In the cold winter months vegan winter meals are perfect because they keep you warm, cosy and nourished. Eating plant based meals can keep you warm and give you energy while giving your body the nutrients it needs. These meals are both healthy and filling so you won’t have to worry about giving up flavour.
1. Soups And Stews: Creamy Butternut Squash & Lentil Soup
This soup is a great vegan winter meal because it is thick and creamy. When you mix sweet butternut squash with hearty lentils you get a flavourful base that is good for you and filling. There are a lot of vitamins, fiber and protein in this soup.
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash, cut into small pieces after peeling it
- 1 cup of red lentils
- 1 chopped onion
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 4 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 chopped carrot
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- Olive oil for cooking Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put olive oil in a big pot and heat it over medium low heat. Put in the chopped onion and garlic and cook them until they get soft.
- It will take 5 minutes of cooking after you add the diced carrot and butternut squash.
- Add the turmeric and cumin and stir them in. Cook for one minute.
- Bring the lentils and vegetable broth to a boil after adding them.
- Turn down the heat and let the squash and lentils simmer for 25 minutes or until they are soft.
- Blend the soup with an immersion blender until it is smooth and creamy. If you don’t have an immersion blender use a regular blender to blend things in batches.
- Add pepper and salt to taste. Enjoy it while it’s hot.
2. Casseroles And Bakes: Vegan Shepherd’s Pie With Mashed Cauliflower
This vegan winter meal will keep you warm and cosy. It is filled with flavourful lentils and topped with smooth mashed cauliflower. Instead of the usual shepherd pie this is a great alternative that is both hearty and healthy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of cooked lentils
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 carrots, cut up
- 1 cup of frozen peas
- 2 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1 head of cauliflower, cut up
- 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
Instructions
- Warm the oven up to 190°C (375°F).
- Warm up the olive oil in a big pan over medium low heat. Put in the peas, onion and carrots. Cook until the vegetables get soft.
- Add the tomato paste vegetable broth cooked lentils and thyme. Let the mixture thicken by simmering for 10 minutes.
- While the filling is cooking, steam the cauliflower for about 10 minutes until it is soft. Add olive oil, salt and pepper to the cauliflower and mash it up.
- Spread out the lentil mixture in a baking dish after putting it there. The mashed cauliflower should be on top.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the top turns golden brown. Warm up and serve.
What To Eat For Dinner On A Hot Day Vegetarian?
For a hot day try light vegan winter meals like cold pasta salads with fresh veggies chickpea stuffed wraps or gazpacho. These dishes are healthy and refreshing at the same time. To stay hydrated add things like avocado tomatoes and cucumbers. To cool down, drink it with chilled coconut water or herbal iced tea. You can change vegan meals for the summer by using lighter dressings and crisp fresh foods.
How To Make Vegan Affordable?
Vegan winter meals that are easy on the wallet use common foods like rice beans, lentils and vegetables that are in season. Buy a lot, freeze the extras and use cheap plant based proteins like tempeh or tofu. Instead of buying them already, make your nut milk and sauces. Choose food that is grown nearby and grow your herbs. Vegan winter meals that are hearty nutrient dense and cheap can be planned ahead of time to save money.
Read Also: The Best Vegan Chocolate Desserts For Every Holiday And Celebration
How Do Vegans Season Food?
Garlic onion powder, smoked paprika nutritional yeast soy sauce and lemon juice are some of the spices, herbs and sauces that vegans use to season their food. These make food taste better without using animal products. Fresh herbs like parsley basil and cilantro make food taste better. Warming spices like cinnamon and cumin are often used in vegan winter meals. These spices create strong comforting flavours that are perfect for the winter. Try different mixes to find the ones that you like and that meet your nutritional needs.
What Is The Most Eaten Vegan Food?
Some of the most popular vegan foods are legumes like chickpeas and lentils. They are often a part of vegan winter meals. They can be used in many dishes, are cheap and are high in protein making them great for salads, stews , soups and curries. A lot of people also eat tofu and tempeh which add a satisfying texture to baked or stir fried dishes. Whole grains such as oats and quinoa are essential pantry items that are used as the base of many hearty vegan winter meals.
How Do Vegans Replace Meat?
Tofu tempeh seitan jackfruit and mushrooms are some plant based foods that vegans eat instead of meat. When cooked right these have the same texture and taste as meat. Chickpeas lentils and beans add protein and bulk to meals. In stews casseroles and roasts vegan winter meals often use hearty meat substitutes. Adding spices to plant based proteins before cooking them makes them taste better and makes them as healthy as meat.
Which Spices Are Vegan?
Spices like cumin coriander turmeric paprika cinnamon and cloves are almost all vegan. These are common ingredients in vegan winter meals because they make food warmer and more interesting. Spice blends like curry powder and garam masala are also good for vegans. In pre-mixed spices, check the labels to see if there are any extra ingredients like dairy or preservatives. For vegan cooking freshly ground spices are best because they bring out stronger more aromatic flavours.