Giving up meat is a lifestyle choice that may be difficult for some, but is proving to dramatically improve our health while saving the planet and living sustainably. But without meat does not necessarily mean without taste – here are the most hearty recipes, in which, you will not believe, there are many plants.
1. Chickpea couscous with tahini sauce
Bowls are all the rage right now, and this chickpea mix is no exception. Drizzled with a tangy tahini sauce, this vegan and plant-based recipe will transport you to the Mediterranean. Somehow it’s both light and rich.
2. Vegan Mac & Cheese
Who says you have to sacrifice comfort food to live a healthy life? No one should live without mac and cheese – this vegan version surprisingly doesn’t have cashews, instead using pumpkin, coconut milk and nutritional yeast with a bit of white miso paste.
3. A bowl of spicy rice
Never worry about your rice bowl being bland again – this is full of spices, roasted broccoli and chickpeas on a brown rice base topped with a thick sunflower cream. Think chipotle, but much better.
4. White bean and cabbage quinoa soup
Perfect for the odd chilly day when you want the comfort of hot broth but the satisfaction of a carb-heavy pasta dinner. This one-pot dish combines beans, kale, quinoa, and lemon juice and practically requires freezing to prepare.
5. Vegetable hamburger “Big Mac” with a layer of radicchio
After a long day, sometimes a burger really hits the spot. But these clogged arteries are definitely not. Instead, this veggie burger tastes so much better and is topped with a crunchy radicchio salad. Instead of black beans, the base is filled with mushrooms, onions, zucchini and garlic.
6. Jackfruit barbecue sandwich
Jackfruit is the surprising star of this sandwich, mimicking the texture of pulled pork. Slathered in delicious BBQ sauce and topped with slaw, these sandwiches will please even the pickiest carnivore.
7. Vegan Stuffed Peppers
Compact, but oh so packed. Peppers are gutted, stuffed with underutilized freeke beans, stuffed with chickpeas, corn, salsa, chili, and topped with avocado or seeds. Clean eating never tasted so good.
8. Coconut lentil soup
Never order Indian food again – you can recreate it from the comfort of your own home, without any oils! This is a hearty vegan dish with optimal spices and is perfect for dipping into naan or drinking on its own. It looks and tastes great food.
9. Chickpea loaf
This should be the new focus of Thanksgiving dinners. The meatloaf turns into a chickpea loaf with a base of vegetables, herbs, chickpeas and oats. With a side dish of mashed potatoes, there isn’t a bad mood this recipe can’t fix.
10. Chili mushroom
Make your weeknight sloppy joe with this meatless mushroom chili—you won’t regret it. Using a healthier alternative to processed soy meal, this author decided to make cremini mushrooms the star of this dish.
