In this article, I am going to share 10 of the most delicious, easy plant-based recipes for beginners that will help you and your family stay on a plant-based diet.
I’ve enjoyed – no – thrived – on a totally plant-based diet for over 25 years. To be honest, there weren’t a whole lot of recipes out there way back then, so right from the get-go I started making delicious food. I wanted the food to be
- Easy
- Delicious
- I wanted every single morsel to be jam-packed with health-affirming goodness
- I felt that everyone should enjoy this food, no matter who they were
My mission was on!
So I became a plant-based chef…
I became a plant-based chef and vegan recipe developer (as you do). Serving delicious food is my job. Over the years I’ve noticed what people love. I’ve observed what people find easy to make. This article is basically a tool kit of some of the most loved recipes that people go crazy for.
The following plant-based recipes for beginners recipes are…
- Easy to make
- Super healthy
- Good for families
- Freeze well (ideal if you’re single and want to batch make)
- Very tasty
Top 10 – Easy plant-based recipes for beginners…
1. Easy Vegan Burgers – also known as the Kind Earth Burger
People can never quite figure out how I make these when I serve to my guests. When I tell my peeps that they are simply made with carrot and seed the typical response is “Say whaaaaat? For real? How come they taste so good? I gotta make these when I get home!”
What makes this plant-based recipe so good? They are ridiculous easy to make, requiring very few ingredients. These seed burgers serve well hot and cold. Being versatile, they are excellent for dinner, lunch, lunch boxes, travel. I often make these in bulk and freeze a whole batch of them for later use. We are talking seeds, carrots, garlic, sea salt and fresh or dried parsley.
2. The Kind Earth Curry – the easiest most delicious curry that everyone loves
This recipe uses simple ingredients that really want to be in the pot together. Sweet potato, tomato, and coconut. Right there! Marriage made in heaven.
What makes this plant-based curry so good? This curry requires no faffing about what-so-ever. Everything just goes in the pot – it cooks – it dances – alchemy happens – it tastes insanely delicious. You can’t go wrong. This is the ultimate easy plant-based recipe for beginners.
3. Baked Pakora – super healthy alternative to the deep fried version
This recipe uses chickpea flour and grated veggies whilst making you feel like you’d just performed a bit of magic by creating them.
What makes this baked pakora recipe so good? This is a super healthy alternative to traditional deep fried pakora. OK, so, baking your pakora is never going to be the same as the deep fried ‘drenched-in-oil’ version, yet they are still delicious incredibly delicious. They are quick and easy to make. Pakora also makes a healthy lunch box or picnic snack, serving well with chutney, sauce or any dip you fancy. If you want to heat them up the next day, just pop them under the grill for a few minutes.
4. – a super popular recipe, hot or cold, posh or simple
I feel humbled by the number of people who’ve told me that this has become a staple in their household. It features at Christmas dinners, Thanksgiving, Sunday buffets and midweek lunch boxes.
What makes this seed loaf so good? It’s a super inexpensive alternative to a nut roast. It freezes whilst serving both hot and cold. This seed loaf works nicely as a main meal for a special occassion or a regular lunch or week night dinner. Easy to digest, the main ingredients are carrot and either sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds.
5. Lentil Cottage Pie – classic feel good comfort food
Lentil cottage pie is the ultimate feel-good comfort food. It’s tasty, filling, nourishing all rolled into one.
What makes this lentil cottage pie so good? I always serve cottage pie on retreats because it goes down well with just about 99% of my guests. It’s the perfect food to serve if you have a bunch of people coming around for dinner, especially if they have a mixed variety of eating preferences. This cottage pie seems to keep everyone happy whether vegan, herbivore, omnivore or carnivore!
6. Spicy Black Beans One Pot – vegan comfort foods with warming spices
This recipe excites me. It’s one of those delightful, medleys of deliciousness, where the spices are warming, rather than hot so that you can really appreciate the ‘dance’ without being overpowered.
What makes this spicy black beans one pot so good? This recipe is simple. If you don’t have the exact same spices to hand then you can try swapping out for ones that you have available instead. It keeps nicely in the fridge and freezes well. It serves with potatoes, wedges, rice, pasta, making it a pretty versatile one-pot. A super easy plant-based recipe for beginners.
7. Lentil Vegan Lasagne – with a creamy cashew sauce
Goodness me this is delicious! Considering I’m not really a pasta person, this is rather exciting.
What makes this lentil vegan lasagne so good? Plant-based lasagne actually doesn’t get better than this. This recipe takes a little bit more time to make than all the others in the this list, but oh my goodness, it’s worth it! Feel-good food at its finest, you get to enjoy a creamy cashew sauce with a thin, tanned crust, amidst an absolutely delicious dance of flavours and textures.
8. Chickpea Mushroom Burger – super popular vegan burger
This is an excellent way to enjoy a super healthy, high-protein, vegan, gluten-free meal, whilst using good plant-based ingredients.
What makes this chickpea burger so good? Apart from the taste, the texture and the fact it makes everyone who eats them very happy… this burger is pleasantly moist on the inside with a lovely soft crisp outside. You can enjoy it with OR without the addition of a sauce. It works wonders with a salad, potato wedges, or in a bap with salad/sauce toppings.
9. Easy Turmeric Roast Potatoes – super healthy and delicious turmeric style
I am officially obsessed with these and can’t get enough of them.
What makes these roast potatoes so good? They are insanely easy to make. You chop them up, sprinkle on the tumeric etc, toss ’em and pop them in the oven. Easy or what!?!! A tiny smidgen of oil is required. Even the fussiest roast potato fans adore these.
10. Turmeric and Ginger Sweet Potato Soup – tasty and highly healthy
This turmeric ginger soup is tasty as can be! There is something about the way that the warming spices dance with the sweetness of the coconut and sweet potato. This combo creates a special blend of delectableness.
What makes this tumeric ginger soup so good? This recipe benefits from fresh ginger, garlic, dried ground turmeric and pepper. Jam-packed with loads of plant-powered nutritional benefits, it is an exceedingly easy soup to make. Add sweet potatoes, coconut milk, chickpeas and optional parsley and you’ve got a gorgeous chorus of delight in a bowl to enjoy that everyone loves! Super easy one-pot, plant-based recipe for beginners.
Thank you for reading!
I hope that you’ve found some favourites here in this list of easy plant-based recipes for beginners.
If you like what you see then you’ll LOVE my books, which are all totally plant-based, jack-packed with lots more ideas for you…
My plant-based books…
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in plant-based cooking and a plant-based chef with over 25 years of experience, I can confidently say that I have extensive knowledge and firsthand expertise in this area. Throughout my career, I have developed and served delicious plant-based meals, observing what people love and find easy to make. I have seen how plant-based diets can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their culinary preferences.
In this article, the author shares 10 delicious and easy plant-based recipes for beginners. Let's take a look at the concepts used in these recipes:
Easy Vegan Burgers:
- These burgers are made with carrots and seeds, resulting in a tasty and nutritious alternative to traditional meat-based burgers.
- The recipe is simple, requiring few ingredients, and the burgers can be served hot or cold, making them versatile for various meals.
The Kind Earth Curry:
- This curry recipe combines sweet potato, tomato, and coconut to create a flavorful and satisfying dish.
- The recipe is straightforward, with all the ingredients cooked together, resulting in a delicious curry without much fuss.
Baked Pakora:
- This recipe offers a healthier version of the traditional deep-fried pakora by using chickpea flour and grated vegetables.
- The baked pakora is quick and easy to make and can be enjoyed as a snack or served with chutney or sauce.
Seed Loaf:
- This seed loaf serves as an inexpensive alternative to a nut roast and can be enjoyed hot or cold.
- The main ingredients are carrots and sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds, resulting in a nutritious and flavorful meal.
Lentil Cottage Pie:
- This recipe for lentil cottage pie is a classic comfort food that is tasty, filling, and nourishing.
- It is a versatile dish that can please a variety of eating preferences, making it ideal for serving to a mixed group of guests.
Spicy Black Beans One Pot:
- This recipe offers a delightful mix of warming spices, creating a flavorful and comforting one-pot dish.
- The recipe is simple and can be customized by using spices that are available, making it flexible and easy to make.
Lentil Vegan Lasagne:
- This lasagne recipe takes a bit more time to make but is worth the effort, featuring a creamy cashew sauce and a delicious blend of flavors and textures.
- It is a feel-good plant-based dish that offers a satisfying dining experience.
Chickpea Mushroom Burger:
- This burger recipe combines chickpeas and mushrooms to create a healthy and flavorful vegan option.
- The burgers have a moist interior and a crispy exterior, making them enjoyable with or without additional sauces or toppings.
Easy Turmeric Roast Potatoes:
- These roast potatoes are seasoned with turmeric, creating a healthy and delicious side dish.
- The recipe is simple, requiring minimal oil, and the potatoes turn out crispy and flavorful.
Turmeric and Ginger Sweet Potato Soup:
- This soup recipe combines the warming spices of turmeric and ginger with the sweetness of coconut and sweet potatoes.
- The soup is easy to make, packed with nutritional benefits, and can be enjoyed as a comforting and tasty meal.
These recipes provide a range of options for beginners looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diets. They are easy to make, delicious, and offer a variety of flavors and textures. By trying out these recipes, individuals and families can enjoy the benefits of a plant-based diet while savoring tasty and nutritious meals.
