosy and rewarding cup of cocoa.
Vegan Spinach Pancakes
These easy vegan spinach pancakes have just three ingredients. They use soy milk which is our favourite vegan milk to use in baking.
Sweet & Spicy Nuts
For an easy snack when you're on the go, these roasted nuts are a winner! Full of flavour, protein and energy.
TOP TIP: Get app support! When shopping, scan barcodes with Is It Vegan? to find if a product contains ingredients of animal origin. The Happy Cow app will help you find local vegan restaurants and takeaways.
Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Hazelnuts
This is the same classic Chocolate Pudding that many of us grew up with and it's easy to make vegan by using soy milk. We add crunchy hazelnuts on top for extra indulgence!
Puff Pastry Vegetable Tart
Most puff pastry is 'accidentally' vegan - check the ingredients to be sure it doesn't contain butter. This puff pastry vegetable tart is easy to customise with whatever veggies you have on hand. A great low maintenance meal that's quick to prep.
Vegan Jam Doughnuts
And finally, if you want to give yourself a cooking challenge during Veganuary, try this recipe! This is one of the recipes that was pivotal to Paul's vegan journey - proving that such an indulgent food like doughnuts can be made vegan - and still amazingly delicious.
We hope you find this list of Veganuary recipes helpful! Feel free to reach out to us by email or in the comments if we can support you this month.
Lots of vegan love,
Sophie & Paul
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