Going vegan? Here are 10 easy vegan recipes to start out!

Making going vegan simple

Deciding to give a plant-based diet a go is a fantastic way to improve your health. It may help with weight loss, plus reduce your risk of a range of conditions from heart disease to cancer.(1)(2) On top of this, it’s also good for the planet. That’s because meat and dairy farming uses more land and generates more pollution than growing plants does.(3)

However, even knowing this, the prospect of cutting out all animal products from your diet can be a daunting one. If you consume lots of meat and dairy, you might be unsure about how to replace them in vegan recipes. The good news is that it’s actually really simple! Once you get started, you’ll see that there’s a whole world of delicious and healthy plant-based dishes to explore.

Going vegan is a wonderful opportunity to discover new ingredients and cooking styles you’ve never tried before. However, to begin with, it’s helpful to have a repertoire of quick and easy vegan recipes to hand. That’s where this post comes in! All the recipes below are straightforward to make, have an excellent nutritional profile, and taste amazing. That makes them great recipes for vegan diet newbies and aficionados alike.

So, let’s dive in!

Vegan recipes for breakfast

You can easily veganise your breakfast by having cereal with non-dairy milk or toast with non-dairy spread. However, if you want something a little more nutritious and appetising, we’ve got you covered. Start your day the healthy way with these easy vegan breakfast recipes.

Homemade vegan granola

If you’re looking for a breakfast that’s both wholesome and tasty, granola is hard to beat. To the traditional base of oats, we’ve added crunchy almonds, refreshing cranberries, tropical dried coconut, and crisp puffed amaranth. The addition of cacao powder gives this granola an indulgent chocolatey flavour while still being good for you. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Making your own granola might sound like hard work, but it’s one of those surprisingly simple vegan recipes. All you need to do is stir your ingredients together and bake them. The best bit is that this also gives you plenty of flexibility over what you include. Feel free to mix up the fruit, seeds and nuts you use, so you can create your own ideal granola. You could even make your own vegan yoghurt to go with it!

Porridge with chia and apricot oil

A warm, wholesome bowl of porridge is one of the most comforting vegan recipes to have on a chilly morning. Or on any morning for that matter! To the oat base, add plump jumbo raisins, crisp and crunchy almonds, and vibrant fresh berries. This gives you a brilliant mix of colours, flavours and textures.

We’ve also included not one but two wellness-boosting oils to drizzle on top. Chia seed oil contains plenty of vitamin E, plus omega-3 to help support the health of your brain and heart.(4) Meanwhile, gut-friendly apricot kernel oil is rich in omega-9, which has anti-inflammatory properties.

Once you’ve got the foundation of these kinds of vegan recipes down, you can make endless delicious variations of them. Mix in a variety of different nut butters and fruits to find your favourite porridge combination!

Vegan recipes for lunch

Fancy something a bit more exciting than a sandwich for your midday meal? Check out these wholesome and scrumptious vegan lunch recipes.

Pumpkin risotto with organic pumpkin seed oil

This bright and aromatic dish is one of our favourite vegan recipes for a cosy lunch. Its creamy texture, orange hue and soul-warming pumpkin flavour make it beautifully autumnal, but you can enjoy it year-round. No matter the season, it will give you a great nutritional boost.

Pumpkins are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. This is fantastic for supporting your immune system and also the health of your eyes.(5) The addition of a splash of pumpkin seed oil brings an intense nutty taste, plus free radical-fighting phytonutrients. These help to prevent oxidative damage that can harm your cells and contribute to the development of chronic diseases.(6)

What’s really interesting is that the oil is dichromatic. In thin drizzles it appears green, whereas in a generous layer it appears red!

Buddha bowl with apricot kernel oil

Buddha bowls are ideal vegan recipes for when you want a lunch that’s really going to supercharge your wellbeing. They’re packed with colourful and nourishing ingredients that will leave you feeling satiated and energised for the afternoon ahead.

For this Buddha bowl, we’ve used refreshing green Romaine leaves, cheerful yellow sweetcorn, and vibrant red tomatoes. Beans add some plant-based protein, while the apricot kernel oil brings a delicate nutty taste alongside several key health benefits. For example, it’s rich in linoleic acid (omega-6), which supports brain functions and the health of your heart.(7)

Feel free to bulk out your Buddha bowl with any other seeds, vegetables, grains, sprouts or dressings that take your fancy! That way you get a glorious mix of textures and colours to enjoy.

Related reading

• Is plant based protein good for you?
• Our guide to sustainable food

Vegan recipes for dinner

Dine in style without compromising your health with these delicious vegan dinner recipes. They’re so simple, they won’t feel like a chore even after a full day at the office!

Red lentil dal

When it comes to classic vegan recipes, this comforting red lentil curry more than deserves its place on the list. The combination of soft – but not mushy – lentils and warm, aromatic spices is perfect when the weather is chilly, or you’ve had a long day.

Dal is also a very versatile dish. Spice it up with some chilli oil, or cool it down with a dollop of creamy plant-based yoghurt. If you’re after a light meal, you can eat it on its own or with crunchy and crumbly spiced crackers. Alternatively, serve with rice and fluffy naan bread for a more substantial dinner. Either way, it will nourish your body and soothe your soul.

Roasted cauliflower steaks with parsley chimichurri

Steak is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of vegan recipes! However, we reckon you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how satisfying and flavourful roasted cauliflower steaks can be.

The seasoning is key here, because cauliflower soaks up flavour beautifully. We recommend combining the sweet smokiness of paprika with the rich umami of tamari for a deep and nuanced taste. When you pull them out of the oven, they’ll be gorgeously golden-brown and crispy – an ideal match for the lush green parsley chimichurri sauce.

Complete the dish with a drizzle of hemp seed oil for a nutty kick and healthy dose of vitamin D.

Vegan recipes for dessert

If you’ve got a sweet tooth but prefer treats that do you good, you’ll love these vegan dessert recipes. Guilt-free pleasure awaits!

Chocolate plums

This delicacy is based on a traditional Polish recipe, and is elegant enough to display in a chocolatier’s window! Despite this, they’re unbelievably easy to make.

Technically speaking, these are chocolate-covered prunes, as they’re made with dried fruit. Prunes are bursting with fibre, so adding them to vegan recipes is great for your digestive health.(8) They may also help to improve the health of your bones.(9)

All you need to do is dip your prunes into a warm bowl of melted dark chocolate. We recommend choosing a variety with at least 75% cocoa solids. These are lower in sugar and higher in health-boosting antioxidants.(10) Top them with a sprinkling of crushed toasted almonds for a hint of crunch and an appetising finish!

Raw vegan chocolate bar

Anyone else in love with dark chocolate? We know it’s not just us! If you’ve never tried making your own before, we highly recommend giving it a go. For the base of these vegan recipes, simply combine rich cacao powder, silky cacao butter, and your preferred sweetener. That way, you get all the health benefits with none of the hidden additives sometimes found in store-bought chocolate.

Yep, you read that right – dark chocolate has health benefits! For instance, studies have shown that it can increase blood flow to the brain and improve cognitive performance.(11) Dark chocolate may also reduce blood pressure and improve your cardiovascular health.(12)

To this chocolate base, you can add all sorts of delicious and nutritious toppings to make new vegan recipes. Personally, we love the mix of crunchy pumpkin seeds, tropical coconut flakes, and tangy sea buckthorn granola!

Vegan smoothie recipes

Smoothies are great at any time of day thanks to their versatility and impressive nutritional value. Here are two of our favourite easy recipes for vegan smoothies to get you started.

Celery smoothie

Want to branch out from traditional vegan recipes for smoothies and try something a little different? This celery smoothie is for you. Celery might sound like an unusual choice, but it’s a fantastic way to give your smoothie an extra nutritional boost.

In addition to its famously high water content, celery provides us with several key vitamins and minerals.(13) These include vitamins A, C and K, potassium, calcium and folate, as well as antioxidants.

To level up the flavour profile of this smoothie, we’ve added citrusy orange juice, warming cinnamon and fiery ginger. A splash of nutty and cleansing milk thistle oil rounds this wellness-boosting recipe off perfectly.

Apple and banana smoothie

There’s nothing wrong with going back to basics for easy vegan recipes, as this smoothie proves! With a juicy apple for sweetness and banana for body and creaminess, this is a drink you’ll keep returning to.

As a treat, we’ve included a spoon of almond butter in this smoothie. It’s a great way to bring some extra protein and healthy fats to vegan recipes. Meanwhile, the addition of vanilla brings a warm and comforting flavour that ties the whole drink together perfectly. For a unique twist, the recipe also calls for a drizzle of soothing poppy seed oil. This is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids that are beneficial for your skin.

And you know what they say about an apple a day!

Explore more easy vegan recipes

Nailed these vegan recipes? Check out our Erbology Editorial section for even more creative plant-based meal inspiration! You’ll also find plenty of information about following a healthy vegan diet. Good luck!

Related Reading

• Healthy recipes for dinner
• What is mindful eating?