We don’t know about you, but we love a good challenge. National Vegetarian Week, running from 10th to 16th of May, invites everyone to go veggie for a week. You don’t have to go all vegan if you’ve never tried a vegan diet before, but we could all give up meat for just one week. Besides the good it’ll do to the planet, a vegetarian diet has multiple health benefits. Eating more fruits and vegetables promotes bone health, lowers blood pressure, prevents type 2 diabetes, decreases asthma symptoms, and even reduces cancer risk. But getting down to the nitty-gritty, what should you eat? Get inspired by these tasty vegetarian recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks.
EASY VEGETARIAN RECIPES FOR BREAKFAST
1. LOW-CARB EGG MUFFINS
Perfect to eat hot or cold, these low-carb egg muffins are nutritious and perfect to make if you’re on a diet. Surprisingly filling, a muffin or two can keep you full until lunch – and they also make a great post-workout snack. Make them in just 25 minutes.
2. BANANA PANCAKES
Ideal for a vegan breakfast, banana pancakes are easier to make than their classic pancake counterpart. Simply mix all ingredients and fry them in a pan with a little olive oil. You can top them with anything you want, from fresh fruit to jam to maple syrup.
3. CARROT CAKE PORRIDGE
Not quite a cake but not a traditional porridge either, this easy recipe combines two classics into a decadent breakfast. Packed with vitamins and nutrients, it can fill you with energy and set you up for the day.
4. EGGLESS FRENCH TOAST
Those who want to go all vegan during the National Vegetarian Week can try these eggless French toasts. Their secret is the nutritional yeast that transforms the traditional vegetarian-friendly recipe into something vegans can enjoy, too. Try it out, you might love it!
5. BLUEBERRY AND BANANA POWER SMOOTHIE
On those mornings when you only have time for a drink, ditch the coffee and get your energy from this healthy smoothie. All you have to do is whizz all ingredients in a blender – it literally takes you more time to brew a cup of tea or coffee. This smoothie is great to pour on a go-to cup and sip on your commute or serve with toast or cereal for a more filling breakfast.
QUICK VEGETARIAN RECIPES FOR LUNCH
6. BEAN AND HALLOUMI STEW
Perfect for warming up a rainy day, this tomato-based veggie stew requires a handful of ingredients, a pot, and only 25 minutes of your time.
7. CHICKPEA SALAD SANDWICH
Another delicious veggie sandwich to have for lunch, this chickpea salad sandwich is an excellent alternative to tuna or egg salad sandwiches. Making them from scratch takes under half an hour, but you can make the chickpea mixture in advance and keep it in the fridge for up to five days, for an even quicker lunch.
8. APPLE AND WHITE CHEDDAR GRILLED CHEESE
Essentially a more sophisticated toast, this sandwich provides all nutrients you need for lunch whilst keeping you light and energetic. It’s super-easy to pack and take with you at work, and it’s so good everyone in your family will love it.
9. CAPRESE PASTA SALAD
Pasta salads are quick to make and super-delicious. Among the many vegetarian recipes, one that stands out is the Caprese pasta salad. Made with fusilli pasta, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, and a few basil leaves, it’s an excellent choice for the summer.
10. SWEET POTATO SALAD
Gluten-free, Paleo, and vegan, this tasty salad makes for a perfect lunch on its own or a great side for dinner.
DELICIOUS VEGETARIAN RECIPES FOR DINNER
11. AUBERGINE LASAGNE
Roasted aubergines and rocket pesto is a match made in heaven. Don’t take our word for granted. This delicious veggie dinner is ready in around 75 minutes, but has a prep time of only half an hour. Use pecorino cheese instead of parmesan for the best results.
12. FLATBREAD PIZZA
Pizza is one of the most versatile foods in the world. It can be vegetarian, or vegan, depending on what you top it with. For a super-quick yet tasty dinner, top it with tomatoes, mozzarella, and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
13. GARLIC PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS
Cooked in a Halowave oven, these garlic Portobello mushrooms are an excellent meat substitute. Pair them with the perfect roast potatoes or a fresh salad.
14. MEDITERRANEAN RAVIOLI WITH ARTICHOKES AND OLIVES
For a quick dinner, all you need is store-bought spinach ravioli and a handful of easy-to-find ingredients. These Mediterranean ravioli with artichokes and olives will be on your table in less than 20 minutes and are packed with nutrients – just what you need after a full day.
15. RICE PATTY MELTS
If you can’t go a week without eating a hamburger, replace the meat patty with this rice alternative and the bun with slightly toasted whole-wheat bread.
DECADENT VEGETARIAN DESSERTS
16. SCRUMPTIOUS STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING
Wondering what decadent desserts you can eat on the National Vegetarian Week? Try out Jamie Oliver’s scrumptious sticky toffee pudding. Made with pumpkin and dates, it’s as delicious as the real deal and easy to make.
17. PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS
If you want to go all vegan, these delicious cookie bars will surely satisfy your sweet tooth. If you don’t really like chocolate chips, replace them with coconut flakes for an equally delicious result.
18. RED VELVET CUPCAKES
Topped with a rich crème cheese frosting, these vegetarian cupcakes are an excellent choice for a vegetarian-friendly celebration or birthday that falls on this week. We promise they’re so good that you’ll keep making them even when the National Vegetarian Week is over.
HEALTHY VEGETARIAN SNACKS
19. MIXED BERRY SUNDAE
Perfect for boosting your mid-afternoon energy levels, a mixed berry sundae made with Greek yoghurt and walnuts is an excellent choice for the National Vegetarian Week or whenever you need a high-protein snack.
20. CRISPY CHICKPEAS
If crisps are your snack of choice, consider replacing them just this week with a healthier alternative. Crispy chickpeas are easy to make at home and pack loads of proteins and other healthy nutrients.
21. GREEK YOGHURT WITH BLUEBERRIES
Something delicious and effortless to put together, a bowl of yoghurt with blueberries is an excellent choice for a healthy mid-afternoon snack or quick breakfast.
With so many ideas of vegetarian recipes, we hope you now know what to cook throughout the week. For other tasty recipes, check out our other food blogs.
Ravioli photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com
Smoothie photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com
Sandwich photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com
Pizza photo created by bublikhaus – www.freepik.com
Red velvet cupcake by Owen Bruce on Unsplash